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bandar-log-ma

MA Bandar Log, Land of the Apes

Lore

"Bandar Log, the nation of the monkey people, is inspired by Hindu myths, ancient India and Rudyard Kipling. The Vanara comes from the Ramayana, an epic in which the monkey people aid prince Rama in his struggle against the demon king Ravana. The hierarchical division of the different species of monkeys has parallels in the Hindu caste system. I wanted the Bandar to use the alleged colors of the Indo-Aryan castes: white for priests, red for nobles and black for commoners. Markatas are exempt from the hierarchy and society at large and might be seen as untouchables of earlier times, although I imagine them less vulnerable. Important to the development of the Bandar Log were the semi-divine beings of Hindu myth." - Illwinter

The Bandar Log is the civilization of the Primates. None know for sure how it came about, but it likely involved some help from the Yakshas, the lowliest species among the region's caretakers in an era long since passed. While they were servants of the Devatas and most of them followed their lords into the Celestial Sphere, a few grew infatuated with the beauty of nature and remained on Mount Kailasa for a time, during which they bred three species of primates and possibly gave them the bare minimum gifts that constitute "civilization".

Now the Yakshas are gone – they probably left right after settling their score with the remaining Rakshasas at the island of Lanka with the help of the Bandar Log – and the Primates have a God-shaped hole in their hearts. Their civilization has improved somewhat, but they cling to the divisions and structures that were set or implied by their former masters. Fortunately for them, the divisions are easy to maintain, since no one can easily fake being a member of another caste. The Markatas are tiny, scatterbrained, and too sociable within their own group to even recognize that they're on the bottom level of society. The Vanara are human-sized and lanky, and while some still live in the trees, many have accepted the black-laced "commoner" caste. The Bandar are large and muscular, and form the red-laced "warrior" caste, with further divisions within this group based on what weapon each Bandar is allowed to use; they codified the caste system after the Yakshas departed. Last-but-certainly-not-least are the White Ones, albino Primates (almost-entirely Vanara) who were the favorites of the Yakshas, sitting at the top of the caste system due to their higher intelligence and their sacred status. Being at the top, the White Ones are allowed to do whatever they desire, short of being criminals. They are notably the only Priests, Mages, and Sacred Warriors in the nation.

Summary

Compared to Kailasa, the Bandar Log on its own has slightly-better troops and slightly-worse path access. It does maintain Kailasa's super-cheap Astral spam, which it's almost unrivaled at in the Middle Ages, and it now has a better Communion Master in the Rishi, but the loss of depth in Earth and (to a lesser extent) Water can be felt in most stages of the game. You can access all the good Summons more easily with the Rishis than you ever could with Kailasa's guys, but Gems and Pearls (especially Pearls) are a hot commodity. As for your troops, more of your troops have armor and training now; even your Sacred troops have armor, while your capital Sacreds now ride Tigers. Unfortunately, your Primates are still Animals with piss-poor Magic Resistance and mostly-terrible Morale. Fortunately, you can pay for War Elephants now.

Oh, and you might want to consider taking Blood on your Pretender – Lanka's Blood Summons are available to the Bandar Log, and they're pretty good, certainly more cost-effective than the Bandar Log's non-Blood Summons.

National Features

Special Race Attributes Military Magic Access Priests Buildings
Prefers Heat +2
Monke
Likes Forests
White Ones:
Sacred
Base 1 Protection
+1 MR vs. Humans
Might Reincarnate
Bandar Apes:
Size 3
Base 3 Protection
+8 HP vs. Humans
+5 STR vs. Humans
+2 MOR vs. Humans
+1 ATT vs. Humans
-1 DEF & PRE vs. Humans
-2 MM & MR vs. Humans
Vanara Monkeys:
Base 1 Protection
-2 MR & MOR vs. Humans
Markata Monkeys:
Size 1
+4 DEF & CS vs. Humans
-2 PRE vs. Humans
-3 MR & MOR vs. Humans
-5 HP & STR vs. Humans
Just Won't Sit Still
Iron
Varied Ranged Weapons
Maces & Swords
No Spears
War Elephants
Some Stealthy Troops
Recruit-anywhere Sacreds
Sacred Tiger Cavalry (cap-only)
astral 44 (rare 5)
nature 33 (rare 4)
water 11 (uncommon, rare 2)
earth 11 (uncommon, rare 2)

Summons:
water 44 (rare 5) (req. nature 22water 11)
earth 44 (rare 5) (req. nature 22earth 11)
air 22 (req. astral 33)
fire 33air 33death 33 (req. astral 55)
Weak (holy 11)
Hero: holy 22
Summons:
holy 22 (req. astral 33)
holy 33 (req. astral 44)
holy 44 (req. astral 55)
Standard Forts

