Quoting abiessener, reply 66Well, we could pull devs off of making the new game to make DLC I suppose...

 

One thing you could do is set a standard and stick to it. Less surprise, happier players/buyers. A general rule of thumb could be $0.20 for something new.

 

5 abilities = $1

(Out of 5, at least 2 should be available to TrainedUnits and/or CustomSov)

 

5 items = $1

(See above)

 

5 castable spells = $1

(As opposed to spells used by an ability or an item --> Can't count the same stuff twice!)

 

2 unique Sovereigns = $1

(Including -at least- two uniques something per sovereign: unique ability, unique item, unique effect, unique model, unique scene...)

(Each new/unique feature is valued at $0.25 instead of $0.20 since the you need to do extra work to set up the story)




2 simple quest = $1

(Find A go to B, get new item)




1 multi stage quest = $1

(Find A, go to B_or_C, go to D, go back to A, then prize; possible encountering a new monster/champion along the way)

 

1 modder feature (e.g. CastAppliesSpell) minimum per DLC = $0.20

 

Art gets its own pricing schedule (e.g. unique scene = $0.20, unique model = $0.20, but unique icon = $0.00)

Background stuff (e.g. UnitStats) does not count! ($0.00) unless very special effort put into it (Programmer stuff)

Fixes and Balance (Patches) do not count either ($0.00) unless very special effort put into it (Adding multiple new weights choices to Diplomacy)

While patches do not count, adding abilities/features through the patch should count toward the value of the next DLC (Yes, DLC buyers pay for free riders)




Anything outside of this stuff gets a special pricing (e.g. 1 Grandiose new game-winning quest)

 

 


 

Applying to DLC05 (and Patch 1.6)


Asha ($0.45)

+1 Visual but some issues to be fixed ($-0.05)
+1 Visual (again) because people really like shiny things



Dhana ($0.45)

+1 for Misandry
+1 for Sharp dagger unlocked but since not really unique/new (-$0.05)



Magesta ($0.50)

+1 Lifeblood
+1 CastAppliesSpell



Moria (Free)

...



Renge ($0.50)

+1 Visual
+1 MonsterSov
Some issues but this has a lot of creativity in it so balances out



Sanjo (Free)

Death1 for Kingdom has some issues and while interesting is not enough to save this one.
...



Serrane ($0.20)

+1 Horses unlocked (but I still think she should have a Warhorse) but since not really unique/new (-$0.05)



Shirayn (Free)

...



General Tarth ($0.25)

+1 Ruvennan Bracers



Verga Reborn (Free)

...



Patch 1.6 ($1.20)

+1 Death Blow
+1 Master Archer
+1 Dragonborn
+1 Non comparative conditional (Attacker)
+1 Non comparative conditional (Target)
+1 Morrigan Scene



Bonus ($0.45)

Stuff I missed, disagreements, generosity, etc. (Yes, that's just to get a round number)


 
TOTAL: $4.00

 

Uproar ensues, players only received 80% of their intuitively expected content.

 

 
 
Obviously, if you change the $0.20 figure to $0.25, $0.33, or something else, you will have a different conclusion. The point is if players/buyers know what to expect (standard), if they are satisfied w/ that standard, and if that standard is met, they are very unlikely to be unsatisfied at a DLC.



Just a quick look at DLC02 tells me that you either don't have a standard or you are not doing everything you can to follow it (DLC02 has *12* quests to start w/ along w/ unique monsters/champions, items, etc.)


Compare the value of DLC02 and DLC05 using that $0.20 rule and see for yourself how you can manage your gamers mental health and empty their wallet at the same time.




Primal
(I never sign my posts, but this time my very own post takes itself way too seriously and insisted on being signed, so I obliged! )

This is the first DLC where I felt I wanted my $5 refunded.  I bought all the others, and was fine with that because they all brought something new to the game and each $5 helped support the development of future product.  However, if your internal numbers for this DLC could reflect buyer's remorse, I don't think you'd like the number it returned.