Alright, after thinking about this and sleeping on it, this is what I have decided.

We will be sticking with a modern setting.  Although selecting an "period piece" as the setting could bring something new to the table, I think that a modern setting is more accessible to players.  People might not be as familiar with that period or if they have some familiarity, it is probably stereotypes of said era.  We're looking for something that is accessible to more people, not more niche than we already are.

On the Casual vs. Advanced forum point, if people are concerned about the Casual forum and what they do to sandbox games, then we can try Advanced one more time.  However, if we cannot get some more people to bite, then we either will have to go to casual or just move on to different things.  Nevertheless, I think we should be proud of what we have done here in All-Star Marvel.  Unlike most other threads like this (just look through the Advanced forum), this probably is one of the longest lasting games of its type since GuildFall happened (Create-A-Hero is one that has us beat).  With that said, I still think we can make this work.

Now, for the background, this is what I have decided on for what we should start with (again, we can change them as we see fit before the roleplay begins).

1) The appearance of superheroes should be like the graph of f(x) = e[sup]x[/sup].  Should be small early on but it quickly skyrockets in the modern age.

2) Mutants have finally received equal rights under the law.  However, there is still concern in both mutant and human camps.  Regular people are still worried about how mutant powers might be used irresponsibly, while mutants, although technically protected under the law, fear that the safeguards that the laws give them are not enough to fend off the anti-mutant bigots.

3) S.H.I.E.L.D. was created as a secret spy organization at the beginning of the Cold War to ensure that the Soviet Union not somehow get an upper hand in technology, including the ability to create superhumans.  Although the general public is not aware of their activities (or existence), the superheroes and villains of this world would be more acquainted with them because of S.H.E.I.L.D.'s interest in them.

4)  On that faithful day, the world's mightiest heroes joined forces when several villains concocted a plan to break out of S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.  Once they had subdued these escaped convicts, this team became known as the Avengers.

I am going to wait a little before posting the interest check so that it gives the Guild Mods to clean up the bot spam so that the interest check can get at least some time on the front page.