The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast - podcast cover

The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

The Secret Cabal Founderswww.thesecretcabal.com
Tune in every Wednesday to immerse yourself in The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast, dedicated to board games, card games, role-playing, and the miniatures hobby. Join The Secret Cabal Founders: Jamie, Chris, Steve, Don, and Tony T, as they present a captivating array of perspectives on board games, all delivered with a generous dose of irreverent nonsense. Explore the world of role-playing games with The Lord of the Dungeon, and accompany the Filthy Casuals as they delve into the miniatures gaming hobby in Battletome. The Founders and Lords are devoted to providing you with irreverent entertainment, thought-provoking commentary, and an enthusiastic experience centered around the hobbies we love.
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Episodes

Dungeon Masters Ludus 05: Game Master Styles

Today Bender and Jamie talk about the mentality of one versus many and the philosophy of actually cooperating with your players to make a great RPG. Then they talk about game master styles. How does it feel to play in and Bender game and a Jamie game. We talk about some GMs we've gamed with in the past and how everyone's own signature style is different.

Jun 01, 201858 min

Express 37: Origins 2018 Pre-Show Fiesta with Rodney Smith and Marty Connell

Today the Three Amigos are back together for an Origins Game Fair Fiesta! Jamie welcomes honorary Founders Rodney Smith from Watch It Played and Marty Connell from Rolling Dice and Taking Names to talk about whats going on at Origins this year. First we talk about Cobra Kai the new YouTube Red series based on The Karate Kid (which has absolutely nothing to do with Origins but whatever). Then we talk about when we're arriving, our savage hole arrangements and the big things we're excited about. T...

May 23, 20181 hr 7 min

Episode 159: Lords of Hellas, Clank! and A Short Topic Extravaganza

Episode 159 will from now on be referred to as "The Cursed Episode" as schedules, technical problems and other issues have cause more havoc than ever before BUT The Cabal rages forth none the less. Today the a look at Lords of Hellas from Awaken Realms and look back at Clank! from Renegade Games. Then After Tony T blasts out the best news segment in all of gaming media the Founders host another short topic extravaganza including discussions about using characters and actors in miniatures games s...

May 16, 20183 hr 43 min

Episode 158: Thanos Rising, 51st State and a Short Topic Extravaganza

We got three days left on the Kickstarter! Head over there if you're like to support the Secret Cabal for another year. Today the gang takes a look at the brand new Avengers Infinity War tie in game, Thanos Rising! And then the founders look back at 51st State the Master Set one year later. Tony T gives you a news segment filled with deceit and treachery while the rest of that chimes in. Then finally a short topic extravaganza including the most popular games the year we were born, games we'd lo...

May 02, 20183 hr 10 min

Dungeon Masters Ludus 04: Just Starting Out As A Game Master

Today Bender and Jame focus in on an email sent by a Cabalist who is just getting started as a Game Master and has a series of questions that we address. We talk about what your first adventure might look like, should you pre-gen characters or have the players make their own? Should you start with a pre-designed adventure module or write your own? And more.

Apr 27, 201848 min

Express 37: Having and Managing a Game Collection

Today Chris and Jamie talk about having and managing a game collection ranging from how they go about selecting what games to buy, how they store their games, how they catagorize their games and how they cull games out of their collection.

Apr 25, 201859 min

Episode 157: Civilization A New Dawn, Onward to Venus, Anachrony and Immersion in Board Games

In today's episode we talk about our Fireball Island Party at Beer Mongers and Steve's Film Debut. Then the gang takes a look at Civilization A New Dawn and look back at both Onward to Venus and Anachrony. Then after Tony T provides a deep look at all of the most important tabletop gaming headlines while the rest of the gang cracks wise, the founders talk about immersion on board gaming.

Apr 18, 20183 hr 16 min

Episode 156: The Pursuit of Happiness and a Short Topic Extravaganza

It's the big day! The 2018 kickstarter has launched! Pop over to www.thesecretcabal.com and click on the Kickstarter banner to check it out. Bender and Jamie just got back from RobbCon with Blue Peg Pink Peg and Chris has an epic tale of why he didn't make it this year. Then Chris and Jamie take a look at The Pursuit of Happiness from Stronghold Games. Tony T goes ape giving you the worlds best gaming news awhile the rest of us quack in the background. Then finally we round out the show with a S...

Apr 04, 20183 hr 8 min

Express 36: Movies and Board Games with Similar Themes

Today Chris and Jamie talk about movies and TV shows that have similar themes. If you like this movie, this board game might be right up your allow and vice versa. Then they discuss some movies they'd like to see turned into board games and board games they'd like to see movies or TV shows based on.

Mar 30, 201859 min

Dungeon Masters Ludus 03: When You Screw Up and Building Memorable NPCs

Today in the Ludus Bender wants to talk about when Dungeon Master's screw up and how you handle a bad situation. The guys talk a little bit about when game master's cheat, when it's okay and when it's not and finally they discuss building memorable NPCs in your role playing games.

Mar 28, 201851 min

Episode 155: Rising Sun, Assault of the Giants and The Founders Feud 3: The Grudge Match

Hey Now Cabalists! Today is the big day! The day in which The Overdeer Family (Steve and Tony) take on the Limb Family (Chris and Brian) to see how is the greatest Founder duo in history in The Founders Feud 3: The Grudge Match! But first, Chris gives us another Gaming Movie Review, this time he takes a look at Zero Charisma. Then Tony, Steve and Jamie give you a feature review of Rising Sun followed by a look back at Assault of the Giants, the Dungeons and Dragons board game based on the Storm ...

