I've played NF during its beta-testing days and then stopped a few months after
SS2's came out. I played primarily as German BB and CV, which was fun, though I
think I enjoyed playing with my BB more (more skill, more engagement, more fun).

EDIT: I just realized that my guide for the Prinz Eugen is still sticked in the KM forum!
Fantastic!

The reasons I left NF was the quirkiness and shortcomings of GB1 and socialized XP,
and I think the proliferation of the submarines was probably the tipping point.

I would like to come back to NF because I miss the game play... Oddly, I don't think I
have been as satisfied with any other game's leveling than with leveling up a crew in
NF (the day I got Bismarck, I was so happy!).

It seems a lot of things have changed. These are my questions:

What has changed for the better? For worse?

Has the balance between the nations changed any? What are the
strengths/weaknesses of the new nations?

What are the major issues with the game or community at the moment?

And if I decide to get back into the game, I decided I would go IJN, as it was the only
nation I didn't have a crew in. I am undecided if I should go BB or CV, so I would like
if someone could give me a crash-course on the merits of playing either of them at
the moment for IJN.

Thanks in advance.