The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

Ho Ho Ho Cabalists! It's the 2022 Secret Cabal Holiday Special! Today the Don and Jamie talk about their time at PAX Unplugged and a bunch of games they've played including Obsession, Fire & Stone: Siege of Vienna 1683, Clank! Catacombs, Wicked & Wise and Ready, Set Bet and a feature review of Ahoy by Greg Loring-Albright and Leder Games. Then between all the Secret Cabal Christmas tunes, Tony T kicks out the best damned tabletop gaming news segment in the history of tabletop gaming podcasts and the gang talks about games from the past, present and future that bring them joy. Ahoy Review 00:51:33, Founders Update 01:19:44, News with Tony T 01:25:56, Games of Christmas Past Present and Future 02:13:04

Direct download: 263SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
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In this, the first Express Episode in a full year, Don, Chris and Jamie are joined by their very good friend The Secret Cabal Christmas Elf to help Santa out with gifting games to gamers. The boys go through a series of categories including games for game enthusiasts, party games, stocking stuffers, budget games and more.

Direct download: 080SecretCabalExpress.mp3
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Hey now! It's time for another healthy dose of Cabal nonsense! Today the gang gets into some of the games they've been playing including Star Trek Ascendency, Weather Machine, Mechs vs Minions, Paperback Adventures, San Francisco, and features Sabotage by Tim Fowers. Then Tony T gives the most wonderful tabletop gaming roundup any newsman has every provided. Finally, the Founders take a look at crowdfunding and how their habits have changed over the years and how they may be changing in the future. Sabotage Review 00:47:54, Founders Update 01:09:01, News with Tony T 01:14:31, Revisiting Crowdfunding 01:55:02

Direct download: 262SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
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Gobble Gobble Gobble, Cabalists! It's coming up on that holiday where we eat way too much take naps on the couch (or that would be a typical day at my house). The gang dives in with some games they've been playing including Planted, Horrified Universal Monsters, Monster Slaughter, Oak, Ark Nova and our feature review Alma Mater from Eggertspiele. Tony Topper does what a Tony Topper does best and enlightens us with all the best tabletop gaming news out there. And finally, the founders list some things that really stick in their craw and what games they're thankful for that fix those issues. Alma Mater Review 00:50:44, News with Tony T 01:19:33, What We're Thankful For In Gaming 02:08:29

Direct download: 261SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:44pm EDT

Hey Now Cabalists! Alabama White Thing? Alabama Booger Monster? Turkey Man Steve? The mysterious primates are everywhere! Today the gang talks about a bunch of great games they’ve been getting into including Valaria: Card, Mosaic, Don't Go In There, Flamecraft, Campaign Trail and a feature review of Endless Winter: Paleoamericans from Stan Kordonskiy Fantasia Games. Then after Tony T gives you an on fleek tabletop gaming news roundup the gang gets into some short topics including rare and out of print games, the complexity to fun ratio and what game could you beat Death at to not go to hell? Endless Winter Paleoamericans Review 00:54:27, News with Tony T 01:13:00, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:19:22

Direct download: 260SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:38am EDT

Happy Halloween Cabalists! It's that time of year when the Founders are visited by Wolfman Steve and The Gatekeeper for some spooky fun and games! First the gang talks about their very own cryptid that lives in the forests near their home. Then the gaming ghoulies jump into some games they've been playing including Finding Sasquatch, Cult of the Deep, Bloody Inn, Feed the Kraken, Campy Creatures, and our feature review, Night of the Living Dead A Zombicide Game. Then Tony T gives us the creepiest, most hair-raising haunted new segments in all of Halloween Town. Then finally the Founders give board games a break and talk about the TV shows and movies we're watching this October! Night of the Living Dead Review 00:54:27, News with Tony T 01:13:00, What To Watch This Halloween 02:19:22

Direct download: 259SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:45am EDT

The Founders are back with another jam-packed episode and this one has some crazy stuff going on so BEWARE! The gang starts out by talking about some awesome games including Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood, Glow, Exit: The Sinister Mansion, Lunar Rush, Cry Havoc, Agricola and My Father’s Work. Then Don, Steve and Jamie jump into a feature review of Witchstone. Tony T goes bananas with his news segment, and this is where all the insanity starts due to a controversy in the Chess world. Then finally the gang talks about beer and pretzel games, games we would have loved when we were in 7th grade, and things that turn us off about games in our Short Topic Extravaganza. Overview 01:13:47, Witchstone Review 01:17:19, News with Tony T 01:40:01, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:33:42

Direct download: 258SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:14am EDT

Hey Now Cabalists! In episode 257 the gang gets back to talk about some great games including Resist!, City of Iron, Thunderstone Quest, Trudvang Legends, Cat in the Box and Get on Board. Then Don and Jamie throw a feature review of Furnace from AEG at you, followed by the great Tony T and his legendary news segment featuring many off the rails conversations. And finally, the Founders get busy with a discussion called Matters of Complexity! Furnace Overview 01:13:47, Furnace Review 01:17:19, News with Tony T 01:40:01, Matters of Complexity 02:33:42

