Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage D&D games in old manors in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the planners began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.
“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction alongside other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters who are probably in the same boat and also want to level up their game,” noted Jason Carl.
Workshop Options and Ticket Packages
Game masters can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the level of access they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:
- Skill Building: Covers the basics of managing a session.
- Campaign Building: Centers on crafting long-running games.
- Setting Creation: Highlights the crafting of environments.
- Professional Development: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.
Every class includes multiple sessions of classwork divided across two days.
“The classes are created so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These classes that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your local game.”
Professional Teachers
Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is led by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the skill of universe design.
Career building includes multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives.
“Certain participants aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, some of them aim to release and write original content,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”
Premium Packages
A $1.5K gold tier provides access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This marks the debut of the program, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their castle events.
“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I believe the coursework and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”
The $2,500 top package provides an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to lead a session for several participants plus a teacher, who will then give comments and coaching.
“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate whatever the DM is concerned with: I struggle with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. May I present a situation for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”
Next Steps
Input from the first event will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.
“I anticipate that we host such events frequently,” Carl said. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in different cities, and in various nations. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be amazing to be able to do this in partnership with large gatherings.”
