I was thinking about this last night. I don't think it would be too difficult for the developers to add an API for external websites. When you play an online game, the game constantly reports the stats to the Ironclad servers - this empire has quit, and this empire now has these planets. (The stats are already there as you can see at the end of each game.)

An external website could take these stats and use them - not just to allow you to build a better online community, but also to create tournaments and other play that just isn't possible using Ironclad.

Right now the Ironclad online system sucks. It would be nice if they could open it up and let other developers improve on their work, rather than keep it proprietary like Sony and the legendary Betamax format. We are losing online players daily, and most of them will never come back.

Put locked teams ON. Then they can't backstab you.

What I do is host a large 10 player map (I usually start with less than 10) set to FFA with locked teams. If a few people quit for various reasons, who cares? You could also refine it to 2x2x2x2x2 - even then a few drops aren't always a show stopper.

Hi Tom,

I'm from North Vancouver.

I started playing SotSE in late January.

I generally avoid playing a new game online until I know the game well. Also, to give the Devs a chance to iron out the kinks.

So,after playing the AI for 3 months, reading posts on strategy, downloading and watching recommended replays, and making sure I could host(BitDefender security is very SotSE friendly), I took the plunge. As of last night, I'm 5-3 of of 12. Not bad.

Anyway, to make a short story long, yesterday I was in Ironclad's lobby1 from about 8:00pm PDT until 10:30pm. During that time, I asked about 10 people, who were of similar level to myself and had good latency, if they were interested in a 1x1. Without exception, all players were casual and polite; however, none were interested. A number of players were just passing through to join with friends. There were 3 or 4 2x2 and 3x3 games that were almost begging for players. I even started an open game and sat there for an hour without any interest. After 2 hours of asking, someone was interested, but by that time I was getting tired and decided to play other games with my wife.

The point I'm trying to make is that, all in all, the Ironclad site is working well for me. I've concluded that by being able to host, by being flexible (1x1, 2x2, 3x3, etc), and by being courteous and friendly, I can get into a game any time I want. Of course it may not be a 1x1.

I can never get a 1v1 either, and have given up on online (for now, until 1.1). I'd do 2x2 or 3x3, but since I'm not that great of a player, I just can't stand the rude comments of teammates because I'm not at their level of play. With 1v1, you don't have to worry about that.