Episode 356: Greenwood and The Experiences We Crave
Alrighty, Cabalists! It's time for another lethal dose of The Secret Cabal! Today, we dive into a bunch of games we've been playing, including Zombicide Undead or Alive, SHASN AZADI, Tigris and Euphrates, Le Havre, and Beast Shattered Isles, plus a feature review of Greenwood from Christos Giannakoulas and Manolis Zachariadis. Then, after Tony T gives us the best damn tabletop gaming news segment ever produced, we discuss the board gaming experiences we crave!
Express 123: Halloween Stuff, Cryptids, and Spooky Board Games
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!
Episode 355: Spooktacular and The Crypt of Cabalist Inquiries
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!
Dungeon Masters Ludus 10: Complexity and Depth
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!
Episode 354: Horror on the Orient Express and Games Worth Revisiting
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.
Express 122: Oktoberfest - Our Favorite Essen Spiel 2026 Releases
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!
Episode 353: Bloodstones and A Short Topic Extravaganza
Hey Now, Cabalists! Uh oh, Mia the cat is causing 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.
Dungeon Masters Ludus 09: House Rules and Tangible Storytelling
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!
Episode 352: Avalon The Riven Veil and Gaming Spaces
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.
Express 121: Casual and Party Games
Hey Now, Cabalists! In Episode 121 Don and Jamie talk about Party Games and Casual Games and give a bunch of their favorites.
Episode 351: Slay the Spire and A Short Topic Extravaganza
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.
Dungeon Masters Ludus 08: Game Master Tips
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!
Episode 350: Revenant and Succeeding at Your First Play
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.
Express 120: Being a Gamer in the Modern Era
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!
Express 119: Gen Con 2026 Froth List
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!
Episode 349: The Gallerist and Short Topic Extravaganza
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.
Dungeon Masters Ludus 07: Finding The Rhythm
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!
Episode 348: Orloj and Decisive Victory or Nail-Biter
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?
Episode 347: Armello and a Short Topic Extravaganza
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.
Dungeon Masters Ludus 06: Rewarding the Players
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!