I don't play pre-mades.

I would sooner invest in additional stamps that update the random map generator instead of map packs.

$5 is also very steep for something as simple as map packs.  

I'd be open to DLC that expanded factions, etc...but not maps.  Part of the fun for me with a TBS 4X is the randomly generated map.  Different every time.

Brad said in another thread that the map pack would include new stamps (link).  For all of you complaining that random maps are the only way to go,  stamps add to the variation of random maps.  

Brad:  I'd make sure that's clear when the DLC actually goes on sale.  People need to know that the map pack benefits random maps as well.

Forgive my ignorance, but what's a stamp?

I've come late to this thread and am not going to read through five pages to see if my question has been answered, if somebody knows the answer and would put a quick reply then cheers to them

How do people who got the game for free get DLC?

No, you can't really. Users can create their own maps just as easy. There is no market because it is not a limited resource. As a strategy gamer, I understand that content has value relative to rarity. For example, putting some Metal out on the market does not even come close to testing the waters for Elementium. One is available everywhere and one is impossible to get. 

Stamps would sell. They are harder than heck to create. Wildlands would sell. I currently have to use the XML, not the map maker, to edit them. New art assets would sell. Maps are maybe worth a dollar for 100. Stamps would be about the same. And this is only even marketable to regular users who would notice a difference.

The best strategy for DLC is going to be giving us things we can't make ourselves. You can't compete with free content. But anything you can give us that we can't get from the modding community is worth alot. Hell, making new tools and polishing the old ones would be worth something as well. If people are going to give you 5 dollars for DLC they don't use simply to support the company, make that 5 bucks for modding tools and ask everyone to chip in. I'll make it worth their while.

And of coarse more races and factions would be nice

Stamps are pre-designed chunks of a map.  Think of the Wildlands.  The random map generator uses stamps to build the random map.  So more stamps means you have more possible combinations for your random maps.  

THAT I would support!  Thanks for clearing that up.

I can understand the goal, but I don't think you'll be able to accurately judge general interest in DLC with maps pack because, as I mentioned earlier, the randomized nature of maps makes a more interesting game overall. Besides, don't we have mod tools to make custom maps anyways? I'm not sure why anyone would buy them unless it was done mainly to support stardock, which is probably a much smaller subset of the total interest in a DLC that would actually make SOME difference.

Brad, make a poll. See how many people would pay $5 for a map pack DLC and how many people would pay $5 for a content DLC.

Seriously, releasing a map pack DLC is like opening a donations account. Perhaps some people would play the maps out of curiosity, but that's not why they would pay.

While I'm generally against this DLC trend, releasing interesting content in them will justify their purchase. But I prefer the approach you took with GalCiv 2: lots of patches packed with stuff and some huge expansions, which were both very successful. But I guess we'll see...

If I bought the map pack it would be more out of a desire to support the FE project than because I want hand-crafted maps.  I like to play the game highly randomised tbh.

I would be far more interested in extra quests, equipment items, spells (although probably better suited to expansions tbh) and character customisation options (faces, hair styles, clothing..).

I am assuming that you will buy it through SD's site and it will be there next to your FE download. 

I agree with this.  I'm all for supporting Stardock, but I'd hate to see SD go down the road that the major developers and publishers have of releasing a few pieces of content every few weeks and charging $5 for it.  I'd rather see a situation like Galciv2.

I generally prefer random maps.  I don't recall ever playing one of the included maps so a $5 map pack do does not interest me much.   I would be far more interested in new quests, items and random events.   If you had DLC with all of these things and it included the maps I would consider purchasing it.