The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

Greetings, valiant Cabalists! Join us for a whirlwind adventure as we explore the realms of tabletop gaming! In this thrilling episode the gang reviews an incredibly unique game, The Quiet Year and discuss the explosive popularity of Fallout tabletop toleplaying. We'll recount Bender's legendary exploits in the classic Harlequin adventure for Shadowrun and soar to new heights with a discussion of superheroes and the thrilling world of superheroic role-playing! Prepare for excitement beyond measure! Excelsior!

Hey Cabalists! In today's episode we talk about our new public game nights at South County Brewing here in York! Then we get into a bunch of games we've been playing including An Age Contrived, Merchant of Venus, Agricola, Trickerion, Defenders of the Last Stand and feature Nova Roma from Stan Kordonskiy. Then Tony T goes bananas giving us a rundown of all the awesome news from around the board gaming world. Then finally we host another short topic extravaganza in which we discuss our favorite player colors, do you expect your guests to pre-learn the games, and are there any games we repurchased. Nova Roma Review 01:02:46, News with Tony T 01:34:33, Short Topics 02:39:48

We got a full house on the cast today! Chris, Steve, Jamie, Tony T, and Battletome Mike leave the world of tabletop gaming in favor of a whole episode about Fallout, Invincible, The Boys, X-Men, True Detective, Spartacus, Resident Alien, and lots more! Join us for an hour of off topic nonsense!

Kaboom! It's time for another chock-a-block episode of the Secret Cabal! Today Tony and Jamie start out by talking about their experiences delving into Board Game Arena. Then the gang gets into all the games they've been playing, both digital and analog, including Castles of Burgundy, Robinson Crusoe Adventures on the Cursed Island, Altar Quest, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Slaughterhouse, and Junk Drawer. Then after Tony T proves his merit as the best damned tabletop gaming newsman in history, the gang gets into a discussion about Randomness vs Determinism in board gaming. Aquatica Review 00:53:36, News with Tony T 01:26:08, Randomness vs Determinism 02:16:12

Alright chummers, listen up. This datastream kicks off with the Lords revealing their fresh-off-the-press Shadowrun personas for Bender's upcoming run. After that, they dive into their ongoing Call of Cthulhu gig, swapping tales and tactics from the madness-inducing adventures they're caught up in. Then, things get real juicy as they roll into a deep convo about the tricksy abilities us players can exploit and how game masters can keep a lid on the power we wield. Dig it and stay frosty out there in the sprawl!

Heyooooooo! The Founders start the show fired up because they've locked in a venue for this year's Origins Meetup! It'll be the first time the Cabal has had a Cabalist Meetup in 5 years and they're ready to rock and roll! Then the gang gets into some of the games they've been playing including Age of Comics The Golden Age, Dune Imperium, Wyrmspan, Beast and a feature review of The Fox Experiment from Jeff Fraser and Elizabeth Hargrave. Then, as usual, Tony T kicks out the best damn tabletop gaming news that you're ever going to hear. And finally, the gang gets into a discussion about exemplary mechanisms - mechanisms that make good games great. The Fox Experiment Review 00:44:37, News with Tony T 01:12:54, Exemplary Mechanisms 02:18:32

Today, Don and Jamie dive into a discussion about Kickstarter, Gamefound, Backerkit and Indiegogo... it's all about crowdfunding! We talk about the impact it's had on the consumer and the industry, and we give all our crowdfunding stats - the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yes, Don's is ALL ugly.

Hey now Cabalists! Today the gang dives into some of the great games they've been playing including Sunrise Lane, Vale of Eternity, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Sanctum, Harrow County and go deep with a feature review of Obsession by Dan Hallagan. Then after Tony T gives us one whopper of a tabletop gaming news segment, the Founders go through a series of listener submitted questions including when do mistakes become cheating and how to get better at eurogames. Obsession Review 00:59:38, News with Tony T 01:33:45, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:44:04

Hark, Cabalists, for another tale unfolds in the annals of the Lords of the Dungeon! As the merry band rejoices in their reunion, they entertain a listener's query, recounting cherished characters of yore. Delving into character quirks, they ponder virtues and pitfalls with wisdom and mirth. Together, let us embark on this journey through imagination and camaraderie, reveling in storytelling and fellowship. Embrace the adventure, for in kindred spirits, the joys of the tabletop know no bounds!

Everyone knows that we talk about Tony taking long turns but today we got actual data! After we pick on T for his slow play, we jump into the games we've been playing including Tony's BGA games, Glass Road, Terrorscape, Bloodstones, and our great friend Dan King the Game Boy Geek joins us to talk about Aqua Biodiversity in the Oceans. Then Tony and Don give a feature review of Wonderland's War. Tony T gives us one of the single greatest news segments ever delivered in the history of board game media. And finally, Don leads a conversation about perfect games, if they're perfect and improving upon perfection. Wonderland's War Review 01:07:33, News with Tony T 01:47:36, Improving Upon Perfection 02:55:44

Today, Don and Jamie embark on yet another exploration into the works of the renowned board game designer, Martin Wallace - a personal favorite of Jamie's. They delve into a myriad of his noteworthy games, discussing their standout features, and examine how Wallace has continually honed and refined his design approach throughout his illustrious career.

