I love this new version. I’ve only had time for one game but looking forward to the new year.
This version is a complete mismatch in quality. It’s half BMW, half Yugo. The boards are awesome - the fold doesn’t bother me. I love the new pieces although I like everyone else wish they had included more Japanese Tac Bombers.
Of all of the things that most disappointed, the number of rules problems is #1 and frankly, least forgivable since from a project planning perspective these should have been well blindtested and then locked, and not subject to manufacturing logistics issues. There were definitely sections where it took some serious work to figure out the designer’s intent. When old AAE changed the cruiser/destroyer bombardment, that was just not that big a deal. Furthermore, that change emerged from the sort of repeated play that might not be possible prior to release. But can you imagine someone showing up at a convention without checking these boards, a paper copy only and well planned strategy?
Ah well. Perhaps we can appeal to WotC to put a copy of the formal AAP errata in the AAE boxes, and well, not make so many mistakes on AAE.