Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among career game masters who seldom have the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.
In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is set for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.
“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs likely in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” explained Jason Carl.
Course Offerings and Ticket Packages
DMs can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:
- Skill Building: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
- Story Arc Development: Centers on crafting long-running games.
- Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
- Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.
Each course includes two days of instruction divided across 48 hours.
“The workshops are created so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can participate in, learn from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your regular session.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are led by duo of instructors. Setting design is guided by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.
Industry advancement features four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is meant to deliver focused advice to students with specific goals.
“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”
Higher Tiers
A $1.5K premium package provides access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their castle events.
“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option offers an 60-minute private session and the chance to run a game for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction.
“The goal is for the instructor to review any element is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and information on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”
Coming Developments
Feedback from the debut workshop will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to a longer period, or trying out different seminar structures.
“I hope that we do this very often,” Carl stated. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We’re very happy with the results so far and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in conjunction with major events.”
