The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

We're back from Origins, and we've got stories to tell! AC from Lords of the Dungeon joins us to spin some yarns from our trip to Columbus, Ohio. Then we dive into the games we've been playing, including Friedrich, Euphoria, Coffee Traders, Wroth, Mystery of the Abbey, The Quest for El Dorado, and a featured review of Stupor Mundi by Nestore Mangone. Stevie S takes the helm for the News segment while Tony's away, and the Gang answers a couple of listener questions. Friedrich: 00:30:39, Euphoria: 00:39:56, Coffee Traders: 00:45:03, Wroth: 00:53:18, Mystery of the Abbey: 01:02:59, The Quest for El Dorado: 01:13:31, Stupor Mundi: 01:25:32, News with Stevie S: 01:59:55, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:47:54. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

In our previous episode, we explored what makes a board game a true masterpiece—a creation that showcases a designer’s greatest achievement, marked by exceptional craftsmanship, originality, and lasting impact. This time, we’re taking the conversation even deeper. In Masterpieces 2, the Founders shift the spotlight to the brilliant minds behind the games themselves. We’ll be celebrating the visionary game designers whose work has shaped the hobby - and welcoming four Honorary Founders as guest hosts, each presenting their favorite designer and the game they consider to be that designer’s crowning achievement.

Hey now, and welcome to a special early release of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast! The gang is on their way to Origins Game Fair, and we figured it’d be nice to give everyone something to listen to if you're driving to Columbus, Ohio today. In this episode, the Founders talk about the games they've been playing, including The Quest for El Dorado, Stupor Mundi, Earth, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, and Terraforming Mars with the Colonies and Prelude expansions. They also feature The Dark Quarter from Evan Derrick. Then, after Tony T delivers his always-arousing tabletop gaming news segment, the fellas take questions from listeners - covering topics like what makes a great game day, what they've learned from board games, and what a first-time convention attendee should expect. The Quest for El Dorado: 00:08:32, Stupor Mundi: 00:14:41, Earth: 00:22:58, Heat Pedal to the Metal: 00:31:56, Terraforming Mars: 00:39:12, The Dark Quarter: 00:53:09, News with Tony T: 01:26:59, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:10:03. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

Hark and hearken, good folk, to a tale most joyous! Lo, after many a season spent in patient longing, bold AC doth at last return to the noble realm of tabletop role-playing! With great fanfare and mirth, he unveil’th his much-anticipated Planescapes campaign, and his fellowship of players taketh up the dice once more. As the Lords do revel and wax rhapsodic o'er the delights of their newfound quest, they dost turn back the wheel of time, revisiting a discourse of yore, nigh eight years past, wherein was debated the merits of sandbox tales versus the guided path of on-rails adventures. Sit thee down, pour thyself a flagon, and partake in their merry musings.

Hey now, and welcome to episode 322! Today, the gang kicks things off with a call to action for all you Cabalists -- we need your help coming up with ideas for The Best of The Cabal! Check out the Discord for all the details. Then it’s on to all the games we've been playing lately, including The Breach, Unmatched Adventures, Last Light, A.D.E.L.E., and our feature review of Galactic Cruise. After that, Tony T delivers another incredible Tabletop Gaming News segment, and the gang wraps it all up by playing a live round of Insider right here on the show. The Breach: 00:06:32, Come Sail Away!: 00:16:02, Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze: 00:25:43, Last Light: 00:35:52, A.D.E.L.E.: 00:45:14, Galactic Cruise: 01:11:18, News with Tony T: 01:54:34, Insider: 02:55:30. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

A masterpiece in relation to a creative work is a creation, such as a painting, book, film, musical composition, or other artistic or intellectual work, that is considered to be an artist’s or creator’s greatest and most outstanding achievement, demonstrating exceptional skill, craftsmanship, originality, and impact. Today the Founders discuss game design Masterpieces and the Master Game Designers that created them.

