Here are some extra details on how I’m planning on running these games. 

• I’m going to pull up ready to play (http://www.stardock.com/products/readytoplay/downloads.asp) and send out some invites, pretty much at random, to players in my friends list and some friends that ready to play recommends. 
• Once people respond to my invite to play, I’ll reiterate what I’m trying to do with these games (that vent is required and that I’ll balance the teams in game, etc). 
• I’ll share the vent server info (listed in the OP) and wait for people to get signed in.  I’ll also find out who can actually chat using a mic at this point.  Everyone will need to join whatever channel I am in so we can chat as needed.  PLEASE choose your EXACT in game handle as your username in vent.
• Depending on how many people respond via the ready to play system, I may put a password on the 1^st few games so only those that were in the ready to play chat will be able to join the game once I host it in demigod.  Just FYI in case you see my XvX Vent Bal game up with a password on it.  I WON’T be handling all of my games like this, but probably the 1^st 2-3 games to keep things from getting too confusing.    
• I’ll handle balancing teams in these intial games based on how I personally assess skill level (generally total games played (high value to me) and then a glance at their win loss rates (low value but I still look)). 
• I will most likely start looking up players after they have signed into vent based on their usernames.  Once we have enough people and I’ve determined appropriate teams, those teams will move into their own channel on the vent server. 
• I’ll then host a game w/ or w/o a password on it and we’ll get onto our predetermined teams and fight it out. 
• I expect that if the teams are balanced, I’ll play 1-2 games with everyone and then repeat this process with a new group of players.  The good news is that if people enjoyed playing together, they can continue playing without me while I get another game going.  That way, we'll keep building up the population on the vent server and hopefully more people will play without me getting thing moving

Some ventrilo guidelines:

• Setup ventrilo in advance.  You’ve got the directions in the OP.  Take the time and configure it, test it, and make sure you are ready to use it if at all possible prior to getting an invite to play from me.
• Don’t be afraid to login to the server.  You can just login and see who’s online and logout if you like.  All of you should do this at least once to make sure you are setup properly.  You might even find someone online TODAY that would enjoy playing a game with you, but you won’t know unless you log in. 

Ventrilo ettiquite: 

• There are multiple channels in the demigod pub vent server we’ll be using.  When you login, you will start in the general public lobby.  You need to move your self to one of the Demigod public lobbies.  People actively in games or about to be should be in one of the Demigod rooms.  It is not ok to just jump into people’s in game channels and chat them up.  If you are waiting for a chance to get in a game, please just wait patiently in the public lobby.
• When your game is finished, jump back into demigod public lobby and chat about the game or see if anyone that is waiting around is interested in playing.  There's no harm in sending me a message using Demigod's in game chat to let me know that you want in on the next game. 
• Don’t have loud music on in the background.  People want to hear YOU speak – not hear all of your background noise. 
• Don’t talk nonstop.  Speak when its appropriate in game.  If your jabbering away, it makes it difficult for the rest of the team to coordinate. 
• Don’t grief your team.  Be constructive.  People make mistakes and there will be multiple levels of skill when we play.  They do not need to get reemed out by you to get better.  I find a simple “Rook, you need to back up now” or “You need to be more cautious – don’t get into a 2v1 situation” goes a long way if my teammate understands English.  I’ve had my moments where I’ve lost my temper with my team, but try to keep a level head.

Demigod team ettiquite:

• You don’t get to rage quit.  As a team, you will all make a decision to quit or play it out.  And you should defer that decision to the most experienced person on the team if some are wanting to give up.  Concede, but I don’t want to see any random drops outside of crashes or technical issues.  These games are meant to be fun games, win or lose.  Don’t ruin the experience for you team by dropping if you die once, etc.
• Don’t start a game that you don’t think you can finish.  If you can’t block out and hour to play, you shouldn’t start IMO, especially at the competitive level. 

Planning in the lobby (strategy):

• Once you get into the lobby, take some time and discuss what characters you are planning on using.  Tell the team who your best character is, etc.  Discuss intial strategy (do you have reg… will he have level 1 snipe + heaven’s wrath, favor items, what lane are you and X player are going to go to).  Once you have covered this, ready up. 

I’m not entirely sure when I’ll start hosting these games.  It could be as early as tonight after 10PM Eastern Time or sometime tomorrow (sat). 

Don't let the fact that I'm not hosting these games right this second keep you from trying to get some games in using voice chat now!  Sign into the vent server and see who's online right now.  Ask them if they'd be interested in a game.  Or, on your next PUG game, suggest to your teammates that they get onto the vent server and you guys can talk.  You can always mute players if you bump into any jerks

And last - I fully expect to win some of these games and lose some.  Let's just have some fun!

