If anyone wants a really good look at some absolutely awesome DLCs, look at Panzer Corps by Matrix Games/Slitherine. Each DLC covers a year period of WWII from 1939-1945 so seven differnt DLCs that total over 70 scenerios. And this is just for the Eastern Front lol. They are doing the same thing for the Western Front too from 1943-45. Talk about hours and hours of play. To me this is the Gold standard of DLCs.

So if Stardock wants to go down this path, then rather than just maps, I would suggest taking a faction and creating a series of linked scenerios using that (similar to what HoMM V and VI did) faction. Or if that seems to be too hard, create a special map and situation for each faction, i.e. one map/faction (where only that specific faction can be played by a human) with special challengies. It would be even better if those challengies would be things that are rare (or not even in) the normal game that the player would have to overcome.

As much as I like FE and Stardock, I have no interest in a mappack without something else included. Even with the DLC map pack that Civ 5 sold at least had another Civ included with it. 

Frogboy - Just out of curiosity, how much more than those 50 000 sales do you need to turn profitable (Elemental costs excluded, just FE development). I understand that it may be a confidential piece of information, but still, I am curious. 

I completely understand the rationale for creating map packs (they're easy to produce and can be taken to market rather quickly). I just hope that you do not count tepid sales of map packs that add no new additional content against the release of future DLC. I would like to reiterate that I would be interested in content (which includes scenarios instead of hand-placed-old-content maps) releases for DLC. 

I've honestly never heard of anyone who plays 4x games wanting preset maps. You remember one of the four Xs is "eXplore" right?

If the map pack includes several new stamps, maybe.  Otherwise, I agree with the above.  Right now, I'd buy DLC for any of the above without hesitation (though no need for sovereigns unless part of a new faction, IMO).  Like many others, I play random maps almost exclusively, so a map pack has very little value to me.

Thanks for the "FE Status Report at 2 weeks"!   It was an interesting summary generally, whetted my appetite for new content further down the road, and the Sales Information is one of those things that especially interests me personally.  (Incidently, I am assuming, by definition, that the 50,000 units are truly New Sales -- not the Freebies to WoM purchasers.)  Congratulations, BTW!

I will buy your Map Pack ASAP.  You have a guarantee of my $5 contribution.

Like most people, I generally prefer random maps in 4X games; BUT I would occasionally drop back to a pre-made map, just to see what interesing ideas  Obsessed People  (Brad and Derek, this means you!)  can come up with, that a Random Map Generator would  NOT  come up with.

To my way of thinking, if there are 10 good maps in there, and even if I only play each one once, at 50 Cents @ , it would still be worth it, to me personally ...  So, I say: Go for it !          

There is at least 1 "huge expansion" planned for FE.  

And Brad said earlier that a map pack doesn't require the same amount of resources as a content pack and is therefore easier to do.  

Somebody should really tell Firaxis this before they release another Civ game filled with real world maps and scenarios.  Really?  That's a pretty ridiculous statement.

But Civ game DLC maps usually come with new Civs to play. I don't buy them, because Civ 5 was an abomination compared to 3 and 4. So you get maps and new content to play with. 

Sorry a map pack wont do it for me. If you want 5 dollars then please put back in the Dynasty option for the game and flesh it out some. For ideas check out Medieval Total War 2.

Also I liked being given the option to kill leaders and champions. I know it was kind of lame to beat an opponent by killing his leader, but thats where the dynasty system comes in, because one of your children or generals can be a successor.

Lastly there needs to be GLOBAL enchantments added to the games and ways to counter them.

I know you didn't mention DLC, though somebody else did, but contrary to what most people believe, most of the Civ 5 DLC "real world maps" are actually random map scripts set up to roughly (or more accurately in some cases) resemble real world areas, but they are still highly random. The scenarios are, get this... scenarios. Shocker, right? They aren't "maps" they are heavily scripted and controlled challenges designed for history buffs who really want to play through a specific battle in history, which is a concept that can't really be compared to a fantasy game of the same genre.

That said, you are too late. I think every single Civ 5 player complained about the Scenario DLCs. There's a difference between something happening and people wanting it. So yes, really, I've never heard of a single person wanting preset maps in a 4x game. Just read through this thread, there's no excitement about the idea, there's a few people saying they will buy it anyway to support Stardock, and a bunch of people saying it's just a bad idea. They could have saved a few hours of fiddling with the map editor and just added a $5 paypal donate button to the news post here, same end result.

Can't we have some new races and factions as DLC? And then I don't mean just the same humans with a different colored robe... I'd easily pay way more than $5 for classic fantasy races like elves etc.

One of the first things that happens when a Civ game comes out is people design an Earth map, then the maps of their favorite contenents, then their country, whatever.  Then Middle earth, and the Game of thrones continent, and any of a dozen other maps.  Not my cup of tea but hundreds of people design these maps and many many people download them.  

Also, just in this thread there were some people excited about it 

The added stamps + getting the game free is why I'll get this, though with a bit of grumbling.  I was kinda expecting this is a way to make up for all the freebies though- I just hope Stardock doesn't get as bad as Paradox when it comes to DLC, as in Paradox's case, that has actually stopped me from being one of their customers- CKII was the last straw, I don't think I'll be buying EU4.

I´m happy that we don´t have this boring (classic) fantasy races. I understand that many people like these races. You know Heavenfalls "Stormworld" Mod? Could be something you like

Classic fantasy races will not happen, because there is a lore for the World of Elemental, you know.

But to me there are two obvious DLCs. Capitar with new faction traits, equip, maybe spells and a unique Sov. and Umber with the same fluff.