As Severlin has already announced in general terms that DDO is getting a Expansion in Late 2017 centered on Ravenloft Campaign setting, I'd like to express my thoughts.
Unless you can do something to knock my socks off Ravenloft is not really the expansion I want to see. It's not that Ravenloft isn't an entertaining campaign setting, well actually they first two modules were great, the campaign setting was just pretty average. It's the fact the first two modules were so revolutionary at the time they were released it was kind of mind blowing. It will be really difficulty to compete not only with original source material, but the memories of the collective player base are virtually impossible to live up to.
I would much rather you expanded an existing campaign setting, either Eberron or Forgotten Realms, that are in DDO. For the forumites who may not know Greyhawk has not been licensed as of yet, even though we have some content that originally was located in that setting in PnP.
You have different avenues to choose from when it comes to price and expectation.
Daybreak Games and SOE have released 23 expansions for Everquest costing between $30 and $40 each. Each Expansion typically includes 3 to 4 new zones and revamps 3 to 4 older zones. In comparison to DDO a Zone would be an adventure pack.
Blizzard has released six expansions for World of Warcraft costing between $50 and $75 each. Each Expansion has six to twelve zones, a level cap increase, new class/race, new “items” and game play adjustments. Again a zone would be comparable to Adventure pack in DDO.
Turbine released five expansions for Lord of the Rings Online costing between $40 and $60 each. Each Expansion has a large landscape comparable to five or six adventure packs in DDO, along with new game play options (mounted combat, skirmishes), level cap increase and the continuation of the LOTR storyline.
So what would I like out of a DDO expansion? It is going to depend on the cost.
If you are going to offer me Two Adventure Packs, make a change to Game System, add a class, and some other minor changes or updates that is very comparable to Shadowfell Conspiracy, well that worth $30 to $40 to me. Not the $90 I paid for the Collector’s Edition and the Legendary Upgrade Offer.
If you are going to offer Three Adventure Packs, a Challenge Pack, a raid, add a class, add a Game System, and other changes, that is very comparable to Menace of the Underdark that worth the $30 to $80 I paid for it.
Guess which expansion knocked my socks off?
The rumor mill, from people who could be in the know, is suggesting; three Adventure Packs, a couple of races, a raid, and some other minor changes. That to me could be worth $50 to $75. I would like to see options for players, from a basic edition of $30, an Epic Edition of $50, and a Legendary Edition of $75.
To me this rumor indicates a public instance for the Village of Bavoria, with Wilderness Adventure Zones in the the Svalich Woods, the Ivlis Marsh and the Tser River (AKA the Ivlish River), with Castle Ravenloft as the setting for a Raid. I say that knowing the rumors have not directly suggested those zones but they fit the rumor.
I would like to see the Ravenloft Campaign setting use more of open landscape approach to the game. Not that I want an open landscape game, but rather I want the zones to use Dynamic Layers allowing us to have private instances but no loading screens (unless we change instances). This is what we supposed to get with MOTU but it got dropped along the way.
One of the the things that has really helped the revival of Everquest to me is the emphasis upon reworking/revising older Zones to bring them up to "modern" standards. I really think that is something the SSG has to do with DDO. Too many "adventure packs" whether free or available for purchase have fallen to the level of almost unplayable as the game has grown. I feel including a renewal of a couple of these in expansion pack will bring a lot more excitement to the fan base in really increase sales.
Just my two CP worth, so SSG go create something to knock my socks off.