Okay, so admittedly.... I am a noob.  I just got the game, I'm still learning even the very basics.  Does that mean I don't have a right to play?  

Please think about my point of view:  I dont want to play automatch games because my rating will be ultra terrible due to me being only a beginner, so I go to custom games to learn the basics without having to start out with a 0-50 record.  Plus my teamates will really hate me if i screw up their ratings.  I just want to play, learn, and enjoy....

But what do I hear?  "OMFG NEWB WTF GTFO!"  Every single game...  People never say, "Oh, hi, welcome!  here let me give you a few starting-out tips!"   Nope.  My own teammage trash talk and badger me until I leave and then when I leave they still blame me for ruining the game.  This community is extremely hostile. 

So not only does everyone automatically hate me, but everyone I'm playing against seems to be an expert.  Call it a premade or pugstomp, or whatever... but how can I as a beginner stand a chance against an organized, experienced team with a solid strategy.  It simply isn't fun, and there are no alternatives because the "noob only" games are always full of experts who get-off on quick wins.

But what do I hear?  "OMFG NEWB WTF GTFO!"  Every single game...  People never say, "Oh, hi, welcome!  here let me give you a few starting-out tips!"   Nope.  My own teammage trash talk and badger me until I leave and then when I leave they still blame me for ruining the game.  This community is extremely hostile

i completely agree, this is the most hostile playing enviroment that i have ever encountered.  i have played this game from the beginning and i already have a "ban list" a page long, and it consists of people who in some way speak disrespectfully or just RQ.  i love helping new people play, and i set up games in the lobby all the time titled "for fun", or "all welcomed" just to encourage a fun playing atmosphere, and that hardly works.  i like winning, but i like playing more. 

So automatch is exactly where you should be.  Theoretically, the game will match you up against opponents of like skill level.  This doesn't happen in practice, but you will be able to at least avoid premades.

Don't join games that say "pro only"??  I say that tongue-in-cheek, but you would be surprised at the number of people that can't read.  If you want a beginner game, host your own game with "beginner" in the title.  Sure, you may get some games with people that just want to stomp, but on the whole, beginners should be joining your game.  And if you really know nothing about the game, play single player for a bit.

Finally, if you are serious about soliciting tips, fire up the chat window outside the game and start asking.  I would be more than willing to play a 1v1 game with you and give you whatever limited help I can provide.  I don't do it during a game because most people take it the wrong way.

As a Demigod noob, I have to say I am impressed with the games mechanics and graphics. I am however unimpressed with the multiplayer implementation. I bought the game a week ago, and so far I've only been able to get into custom games. Some of them are fun, most of them get ruined by disconnects or bitching. Also the allready mentioned issues of premades vs pugs is completely gamebreaking for "average joe". (Many premades deliberately hide the fact that they are teamed, making it quite difficult to avoid this issue on your own.)

None of my friends play this game, so I'm constantly in pugs. It's 100% hopeless to beat a non-retarded premade group with voicechat when your in a random pickup group. And frankly, while I enjoy the game itself, getting steamrolled 75% of the time will likely not keep me entertained for very long.. People arguing that they need to be allowed to play with their friends is missing the point entirely. Noobs and non-grouped people sorely need options that let them play with vs other noobs and randoms. If this is denied them, it's only a question of time before they grow weary and move on to friendlier pastures.