Hey Now Cabalists! The Founders are back at it again with another episode jam-packed with tabletop gaming mayhem! The gang kicks things off by talking about their plans for Origins and how they’re using Chaz Marler’s new website, GameNightPicks.com. Then it's on to the games they’ve been playing including Corps of Discovery, Tales of the Arthurian Knights, Galileo Galilei, House of Fado, Agemonia, and a feature review of the epic Cyclades Legendary Edition by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc. Tony T delivers the best damn tabletop gaming news segment in all of podcasting followed by a juicy discussion about player interaction. Corps of Discovery: 00:05:25, Tales of the Arthurian Knights: 00:14:12, Galileo Galilei: 00:28:38, House of Fado: 00:35:56, Agemonia: 00:41:29, Cyclades Legendary Edition: 00:57:13, News with Tony T: 01:32:45, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:34:10. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

Hey now Cabalists and welcome to episode 320 of The Secret Cabal! Origins Game Fair 2025 is nearly here and we're all fired up. If you're going to be there you got to join us for our meetup at the Whistle and Keg on June 20th. Then the gang gets into some of the games they've been playing including Praga Caput Regni, YRO, Obsession Upstairs Downstairs, Space Empires 4x, Biblios and a feature review of Septima from Mind Clash games! Then after Tony T hooks us up with his amazing new segment the Founders jump into another Short Topic Extravaganza. Praga Caput Regni: 00:04:44, YRO: 00:12:55, Obsession Upstairs, Downstairs: 00:21:14, Space Empires 4x: 00:31:33, Biblios: 00:42:28, Septima: 00:58:39, News with Tony T: 01:35:45, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:15:57. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

In this, the first interview special from The Secret Cabal, Jamie welcomes Honorary Founder and President of Restoration Games Justin Jacobson to discuss a very important issue impacting the board game industry right now - tariffs. The goal of this discussion is to understand what the tariffs are and how they work, how they're impacting the board game industry, how the industry is reacting, and what we can do to weather the storm.

Hey Now Cabalists! In Express 106, Tony, Don, and Jamie get together to discuss who they would carve into the side of a mountain to represent the tabletop gaming industry and community. Each of the Founders have very different criteria they used to make their list and each provide their own lineup of four iconic personalities who they feel should be immortalized in stone.

Good morning and happy Wednesday, Cabalists! Today the gang kicks things off by spotlighting Erik the Cabalist's homebrew Runebound scenario, packed with Secret Cabal references. Then they dive into the games they've been playing, including Baseball Highlights 2045, Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game, Obsession, Explorers of Navoria, Trick Shot, and a featured review of Moon from Haakon Gaarder. After Tony T's award-winning news segment, the gang launches into a discussion about hooks in board gaming - the things that get us fired up to try new games. Baseball Highlights 2045: 00:05:37, Metal Gear Solid The Board Game: 00:14:09, Obsession: 00:26:08, Explorers of Navoria: 00:38:34, Trick Shot: 00:46:18, Moon: 00:58:56, News with Tony T: 01:27:20, The Hook: 02:21:09. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

Hark, and well met, weary travelers! Come, rest thyselves and lend thine ears to the grand tales woven by the Lords of the Dungeon. Lady Jess shall regale thee with the chronicles of thy city upon the bridge, a place of wonder and enigma. Thereafter, the council doth gather to speak on the matter of adventures - those drawn from dusty tomes of old, and those forged anew by the hands of mortal minds. At journey’s end, they delve deep into spirited discourse, weighing the desires of the player 'gainst the will of the character. Sit ye back, and partake in this feast of wisdom and mirth!

Hey now Cabalists and welcome to episode 318! Today don and Jamie lament how well are South County Brewing Company game night is growing and invite all the local caballos to join us. Then the gang dives into a bunch of games they've been playing including Rise and Fall, The Manhattan Project Energy Empire, Expeditions with Gears of Corruption, Massive Darkness 2 Hellscape, Tower Up and feature Beyond the Horizon by Dennis K. Chan. Then after Tony T gives us the best damn news program in the biz, we take some listener questions including how to plan games for a gaming weekend, how do we keep things fresh, and what are some great dad games. Rise and Fall: 00:05:42, The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire: 00:17:06, Expeditions : 00:22:04, Massive Darkness 2 Hellscape: 00:33:47, Tower Up: 00:39:17, Beyond the Horizon: 00:50:43, News with Tony T: 01:25:32, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:12:01. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

Hey Now Cabalists! In this month's Secret Cabal Express, Don and Jamie discuss the Three Bears of board gaming. Everybody knows the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and how everything in that house was either too big or too small or too hot or too cold... Well, Don and Jamie talk about some of the board games they love that have one weird little flaw. Maybe they're too complex, or too fancy, or maybe just a little too short. And then talk about some that are just right!