Reincarnation gives your White Ones a chance to return from death WITHIN YOUR DOMINION, if their Experience is high, but they won't return as their original form if their kill count is too high; they'll appear as a Bandar instead, though those who don't kill still have a roughly 25% chance to come back as a Markata or (if not a Commander) a regular Vanara. White Ones (typically those with extra-high Experience) might achieve Moksha instead, adding a Dominion candle somewhere and occasionally boosting your Pretender's Magic; the Magic-boost only happens in paths that the deceased Commander has, and will not happen if the Pretender's level in that path is the same or higher.

Capital Special Sites

The Lotus Gardens
Enables recruitment of Rishi
Enables recruitment of Tiger Rider
Produces 2naturegem per turn
Produces 3astralpearl per turn

National Units

You unit lineup is mostly made up of animals with below average Magic Resistance and Morale. Your troops are very likely to succumb to fear spells or fail to resist Charm Animal.

Commanders

Sprite Unit Name Abilities Comments
Markata Scout
20
1
1
Stealthy (60)
Animal
Mountain Survival
Forest Survival
Your cheap fort scout.
Atavi Chieftain
40
8
1
+ Forest Rec
Stealthy (40)
Animal
Forest Survival
A more expensive scout and is a leader of light Atavi raid parties.
A stealthy army commander that can be recruited from any forest is useful.
Vanara Captain
35
17
1
Animal
Forest Survival
60 leadership commander
Bandar Commander
75
25
1
Animal
Forest Survival
80 leadership commander for formations.
Bandar Noble
115
22
1
Animal
Forest Survival
120 leadership commander for formations and a small morale bonus.
Brahmin
Gold 45
2
1
holy 11
Sacred
Reincarnation (50)
Animal
Forest Survival
Cheap minor priest that can also lead 40 troops.
Yogi
Gold 55
1
2
astral 11rp 77
Sacred
Reincarnation (50)
Animal
Forest Survival
Extremely cheap for the research, especially in due to their sacred upkeep. They are however somewhat less combat-capable than the Guru.
Guru
Gold 160
1
2
astral 22nature 11rp 1111
Sacred
Reincarnation (50)
Animal
Forest Survival
Supply Bonus (10)
An out the box Mind Burner in addition to being a recruit anywhere communion master, and a cheap way to add nature to them.
Also your best recruitable mage when it comes to summoning your national summons with boosters.
They make up the bulk of your communions as slaves and masters.
Rishi
Gold 320
1
4
Capital Only
astral 33nature 22rp 1717random1100%
10%

Sacred
Reincarnation (50)
Floating
Animal
Forest Survival
Supply Bonus (20)
Adds earth and water magic to Bandar Log's communions, as well as being a strong astral caster in its own right.

Troops

Sprite Unit Name Abilities Comments
Markata
5
1
3
+ Forest Rec
Undisciplined
Animal
Forest Survival
Highly massable ultra light undisciplined infantry. Can use sticks and stones attack vs very low armor units. Low MR and morale. Good for lance catching and holding up enemies. Six units with DEF of 14 are hard to hit.
Markata Archer
5
2
3
+ Forest Rec
Undisciplined
Animal
Forest Survival
One of the cheapest short bow units in the game, but has abysmal strength which affects short bow damage. Low precision means a high friendly fire risk.
Atavi Archer
7
3
3
+ Forest Rec
Stealthy (40)
Animal
Forest Survival
Stealthy. Very cheap short bow to mass, but low morale and MR.
Atavi Infantry
7
3
3
+ Forest Rec
Stealthy (40)
Animal
Forest Survival
Can function as a stealthy raider or mass stone throwing if fighting a very low protection adversary. Has low morale and MR.
Light Bandar Archer
16
7
9
Animal
Forest Survival
No armor but high HP and str. The high strength gives this unit a very damaging long bow attack. Will struggle when trading fire with other archers due to no armor.
Bandar Archer
16
23
9
Animal
Forest Survival
The Light Bandar Archer, but with armor. Difficult to mass if dumping productivity scales, but more survivable for the same gold cost.
Vanara Archer
8
14
6
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Vanara Chakram Thrower
8
15
6
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Vanara Infantry
8
14
6
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Vanara Swordsman
11
17
13
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Light Bandar Warrior
16
13
9
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Bandar Warrior
16
20
9
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Bandar Warrior
16
20
9
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Royal Swordsman
24
25
20
Bodyguard (2)
Animal
Forest Survival
Medium infantry bodyguard. Considerably more expensive than the other Bandar troops, but has a cool sword.
White One
23
17
31
sacred
Reincarnation (5)
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
War Elephant
100
20
33
Trample
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec
Tiger Rider
60
17
46
Capital Only
Sacred
Reincarnation(10)
Animal
Forest Survival
Dying Shape (Tiger)
Mounted
Dec

