Hark, noble Cabalists, and well met! Gather ye ‘round, for thou art most welcome to yet another enchanted convening of the Lords of the Dungeon! This day, our bold and steadfast adventurers doth recount the wondrous tales of their voyage through the strange and many-layer’d realms of Planescape, with the wise and venerable Archmage AC guiding their path. Thereafter, the Lords dost heed the call of the arcane scrolls sent forth by our loyal listeners - speaking on their most cherished villains, t...
Jul 09, 2025•1 hr 2 min
We're back from Origins, and we've got stories to tell! AC from Lords of the Dungeon joins us to spin some yarns from our trip to Columbus, Ohio. Then we dive into the games we've been playing, including Friedrich, Euphoria, Coffee Traders, Wroth, Mystery of the Abbey, The Quest for El Dorado, and a featured review of Stupor Mundi by Nestore Mangone. Stevie S takes the helm for the News segment while Tony's away, and the Gang answers a couple of listener questions. Friedrich: 00:30:39, Euphoria:...
Jul 02, 2025•3 hr 14 min
In our previous episode, we explored what makes a board game a true masterpiece—a creation that showcases a designer’s greatest achievement, marked by exceptional craftsmanship, originality, and lasting impact. This time, we’re taking the conversation even deeper. In Masterpieces 2, the Founders shift the spotlight to the brilliant minds behind the games themselves. We’ll be celebrating the visionary game designers whose work has shaped the hobby - and welcoming four Honorary Founders as guest h...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 26 min
Hey now, and welcome to a special early release of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast! The gang is on their way to Origins Game Fair, and we figured it’d be nice to give everyone something to listen to if you're driving to Columbus, Ohio today. In this episode, the Founders talk about the games they've been playing, including The Quest for El Dorado, Stupor Mundi, Earth, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, and Terraforming Mars with the Colonies and Prelude expansions. They also feature The Dark Quarter from...
Jun 17, 2025•2 hr 54 min
Hark and hearken, good folk, to a tale most joyous! Lo, after many a season spent in patient longing, bold AC doth at last return to the noble realm of tabletop role-playing! With great fanfare and mirth, he unveil’th his much-anticipated Planescapes campaign, and his fellowship of players taketh up the dice once more. As the Lords do revel and wax rhapsodic o'er the delights of their newfound quest, they dost turn back the wheel of time, revisiting a discourse of yore, nigh eight years past, wh...
Jun 11, 2025•58 min
Hey now, and welcome to episode 322! Today, the gang kicks things off with a call to action for all you Cabalists -- we need your help coming up with ideas for The Best of The Cabal! Check out the Discord for all the details. Then it’s on to all the games we've been playing lately, including The Breach, Unmatched Adventures, Last Light, A.D.E.L.E., and our feature review of Galactic Cruise. After that, Tony T delivers another incredible Tabletop Gaming News segment, and the gang wraps it all up ...
Jun 04, 2025•3 hr 34 min
A masterpiece in relation to a creative work is a creation, such as a painting, book, film, musical composition, or other artistic or intellectual work, that is considered to be an artist’s or creator’s greatest and most outstanding achievement, demonstrating exceptional skill, craftsmanship, originality, and impact. Today the Founders discuss game design Masterpieces and the Master Game Designers that created them.
May 28, 2025•57 min
Hey Now Cabalists! The Founders are back at it again with another episode jam-packed with tabletop gaming mayhem! The gang kicks things off by talking about their plans for Origins and how they’re using Chaz Marler’s new website, GameNightPicks.com. Then it's on to the games they’ve been playing including Corps of Discovery, Tales of the Arthurian Knights, Galileo Galilei, House of Fado, Agemonia, and a feature review of the epic Cyclades Legendary Edition by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc. ...
May 21, 2025•3 hr 17 min
Hey now Cabalists and welcome to episode 320 of The Secret Cabal! Origins Game Fair 2025 is nearly here and we're all fired up. If you're going to be there you got to join us for our meetup at the Whistle and Keg on June 20th. Then the gang gets into some of the games they've been playing including Praga Caput Regni, YRO, Obsession Upstairs Downstairs, Space Empires 4x, Biblios and a feature review of Septima from Mind Clash games! Then after Tony T hooks us up with his amazing new segment the F...
May 07, 2025•2 hr 57 min
In this, the first interview special from The Secret Cabal, Jamie welcomes Honorary Founder and President of Restoration Games Justin Jacobson to discuss a very important issue impacting the board game industry right now - tariffs. The goal of this discussion is to understand what the tariffs are and how they work, how they're impacting the board game industry, how the industry is reacting, and what we can do to weather the storm.
