Introduction

So far in this series we have described the factions in Vijayanagara, their primary means of attaining their historical (or ahistorical) “victory,” and the combat system in the game. In this article we introduce another dimension relevant primarily to the upstart Deccan kingdoms, the Bahmanis and Vijayanagara, namely the respective influence that each faction has throughout the southern peninsula.

Deccan Influence measures the pliability of regional rulers and their populations to be swayed towards allegiance and service to either the Bahmani Kingdom or the Vijayanagara Empire. Influence can be changed through Events representing the flourishing and dissemination of empire origin stories and foundational myths, and through direct actions (“Commands”) by military and economic means. Stronger influence in the region has a number of immediate benefits, and the Influence level is also added to the final victory point total for these two southern factions.

The Benefits of Deccan Influence

Bahmani Influence Level 1: The first advantage enjoyed by a Bahmani Kingdom with increasing Influence (level 1 on the top track in the image above) is an improved capacity for long-distance trade. When the Bahmani Influence is at least 1, their Trade action provides a Cavalry token in addition to the standard Resources (perhaps arriving by sea from central Asia, or along the ancient southern trade route from the northeast, the Dakishinapatha).

Bahmani Influence Level 2: When the Bahmani Influence has improved to its second level, two new advantages are unlocked. The first is an enhanced ability to Conspire with potential allies throughout the Deccan, regional rulers who might otherwise feel compelled to align with the Vijayanagara Empire. When the Bahmanis take their Conspire Decree, in addition to converting two of the Delhi Sultanate’s Governors to Bahmani Amirs, they may also convert a Vijayanagara Raja to an Amir. At Bahmani Influence level 2, two new Units are also moved from the track to the pool of Available Amirs for the Bahmanis, further representing the increased number of regional rulers who might be amenable to allying with the Bahmanis. These might be rulers such as the Nayaka warrior kings, or even powerful personalities from afar – the Bahmanis attracted great numbers of immigrants from across the sea in central Asia.

Bahmani Influence Level 3: With Influence at level 3, Bahmani Trade is now humming along very efficiently, and now offers two Cavalry tokens in addition to the standard Resources.

Bahmani Influence Level 4: Finally, two more potential Amirs are unlocked for the Bahmani Kingdom. Should the Bahmani Influence marker ever dip below this level (or level 2), those new units must be returned, either from the Bahmani pool of Available Amirs, or if that is not possible, from anywhere on the map.

Vijayanagara Influence Level 1: The Vijayanagara Empire quickly opens the door to potential allies throughout the south (perhaps those very same Nayakas considering allegiance to the Bahmanis), with two new Rajas opening their ears when the Vijayanagara Influence is at level 1. As with the Bahmani Kingdom, if the Vijayanagara Influence marker dips below a given level, those Units gained from it must be returned to the track, either from the Available Rajas pool or from the board.

Vijayanagara Influence Level 2: In addition to unlocking two more potential allies, Vijayanagara now enjoys an enhancement to its ability to Compel other such regional powers to enter the fold. Whenever the Vijayanagara Empire uses its Compel Decree, in addition to placing two Rajas from Available into a new Province (representing those rulers more firmly allying with the empire), those allies can be convinced to immediately remove an opposing Amir or Delhi Sultanate unit as well (although if they choose the latter target, there will be the usual consequence as they are branded as rebels and flipped to their Rebelling side).

Vijayanagara Influence Levels 3-4: A Vijayanagara Empire with great Influence in the Deccan will gain access to its historically huge population, adding an additional two Rajas to its available pool at each Deccan Influence level. The Bahmani Kingdom would do well to keep an eye on the growth potential of its southern neighbor, and the Delhi Sultanate should not underestimate this upstart Empire.

Gaining Influence through Events

The Event cards in the game, around which the sequence of play is organized, often reveal opportunities for the three factions to adjust Deccan Influence, as is the case in the Kakatiya Empire Extinguished card shown above. Rising from the embers of the fallen Telegu kingdom left behind by the vengeful Delhi Sultanate, a mythic legacy would lay the groundwork for Vijayanagara to comfortably extend its reach towards the Telanganas in Warangal. The foundational myths of the Kakatiyas (based on the goddess Pampa), when subsumed by the Vijayanagara Empire, produced a new empire origin story, bonding Pampa with the god Virupaksha. Principles of advancing in socioeconomic rank through military service were also sustained by Nayaka “warrior kings”, and these principles were be absorbed by the Vijayanagara Empire. This mythic legacy can result in an increase in Vijayanagara Influence (indicated by the sun icon on the card), and even provides two Cavalry tokens (horse icon) for the empire, due to Nayaka expertise.

The Turquoise Throne, meanwhile, shows that some Events have a zero-sum effect on Deccan Influence. A new raja of Telangana, Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka, now holding the city of Warangal, approached the Tughlaq Sultan in Delhi and implored that he invade the Bahmani Kingdom from the north. Telangana offered to aid in this invasion, and indicated that the Vijayanagara Empire would do so as well. This message, captured by Bahmani spies, resulted in the immediate Bahmani invasion of Andhra. As the Bahmani general approached Warangal, the raja of Telangana claimed that he had been compelled to attack the Bahmanis by Vijayanagara. A treaty of peace was established, but not before the Telanganas had offered numerous gifts, including an important fortress in Golconda and an ornate turquoise throne which would serve eighteen Bahmani kings. The crossing of the Krishna by their imposing force can improve the Bahmani Influence in the Deccan by 1 level, while diminishing that of the Vijayanagara Empire by the same amount.

Gaining Influence through Actions

Finally, there are two other means of changing the Deccan Influence in the game through basic faction actions (“Commands”).

First, when the Bahmani Kingdom and Vijayanagara Empire are engaged with each other in a Battle, the result of the Battle can affect their Deccan Influence. Whichever faction loses more pieces in the Battle loses 1 Influence while the other faction gains 1 Influence. A battle might result in a shift in either direction – even if a faction is entirely cleared out of a province, an unexpectedly strong defense can still result in Influence swinging the way of the vanquished defenders, as stories of their heroic effort grows into a functionalized legend.

Second, the Deccan Influence of either faction can be affected by economic means, through the development of infrastructure like the construction of beautiful stepwells for water collection and management, thereby widening the reach of their cultures, customs, and commerce. When Bahmani and Vijayanagara Amirs and Rajas Migrate to a new province where rulers of the other faction are present, they have the option to spend additional Resources to increase their Influence, while decreasing that of their rivals.

In the next article we will take a step away from the history to talk more about the work that has gone into streamlining the game to enhance its accessibility to newcomers, while ensuring it retains the depth of strategy and evocative narratives that we hoped to achieve with this exploration of medieval India.

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Previous Articles:

 It’s Not Easy to Be the Sultan: Modeling the Collapse of the Delhi Sultanate in Vijayanagara

Commands and Decrees of the Deccan Empires: Aims, Means, and Victory Conditions

Never Tell Me the Odds: Strength-Dependent Risk Mitigation and the Combat System in Vijayanagara