[VedalkenBear]

Well, if we're talking about Bandar Log, specifically (the Middle Era guys), then your Rishis can open some serious smackdown on people by simply stealing all of their armies. At least 1/4 of your Rishis can throw Enslave Mind, and another 1/4 of them can throw Charm. This is my 'normal' strategy with them; rush to Thaumaturgy 6 for Enslave Mind (along the way picking up 'intermediary' spells like Mind Burn, Soul Slay, and Paralyze). Then I would get Gandharvas (Conj 5). But seriously, 4 or 5 Rishis throwing Enslave Mind hurt the enemy rather nicely, due to the way the combat rules work.

Now, more generally, my brother Wyatt twigged me to the Light Bandar Infantry. Let me pull up their (vanilla) Sticks/Stones stats...

Dam: 12
Rng: 15
Prec: 7
Ammo: 30
#Att: 2

Compare this to a shortbow:

Dam: 10
Rng: 25
Prec: 9 (on the same unit)
Ammo: 12
#Att: 1

And here's a comparison to a javelin on an Ermorian unit:

Dam: 13
Rng: 10
Prec: 8
Ammo: 2
#Att: 1

Sticks and Stones are actually quite powerful when thrown by Bandar. So an army of Light Bandar backed up by Rishis can actually be rather nasty.

(Note: If you increase the Bandar's strength, then the range and damage of the Sticks/Stones increases, similar to a javelin.)

Anyway, just some thoughts.