What's the difference between an EXPANSION and a PATCH ?

That is food for thought when the difference to f2p players is only $6 between section x +hk and Makeb.

It didn't bother me one bit when I bought Ruins of Kunark. Doesn't bother me much now either.

One of the biggest issues with the free to play model in this game is how F2P players have to pay for all the features that Subs get. Like the ability to equip artifact level and above gear. Now expansions in MMOs ... one of their biggest draws/allure/features, is the added gear, especially end-game gear. So I don't know, I think your math needs to factor that added price into a Free to Play player's pricing model for getting bang for their buck out of the expansion.

They have to buy a lot of added features ala carte, that subs don't. In the end, I don't think F2P players pay less than subs in this game's particular model.

This is why it's called expantion and why they charge a small amount for it.

From first impressions, a patch is something that adds new content based on currently existing features. It can be a new pvp zone, operation, flashpoint, but it is still governed by the same gear and abilities.

An expansion adds new features that will change the landscape of the game like new level cap, new abilities, new crew skills, new game features like the super secret space game and minigames.

A true expansion should take you roughly about 1 week to experience it all if your one of the hardcore. This one I feel as if it will only last for no more than a day. 5 levels aren't much at all. Should have been 10 to stall for more time.

Not necessarily true. In DCUO, they add all of those things and simply label them as DLC and charge $10 for it (and it's worth it IMO). They are free to subs of course, but freemium players pay for them. They've added completely new power sets and abilities as well as new PVP arenas, a new city, ops, etc..... all under the guise of DLC. They actually list all of this content for all players, but only subs or those who purchased the DLC are able to use it. For example, if you try to queue for a PVP arena, you'll see the arenas you could buy if you wanted to. Next year they will add things like player housing and guild housing and all of this will come in the form of DLC as well.

Shut up.

I'd rather get a small expansion for 10 or 20 bucks every 6-12 months than one large expansion every 2 years at 40 to 60 bucks.

People also need to remember how expansions work. Expansions don't have everything they are going to offer right out of the gate. Take WoW as an example. With an expansion you get a new level cap, changes to the skill trees, a new race and/or class, a few new Heroics and one or two Raids. Then over the next 12 to 18 months they release updates that expand the initial offering by adding new Heroics and Raids and adding in additional light content here and there.

SWTOR launched 12 months ago (give or take) and since that launch they have added a ton of things to this game including new OPs, WZ's and FP free of charge to everyone. Now they are adding an expansion and no matter how light it may be initially we know that the update model will continue and things will get added after.

I assume that there will be some sort of event leading up to the expansion shortly before it comes out (if they follow the current MMO models) which will add some content as well.

You can not expect all new content additions to be free. It's ludicrous to even think that considering that EA/BW is a business which has to earn money on its product to recoup expenditures. Your 15 bucks a month covers costs associated with just keeping things running. Extra costs...well, extra. Be happy you are only being charged 20 bucks. It could be worse. You could wait a year without new content while the new expansion is being made, boxed and shipped for release.

Umm, that's how the F2P model works. You let people start playing the game for free. Then you nickle and dime the crap out of them. That is how it works.

The only difference is based on semantics and is totally irrelevant.

What are relevant are the extent and scope of the content and changes included with RotHC and whether or not you find it worth the requested price tag.

I don't feel that enough detail has been released to make that determination.

And while I tend to have a jaded view on anything the developers say, I find it silly to try and argue over the quality or value of this content without seeing more details.