Custom games should not be premade only, and are not currently premade only.  So, just say you are a premade.  Why require your opponents already at a significant disadvantage to do detective work?

In addition, there are also definitely issues with people surfing Skirmish/Pantheon games to form premades.

If you go into queue for a game(Skirmish/Pantheon), with the intention of quitting if you don't play with one exact person, you are essentially, allow to me use a scientific term here, a jerkface.

i usually put 3s/4s us/can high sim/good lag<--- this tells the people what i want as opponents or team members. also most of the time i am only teamed with 1 other and the 1 or 2 are pugged.

1. 3s/4s is implied from the number of slots open

2. Location is of course needed, no complaint here...but...

3. "high sim/good lag" WTF are you talking about? Do you honestly think this is going to filter out people with low bandwidth connections and older computers? People with crap computers are still going to join your game and drive you insane. It happens.

Instead of this, try [PREMADE]. It tells me "No woppin, you don't want to get steamrolled by some champs on vent while your ally asks you whether plenor or vlemish is the better helm, so join another server"

Expecting people to use the horribly broken Pantheon and Skirmish systems is just ridiculous.

Definitely. +1 Karma!

I wouldn't mind playing a pre-made, but usually you know nothing of your opponents and if one your teammates is below the skill level of the premade players, well that gg. The communication plays such a huge factor in this game.

Also Custom games is the only place I can get into a game fast *like less than 5 minutes. Its also the only place to play with more than 2v2 demigods. Than panthelion and skimish give poor game modes such as domination or fortress or dg killer. I usually prefer a regular conquest macth.

I'd like to see more tags in game titles such as:

EU 3v3 PreMades or EU 3v3 PM

That will help both parties by informing that if you dont want be to focus fired, you should look else where. And the team avoides newbs and leavers once they recognize your teamwork.

I play Pantheon because my first multiplayer match was a 2v2 custom against a Reg/UB team with perfect coordination, vent and map coverage, while my team mate played a Rook with Swift Anklet/Boots of Speed, and used that combo to spam towers.

I am pissed at the premade team predominance in custom. And no, they will not say they're premade. Ever. Either because they want to stomp over noobs, get favor, or just don't want any more bloody new players from quitting the game. They just never admit. The only way you can know is if they have a clan tag in their nickname(somehow). Which they don't.

I do.

"Hey, you three, are you some sort of a team?"
*crickets*
*crickets*

This x 100.  I ask almost every custom game I join, and to this date, I've never had anyone tell me they are in the lobby, but I have had plenty tell me as they are telling me gg and the game is ending that they are in fact a premade.

Here are some tips that I use to avoid premade:

1. Host your own custom game.  premades are less likely to join other people's game.

2. Join the game and be on the same team as the host.  You'll atleast be on the premade's team if there was one.

Things to avoid:

1. The host tells to you move down to the other team.

2. When you just join a game, the host is on the bottom team with another player.

Yeah, if the host is EVER on the bottom then it's definitely a pre made.

Also if anyone ever addresses other players by real names like "Jeff."  A clear tip off.

I see no issue, Blitz gave some easy methods to tell if a game is a premade group.  As well as common sense and asking.  I haven't had a single person ask in any games I've hosted.  I often play with one friend online, and we don't voice chat.  In a game of 3v3 would that be considered premade?  If you put premade in your title you are advertising that you are skilled as well and will drive out all other average players.  My friend and I are decent at the game but not pro or anything.  We regularly lose, but we have fun playing in the same games.  If anyone asks I would certainly tell them that I know him in real life, and we chat in the start up lobby.  I've also played several games where the enemies all knew eachother, usually they stomped my team but I wasn't bitter about it, most the time they were good hard fought games.

Bottom line do this if you are worried:

Ask (no response might be a clue)

Host your own game

Check which team the host is on, if you are really paranoid only join the hosts team on games you play

There is no other place for friends to play together, I'd really really enjoy a arranged teams 2v2 and 3v3 ranked option, not sure why they wouldn't have put that in.

I like to play against pre-made teams, because it generally means I will have to play better if I want to win.

And how do you define a pre-made? Several times I've joined a random lobby and been surprised to find 2 or 3 of my friends are in the lobby too, and on my team. (yes yes I know PRE-MADE, but a lot of people seem to think playing with friends counts as this too)

All of which involve wasting your time connecting to a server that you have no intentions of playing on.

Scanning a list and filtering those that have PREMADE in the title takes a hell of a lot less time than joining server after server and "using clues" to decipher if you're being set up for an ambush.

premades vs random dudes usually is boring and usually i anit trying to win and  the premade noobs think there great because there winning and then start talk hard and tough and then  i cream them and they are like wtf