» Sat Dec 10, 2011 4:30 pm
I feel like the best DLC are ones that feel integrated into the game rather than an added module. Look at Broken Steel. It seemed like it was a part of the original game. It increased the level cap, added new items, added new creatures, and continued the main quest adding consequences of your actions to be shown. I think it also added some side quests too. Another successful franchise that integrates DLC into their games well is the Sims. Their larger expansion packs add new features to the main mechanics of the game. The last successful DLC I can think of that integrates well is, The Armory of General Knox for Borderlands.
This is not to say that DLC like the Shivering Isles wasn't fun or successful, but that I would rather have DLC that feels like it could have been part of the shipped product. The last example I can think of is with the Shivering Isles, all your accomplishments in the isles were isolated to the isles, and all leveled lists belonging to the Shivering Isles didn't noticeably effect leveled lists in Cyrodiil. Also If you became the Madgod, and Sheogorath was turned into Jiggalag, you could go still to the Shrine of Sheogorath in Cyrodiil and do the quest as if nothing had happened. I would like to avoid those kinds of experiences.
I would want to see them add new quests, quest lines, items, creatures, and NPCs that feel like they were always there in the game rather than feeling like I am playing a completely different game while playing the DLC. Perhaps DLC that continues quest lines of guilds would be good. You thought that everything was resolved, but you were wrong. Or perhaps DLC that deals with the Thalmor.