INTRODUCTION
Hello, fellow game enthusiast! Ever wondered about diving into the world of tabletop miniature wargaming but felt daunted by the price and complexity of games like Warhammer 40,000? Perhaps you’ve discovered Kill Team. But what is Kill Team, and how approachable is it for beginners? In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of getting started, equip you with what you need to play, reveal some handy beginner tips, provide resources to support your gaming journey, demystify some common terms, and guide you on the next steps into the thick of it. This is your beginner-friendly guide to Kill Team!
WHAT IS KILL TEAM?
Kill Team is a miniatures tactial wargame developed and produced by Games Workshop. It’s essentially a streamlined, skirmish-based offshoot of the larger Warhammer 40,000 universe, focusing on small scale, tactical combat. Instead of commanding massive armies, you’ll be controlling a hand-picked squad in close-quarters combat. This provides a different kind of strategy and makes each of your soldiers far more valuable in the grand scheme.
The whole idea of Kill Team is accessibility and affordability, enabling players to get a taste of 40k without having to invest in and paint an entire army. With more focus on individual soldiers and their unique abilities, it is packed full of strategy, making every single move crucial to your success.
HOW IT WORKS / HOW TO GET STARTED
Getting started with Kill Team might seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward. Firstly, you’ll pick a faction; this could be anything from Space Marines to Orks or Eldar. Each faction has its unique strategies, abilities, and aesthetics, so choose based on your preferences.
The game will typically begin with setting up the battlefield and deploying your kill team. You will then take turns with your opponent to move, shoot, and engage in close combat with your Kill Teams. The beauty of Kill Team lies in its focus on individual miniatures; each soldier on your team is controlled individually, making their positioning and actions crucial to your strategy. The game can end in a couple of different ways, but typically it’s when one side has been wiped out, reaches their breaking point, or has completed their objectives.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY
To begin playing Kill Team, you would require few essential items: a Kill Team Core Rulebook for all the basic rules and Martian-themed battlefield; a Kill Team, which you can get from a starter box or a discounted bundle; set of special dice (D6 and D10), measuring devices, and a suitable playing area or a purpose-made gaming board.
Optional but helpful tools include miniature painting tools to customize your Kill Team and terrain pieces to enrich your game scenes.
TIPS FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
1. Start Small: Choose a beginner-friendly faction with units that have simpler rules.
2. Understand Your Team: Spend time understanding your team’s abilities and how they work together.
3. Keep Rules on Hand: Always have the rulebook handy for quick reference during the game.
4. Practice: Play a few practice rounds to understand the mechanics.
5. Have Fun: While winning is exciting, remember that the core motive of playing is to have fun.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
For detailed painting tutorials and game tips, Warhammer TV, on YouTube is an excellent resource. The official Warhammer 40,000 website has resources available as well. Additionally, online communities on Reddit like r/killteam offer advice and strategies from a broad player base.
GLOSSARY: COMMON TERMS EXPLAINED
1. Faction: The team of figures you play, typically united by a common theme or background.
2. Battlefield: The game board you play on.
3. Deployment: The initial placement of your figures on the game board.
4. Wargear: The equipment carried by your team’s members.
5. D6/D10: A six-sided/den-side die, used to perform actions.
NEXT STEPS: WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
Once you’ve played a few games and feel comfortable with the rules, consider expanding your team with different units, or procuring a new Kill Team to add diversity to your games. You might also want to start exploring the use of different strategies based on the current mission and opposing factions.
Lastly, remember, as with any hobby, the learning process can be filled with trials and errors. But fret not, the initial learning curve is steep yet short, and the world of Kill Team gets more accessible, engaging, and fun as you delve deeper. So gear up and lock and load your Kill Team, it’s time to head into battle!
