Those who are still in the queue, you have not been forgotten:
@Sayaki - The Cold Wind (4552)
@Arashi - The Order of Steel Part 3 - The Fallen Saint (147682)
@MrSquid - The Lost Choir: The Old Testament (123675)
@Mr. Crowley - The Day I Tried to Live (131780)
@Sumerian - Power Play (187269)
@jjac - The History of Statesman (219484)
Quick Review: These are a few that I came across over the weekend.
Arc ID: 123178
Arc Title: The Science of Eternity
Author: @Wonderslug
Morality: Heroic
Length: 4 Missions
Description: One disenfranchised Crey researcher. One mad doctor with resurrectionist ambitions. What could possibly go wrong?
Quicky Review: Has the Wonderslug quality I have come to expect but still is a bit lacking in some areas. It's a nice try at high-level Vahzilok mobs, but really could use some explanation as to how Doc. Vahz is making a comeback after being put in the Zig some twenty levels ago. Also needs a better object to stand in for the Mediport Interceptor, as the current one has a tendency to block entire corridors. Otherwise the design of the critters is good and the Rogue Crey used those Scorpinoids that I like.
Rating: ****
Arc ID: 161629
Arc Title: Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Author: @Archdemon
Morality: Heroic
Length: 5 Missions
Description: A group of would-be heroes find themselves in way over their heads and in desperate need of help in a tale of shadowy conspiracies, deadly politics, and total pwnage.
Quicky Review: Despite what an early clue may suggest, it's not all a Nemesis plot. Still needs some polish on the details but overall it's a fun arc where you get to bust a Malta conspiracy while helping some lower-rung heroes in the process.
Rating: ****
Arc ID: 188971
Arc Title: Avgrunden Oppnas
Author: @TerminusEst13
Morality: Neutral
Length: 4 Missions
Description: When a small book is given to the Family as reward for a job well done, it turns out the Warriors want it too. When neither are willing to share swords, guns, and magic clash against each other.
Quicky Review: First time I've seen someone attempt a high level Warriors group, and justify it as well. Makes good use of customs, Family, and Banished Pantheon along with some serious yet witty clues and dialog to create an interesting adventure.
Rating: *****
I would like a quick review when you have the time please.
Arc ID: 233720
Arc Title: A Close Encounter
Author: @Baler
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 4
Description: An under-funded and short-staffed government agency needs your help with an investigation.
I'd like a Critical Review for my latest Arc. I will attempt to get to one of yours either today or tommorrow.
BE Prologue: Gangs United
Arc ID: 250480
Author: @Ozzie Arcane
Morality: Heroic
Length: 4 Missions
Level Range: 10-20
Enemy Groups: Hellions, Trolls, Vahzilok, Custom
Description: An evil organization plots to bring several gangs together under their banner.
Note: This is kind of an introduction to a villain group I intend to use in several other story arcs.
I'll take a quickie, please. 
Arc ID: 191775
Arc Title: How the Other Half Lives
Author: @JKCarrier
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 4
Description: Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship, or the worst babysitting job ever? Vanguard and Arachnos have agreed to exchange representatives, so each can see how the other half lives. Your job is to take a rookie Fortunata under your wing, and give her a taste of the hero's life. From the sewers of Paragon to the stronghold of the Rikti, it's going to be a bumpy ride! A story-focused, solo-friendly hero arc for levels 43-54.
99458: The Unbearable Being of Lightness
191775: How the Other Half Lives
My Webcomics
[ QUOTE ]
but really could use some explanation as to how Doc. Vahz is making a comeback after being put in the Zig some twenty levels ago.
[/ QUOTE ]
I can see how that's a valid concern from one perspective, and I think I can address it briefly somewhere without it feeling too shoehorned in. However, it honestly never even really occurred to me to address that issue, given that
a) it is evidently possible to escape the Zig using only a rock and a length of pipe;
b) if you cannot find a rock and a length of pipe an Arachnos transport will be along shortly to blow a hole in the wall;
c) the swiss-cheese nature of comic continuity has produced several canonical examples already of villains appearing none the worse for wear after having been dealt with for good, honestly, no really, I mean it this time (see also: Countess Crey, the Clockwork King, Nosferatu...);
d) the conundrum of MMO continuity means that I, for example, have heroes who have never fought a Vahzilok in their entire careers and others who have personally incarcerated Dr. V upwards of five times apiece; and
e) in any case he's not actually the major motive force behind the arc; if that isn't coming through clearly enough that's something I need to fix.
However, you raising the question has given me a very meta new arc idea...