1st attempt at this is starting right now. 

edit - 1st game was a success.  4v4

Games 3 and 4.

http://pantheon.demigodthegame.com/game/1000239/player/28414/ - here's a replay for game 3:  http://www.gamereplays.org/demigod/replays.php?game=51&tab=upcoming&show=details&id=97324

http://pantheon.demigodthegame.com/game/1000348/player/28414/

It took 1 HOUR to get game 3 up and running - UGH.  We brought in several new players, but it does take a bit to get people setup.  Game 3 was absolutely our best game.  Exceptionally balanced where it was back and forth (replay going up later).  I enjoyed it and wished we could have gotten a rematch going, but not everyone could stay.  Game 4 was a whoppin for me.  Bugger (the other captain) lost the previous 3 to my team, so I agreed that if there wasn't a clear balanced game solution that we'd slide things slightly in his favor.  WELL - we got whopped.  BAD.  They even had someone on their team drop (crash) in the game and we still got whopped.  It was a pretty frustrating game for me, but it was still a good game. 

That said, the thing that excited me the most tonight was this:

Those were 2 of the guys that joined in our last game, going out and trying to get new games going.  I'm hoping we can get more and more people doing this.  Me and bugger will show you how (if you don't know) and then you can do the same thing.  I'll be playing some more XvX vent bal games tomorrow.  Hope to see you then! 

Well... I checked out those 2 games that chowdown and janook hosted... looks like they didn't quite get off the ground.  The lousy part is that you currently do have to be willing to wait a bit to get these types of games off the ground (mostly because I'm pretty inflexible about everyone MUST be on vent).  I do think everyone is enjoying the experience of having voice chat and being on balanced teams. 

Replays of game 3 and 4 are up (see a few posts up for links).  For those of you that have participated so far, if you have any feedback, please post away.

Poly - that would be great. 

Yup - got to handle some things around the house but I'm going to try to get at least 2 games in today. 

Also - PRO.  I'm decent at coordinating things when needed (eg when you are just forming a team, I'm a very good guy to have around).  But if you are making quick decisions and porting in to get a kill or trap or even just picking up on things a few moments before I say anything, you are moving in the right direction.  Thanks for taking the time to play with us, Mauxe!  Looking foward to playing w you again. 

Well then... here are some preliminary results of my little experiment.  I've played a total of 8 XvX Vent Balanced games.  I think I"m actually good at balancing because frankly, if teams are balanced a 50% win rate is more than likely what will occur.  Of course, the downside is that a 50% win rate will occur .  It took QUITE a bit of work to get the original games going (yesterday).  Today has been REALLY smooth.  I only needed to explain how to connect to the dg public server to 2-4 people.  As a result, most of my games were up and running inside of 10 minutes. 

Things I've learned - people are generally cool to play with even using voice chat.  I don't think anyone was rude or busting chops too much.  At this point, it seems like if I leave and am not up for another game, things fall apart.  I'm unfortunately still the glue in this thing.  After my last game, we had a total of 10 people up for a game.  I told them I was done for a bit.  All but 4 left immediately.  I bet we'd have had a 4v4 if I was willing to play another.

SO - I'll keep putting up these games form time to time.  Its probably the absolute best way you will ever be able to PUG (balanced teams + voice chat).  If you see one of my XvX Vent Bal games up, please try to join.  The EASIEST way to be a part of them is this:  join the demigod public vent server and sit around the the demigod waiting for a game channel.  People are starting to come and go alot and will wait in that channel.  I look there before I host one of my balanced games everytime. 

Also - if any of you are willing, start hosting your own games.  I'm convinced that the most hardcore Puggers out there will prefer this method of play. 

yeah,  but that 5v5 took forever!

It was good playing with you and your buddy as well, cosmo.  Thanks for joining in!

yeah - I think I'll probably restrict these to 4v4's when possible. 

And for those of you are that are interested but haven't joined the vent server yet, here's what the population was like a minute ago:

As you can see, not a HUGE amount of people, but people are checking in more often and this should go a long way at getting more games going with voice chat. 

Okay, I got a bingo! Tested today, stupid me had the wrong port number in..... Gave a hello andd got a response (Yanks talk funny LOL).

So I think we need more people to jump on this! Would be good. Especially Aussies, because when we play, it's very early morning for the US.

Pacov, will your server always be up for public use?

I've also got r2p installed, seems kinda useless at this point.

Perhaps Stardock should provide a server for Vent chat too, or just incorporate ingame chat

This is a very good idea and i want to be a part of this server. I'll download all the necessary software when i get back from work tomorrow.