Kill Team: Into The Dark Terrain Is Absolutely Killing It
Zone Mortalis just got some major competition from the terrain set inside Into the Dark for best modular 40k terrain set.
I’m a big fan of the 40k Terrain sets. The Zone Mortalis set is one of my favorites in particular because of the sheer modularity of everything in that set. The Underhive Sector in particular is one of my favorites because it’s perfect for Necromunda as well as larger games. Need an Imperial Fort or settlement? Toss it on the tabletop and you’re ready to go.
Need to have more close quarters action? That’s what the Zone Mortalis Columns and Walls can add to your games. I’ll be honest though, you’ll really need a couple of sets to really make the tabletop feel cramped. But that’s also why it’s perfect for Kill Team thanks to the smaller board size. But that’s also why I think the new Kill Team terrain from Into the Dark has it beat.
Now, I’ve already talked up how good the terrain is in this set. But I want to compare it to the Zone Mortalis Walls and Columns set in particular and explain why I think this set just might have it beat.
For starters this set is more thematic and intricate. There’s just a lot more details and more stuff going on with this set. Now, that could be a factor of technology or time. It could also be that GW learned a few things when crafting the Zone Mortalis set and those lessons paid off with the Into the Dark set. Whatever the case, there’s just more going on.
I also like how much thinner the columns are in this set compared to the Zone Mortalis ones. They take up less space and still limit the play area. It still creates a “cramped” feel for the game but allows players to actually reach in and play the game. If “playability” scores were a thing for terrain this one would beat out Zone Mortalis in that area, too.
I do think that the Zone Mortalis still wins in the “scalability” category if that was a thing. Just because you can stack it it and create much taller sets or build structures with it. But that also takes up more space and if you’re looking for a Kill Team or Skirmish size engagement because your physical play space is limited the Into the Dark set fits that better. Maybe you don’t want the verticality that comes with the Zone Mortalis set.
The last area that the Into the Dark set really shines is scenario support. Now this is really more of a function of the books included in the boxed set but I want to call out the maps. GW built a bunch of scenarios that use the terrain in the box and provided maps for players to use. You’ll be able to recreate these specific layouts from the terrain inside the box.
This is a nice touch for a couple of reasons. First up, it highlights how modular the terrain set is. Secondly, it adds some uniformity to the setting. Want to know what the deck looks like on a ship? Boom. There’s a map for that. There’s also a key so you know exactly what each piece of terrain is and how it supposed to work in game.
Finally, I like the maps because the work is done for you already. Players could make their own maps for Zone Mortalis. Heck, I’ve copied the layouts using grid paper for a campaign before. But that took extra time. With these maps, you just whip them out and place the terrain based on the key. I might borrow this idea and label my Zone Mortalis set this way, too — but again, that’s work I’ll have to do. With this set, everything is already done.
Look, I just really appreciate a really good set of terrain. It’s kind of like the silent third party of your games. The cooler the terrain looks the more immersive the game is for me. And the Into the Dark set is simple and well done. Once you get it all put together it will transport you to that particular section of the Gallowdark Space Hulk!
I hope GW does more to expand on the Gallowdark set…and I have a funny feeling they will.
Zone Mortalis vs Into the Dark — which terrain set do you think will come out on top?
