The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#295: Aquatica and Randomness vs Determinism

Kaboom! It's time for another chock-a-block episode of the Secret Cabal! Today Tony and Jamie start out by talking about their experiences delving into Board Game Arena. Then the gang gets into all the games they've been playing, both digital and analog, including Castles of Burgundy, Robinson Crusoe Adventures on the Cursed Island, Altar Quest, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Slaughterhouse, and Junk Drawer. Then after Tony T proves his merit as the best damned tabletop gaming newsman in history, the gang gets into a discussion about Randomness vs Determinism in board gaming.

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The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#294: The Fox Experiment and Exemplary Mechanisms

Heyooooooo! The Founders start the show fired up because they've locked in a venue for this year's Origins Meetup! It'll be the first time the Cabal has had a Cabalist Meetup in 5 years and they're ready to rock and roll! Then the gang gets into some of the games they've been playing including Age of Comics The Golden Age, Dune Imperium, Wyrmspan, Beast and a feature review of The Fox Experiment from Jeff Fraser and Elizabeth Hargrave. Then, as usual, Tony T kicks out the best damn tabletop gaming news that you're ever going to hear. And finally, the gang gets into a discussion about exemplary mechanisms - mechanisms that make good games great.

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The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#293: Obsession and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Hey now Cabalists! Today the gang dives into some of the great games they've been playing including Sunrise Lane, Vale of Eternity, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Sanctum, Harrow County and go deep with a feature review of Obsession by Dan Hallagan. Then after Tony T gives us one whopper of a tabletop gaming news segment, the Founders go through a series of listener submitted questions including when do mistakes become cheating and how to get better at eurogames.

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The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#292: Wonderland's War and Improving Upon Perfection

Everyone knows that we talk about Tony taking long turns but today we got actual data! After we pick on T for his slow play, we jump into the games we've been playing including Tony's BGA games, Glass Road, Terrorscape, Bloodstones, and our great friend Dan King the Game Boy Geek joins us to talk about Aqua Biodiversity in the Oceans. Then Tony and Don give a feature review of Wonderland's War. Tony T gives us one of the single greatest news segments ever delivered in the history of board game media. And finally, Don leads a conversation about perfect games, if they're perfect and improving upon perfection.

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The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#291: Djinn and A Short Topic Extravaganza

Hey now and Happy Wednesday wonderful Cabalists! Today the gang gets down to business talking about all the awesome games they've been playing including Last Light, Wyrmspan, Luna, Studies in Sorcery, Her Story, and a feature review of Djinn by Benjamin Schwer and Pegasus Spiele. Then Tony T kicks out the best damned tabletop gaming news segment in the entire universe. And finally, the Founders get down to business with some listener submitted questions with topics including are semi-cooperative games inherently broken? And what are some of your personal neuroses?

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The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#290: Witchcraft and The 10 Worst Games of All Time

Well alright Cabalists, you know it's time for another wild and crazy episode of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast. Today we pick on Tony T for mispronouncing everything before diving into all the great games we've been playing including Clash of Cultures Monumental Edition, Dune War for Arrakis, Frostpunk, Obsession, Go, and Arkham Horror The Road to Innsmouth followed by a feature review of Witchcraft by our great friends David Thompson, Trevor Benjamin, and Roger Tankersley. Then after Tony T gives you history's greatest tabletop gaming news segment, the gang discusses the 10 worst games rated on Board Game Geek. Is it a fair ranking? We'll find out.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#289: After Us and Irksome Irritants

Hey now! Episode 289 kicks off with Chris taking over the show to leading us down the path his mind walks. Then the gang talks about some games they've been playing including The Fox Experiment, Plum Island Horror, Speakeasy Blues, Crusaders Thy Will be Done, and Everdell Digital. Then Chris, Don and Jamie feature After Us from Florian Sirieix and Pandasaurus Games. Then Tony T gives you the best Damned tabletop gaming news programing that your ears ever beheld. And finally the founders discussed their irksome irritants, the things they find annoying about board games and the hobby, and how they would fix them.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#288: Raising Robots and The Shelf of Shame Challenge

Happy New Year Cabalists! We're sorry the show is a few days behind schedule but better late than never! Today the gang talks about some of the crap they got for Christmas and a bunch of the games they've been playing including The Thing: The Boardgame, Stationfall, Kutna Hora City of Silver, The Stifling Dark, Go, and a feature review of Raising Robots from Nauvoo Games. Then Tony T makes sure you're up to date on all the most important chess anal bead news. Then finally the Founders present some of their most shameful shelf of shame games and the others vote on which ones they commit to playing!

