Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team Review

[@PrattskiTheTabletopGamer]

I was out on a date with my wife tonight, and next door to where we eat happened to be a Warhammer store that I didn't know existed. We walked in and looked around a bit. I've never played Warhammer at all, but the store owner said it's awesome (hah) and talked to me about it for a while. I was intrigued. He said a great way to start is with Kill Team, and especially if you can get the starter box, which is I guess somewhat hard to get your hands on right now. But, he happened to have brought a still-shrink wrapped copy from his home today and figured he'd sell it. Perfect timing I guess. So I picked it up. Watching your review here definitely helped me not feel as bad about my impulse purchase. I'm excited to get it all together eventually and play it with my son. Thanks for another great review. Love your work!

[@DriveThruReview]

Prattski The Tabletop Gamer Awesome. Glad to hear it. Hope you enjoy it!

[@MrUzzynator]

How did you find it? Gameplay etc.?

[@isaiahfurrow7414]

How has this worked out for you in the last year? I have been collecting 40K stuff for a long time, then became a parent and life kinda took ke away from the hobby. I have recently gotten back into the hobby, with my son as well...and managed to pick up ome of these starters about a year ago, after they were out of print... I play Space Marines of a couple flavors, but also have a collection of Orks and Chaos Marines, and have made rosters from them in the last week. My son has Grey Knights, and we have the teams from the Starter set to assemble yet. The terrain in this set was a great deal. We are making some decent progress in modeling over the last week while isolating ourselves from the world a bit... My son got his first game in at a store here about a month or so ago, and we hope to play at least once this week. Hope you're having fun with it. Cheers.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Great overview. I’m assembling Soul Wars right now, but excited to get to this.

[@DriveThruReview]

Watch It Played Thank you sir. You’re a good man Smith, despite what Trudeau confided to me.

[@WatchItPlayed]

He swore he would never tell!

[@BlackJackLegacy]

Just watched this start to finish. Great video, you hit all the points and also made it non 40K player friedly too. Great job :)

[@DriveThruReview]

Thanks Andy. I appreciate it.

[@TheBroz]

Great video, thank you very much for going into such detail. I quit 40k about 15years ago and moved to smaller games and board games. I really fancied Necromunda 2017 but didn’t like how they’ve rolled out the rules and how fiddly it seems to have got.This looks really smart, tidy and quick. Almost certainly gonna get my order in.

[@DriveThruReview]

TheBroz Awesome. Hope you enjoy it.

[@cjpeach11]

I just listened to you for about 50 minutes on a walk. Thanks Joel for keeping me entertained and this video sir :D

[@DriveThruReview]

You bet. Thanks Chris.

[@cjpeach11]

Drive Thru Games did you have this ready to drop the minute the embargo was lifted?

[@DriveThruReview]

Yes but only by coincidence. The embargo was originally for Saturday I believe but they moved it back. Finished editing it last night.

[@cjpeach11]

Drive Thru Games I am very much digging the board size.

[@misomiso8228]

Great review. Do we know why the Embargo was moved? Did they just let everyone know today / yesterday? ty

[@Antnerd]

I think that's a major weakness of Shadespire - you can't buy the card packs seperately.. and there are unique universal cards in every box/army

[@DriveThruReview]

Antnerd I don’t mind it there honestly because everything is affordable and I want everything. In this game it won’t work though.

[@Ferskvand]

I like that you can actually play a miniature game in the W40K without pawning one of your lungs 👍

[@DriveThruReview]

That's always a plus. :D

[@johnmiddleton4291]

Pffft. What else are lungs and kidneys for?

[@DiceFestGames]

it's a tough decision ... bought into NEWcromunda and needed to see what/how this was different. I think I'm sold enough to buy in. Thanks for the video, you answered ALL my questions!

[@perehn8910]

So hyped for this. I'm glad that the plastic is colored. My painting-time shrinked drastically when I became a parent 😊

[@DriveThruReview]

I hear that!

[@seahawk8601]

Another Great Video!!! I am soooo waiting to get my hands on this!!

[@DriveThruReview]

Thanks Rob!

[@Clappincardboard]

Such a great video and intro explaining this game! I’m super interested in getting into this but couldn’t find a good video of how to really build a list or how your team is constructed but you nailed it! Any suggestions on what to buy to get started?

