How do i join other peoples games/ cant see any other games

[-insert coin-]

Hi everyone I'm new and am trying to get back into DoW. I've wanted to try and fight others online but don't know how to, or am I just over thinking it?

also as a side note

[Wise Windu]

Looks like your side note didn't show up

Anyway, it could be that you aren't able to see custom games because the mod isn't fully or properly installed. If you have a slightly different version of the game, you won't be able to see other people playing different versions. Try re-installing 2.3.0 and then 2.3.1H2, and make sure you're installing it to the right folder when the installer asks for the install path. Post more questions if you have any trouble.

[Impregnable]

It is always good to see new people joining in. Judging from the post you must be really new. I have seen too many people stop playing this game because they cannot find games at right levels. Here are some quick tips in finding a game more to your liking.

1. Don't enter the game named Private
- Currently private game creation is impossible due to some bug so those people in that kind of rooms will kick you out without explaining anyone who is uninvited or unknown to them

2. Ghost Rooms
- These are rooms without hosts which are created by server problems or disconnections. There is no one inside and you cannot enter it either. It just piles up on top of each other in public game list screen so don't even bother trying to enter them

3. Try to play games at weekends
- Well, there are very few people online during weekdays if you turn on DOW 2 after you return from your work or school in the evening time. This means usually less people for each skill levels and quite a bad news for new guys because it is really hard to get a game going and those precious few people you get can possibly be way out of your skill level. It is really different during weekends and you will find plenty of people with similar skill level even if you are new

4. Judging skill levels of players
- Currently there is no reliable way of exactly pinpointing a opponent's skill level in DOW 2. Ranking system is broken beyond imagination so it is no use. There are two sources you can somewhat rely on which are army levels and steam profile playing hours.
Army levels are gained separately for each faction you play with and you gain exp points after end of each game whether you lose or not. You gain larger amount of exp by winning and it is automatically used for unlocking decorations for your units. The max level is 60 so if you see someone with level 60 in a faction that means he has quite adequate amount of experience with that faction and won't be steam rolled so easily. You can see it by right clicking a player in in game lobby screen and left clicking on statistics option that pops out underneath
Steam playing hours is more useful source. You gain it by playing long that all that is about it and it can be viewed by right clicking a player in in game lobby screen and left clicking on profile page. This will bring up a steam screen that shows profile page of that player and you can see how many hours he played for each of the game he purchased. If you are not so confident about your own skill level, then do not play with people who have more than 200hrs of play ahead of you. Beneath that it should be manageable. Of course you can extend that range if you get more confident with the faction you are playing
Both of those sources are not exactly accurate I warn you though. It is not a ELO rating system. You do not know whether the opponent has played this game 6 months ago and came back just today and is sucking with the controls. Beyond army level 60 there is a crazily wide range of skill level groups that cannot be measured. In case of playing hours, they can make their page private or only visible for their friends which makes it impossible for people to know their playing hours. Army levels will eventually reach max level no matter how many times you lose and playing hours can be gained by just turning on the game and not playing it or just observing. However, despite all these shortcomings those two sources are best tools you have that allows you to judge a opponent's skill level in somewhat reliable way. Those shortcomings are not a hindrance to newly starting players so you can worry about that later when you become very good at this game

5. Hosting a game
- Waiting for the game in the lobby screen indefinitely is not such a good idea especially when you are new. Those rooms that pop up can be only for high level players and they will kick judging from army levels and such without a word sometimes. It is better to make a lobby for yourself and name it with restrictions on army levels or playing hours. You can choose the map you want and also can kick those people who have high army levels or playing hours than your liking Ex) 3 VS 3 for noobs below 200 hrs / 2 VS 2 for noobs below army level 10