Bandit Houses

Bandits are renegade humanoids outside of legal society who steal riches from other, typically by force. Bandits can work alone or, more commonly, work in groups. Many bandit groups belong to Bandit Houses that are lead by Bandit Lords. Bandit Houses operate sometimes as a mafia within a city or outside of a city as a highly aggressive, hidden settlement. Bandit Houses pay, arm and supply bandit groups internally, helping those bands extract payment from victims which flows up the chain of command to the Bandit Lords who in turn protect and cover the costs of the Bandit Bands. Bandits also employ mercenaries for particularly difficult jobs.   Lone bandits are incentivized to join a Bandit House due to their inability to operate well in a city or outside a settlement. Bandit Houses crush any banditry that isn't profitable to them and standard bandits are ill equipped to fight even a lone foot soldier.   The spoils from bandit raids are divided with the captain getting a slightly larger cut than the others. Bandits that are part of the Houses recognize that there is in fact honor among thieves.   Typically bandits have an unpredictable fighting style as they come from all walks of life. They have loose teamwork and usually use the advantage of hit and run tactics and ambushes. They prefer to engage pockets of minor to no resistance. Bandits prefer to use indirect damage and abilities that disable opponents, allowing them to control the tide of battle. Poisons, steel and rope traps, thrown weapons, diversions and smoke bombs will be plentiful in bandit raids. They are cowardly as individuals, which can be exploited. Killing a commander or a few strong bandits will provoke the rest of them to flee. Bandits will be revitalized by obtaining gold or having a strong individual on their side of the fight. Stronger individuals will have more confidence to go after richer targets.   Bandit Houses make sure to supply their Bands with at least one Hero who will help the troop in unique ways. Due to a Hero's strength and intelligence, they usually lead bandit troops. Bandit Leaders are sturdy, but have a disinterest in those that he serves under. When in the presence of a Bandit Lord however, things are different. Bandits become a cohesive unit that wont flee and become far more aggressive. They will fight to the last and come up with strategies on the fly. However they will forgo their ambush and hit and run tactics, which makes individual bandits more vulnerable.