Currently the outlaw pool in the Americas consists of the Pirate, Comanchero, Pistolero, and Renegado. These are pretty bland and mostly not viable due to inordinate population requirements compared to newer outlaw units. Rebalancing these outlaws and introducing new/underused outlaws to this region could make them a lot more interesting and viable. In the future, some new outlaws could also be made available in regions outside of the Americas like Australia.
New Outlaws
Buccaneer
A ranged heavy infantry unit armed with a blunderbuss. A blunderbuss is basically a primitive shotgun so Buccaneers should have area damage like an outlaw version of Akan Ankobia.
Buccaneers could be depicted as what is shown in the Pirate’s portrait, and Pirates should be given a portrait that actually matches what their model looks like.
They should appear alongside Pirates on maps like Caribbean, Hispaniola, Panama, Florida, and possibly Carolina and New England.
The Haitian revolution currently has the option to upgrade Pirates to “Buccaneers”. Instead, the Buccaneer outlaw should replace the Pirate right from the start and the Letter of Marque card should just improve Buccaneers. This alone could take the Haitian revolution from being terrible to potentially viable.
Wendigo
A shock infantry outlaw that loses health over time. Regains health after defeating enemies.
Outlaws are people who have been banished from lawful society due to their crimes, and the real life elements of the Wendigo mythology fits within that framework. The supernatural strength and stamina of Wendigos would be best represented by a shock infantry unit since they move unnaturally fast. Wendigos are described as emaciated and cannibalistic. This would be portrayed in a mechanic of health depletion like Minutemen and Eso Riders. Every time a Wendigo kills a unit, it would regain health as if consuming it.
Unlike the modern Wendigo depictions of an antlered beast, the original Algonquian descriptions simply describe Wendigos as emaciated people who can grow to giant proportions as they devour victims.
Wendigos should be available on maps in the northern regions of North America such as Great Lakes, Saguenay, Dakota, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Arctic Territories, etc. A treasure guardian version could also exist.
Rustler (and Comanchero rework)
Rustlers could replace Comancheros on most maps as the light cavalry outlaw. They should have a lasso like the Mexican and American equivalent outlaws, but could otherwise be the same as the current Comanchero. They could also appear as Duffers on any future Australia maps.
Comancheros were limited to a specific region of North America and are a poor fit for a generic outlaw. Comancheros could instead be reworked into a heavy cavalry outlaw to distinguish them from Rustlers and add more variety. They could attack by throwing a knife to inflict melee damage from a short range. They should be available in regions corresponding to Mexico and Southwestern America.
Bushranger
Would fill the Renegado role for any future maps set in Australia. It could also be available for an Australian revolution.
Prospector
The Miner from the campaigns could be repurposed into a Prospector outlaw. It would function similarly to the campaign version but without the ability to construct buildings or mines.
They should be available in regions that had gold rushes like California, Yukon, Rockies, Alaska, Australia, and South Africa.
Revolutionary Outlaws
Jagunços, Llaneros, Morochucos, and Gauchos should be available on applicable South American maps and replace the equivalent generic outlaws (Mounted Granaderos could lose the outlaw tag). Their base population should be increased to be more in line with an outlaw role and stats/cost adjusted accordingly. After sending the applicable cards from a revolt deck, their population requirement would reduce and they would become trainable at regular production buildings. Livestock harvesting and training would also be enabled. Buccaneers should also have a similar population reduction and ability increase for Haiti once Letter of Marque is sent.