So what is new content? At this point it appears to occupy the mystical space of not present in the game in any way, shape or form and not being DLC worthy. It's also important to note that DLC and paid DLC are not one and the same, as that nuance seems to have eluded some.
Let me try to explain it to you, since you seem determined to harp on about this like it's somehow refuting all the perfectly valid criticism. Though you'll notice that I did not mention
content, I'm mostly talking abut features. Not that the terminology difference is all that important to me - but it appears paramount to you, for some reason I don't quite get.
Whatever word you use, it's all about making the game less shallow, more fleshed out. This means that fixing the perks doesn't really count - that's a bugfix, or alternately a redesign, but in either case it's a (profoundly broken) but existing feature - so not new. It's not adding new armor and weapon designs - though those are welcome. It's not fixing the multitude of bugs, those are expected at this stage.
Exactly what needs fleshing out probably differs as per our various preferences. I'm all for discussing what everyone wants - what I take umbrage at is whenever anyone dares criticize, they're met by a chorus of "it's early access moron" "whiner" "manchild" and similar.
Personally, I'd like to see at least these (not exclusive):
A diplomacy system would be a new feature, since what we currently have by all accounts amount to little more than a call to Math.Random() every X hours, and if it returns the right value, war is declared. Re-enabling the existing button to initialize war/peace does not constitute a Diplomacy system, therefore that would be a new feature.
More quests - perhaps. Depends on their nature, but that could constitute new features, if they turn out to be more in-depth than "train X soldiers" or "carry item X to location Y.
Kingdom Management - is arguably existing, though given how barebones it is, fixing it might constitute enough to call it a new feature.
Dynasty features - again, arguable whether it's an existing feature, if it is it's not implemented: while players can marry and have children, NPC lords cannot (or at least do not) marry or generate children except for what they start out with, leaving the whole idea broken and pointless.
I don't understand the whole fixation with DLC, I'm not talking about, asking for or even mentioning DLC except in replies, and as for the distinction between paid/unpaid DLC - unpaid DLC is simply a game update, or a content patch (there's the magic word!). Paid DLC at this stage, or any time before the game is officially out of EA, would be enough to make me give up in disgust and label TW a scam company - but I should add that I don't see much risk of that happening.
Contrary to what the Council of White Knights keep claiming, a lot of us
malcontents are well aware of what Early Access means. In fact, while I'm on the subject, I'll take the chance to say that a lot of people seem to be taking any criticism terribly personal, like it was their mothers we insulted. Conversely, just about everyone who cares enough to post about this absolutely loves the game, the franchise - and Taleworlds, too. Otherwise we'd do what tens of thousands have already done: shrugged our shoulders and stopped playing.
Taleworlds are not a gaggle of ten-year old girls, and they do not need cheerleaders or a chorus of yes-men - the sales numbers should be more than enough of a confidence boost, if any were needed. They need the fans to be critical where it's warranted, to make this game all it can be.