Heroes

Sprite Unit Name Abilities Comments
Bandarjuna - Tathagata holy 22
Sacred
Inspirational (1)
Spreads Dominion (1)
Reduces Unrest (-5/month)
Dominion Attracts: Seeker of Truths)
Reincarnation (100)
Animal
Forest Survival
Dec

Magic

Research Priorities

Thaumaturgy is especially tasty for you because of your proliferation of astral mages. It gets you communions along with attack spells like Mind Burn, Paralyze, Soul Slay, and Enslave Mind. "Bring big astral communion and pop people's brains" is definitely a thing you can do. It is not the only thing you can do, but sometimes it may be the best thing you can do.

Conjuration gets you some of your national summons – Contact Yaksha and Contact Yakshini at low levels are essential to get earth and water access. You can go further up Conjuration to get Summon Gandharvas for good sacred troops, then even higher for the high-end mage summons. If you are using mass astral magic, Light of the Northern Star is valuable.

Alteration is a good early defensive route for you thanks to Luck, Body Ethereal, Mossbody, Wooden Warriors, and even Earth Meld.

Enchantment gets you Strength of Giants (off of Yakshas) and Antimagic. You can Foul Vapors, I guess, too. Strength of Giants is good on things like Light Bandar Warriors that have figured out how to fling monkey-poo at things; it makes them fling it harder.

Evocation is a weak school for you. You may want Magic Duel to make sure you're the only one casting astral spells. And, hey, if your monkeys explode their brains – they may come back as other monkeys or as candles… and there's always another monkey ready to step up and take their place.

Construction doesn't have much for you early. But if you are exploding people's brains with mass soul slay, penetration boosting items like Eye of the Void make your monkeys better at it. You can thug out some Yakshas, but they are excellent combat support casters and probably too valuable to casually send around raiding.

Magic Access

Has astral 22nature 11 and with your cap can produce water 44,earth 44 and nature 22.

If you get the right randoms, you can forge boosters to get to water 66,earth 55, and nature 44.

You do have summons that give you Air access, and astral 55 with boosters, with Conj 9 giving you a fire 33air 33death 33 that you can use for late-game lab and battle magic.

National Spells

National Summons

Animal Summons: Spend nature gems for animal chaff with big HP pools but low MR. Nature gems are desperately needed elsewhere. Only used when desperate for bodies.

  • Herd of Elephants Conj 3, nature 22, 25naturegem. (Elephant x5+[1/2lv]) Biggest HP pool.
  • Ambush of Tigers Conj 3, nature 22, 10naturegem. (Tiger x5+[1/2lv]): Has multiple attacks.
  • Herd of Buffaloes Conj 3, nature 22, 10naturegem. (Buffalo x5+[1/2lv]): Tramplers that never retreat.
  • Host of Ganas: Conj 2 death 11 for 12deathgem. ( Ganax20). These ghost monkeys are very mage-turn efficient units to mass, costing 0.6deathgem per Gana. They are perhaps most notable for having magic weapons and being ethereal. They do not inflict a tremendous amount of damage, but can be a very effective screen vs. units without magic weapons. Being ethereal and having a shield, they are also effective vs. archers.
  • Summon Vetalas: Conj 5 death 22 for 10deathgem. ( Possessed Corpse, Vetalax10). Cheap death summons with a second ethereal form that have an armor-piercing life drain attack and an attack that feebleminds the target. Like all second-form troops that survive, the unit will revert to the first form after the battle. Notably well protected, as the first form has some armor and a buckler while the second form is ethereal.

