The future of Kill Team: a speculative discussion

[Dosjetka]

I'm not usually a fan of speculation threads but the future of Kill Team has been on my mind recently and I thought I'd tap into the Hive Mind here and see what others think of the current situation we're in.

 

• Kill Team: Core Rulebook was released back in summer 2018 with a reasonable amount of success;
• We then saw the release of Commanders later that year which, to my mind, was a bit of a disappointment but at least it proved GW's commitment to continue supporting the game after its initial release;
• In early 2019 we got Arena which, while very cool in concept, had quite a hefty price tag attached to it and, in my area, didn't have the success we could have hoped for;
• During the summer of 2019 we got Elites which gaves us sub-faction rules and more units to add to our Kill Teams. Much more successful and gave something to everyone for the price of a book. All-in-all, I think this was a successful release;

But since then, other than the Annual and WD missions and such, we haven't seen any signs of anything new in store for KT. I'm wondering what we could reasonably expect to see in the near future: perhaps Kill Team v2.0? Or do you think we'll simply get another expansion adding more rules/units?

Edited March 11, 2020 by Dosjetka

[Panzer]

I'm honestly more or less fine with the current content after the core rulebook and elites. Don't even need commanders or arena.

So next I'd like to see a more extensive campaign system and such stuff.

[Axineton]

Funnily enough I was talking about this to my gaming group last Thursday and they all seem to think that GW have dropped it in favour of Warcry. I don’t know myself but this was their opinions. I’d be disappointed if that was the case unless we do get a KT 2.0 but right now I’m still having fun with it every week.

[Panzer]

Kill Team has absolutely nothing to do with Warcry though. That's like saying they dropped WHFB because of 40k.

[No Foes Remain]

I'd like to see them add some fast attack options, Astartes are lacking in some cheap CC units which Assault Marines could easliy provide with a base bolt pistol and chainsword (with the jump pack being an upgrade like the Vanguards). So having some CC guys to counter teams like the Tyranids and Genestealer cults.

[Axineton]

Kill Team has absolutely nothing to do with Warcry though. That's like saying they dropped WHFB because of 40k.

I know this. I’m just saying that’s my friends thoughts and opinions on the subject. 

[RandyB]

I don't see much room for expansion, other than more data sheets or, as already suggested here, a more extensive campaign system. I'd be OK with Kill Team 2.0, quite frankly, especially after the mismanaged release order *coughRogueTradercough* of the existing product line.

[Panzer]

 

Kill Team has absolutely nothing to do with Warcry though. That's like saying they dropped WHFB because of 40k.

I know this. I’m just saying that’s my friends thoughts and opinions on the subject. 

 

 

You also said you don't know and that you are considering the possibility, so no offense but I just wanted to make clear how unreasonable that thought is. ^^

[Axineton]

I meant as in I don’t know GW’s plans. My friends think they know the ins and outs of GW it’s quite funny really. And no offence taken Panzer it’s cool mate. 

[Rogue]

I'd be happy with the current rules set (my group haven't even looked at Arena or Commanders yet, and only just started thinking about Elites.

 

My own preference would be for more releases along the lines of the KillZones, or even a third starter set (because we 've got a good track record of breaking them down and all getting a bargain) - and if starter sets are just sprue they want to get rid of, I figure another one will turn up eventually.

 

Going the way of 40k, with increasing numbers of supplements and expansions and so on, doesn't feel necessary for KillTeam - it's more like Space Hulk or BloodBowl: let the core game be, and just add a couple of small expansions and frills, rather than an endless stream of extras and complexity.

[Inquisitor Eisenhorn]

The annual they put out makes me wonder what the model is. If they did do a 2.0 that would be weird unless it was backwards compatible with all the units as is. Seems to me that intermittent expansions in the form of elites or a specific narrative like Rogue Trader would be fine. Obviously Inquisition centered releases have been a constant request from the community and we haven't seen that yet exactly.

[INKS]

The newest WD has something about kill teams in it. I don't have it, so I am not sure what it's about but I seen it listed on the cover.

[Master Sheol]

What i hope for KT now is a relase like elites for fast attack units and and/or heavy support units (with support to other factions like SoB expanded list, SoS, Inquisition and so on)

For KT future i hope that the confined spaces rules will be integrated into the core manual so we can skip the Rogue Trader and Arena espansions and use those Zone Mortalis kits to full effect

[FlamingDeth]

I would love a campaign book with more in depth rules for running one, and adding a pile of options to units for granularity, basically any options that have existed in previous books that someone could have modeled.