Your run is the first time anyone's reported that problem with the interceptor, but I'll see if I can find something with a smaller footprint since I evidently can't count on it spawning in a sane place.
I'd like a critical review of my arc. I played Portal Bandits and left some feedback.
Arc ID:174368
Arc Title: Embers of the Thorn
Author: @Soul Fane
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 5
Level Range: 31-50
Description: A new faction of the Circle of Thorns is up to something that could disrupt the fabric of time. A young heroine has a personal stake in this matter, and she requests your aid in unraveling this potentially diabolical plot.
[ QUOTE ]
Your run is the first time anyone's reported that problem with the interceptor, but I'll see if I can find something with a smaller footprint since I evidently can't count on it spawning in a sane place.
[/ QUOTE ]
It spawned on the third floor in that area where you have the series of narrow stairways going up and down in a circle. We found it in the middle of the hallway near the stairs and even after it was destroyed it remained,. That entire time my friend (who was a Mastermind) could not get her pets to go past it and even I had trouble slipping my skinny little Stalker around it. Fortunately there was nothing down that hallway that we needed to get to.
I guess I missed the boat in the first thread but I'd definitely like to try this thread. I have two arcs that I'd definitely like reviews of. Blitzkrieg is a 45-50 hero arc starring Malta while Soldiers of Fortune is a 30-35 villain arc (I have not adjusted every mission to conform to this but I will soon) that stars the Sky Raiders and a custom group I created. They're both listed in my sig but if you must do one, Soldiers of Fortune needs help a little bit more. You could always do a detailed review of Soldiers and a quickie of Blitzkrieg if you like.
I have not run any of your arcs yet but since you have a queue for critical arcs, it looks like I have some time. I will run one of your arcs and give feedback when I can.
EDIT: Oops.... Forgot to actually post it in the format you wanted...
Arc ID: 4431
Arc Title: Soldiers of Fortune
Author: Mekkanos
Morality: Villainous
Number of Missions: 5
Description: Fight two ruthless mercenary groups for an ancient item of power with the help of some unusual allies!
Arc ID: 3416
Arc Title: Blitzkrieg
Author: Mekkanos
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 5
Description: A simple investigation into Malta Group activity turns into a fight for the freedom of heroes everywhere as you uncover the sinister Operation: Blitzkrieg.
I'd definitely like feedback on both but Soldiers could use more detailed feedback while I'll accept a quickie for Blitzkrieg. I'm about to run one of your arcs and will post feedback in the proper thread.
EDIT2: I've given you some feedback in-game and you said that would suffice. In that case, I'm definitely waiting for your review!
My arcs:
Title: Blitzkrieg
Arc ID: 3416
Title: Soldiers of Fortune
Arc ID: 4431
Title: The Rikti Accession
Arc ID: 278757
I'd love to get a critical review of my Matchstick Women arc, I feel the need to show it some attention and would be nice to have a little extra direction.
Arc ID: 3369
Arc Title: Matchstick Women
Author: @Bubbawheat
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 3
Description: Follow the flame to discover a group of women arsonists. Uncover their secrets which lead to a mysterious cult leader.
I'm running "MacGuffin Delivery Service" right now. Please add this one to the critical queue:
Arc ID: 182874
Arc Title: Time's Maelstrom
Author: @Armory1
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 5
Description: A well meaning hero punches a hole between timestreams, threatening the future. Head off a nuclear holocaust, save Time itself, and after all that, decide the fate of billions. A story-focused arc (read everything!) with a player-determined outcome.
You mentioned you don't like kill-alls, well this has one, but it's a really good reason, trust me! (Time travel, a kill-all... is it any wonder I haven't put this in Venture's sights?) Mishes 4 and 5 are timed, the last one allowing a decision by you: accomplish the objective or let the time run out, either is a valid choice.
I would like a critical review of my first arc, the details of which are listed below. In return, I've just posted a review of one of your arcs in the designated thread.
Arc ID: 252484
Arc Title: Regicide
Author: @Spyder Noir
Morality: Hero
Number of Missions: 5
Description: A mysterious Clockwork presence has emerged. The PPD discovers its nature and sends you out to meet this new threat. But does your contact, Detective Guerrero, really have it figured out? You'll have to examine the clues yourself to decide exactly what's going on.
Naphil, 50 Peacebringer
Captain Darkspirit, 50 Warshade
Operative Acier, 50 Bane Spider
Durante Ragno, 50 Fortunata
et al.