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Hey Now Cabalists! In Express 106, Tony, Don, and Jamie get together to discuss who they would carve into the side of a mountain to represent the tabletop gaming industry and community. Each of the Founders have very different criteria they used to make their list and each provide their own lineup of four iconic personalities who they feel should be immortalized in stone.
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr
Good morning and happy Wednesday, Cabalists! Today the gang kicks things off by spotlighting Erik the Cabalist's homebrew Runebound scenario, packed with Secret Cabal references. Then they dive into the games they've been playing, including Baseball Highlights 2045, Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game, Obsession, Explorers of Navoria, Trick Shot, and a featured review of Moon from Haakon Gaarder. After Tony T's award-winning news segment, the gang launches into a discussion about hooks in board gam...
Apr 16, 2025•3 hr 4 min
Hark, and well met, weary travelers! Come, rest thyselves and lend thine ears to the grand tales woven by the Lords of the Dungeon. Lady Jess shall regale thee with the chronicles of thy city upon the bridge, a place of wonder and enigma. Thereafter, the council doth gather to speak on the matter of adventures - those drawn from dusty tomes of old, and those forged anew by the hands of mortal minds. At journey’s end, they delve deep into spirited discourse, weighing the desires of the player 'ga...
Apr 09, 2025•56 min
Hey now Cabalists and welcome to episode 318! Today don and Jamie lament how well are South County Brewing Company game night is growing and invite all the local caballos to join us. Then the gang dives into a bunch of games they've been playing including Rise and Fall, The Manhattan Project Energy Empire, Expeditions with Gears of Corruption, Massive Darkness 2 Hellscape, Tower Up and feature Beyond the Horizon by Dennis K. Chan. Then after Tony T gives us the best damn news program in the biz,...
Apr 02, 2025•2 hr 50 min
Hey Now Cabalists! In this month's Secret Cabal Express, Don and Jamie discuss the Three Bears of board gaming. Everybody knows the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and how everything in that house was either too big or too small or too hot or too cold... Well, Don and Jamie talk about some of the board games they love that have one weird little flaw. Maybe they're too complex, or too fancy, or maybe just a little too short. And then talk about some that are just right!
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Hey now and welcome, Cabalists! Today, Steve gives an awesome movie recommendation based on the popular social deduction game Werewolves of Miller's Hollow! Then we cruise right into some of the great games we've been playing, including Finspan, Guards of Atlantis II, On Mars, Teotihuacan, Bloodstones, and a feature review of Brass Birmingham from the great Martin Wallace. Then, after Tony T's world-famous news segment, the gang talks about what makes an enduring classic. Finspan: 00:05:36, Guar...
Mar 19, 2025•2 hr 51 min
A fell plague hath beset the Cabal, striking hard and laying low good Jesko and noble AC! Yet fear not, for steadfast Jamie, valiant Jess, and bold Bender do take up the mantle, helming Lords of the Dungeon in their absence. These last Lords standing embark upon three grand tales this day: the shifting tides and lengths of campaigns through the ages, the folly of players who craft their own hardships, and the perils and delights that come with joining a fellowship anew. Raise thy tankards, my fr...
Mar 12, 2025•58 min
Good morning and happy Friday Cabalists! Sorry the episodes late but Jamie has been sick as a dog all week long but the show is finally here. Today we dive into a bunch of games we've been playing including Chaosmos, QE, Box One, Revive, Tower Up presented by Dan King the Game Boy Geek and feature Evertstone Discovering Ignis from Sam McDavitt. Then after Tony T's world renown new segment we host another Short Topic Extravaganza with questions including how long is too long? How much does theme ...
Mar 07, 2025•3 hr 19 min
Board games are getting more expensive! Don, Chris, and Jamie get together to talk about the value of the hobby they've chosen. The group talks about gauging perceived value, the psychology of board game pricing, luxury and upgraded board games, crowdfunding, the fear of missing out, and what really matters to get the most out of your dollar.
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr
Hey now Cabalists! Today the game kicks off the show by moaning and complaining about all their problems but get right into the gaming with Ostia Pirates Expansion, Forest Shuffle, Ticket to Ride, Fled, Rebirth, and a feature review of Freedom Five A Sentinels Comics Board Game. Then Stevie S takes over for Tony T to give you all of the most important news from around the tabletop community. Then the Founders finish off the show with a discussion about mastering board games. Ostia Pirates Expans...
