Before you tar and feather me, I understand this isn't a popular sentiment. I also agree with many of the concerns people who dislike the model have expressed. I think it's a potentially dangerous path for Paradox to tread and I think many fears were vindicated with Imperator's release. In that title we had this very expansive, but also shallow game. It felt like a foundation for a much larger game instead of a fully fleshed out title.
This said, I think there are many benefits to the model and those benefits outweigh the cons. Take the largest example of this, Crusader Kings 2. The base game was excellent. I doubt many would disagree that CK2 could stand upon its own. However, how many titles could you name that still receive patches and meaningful free content after almost eight years? Would you argue that Holy Fire was an unwelcome addition?
Look at the features the latest patch gave us:
Then there is the patch before this one:
CK2 has been turned from a great game to a truly legendary game due to the host of DLC over the years. It's a title that could, in all likelihood, never exist using the traditional model. No game could ever be so complex and fleshed out. It took eight years after years of development and design for the base game to reach this point. We have one of the greatest strategy titles in gaming history because of the continued development of DLC. The only games that come close to touching it at likewise, pseudo live-service games from Paradox.
I'm positive people would disagree, but I would rather have a game that looks and feels a bit dated, but be the ultimate grand strategy experience that gives a decade of fun. This isn't to discount or belittle the aforementioned criticisms. As I said, I agree with many of them. However, I am saying that I'm betting most of you who dislike the practice will still read the development diaries and enjoy the patches because you're excited for new content to be added to your favorite game.
This said, I think there are many benefits to the model and those benefits outweigh the cons. Take the largest example of this, Crusader Kings 2. The base game was excellent. I doubt many would disagree that CK2 could stand upon its own. However, how many titles could you name that still receive patches and meaningful free content after almost eight years? Would you argue that Holy Fire was an unwelcome addition?
Look at the features the latest patch gave us:
- New Bookmark 'The Iron Century', set in 936
- New Cultures:Sardinian and Slovieni
- New Shiite Heresy: Qarmatian
- Map Reworks for Portugal and south-western Spain:
- 2 New Navigable rivers
- 1 New Duchy
- 3 New Provinces
- Map reworks for Egypt:
- The Nile has been made navigable
- 3 New Duchies
- 7 New Provinces
- Added 3D models for Hagia Sophia.
Then there is the patch before this one:
- Court Improvements
- Added a limit and expenses tied to court size.
- Added court size modifiers and court maintenance cost reduction to the Majesty Tech.
- Added court size modifiers and court maintenance cost reduction to the Great Fortress and the Royal Palace Great Works.
- Added court size modifier to some Great Work features: Tavern; Royal Apartments; Hidden Passageways; Travel Tunnels; and Royal Bedchamber.
- Added court maintenance cost reduction to the Great Work feature Trap Door.
- Added court size modifiers to Castle Town and Market Town buildings.
- Updated how courtiers are selected for involvement in a multitude of old events.
- Added a chance for courtiers to live it up with character modifiers.
- Added a chance for courtiers to have a livelier social life.
- Added a chance for courtiers to get more interesting skills.
- Added a new decision, "Ask Courtiers to Leave Court", to help quickly reduce court*size.
- Added an event where you are able to give a courtier a nickname.
- Added an event for large courts, where courtiers praise your hospitality.
- Added historical Great Work Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, including conversion events.
- Added historical Great Work Notre Dame in Paris.
- Added a new random event on sacking of a besieged barony, with corresponding character modifiers.
- Updated Game Rules:
- Added separate Historical Great Work game rule.
- Added game rule for the Court Size Limit (On/Off).
CK2 has been turned from a great game to a truly legendary game due to the host of DLC over the years. It's a title that could, in all likelihood, never exist using the traditional model. No game could ever be so complex and fleshed out. It took eight years after years of development and design for the base game to reach this point. We have one of the greatest strategy titles in gaming history because of the continued development of DLC. The only games that come close to touching it at likewise, pseudo live-service games from Paradox.
I'm positive people would disagree, but I would rather have a game that looks and feels a bit dated, but be the ultimate grand strategy experience that gives a decade of fun. This isn't to discount or belittle the aforementioned criticisms. As I said, I agree with many of them. However, I am saying that I'm betting most of you who dislike the practice will still read the development diaries and enjoy the patches because you're excited for new content to be added to your favorite game.
