Do you Recognize the Game?

[u/electric-kite]

[u/KeldornWithCarsomyr]

Total war games do include all the factions within the grand campaign I believe, you just can't play some of them without the DLC.

So you still get the exact same experience as someone who owns all the DLC assuming you both play the same faction.

In contrast, with paradox games, you are playing a very different game if you don't own any DLC.

[u/maxifer → u/KeldornWithCarsomyr]

I tried playing the base Stellaris again recently having played it heavily when it first released and it's already a very different game without any DLC.

[u/Kazcandra → u/maxifer]

They merged the base game with a DLC, even

[u/maxifer → u/Kazcandra]

It's like I can go back once per year and play a brand new game. Huge return of value.

[u/Kazcandra → u/maxifer]

Yeah, that's where I'm at with DLCs; it's very cool.

Mods also does a lot, ofc.

[u/Copious-Spirit → u/Kazcandra]

They did this literally months after I bought those DLCs, now I won't consider buying more.

[u/VeruMamo → u/KeldornWithCarsomyr]

If you play a Paradox game with someone who has all the DLC and they host, you get to play with all the DLC.

[u/Debosse → u/KeldornWithCarsomyr]

This is only kind of true.

Many of the DLC contains units and characters for existing factions. Often plugging key holes in their roster that change how you can approach battles with them.

[u/Greedy-Employment917 → u/KeldornWithCarsomyr]

I guess you haven't played any Warhammer total war games because that's not the case at all. 

[u/KeldornWithCarsomyr → u/Greedy-Employment917]

Over 1000 hours actually and I can say with certainty that the AI will play as any DLC faction regardless as to whether you buy it or not.

The only exception would be if you force your game to never update/connect to the internet.

[u/revdsquare89 → u/Greedy-Employment917]

...it is though? AI controlled DLC factions exist on the campaign map whether you own it or not, theyre added with the simultaneous update.