The Skinnerkin
Welcome to our rundown of The Skinnerkin rerelease. Make sure you catch our podcast coverage of the release. For everything out with this release window, follow these links:
More release rundowns! >> 18 warbands + 2 decks = 20 rundowns!
Thanks go to GW for providing a review copy to make this content possible.
Introduction
[D]AVY, [P]HIL, [B]RIAN, [S]KYLER & [Z]ACH
P: After a pretty unfortunate start to second edition, the noble chefs to the king are back! Let's see what they are cooking up.
WARSCROLl
S: Phil, help me out here. Does this mean that you must have three or more Haunches stockpiled or is it just referring to the act of gaining?
P: I think you are probably right, Skyler. It reads like it is the act of gaining a third haunch not having three haunch that triggers the inspire.
S: Well that's quite hot! Allowing you to break into a spending as early as your first haunch. And spices up Taste Test considerably!
P: Essentially this is all of the rules for gaining haunches from first edition all in one. I think having the ability for any flanked fighter being slain to give haunch is a sneaky buff because that used to be Pewdrig specific.
S: Oh, good callout! That means a supported kill from a Chef could yield 3 Haunch tokens. Quite the score!
P: Exactly the same as first edition and an all around solid ability. The lack of tricks to move in the power step this edition keeps it more in check but there are plenty of ways to utilize haunches and a push, even if it is random.
S: Love seeing this return and am having flashbacks to when you used to abuse me with it, haha.
P: This seems pretty great. Inspire a single fighter at the cost of a haunch. I think you would usually use this early if you didn't feel confident on getting to three early, or you'd use it later if you failed to reach three and your haunch generation is slowing down. Overall, a niche ability that will feel wonderful when you need it. Just to note for taste test and all of these other abilities, since it is one per turn it will be one for each activation, meaning a potential for 24 uses per game. That is a lot of haunches!
S: Love that you have the option to hold out entirely until you've gained three haunches or inspire a key fighter (or two) in the meantime.
P: Sooo every fighter has a limited version of the Accurate upgrade? That is pretty darn neat!
S: Pretty darn neat indeed! I love that their abilities are all about resource management.
P: Grievous on demand is sweet. I can imagine once this band really gets moving that they can always have their choice of accuracy or damage.
P: Another interesting note, the reroll and grievous abilities do not specify that they can't be upgrade weapons so these guys should be able to do some work with certain weapons.
S: Noticed the lack of "non-upgrade weapons" too. An order of Desperate Rage for 4-Damage please, with a side of re-rolls!
P: This could be a problem if your opponent can’t hit really hard... Getting to transform your haunch into heals should mean this band is much harder to kill than they might look on paper.
S: Yeah, this makes their 3 Health profiles quite interesting. So many good abilities competing for your haunches. A very satisfying 180 overall from their digital release.
FIGHTERS
Uninspired
P: The stats are solid but there are a few things to specifically track here. The chef symbol means a reliable source of haunch, and fillet for a way to spike extra haunch. The combo of all these rules for gaining haunches should mean a potential for 3 from a single hit!
S: And a direct port from her Wintermaw release.
Inspired
P: Just gaining 1 attack die means I'm likely not chasing this inspire too much. Fillet no longer needing a critical is quite welcome though.
S: Compared to her first foray, the trade off here is Fillet in lieu of Crit Fillet and Cleave.
Uninspired
P: Very similar to Gristla, but slightly more accurate with a worse chance for fillet to trigger. A very important piece for the warband.
S: The Young Master Kretch (I miss the full name treatment) being another faithful port from his Wintermaw days.
Inspired
P: Hrm, the defense is a concern... Speed and accuracy gains are a nice combo though.
S: Hmmm, quite surprised to see him leaning accuracy over brutally cleaving with that Cleaver like he was once known for. (Once upon a time, 2-Swords 3-Damage with Cleave.)
P: The damage is kind of baked into the warscroll though, so it makes sense. Cleave would still have been a nice touch.
Uninspired
P: Our first non chef and doesn't have fillet. Doesn't exactly make up for that deficiency anywhere else either.
S: Pewdrig used to pull a haunch off whatever you killed next to him, but instead here he's got Crit Grievous... let's move to his inspired side and see if it's best to just get him inspired.
Inspired
P: Here we go! Speed, Defense, attack dice, and flat grievous. Overall, nothing not to like once inspired.
S: Ah, there it is. Prime candidate for inspire. And with flat Grievous and an extra dice, that's a glow up over his Wintermaw self.
Uninspired
P: Eh, a reasonable fighter but not great. Range is useful but not the be all end all. Pretty terrified about these 1 dodge fighters not making it to their inspired side.
S: Yeah, not the utility piece he once was. That crit ensnare is a bit rough. Would be pretty cool to see Grapple here instead.
Inspired
P: Speed, defense, accuracy. Just about everything you could want!
S: Again, would really like to see Grapple on those hooks. This is a fella who once had Scything and boosted attacks he was adjacent to. But that said, you get a lot of haunch-abilities this go around that should help with the staying power and effectiveness of the team as a whole.
Uninspired
P: Fast and that's about it. Thankfully can do the fly over to attempt extra damage and haunch to keep this guys relevant.
S: Exactly as he once was.
Inspired
P: I'd never complain about extra defense, but I do wish our man bat here got a little more.
S: Stagger on the attack, anything!
Summary
P: They certain have a lot of ingredients, but I’m not entirely sure what they are cooking. Will this turn out to be a tasty stew of fun flavors combining to make something greater than the sum of the parts? Or, will this just be a mish mash gruel of random abilities and token management? Time will tell, and I certain plan to give them a go, but I’m not sold on these ghoulish gourmands just yet.