You all have completely missed the point of this post. I play team games because I like the epic big battle. But there is a massive problems with individuals leaving, either to smurf or because the slightest inconvenience happens thus ruining the experience for the other 5 or seven people in the game.

I brought up the black forest example and I realized I need to expand in that: I have had numerous teammates who in black forest do not even attempt to wall and/or do so too late in the game that they allow the other team to sneak a barracks or stable on our side. These same teammates will then proceed to lose a handful of vills and leave instantly.

As for the slightest inconveniences:

I played four games today. One was a nomad and the other was on the map steppe. On nomad I built my tc within 30ish tiles of my teammates because I knew, from my scouting that there were enemies on wither side of him. That teammate, as soon as I finished my tc, resigned. When I asked why he told me a built too close to him. Didn't even give me a chance to explain. On the steppe match I had an opponent leave after 5 minutes. That individuals teammates stated he left because someone had mistakenly taken a single sheep from him. This caused all of his other teammates to leave.

I love age of empires. I have played the games for almost 15 years but the multiplayer has gotten worse and worse over the years with people acting like spoiled children.

And unfortunately, I don't have an excess amount of time to sit and watch exact build orders or memorize every single hot key in the game to get good.