Throwing my arc into the ring for a quick review:
Arc ID: 251306
Arc Title: MirrorsrorriM
Author: @Dot Communist
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 5
Description: A simple job for an associate of Agent Indigo's leads to the uncovering of a plot, the return of an old threat with a new face, and the discovery that sometimes when you gaze into the mirror, the abyss gazes back into you.
If you wouldn't mind I'm still looking for reviews on my main arc:
The submission process has two levels. If you'd like a quick review, just post your arc information in the following format.
Arc ID: #77311
Arc Title: The Ballad of Murky Thecat
Author: BinkDeBook
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 5
Description:
This is the story of Murky Thecat. A black cat with a lot of potential.
This arc was created in memory and to honor the original Murky Thecat (Apr 1998 - Jan 2008). This Arc takes you through her "life" in a fun way. And end with you helping to defeat the monster that beat her in real life. In this way she gets to live on forever and win against the monster.
5 Total Missions - following the following concepts:
Mission 1:Adoption
Mission 2:Apartment Living
Mission 3:Suburban Life
Mission 4:<You need to play this one to find out about it - has what should be an easy EB>
Mission 5:<You need to play this one to find out about it - has what should be a hard EB>
Take Care,
BinkDeBook
Virtue: CaptainMayhem-50 Inv/SS Tank; NaomiArmitage-50 DM/Inv Scrap; Captn Randomizer-50 MC/Kin Cntrller; Murky Thecat-50 Claws/SR Scrap; Professor Junk-50 Bots/Traps MM; +Others Arc Id #77311, #227436
For those who want a critical review but haven't given feedback on one of my arcs yet, I just put up a fourth one and would love some feedback on it.
Quick Review
Arc ID: 233720
Arc Title: A Close Encounter
Author: @Baler
Morality: Heroic
Length: 4 Missions
Description: An under-funded and short-staffed government agency needs your help with an investigation.
Quicky Review: When the contact mentioned a paramilitary at the crash site I of course expected Malta. Instead I got a custom group I got something called the Eagle's Talons, which were a lot easier than Malta but still had issues of their own, like minions spamming Web Grenade at me and most of themseem to have forgotten to bring guns. Also, isn't "Earth for Humans" one of Vanguard's old slogans? Regardless they're not interesting or fun enough to sustain 4 missions. Also change the objective text in mission 2, the "Secure the Warehouse" part implies defeat all but the mission ended when I found the last glowie instead.
Mission 3 introduced the group that the alien in mission 1 was from. Unfortunately they're no more interesting than the Eagle's Talon and even more annoying. It wouldn't hurt to at least have SOME dialog from them in that mission to give them personality, and having two critters with control powers is overkill. Controller/Healer minions with sets as quickly-recharging as Gravity and Empathy are especially annoying.
The resolution at the end of the arc comes rather out of nowhere with no build up to it. I can see that the author made an honest effort but right not I have no desire to play it again in this state, much less recommend it to anyone.
Rating: ***
Thanks for the run through and review.
[ QUOTE ]
Also change the objective text in mission 2, the "Secure the Warehouse" part implies defeat all but the mission ended when I found the last glowie instead.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's odd, I've not had that happen or had anyone else mention it. It is a defeat all.
Hello, I'd like to request an in-depth review for one of my stories. I'll be taking a look at your new fourth story soon (I'll start it up momentarily, though I may have to leave before finishing it entirely.). 
I should note, I wasn't sure what you meant by "uneven levels." If you mean that there are villains who show up outside of your player level, then I don't believe you'll find any. If you mean that you don't like being a level 20 character in one mission and a level 40 in another only to drop down to level 30 for the third, well, I apologize for there being a bit of that this time around.
Anyway, my story...
Arc ID: 249469
Arc Title: The Sci-Five
Author: @Cyber Sunset
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 4
Description: A golden age group of mad scientists known as The Sci-Five has resurfaced after an absence of several decades. They seem to be looking for new members, and are sending invitations to mad scientists around the city asking them to audition by proving their dedication to and skill with science. It's up to you to track down the Sci-Five, learn their plans and put a stop to the villainous city-wide science fair!
[ QUOTE ]
If you mean that you don't like being a level 20 character in one mission and a level 40 in another only to drop down to level 30 for the third, well, I apologize for there being a bit of that this time around.
[/ QUOTE ]
That is exactly what I mean. Every mission should have the same minimum and maximum level unless there is a good story reason for it, like in "Hero Therapy" for example. With the mission min/max levels having been added to the Mission Parameters in issue 15 there is no excuse for that nonsense anymore. Before issue 15 i wouldn't consider knocking off points for it but would still consider it a sign of lazy design, now I will be much more harsh about it.