Direct download: 257SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:49am EDT

In episode 256, Steve digs into his mail bag and definitely is NOT paid by Cabalists to provide shout outs on the air. Then the Founders get busy talking about the games they've been playing including Dead Reckoning, USPS The Great American Mail Race, Dorf Romantik, Conquest of Planet Earth, My Father’s Work, Suburbia Collector’s Edition and Everdell Digital. Then, of course, Tony T give the audience with the best damned tabletop gaming news segment that has ever been provided to a podcast audience. And finally, the gang hosts a Short Topic Extravaganza with topics including the Founder's superpowers, what Dungeons and Dragons characters would the Founders be, how many plays does it take to say a game is bad and are there any Kickstarter the founders regret backing and not backing. Sniper Elite Overview 01:07:43, Sniper Elite Review 01:10:20, The News with Tony T 01:38:19, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:42:50

Direct download: 256SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
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Enter, Ye Gods of War! In Volume five of Battletome, a podcast about the miniatures gaming hobby, Bender, Aaron and Jamie welcomes a new filthy casual to the roster of Cabal hosts, Mike! The gang talks about their hobby projects including Warcry, Frostgrave, Marvel Crisis Protocol, Star Wars Legion, Warhammer 40,000 and Moonbreaker. Then the guys get down and dirty with the classic miniatures wargame Battletech from Catalyst Game Labs.

Direct download: 05Battletome.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:44pm EDT

In episode 255, The gang starts out with a story from back in high school and dive right into the games we've been playing including Catan Starfarers, Age of Atlantis, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea, Nidavellir, Marvel Dice Throne, Kitty Paw and Star Trek Missions. Then the Founders jump into a deep dive review of The Great Wall from Awaken Realms. Then after Tony T gives us a rundown of all the most important news items from around the tabletop gaming world, the game returns to a discussion topic from the past regarding Replaybility and how it impacts our enjoyment, our perception of value and how it affects our reviews. The Great Wall Overview 01:09:15, The Great Wall Review 01:13:42, The News with Tony T 01:46:17, Revisiting Replaybility 02:42:53 v

Direct download: 255SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:44am EDT

In episode 254 the Founders start the show by talking about Tony's trip back to Pennsylvania and move into the games we've been playing including Tapestry with the Plots and Ploys expansion and the Arts and Architecture expansion, Shogun, A.D.E.L.E., Murder of Crows and Bumuntu. Then Tony T pins the wild meter in the red with his tabletop gaming news segment. And finally, we give you another Short Topic Extravaganza including Ghosts and hauntings, the player who hosts and preps the game night and is it okay to meta-game a board game. Final Girl Overview 01:04:07, Final Girl Review 01:09:02, The News with Tony T 01:38:57, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:38:50

Direct download: 254SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:47am EDT

Good morning and happy Wednesday to all of you wonderful Cabalists out there! Today we dive into talking about the games we've been playing including Rising Sun, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Ashes Reborn: Rise of the Phoenixborn, Thunderstone Quest, Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape, and Star Wars Outer Rim Unfinished Business. Don, Jamie and Steve hook you up with a feature review of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window from the Prospero Hall design team and Funko Games. Then Tony T managed to pique our interests with a bunch of great news stories and Kickstarters from across the gaming verse. And finally, court is in session and Judge Topper presides over The Cabalist's Court! Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window Overview 01:02:00, Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window Review 01:06:57, News with Tony T 01:33:09, The Cabalists Court with Judge Topper 02:13:57

Direct download: 253SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:20am EDT

Alrighty Cabalists, it’s time for yet another major dose of Secret Cabal insubordinate, irreverence and meshugenah nonsense! Today the gang dives into the games they’ve been getting into including Circadians: First Light, Buck Rogers Battle for 25th Century, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Bretwalda, Wild Serengeti, Dutch Blitz and Rising Sun. Then Don, Jamie and Chris get busy with a review of Renegade Games’ The Snallygaster Situation: Kids on Bikes Board Game. And of course, as usual, Tony T gives us what hell of a roller coaster ride through the world of tabletop gaming in his bananas news segment. The show is then closed out with the discussion about board game production and how that may affect the fun positively and negatively. The Snallygaster Situation Overview 00:58:17, The Snallygaster Situation Review 01:03:18, News with Tony T 01:28:44, The Production, Gameplay and Cost of Board Games 02:13:03

Direct download: 252SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:43am EDT

