The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

Hey Now, Cabalists! Today we've got another spooky Secret Cabal Express episode for you, in which Chris, Jamie, and Wolfman Steve talk about all kinds of Halloween gobbledygook! Steve's Halloween costumes and beer crawls, the lack of cryptid board games, dingus jerks who debunk Bigfoot, and a whole bunch of great board games to play over the Halloween holiday. Enjoy!

Good evening, my dear Cabalists! Velcome... to a most dreadful gathering! Join the Founders, the mysterious Gatekeeper, Vampire Tony, and the fearsome Wolfman Steve as we rise from our coffins for our annual Halloween Special! Tonight, we sink our fangs into a devilish assortment of games, including Hunt for Blackbeard, Greylune, Expeditions, Carnuta, and Clandestine! Then, we unveil a delightfully diabolical Halloween game - Spooktacular, designed by D. Brad Talton! But beware! The night is far from over! Vampire Tony emerges from his crypt to regale us with the latest news from the world of tabletop gaming! And finally, our ghoulish Founders descend into The Crypt of Cabalist Inquiries, where a terrifying torrent of tantalizing topics awaits! Hunt for Blackbeard: 00:10:23, Greylune: 00:19:46, The Gatekeeper 1: 00:27:27, Expeditions: 00:32:15, Carnuta: 00:40:23, Clandestine: 00:47:48, Spooktacular Review: 01:01:38, News with Tony T: 01:26:49, The Gatekeeper 2: 01:54:09, The Crypt of Cabalist Inquiries: 02:30:46, The Gatekeeper 3: 02:32:15, The Gatekeeper 4: 03:00:58. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Hark, Cabalists! Gather ye round once more, for the esteemed Lords of the Dungeon have convened to ponder matters of great scholarly intrigue! On this day, our learned Lords shall delve into the mysteries of complexity, both great and small, and examine how such intricacies shape the depth of our beloved role-playing games. Lend thine ears as these wise sages debate the virtues and follies of differing systems, and seek to uncover which arcane rules and mechanics best serve the adventuring parties gathered round their tables!

Hey Now, Cabalists! Today we kick off the show with Don’s Heavy Metal Corner, where he talks about some medieval fantasy bands he’s been getting into, followed by a bunch of games we’ve been playing, including The Trial of the Forest, Blood Rage: Valhalla, Civolution, Drillers, The Others, and a feature review of Chaosium’s Horror on the Orient Express. Then, after Tony T’s new segment, we talk about a bunch of games that have been somewhat forgotten and need to be revisited. The Trial of the Forest: 00:07:22, Blood Rage: Valhalla: 00:18:48, Civolution: 00:32:07, Drillers: 00:43:35, The Others: 00:50:18, Horror on the Orient Express Review: 01:03:01, News with Tony T: 01:41:21, Games Worth Revisiting: 02:36:09. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Guten Tag, Cabalists! Steve, Don, Jamie, and Tony T are tippin’ their steins back for Oktoberfest and gabbing about the hottest games hitting Essen Spiel 2026! Grab a giant tray of wienerschnitzel, spaetzle, and sauerkraut, fill up a pint, and join the Founders as they celebrate Essen Spiel. PROST!

Hey Now, Cabalists! Uh oh, Mia the cat is cause havoc in the household! After Chris gets his house in order we dive into the games we've been playing, including The Lord of the Rings Circle of Conflict, Happiest Cat in the World, Arkham Horror, The Gang, Cozy Stickerville, and feature Bloodstones designed by Martin Wallace. After Tony T's Tabletop Gaming News segment, the gang wraps things up by tackling a batch of listener-submitted questions. The Lord of the Rings Circle of Conflict: 00:02:58, Happiest Cat in the World: 00:15:43, Arkham Horror: 00:21:57, The Gang: 00:32:35, Cozy Stickerville: 00:45:45, Bloodstones Review: 00:56:58, News with Tony T: 01:34:08, A Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:36:09. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Greetings, Cabalists! Gather ’round, ye seasoned adventurers, as the Lords convene at the hallowed Round Table to ponder two matters of great import! First, we delve into the arcane art of House Rules - those curious enchantments by which we bend the laws of our games to our own designs. Then, we turn our gaze toward the mystical realm of tangibles, exploring how documents, photographs, objects, audio, music, and other wondrous artifacts may transform a humble game into an experience beyond the imagination! Come, lend thine ears and thy wisdom to the council!

