The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 330: Tea Garden and a Short Topic Extravaganza Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Hey Now Cabalists! Today Don and Jamie share their time at one of the best game stores they've ever experienced - Games and Stuff in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Then the gang dives into a bunch of games they've been playing, including The Presence, Mythwind, Etherstone, Shackleton Base, and Age of Galaxy. Don, Chris, and Jamie throw down a feature review of Tea Garden from Tomas Holek and Capstone Games. And after Tony T’s legendary news segment, the gang tackles a slew of listener questions like what types of players we most enjoy gaming with, whether Kickstarting board games has become too volatile, and how to handle the dreaded phrase: We got it, let’s just play. The Presence: 00:08:42, Mythwind: 00:17:16, Etherstone: 00:28:33, Shackleton Base: 00:36:06, Age of Galaxy: 00:46:26, Tea Garden Review: 00:59:59, News with Tony T: 01:32:18, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:27:30. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/ and Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/.

Express 112: Oktoberfest - Our Favorite Essen Spiel 2025 Releases Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Guten Tag Cabalists! Don, Jamie, and Tony T are raising their steins high for Oktoberfest and running down their top picks for the hottest games releasing at Essen Spiel 2025! It’s a full-on beer hall bash here at The Secret Cabal, and the excitement is flowing like a fresh keg. All we need now is a heaping plate of wienerschnitzel, spaetzle, and sauerkraut to make it complete. So grab a brew, settle in, and join the Founders for the festivities. PROST!

Episode 329: Luthier and The Complexity Issue Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back, Cabalists, to another jam-packed episode of The Cabal! Today, the gang dives into a stack of games they’ve been playing, including Unsettled, Agricola, Blood Rage, Tony’s take on Blood Rage: Valhalla, Endangered, and Regicide Legacy. After that, Don and Jamie feature Luthier from Paverson Games. Then Tony T reclaims the reins from Stevie S and brings you one hell of a news segment. And finally, the Founders dig into the big topic of the past few episodes - increasing complexity - are games becoming too complex and where should the line be drawn? Unsettled: 00:01:30, Agricola: 00:12:16, Blood Rage: 00:21:26, Endangered: 00:32:41, Regicide Legacy: 00:41:52, Luthier Review: 00:54:36, News with Tony T: 01:32:57, The Complexity Issue: 02:32:53. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/ and Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/.

Lords of the Dungeon 89: Keeping the Momentum Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

Hearken, ye Cabalists! Gather round, for this day the Lords convene in discourse. They speak first of Jamie and AC’s newest chronicle of dread and mystery, wrought in the Call of Cthulhu. Thereafter, a query from a faithful listener shall be pondered, touching upon the use of relics and tokens within the gaming hall. Lastly, the Roundtable shall be set, where wisdom is shared on the keeping of momentum and the weariness that oft befalls the Game Master. Raise thy voices in mirth! Huzzah!

Episode 328: Vantage and a Short Topic Extravaganza Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Welcome, Cabalists, to another Wednesday packed with games and shenanigans with the Founders! Today we dive into Raising Robots, Here Lies, Flock Together, Everdell Silverfrost, Hot Streak, and feature Jamey Stegmaier’s newest creation, Vantage! Then, after Steve steps in to fill Tony T’s big shoes for the news segment, we tackle a couple of listener questions including what to do when you know you’re going to lose, and which games we’d choose to guarantee victory over our fellow Founders. Raising Robots: 00:05:48, Here Lies: 00:14:22, Flock Together: 00:24:12, Everdell Silverfrost: 00:39:40, Hot Streak: 00:51:16, Vantage: 01:06:59, News with Stevie S: 01:44:33, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:36:16. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And Game Night Picks at http://gamenightpicks.com/cabal.

Express 111: Trends, Patterns, and the Search of Originality Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

In Express episode 111, Don, Tony, and Jamie are inspired by a listener question and discuss patterns and fads in game design and try and answer the question - is there truly anything original out there?

Episode 327: Shackleton Base and Theme and Mechanism Alignment Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Hey now, Cabalists! The gang is back and fired up for another episode of The Cabal! Tony’s dealing with his dog’s unfortunate bout of diarrhea, Chris went out to see Weird Al, and the crew hit the table with a pile of great new games including Above and Below Haunted, Ark Nova: Marine Worlds, El Burro, Heat Pedal to the Metal, Moon Colony Bloodbath, and feature Shackleton Base by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, published by Sorry We Are French. After Tony T delivers his always-popular News segment, the gang dives into a discussion on the vital connection between theme and mechanisms in board games. Above and Below Haunted: 00:09:41, Ark Nova: Marine Worlds: 00:18:15, El Burro: 00:27:16, Heat: 00:37:35, Moon Colony Bloodbath: 00:46:319, Shackleton Base: 01:04:09, News with Tony T: 01:38:04, Theme and Mechanism Alignment: 02:31:41. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And Game Night Picks at http://gamenightpicks.com/cabal.

Lords of the Dungeon 88: Becoming The Character Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Greetings, noble Cabalists! This day, the Lords do commence their grand convocation by heeding a missive from a most inquisitive listener, who doth inquire how they divine their next realm of adventure, be it by the singular vision of a lone Game Master, or by the council and clamor of the whole round table. Thereafter, the fellowship embarks upon a most profound discourse concerning the art of embodying one’s hero, weaving a soul and spirit into the character, and bringing them to life through word and deed. Hark, and be entertained!

Episode 326: Fate of the Fellowship and a Short Topic Extravaganza Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

The Cabal is back in action, and we dive into a conversation about Chris’ adventures at Anthrocon! One day, we’ll get him to dress up as the red panda. After that, we get into some of the games we’ve been playing, including Cities, Vantage, City of Horror, Creature Caravan, Monsters Menace the World, and a feature review of Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship from Matt Leacock. Then, after Tony T gives us all the most important news from the board gaming world, we answer a series of listener questions covering gimmicks and innovations, design trends that annoy us, and our least favorite gamer traits. Cities: 00:09:53, Vantage: 00:22:26, City of Horror: 00:34:21, Creature Caravan: 00:44:30, Monsters Menace the World: 00:51:19, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship: 00:58:56, News with Tony T: 01:35:01, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:22:50. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/. Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/. And Game Night Picks at http://gamenightpicks.com/cabal.

Express 110: The Endgame Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

In Express Episode 110, Don, Chris, and Jamie get together to talk about the end game - goals, objectives, and victory in board games. They discuss competitiveness, process-oriented players, winning and losing streaks, imperative and contingent goals, and what it really means to feel like you’ve won a game. Enjoy!

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