Looking at the Sci-Five arc and the groups involved, I really recommend that you go in and edit it so that every mission starts and caps at the same level. Going from 20 to 15 to 50 to 34 is going to be really annoying if I play a high-level toon, and suddenly being jumped to 29 in the last mission would be just as annoying for a lowbie as I'd be fighting above my level without a mentor and lacking the enhancements that the mobs would be balanced around.
Hmm...well, the only real jump in my story would be from mission 3 to 4 when you'd go from 15 to 34 (or 29 from the lower direction). I'll have to do some real tweaking of a lot of plot elements to get the story to work correctly lower than that (I've tried two changes, and one made it so hard that I couldn't beat it and the other made it so easy it wasn't worth my time.)
I'll keep tweaking it to see if there's any way I can make that last issue work at level 15. I'm not convinced it'll work, but I might be able to find something. Maybe I can swap the Council for the Clockwork.
While I would like a look at all of my arcs, I think I will put my newest up here for a quick review and see how it holds up with someone that has not played the other 2.
ID: 255895
Title: Future's End
Author: Justice Blues
Morality: Heroic
No. of Missions: 5
Keywords: Solo Friendly, Canon Related, Save The World
Description: Mirror Spirit has contacted you again. It is time to finish off the Future Skulls, and she thinks she know how. Can you stop the Future's End? Follow up to Future Skulls, 4727. and Simple Times, 70801. [SFMA/LBMA]
Justice Blues, Tech/Tank, Inv/SS
----------------------
Fighting The Future Trilogy
----------------------
Critical Review:
Arc: Power Play
Arc ID: 187269
Author: @Sumerian
Morality: Villainous
Number of Missions: 4
Description: "At last, I've made it to his lair. He though he'd send his goons for me, did he? Well I don't roll over that easily. Not for him. Not for Anyone. It's time to teach him some manners..."
Rating: ****
================================
Character used: Amanita Infernis, Level 38 Plant Control/Fire Assault Dominator
Difficulty: Tenacious (Diff 2)
Level for Arc Playthrough: 38
================================
Mission 1:
Turns out that "He" is Doctor Aeon and he has a job for me. Not quite what I was expecting from the description there, you'd think Aeon would have just called rather than trying to have you dragged to his lab when he wanted to hire you to begin with. Anyhow, seems that Doctor Creed is up to some secret project and Aeon wants to know what. Problem is that every agent he sends to find out never reports back, so he wised up and is sending a professional this time.
I enter Creed's lab and see small list of objectives, I'm to find a couple clues, defeat a VAL prototype, download Creed's AI project, and "interview" Creed. A few things strike me already, one of which is: how do I know about the AI and VAL prototype already? At least the AI I shouldn't know about until I talk to Creed.
Also I see the VAL robots. Good thing: they all have custom descriptions. Bad thing: they all have the same description. Bad thing number 2: I see a boss right at the door with Dispersion Field and I'm a Dominator entering with no Domination built up.
At least I have Seeds of Confusion. Unfortunately it misses, most of the bots are Energy Blast/Assault, and I'm spending most of the fight stunned while my Fly Trap nearly dies less than a minute into the mission.
With that battle over with, I find the first two glowies right under the platform I was fighting on. However the Author needs to a) pick more consistent glowies as they are two different computers of which neither belongs on this map and b) pick suitable glowies for the map tileset. It's a Tech Lab, anything other than a Tech Computer just looks silly and amateurish.
With the two clues found I know that Creed is working on an AI called VAL. Oh wait, I already knew that because the objectives spoiled that for me.
Energy Blast, Energy Assault, Energy Blast, Energy Assault. If this group is supposed to an arc for four missions it needs to have a lot more variety than that.
A couple floors up and I found Doctor Creed with the VAL Prototype and a bunch of VAL robots in my way. I take them all down, apparently downloading the AI in the process, and Doctor Creed (who is non-combat) begs me to join forces with him instead of Aeon before running off.
Interestingly, the arc decides that I tell Aeon only about the robots and nothing else.
Mission 2:
Aeon decides that he wants to study the robots that Creed based his design off of, the Longbow HAL X-34. Aeon even says he'll send some Arachnos into the Longbow base ahead of me to stir security and thin out the opposition.
Wait, what message did I send Doctor Creed? Did I accept his offer? I must have missed that but the mission intro pop-up is reminding me of something I guess.
I see now that Creed sent a VAL unit to assist me. I did notice earlier that they were all gynoids, but the joke from the Longbow about it being HAL's girlfriend is making me wonder about some things now. She's only a lieutenant though, so I have to be careful with her.
