Returning player - do I just suck?

Sorry but I don't recall any "stand there and get pummeled" missions. I've always had the option of breaking off, falling back (even if it means exiting the mission), healing up, and returning to pick off another 1, 2, or 3 opponents. Repeat the process until finished. Sure it takes longer but that's called tactics and strategy. You don't play a corrupter like a tank or brute and stand there mashing buttons.

I don't think there are a lot of 'stand there and get pummeled' missions, but there is one in Doctor Steffard's arc where you are to meet someone at the back of the map. After you talk to her there are TONS of ghouls that ambush in waves. There are a couple npcs that will help you fight if you stay in the back, but they won't move very far from their spawn points so drawing back means you lose their help. The waves are timed spawns (with very little time between) and start with aggro on you meaning so the only way you CAN draw back is to leave the map. If you do that all the ghouls will, when you come back, be clustered at the far end of the room from the npc helpers. It really is hella hard to get through that one without dying (possibly multilple times) as a squishy.

Edit: Yes, you can run in, kill a ghoul or two, and run back out. But there will be up to a dozen (i think) of them clustered together. That's a whole lot of running in and out.

Edit Edit: I actually like that there is some difficulty to many praetorian missions. But for a new player or someone coming back after a long break (and used to the old low level missions) they can make for a pretty steep learning curve.

Yes there's also one like that which is a morality mission that has to be done solo. You get betrayed by Praetor Whites girlfriend.

Yep, that's why I said it takes longer.

I doubt anyone will disagree with that. If they do, don't listen to them they're crazy.

Welcome back Not sure how long you were away but a LOT has changed over the years. For example your character in Praetoria is level 17 .. okay as long as you have the INF you can increase all you powers strengths with 20 level Invention Origin Enhancers .. (IOs). These provide significantly more than DOs and don't diminish so you will get the same benefit from them at 21 that you get at 17.

Also .. You have chosen the newest and, in some players opinion, most challenging place to level your character. At one point many of us were referring to Praetoria as the City of Ambushes since at some point on any given arc you run into one, or more, missions that spawn one ambush after another.. and the next WILL spawn as soon as the last member of the previous ambush drops AND they spawn right on top of you.. Very little time to heal and recover end. It was all a direct result of players saying they were tired of the same old 1-20 missions in COH and COV that were overly simple and easy.

The latest change is the way you can level in COH/V at lower levels.. Come out of what once was Galaxy and head to the Death from Below trials.. 4-8 players run through a trek through the sewers battling Hellions, Vahzilok, the Lost and finally 2 Hydra heads. Each group, aside from the final battle with the Hydra, allows you to battle an AV and between villain groups you can train without ever leaving the sewers. These missions offer up Single Origin (SO) enhancers as low as 7 level or 8 and those really increase your powers at those levels over anything you'd gain from buting a training origin enhancer (does ANYONE even use those anymore? LOL). Each time you complete the trial you gain a BUFF and you can get onec for Damage[12%], Accuracy[12%], Defense[5.25%] and
Recovery[15%]. Also by the time you run 4 consecutive trials you should find yourself somewhere between 14 and 15 level. The buffs will stay for 1 week or until your character hits level 22 and can start using SOs.

As of tomorrows Issue 22 release this will continue even beyond that when Drenched in Blood trial becomes available. This is available to any character from level 15 to 50 and again offers unique temporary buffs. Now I have not had the opportunity to run this trial on Beta so I am unaware what the temps do or for how long but I assume it will be something similar to the DFB buffs in length and possible the same type or buff some other aspect of your character.

Unfortunately to the best of my knowledge I don't do Praetoria anymore, no such trial exists for your character there.

As mentioned depending on how long you have been away its not that your characters suck its just that these days there are so many new ways to make even a 17 level stronger and the mobs have become a bit more difficlut, IMO, so it still presents a challenge.

Welcome back again and hope that helps.