Steve's Fieldworks-DFW Irregulars: Warlord Games Day 2014! Oklahoma City

Just got home from a brief road trip to OKC last night and today. Rusty, his son Cole and I attended the first Warlord Games Day in the U.S. It was held in Oklahoma City. The Games Day featured Warlord Games including:

Black Powder Pike and Shotte
Black Powder Zulu Wars
Bolt Action-Carentan, Pegasus Bridge, Russia and the Pacific
Two of Warlord's "fantasy games"
A new "out of this world game"

The atmosphere and gamers were outstanding. There were absolutely NO arguments, "white knuckling" or "rules lawyering". After seeing previous Bolt Action games locally, that was refreshing. I got to play in a Pike and Shotte Game between Imperialists (Father Tilly) vs. Swedes (Gustavus Adolphus), Saipan jungle/cave/mountain fight between Imperial Japanese and U.S. Marines, "hold until relieved'-Pegasus Bridge, defending against a Soviet juggernaut attack against my riverside fortifications. I wanted to play a Zulu game to see how the Zulu War variant worked. Ran out of Games Day time. I'll just have to "buy the book" won't I to find out? I'm not a fantasy gamer so the fantasy game just didn't appeal to me. It looked vaguely like the old GW Mordheim game. If that's the case, it's probably pretty good as well.

The Warlord Games folks opened the day with a video that introduced their staff, their functions to the attendees. It was different but nice to put a face with a name. Then it was time to hit the tables. The hotel was nice. Breakfast and lunch were included in the price of admission. The local guys sponsoring the affair were able to work with the 45th Infantry Division Museum to keep it open late on Friday. This museum is a MUST SEE and not very well known. No spoilers here. I challenge all to take a walk through the museum building and grounds. I was impressed by the sheer number of antique weapons, field reports and personal touches that gave a personality to the faces that kept us safe during World War Two. Highly recommended!!!

The Games Day included a painting competition. I brought home Best of Show and Best Single Figure. I was stunned and additionally stunned by a cash prize attached to the two awards. There were only two other Warlord Games Days in the world to date. I consider myself fortunate to be among the small band of painters so honored.

Take aways?

Rusty and I both know Pike and Shotte rules better than we thought. That's refreshing as this period is one of my favorites
Bolt Action rules were a pleasant surprise to me as they were applied over several war game scenarios and worked reasonably well. I liked them enough to get several vehicles and the U.S. Army rules. I liked the Pacific scenario but am going to do that project in 20mm as Rusty already has WW2 in 20mm. I've got U.S. and Germans and 28mm and will play them in European scenarios.
This Games Day stoked my gaming fire again. I want to put on a Black Powder AWI game in 54mm next year. I'll definitely need more table space!

Here's a gallery. All that can should go next year. This was great fun, a place to meet lots of new faces that shared a common interest in historical war gaming. It was a good day!