[Brother Tyler]

I mostly like Kill Team where it is in terms of the types of units available. What I'd like to see is more factions. The Inquisition has been brought up. GW gave us a Rogue Trader's crew in the Elucidian Starstriders, but I'd like to see a set of generic Rogue Trader faction rules. I'd love to see true Renegades and Heretics (not just sidekicks for Heretic Astartes). There are some factions that already have models and some for which models would need to be created (which takes time). Kill Team is the perfect entry for new factions, though, so I think that GW should make the best use of that opportunity.

I'd definitely like to see GW fix the command roster rules. A baseline of 20 models on a command roster is unbalancing. I think that command rosters, like kill teams, should be driven by a maximum points value.

Judging by the variation in campaign types that can be used in Necromunda, I'd like to see GW give some alternate campaign types for Kill Team.

Other than that, I'd like to see a hardback Kill Team Core Manual 2.0 that consolidates all of the rules, including any expansions/updates. And then I'd like to see a Kill Team Factions book that consolidates all of the rules for the various factions, including some new ones. The model here is Necromunda with the updated rules in one book and the gangs in another (despite all of the follow-on books for other things).

From a model perspective, I'd really like to see GW give more support. There are still a number of factions that haven't gotten boxed sets (Asuryani, etc.), and it would be great if things like the Elucidian Starstriders and Gellerpox Infected eventually became available as separate boxes without needing the full Rogue Trader box (I guess GW would have to sell all of those sets first and make the rules available in another publication, such as the proposed Factions book). And more Killzones would be a good thing, especially because there's a lot of portability between Kill Team, Necromunda, and standard WH40K.

[RandyB]

I mostly like Kill Team where it is in terms of the types of units available. What I'd like to see is more factions. The Inquisition has been brought up. GW gave us a Rogue Trader's crew in the Elucidian Starstriders, but I'd like to see a set of generic Rogue Trader faction rules. I'd love to see true Renegades and Heretics (not just sidekicks for Heretic Astartes). There are some factions that already have models and some for which models would need to be created (which takes time). Kill Team is the perfect entry for new factions, though, so I think that GW should make the best use of that opportunity.

 

I'd definitely like to see GW fix the command roster rules. A baseline of 20 models on a command roster is unbalancing. I think that command rosters, like kill teams, should be driven by a maximum points value.

 

Judging by the variation in campaign types that can be used in Necromunda, I'd like to see GW give some alternate campaign types for Kill Team.

 

Other than that, I'd like to see a hardback Kill Team Core Manual 2.0 that consolidates all of the rules, including any expansions/updates. And then I'd like to see a Kill Team Factions book that consolidates all of the rules for the various factions, including some new ones. The model here is Necromunda with the updated rules in one book and the gangs in another (despite all of the follow-on books for other things).

 

From a model perspective, I'd really like to see GW give more support. There are still a number of factions that haven't gotten boxed sets (Asuryani, etc.), and it would be great if things like the Elucidian Starstriders and Gellerpox Infected eventually became available as separate boxes without needing the full Rogue Trader box (I guess GW would have to sell all of those sets first and make the rules available in another publication, such as the proposed Factions book). And more Killzones would be a good thing, especially because there's a lot of portability between Kill Team, Necromunda, and standard WH40K.

I concur with all of this. I especially agree that Necromunda's model for re-release is a good one to follow, despite some distaste among Necromunda fans.

[Lucerne]

I really, really want to see Inquisition Kill team sculpts, if not rules.

[Bigiron20slip]

I really, really want to see Inquisition Kill team sculpts, if not rules.

I heard some rumours a while ago of an inquisition expansion that was in the works but nothing has come of it. I'm really hopeful though, an inquisitor + his retinue alongside a stormtrooper or two would be really fun to play

[Brother Navaer Solaq]

Other than that, I'd like to see a hardback Kill Team Core Manual 2.0 that consolidates all of the rules, including any expansions/updates. And then I'd like to see a Kill Team Factions book that consolidates all of the rules for the various factions, including some new ones. The model here is Necromunda with the updated rules in one book and the gangs in another (despite all of the follow-on books for other things).From a model perspective, I'd really like to see GW give more support.

This would be the best thing GW could do in terms of consolidating and fixing the errors in their prints.