Today the absolutely amazing and wonderful board game content creator, Chaz Marler of Pair of Dice Paradise and Watch It Played gives us a pro announce that couldn’t be matched! Then the gang goes from wonderful to disgusting as Chris describes his dootie basement. When the founders get tired of hearing about toilet water shooting into the basement, they get busy with some games they've been playing including Big City, Carnegie, Space Station Phoenix, Cuphead, and Blank Slate. Then Don and Jamie jump into a feature review of the new Tom Lehmann came Dice Realms. Tony T wows the audience with his amazing newsman skills and finally the game discusses the Top 1000 Club in which they talk about games that have been relegated to the ranking of 1000 on Board Game Geek. Dice Realms Overview 00:51:28, Dice Realms Review 00:56:00, News with Tony T 01:18:10, The Top 1000 Club 02:02:51

Direct download: 251SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:47am EDT

Today the legendary board and miniatures game reviewer, Joel Eddy of Drive Thru Games, opens the show with a guest announce and we couldn’t ask for better! Then Jamie reveals the results of his latest visit to the Cancer doctor and the gang gets busy talking about the games they've been playing including, Regicide, Spartacus , Mobile Markets, Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles, Sniper Elite, Splendor and Century Spice Road. Then Jamie and Don dive into a feature review of Golem from Cranio Creations. Tony T, wows the audience with his new man prowess in his world famous tabletop gaming news segment. And finally, the gang closes out the show with a Short Off-Topic Extravaganza in which they DO NOT talk about tabletop gaming but rather random off topic questions submitted by listeners include our favorite beer and cocktails, what we'd do with a time machine and how Tony prepares his final words of wisdom. Golem Overview 01:15:29, Golem Review 01:19:58, News with Tony T 01:28:48, Short Off-Topic Extravaganza 02:33:08

Direct download: 250SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:48pm EDT

Today we have our great friend Rodney Smith of Watch It Played kicking off the show with a guest announce, and I gotta say, he goes an amazing job! Then the Founders confront Don about his sleeving mental issues and continue with a dive into a mess of games they've been getting into including Horrified American Monsters, Foundations of Rome, Cuphead The Fast Rolling Dice Game, Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age, Roll Through the Ages: The Iron Age, Era: Medieval Age, Gaia Project, and Cryptid: Urban Legends. After Jamie gives a little health update, he and Don crack open Boonlake from Alexander Pfister and Capstone Games for a feature review. Tony T, once again, wows the people with his fine upstanding journalism skill and news delivery skills. Then finally the gang talks about games designs that have gone through an evolutionary period over time. Boonlake Overview 01:10:22, Boonlake Review 01:14:06, News with Tony T 01:42:58, Evolution of Game Designs 02:36:12

Direct download: 249SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:34pm EDT

Dan King The Game Boy Geek stars as our guest announcer today and goes the extra mile to give us some saxophone serenading! Today the Founders dive right into a conversation about a beautiful thing a group of Cabalsts did for Jamie by getting some of his favorite Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica character to wish him good health. Check out the show notes on www.thesecretcabal.com for links to the videos. Then the gang runs down some of games they've been playing including Stardew Valley, Caylus, Hunt a Killer, Nemesis, Great Wall, Brian Boru High King of Ireland, and Res Arcana. Don and Jamie throw down a feature review of Ark Nova from Capstone Games, Tony T delivers the hottest gaming news segment this side of the Mississippi and finally the gang takes questions from the listeners including where our gaming retirement home would be, what minimalist games do we recommend and what's our second favorite game from our favorite game designer. Ark Nova Overview 01:06:14, Ark Nova Review 01:10:35, News with Tony T 01:38:01, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:35:05

Direct download: 248SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:44pm EDT

Tony McRee of Rolling Dice and Taking Names blasts us into a new episode of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast! Today the gang talks about some of the games they've been playing including Oltree, Dune Imperium, Merchants of the Dark Road, DinoGenics, Dice Throne, Camel Up and Last Light. Then Don, Steve and Jamie throw down a review of Richard Garfield's The Hunger from Renegade Games. Tony T, as always, wows the audience with this vast knowledge of all things gaming industry in his award-winning news segment. And finally, the Founders dive into a discussion about what games they would like to see in the BoardGameGeek top 100 ranking. The Hunger Overview 00:48:13, The Hunger World Review 00:51:17, News with Tony T 01:16:08, Games We Would Add to the BGG Top 100 02:17:33

Direct download: 247SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:19pm EDT

Hey Now Cabalists! After a 3-month hiatus, the Secret Cabal Founders are back in action. Today we jump right back into the swing of things bustin’ balls, crackin' wise and yammering on about the games they love to play. Then Tony T doesn’t even miss a beat jumping back into this newsman shoes and gives us the best damned tabletop gaming news roundup you've ever seen. Then finally the gang talks about what they've been up to for the past 3 months while Jamie was "laying around" as Steve puts it.

Direct download: 246SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
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Direct download: ImportantMessage_Mar2022_SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:32am EDT

The feed has gone silent, and Jamie is here to tell you the whole story as to where the Secret Cabal has been.

Direct download: ImportantMessage2022_SecretCabalGamingPodcast.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 5:33pm EDT

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