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The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Christmas James Keagy

#287: World Wonders and the Newlywed Game Founders Edition

Ho Ho ho and Season's Greetings Cabalists and welcome to the 12th annual Secret Cabal Holiday Special! Today the Secret Cabal elves dive into their stories from PAX Unplugged in Philidelphia, debut a brand new holiday song parody sung by Chris, and discuss the games they've been playing including Fun Facts, How do you Doodle, Masters of the Universe Clash for Eternia, Distilled, Unsolved Hunt for the Truth, Hamlet and feature World Wonders by Arcane Wonders and Ze Mendes. Then after Tony T throws out the jolliest tabletop gaming news segment ever to beam across the North Pole airwaves the gang engages the ever-popular Newlywed Game Founders Edition!

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#286: Last Light and a Short Topic Extravaganza

You know what time it is Cabalists, it's time for some irreverent nonsense! The gang is back in action and we're getting busy with some of the games we've been playing including Anunnaki Dawn of the Gods, Iki, Mystic Vale, Lands of Galzyr, Oltree Undead and Alive and featuring Last Light designed by our good buddy Roy Cannaday and published by Grey Fox Games. And of course, he is back with another installment of the greatest tabletop gaming News segment in the entire universe. And then the founders get into some short topics submitted by listeners including house ruling, games we were wrong about, and are there any games that are too formidable for us to learn?

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The Secret Cabal, Battletome James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Battletome James Keagy

Battletome Vol 9: One Page Rules

Welcome Ye Gods of War! Today, esteemed hobbyists, the Filthy Casuals engage in discussions regarding the Night Lords, A Song of Ice and Fire Tactics, contemplate the Legions Imperialis, explore Snap Ship Tactics, and evaluate the merits of Pro Acryl and Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats. Following this, the squad immerses itself in the latest phenomenon of miniatures wargaming – One Page Rules. Our noble brothers dissect Grim Dark Future Firefight and Age of Fantasy Skirmish, imparting wisdom on the creation of your own chapters. May you find enlightenment in their endeavors on the battlefield. For The Emperor!

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#285: Apiary and Minis, Meeples, and Standees

Hey Now and welcome to another jam-packed of the Cabal! Today the gang gets down to business talking about some awesome games they've been playing including Blood on the Clocktower, Horrified, Sea Salt and Paper, Empire’s End and Everdell Farshore. Then the Founders dive into a feature review of Apiary from Connie Vogelmann and Stonemaier Games. Tony T takes the bull by the horns in his award-winning tabletop gaming news segment. And finally, the boys discuss the age-old question - miniatures versus meeples versus cardboard standees.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#284: Ancient Knowledge and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Hey Now Cabalists! It's November and I'm thankful for all the amazing board games the gang has been playing lately! In this episode the guys cover Brazil Imperial, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, After Us, Chronicles of Crime 1400, Empires of the North, and in our feature review we look at Iello's newest Tableau building game Ancient Knowledge designed by Remi Mathieu. You know the Cabal can't go an episode without hearing from our intrepid News man Tony T. And finally, the Founders take questions from the listeners regarding hobby styles we haven't tried, the best science fiction franchises, and does theme matter anymore?

