How to Host Defense of the Ages Games

Forward the appropriate ports if your computer is connected to the Internet via a router. Access your router and open ports 6112-6117. If you are not familiar with this process, and need a comprehensive guide on port forwarding tailored to your individual router, please see the Guide to Port Forwarding in the Resources section of this article.

Retrieve a copy of the latest DotA map file. You can download the map from a friend, you can join a download-friendly hostbot's game, or you can always get the latest or most stable version of the map from getdota.com. IceFrog, the game's developer, keeps the site updated, as well as lists the patch notes from version to version. Place the newly downloaded map file into the custom games folder of your Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne install directory.

If you cannot connect to Battle.net, be it from using a shared CD-key or one you generated yourself, then you should consider downloading Garena. Garena provides a hack-free and friendly environment for new DotA players to play. Once installed, use Garena's channel service to locate the game region that most applies to you: North America, Southeast Asia, Europe and so on. From there, use Garena to start your game, and inform people in the Garena lobby that you have hosted a game.

Ensure that you are on a user account with administrative rights to the computer you are using. This will allow you to connect to Battle.net. At the top of the Battle.net lobby screen, find a button labeled "custom games." Clicking it will direct you to a screen that lists the current games hosted in the Battle.net lobby, and will allow you to host a game yourself. Navigate to the custom games folder and select the game labeled "Defense of the Ages." Make sure that you have enabled observers in the advanced options menu, as many people enjoy watching the frenzied and exciting action that is public Battle.net Defense of the Ages.

Choose a game name, the most important part of the entire process. You can't play games if no one will join your lobby, and no one will join your lobby if your game modes are unpopular. The important thing is to always host your games with either "AREM" or "APEM" at the end of the game name. This indicates that you will be selecting the "all random, easy mode" or the "all pick, easy mode" settings once the game has started. These settings are the most popular, and your lobby will fill rapidly. Once you have a full set of 10 players, yourself included, click "Start Game," or hit the "Escape" button twice.