INTRODUCTION
Once you’ve been bitten by the table-top gaming bug, one could bet that you’re always on the hunt for new, challenging, and engaging games to play. Enter: Kill Team, a game set in the rich universe of Warhammer 40K. Kill Team, a squad-based skirmish game with varying layers of complexity, is something that both novices and seasoned enthusiasts can dive into and enjoy. This beginner-friendly guide aims to clarify the basic elements of Kill Team, providing a convenient entryway to dramatic, small scale conflicts in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
WHAT IS KILL TEAM?
To start with, Kill Team is a tactical skirmish game where you lead a band of specialists, or ‘kill team’, on momentous missions in the dystopian universe of Warhammer 40K. In essence, Kill Team zooms in on the Warhammer 40,000 universe and takes you into the battles normally unseen. The teams you control are a part of larger armies, tasked with hitting specific targets, cutting off enemy supply lines, or gathering intel from hazardous war-torn landscapes. Comparable to games such as Warhammer: Underworlds or Infinity, Kill Team adds a unique spin with its focus on individual specialized units and finely detailed skirmish mechanics.
HOW DOES KILL TEAM WORK?
In Kill Team, each player makes a team from a faction of their choosing. Units are customized and given a role to play in the team. Each game is a mission, with objectives varying with each scenario that needs to be completed to win the game.
The game flow is easy to understand:
1. The game begins with players setting up the gaming area with terrain and determining the mission.
2. Players then position their Kill Team according to the specifics of the mission and any special deployment rules.
3. The game is played over several rounds, each containing a sequence of phases: Initiative, Movement, Psychic, Shooting, Fight, and Morale.
4. At the end of each round, players check if any team has completed their objectives and game ends when victory conditions are met.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PLAY?
Jumping in to play Kill Team is straightforward. You’ll need the following:
1. Kill Team Core Manual: This book contains all the rules you need to play the game.
2. Kill Team: Your chosen faction and models to represent them.
3. Dice: Six-sided dice, or D6s, are used in the game.
4. Measuring tools: To measure distances in the game.
5. Terrain: Landscape elements that you place on your gaming board.
Additionally, paints, brushes and other modeling tools would be useful if you want to customize your models.
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
Starting with Kill Team might feel daunting, yet once you grasp the rules, it gets a lot more interesting. Here are some tips for beginners:
1. Start with a Starter Set: It includes everything you need to play, including a Kill Team, dice, rulebook, and even terrain.
2. Learn the Basic Rules: Familiarize yourself with the sequence of play and actions that your models can perform.
3. Know Your Team: Each team has strengths and weaknesses. Learn these to build balanced and effective teams.
4. Use Your Environment: Use terrain to your advantage to block enemy lines of sight or gain the high ground.
5. Have Fun: It is a game after all. Enjoy the process of learning, painting, and playing with your models.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
As you dive deeper into the world of Kill Team, these resources can be of great help:
1. Warhammer Community – Kill Team page: This is an official website with updates on the game, tutorial videos, and other related articles.
2. YouTube Channels like Tabletop Titans and MiniWarGaming: These channels provide detailed overviews of gameplay, painting tutorials, and battle reports.
3. Reddit r/Killteam: An active community where you can find tips, advice, pictures, and more from fellow players.
GLOSSARY: COMMON TERMS EXPLAINED
Here’s a quick overview of some Kill Team terms:
1. Kill Team: a squad that you control in the game.
2. Faction: The group that your Kill Team belongs to.
3. D6: A six-sided dice, used for most rolls in the game.
4. Terrain: The physical features on a battlefield that can affect gameplay.
5. Command Points (CPs): Points used to perform special actions or tactics.
NEXT STEPS
Your journey in the brutal, fast-paced world of Kill Team starts here. Try a demo game if possible, visit a local hobby shop to connect with fellow enthusiasts or start building and painting your own Kill Team. Dive into the lore and immerse yourself in the grim-dark universe of Warhammer 40,000. Remember, learning the ropes may feel overwhelming at first, but as you play more games, the depth and strategy of Kill Team will become second nature. Happy gaming!
