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, 2018•58 min
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, 2018•1 hr 7 min
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, 2018•3 hr 43 min
In episode 15 the Lords take a question from a Cabalist regarding how their group handles mixing good and evil player characters in the same adventuring party. Then they discuss loot and rewards in role playing games and how it's important to balance the economy in your games.
May 09, 2018•1 hr 11 min
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, 2018•3 hr 10 min
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, 2018•48 min
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, 2018•59 min
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, 2018•3 hr 16 min
Today the Lords start with a followup to Bender's End of the World Zombie Apocalypse one shot session. Then the gang transitions to talking about Game Masters running a character within their own games. Then they finish the show by talking about great villains in RPG campaigns.
Apr 11, 2018•1 hr 14 min
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, 2018•3 hr 8 min
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, 2018•59 min
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, 2018•51 min
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, 2018•3 hr 16 min
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, 2018•57 min
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, 2018•3 hr 20 min
In today's Dungeon Master's Ludus Bender and Jamie talk about the Prime Directive of starting a new role playing game and now to make the first adventure of your new campaign amazing.
Mar 02, 2018•1 hr 6 min
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, 2018•52 min
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, 2018•2 hr 56 min
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, 2018•1 hr 15 min
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, 2018•3 hr 33 min
In this special series from the Lords of the dungeon, Bender and Jamie will discuss their process for running role playing game campaigns.In the first episode we discuss the clean slate - where do you get started creating a campaign for your RPG group?
Jan 31, 2018•1 hr 2 min
Today Chris and Jamie talk about euro games, what they are, what we like about them, the kinds that we like and what it's all about. Then we each list 3 games we love and 2 games we'd love to play that we havent played before.
Jan 24, 2018•59 min
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, 2018•3 hr 9 min
In episode 11 we talk about our decision to switch from Fate Core to World of Darkness and a little but about the new Genesys system. Then we take a topic from a listener about how long should RPG campaigns take to complete. Then finally we talk about our current Dark Earth 1899 campaign.
Jan 10, 2018•58 min
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, 2018•2 hr 58 min
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, 2017•3 hr 3 min
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, 2017•1 hr 10 min
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, 2017•3 hr 5 min
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, 2017•58 min
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, 2017•2 hr 36 min