How to Setup a skirmish match for Age of Empires:Online

With the offering of Skirmish Hall Booster Pack for Age of Empires:Online for free (limited time), many new users are entering the system strictly for skirmishes, and skipping the less popular Farmville like grinding the game originally offered.

To Coop with "a" friend (2 player only), here's the best method.  After logging into the game and Windows Live...

• Hit the 'Home' key to setup and identify your friends also on the windows live network.
• Do Not start a skirmish lobby yet
• Next in the game, look for the Party Invite icon in the top left, and invite a friend.
• Now its okay to go to Cyprus and start a skirmish match.
• You should be able to include your coop partner
• Lastly, to leave a "party" type /leave in chat