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

Episode 174: Professor Evil and the Citadel of Time, Defenders of the Realm and our Favorites of 2018 and upcoming in 2019

It's a new year and the Founders are back to give a year chocked full of gaming nonsense! Today we give you an overview and review of Professor Evil and the Citadel of Time and a look back at Defenders of the Realm one year later. Then Tony T goes bananas with his news segment while the peanut gallery quacks in the background. Then finally the gang talks about their favorite games released in 2018, their favorite game they reviewed in 2018 and finally talks about their most anticipated games com...

Jan 02, 20192 hr 51 min

Episode 173: Auztralia, Aristeia and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Happy Holidays Cabalists, It's our Christmas Extravaganza! Today the gang celebrates the holidays by reviewing Martin Wallace's newest game Auztralia from Stronghold Games and looking back at the arena combat sports game from Corvus Belli, Aristeia. Tony T spins up the news feeds to out together the best damn news segment in all of tabletop gaming. Then the Founders give you another short topic extravaganza with topics including Stretch Goals, liking games you guy vs ones you didn't buy, starter...

Dec 19, 20183 hr 32 min

Lords of the Dungeon 22: Shadowrun Special Edition

In episode 22 of Lords of the Dungeon Bender, Jess and Jamie give you a special edition spotlight on Shadowrun, the classic cyberpunk and fantasy mashup role playing game published by Catalyst Game Lab. We begin by talking about the setting and lore of the Sixth World and move into the depth and complexities of the game mechanisms.

Dec 12, 20181 hr 7 min

Episode 172: Arkham Horror 3rd Edition, Betrayal at Baldur's Gate and The Founder's Guide to Knowing How To Act Right

Chris and Jamie are back from BGGcon and have played a ton of great games they want to tell you about. Then the gang gives an overview and review of Arkham Horror 3rd Edition from Fantasy Flight Games and look back at Betrayal at Baldur's Gate one year later. Tony T throws the best damn news segment ever at your while the rest of the Founders quack in the background. And finally, the guys present the Founder's Guide to Knowing How To Act Right in which they talk about what kind of opponents they...

Dec 05, 20183 hr 29 min

Express 43: BGGcon 2018 and DIY Tabletop Gaming Accessories

Jamie and Chris just got back from BGGcon and give the rundown of what they thought after their first visit to this smaller, gaming focused convention and rank each convention they've been to from worst to best. Jamie also gives a review of his experience at The Warhammer Citadel, the world's first and only Games Workshop cafe and gaming center. Then the guys run down some of the do it yourself upgrades and accessories that they've made for their tabletop games. TIMECODES: Warhammer Citadel 00:2...

Nov 28, 20181 hr 13 min

Episode 171: Cerebria The Inside World, Yokohama and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Chris is back from his trip the UK and talks about his games he played with our English Cabalists. Then we feature the newest Mind Clash game, Cerebria The Inside World. Then we take a look back at Yokohama from TMG one year later. After Tony T gives us the greatest news segment in all of board gaming, the gang hosts another short topic extravaganza in which we talk about our shelf of shame and getting better at board games. TIME STAMPS - Games Played: 7:08, Games of Yesteryear: 37:29, Cerebria ...

Nov 21, 20183 hr 2 min

Lords of the Dungeon 21: RPG Sports, GM vs Player Description and Playing Your Alignment

In episode 21 the Lords talk about Bender and Jess' new massively multiplayer online tabletop Shadowrun campaign they're about to start. Then the gang talks about a new role playing game sports tournament that will be streamed on Twitch. The Lords take a questions from a listener regarding how out GMs and players tend to describe the actions their taking. Then finally we have a discussion about alignment, what it means and how we use it in game.

Nov 14, 20181 hr 2 min

Episode 170: Blitz Bowl and Blood Bowl Comparison, The Thing Infection at Outpost 31 and Gimmicks in Board Games

With Chris on vacation in the UK, Aaron from the Lords of the Dungeon sits in to make some jokes and trade barbs with Steve. Then Steve and Jamie compare and review Blitz Bowl and Blood Bowl from Games Workshop. Then they take a look back at The Thing Infection at Outpost 31 one year later. After Tony Topper gives you the best damn gaming news segment in all of tabletop gaming the gang discusses gimmicks in board games!

