Foray into Bandar Log

[Natpy]

I tried to play BandarLog with strong bless, but there was a serious problem - absence of good priests. In my opinion the good variant is awake SC with air and blood for Lanka summons in the midgame. A4E4B4 Dom10 awake Deva Order 3, Sloth -3, some Heat, some Death, Mistfortune -2 Magic 1.
Research Alt 3 for buff your Deva, Thaum 2, Evo 2 for siteserching and Blood 6 for Dakini.

[K]

Natpy said:
I tried to play BandarLog with strong bless, but there was a serious problem - absence of good priests. In my opinion the good variant is awake SC with air and blood for Lanka summons in the midgame. A4E4B4 Dom10 awake Deva Order 3, Sloth -3, some Heat, some Death, Mistfortune -2 Magic 1.
Research Alt 3 for buff your Deva, Thaum 2, Evo 2 for siteserching and Blood 6 for Dakini.

Bandar Log is in the position of being able to get to H3 pretty easily if they summon a Yaksha or Yakshini and Communion up and/or use a Crystal Shield to boost. Its a little work, but worthwhile

[Hadrian_II]

Siddhas are H3 from the beginning and only cost 35 pearls

[VedalkenBear]

I would like to point out a different strategy for Bandar Log. Namely, 1002: An Earth Odyssey.

This is more a mid-game strategy, but noting that Rishis can all Teleport, and ~25% of them can Enslave Mind while another ~25% of them can Charm, if you rush to Thaumaturgy-7, you can have whole armies of units not yours roaming around blissfully following your Rishis. It's another answer to diversification as well since you will be able to throw the 'commanderization' ritual (can't recall its name offhand) on the commanders that are Enslaved.

Also worth noting is that this gives you many useful spells along the way (Mind Burn, Soul Slay, I think Dispel is in Thaumaturgy?). This also 'plays nicely' with an E9 bless (though not N9) due to the fact that all your mages are sacred. You'll need a blesser, though, or (preferred if you simply have 9 bajillion Astral Pearls) Saint robes for them. About the only counterindication is that it delays getting Gandharvas.

For clamming, note that not only can the Yakshinis inherently make clams, but the Yakshas can inherently make Dwarven Hammers. Oh, and the lesser monkey mages are good for creating Communions with.

[K]

I find that mind control is a fun, but not very powerful tactic unless you go the Master Enslave route (and hey, anything at 9 is powerful).

[atul]

Thanks everyone!

My strongest bless attempt to date has been E9N4 for quite obvious reasons, but will have to test that N9. I'm really averse to it thanks to all mages being sacred, but on the other hand, they have little HPs and even less movement anyway... One thing that really stands out to the ape national summons is their access to Celestial Music, basically a free (once researched) W9 bless.

And yes, Xietor's Clam-aversion makes me a very sad panda, but on the other hand I understand it perfectly. Had I not got BL I wouldn't be happy if Clams were cheap.

...And Hadrian_II, your claimed expansion rate is scary. I wouldn't even dare to try that in a game with graphs on, lest I encounter the same fate as Jazzepi with his Skinshifter rush in Perpetuality.