[@DriveThruReview]

Thanks Jason! The starter set is your best bet if you're starting fresh.

[@solodragun]

I wonder why movement shouldn't alternate during movement phase as it does during the other phases? Perhaps for overwatch purposes? But you could always elect to ready a unit rather than move. Perhaps it would be easier for your opponent to negate the effectiveness of your overwatch this way? I think I might try some games playing this way though just to see how it plays out and if we like it better.

[@ErrantPainting]

Great video! Thanks for sharing :) Can't wait to get my hands on this.

[@DriveThruReview]

Thanks! Enjoying your recent Kill Team videos as well by the way :)

[@davidjacobson9064]

I own Dark Imperium and have lots of terrain and a 4x4 mat, but I still feel like I need to buy the whole kit. If I just bought the core book. I would miss out on the board and tokens, which I am not sure they will be sold separately. Also, a team of just intercessors seems dull. I would need to buy some scouts and Reivers.

[@DriveThruReview]

I don't think the tokens are a necessity. You COULD just by the Moonbase Klassius box for boards and terrain or get a Killzone box (available on release day) as another option as well.

[@Lizardius]

I believe the Space Wolves kill-team set comes with 5 Reivers and all the tokens and cards. not the rulebook though.

[@5150show]

This is the best I’ve seen . Thank you.

[@DriveThruReview]

Fender Guru. Thanks!

[@mattbittlingmeier8487]

Awesome review, most in-depth look into the actual rules I’ve found. Thank you. Dark Eldar scourges have the wings. I don’t think units with say jet/jump packs would play well on such a small battle zone.

[@DriveThruReview]

Matt Bittlingmeier That’s the one. Thanks!

[@Marzunited]

Can a kill team contain mixed troop choices? Example a kill team with 2 space marine scouts, 3 reivers, and 5 tactical marines.

[@DriveThruReview]

Yes. You can choose models from any of the datasheets listed with a faction in the rulebook.

[@Dencious10]

I want to know if i can also use my Tau Empire minis on this 40k kill team game?

[@DriveThruReview]

Yep :) www.warhammer-community.com/2018/07/15/15th-july-kill-team-focus-tau-empiregw-homepage-post-1/

[@imjodokast]

So if I understand correctly; you can have multiple sergeants from different unit types and multiple gunners from units, but only one sergeant is a leader and three other models can be specialist (gunner or not). Right?

[@DriveThruReview]

victor araujo Correct.

[@davedogge2280]

There's only one Kill Team in WH40K 8th edition and that's the Death Watch the rest are just different variants of chicken feed for their bolters !

[@DriveThruReview]

Dave Dogge Amen

[@danielsalmon6001]

Have you met my friends?

[@Nilly-tube]

Joel, how do you feel this plays in comparison to Necromunda? I just picked up Underhive new (at a great price that I couldn't pass up), just bad timing because I can't wait to get Kill Team, haha. Will you still get both to your table? Sounds like the back and forth of combat in Kill Team leaves less down time.

[@DriveThruReview]

This will hit the table more frequently, but Necromunda has SO much extra crunch and theme-y stuff that I'll definitely still play that.

[@Nilly-tube]

Ok, awesome! I'm really excited for both. Will be my first time playing any Warhammer/GW.

[@TheMiniJunkie]

Play time sounds great, video is very comprehensive - really good overview. PS one clarification (sorry if I missed this) - you don't pay extra points for the default weapons like "this model is armed with" at the top, right? You only pay for gear/weapon swaps and upgrades (if they cost extra)?

[@DriveThruReview]

The MiniJunkie Thanks!

[@veggie88]

no... you pay for everything.

[@JTProud]

You have to pay for everything, but some (most? all?) of the default weapons just happen to cost zero points. :)

[@InvasiveWargaming]

Great vid, although I an still trying to find more info on the different specializations

[@TinnierLemon]

hey on the warhammer community website it says you roll a dice and on a 1-3 you get the flesh wound and then 4-6 you're dead. At about 34 minutes you said 3 flesh wounds and then you're dead...

[@DriveThruReview]

That's right. BUT, if you roll 1-3 three times in a row you die automatically succumbing to your wounds.

