Yes, I’m alive.

Hello.

Sorry I’ve been gone nearly a month! School got busy, but it’s winding down so I’m back!

With that said, I’ve used my limited time recently to try a smaller game to try and fit games in. A game that my good friend has told me is very good.

Incase you didn’t read the title in your excitement to read my Khain blessed words, that game is Kill Team.

I’ve had a complicated relationship with Kill Team, and smaller scale games in general.

I tried the last edition of Kill Team a long time ago, and if you’ve played it, you know it was pretty awful. In addition, I had gotten into 40k recently, and every time I played Kill Team I would say to myself, “Yeah but it’s less Warhammer. I want more Warhammer. Time to play 40k.”

Fast forward some time, and the Corsair Voidscarred come out. And I got to tell you: It was perfect. Perfect. Everything down to the last minute details. (If you know you know.)

Eldar pirates with both Aeldari and Drukhari flavor. And there was a bird. Holy shit. Kill Team is where all the xenos designers went, I’m telling you.

But that box has so many options it’s a little nuts. Every guy can be built three different ways, so it left me with decision paralysis on what to build in that box for many years after. And again, refer to my previous statement. After starting a game of Kill Team, I’d just want to play 40k. More minis please.

Then, the new Striking Scorpions came out. And HOO-BOY. My interest was peaked.

However, those of you who have followed me on this blog know that I just came off of painting around 1500 points of Aeldari. I’m a little sick of that scheme, and do not want to paint the Scorpions a different color than the rest of the army. It’s my special kind of autism.

So I looked to my Corsairs. Sitting lonely on a shelf, as they have since release.

Their rules in 40k are awful. So I’m not going to include them in the army, hence allowing me to go with a new paint scheme.

And so here we are. A fully painted Kill Team later, with a few games played since. Let’s talk about what I really like about Kill Team, and what I really don’t.

This is going to be scattered at some points. I’ve warned you. I’m not sorry, Brendan.

What I liked, probably

To start, each team has the exact flavor you expect from looking at them. Aeldari are fast. Really fast. Space Marines, both Chaos and Imperium variants feel imposing with very small but lethal teams.

Stemming from that, melee combat is really neat. It doesn’t use your save characteristic as you might expect. It’s both players rolling their attack dice at the same time, then either removing an opponents dice, or dealing damage.

It’s simple, but there’s times where you have to really think about it. And I like that.

Switching gears: Into The Dark is the best way to play Kill Team and I won’t be argued.

Allow me to explain why with a small segment on Boarding Actions.

Boarding Actions is the best thing Games Workshop has ever produced. It was fast. It was exciting. It created narratives.

Notice the past tense?

That’s because when 10th edition came out Games Workshop killed this game mode. Mostly.

It’s playable. It’s mostly fun. Everything I said above is still true, but it’s hollow.

Factions don’t have their own stratagems. No detachment support. New units haven’t been added to the “The units are allowed” document. I don’t want to get too off topic. I’ll probably write about this in another more extensive article.

But what I’m trying to get too is that Into the Dark has kept what I loved about Boarding Actions alive.

Each game has a pacing that is hard to move away from. Those doors are closed, and you have to stage to open them at opportune moments, following explosive and fast encounters.

The first mission I played had to do with three generators being spread throughout the ship.

The defender can place two of their operatives at each station, extending their deployment zone by a lot, and the attackers job is to take them.

The narrative writes itself.

Corsairs board ship, do pirate things. Yarr.

Into the Dark feels like chess, but really freaking cool chess. With Kroot and goat people.

Lastly, and maybe controversially, I really like how cover works. It’s really complicated at first, but once you get it, the depth it adds is super cool. Positioning being so rewarding, where I can see my opponent and they can’t see me, because I took the time to learn the game system, is pretty cool.