 

I wonder when they will bring the Zoats in KT? There were rumours of it being in KT but i have not seen any rules out there. I only saw that it can used used in Blackstone Fortress.

[gaurdian31]

The Zoat is in White Dwarf 452.

[Master Sheol]

Saturday there will be a 40k only online preview

I think that if they will reveal something for KT we can still have Hope for this game cause i feel GW is reducing supporto for it

Soon GW will release the last installation for BSF so KT will not receive anymore units from that game

In addiction after the elite supplement we just had the annual and few WD articles

KT could get new supplements to ASD selected units from HS and FA sections of the codexes and it still lacks the Inquisition faction (while the RT one is lackluster)

 

my2cents

[Crovan]

Saturday there will be a 40k only online preview

I think that if they will reveal something for KT we can still have Hope for this game cause i feel GW is reducing supporto for it

Soon GW will release the last installation for BSF so KT will not receive anymore units from that game

In addiction after the elite supplement we just had the annual and few WD articles

KT could get new supplements to ASD selected units from HS and FA sections of the codexes and it still lacks the Inquisition faction (while the RT one is lackluster)

 

my2cents

 

I'm optimistic that we'll get something for KT on Saturday, but it will likely be overshadowed by whatever the "big news" is. I doubt it'll be anything major, but even just continuing with WD updates is something.  I could see a couple of FA/HS choices coming in, as some armies already have those.  Given that it's been nine since the last box set, it's not out of the question that there's another, though I think the current one is still up on the site.  What would be feasible is a new kill zone, or even a new round of packaging existing units with KT cards, as that likely takes very little effort on their end compared to a full release.

 

If I may wishlist a tiny bit on that score, as someone building an AdMech army, I've been drooling over those cavalry models.  I'd love to have them for a Kill Team, but I highly doubt they'll get transferred over.

[Master Sheol]

 

 

Saturday there will be a 40k only online preview

I think that if they will reveal something for KT we can still have Hope for this game cause i feel GW is reducing supporto for it

Soon GW will release the last installation for BSF so KT will not receive anymore units from that game

In addiction after the elite supplement we just had the annual and few WD articles

KT could get new supplements to ASD selected units from HS and FA sections of the codexes and it still lacks the Inquisition faction (while the RT one is lackluster)

 

my2cents

I'm optimistic that we'll get something for KT on Saturday, but it will likely be overshadowed by whatever the "big news" is. I doubt it'll be anything major, but even just continuing with WD updates is something. I could see a couple of FA/HS choices coming in, as some armies already have those. Given that it's been nine since the last box set, it's not out of the question that there's another, though I think the current one is still up on the site. What would be feasible is a new kill zone, or even a new round of packaging existing units with KT cards, as that likely takes very little effort on their end compared to a full release.

 

If I may wishlist a tiny bit on that score, as someone building an AdMech army, I've been drooling over those cavalry models. I'd love to have them for a Kill Team, but I highly doubt they'll get transferred over.

Yes i hope that KT will get some annoucement saturday

And even if i hope that some day KT will get a supplement for Inquisition and new units i start to concern that GW support for this edition of KT Is coming close to an end

About a new Killzone i don't think there is any terrain that GW makes that Is not covered in this way so i doubt we Will see new ones and a set of cards for new units would be welcome ofc

Edited May 20, 2020 by Master Sheol

[Inquisitor Eisenhorn]

Well we got our Kill Team announcement: no changes to the rule set coming, and new units will be added in due course.

 

For me personally, this is exactly what I wanted to hear regarding the state of the game, as this is my main Warhammer game. It makes sense since it already feels more modern with alternating activations.

 

I do wonder if they will implement a more robust official list builder to mirror the new 40k one--that would certainly be welcome.

 

Good thing folks here put together an Inquisition list for us though, as it doesn't seem like that's coming imminently!

[Master Sheol]

So the "big" reveal day passed and the only news we had for KT where from the Q&A pdf

 

 

What happens to Kill Team? Absolutely nothing. It’s still there, and it’s still great. Kill Team is its own rules set, so it isn’t affected by changes to the main Warhammer 40,000 game. However, with new editions come new models, and several of these will be infiltrating their way into Killzones in the near future (...and the far future)

 

So IMHO the future of KT is pretty confirmed to be no more books but just WD articles or pdf to put new units into the game that will be put together year by year in KT Annual books