Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs lead fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among career game masters who seldom have the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of DMU. The inaugural event is set for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and other game masters likely in the same boat and also want to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes one of four courses:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for game masters who want to learn more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes eight hours of classwork divided across a weekend.

“The courses are designed so that you depart having usable skills, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the week after and put into practice in your regular session.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are taught by two professors. Universe creation is guided by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Professional development includes multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is designed to offer targeted guidance to attendees with definite objectives.

“Various attendees plan to create their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, some of them plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K gold tier provides access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns 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 most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier provides an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The aim is for the instructor to assess whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. May I present a scenario for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the debut workshop will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl said that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we do this frequently,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with current developments and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to do this in partnership with big conventions.”