The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast

In Episode 118 of The Secret Cabal Express, Don, Chris, Tony, and Jamie discuss the many motivations that draw people to tabletop gaming and keep them coming back for more. The gang explores competition, mastery, socialization, a sense of belonging, relaxation, flow state, evangelism, teaching, and the joy of collecting. Enjoy!

Hey now, Cabalists! Today, Chris and Jamie kick off the show with a change of pace by reviewing the video game Mixtape. Then the gang dives into all the great board games they’ve been playing, including Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock, Kemet Rise of the Gods, Coming of Age, Ark Nova, Catan On the Road, and the featured game Cysmic from designer Jason Blake. Then, after Tony T talks about all the Pokémon smashing grabs, the boys take on topics from listeners, including the most valuable board games and their favorite all-day board game sessions.Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock: 00:11:04, Kemet Rise of the Gods: 00:24:01, Coming of Age: 00:32:43, Ark Nova: 00:42:06, Catan On the Road: 00:50:49, Cysmic Review: 00:56:11, News with Tony T: 01:33:31, Short Topics Extravaganza: 02:17:48. 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/

Hearken, travelers, to this gathering of Game Masters, wherein the Lords speak of the folk who breathe life into realms of fantasy and adventure - the Non-Player Characters! From steadfast companions and black-hearted villains to merry fools and curious villagers, we unravel the craft of creating memorable souls to wander thy world. We speak of weaving these characters into grand tales, stirring the hearts of players through cunning plots, tense encounters, and moments of laughter round the table. Come, and learn how a well-spun character may turn a humble campaign into a legend sung through the ages!

Hey now, and happy Wednesday, Cabalists! Today we kick things off with a full rundown and review of Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary exploring the controversy between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann. Then we dive into the games we've been playing, including Spooktacular, Shackleton Base, Sniper Elite, For All Mankind, Druids of Edora, and a feature review of Feya’s Swamp from Helge and Anselm Ostertag. After Tony T’s new segment, we wrap things up with “The Best Part,” where each of us picks a game, breaks down our favorite aspect, and explains what makes it truly special. Spooktacular: 00.12.36, Shackleton Base: 00.19.32, Sniper Elite: The Board Game: 00.32.20, For All Mankind: 00.40.34, Druids of Edora: 00.52.19, Feya’s Swamp Review: 01.03.57, News with Tony T: 01.42.15, The Best Part: 02.40.02. 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/

I’ve got a special treat for you The Cabal today: one of the most respected board game designers working today, and a true OG Cabalist, David Thompson! You know Dave from his work on the Undaunted series, War Chest, Sniper Elite: The Board Game, Resist!, The Valiant Defense series, and many others. Today, Dave and I talked about his origin story as a gamer, tabletop role-playing games, how he got his start in board game design, his design process, his collaborations with other designers, and much, much more. It’s a great conversation, and I hope you all enjoy it!