Written by Robert W. Jones and soon to be published by Gripping Beast, Écorcheurs! joins the range of 28mm scale Medieval skirmish games that you can sink your teeth into at the moment.

Écorcheurs! // Robert W. Jones

Écorcheurs! has been designed to represent the skirmishes and small actions that were fought between retinues during the Hundred Years' War. This provides you with ample medieval history to explore, set against the backdrop of the conflicts between England and France that spanned from 1337 to 1453.

The name Écorcheurs (Ay-core-sure) means "flayers" and was used to name unemployed soldiers who ravaged France during the mid-14th Century. A great name for the reaving that you're going to be doing on the tabletop.

Écorcheurs! Gameplay // Robert W. Jones

Games of Écorcheurs! are played on small tables and normally use between twenty and forty miniatures per side at 28mm scale but you can go for 15mm if you prefer. Your games are always scenario and narrative-driven, mainly because (in his own words), Jones has lost enough games in his time as a wargamer that he isn't bothered about balance and "optimal play".

There is a focus on your leader's ability to command their warriors, which in turn rewards you for thinking tactically during gameplay. This is then tied into a set of mechanics for melee rules, where you see the back and forth that comes from Medieval combat. For example, just charging in will no doubt spell doom for your soldiers, whilst armour (a big part of being a knight!) had both its benefits and its drawbacks on the field of battle.

Écorcheurs! Gameplay // Robert W. Jones

Another aspect of the game that I particularly liked from the previews was the focus on being chivalric. Chivalry came in many forms, and it was incredibly complicated as a concept, but during your games of Écorcheurs! your Captains will have a series of traits and flaws, which will inform how they fight on the battlefield.

In gameplay, this manifests as your Captains having access to a "Joker". This can be played so that they may surrender in combat to your opponent. If your opponent is also Chivalric, then they must accept your surrender. Surrending allows you to fight another day, set up a new scenario where you make your escape or whatever else you prefer for the story. The captor doesn't lose out, though and gets the benefit of some gold from those paying your ransom!

Ecorcheurs! Gameplay // Robert W. Jones

This all feeds into an already incredibly deep system, which, as mentioned above, has been designed for you to tell a great Medieval tale with your warband and those of your friends. To that end, games of Ecorcheurs! are very player-focused. YOU choose the scenarios (some of which are presented in the book) and you balance them to fit the miniatures in your collection.

You'll also be working out what to include in your warband based on Historical information. The rules will contain helpful hints on how to build English and French forces but more will become available in future supplements (hopefully). If you're interested in how Gathering a Retinue works and the general set-up of games, you can find out more on, like Jones' own Brécourt Manor.

I think Ecorcheurs! sounds great fun and I like that it has very much placed itself in the "be creative" category of Medieval wargames. Take your miniatures, come up with some fun ideas with your friends and dive in.

We should be hearing more about the release of Ecorcheurs! in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out!