Mar 21, 20183 hr 16 min

Lords of the Dungeon 13: Bender's End of the World Game, Repairing a Fractured RPG Group and Dark Earth 1899 Update

Today the Lords talk about Bender's first attempt with the End of the World role playing game and digress into all sorts of nonsense. Then they announce the winner of the Dungeons and Dragons starter kit contest. They the gang talks about how they're fixing a couple of issues with their game group. Finally they give you an update on their Dark Earth 1899 campaign.

Mar 14, 201857 min

Episode 154: Empires of the Void II, Colosseum and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Alrighty Cabalists! In today's episode we announce a bunch of the Kickstarter rewards coming up in next month's campaign. Then we give a feature review of Empires of hte Void II and a look back of Colosseum. Then Tony T goes bananas giving us a rundown of all the awesome news from around the board gaming world plus some cool looking new things announced at the New York Toy Fair. Then finally we host another short topic extravaganzain in which we discuss thinking about games when you're not playi...

Mar 07, 20183 hr 20 min

Express 35: Casual Games with Honorary Founder Dan King

Today Steve and Jamie are joined by Honorary Founder, Dan King, The Game Boy Geek to talk about his current Kickstarter fundraiser, being a full time media creator and casual and family games and some recommendations of games you might want to play with your friends and family!

Feb 28, 201852 min

Episode 153: Gaslands, Masmorra, and Hidden Movement and Hidden Roles

Hey Now Cabalists! In today's episode Steve and I review the post apocalyptic vehicular combat game, Gaslands! Then we look back at Masmorra one year later. Then after Tony T gives you one of the greatest news rundowns in the history of news rundowns, the gang will do a round table discussion about hidden role and hidden movement games.

Feb 21, 20182 hr 56 min

Lords of the Dungeon 12: Using Combat Descriptions and Planned Character Evolution

The gang's got Dungeons and Dragons fever again! We're still sticking with our Dark Earth 1899 campaign, but Dungeons and Dragons always keep creeping back into their minds. After they get that out of their systems the Lords talk about using combat descriptions and how it enhances the experience for the group. They announce a new contest in which you could with a Dungeons and Dragons starter kit. And finally they talk about planned character evolution.

Feb 14, 20181 hr 15 min

Episode 152: Merlin, City of Iron, DOOM and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Wow, it's been three weeks since our last full episode and we're making up for it by giving you an oversized, mega jammed packed show! First off Chris gives you another gaming movie review, we announce a new contest and run down all the games we've been playing. Then we do a deep dive discussion of Merlin by Stefan Feld. Since we were dumb and missed the look back last time, we're giving you a Look Back doubleheader, City of Iron Second Edition and DOOM! Then after Tony T goes bananas hooking yo...

Feb 07, 20183 hr 33 min

Episode 151: The Expanse and Randomness in Gaming

Hey now eveyrone and welcome to episode 151 of The Secret Cabal! Today we talk about fullfilling all our Kickstarter Goodies, Chris reviews a movie about a game that makes people insane murders, we discuss out big Beer Mongers New Years game day and all the games we've been playing. Then we review The Expanse from Wizkids. After Tony gives you the skinny on all the important gaming news, we discuss randomness in gaming!

Jan 17, 20183 hr 9 min

Episode 150: Defenders of the Realm, Great Western Trail and a Short Topic Extravaganza

It's the first episode of the year and it's a milestone episode at 150 and we're doing the same old stuff again! Today we actually go back in time and look at a game from 8 years ago, Defenders of the Realm. Then we look back at Great Western Trail one year later. After Tony T gives you the news for the past couple weeks we hook you up with another Short Topic Extravaganza!

Jan 03, 20182 hr 58 min

Episode 149: Aristeia, Inis, 2017 Year in Review and our Favorite Games of 2017

Merry Christmas, Cabalist! Today in the annual Christmas extravaganza the gang takes a look at Aristeia from Corvus Belli and looks back at Inis one year later. Then Tony T runs down the most important news items from the past 2 week while the rest of us chirp in the background. The founders then talk about 2017 and all the fun events and productions they've done and round out the year in review with their favorite games released this year. Oh yeah, and you'll also get our famous Christmas carol...

Dec 20, 20173 hr 3 min

Lords of the Dungeon 10: Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Fate Core's Fate and Making Combat Fun For Everyone

The gang comes together for another discussion about role playing games! In today's episode Jess has got ants in her pants about Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Then the Lords talk about Fate Core and if they think it's really going to cut the mustard for their Dark Earth 1899 campaign - it's got one more chance. Then they close out with a discussion topic about combat in games and making it fun for everyone and as usual, everything gets derailed!

Dec 13, 20171 hr 10 min

Episode 148: Betrayal at Baldur's Gate, Defenders of the Last Stand and A Short Topic Extravaganza

We're closing in on the end of the year and in this episode the gang reveals their gigantic Christmas Contest! Then Steve and Jamie take a look at Betrayal at Baldur's Gate and look back at Defenders of the Last Stand. Then Tony T blasts our the best news segment in the history of board game news segments. Finally the guys take topics from the listeners including Loot Boxes and gambling, talking out your turn while playing and people who like to disparage games by saying they aren't a game.

Dec 06, 20173 hr 5 min

Express 33: Mystery Television Series

Today Chris and Jamie talk about what makes a good mystery, what they love about them and talk about a whole slew of their favorite mystery television series.

Nov 29, 201758 min

Episode 147: The Thing Infection at Outpost 31, Conan and Second Chance Board Games

The Founders are back for some tabletop gaming goodness! First we give an overview and review to The Thing Infection at Outpost 31! Then we look back at Conan one year later. Tony T gives you the best tabletop gaming news coverage in the entire universe and the rest of the gang causes trouble in the background. Then finally the guys talk about games that they think deserve a second chance.

Nov 15, 20172 hr 36 min
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