is the single depth guard summon supposed to be tier 1? it seems odd that the summon 1 depth guard and summon multiple depth guards rituals are in the same tier (both tier 2) when the cost for both is so extremely low that theres no real reason to ever only summon 1 depth guard. (why spend 10 hands for 1 when a same-tier vampire can potentially get way more than 2 for 20 hands?)

That is an error, yes. They're supposed to be tier 2 and tier 3, respectively. Likely a typo.

The cost was recommended by a friend of mine. I figured it was likely to be reported if they were much too cheap, and trusted to their judgement.

honestly, balance-wise, the cost seems outrageously cheap for a unit that has 3 armor, 20 hp, regeneration, blunt resistance, slash resistance, and life drain. Especially the ones with double axes on top of life drain. Theyre even recruitable anywhere, and not bound by the coastal summoning mechanics, which may or may not also be a bug. If you got a single one of these from a tier 2 major summoning ritual on a necromancer, you would think it was a good roll, and that costs way way more.

Nah, the lack of terrain limitation is intended. I am thinking I will likely double or triple the cost of both rituals when I next update them, which is likely going to be after Vampire Counts releases. My current copy has unreleased and unfinished units in it, which makes updating the mod rather hard.

Their argument was that it's only a single model with no spells, but it's functionally just a magic-free vanilla Vampire.

fair, its just when you combine that much armor with regeneration and a life drain melee attack they get very very durable while also killing things quickly

Oh absolutely, hence my note that it's functionally just a non-magical vampire. 30-40 is probably good, I don't want to go too expensive, given IE Markgraf vampires are 75 hands in vanilla.

Depth Guard cost and availability nerfed substantially. Gave them magic weapons in exchange.