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The Secret Cabal, Halloween James Keagy The Secret Cabal, Halloween James Keagy

#283: The Thing and Behavioral Economics

It's Halloween time Cabalists and it's time for spooky games and a visit from Wolfman Steve and the Gatekeeper with some Halloween fun. The gang takes a look at some great games including Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps, Three Kingdoms Redux, Nightmare Cathedral, Return to Dark Tower and a feature review of The Thing: The Board Game from Giuseppe Cicero and Andrea Crespi. And after Tony T gives us all the most important tabletop gaming news from around the community, the Founders talk about Behavioral Economics in tabletop gaming.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

282: Village Big Box and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Hey now and greetings, esteemed members of the Cabal community! Today the gang gets into some great gaming discussion including Dune Imperium Rise of Ix, Dune Imperium Immortality, Ra: Deluxe Edition, Disney Animated, Dawn of Ulos, Archeos Society and a feature review of the Village Big Box designed by Inka and Markus Brand. Tony T, as always, gives us the best tabletop gaming news roundup in the entirety of the gaming community. And finally, the gang takes questions from the listeners with topics including their recommended TV series, how complexity affects enjoyment, and games styles and mechanisms the Founders are tired of.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#281: Age of Innovation and Defining The Fun

Hey now wonderful and loyal Cabalists! Get ready for another jam-packed episode of the Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast in which the Founders dive into some amazing board games including Ark Nova, Shadows of Brimstone Gates of Valhalla, Everdell Farshore, Castle Panic Big Box, Rear Window and feature Age of Innovation from Capstone Games and designed by Helge Ostertag. Then, after Tony T gives the the most fascinating and informative tabletop gaming news segment in the entire universe, the gang jumps into a discussion about what defines a fun board game.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

280: Star Trek Away Missions and A Short Topic Extravaganza

Hail, fierce warriors and shield-maidens! 'Tis time for another saga of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast! Today, the Founders plunge headlong into the glorious games we've conquered - among them Life of the Amazonia, 7 Wonder: Architects, 3 Ring Circus, The Goonies Never Say Die, CATAN Dawn of Humankind, and a feature review of Star Trek Away Missions from Gale Force Nine. Then, Tony T, our bard of gaming lore, regales us with an epic hour of tabletop gaming news that shall echo through the ages. And at last, our clan gathers for a grand gathering of short, yet mighty, topics that shall rival the fiercest battles of old!

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#279: Expeditions and Tactics vs Strategy

Hark, noble Cabalists! Gather 'round as the minstrels of the Cabal Founders regale you with tales of tabletop wonder! This day, our merry band embarks on a grand quest through realms like Lords of Ragnarok, Ark Nova, AHAU, Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition, Wandering Towers, and a saga unfolds in the feature review of Stonemaier Games' Expeditions. With the wisdom of Tony T, a bard of gaming lore, we unravel the most splendid newsworthy tidings of the tabletop gaming realm. Lastly, hear ye a debate betwixt our fellowship, pondering the ancient enigma of tactics versus strategy!

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#278: Thunder Road Vendetta and Losing

Hey Now Cabalists! It’s time for some more bananas board game discussion from the Founders and today we dive right into some amazing games we've been playing including Lewis and Clark, Hunt a Killer, Clank!, Masters of the Universe Fields of Eternia, Wizards of the Grimoire, and a feature review of Thunder Road Vendetta from Restoration games. Tony T, as always, gives us one of the greatest hours of tabletop gaming news you're ever going to find on the net. And finally, the gang kicks around a discussion topic about losing at board games.

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The Secret Cabal James Keagy The Secret Cabal James Keagy

#277: Distilled and a Short Topic Extravaganza

Today the Founders welcome AC from Lords of the Dungeon to an episode chocked full of crazy gaming nonsense! The gang gets into some games they've been playing including Dredge on PC, Mission Control Critical Orbit, Ierusalem: Anno Domini, Mother of Frankenstein, Imperial Steam, Robo-Rally and feature Distilled from Dave Beck and Paverson Game. Then, while Tony T is at karate camp, Stevie S takes over for the news! The gang wraps up the show with a Short Topic Extravaganza including rating games on BGG, RPGs vs Dungeon Crawls and how long is too long for a board game?

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