Megajoule

I think my response would have to be "oh hell yes."

Yeah, it took me eighteen months (that's a year and a half) to get my first 50. At five years going on six, I now have 8 of them. I haven't even filled one server. I'm a pretty casual player; sometimes, like right now, I only log in one or two days a week.

I don't mind at all. This isn't a race. I may grouse about it in-game for comedy value, like old WoW players muttering about newbies getting mounts at 20 when they had to walk until 40 (uphill, through the snows of Dun Morogh, both ways!) ... but that's all. You got to play the game and enjoy your 50 for years. Earning that 50 the hard way is the accomplishment you should be proud of, not the AT unlock. (You did earn it, right? 'Cause if you were PLed at all, you have no room to talk.)

To the OP, I would say, first, I feel for/with you. The MA system has a lot of potential, but has been badly treated so far by some really poor design decisions and players who only wanted to use it as a means for quick leveling.

That said, as others have noted, some improvements are on the way. They haven't announced specifics yet, but I'm hoping that they will include some fixes for the UI so that good arcs with "only" four stars aren't lost in the crowd.

With that said... I imagine that you don't want to be seen as needy or begging (I went through the same), but some degree of self-promotion is required, now and possibly in the future. It's a very large haystack to go hunting around in blindly. Make it easier for people to find and play your arc and they'll reward you with tickets, attention, and possibly reviews.

You can do a lot with the final mission's debriefing and the Souvenir. If they liked the arc enough to want to play the next, they should check both.

There are probably a LOT of people who just checked their mail and/or are snowed in with nothing else to do today.

Another consideration, that was noted way back in paper-and-dice Champions:
One player gets the points for the Hunted, but everyone has to fight them.

Now, obviously we don't build our characters with points here, but the axiom still applies: if I join a team, I have to put up with the Arch Nemeses of all of my teammates ambushing us at the tram or just inside the mission door. Some of which may be egregiously difficult for my build/AT, or just... lame. (If I see the villainous "afdsgafds" coming at me, with Kin/Rad powers and an eye-hurting random costume, I'm going to be reaching for the "Quit" button real fast.)

Fenris:
Dopplegang. I love it.

HYBRID Z:
That's a great costume for the Peacemaker.

Atlantea:
I've loved the MACSS concept since the first time I saw it. Awesome.

To me, the most disturbing thing about "Burning Sensation" is that you had to put a period on it. Because there's already ANOTHER one out there, somewhere.

But why do people insist on saying that Dr. Stephen Fayte is some kind of hero? He's just a gifted surgeon, and nothing more.

Cazelfax:
That's some great mixing of costume bits. Looks random, but actually all fits together. Glad you enjoy playing him.

You see restrictions, I see structure. Take away all structure, and you have... well, a cloud of hydrogen. (Maybe not even that - atoms are structure, yes?)

There is a "contest" that covers the full length and breadth of MA/AE - it's called "Dev's Choice." If your totally original and unbounded story is that awesome, maybe it'll get the nod.

"Wanted: mature server that I can be immature on."

Great news!

also, Alpha, I think I broke something laughing at that image.

The rest is silence...

Television is awesome.
As that video that was linked demonstrates.

I'm very glad you liked this arc better than the last one. You definitely got into the spirit of it. My intent was to provide a "guided tour" of the Pulp, Golden, and early Silver Ages... and hints in the last of those about how, even though the bad guys still wear silly costumes, things are getting more serious. Which leads us to how things are today.

As for the weak and/or clunky bits: I've struggled since the beginning with the limitations of my choice of contact and the in media res setup, where all the information has to come from Strong himself. It would be great if I could put in a first mission where Sister Psyche explains it all and sends you to see him (like all the "take this thing to ____" dev missions). But I can't, so I just have to imply.

I thought I'd at least made the past Marko's fate fairly clear, though. To avoid spoilers, can you offer any suggestions on improving that and/or the encounter with present Marko via a PM?

Another bump to note that this arc has been reviewed by Tangler.
Link to his review thread.

"Glory Days" (see my sig for the arc ID) takes the player through one hero's memories of the Pulp, Golden, and Silver Age, with a final mission set in the present. They're all small and medium maps and only the last is a defeat-all.

Bullets don't travel in straight lines; they follow arcs and paths determined by local gravity and atmospheric conditions.

Happy to help.

Coldcrash:
Love your concept. I think Dr. Nelson would get along well with Dr. Forsythe (and if you didn't already have an SG, I'd offer you a place in his).

I have sometimes joked that characters of the Mutant origin should have their "Powers:" tab replaced with "My Gift, My Curse:".
But that's more a poke at Claremont and his love of certain tired stock phrases.

Actual news coming Soon™!

I don't have any toons.

One of my characters is the Praetorian double of the other. They had their big showdown about a year ago; the hero won, sending the thug packing. We'll see what GR does to their story.

None of my other characters know each other directly, only through reputation. Those that are in the same SG, or closely affiliated ones, may have met briefly face to face.