Apart from almost 500 new counters, are ten new scenarios and two (technically four) new boards (DW-8 and DW-9) not enough to tempt you?
I think at some point, OtO2 becomes a prerequisite for future purchases, depending on how many scenarios use the new boards in the coming years.
While I have no doubt that OtO 2 is up to the fine BFP standards, a European customer like me will face
US$ 154,00 for the product
US$ 50,00 minimum guesstimate but likely considerably more for ridiculous shipping cost (not BFP's fault)
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US$ 204,00
In case of Germany, the customs duties for this would add an extra 19% to the total.
US$ 204,00
US$ 38,76 customs duties at conservative estimate of shipping costs
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US$ 242,76
For 500 counters, 4 geo-boards (2 DWs), and a player aid, this is a very steep price for any player owning the first edition even if the new elements are of the highest quality.
In my personal case, I avoid the use of TPP counters altogether as far as possible in favor of MMP's classic black/white ones.
For me, this would mean an effctive price of US$ 120,00 per DW-board, which are the only components I would really "need", since these might become the prerequisites for further BFP products. I truly love the game, I gladly support designers, but in my situation, this effective price is disporportionate.
BFP nor any other publisher cannot change the shipping-cost madness nor customs.
At the same time, I am sure that I am not the only one affected by this - the issue basically applies to any non-US customer.
I believe, though, that these established facts might be something that publishers should consider to react to.
How?
"Vital" components, i.e. those that are or will become a prerequisite for other, in other words that are necessary for a "functional full kit", should be separated from the rest or at least it should be possible to purchase them separately.
Why?
It is expensive enough even without shipping-madness and customs to maintain a "full official ASL kit", i.e. the MMP stuff.
If products in the 100-200 US$ range (not including shipping/customs) become the prerequisite to be able to play future BFP products, then the consequence might simply be for overseas-customers to step back. They would be willing to buy, but the cost simply becomes prohibitive.
I have seen this coming, but so far, as no second editions with original "vital" components were involved, it did not really matter. To limit this problem, my proposal is not to include new "vital" prerequisite-type items into 2nd edition products.
von Marwitz