What I didn’t like, definitely

By the Emperor I hate the stupid shapes they have for measurements. I have to ask so often, “What is the distance of a dash.” Because square isn’t a number. So I think it’s circle. Which isn’t a number. Just say 3 inches. Please.

Open board play, is mid. Probably.

For context, I have played open board (as in, bog standard Kill Team format, yes we had terrain) three times. Each time was miserable.

Maybe I’m just bad (Yes That is it) or inexperienced (Yes.) But man open board can be so volatile. You lose operatives so much faster if you’re not careful.

Kill Team only has four rounds. I’ve had times where the game felt over by the end of two on open board. I think I need to test this a bit more. My opinion is almost definitely wrong.

It could also be because these games were more competitive based which I don’t think is what draws me to Kill Team.

I digress. Call me a fool in the comments. I’ll send you a Naruto GIF in DMs.

Next is the games accessibility. Out of all of Games Workshops games. How does this one not have Datacards? Even Warcry has cards. This is insane. If it wasn’t for websites like KTDash, I would have likely dropped this game again.

My Kill Team is simple.

I look at teams like the Hearthkyn Salvagers and my head starts spinning.

I love that each operative has depth, and matters. But I need an easier way to track that.

I’m not a digital kind of person. I hate digital rulebooks (I’m not against them.) I need a physical book or card in my hand to engage. And personally, cards would be perfect here.

All their other skirmish games have cards.

All their other skirmish games have cards.

All their other skirmish games have cards.

Sorry. Black out for a second.

What I’m mid on, likely

Their version of the Dataslate is so unclear on what’s new. It’s also just so much writing for some factions. Chaos Cults looks like a nightmare to player if I just had the book and had to keep cross-referencing. I’m sure it’ll get better next edition.

Going first is a game of rock, paper, scissors. I don’t hate it. It’s neat. I’ll be honest with you, I’m going to pick the one that lets me dash pre-game every time.

I’m sure my opinion on that will improve with time. I’m like, 60/40 on it.

Secondary’s are underwhelming. The faction ones are neat from what I’ve seen so far. But they all seem a little too wordy for me. Hey. Wait a second.

Things I didn’t like, definitely, part 2

Whoever wrote the rules for cover wanted to write the next Hamlet. The rules, as played in the game, as mentioned earlier are great.

The writing word on how they work is crazy.

Here’s my version, it has served me well. “Draw two lines from your base to their base. If it crosses over their cover something happens, consult book.”

Are they within an inch (IM SORRY I MEANT BLACK TRIANGLE PLEASE FORGIVE ME.) of that terrain I crossed a line over? Cool.

Are they three (BLUE SQUARE. OH THE PAIN.) inches away from a heavy piece of terrain I drew through? Damn that’s crazy, I can’t see them.

Maybe I’m doing it wrong, or I’m using the wrong words.

I’ve played like five games, I’m somewhat of an expert clearly.

It’s not as complicated as they make it sound, is what I’m trying to say.

You should play Kill Team. For sure.

Kill Team is cute and neat.

It’s a lot of cute gimmicks that add a lot of tiny pockets of depth. Small interactions which create a natural game flow and narrative.

Whatever Kill Team you pick, will feel as you want them too. At least in my experience.

It’s an affordable game you can play in about an hour if you’re experienced.

If you read AP on any of your operatives, they will make you smile.

It’s not a lot to paint either. At most you’re looking at 12 guys. I have yet to see more. Let’s say 14 to be safe. On the low end you’re painting 5 Space Marines.

You likely already have the miniatures for it if you’re reading this, so just give it a try. Worst case, you have some newly painted miniatures at the end. I’ve seen you pile of shame. Get a hold of yourself. Start working on it, I just gave you a reason, no excuses.

Or add to it, I don’t really care. Just play Kill team.

My final review of Kill Team is: “It’s a game.”

Play it.

This is a threat.

I’ll see y’all next time. Probably Thrusday. I got some bangers lined up.

Remember to drink water.

This is also a threat.

Be safe.