[@TinnierLemon]

ah ok so if you get lucky and survive 3 times you're definitely dead on the 4th time

[@gazbowski]

Do you need to have the tactics cards? Or are they just like the 40k datacards where they're just easier reference for something that's in the rulebook?

[@DriveThruReview]

Most of the tactics are in the book. Some of the faction specific ones there seems to be only cards for them. It's weird. I assume/hope there will be card packs available later if you don't want to buy the boxed set or expansions. I'm hoping they clarify that bit. But, it's a small subset of tactics that are only backed by cards (so far).

[@gazbowski]

Ignore me, I just got to the part of the video where you explain it. Thanks for the video I've been waiting for this one :)

[@DriveThruReview]

No worries :)

[@supersiamesisk]

Joel, you really have to try out Battletech Alpha Strike. Bet you would love it!

[@DriveThruReview]

I'll check it out. Thanks.

[@avatar414]

Great review! So what models are available for Death Guard?

[@jonasbarka]

Plague Marines and Pox Walkers.

[@PKEgaming]

Will 5 chaos marines be enough? I plan on picking up a conversion kit for 5 models, but will it be enough. Are the points changed from 13?

[@DriveThruReview]

ReddEkko 12-13 each and weapons 0-5 each

[@PKEgaming]

Drive Thru Games ok thanks!

[@markjacobson2885]

Great video (just subbed for more) I’ve heard from other reviews that you can only equip your guys with the weapons that come in their original boxes (I’m wanting to run stormbolters on deathwatch veterans, would that be legal?)

[@DriveThruReview]

Thanks. That's correct, no Stormbolters in case of DW.

[@markjacobson2885]

Drive Thru Games thanks for letting me know - that’s a bit of a shame!

[@baysword]

the cards you write on, pencil? Erasable marker? what do you think?

[@DriveThruReview]

Steven Cupples Pencil or there’s a kind of “water pencil” I forget the name of that rubs off.

[@Lizardius]

You could just copy them and put them in card sleeves with an unused card from a collectible card game. That way you can keep your rosters for later use

[@5150show]

Brilliant video

[@jbminis]

Any chance for a shot of the Chaos profiles?

[@DriveThruReview]

Isinfier It’s just the same as what’s in 8th for CSM and Cultists.

[@jbminis]

Exact same equipment options then? That's somewhat disappointing, but understandable. At least I can make a start on modelling them then. I assume Aspiring Champion = CSM Squad sergeant?

[@DriveThruReview]

Ya. I'm 99% sure it's the same, but I don't have the HA Codex to validate. Everything else matched up that I scanned.

[@lincolnwillis3345]

Perhaps I missed it but how much is the set? In dollars?

[@DriveThruReview]

Lincoln Willis IIRC 130$

[@brink10569]

Are they minis regular, or the easy to assemble line

[@DriveThruReview]

Regular minis.

[@JTProud]

Can you show the page(s) with point values for Deathwatch? >_>

[@DriveThruReview]

John Proudfoot Don’t have the book on me right now but it’s basically the same as the Codex but the weapons are way cheaper like what I showed for the Astartes.

[@JTProud]

It's all good. Thanks for the very detailed and articulate review!

[@markjacobson2885]

Drive Thru Games can you use storm Bolters or just what comes in the original box?

[@DriveThruReview]

No Stormbolters

[@theonerayman]

I have to ask. If you are playing adeptus astartes is there any difference between say ultramarine and space wolves?

[@DriveThruReview]

Currently there's no Chapter differences outside of Deathwatch (which isn't really a Chapter). Honestly, I'd be surprised if that wasn't some small expansion down the road. I don't know the contents of the Space Wolf expansion box coming at release though. Maybe there's some tidbits locked away there.

[@reddrascal0124]

You didn't say how line of sight works?

[@DriveThruReview]

reddrascal0124 If model is partially obscured it’s -1 to hit. That’s it.

[@reddrascal0124]

@@DriveThruReview OK that's cool but how do you know what a model can see? Is there a firing arc or does the model have to be just facing the other model?

[@DriveThruReview]

reddrascal0124 No arcs or facing. It’s just like 8th edition in that regard.