Feb 19, 2025•2 hr 52 min
Hear ye, hear ye! Gather 'round, good folk, and lend thine ears! This day, the noble fellowship doth embark upon a most curious experiment—a new manner of tale-telling, wherein many a topic shall be pondered under the banner of "Finding the Balance." Let it be known that the Lords shall speak of the casting of fate-bound dice, the perils of adversarial Game Masters, the clash 'twixt combat and roleplay, and much, much more! So steel thy minds, sharpen thine ears, and revel in the wisdom to come!...
Feb 12, 2025•53 min
The episode starts off with a bang as Steve talks about his experience eating at PornHub and Chris scolds Tony for forcing him to buy a Squatty Potty. We then unfortunately move on to the board games we've been playing including River of Gold, Chu Han, Andromeda’s Edge, Creature Caravan, Cthulhu Death May Die Fear of the Unknown, and feature Atlantis Exodus, a new one coming down the pike from Capstone games! Then Tony T gives you the best damn table top gaming News segment in the history of tab...
Feb 05, 2025•3 hr 10 min
Today, Jamie is joined by Honorary Founder Rodney Smith to chat about their adventures into a variety of exciting new hobbies. They kick things off with a dive into the immersive world of tabletop wargaming, teasing their upcoming trip to Washington, DC, for the highly anticipated Circle DC convention. From there, they segue into their shared love for vinyl collecting, swapping stories about some of their all-time favorite albums. Naturally, no hobby chat would be complete without a detour into ...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 21 min
Hey Now Cabalists! In today's Express Don and Jamie present the annual Best of 2024 in which they discuss the games we love from the past year.
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 19 min
Hey Now Cabalists! The Founders are back on the day before the day of Steve's birth - so everyone jump over to the Discord and wish him a happy birthday! The gang talks about a bunch of games that they've been playing including Age of Innovation, Unsettled, Divide et Impera, Mille Fiori, How Do you Doodle and feature SETI Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence from Tomas Holek and Czech Games Edition. Then Tony T whips up a whirlwind of wonder with his wonderful news segment. And finally the g...
Jan 15, 2025•3 hr 39 min
Hark, noble Cabalists! Gather 'round and lend thine ears, for in this eve's tale of Lords of the Dungeon, our merry fellowship doth wrestle with a query from a distant traveler. How, pray tell, does one steer their quest true when a minor misstep doth send the campaign tumbling into ruin most dire? But lo, that is but the prologue! For anon, the Lords delve into the heart of the matter--a grand discourse on how brave adventurers may rise to meet the zeal and preparation of their most esteemed ga...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Hey Now and Happy New Year Cabalists! 2025 kicks off with AC from Lords of the Dungeon sitting in for Tony T as he's traveling for the holiday. We dive into a bunch of games we've been playing including Star Trek Captains Chair, Great Western Trail New Zealand, Clank Catacombs, Fallout, Compile Main 1, and feature Endeavor Deep Sea designed by Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray and published by Burnt Island Games. Stevie S takes over Tony T's newsman role for the day and gives you all the most impo...
Jan 01, 2025•3 hr 1 min
Hey Now and Season's Greetings Cabalists! It times for the 13th annual Secret Cabal Holiday Special! Today the Founders dive into their stories from PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia and discuss the games they've been playing including Civolution, Dominion, Endeavour Deep Sea, Portmanteau and feature Doggerland from Super Meeple. Then after Tony T throws out the jolliest tabletop gaming news segment in history the gang goes wild with the ever-popular Newlywed Game Founders Edition! Doggerland Review...
Dec 18, 2024•3 hr 45 min
Hail and well met, noble travelers! Gather 'round, for I bring glad tidings of another tale spun from the annals of Lords of the Dungeon! This day, our bold and intrepid heroes embark upon a new saga, delving into the storied realms of Pathfinder Second Edition. Hearken as they weave tales of the homebrew lands they’ve wrought with their own hands, introduce the stalwart champions who shall brave the trials ahead, and share their first impressions of this novel system of rules and magic. So, len...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Hey now Cabalists! For those of you are on your way to Pax Unplugged in Philadelphia today, we're happy to fill your ear holes with another episode of the Cabal while you travel! First off, The Founders dive into a bunch of games we've been playing including Undaunted 2200 Callisto, Wrath of Fire Mountain, Darwin’s Journey, Kelp Shark vs Octopus, Raising Robots, and a feature review of Fromage from Road To Infamy Games. Then Tony T gives you one of the best damned tabletop gaming news segments t...
Dec 04, 2024•2 hr 46 min
