Since new characters seem to be slowing down with only one for tier three.

A new possibility for characters might be a costume change with new abilities. Example, for one quest Artaxes, the lion gets new abilities for that one quest, but maybe make a new costume function be available that changes his look and gives him new abilities. There then can be new costumes for all of the original crusaders and then later on for newer ones.

Love to see Merci the mad wizard have a costume that makes him like Gandalf or Dumbledore. Have the Princess look like Princess Leia, etc. and so on.

These would be special one time quests with appropriate conditions for each costume, after the costume is received the quest would no longer be available.