The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

We're back from Origins and have a few tales of gaming and shenanigans to tell plus all the games we played while in Columbus Ohio for nearly a week. Then we do a feature review of Dinosaur Island and a look back at Age of Thieves. Tony T gives us the rundown of all the important news from the tabletop gaming universe while the rest of us quack in the background. Then finally we host another short topic extravaganza in which we talk about the price of boards games, how the Satanic Panic affected gaming and whether board games artwork is actually artwork or not.

Age of Sigmar Second Edition is coming out this week so Jamie and Aaron from Lords of the Dungeon talk about miniatures gaming, the lore and history of Age of Sigmar and finally give you there first impressions of the new Soul Wars starter set!

Tony T is back from Europe and talks about some of the crazy things he's gotten into, the gang talks about a bunch of older games they've been getting into lately. Then the Founders review A Feast for Odin and look back at Railroad Revolution. The Tony T is back in the new anchor chair and the gang chatters in the background. The finally, the guys discuss FOMO, The Fear of Missing Out.

The Gang is on the way to Origins Game Fair but the show must go on! Today we talk about our new Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign and the characters we'll be playing. Then we take a question from a listener who asks how we handle players knowing more about a setting than the Game Master. Finally the Lords have a round table table discussion about things they could improve upon in their own roleplaying and game mastering.

So Tony T is marauding around Europe so we have a guest sitting in, Aaron from Lords of the Dungeon! First Chris and Jamie review the Dungeons and Dragons themed movie Mazes and Monsters starring Tom Hanks. Then after the Founders run down all the games they've been playing they talk a little but about Origins and give some details about their event. Then the gang takes a look at the new Big Trouble in Little China board game and give you their review and a look back at Watson and Holmes one year later. Steve takes the reigns for the news segment today and we crack wise while learning about what's going on in the gaming world. Then finally the guys talk about some of their favorite memories of gaming past.

Today Bender and Jamie talk about the mentality of one versus many and the philosophy of actually cooperating with your players to make a great RPG. Then they talk about game master styles. How does it feel to play in and Bender game and a Jamie game. We talk about some GMs we've gamed with in the past and how everyone's own signature style is different.

Today the Three Amigos are back together for an Origins Game Fair Fiesta! Jamie welcomes honorary Founders Rodney Smith from Watch It Played and Marty Connell from Rolling Dice and Taking Names to talk about whats going on at Origins this year. First we talk about Cobra Kai the new YouTube Red series based on The Karate Kid (which has absolutely nothing to do with Origins but whatever). Then we talk about when we're arriving, our savage hole arrangements and the big things we're excited about. Then the Amigos talk about some of the games demoing and releasing at the convention and the ones they're most excited about. Onward to Origins!

Episode 159 will from now on be referred to as "The Cursed Episode" as schedules, technical problems and other issues have cause more havoc than ever before BUT The Cabal rages forth none the less. Today the a look at Lords of Hellas from Awaken Realms and look back at Clank! from Renegade Games. Then After Tony T blasts out the best news segment in all of gaming media the Founders host another short topic extravaganza including discussions about using characters and actors in miniatures games seemingly without permission, our favorite fantasy, sci-fi and comic book series and how we like to learn and teach games. Then after the episode is over Jamie talks about the Kickstarter and what the plans are going forward for The Cabal.

In episode 15 the Lords take a question from a Cabalist regarding how their group handles mixing good and evil player characters in the same adventuring party. Then they discuss loot and rewards in role playing games and how it's important to balance the economy in your games.

We got three days left on the Kickstarter! Head over there if you're like to support the Secret Cabal for another year. Today the gang takes a look at the brand new Avengers Infinity War tie in game, Thanos Rising! And then the founders look back at 51st State the Master Set one year later. Tony T gives you a news segment filled with deceit and treachery while the rest of that chimes in. Then finally a short topic extravaganza including the most popular games the year we were born, games we'd love to explore deeply, should games punish you for making poor choices and our favorite and least favorite end game triggers.

Today Bender and Jame focus in on an email sent by a Cabalist who is just getting started as a Game Master and has a series of questions that we address. We talk about what your first adventure might look like, should you pre-gen characters or have the players make their own? Should you start with a pre-designed adventure module or write your own? And more.

Today Chris and Jamie talk about having and managing a game collection ranging from how they go about selecting what games to buy, how they store their games, how they catagorize their games and how they cull games out of their collection.

In today's episode we talk about our Fireball Island Party at Beer Mongers and Steve's Film Debut. Then the gang takes a look at Civilization A New Dawn and look back at both Onward to Venus and Anachrony. Then after Tony T provides a deep look at all of the most important tabletop gaming headlines while the rest of the gang cracks wise, the founders talk about immersion on board gaming.

Today the Lords start with a followup to Bender's End of the World Zombie Apocalypse one shot session. Then the gang transitions to talking about Game Masters running a character within their own games. Then they finish the show by talking about great villains in RPG campaigns.

It's the big day! The 2018 kickstarter has launched! Pop over to www.thesecretcabal.com and click on the Kickstarter banner to check it out. Bender and Jamie just got back from RobbCon with Blue Peg Pink Peg and Chris has an epic tale of why he didn't make it this year. Then Chris and Jamie take a look at The Pursuit of Happiness from Stronghold Games. Tony T goes ape giving you the worlds best gaming news awhile the rest of us quack in the background. Then finally we round out the show with a Short Topic Extravaganza in which we talk about Fireball Island fervor, board game expansions, and why Chris has an intellectual properties board game phobia.

Today Chris and Jamie talk about movies and TV shows that have similar themes. If you like this movie, this board game might be right up your allow and vice versa. Then they discuss some movies they'd like to see turned into board games and board games they'd like to see movies or TV shows based on.

Today in the Ludus Bender wants to talk about when Dungeon Master's screw up and how you handle a bad situation. The guys talk a little bit about when game master's cheat, when it's okay and when it's not and finally they discuss building memorable NPCs in your role playing games.

Hey Now Cabalists! Today is the big day! The day in which The Overdeer Family (Steve and Tony) take on the Limb Family (Chris and Brian) to see how is the greatest Founder duo in history in The Founders Feud 3: The Grudge Match! But first, Chris gives us another Gaming Movie Review, this time he takes a look at Zero Charisma. Then Tony, Steve and Jamie give you a feature review of Rising Sun followed by a look back at Assault of the Giants, the Dungeons and Dragons board game based on the Storm King's Thunder campaign. As always Tony T gives us the best damned gaming news rundown in the history of gaming news rundowns. And then, the royal rumble... It's time for The Founders Feud!

Today the Lords talk about Bender's first attempt with the End of the World role playing game and digress into all sorts of nonsense. Then they announce the winner of the Dungeons and Dragons starter kit contest. They the gang talks about how they're fixing a couple of issues with their game group. Finally they give you an update on their Dark Earth 1899 campaign.

Alrighty Cabalists! In today's episode we announce a bunch of the Kickstarter rewards coming up in next month's campaign. Then we give a feature review of Empires of hte Void II and a look back of Colosseum. Then Tony T goes bananas giving us a rundown of all the awesome news from around the board gaming world plus some cool looking new things announced at the New York Toy Fair. Then finally we host another short topic extravaganzain in which we discuss thinking about games when you're not playing games and can a game be overproduced?