Guide to playing Patala competitively

[WraithLord]

I'm hereby bringing this thread back from the dead

I've read carefully through this guide and truth be told I'm not in agreement with some of the notions raised here.

I've come with some recommendations, as below:
-> Initial expansion. Use elepahnt groups. When you can, mix with Bandar infantry for morale.
-> recommended scales, magic+1 or +3 for research bonus. Prod is not required. Order +3, Possibly Growth.
-> Use a complementing pretnder to nations magic (W,E,S,N), so either a rainbow mage, or an SC with B,D,F,A,N for example.
-> Expand early on using groups of elephants, they're awesome early game and terrible mid to late game (since their low MR means they're toast to competent players using MR spells like soul slay)
-> In mid game switch to Bandar based armies with some Atavis for stealth if needed.
-> Important magic schools are, Conj. (great summons) and Evoc (For Nagarishis)

I also have a couple of questions regarding Patala summons I couldn't find an answer for in this thread (or others for that matter):
1. Are Apsaras worth it?
2. Are Yakshas and Yakshine (conj. 4) the same as Kailasa recruited mages?
3. Gandharvas are supposedly good summons for EA. Are they also useful for Patala in LA?
4. Devala and Rudra. Any information is welcome. Are they unique? Can they be made into good SCs?