Is it complete without DLCs?

[[LL]Klactovesedsteen]

I'm always wary about buying games with loads of available DLCs,
because they tend to be pay-to-win and/or that feel "incomplete".

What I'm asking is, can you get a satisfying gaming experience buying
just the basic game without DLCs?

[Valen]

Sure. One could argue that the terrains of Altis, Stratis and the free DLC Malden is a bit of the same style. So you might get bored with it after a while once you know the terrain. DLC that come with terrains would limit you in not being able to play scenarios or servers playing on them. But there are plenty of scenarios using modded terrains that are free. Just not the same.

You got all kinds of gear and vehciles in the base game. A well rounded set. It is not like the Heli or Jets DLC prevents you from playing any helicopters or jets if you don't have it. You just can't use the special kinds they provide. Same goes for gear from DLC. You don't need Marksman DLC to find a sniper/marksman rifle in the game. And if the DLC gear is included in the scenario you can look at it, even sit in a vehicle as passenger. But not operate it, as in fire it, or be a commander or gunner or driver in the vehicle. So you will have to find other stuff to use to do what you need to do.

And you can still try out all the stuff of DLC in the VR-Arsenal in the tutorial menu. But not the creatorDLC I think. You would need to download the non-owners compatibility mods to check those out in the VR-Arsenal. (if I am not mistaken)

[Ash Tré]

ARMA does a great job at integrating all the DLCs into the core game. As I understand, whenever there's a new DLC out, your game on Steam gets updated with the assets automatically, and that's why you can see all the weapons / vehicles / maps in the editor and Arsenal mode (as the person above says).

So the content is on your computer even if you haven't bought the appropriate DLC, and you can even play with it (for example, a new rifle or uniform) in multiplayer or custom missions, but you'll get a periodic screen burring effect that says that you're using something from a DLC you don't own. Not sure if this is a "nicer" way of doing it rather than just blocking those assets, but I think it's a fair way to let people try the new assets. Also, it allows people to play certain multiplayer missions with friends who don't own a specific DLC (like the Tanoa map).

The specific game functions / mechanics added by the DLCs seem to be added into the core game regardless of you owning the DLC. For example, the ability to adjust the rifle zero distance was added with the Marksmen DLC (I think), but now you can adjust the zero with most rifles even if you don't own that DLC.

The big thing about the DLCs is the official scenarios and missions. That's where most of the value is (for me, at least). I admit, the bare game without the accumulated DLCs over the years would be kind of empty.