At the end of the base we ran into HAL X-34. I immediately hit Domination and throw Seeds on the spawn, and then wish I had immobilized them as well as he had dodged the confusion and proceeded to speed boost the entire spawn, causing them to scatter to the winds. Speaking for experience, Speed Boost on a custom critter is bad idea.
Anyhow, I defeated HAL, downloaded his AI, and sent it to Dr. Creed. However according to the debriefing, Creed has been captured by Doc Aeon?
Mission 3:
Now Aeon wants to test out a theory, so he wants me to run over to Faultline and fetch some Clockwork for him. Apparently the ones at the PTS are not the right kind for this experiment. (I wonder what he is testing as according to the clues in Marshall Brass's arc, Aeon already knows about how the Clockwork, work.) This is going to really annoy me as it means dropping to level 20. Is this arc really supposed to be capped at level 20?
At least the mission is in a really small map, but what is Doctor Creed doing here being held captive by Goldbrickers? They also seem surprised to see me, so they're not here to kill me and Creed? I'm really confused, what just happened in this mission?
Anyhow, Aeon doesn't seem to be the wiser and says that the team he sent to Siren's Call got what he needed anyway. Okay...
Mission 4:
Well, Aeon knows that Creed escaped and is sending me to chase him down while he returns to his lab. The lab that Creed had provided me the keycard for last mission.
So Aeon's secret lab is an Arachnos one (doesn't he always use Tech Labs?) and there are hostile VAL units running around as well. I'm also getting hit by that damn spawning bug so every friggin' spawn has a boss in it as well!
I plant the virus that I didn't know Creed had given me, he tries to hack in but gets cut out by something in the system. Hmmm...
Along the way up I ran into Doc Aeon and pounded him into the ground. He informs me that VAL has rebelled and is taking over the base. Well I kinda could see that already. Now it's time to dismantle VAL-X3, who was right around the corner. Unfortunately Domination was running out, fortunately there was two big spawns around her to toss Seeds onto and her Mastermind robots were vulnerable to it as well.
Aeon informs me that he'll be watching me closely from now own after learning of my involvment. He also informs me that VAL-X3's AI was able to escape the lab.
================================
The Verdict:
It's a good story but it gets quite confusing towards the end. Also there are some more touches that need to be fixed up, like critter descriptions and powers, as well as glowie selection. Also the arc needs fixed level ranges. Come on people, you can set them very easily. If this is meant to be a level 20 arc, which is the impression I really get now after finishing it, then make every mission cap at 20. For now this is a 4-star arc.
Got another for ya.
Arc ID: Arc# 72852
Arc Title: The New Freaks in Town
Author: @Initiator
Morality: Heroic
Number of Missions: 3
Description: There is word around the city that there is a new villain group in town and are planning an attempt to overthrow the Freakshow. That's bad new for the Freakshow by far, but it could turn out bad for all of us. You must make sure this doesn't happen and prevent an all out gang war.
Hello everybody! I was feeling that the old review thread needed a relaunch for a few reasons.
1) The title was kinda stupid after all.
2) I wanted to revamp the rules and cannot edit the first post of the old thread. Since if I made an update to the rules partway through it would simply get lost and ignored, starting a new one was the better option.
So here goes: the general purpose of this is the same, to provide feedback to those who want it while spotlighting good arcs that I come across. There will be two kinds of reviews: quickie reviews which will just be a short paragraph on why I thought it was a good arc and maybe a few things that could use improvement, and critical reviews where I go slowly and examine it in depth.
If you'd like a quick review, just post your arc information in the following format.
Arc ID:
Arc Title:
Author:
Morality:
Number of Missions:
Description:
That's the format I use, so filling in the blanks makes it easier and quicker.
A warning for everyone critical reviews will have spoilers.
The critical reviews queue is closed indefinitely. I will not be doing any more of them from now on. (8/22/2009)
My rating system generally goes like this: I started at 3 stars and add or subtract from there. 3-stars is radio mission quality in my opinion. 4 stars is above average, while 5 stars is not perfect but means I recommend that everyone play it.
Now let's cover the things that I like and dislike in arcs, so you have some idea of whether or not you want to submit yours to me.
Let's start with the things that I don't like in arcs:
The things that I do like in arcs:
Now if you didn't get a good rating, but made changes to address whatever flaws and problems I found in your arc and want to re-submit it for review, then you can just do so. Keep in mind re-reviews will have a lower priority than arcs that have not been reviewed yet. The re-review will be much shorter, most looking at the changes and fixes rather than a second comprehensive review. Upon review I will update my rating of the arc both in this thread and in the game.
Now let's get going.