I love it when they add extra content for free

It wont just be content but features to boot!

Would like to see this.

hum...

Less interested in this...

Would rather see being able to form a team up and then play with said team Vs random opponents (preferably other teams that have formed up).

The difference?  Less work and really it's the baby step that should be taken before any Clan features.

Clans are nice and all, but really the lack of being able to form a premade team should come first.

I'm less interested in joining a guild/clan soical group. 

I have my brothers and friends who have the game and I want to be able to group up with them and bash some heads.  I have no need or real want to join with other groups.  Sure with the clan support my friends and brothers could form a clan/guild but that's not necessary to actually be able to play.

-Jara

PS: Play Dawn of War 2.   Note how you can:

• Group up with others to form a team.
• That team can then go and play against random people.
• After a match you have a chance to talk shit to the other team and look at scores.
• You can add anyone who you've played with/against to your friends list.
• After the game is done, you come back to your team lobby (so you're all set to start playing again).
• In your team lobby, you can invite people from your friends list and if they accept they'll automaticly be pulled into the lobby
• Gfwl also keeps a list of everyone you've played with/agaist recently and you can use that list to either invite them to your team lobby or add them to your friends list.

THESE are the features that should come BEFORE CLAN features.

PPS: While I point out Dawn of War 2 as it has the correct functionality, it's UI is horrid in part due to the Windows for Live interfact being mostly crap and being forced to bounce between Windows Live & the DoW2 UI.  So don't look at it as a perfect example, it just has the basic functionality that Demigod SHOULD have.

This all sounds great. 

One question:

Will there be a stop gap for arranged teams between now and the Clan Wars update?  Or will I need to use custom games to play with friends until late summer?

(sorry, missed a couple previous posts, it appears i'm not alone in this concern)

They're coming at the same time. The clan framework contains the functionality for arranged teams. Frogboy has already stated this.

i don't care about clans, at all.  people form clans out of game in many games.  i'd just like to be able to do premade team vs. premade team.

Isn't custom game premade team vs premade team?

The two aren't necessarily exclusive, just so you know.  There's been talk about making premade teams, and being able to bring them into battle.  Just because they might end up being called "clans," doesn't mean it's not what you're looking for.  It could be what you're looking for, plus some other social stuff.  But I agree, the ability to form groups to bring into battle should be included as part of this framework.

well its not clear if this clan wars delay or is competitive with team support

if so i agree with you, teaming and joining pantheon (or an alternative situation if they want to leave pantheon as it is) is surely the priority, but i think that clan wars and teams are just different things developed on their own

premades vs premades  or random match vs random matchup = higher avg skill level = more competitive fun

Clan support is nice and all, but if i were you, i'll let it for next year and focus on other things right now, like Jaradakar said very well in post #8. Also, i suspect that only Stardock works on this, right? Because otherwise GPG has better things to do . Like new demigods, new maps, items, balance stuff, etc...

I'm not planning to join any clan in the near future and imo, these things are not needed right now, but after some year or two, when the game would be more popular (i hope). Right now is like trying to make a F1 race circuit for my Toyota. Not there yet, imo...