Hey now, Cabalists! Today we crash into another episode of The Cabal by talking about a strange Instagram account called PokeStreetz, where morons engage in fisticuffs over Pokémon cards. Then we gab about the games we've been getting into, including Ants, Doggerland, Carnegie, Horror on the Orient Express, and Dark Pact, before featuring Avalon: The Riven Veil from Jamie Jolly. Then, after Tony T's gaming news segment, we get into a discussion about gaming spaces and what we think is important to maximize fun and comfort. Ants: 00:06:51, Doggerland: 00:20:55, Carnegie: 00:28:48, Horror on the Orient Express: 00:37:17, Dark Pact: 00:46:10, Avalon The Riven Veil Review: 01:03:30, News with Tony T: 01:41:27, Gaming Spaces: 02:27:44. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Hey Now, Cabalists! In Episode 121 Don and Jamie talk about Party Games and Casual Games and give a bunch of their favorites.

Good Morning, Cabalists! Today we kick the show off with a big announcement - Mia the cat has found her forever home with Chris! Then we get into a bunch of the games we’ve been playing, including Dogfight 1917, Crusaders Thy Will Be Done with the Divine Influence expansion, Darwin’s Journey, Moytura, dnup, and a feature review of Slay the Spire. Then, after Tony T’s Pokemon Smash-and-Grab Roundup, we dive into some listener-submitted questions about what drives us to buy expansions, why we suck at board games, and what our pet peeves are about ourselves. Dogfight 1917: 00:02:28, Crusaders: Thy Will be Done: 00:11:36, Darwin's Journey: 00:20:17, Moytura: 00:32:17, dnup: 00:42:21, Slay the Spire Review: 00:51:14, News with Tony T: 01:23:04, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:10:29. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Hail and well met, good Cabalists! Rejoice, for today marks a most glorious occasion: the 100th episode of Lords of the Dungeon! To celebrate this momentous milestone, the Lords shall do something a bit different. Rather than delving into a single topic, we shall gather around the wizard’s table and share a collection of our own Game Mastering tips and tricks, little bits of arcane wisdom that may enrich your roleplaying adventures and aid you in your noble quest to become a mightier master of the game! Huzzah!

Hey Now, Cabalists! We’re kicking things off with a look at culling games from our collections before getting into what’s been hitting the table lately, including Animal Rescue Team, Entropy, Super Auto Pets Card Battle, Carnegie, and Eschaton. Then we take a closer look at our featured game, Revenant, designed by Allan Kirkeby. Tony T brings us the latest in Tabletop Gaming News, and we close out the show with a discussion about how to set yourself up for success on your very first play of a game. Animal Rescue Team: 00:09:00, Entropy: 00:20:33, Super Auto Pets Card Battle: 00:28:34, Carnegie: 00:36:51, Eschaton: 00:51:08, Revenant Review: 01:07:37, News with Tony T: 01:43:21, Succeeding at Your First Play: 02:47:22. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Hey Now, Cabalists! In Episode 120 of The Secret Cabal Express, Chris, Don, and Jamie dive into a topic suggested by a listener: the etiquette of rating board games on BoardGameGeek. We talk about the rating system, how we personally rate games, how we use the collection system, and mess that is the comments section. From there, we move on to the many forms of board game media and how we use them to inform our opinions and decisions when buying new games. We also get into our crowdfunding habits and how that fits into the way we discover and acquire games. Enjoy!

Hey Now Cabalists! In episode 119 of The Secret Cabal Express Chris, Don, and Jamie put together all of the games that they're frothing at the mouth and jumping outta their pants to get at from Gen Con 2026 coming up in August. Head over to TheSecretCabal.com and click on the link to this episode to get links to all the games we discussed on the show today. Enjoy!