Hey now and Happy Wednesday wonderful Cabalists! Today the gang gets down to business talking about all the awesome games they've been playing including Last Light, Wyrmspan, Luna, Studies in Sorcery, Her Story, and a feature review of Djinn by Benjamin Schwer and Pegasus Spiele. Then Tony T kicks out the best damned tabletop gaming news segment in the entire universe. And finally, the Founders get down to business with some listener submitted questions with topics including are semi-cooperative games inherently broken? And what are some of your personal neuroses? Djinn Review 00:59:20, News with Tony T 01:28:19, A Short Topic Extravaganza 02:23:20

Gather 'round, noble Cabalists, for a profound sojourn with The Lords of the Dungeon! Today, amidst the swirling ether, we delve into the essence of balance, pondering the interplay of jest and gravity within our gaming realms. From merry jests to weighty matters, we traverse this delicate dance. Yet, our journey extends further, into the labyrinth of campaign preparation. What lore suffices, and what is excess? With minds keen and hearts resolute, we seek equilibrium, uniting frivolity and earnestness. Thus, let us embark on quests imbued with ancient wisdom and boundless imagination!

Well alright Cabalists, you know it's time for another wild and crazy episode of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast. Today we pick on Tony T for mispronouncing everything before diving into all the great games we've been playing including Clash of Cultures Monumental Edition, Dune War for Arrakis, Frostpunk, Obsession, Go, and Arkham Horror The Road to Innsmouth followed by a feature review of Witchcraft by our great friends David Thompson, Trevor Benjamin, and Roger Tankersley. Then after Tony T gives you history's greatest tabletop gaming news segment, the gang discusses the 10 worst games rated on Board Game Geek. Is it a fair ranking? We'll find out. Witchcraft Review 01:04:37, News with Tony T 01:35:52, The 10 Worst Games of All Time 02:38:53

Welcome Ye Gods of War! Today's chronicle unravels as these Filthy Casuals prattle on about their quaint endeavors in miniature craftsmanship. Jamie regales tales of his Dwarven Warband, while Mike boasts of a Norse Blood Bowl Team, and the gang trifles akin to plundered baubles from Etsy peddlers. Then, the enigmatic AC unveils a grand design, the colossal two-year odyssey culminating in a full lance of Adeptus Titanicus - a testament to the freebooter's audacity. The saga unfurls into a parlance concerning Games Workshop's freshest bounty, the Legions Imperialis.

Hey Now Cabalists! In today's Express Don and Jamie present the annual Best of 2023 and Lookback Special in which we look back at the past year and discuss the games we played and reviewed!

Hey now! Episode 289 kicks off with Chris taking over the show to leading us down the path his mind walks. Then the gang talks about some games they've been playing including The Fox Experiment, Plum Island Horror, Speakeasy Blues, Crusaders Thy Will be Done, and Everdell Digital. Then Chris, Don and Jamie feature After Us from Florian Sirieix and Pandasaurus Games. Then Tony T gives you the best Damned tabletop gaming news programing that your ears ever beheld. And finally the founders discussed their irksome irritants, the things they find annoying about board games and the hobby, and how they would fix them. After Us Review 00:46:26, News with Tony T 01:22:35, Irksome Irritants 02:17:29

Hail, noble Cabalists! In this inaugural episode of the year 2024, the gallant assembly delves into Jess and Bender's enduring Vampire the Masquerade campaign. Each Lord then shares their fervor for a new game in this annum, and the fellowship engages in a lively discourse on player choice, the illusion thereof, and the ensuing consequences. Join this convivial gathering as they traverse the realms of whimsical revelry!

Happy New Year Cabalists! We're sorry the show is a few days behind schedule but better late than never! Today the gang talks about some of the crap they got for Christmas and a bunch of the games they've been playing including The Thing: The Boardgame, Stationfall, Kutna Hora City of Silver, The Stifling Dark, Go, and a feature review of Raising Robots from Nauvoo Games. Then Tony T makes sure you're up to date on all the most important chess anal bead news. Then finally the Founders present some of their most shameful shelf of shame games and the others vote on which ones they commit to playing! Raising Robots Review 00:58:43, News with Tony T 01:27:18, The Shelf of Shame Challenge 02:31:20

Don and Jamie are joined by The Secret Cabal Elf to discuss The Island of Misfit Games! Just like in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer in which Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius discover the Island of Misfit Toys, Don, Jamie and Elf discuss the strange, broken, or unattractive - yet fun to play - games that need to find good homes. Also, the gang is joined throughout the episode by their great friends Chaz Marler and Rodney Smith of Watch It Played, Joel Eddy of Drive Thru Games, and Dan King the Game Boy Geek to give their favorite misfits.