So, I have an idea for a Vampire Coast Legendary Lord/Faction focused on buffing Depth Guard, making them more viable units in certainly mid-late game. Depth Guard are one of the coolest looking units in the game, IMO, but them struggling to be viable really sinks my heart to Davy Jones. So, I'm putting out a concept for a sort of solution. I dunno much about modding tho- this is more an idea dump.

So, the Legendary Lord is an original character, Kel Hartsmoor, who was once a first captain of a trading vessel, until it was raided and he became a Depth Guard under the service of Count Noctilus- and became renowned for his executions of mutinous pirates. However, he himself has decided to break from the Dreadfleet, becoming the lord of the fledgling Blackthorn Crew, and has taken to the Old World, where he intends to pillage the Empire and Bretonnia. (His starting location will be on the coast of the Wasteland). The Blackthorn Fleet have been known for brutal and sudden attacks, pillaging and leave nothing but death in their wake.

Kel Hartsmoor is essentially a Depth Guard Lord, acting as a melee expert and a duellist, with access to Lore of the Deep. He's quite fast, not cavalry levels of quick, but can certainly hound an enemy lord if both are on foot. 'The Hunger' also grants him Frenzy (or perhaps a buffed version of that), making him formidable, especially at lower health. In his army, he reduces the upkeep of Depth Guard by 25-50% (depending on how powerful they might end up being), making them much more economically viable. Moreover, they have an equivalent of Ungrim's "Journey's End", to compensate their small unit size. Moreover, all units get a leadership buff when attacking. And his unique tree is buffing Depth Guard further. Maybe even a choice between making them more tough and front-line, or making them flankers.

With Kel as an admiral, he has a unique building which lets him recruit Depth Guard and the Polearm variant when it's level 3. It can also grant other buffs.

As a faction, the Blackthorn Crew have +2 loyalty for new recruits, extra money from sacking (cos piracy), additional weapon strength and leadership when fighting men and vampires, and all units gain extra speed and melee defence when doing lightning strikes. They have low disposition with the Empire, and start off at war with Marienburg. However, they can get off good with the Thousand Maws and Mousillon.

What do you think? I'm really not sure whether it'd be balanced, null or broken.