AudibleScholar if you could show a screenshot of your modem's interface where you are doing port forwarding that would help a ton like Durfoo did. The way each router handles it is always a touch different so it is helpful to see how yours is configured to make sure it should all work correctly.

Ok, connected directly to the modem and it works. I still get the error message when hosting, but it works. I don't know why, I don't know how, I don't care, I'm so tired and don't even feel like playing anymore... Aaaaargh!

P.S. Thank you everyone for your help and concern.

Yea, the "rejected by host" error just means that the game is in progress but hasn't yet been removed from the list. An update this week will address that.

The issue being discussed here is being able to host.  Most modern games use port 6112 (supreme commander, rise of nations, rise of legends) to name 3 off the top of my head.  In fact, I don't know of any recent RTS's that don't use that port. Heck, World of Warcraft uses it.

If you direct connect to the cable modem (i.e. no router) and there's still a problem that means there's some software (zone alarm or firewall or something) blocking it.

The data comes via the Internet and then must go to the PC port 6112. If something blocks it, you can't host. It's as straight forward as that.

To be honest, I have no idea.   Can you post more of your computer specs?

If you want to play with a friend who is off-campus (or on campus on a different sub-net) you can use the most wonderful program known as Hamachi to fake a LAN and tunnel through any firewall i've ever seen. Just go to http://www.hamachi.cc/ and download it for free. Setup the program then start up a new network, call it something like "SinsLAN123" or whatever you want. Then your friend just chooses "Join Network" and types in the name of your network and voila, you can now use the "Multiplayer" option in Sins of a Solar Empire without ever going into IronClad Online. That way you can play LAN games across the internet if you have trouble with ports.

Granted, this means you can't play with random people unless you can get them to join your in your hamachi network, but its better than no multiplayer at all.

although its a nice idea, i just wont be able to get enough people in my network to ever play a game hahaha. it looks like im venting but im just faking it. i work at a it helpdesk and i know how painful computer/network issues are.

Been there done that before as well (helpdesk) as a student and full-time employee. I feel for ya

Doesn't Sins support UPNP? If your router supports that and you have no idea what you're doing with the port forwarding, just hunt around for that option and enable it (and take off any port forwarding to 6112 that you've done).

Guys do you have your services on automatic?

Mine were active (Upnp and the other one mentioned in the sticky thread) but not on automatic and I got "connection failed:rejected by host" every time I tried.

I messed with my firewall etc and it didn't do a thing, I was still getting rejected.
Then I changed my services (start, right click my computer, manage, services) to be on automatic and can connect fine.

Just my 2 cents,
game works perfectly on a draytek vigor 2910 with port 6112 forwarded to my local ip, which is static by the way...