Sacred Summons:

  • Summon Apsaras Conj 3, astral 22, 2astralpearl. ( Apsarax3). Has high protection in melee, but none against ranged attacks. Mix these in your squads to improve their morale.
  • Summon Nagas Conj 3, water 22earth 11, 15watergem. ( Naga Warriorx6).
  • Contact Yaksha Conj 4, nature 22earth 11, 25naturegem. ( Yakshax1) Spend Nature gems to summon a strong Earth mage. Astral randoms can forge important items like the Slave Matrix, and can lead communions.
  • Contact Yakshini Conj 4, nature 22water 11, 25naturegem. ( Yakshinix1). Spend Nature gems to summon a strong Water mage. Are amphibious and can random into Astral to lead communions.
  • Contact Nagini Conj 4, water 22earth 11, 25watergem. ( Nagini).
  • Summon Gandharvas Conj 5, astral 22, 18astralpearl. ( Gandharvax6). A combination of a Yavana and an Apsara, but also wears full armor. A fantastic elite unit which you will sadly only get limited quantities of.
  • Contact Nagaraja Conj 5, water 22earth 22, 30watergem. ( Nagaraja).
  • Summon Kinnara Conj 6, astral 33, 25astralpearl. ( Kinnarax1) A flying and Inspirational air 22astral 22holy 22 commander. Having Thunderstrike that can quickly be anywhere is great, especially when they can lead communions for high air magic.
  • Contact Nagarishi Conj 6, water 33earth 33, 40watergem. ( Nagarishi).
  • Summon Siddha Conj 7, astral 44, 35astralpearl. ( Siddhax1). A Four hand-slot air 22astral 33holy 33 Teleporter. It has bad melee stats, unlike the Devata(below), and has only one Misc slot, but you can do many things with the ability to be anywhere. Can claim Thrones, especially if you plan to rush them.
  • Summon Devata Conj 8, astral 55, 45astralpearl. (1x Devata) A better thug chassis and a great army leader. It loses a misc slot, but there are many shenanigans you can get up to with 4 hands. Not a teleporter like the Siddha, but can still Cloud Trapeze.
  • Summon Devala Conj 9, astral 55, 55astralpearl. (1x Devala). A Fanaticism caster, and passively spreads your dominion.
  • Summon Rudra Conj 9, astral 55, 55astralpearl. (1x Rudra). The national Super Thug. It starts with decent gear, and gets stronger if a storm is up. They will break you into fire 33air 33death 33 and their cross paths in and out of labs. Anyone that has experienced a Cloud Trapezeing Yomi Dai Oni would understand how great of a thug the Rudra is.

Blood

  • Summon Rakshasas: Blood 1 blood 11 for 10bloodslave. ( Rakshasax3). Like your other national Demon apes, they are Sacred with Chaos Power and are Vulnerable to Fire. The Rakshasa is available very early (blood 1) and has two claw attacks but quite low protection. In turmoil 3 it will hit twice for 22 damage with 16 ATK. When attack density is needed over raw damage, they might be preferable to Rakshasa Warriors. They also have quite high HP pools at 28.
  • Feast of Flesh: Blood 2 blood 11nature 11 for 50bloodslave. ( Praghasax15). The Praghasa is very similar to the Rakshasa but is more mage-turn efficient to summon and has notably more HP (35). This unit is the most efficient way to turn blood slaves into sacred HP in Lanka. So while it has higher STR and HP than the Rakshasa, it gives up its two attacks in favor of a single mace attack.
  • Summon Asrapas: Blood 3 blood 22 for 11bloodslave( Asrapax3) Asrapas are quite cheap compared to other Lankan summons. While lacking protection, they have rather good ATK and DEF stats and a built-in life-draining magic weapon as well as a kick. This gives asrapa better attack density than other Lankan summons. Once berserk, in turmoil 3, their athame will be 20 ATK and 23 magic damage, and their kick will be 18 ATK and 19 damage. They also do not have Fire Vulnerability, unlike most Lankan demons. Asrapas can also be Gift of Reasoned to be turned into commanders, at which point they gain a Hidden .
  • Summon Rakshasa Warriors: Blood 4 blood 22 for 25bloodslave. ( Rakshasa Warriorx5). The Rakshasa warrior is the middle ground between the expensive, well-equipped elite summons and cheap, poorly equipped summons. Costing only 5 slaves per unit, yet still having decent armor and a high damage two-handed cudgel, the Rakshasa Warrior a very compelling middle-of-the-road option for trade-offs between quality and price.
  • Summon Sandhyabalas: Blood 5 blood 22death 11 for 33bloodslave. ( Sandhyabalax3) Some of Lanka's most expensive elite heavy infantry, inherited by Bandar Log. Sandhyabalas carry a Moonblade and a buckler but have no helmet. They do have phenomenal stats in turmoil and darkness: Their Moonblade will do 32 magic damage with 20 ATK (64 damage vs. magic beings!) while they sport an impressive 17 DEF. If their enemy also has the darkness penalty, the stat difference can become huge. While very strong, they are much more expensive than other Lankan summons and more vulnerable to fire (10).
  • Summon Dakini: Blood 6 blood 44air 11 for 81bloodslave. ( Dakinix1) air 33death 11blood 33holy 22 Sacred. Demon. Chaos Power 1. Damage Reversal. Fear 6. Flying. Shock Resistance 5. The Dakini is very competent in the roles of a thug, air mage, and blood mage. As a thug, its damage reversal will block and reflect all damage if the enemy fails an MR check. This is notable for both reducing incoming damage and potentially killing high-value targets such as mages. They are also competent Sabbath Masters.
  • Summon Samanishada: Blood 7 blood 33death 11 for 35bloodslave( Samanishadax1). Sacred. Demon. Assassin. Chaos Power 1. Dark Power 2. Fire Vulnerability 10. The Samanishada is a competent assassin with a Moonblade and a Duskdagger (usually costing 5deathgem10astralpearl to forge), along with an excellent melee stats. Dark Power is of special importance if the battle happens at night (50% chance). While quite effective without gear vs. simple targets, higher-value targets will often require items to assist in successful assassinations.
  • Summon Mandeha: Blood 8 Cost: 133bloodslave. air 33death 33blood 22holy 33, ( Mandehax1) Sacred. Demon. Chaos Power 2. Dark Power 3. Sleep Aura. Flying. Autocasts Darkness at the start of combat. Fear 8. Fire Vulnerability 10. The Mandeha is a Super Combatant-tier summon with 65 hp, great stats (especially in turmoil and darkness), and many SC supporting abilities. The Mandeha is also excellent at supporting undead and demon armies by auto-casting Darkness in every fight. With H3, it is also able to use divine blessing on large sacred demon armies and claim thrones. It is, however, vulnerable to anti-demon weapons and spells.
  • Summon Danavas: Blood 8 blood 55 for 75bloodslave( Danavax3). They are Sacred Demons with Fear 5, Ambidextrous 8. The Danavas are top tier units which can be turned into commanders with Gift of Reason or Divine Name to gain magic paths holy 22random250%
    50%
    50%
    50%
    . By default they have 3 unholy weapons which paralyze sacreds and poor armor with a weak shield. As units, they are relatively cheap anti-elite units. If turned into a commander and kitted properly, they can become much more durable and super combatants.