Hey Now, Cabalists! We kick off the show with an update on Chris's temporary ward, Mia the cat, while Steve comes flying out of the gate with the jokes. Then we dive into the games we've been playing, including Voidfall, Underwater Cities, Blood Rage, Nippon, Container, and feature The Gallerist, designed by Vital Lacerda. After Tony T's Tabletop Gaming News segment, the gang wraps things up by tackling a batch of listener-submitted questions. Voidfall: 00:04:23, Underwater Cities: 00:12:53, Blood Rage: 00:19:08, Container: 00:29:16, Nippon: Zaibatsu: 00:46:45, The Gallerist Review: 00:55:01, News with Tony T: 01:28:04, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:24:53. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Hear ye, loyal Cabalists! Gather now before the Lords of the Dungeon, for they convene to decree upon one of the greatest virtues of masterful game mastering: the noble arts of rhythm and pacing. Know this, how swiftly the tale unfolds, how boldly each scene marches onward, and how deftly the momentum is commanded shall determine whether thine adventurers remain enthralled or drift into idle distraction. Attend this royal council and claim the wisdom for grand adventure awaits!

Hey Now Cabalists! The gang is back from Origins Game Fair with some stories to tell, including Chris' doggie bag, alpacas running around the meetup, Flat Steve scaring the shit out of everyone, Sasquatch running amok, and more! Then we chat about a bunch of games we've been playing, including Defenders of the Realm, Feya's Swamp, Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, Raising Robots, Runebound, and our future review, Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock, from designers Abraham Hermida and Paloma Pascual. Then Tony T gives us the news roundup, and we discuss satisfying game endings. Do you prefer a decisive victory or a nail-biter? Defenders of the Realm: 00:22:03, Feya’s Swamp: 00:30:15, Warhammer Quest Darkwater: 00:42:41, Raising Robots: 00:51:28, Runebound: 01:02:40, Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock Review: 01:14:42, News with Tony T: 01:54:52, Decisive Victory or Nail-Biter: 02:52:45. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Hey now, Cabalists! It's Origins Game Fair week, and the Founders are jumping out of their pants and frothing at the mouth to get in some gaming this weekend! But today, we talk about a bunch of great games we've been playing, including Kingdom Crossing, Coimbra, After Us, Builders of Baldur's Gate, and Moytura, and we feature Armello from designer Rob Heinsoo. Then, after Tony T gives us all the Pokémon-snatching, grabby updates, the gang dives into some listener-submitted questions. Kingdom Crossing: 00:09:25, Coimbra: 00:20:21, After Us: 00:26:35, Builders of Baldur's Gate: 00:38:22, Moytura: 00:47:53, Armello Review: 00:59:36, News with Tony T: 01:32:03, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:26:46. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Welcome, my good Cabalists. This day, the Lords of the Dungeon gather within the Ludus to discuss the rewarding of adventurers. Many a Game Master spends countless hours crafting challenges, encounters, and memorable characters, yet gives little thought to the rewards awaiting those who overcome them. A worthy reward is more than mere coin or treasure, it is the fruit of heroic labor and a force that gives greater meaning to the tale! Join us as we explore how thoughtful rewards can enrich your players' journeys and make their victories all the sweeter. Huzzah!

The saga of Chris' yowling companion continues with a story of the broken foster cat! Then the gang gets into the game they've been playing including Dead of Winter, Star Wars The Deck Building Game, Dale of Merchants, Shackleton Base Expansion, Scales of Fate, and a feature review of Chaosmos from designers Matthew Austin, Dani Vigour, and Joey Vigour. Then after Tony T's wild and crazy news segment the Founders talk about the movies and TV shows they're excited about coming out this summer! Dead of Winter: 00:04:39, Star Wars The Deck Building Game: 00:15:13, Dale of Merchants: 00:20:51, Shackleton Base Expansion: 00:29:52, Scales of Fate: 00:35:53, Chaosmos Review: 00:43:35, News with Tony T: 01:22:26, Summer Movie Extravaganza: 02:14:30. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/