The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

In episode 65 Jamie and Don welcome Honorary Founder, Rodney Smith of Watch It Played, to discuss reviewing board games including the perceptions of viewers, the integrity of the reviewer, what makes good reviews and more.

In episode 42, The Lords start out by discussing their Star Trek adventures 3 part campaign and decide whether they enjoyed the system or not and why, take a question from a listener regarding tracing their origins of when they got into roleplaying games and finish off by discussing their next campaign in the Old World using Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th edition.

Hey Now Cabalists! Today the gang is back to talk about a ton of board gaming stuff including Crystal Palace, Mariposas, Dinogenics, Spicy, Smartphone, Inc and Among Us. Then we dive into a feature review of Undaunted Normandy and Undaunted North Africa from our good friend Dave Thompson and Trevor Benjamin published by Osprey Games and we look back at Cthulhu A Deck Building Game from Wyvern Gaming one year later. Then after Tony T hooks us up with a batch of awesome tabletop gaming news, the Founder jump into a discussion about the things that annoys us, our pet peeves and generally the things that we hate in tabletop gaming. Undaunted Normandy and North Africa Overview 01:02:04, Undaunted Normandy and North Africa Review 01:07:27, Lookback of Cthulhu A Deck Building Game 01:36:06, News with Tony T 01:42:51, You Know What I Hate? 02:29:27

In episode 64 Tony, Chris and Jamie discuss the impact that great artwork, stellar graphic design elements, components and the entire cohesive production of a tabletop game has on the experience of the players. We go into the emotions they trigger and the immersion generated.

Alrighty Cabalists, Wednesday is back and it's time for some wild Cabal action! today we start out with a review of the documentary film called World of Darkness about White Wolf Games and then jump into some games we're playing including: Expedition to Newdale, Modern Art The Card Game, Unspeakable Words, The Voyages of Marco Polo, Mysterium, and Five Tribes. Then we dive into a feature review of Capstone Game's Ride the Rails and a lookback at Era The Medieval Age from Eggertspiele. Tony T goes bananas with the best damn tabletop gaming news segment ever put to MP3. And finally, the gang tackles from questions from listeners including: do you attack the guy can screw you out of winning? Do you get agitated when stuff you like becomes popular? and unique game recommendations? Ride the Rails Overview 01:01:21, Ride the Rails Review 01:05:25, Lookback of Era The Medieval Age 01:36:31, News with Tony T 01:40:36, A Short Topic Extravaganza 02:36:29

In episode 63 Tony, Don and Jamie sit down and talk about a topic that's been on our minds lately, when is it right to get back to gaming in person? And when we do, what precautions are we going to have to take to ensure the comfort and safety of ourselves and our friends. Then, we talk about the awesome games that have come out in 2020 that are piling up around out feet that we're so excited to play when we finally do get back to gaming in-person.

Hey Now Cabalists! It's another Cabal Wednesday and we jump right in talking about the new Documentary called The Game Masters about hobby board games. Then we get into the games we've been playing including Cosmic Encounter: Duel, Clank!, Back to the Future: Back In Time, Newton, Deckscape, Colosseum and Legendary Encounters Alien: Covenant and Queen Expansions. Then we throw down a feature review of Forgotten Waters from Plaid Hat Games. Then after Tony Topper gets busy with his award winning news segment, Judge Topper dons his robes and powdered wig to call the Cabalist Court into session including cases involving an old gaming friend not coming around anymore, AEG purging Kickstarter pledges and a gaming friend who gets upset when people attack him in games. Forgotten Waters Overview 01:00:11, Forgotten Waters Review 01:06:30, News with Tony T 01:39:47, The Cabalists Court with Judge Topper 02:29:38

In episode 41, The Lords dig into an entire hour of short topics all about role playing games. Discussion includes session duration, mundane encounters, the balance of roleplaying and combat, when players get bored, and more.

Hey Now all you wonderful Cabalists! Today the gang is back in action to break balls, talk about awesome board games and provide some series low buffoonery. Today we start out by chatting up games including Altiplano, Spirit Island: Branch and Claw, Sonora, Set A Watch, Tapestry and Stick’em. Then we jump into a feature review of Nevada City designed by Alan D. Ernstein and published by Rio Grande Games. Then Tony T provides a comprehensive look into the board game industry with his top-notch news segment. And finally the Founders go into some more listener submitted questions including crossovers in board games, unique mechanisms and with special guest question answerers, Bender and Aaron from Lords of the Dungeon, we discuss which Warhammer 40k armies we play and which ones we're looking to start next. Nevada City Overview 00:53:42, Nevada City Review 00:58:06, News with Tony T 01:26:57, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:12:58

In episode 62 Jamie welcomes Honorary Founders Rodney Smith of Watch It Played and Marty Connell of Rolling Dice and Taking Names to bring back play the This or That Game! We talk about conventions, gaming awards, Project Winter and in the game, we go into movies, board games, miniatures games and more.