Nov 07, 20183 hr 9 min

Dungeon Masters Ludus 08: Running Horror Adventures

Roleplaying games are about telling stories, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and more... but one of our favorite kinds of stories here at The Secret Cabal is the genre of horror. Today Bender and Jamie talk about how they run horror themed games and how you can celebrate Halloween by giving your players a good scare.

Nov 02, 201855 min

Express 42: Essen SPIEL 2018 Preview with Stephen Buonocore

Jamie and Tony welcomes Honorary Founder Stephen Buonocore of Stronghold Games to talk about the Stronghold Games and Indie Board Game Cards merger then Tony T hosts a preview of some of the games we're excited about debuting at one of the largest gaming conventions in the world Essen SPIEL!

Oct 24, 20181 hr 24 min

Episode 169: Eschaton, Folklore the Affliction and a Short Topic Extravaganza

It's Halloween time and the founders celebrate by talking about a ton of spooky board game! Then they feature the grim themed Eschaton from Archon Games and look back at the creepy adventure Folklore the Affliction from Greenbrier Games. After Tony T scares the wits out of you with his dreaded new segment and the ghoulish gang quacks in the background they host another Short Topic Extravaganza featuring a problem player, underused themed in board games and how to make territory control unique!

Oct 17, 20183 hr 18 min

Lords of the Dungeon 20: DnD Beyond Look Back, Our Favorite Monsters and The GM and Player Arms Race

In Episode 20 the Lords take a couple of questions from the listeners and discuses out thoughts and opinions on DnD Beyond after using it for 6 months. Then we talk about our favorite monsters to go up against and ones Bender and Jamie like to pit against their players. Then we discuss some of the issues with players getting to high levels and the issues that can arise when preparing a game.

Oct 10, 20181 hr 7 min

Episode 168: Too Many Bones, Viral and Weight, Complexity, Brainburn and Stress

Hey Now! Today the gang talks about Village Attacks, Everdell, Dwar7s Winter, Coimbra, The Island of El Dorado, Festival of 1000 cats, Blood Rage and Court of Medici. Then the gang reviews Too Many Bones from Chip Theory Games and Looks back at Viral from Arcane Wonders. And of course Tony T goes bananas with all the news coming from around the gaming industry. Then the Founders finish off the game by discussing Weight, Complexity, Brainburn and Stress in board gaming.

Oct 03, 20183 hr 19 min

Dungeon Masters Ludus 07: Creating A Moment

Today Bender and Jamie talk about developing moments in your campaign. Moments that will provide players with memorable situations that will enrich your campaigns. Empowering players and making them feel badass, creating the pivotal moments when they may be set down a path of character evolution and putting players into situations when they have to make a choice. Sometimes a moral choice and others a sadistic choice.

Sep 28, 201848 min

Episode 167: War Chest, Massive Darkness and A Short Topic Extravaganza

Tony was visiting home for a week and we got to have a big game day in which we played tons of games and Chris and Tony get into a tussle over explaining rules. Then Tony, Steve and Jamie give an overview and review of War Chest from AEG and Look back at Massive Darkness from CMON one year later. Then Tony T gives us the rundown of all the hot gaming news from around the industry. Then we wrap up with a short topic extravaganza in which we further discuss Unique Games and hear two sides of the a...

Sep 19, 20183 hr 18 min

Lords of the Dungeon 19: Our Dungeons and Dragons Campaign Update and Player Meta

In Episode 19 the Lords give and update on their current Dungeons and Dragons campaign and all the stuff their characters are getting into. And then based on some things that happened in our most recent gaming session, discuss Player Meta and how we separate doing what's best from a game standpoint and doing whats best from a role playing standpoint.

Sep 12, 20181 hr 8 min

Episode 166: Root and The Secret Cabal Playlists

Today we start the episode off by talking about Steve's Lovecraft Pizza Party and the games he played. Then the game takes a look at the new hotness that everyone's talking about. The cute and cuddly furry creatures that murder each other over forest clearing, ROOT! Then we jump right to Tony T's new segment including all of the most important gaming news items on planet Earth and beyond because we're a bunch of boneheads and totally forgot to record the lookback. The finally we wrap up the show...

