Rate AA1914

I have not played this version enough to give a definitive answer but I will say that I really like it so far. There are some interesting new game mechanics that are really going to introduce some intriguing strategies. I’m really looking forward to paying again. My complaints about this game are mostly limited to the actual physical package itself and are as follows.:
1. The number of pieces (again) not enough chips or sculpts (particularly German infantry)
2. The income chart. Seriously? We are supposed to manage 16 roundels on that tiny thing? Was wizards really too cheap to include a standalone National Production Chart?
3. No currency… again? The rulebook suggestes keeping track with paper and pencil (niether of which are provided). The game seems incomplete to me (as a consumer), there is a mechanic that exists in the game but no device or tool to keep track of that mechanic. This game is not playable out of the box, you must add currency markers or a paper and pencil to keep track.
4. The Rulebook… again. It seems as though with every new variant of this game the rulebook gets more and more ambiguous with the explanations and organization of rules and rule related informaiton. I remember the nicely organized rulebook from the original and nothing has been as well organized since then.

You really have to see new A&A editions as game kits.

Nobody seriously believes that the first edition is the finished article anymore; the small playtest group and cloak and dagger secrecy puts paid to that.

How many people who bought this don’t have cash? I still use my MB edition money, and have 3 or 4 unopened money packs from other games I’ve never needed.

The shortage of infantry is due to it being completely new sculpts; expect this to be rectified in the next edition.

The income chart is a serious blip, can’t believe anyone uses it.

@Flashman:

You really have to see new A&A editions as game kits.

Nobody seriously believes that the first edition is the finished article anymore; the small playtest group and cloak and dagger secrecy puts paid to that.

How many people who bought this don’t have cash? I still use my MB edition money, and have 3 or 4 unopened money packs from other games I’ve never needed.

The shortage of infantry is due to it being completely new sculpts; expect this to be rectified in the next edition.

The income chart is a serious blip, can’t believe anyone uses it.

You make some valid points Flashman, and of course in my case you are correct on all accounts. I have cash from previous games and supplements I have purchased over the years, I always tally the income at the end of every turn regardless of what the NP chart says, and I have more than enough pieces from other games to fill in the blanks. But what about a player who is completely new to the A&A universe? This person is not going to be satisfied, it’s like they don’t want new customers! They are effectively alienating new enthusiasts and are not even cashing in on their own incompetence to provide the required game pieces. I could understand WotC implementing a strategy to get people to buy extra chips, IPC’s, sculpts etc. but the reality is that they don’t even sell these extra pieces as a standalone. Which can only lead me to the conclusion that they just made a mistake or don’t care? Either way, it’s BIZARRE right? I love the games, I think they are all very clever and have subtle intricacies that impose no limits on the game’s “replay-ability”. They just haven’t constructed them very well.

Personally, I will wait for the 2nd Edition (if one ever comes out) as I would rather not have to buy two copies of this game.

I think this poll is a little skewed because “good once rules are adjusted” covers a LOT of ground.

Sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Forums are for opinions and you know what they say about opinions…
“Opinions are like A$$hol#$, everybody has one and they usually stink”…
:|

My point was that the review overall, based on the comments I have seen, would have been much lower had people actually been rating the actual game rather than the game as it does not exist except in their own minds with the changes each wants to personally see.