[@reddrascal0124]

@@DriveThruReview OK thanks. not sure how feel about that probably gonna house rule the facing I think.

[@DriveThruReview]

reddrascal0124 I could see that. Remember they’re highly trained soldiers though! ;)

[@gravyjones9746]

KROOT. WHEN?!

[@DriveThruReview]

Pre-order tomorrow.

[@QuicoNogueira]

Hi Joel, is there pinning rules on he game? Cheers!

[@DriveThruReview]

Quico Nogueira Same as 8th edition with the retreat.

[@QuicoNogueira]

So no getting belly up once your hit by shooting, even if you're not wounded?

[@DriveThruReview]

Oh you meant by getting shot... of course you did :) . Ya there's no pinning. I was thinking "pinning" in terms of Zone of Control once in melee range. My bad.

[@QuicoNogueira]

Yup! That was it. Thank you Joel! Cheers!

[@hairymule1]

Nice review man...

[@DriveThruReview]

hairymule1 Thanks!

[@imperialpjn]

Was looking forward to the box set when I read somewhere that it was going to be an estimated $130. But it is finally on their site at $220 makes me very sad..

[@DriveThruReview]

imperialpjn Change your delivery country. You probably have it as New Zealand or something.

[@imperialpjn]

Oh my! Thank you! I'm happy again! Feel sorry for the Australians. I thought my VPN was somehow messing with the location so I changed that. Surprised their site doesn't default to the IP's location.

[@DriveThruReview]

imperialpjn Ya been bit by that before :)

[@deliciouslunch]

Now its time to sit and gnash my teeth while I debate between this or soul wars

[@natevlogs2055]

I have Necromunda and I know you are a fan of that game. These seem very similar. Is it worth getting if I have Necromunda.

[@DriveThruReview]

Nate Vlog's Tough question. If you want something more streamlined and quicker and easier to play I’d say yes. If you’re happy with the crunchy of Necromunda probably not.... but you probably already have terrain? So the entry is just the rulebook and a box of troops :)

[@natevlogs2055]

I think am going to take the plunge. Thanks for your great videos however you are costing me a lot of money. Haha.

[@DriveThruReview]

Nate Vlog's I live to serve.

[@ignitedxblaze]

Joel I have another burning question, can we make zerkers , Raptors etc. from plain old CSM?

[@DriveThruReview]

Just CSM and Cultists... at least for now.

[@PackmasterJack]

Can CSM take Sonic weapons as an option? I want Noise Marines.

[@DriveThruReview]

Don't have the book in front of me, but if that's a "typical" choice you'd see on the 8th Edition datasheet, I'd say it's a good bet. Not super familiar with Chaos things outside of Daemons to be honest.

[@cyclone8974]

If it's not in the Troops section of the codex you aren't likely to see it. For Chaos Space Marines the options are Cultists and Marines. www.warhammer-community.com/2018/07/17/17th-july-kill-team-focus-heretic-astartesgw-homepage-post-1/

[@PackmasterJack]

It's a weapon type, I've seen them put on basic CSM in various battle reports (I'm a lore fan who is only now getting started when KT launches)

[@benduston]

Great review. Cheers

[@DriveThruReview]

benjamin duston Thanks!

[@traumateaminternational4732]

Awesome video, thanks a lot!

[@mikejonesnoreally]

Fantastic Joel! I knew just where to go to figure out what to do with my "almost an Army." xD As an aside, is it "safe" to paint Galaxy Defender minis? I can't really replace those......but I have a "Totally not G.I. JOE" scheme that would be *perfect.* :)

[@DriveThruReview]

Do it! :D

[@zilla333333]

I was super, super interested until I saw the bit about the tactics not being in the main book (16:36). I'm out. Hard pass on this game now.

[@DriveThruReview]

Well some are. Honestly, I don't think that would be a deal breaker as it stands now. If it gets out of hand, ya, that will be a huge turn off. But, you'll have options coming out of your ears even if you're missing half a dozen tactics cards. Totally fair point of view, but just my two cents re: that issue.

[@zilla333333]

Drive Thru Games thanks for the reply. I just want to be able to play with all the models that I already have; I don't like the idea of buying a $60 expansion to get 4 cards. If they release a (free) PDF with all the faction tactics then I'm in, but otherwise I can't reward shady business practices. Vote with the wallet.