Sep 05, 20183 hr 1 min

Episode 165: The Reckoners, The Godfather and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Today the gang presents their new show, The Chris, Jamie and Steve Show over on YouTube and Tony and Jamie talk about their adventures at Gen Con. Then fter talking about a whole mess of games, Steve and Jamie review the new game based on Brandon Sanderson's book series, The Reckoners and look back at The Godfather: Corleone's Empire. And finally after Tony T gives you all of the more important news around the gaming world, the Founders do another Short Topic Extravaganza in which they talk abou...

Aug 15, 20183 hr 32 min

Episode 164: Thunderstone Quest, Nemo's War and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Jamie and Tony are on the way to Gen Con but the show must go on! Today the gang gives the feature review treatment to Thunderstone Quest and looks back at Nemo's War one year later. then Tony T gives us a rousing news segment in which we talk about the Overturn Kickstarter mess. Then in our Short Topic Extravaganza we talk about Kickstarters that go bad, Anime movies and Uwe Rosenberg games and how they've changed over the years.

Aug 01, 20183 hr 35 min

Express 40: Gen Con 2018 Preview and Gen Con 2017 Look Back

Gen Con 2018 is in a week from today so Jamie and Tony get together to take a look at the BGG game release list and talk about the games that will bring you to full froth! As well, they take a look at Gen Con 2017's BGG list and talk about how some of the hot games from last year fared over the past year.

Jul 25, 201855 min

Episode 163: Gaia Project, Near and Far and The State of Board Gaming Today

Jamie and Chris are back from Dice Tower Con and have a bunch of new experiences and games to talk about. Then the gang presents their brand new segment called "Games of Yester-year" in which they talk about and review older titles from years past. Then of course, the Founders give you another feature review, this time Gaia Project and look back at Near and Far one year later. Tony T gives you the best damned tabletop gaming new segment in the history of gaming and then the guys have a short dis...

Jul 18, 20183 hr 45 min

Lords of the Dungeon 17: Knowing What Your Players Can Do and Experience

The Lords are back from Origins and the gang discusses about how great gaming conventions are. Then Jess talks about her Shadowrun Games at Origins. We take a question from a listener regarding collecting information from about and knowing everything your players can do. Then we round out the episode with a discussion about giving experience to your players.

Jul 11, 20181 hr 1 min

Episode 162: Dinosaur Island, Age of Thieves and a Short Topic Extravaganza

We're back from Origins and have a few tales of gaming and shenanigans to tell plus all the games we played while in Columbus Ohio for nearly a week. Then we do a feature review of Dinosaur Island and a look back at Age of Thieves. Tony T gives us the rundown of all the important news from the tabletop gaming universe while the rest of us quack in the background. Then finally we host another short topic extravaganza in which we talk about the price of boards games, how the Satanic Panic affected...

Jul 04, 20183 hr 37 min

Episode 161: A Feast for Odin, Railroad Revolution and The Fear of Missing Out

Tony T is back from Europe and talks about some of the crazy things he's gotten into, the gang talks about a bunch of older games they've been getting into lately. Then the Founders review A Feast for Odin and look back at Railroad Revolution. The Tony T is back in the new anchor chair and the gang chatters in the background. The finally, the guys discuss FOMO, The Fear of Missing Out.

Jun 20, 20183 hr 9 min

Lords of the Dungeon 16: Players Knowing More than the GM and Things We Could Improve Upon in Our Roleplaying

The Gang is on the way to Origins Game Fair but the show must go on! Today we talk about our new Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign and the characters we'll be playing. Then we take a question from a listener who asks how we handle players knowing more about a setting than the Game Master. Finally the Lords have a round table table discussion about things they could improve upon in their own roleplaying and game mastering.

Jun 13, 20181 hr 11 min

Episode 160: Big Trouble in Little China, Watson and Holmes and Our Favorite Gaming Memories

So Tony T is marauding around Europe so we have a guest sitting in, Aaron from Lords of the Dungeon! First Chris and Jamie review the Dungeons and Dragons themed movie Mazes and Monsters starring Tom Hanks. Then after the Founders run down all the games they've been playing they talk a little but about Origins and give some details about their event. Then the gang takes a look at the new Big Trouble in Little China board game and give you their review and a look back at Watson and Holmes one yea...

Jun 06, 20183 hr 21 min
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