Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a organized method to answer these inquiries, 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.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside fellow DMs, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your peers likely in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” noted the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

DMs can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, based on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Career Building: Tailored to game masters who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes multiple sessions of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The courses are created so that you walk away with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, learn from, and then return to your group the next week and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are led by a pair of experts. Setting design is led by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Professional development features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to attendees with particular aims.

“Various attendees plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, others want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Advanced Options

A $1,500 premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an full two days just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to lead a session for five players plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and instruction.

“The goal is for the instructor to review whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the debut workshop will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we host such events regularly,” Carl said. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The response has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to do this in partnership with large gatherings.”