AliExpress Banners, Temu Cannons, and a Surprise Kill Team Win
We somehow managed to fit two very different kinds of hobby satisfaction into one conversation: one of us came away from a Kill Team game actually understanding what the system is about, and at the same time Michał dropped photos of a gloriously budget-looking Cathayan force that immediately won us over.
Stas had to leave early, but the verdict was clear:
“I couldn’t stay longer, but I think the mission was a success: I finally understand what Kill Team is about and I’d like to try playing again.”
Honestly, that is one of the best outcomes a demo game can have. Not necessarily a dramatic victory, not some galaxy-brain tactical masterclass, but that moment when the rules click and suddenly the game starts making sense. And even better: the immediate “yeah, I want another go.” We’ll absolutely count that as a hobby win.
Even though this post sits in the painting category, this is exactly the kind of thing we love in the hobby: games feeding painting motivation, and painted models feeding the urge to play more. One good intro game can do a lot.
Cathay, but make it marketplace-core
Then Michał arrived with what may be the most affectionate description of an army we’ve heard in a while:
“An army under the banner of AliExpress with cannons from Temu.”
And honestly? We mean this as a compliment: it has character.
There is something deeply enjoyable about an army that doesn’t try too hard to be pristine and official-looking, and instead leans into pure tabletop energy. If it looks good ranked up, has personality, and makes people smile across the table, then it’s doing the job.
From the photos, the whole force has that slightly chaotic, very charming fantasy-war look that fits the spirit of a growing army perfectly.
The ogres steal the show
Michał also called out the Cathayan ogres specifically:
“These ogres are probably the coolest Cathayan units.”
And looking at them, we get it. Big lads in an army full of infantry and artillery just have presence. They break up the silhouette of the force, add a bit of brute weight to the collection, and usually end up being the unit everyone notices first.
There’s also something very satisfying from a painting perspective about units like that. Ogres are large enough to give you room for fun details, but still quick enough to paint without feeling like a life commitment. That sweet spot matters.
A good hobby day in miniature
So this was one of those small but very real hobby successes:
- Stas clicked with Kill Team and wants another game.
- Michał showed off a wonderfully scrappy Cathayan army.
- The ogres made a strong case for being the coolest part of the collection.
That’s kind of the dream, really. A bit of gaming momentum, a bit of painting inspiration, and just enough model weirdness to make everything memorable.
If this is the direction the army is going, we definitely want to see more of it.