are other areas available in the battle map yet? .19.9 would not take my old save files so I just want to make sure I dont play over again until there is some new content (besides new combat system)
If the last time you played was 0.19.8 then there's some new content, but mostly it's been focused on refurbishing the combat system. 0.20.0 will introduce more story events and from 0.20.1 onwards everything will be entirely focused on story and naughty events, just like Act Two was.
