Skinners at the Gate: The Écorcheurs! Pre-Order is Live

The Kickstarter crowd already had their fun, but now the rest of us can finally get our hands on Écorcheurs!. This isn't your standard Arthurian legend simulator. We are looking at a skirmish-scale historical wargame focused on the Hundred Years War, specifically the brutal mercenary bands that stripped the French countryside bare. If you are tired of the sanitized version of the Middle Ages found in most fantasy RPGs, this is the gritty corrective you have been waiting for.

Mechanically, the crunch here focuses on small-unit tactics and the volatility of mercenary morale. Unlike games where every soldier is a mindless drone, Écorcheurs! forces you to manage the exhaustion and temperament of your warband. The rules emphasize positioning and the devastating impact of early gunpowder weapons and longbows without turning the session into a math homework assignment. It hits that sweet spot of historical fidelity and playable speed that veteran grognards appreciate.

The fluff is where this project truly shines. It leans into the Skinners moniker—mercenaries who, when not paid by the crown, simply took what they wanted from the peasantry. It provides a historical backdrop that feels more like a survival horror game than a noble conquest. Setting your skirmishes against a backdrop of ruined hovels and muddy fields adds a layer of immersion that high-fantasy settings often lack.

At the table, expect a high-lethality environment. Your favorite sergeant isn't coming home if you leave him unsupported in a bottleneck. The table feel is tense and tactical, rewarding players who think three moves ahead regarding their supply lines and line of sight. It is a refreshing break from the bloated stat blocks of modern d20 systems, offering a streamlined experience that keeps the focus on the narrative of the skirmish rather than looking up obscure keywords.