Battle for Greece sadness

[Jumbo]

Hi,

I'd like to start of by saying that the new upcoming Battle for Greece DLC looks cool.

However, I am saddened by the fact that the main game - the game many of us have actually loved since 1999 - is being totally ignored with the latest two DLCs.
-The custom map pack DLC was a huge disappointment as it did not bring anything new to the main game. Perhaps the maps were good, but it is not worthy of a full DLC - it added zero to the general experience (regular skirmish) and the price was ridiculous for what it was.
-Battle for Greece adds a huge amount of new content - but it is NOT for the main game.

Rise of Rome, though disliked for its price, was actually a solid DLC because it had a bit of both. We got Romans in the main game while we got AOE1 remake next to that for those who wanted to try it out - win-win.

What is not win-win is when you ignore the main game, do not make proper new civilisations or even additions to the main game. If you had decided to add one new civ to the main game, I would be totally excited about this DLC - including the ancient custom official mod tab.

One has to ask: Is AOE2 mostly becoming a hub for random content around the game instead of for the actual game itself? You were on a solid path with Mountain Royals and everything before. Interesting new factions, cool campaigns etc. but since then we've got half-baked content DLCs. (Your main patches are always solid though).

Maybe you misread the poor reviews for the Mountain Royals - no, it was not disliked, only for its price. Personally, I did not mind that small price increase, but in any case, peoples' complains weren't about the actual content.


TL;DR:
Please return to the DLC model of either: Full AOE2 DLCs or hybrid DLCs. AOE2 DLCs that are basically not for AOE2 is a weird and wrong invention if you ask me. For this DLC, consider adding one new faction related to the content.
Perhaps another faction which was relevant to the Achaemenid empire. Something like Kingdom of Kush (780 BC – c.  AD 350), which for the main AOE2 game's time period would correspond to for example Makuria (5th century–1518)?.

[BirbNotBird]

No, I rather the DLC as seperate DLC content. No one should have bought ROR just for a single Roman civ inside bundle. It should be two seperate DLCs that released at the same time.

Yes, the game has become a hub since ROR. The grim reality is that you will be reminded by the cursed taskbar in the left.

Seriously have you ever read or research up BfG? Are you a ranked player only?

[Jumbo]

I get your point. The problem with that is that we will have 543 DLCs in no time if every little addition is an independent DLC. I am a more old school player. I like a proper expansion instead of 5 euro DLC spam.
Your question in your last paragraph is weird. Of course I have read about it - that's what my entire post is about O_o

[BirbNotBird]

Originally posted by Jumbo:

I get your point. The problem with that is that we will have 543 DLCs in no time if every little addition is an independent DLC. I am a more old school player. I like a proper expansion instead of 5 euro DLC spam.
Your question in your last paragraph is weird. Of course I have read about it - that's what my entire post is about O_o

Cause I'm honestly confused. The new three civs are playable in unranked main game though?

Edit: About the DLC I don't mind as long they benefits both main game, which seem to be the case for BfG.

[kmsardar4]

they said they have not abandoned the old game or the old formula but with every civs they add the harder it gets to balance them and by doing these dlcs it gives them more time to do balancing , fixes e.t.c . and i prefer the graphics of age2 so i dont mind them doing antiquity at all .

[MFX_Media]

It's a grat dlc. Stop hating.

[Berryflavor]

Originally posted by BirbNotBird:

No, I rather the DLC as seperate DLC content. No one should have bought ROR just for a single Roman civ inside bundle. It should be two seperate DLCs that released at the same time.

Yes, the game has become a hub since ROR. The grim reality is that you will be reminded by the cursed taskbar in the left.

Seriously have you ever read or research up BfG? Are you a ranked player only?

we could discuss questionable DLC practices, but you better have bought it, even if it only had the one civ for the normal game. There's very few games that are still running after +25 years. Be grateful. $10-$15 DLCs isn't breaking anyone's bank, and if it is, just manage your money better. Support the continuing DLCs.

[BirbNotBird]

Originally posted by Berryflavor:

we could discuss questionable DLC practices, but you better have bought it, even if it only had the one civ for the normal game. There's very few games that are still running after +25 years. Be grateful. $10-$15 DLCs isn't breaking anyone's bank, and if it is, just manage your money better. Support the continuing DLCs.

Yes, I have bought ROR because of 2DE Romans and the improved AOE1 bundled up inside. I have no regret.

What I want to discuss is questionable practices. I'm certain that dubious marketing of ROR and V&V leads to pretty much controversy arguments.

Edit: I do think at the end, customers should have choices on choosing or skipping whichever content they wants to play. It's less controversial and less people getting mad for nothing.

[Quarantined_villager]

From the devs about "What's on the Horizon" section in the Chronicles DLC main page:
(https://www.ageofempires.com/news/pre-order-age-of-empires-ii-definitive-edition-chronicles-battle-for-greece/)

What we’ve been doing with DLCs like Animated Profile Icons, Victors and Vanquished, and now Chronicles: Battle for Greece, is a bit of experimenting. The AoE II: DE community is pretty big and spread out. Our most visible cohort tends to be our competitive community, tournament organizers, and streamers, but there’s a rather massive and understated majority of our players that show up week over week and month over month just to enjoy their favorite Campaigns. They love Campaign content exclusively, and they’re playing them over and over again – hard to blame them (that Attila Campaign, amiright???). There’s some Venn diagram overlap where many of you together are enjoying a lot of Skirmish matches, but the point is that it’s a big game with lots to do and therefore we’ve got many different interests to explore and service. It starts to become important for us to look for ways that we can push Campaign content and do new and interesting things, even if it means some variation in how we roll out a DLC (e.g. Civs not going into Ranked). So when we do something different like this, please don’t be alarmed – we’re just a happy tree growing new branches – the ones that have given you shade in times past are still there and we’ve got plenty of surprises waiting for you. Like, a lot. A lot a lot. Seriously. A lot a lot a lot.

[Kiwichris]

The devs obviously don't have much confidence in this otherwise they would release it as a separate game rather than as a parasite to AOE II.

[jonoliveira12]

Originally posted by Kiwichris:

The devs obviously don't have much confidence in this otherwise they would release it as a separate game rather than as a parasite to AOE II.

Why release it as a seperate game, when it is done by a mod team, on the AoE2 engine, and uses known AoE2 faction civ design, just tuned up with more unique features?

Why would you buy another game taht is essentially 90% like teh game you already own, and compete with it, only to be moer expensive than it is as a DLC?

[Orb]

I don't understand how you can complain about this DLC or the DLC system they're using. These aren't half assed Paradox DLC's but full on DLC's with new civs and missions. Look how many civs AOE2 has already, I was suprised they're still releasing DLC for this game.

[MFX_Media]

Originally posted by Orb:

I don't understand how you can complain about this DLC or the DLC system they're using. These aren't half assed Paradox DLC's but full on DLC's with new civs and missions. Look how many civs AOE2 has already, I was suprised they're still releasing DLC for this game.

Haters are gonna hate, Spoiled Ubisoft players :D