Price for new players

[Lokvi]

I have been looking at the Stellaris steam store page and I saw one great reason that makes players not buy the game at all. Base game with all the DLCs is over 200 euros, which is super bad to be honest. Wanted to convert few friends to Stellaris, but the moment they saw the price, they went nope and thats it, so I would hope devs take a look at this and they may want to do something about it. While its easy to assume that most of veteran players have all the DLCs, I just dont see any amount of new players with this price.
While its completely possible to buy only vanilla, we can agree that it doesnt feel good. You know all the time there is something missing and it makes playing worse.

What could be ideal solution anyways? Packs, slashing the price on older DLCs or even make the oldest part of vanilla?

[Ragnarr Loðbrók]

i bought last year on humblebundle a bundle from humblebundle :P which contained roughly 50% of the game dlc's for roughly 14€ bought the other 40% dlc's on sale for 20-25€ just missing 2 dlc's now that will cost me on 50% saloe 15€ all in all a good deal :P

[Elitewrecker PT]

You can get everything for like 60 or less on other authorized sellers. Steam only gets DLCs for up to 50% off.
Also, if you're playing MP, only the host needs the DLCs.

[HappySack]

You would have to be mentally impaired if you wanted to buy everything at full price, not counting that you can enjoy the game with only one DLC anyway.

With a sale you can get everything at half price, and if you buy outside Steam you can get it for even less.

[Meewec]

Originally posted by Elitewrecker PT:

Also, if you're playing MP, only the host needs the DLCs.

to clarify this, the host's non-cosmetic dlc features will be usable by all players. if you want cosmetic things like humanoids content or various advisor voice lines you need to own the dlc it's in.

[ScreamCon]

Mods are by far the most value along with getting base game. The advantage to dlc is their content updates more to the game.

[SLG]

I got most DLC's and the base game somewhere else for way less than Steam. I did have to purchase some DLC's on Steam since the other place did not have them, Just shop around. Steam is not the only place.

[Slyguy3129]

As someone who has played this game since release, and suffered through all the mostly horrible changes they've made to the game, I can not compel you enough to not even bother buying this empty husk of a game.

The reminder that I have most likely spent more than $200 on this game, makes me sick to my stomach. This game, and CK2, are the two games that have made sure I'll never purchase another game from this studio. I've been a loyal customer since Hearts of Iron 1.

[xycotta]

$200 is what, a handful of going out to the movies? Hitting the bar a few times? Going to a chain restaurant with your SO 3 times? A couple football games?

Really, for a game that you will play hundreds if not thousands of hours, the cost is low for the time you get out of it compared to what you would spend the $200 on otherwise.

[LordN]

wasnt there a subscription model coming to paradox games

[Elitewrecker PT]

Some have had it for a while now. Stellaris doesn't have it yet.

[Lokvi]

I do agree there are ways to purchase it for less than its full price, but only people that are already invested into Stellaris know when and where to buy for lowest possible price. My point is more oriented towards average Steam shop user that knows about the game, but is not following its trends in sales. Its just big hurdle and my assumption is, unless stellaris is on the sale, most people will not wait for it and just buy different game instead.

[Elitewrecker PT]

Not just people invested here. People that are into gaming should know how to find better deals.

[Jimmy Hunter]

Originally posted by Elitewrecker PT:

Not just people invested here. People that are into gaming should know how to find better deals.

It's not even mutually exclusive to gaming either. It goes for basically anywhere you do business of any kind. You're not going to pay $5 for a cup of coffee at one place when you can get the exact same thing next door for $2.50.

[Djin]

Paradox has this issue with all of their strategy games. Due to the structure of the Steam market place i doubt they will change how its sold here.

Fortunately and unfortunately as far as strategy games in their genera goes they are a century ahead in quality, and thanks to mods with depth of features and functionality. Any game you spend $40 on in the same genera will give you far less then a 10th of the content despite being a fifth of the price.

[Bonusgold]

Hint: there are a lot of posts concerning "which to buy"

Most suggest if you simply start out, just get the "starter edition". and i have to strongly agree. (+ "Story DLC")

You and your friends need to know 1 thing. The updates done up untill now are mostly including all "dlc features".

Check the bigger patch notes, on the wiki you can check what was released "as paid" content and free content. so you can better decide if you really want to pay for "more options in a voting system".

The dlc are more like: you want more of feature XYZ then pay, else continue.

And like others said, buy it on discount,(not that it's not well worth it but its not what i actually paid for and loved.)