Combat

  • Celestial Music Thumaturgy 6, astral 33, 1astralpearl. Grants Army-wide Quickness to all your Sacred Magical Beings. Four attacks Per Sacred and double combat speed makes for an extremely powerful buff.

Notable Generic Magic

Combat Magic

You monkeys would love it if you can find a fire mage to cast Flaming Arrows, or if one of your Air summons could cast Wind Guide.

Arrow Fend would help your low-protection troops not get slaughtered by arrows.

Yakshas with Eath Boots are your strongest combat mage, improving your troops' abysmal natural protection with spells such as Marble Warriors and buffing their STR with Strength of Giants They can also make enemies easy pickings with Curse of Stones and Destruction.

The Yakshini is your underwater expander by summoning Full size Water Elementals and School of Sharks. They also cast Foul Vapors if holding a booster such as the Thistle Mace, or if leading a communion.

Guru communions are your massed mages, casting Swarm, Howl, Enslave Mind, and Mind Burn among other options.

Ritual Magic

Having strong Earth and Water access makes summoning the respective Elemental Royalty easy.

Forest Troll Tribe and Contact Naiad improves your magic, with Troll Shamans dipping you into Death and Naiads can get you into nature 55.

You could craft Golems for tough thugs.

Magic Items

National Items

Headdress of the Bull 5naturegem nature 11. Grants the user +2 strength and a retinue of a Buffalo. Great on a mage, as the Buffaloes can buy time for the caster and run over any would-be assassin's retinue.

Vajra 10astralpearl astral 22. Shock Damage weapon that can be made by an astral mage. Adds armor ignoring damage on a thug, and even if not a melee guy, a mage can benefit by the Resist Shock(10) and be able to cast Lightning Bolt.

Strategy

Power Curve

This is probably the most difficult section to get consensus for. Describe how strong the nation is during expansion, the early, mid and late game, and what makes it strong/weak at each of those points. This should give readers an idea of where the weaknesses of a nation lie (if they have not been shown already) and when to take advantage of a nation's strengths.

Expansion Strategies

List some example expansion strategies here. If a strong bless or pretender is required then leave the specifics for the pretender section.

Example Pretender Builds

List some example pretender builds. Try to use the following format to keep authorship and pretender design rationale clear.

See More

bandar-log-ma.txt · Last modified: 2022/06/30 21:32 by wigglefig