[@jonasbarka]

You could just get a friend (the internet is full of them) to tell you the text on the missing cards. The cards themselves are just a reference. I agree that it is a bit shady businesses wise, but not enough to keep me from buying the game.

[@muratferguson4534]

why i dont wonder that black templar was forgotten here... why does GW hate the sons of sigismund?

[@jonasbarka]

They are not more forgotten than any other chapter (Death Watch and Grey Knights excluded). They all counts as Space Marines.

[@muratferguson4534]

they get their own thing... but i want play kill team because of the better representation of a chapter... so its less then that.

[@muratferguson4534]

and next to that is... by BA, DA and SW they had too much to do... BT dont get this because GW hates them.

[@xelpad2379]

I believe it's specialty :)

[@DriveThruReview]

That's what I think... Apparently Specialism is a word though /shrug

[@shockerck4465]

Looks a lot like Shadow War Armegeddon.

[@dc1316]

5-20 models

[@DriveThruReview]

Yes. The campaign specifies 12 as a maximum to start with (as opposed to the 20 in Open Play), but you can grow that. I didn't point everything in the book, but I think you'd be hard pressed to squeeze 20 models into 100 points. Maybe ork boyz?

[@andrewcook3983]

I'm guessing the lower point costs will be for gaunts or chaos cultists.

[@DriveThruReview]

Ya come to think of it, I built a Deathguard team.. and if I really wanted to, I could pack 20 Poxwalkers in it :)

[@DriveThruReview]

Messy!

[@dc1316]

Drive Thru Games Cari said she had 19 nids on Warhammer tv. Would hate to fight that!

[@jamestaylor3061]

A 40k version of Mordheim

[@ignitedxblaze]

But NDA Joel...

[@DriveThruReview]

ignitedxblaze It’s lifted

[@54jb3r7]

Pretty sure we're gonna let people print tactics. Like honestly, lets not be dumb like X-wing players. There's not really gonna be a competitive scene either and thus no organized tournaments that'll force players to have the cards.

[@jonasbarka]

Why won't there be a competitive scene? GW has explicit plans for organised play.

[@54jb3r7]

It doesn't have the engine for it. Teams have very limited load-out options, especially once you start min-maxing and separate the good from the bad. The game mechanics are simple, you have virtually complete information and the gameplan for each team is usually the same (get into CC with melee units, shoot with the rest, take objectives). You don't need to plan more than 1-2 turns ahead even when trying hard. Past the novelty of the first few times I think very few would be interested in playing this version of Kill Team in any serious setting. I think most will even tire pretty quickly of playing just normally. Kill Team appears to be is a great opportunity for those who wish to assemble and paint a small number of models and enjoy some casual fun with their friends or someone new at the local gamestore (or perhaps a LGS campaign). It'll be a good start-up for those who just started with 40k and wish to play right away. There are plenty of reasons to like killteam, time, cost and logistics being some. Competitive play won't be one. But maybe in future renditions we'll see more interesting mechanics, fleshed out teams and support. Even the rules as they're written now would lead to a lot of rules arguments. It does not look like a game written for competitive play in mind.

[@jonasbarka]

54jb3r7 Almost all of that could be said about regular 40k as well.

[@DriveThruReview]

There’s definitely going to be Organized Play. How well it does is in the air but I can see it working.

[@manjr]

If this is anything like the new Blood Bowl, you'll be buying duplicative products that STILL manage to be incomplete. Whether it's profiteering or just sloppiness, it's the reason I've sworn off buying into any more GW games - which is too bad, because this looks like a neat system.

[@DriveThruReview]

It will definitely be nothing like Blood Bowl's release cycle.

[@manjr]

And that's fine. I just don't want to buy the same thing twice. Or buy a "complete" product that isn't complete. Sell me the thing I want and I'm happy to pay for it.

[@jonasbarka]

You will be expected to get the models from the sets already existing for 40k, so depending on which faction you choose there could be a lot of boxes and duplicates to buy. For Harlequins you only need a single box, but for Tyranids there are five. If the game becomes popular enough there will be individual models for sale on Ebay.