Hey Now Cabalists! Today we get right down to business talking about some great games including In Too Deep, Marvel Champions, Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game, Jungle Cruise, Dead Reckoning, Stockpile, The Dwarves, and Project Winter. Then we dive in deep with an overview and review of Newton from Cranio Creations and give a Look Back of Pipeline from Capstone Games. Then finally we discuss games that fired other games. Newton Overview 00:57:26, Newton Review 01:03:00, Pipeline Look Back 01:03:00, News with Tony T 01:31:53, Games That Fired Other Games 02:13:45

In episode 40, Bender starts out by talking about a new RPG he played called Blades in the Dark and the gang discusses campaigns in which all players play the same class. Then the Lords chat about the new edition of Warhammer 40,000. Aaron talks about his first time taking over as Game Master for our Star Trek Adventures campaign. Then finally the group discusses theater of the mind, setting the scene, and integrating more description in their games.

Hey Now Cabalists! Episode 210 starts out with a little bit of a bummer as we discuss how sad we are the Origins Game Fair won’t be happening this year but before too long, we jump into talking about some great games we've been playing including; Wingspan, Bumuntu, Fields of Green, Tapestry, Lockup: A Roll Player Tale, Claustrophobia 1643 and Small World. Then Don and Jamie jump into a feature review of Spirit Island from Greater Than Games and designed by R. Eric Reuss. Tony T collects and delivers a bonkers series of news articles and currently running Kickstarter projects while the gang chirps in the background. Then finally the Founders discuss various elements of gaming etiquette and the social contract with playing board games. Spirit Island Overview 00:57:26, Spirit Island 01:03:00, News with Tony T 01:31:53, Gaming Etiquette and The Social Contract Discussion 02:13:45

In episode 61 Jamie, Steve, Don and Aaron from Lords of the Dungeon start off by talking about retail therapy and their growing collection of video games. Then the gang jumps into a discussion about Euro Games and Ameritrash games and what we like and dislike about both.

Hey Now Cabalists! Today the gang starts out with a bit of celebration as we achieved all three of our Kickstarter Goals and The Cabal will go on! The the Founders get into some of the games they've been playing including The Shining, Pan Am The Game, Escape Room: The Game, Healthy Heart Hospital, Ghost Stories, and Arcadia Quest. Then the gang features Vital Lacerda's Escape Plan and look back at Lord of the Rings Journeys In Middle-Earth from Fantasy Flight Games. Tony T goes overboard with some crazy news stories (including the weirdest sex themed board game you've ever seen) and finally a short topic extravaganza including topics about Cthulhu in Kemet, What our other hobbies are and underrated game designers. Escape Plan Overview 01:11:19, Quacks of Escape Plan 01:17:08, Lord of the Rings Look Back 01:48:24, News with Tony T 01:54:29, Short Topic Extravaganza 02:43:28

In episode 39, the Lords start out by discussing Bender and Jess' new 1829 golden age of piracy Ravenloft campaign using the Dungeons and Dragons system. Then the gang takes a question from a listener regarding players asking to take back their action after committing. Finally, in the main discussion, the Lords talk about AC preparing for his first-time game mastering and the feelings he has, his preparation and some tips for handling first time GM jitters.

It's the last day of the Kickstarter! If you haven't checked it out and you would like to support the show, check it out at www.TheSecretCabal.com/Kickstarter. Today the gang starts out by discussing the games we've been playing including Century: Golem Edition – Eastern Mountains, REEF, The Pursuit of Happiness, Detective City of Angels, Tichu, and Jurassic Park: Danger! Then we give a feature review of Quacks of Quedlinburg and look back at Space Gate Odyssey. Then, after Tony T's news segment the Founder's discuss building a strategy in a board game and cultivating that strategy long term. Quacks of Quedlinburg Overview 01:00:35, Quacks of Quedlinburg Review 01:05:49, Space Gate Odyssey Look Back 01:26:20, News with Tony T 01:31:34, Developing and Cultivating Strategy Discussion 02:37:25

In episode 60, Chris, Steve, Don, Tony and Jamie sit down to talk about what seems to be the golden age of intellectual properties in board games. Games using movies, tv shows, video games, books and more are becoming more and more thoughtful and well developed and many publishers are thriving from developing quality hobby minded board games developing games in this space. The Founders discuss this and pitch some ideas for IP board games that they would love to see happen.

The Secret Cabal's 2020 Fundraiser is live on Kickstarter right now! Jump over to Kickstarter and search The Secret Cabal 2020 now or head over to www.thesecretcabal.com and click the banner! In today's episode the Founders start out by talking about some games they've been playing including: Star Trek Conflick in the Neutral Zone, Chronicles of Crime: Welcome to Review, On Mars, Chrono-Trek, Star Realms, and Among the Stars. Then Tony, Aaron and Jamie jump right into a feature review of Charterstone, specifically the Steam digital edition designed by Jamey Stegmier and published by Stonemier Games and look back at Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars Outer Rim. Then Tony T goes ape with some important news from all around the gaming industry while the gang chatters in the background. Then the Founders end the episode with another Short Topic Extravaganza including discussion about Expansions, Dungeon Crawl Games and who would play us in the movies. Charterstone Overview 00:48:18, Charterstone Non-Spoiler Section

In episode 38, the Lords finally return for a new episode! The gang managed to get at least some recording ability at their homes, and we hope that all of you will bear with us as we figure out this new style of recording. We start off the episode by discussing what we've been doing over the past few months and how we've been gaming. We've started a new Star Trek Adventures and are doing it online first the first time. Then we go into our thoughts of Star Trek Adventures from Modiphius.