Ecorcheurs! – Skirmish Wargaming in the Hundred Years War

Écorcheurs! is a new set of skirmish rules developed to fight small actions between retinues in the Hundred Years War – the series of conflicts fought between England (and her allies) and France (and her allies) from 1337 to 1453, ostensibly over the right of the kings of England to the throne of France.

Ecorcheurs (Ay-Core_Sure) Literally “Flayers”: Unemployed Soldiers sho Ravaged France in the Mid-Fourteenth Century – Scouring and Scorching the Land.

• Ideal for smaller tables, and between 20 and 40 15mm to 28mm figures per side.

• Scenario-driven and narrative in nature.

• Focus on the leader’s ability to command, and the warrior’s prowess in combat.

• Innovative melee rules that reflect the back and forth of medieval combat, the strength of armour, and the chaos of the field.

• Rewards tactical thinking, and encourages a chivalric mindset.

Rulebook will provide the rules, suggested retinues, as well as scenarios and a mini-campaign centred on Edward III’s 1346 campaign, the one that led to the battle of Crécy.

Core Gameplay & Mechanics

Retinues: Players build warbands consisting of 20 to 40 miniatures (15mm to 28mm scale). There are no strict army point systems; instead, forces are built around a central leader.
Dice & Activation: Leaders are assigned a quality die ranging from a standard D6 to a powerful D12, which dictates their command influence and army coins for actions. Players activate individual models or groups to shoot, move, or enter combat.
Melee & Armor: The game moves away from simple “roll-to-hit then roll-to-save” mechanics. Combat is dynamic, simulating the back-and-forth nature of medieval brawling, the chaotic reality of the battlefield, and the protective strength of heavy armor.
Chivalry & Morale: The rules explicitly encourage a chivalric mindset and reward tactical thinking. Warbands must manage morale, routing, and even mechanics for surrendering.