Hey now and welcome, Cabalists! Today, Steve gives an awesome movie recommendation based on the popular social deduction game Werewolves of Miller's Hollow! Then we cruise right into some of the great games we've been playing, including Finspan, Guards of Atlantis II, On Mars, Teotihuacan, Bloodstones, and a feature review of Brass Birmingham from the great Martin Wallace. Then, after Tony T's world-famous news segment, the gang talks about what makes an enduring classic. Finspan: 00:05:36, Guards of Atlantis II: 00:14:44, On Mars: 00:24:02, Teotihuacan: 00:36:36, Bloodstones: 00:43:23, Brass Birmingham: 00:53:36, News with Tony T: 01:28:53, Enduring Classics: 02:14:51, Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/.

A fell plague hath beset the Cabal, striking hard and laying low good Jesko and noble AC! Yet fear not, for steadfast Jamie, valiant Jess, and bold Bender do take up the mantle, helming Lords of the Dungeon in their absence. These last Lords standing embark upon three grand tales this day: the shifting tides and lengths of campaigns through the ages, the folly of players who craft their own hardships, and the perils and delights that come with joining a fellowship anew. Raise thy tankards, my friends - huzzah!

Good morning and happy Friday Cabalists! Sorry the episodes late but Jamie has been sick as a dog all week long but the show is finally here. Today we dive into a bunch of games we've been playing including Chaosmos, QE, Box One, Revive, Tower Up presented by Dan King the Game Boy Geek and feature Evertstone Discovering Ignis from Sam McDavitt. Then after Tony T's world renown new segment we host another Short Topic Extravaganza with questions including how long is too long? How much does theme matter? And how the hell do you use BoardGameGeek? Chaosmos: 00:05:08, QE: 00:14:52, Box One: 00:22:52, Revive: 00:27:28, Tower Up with Dan King the Game Boy Geek: 00:40:42, Everstone Discovering Ignis: 00:55:31, News with Tony T: 01:27:05, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:31:43, Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/ and don't forget to use the promo code SECRETSETI at checkout. And please support our great friend Dan King the Game Boy Geek on Kickstarter today! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gameboygeek/game-boy-geek-season-13-2025

Board games are getting more expensive! Don, Chris, and Jamie get together to talk about the value of the hobby they've chosen. The group talks about gauging perceived value, the psychology of board game pricing, luxury and upgraded board games, crowdfunding, the fear of missing out, and what really matters to get the most out of your dollar.

Hey now Cabalists! Today the game kicks off the show by moaning and complaining about all their problems but get right into the gaming with Ostia Pirates Expansion, Forest Shuffle, Ticket to Ride, Fled, Rebirth, and a feature review of Freedom Five A Sentinels Comics Board Game. Then Stevie S takes over for Tony T to give you all of the most important news from around the tabletop community. Then the Founders finish off the show with a discussion about mastering board games. Ostia Pirates Expansion: 00:04:15, Forest Shuffle: 00:10:51, Ticket to Ride: 00:19:49, Fled: 00:26:47, Rebirth: 00:32:23, Freedom Five: 00:42:10, News with Stevie S: 01:16:32, Mastering A Game Discussion: 02:11:50, Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And CGE at https://czechgames.com/ and don't forget to use the promo code SECRETSETI at checkout.

Hear ye, hear ye! Gather 'round, good folk, and lend thine ears! This day, the noble fellowship doth embark upon a most curious experiment—a new manner of tale-telling, wherein many a topic shall be pondered under the banner of "Finding the Balance." Let it be known that the Lords shall speak of the casting of fate-bound dice, the perils of adversarial Game Masters, the clash 'twixt combat and roleplay, and much, much more! So steel thy minds, sharpen thine ears, and revel in the wisdom to come! Huzzah!