What I'm expecting of the two-tier expansion scheme is that the major expansions will be content like Holy Fury or Old Gods, that is, stuff that either adds a significant amount of content more or less thorough the map, or builds up an entirely new form of gameplay (in the form of governments). The flavor packs, on the other hand, would be things that add to a specific region or religion. With that in mind, and disregarding ones that have been mentioned a thousand times in the same form, here's some that I could see happening:
Major Expansions
A Changing World: a major DLC focusing on the economical and social effects of environmental changes over the playable centuries - from the prosperity of Italy and drying Africa during the Medieval Warm Period to the growing cold winters of the beginning Little Ice Age. The human effect on environment (deforestation, soil erosion), and how to adapt the approach to it as the environment itself goes through changes. Changing coastlines - this one's for all you low country enthusiasts.
The Power of Agreement: a major DLC focusing on diplomacy - rather than replacing the diplomacy system in the game, supplementing it with a meaty diplomacy system of interrelations, agreements and deals. Peace deals, marriage negotiations, claim forfeiture as a diplomatic chip - networks of influential characters and cliques with power to rival kings.
Spiritual Lords: a major DLC focusing on religious authorities, not as playable theocracies, but as influential powers to be reckoned. The pope, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Caliphs, heads of reformed pagan faiths, Sufi orders, the list goes on - this DLC would give them all the power and influence appropriate. Along with the mechanics for interacting with these religious authorities in depth, this DLC would add religious councils to adjust an existing faith dynamically, and regional drift for faiths without a central authority. The free patch coming with this DLC would allow several faiths to share the same head of faith.
Flavor Packs
Iberia: A flavor pack detailing the complicated politics of Iberia during the entire length of the game, with common alliances between the Christian and Muslim rulers, the emergence of the Iberian Christian kingdoms, and the power granted to holy orders.
The Silk Road: A flavor pack detailing the lands along the Silk Road, the peoples living on that land, and the flow of innovations passing through it.
All of us Romans: A flavor pack focusing on European Roman identity, and the faded glory of that once-great empire. Claim yourself as the King of Romans, and face the ire of those who would contest that claim.
Major Expansions
A Changing World: a major DLC focusing on the economical and social effects of environmental changes over the playable centuries - from the prosperity of Italy and drying Africa during the Medieval Warm Period to the growing cold winters of the beginning Little Ice Age. The human effect on environment (deforestation, soil erosion), and how to adapt the approach to it as the environment itself goes through changes. Changing coastlines - this one's for all you low country enthusiasts.
The Power of Agreement: a major DLC focusing on diplomacy - rather than replacing the diplomacy system in the game, supplementing it with a meaty diplomacy system of interrelations, agreements and deals. Peace deals, marriage negotiations, claim forfeiture as a diplomatic chip - networks of influential characters and cliques with power to rival kings.
Spiritual Lords: a major DLC focusing on religious authorities, not as playable theocracies, but as influential powers to be reckoned. The pope, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Caliphs, heads of reformed pagan faiths, Sufi orders, the list goes on - this DLC would give them all the power and influence appropriate. Along with the mechanics for interacting with these religious authorities in depth, this DLC would add religious councils to adjust an existing faith dynamically, and regional drift for faiths without a central authority. The free patch coming with this DLC would allow several faiths to share the same head of faith.
Flavor Packs
Iberia: A flavor pack detailing the complicated politics of Iberia during the entire length of the game, with common alliances between the Christian and Muslim rulers, the emergence of the Iberian Christian kingdoms, and the power granted to holy orders.
The Silk Road: A flavor pack detailing the lands along the Silk Road, the peoples living on that land, and the flow of innovations passing through it.
All of us Romans: A flavor pack focusing on European Roman identity, and the faded glory of that once-great empire. Claim yourself as the King of Romans, and face the ire of those who would contest that claim.
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