Is it usual for players to join and then not take part?

Depends on the map and game. A lot of people may have started too many games and just simply forgot to check back in.

The other part could be they lost one of their armies or weren't doing very well and went inactive as soon as they faced a setback.

Thanks for the reply.

I would of thought you would only join a game if you expected to have time to do so, I understand there will be some exceptions but 11 out of 25 just seems selfish and thoughtless to me.

If you are off to a bad start wouldn't you try another approach or at least attack someone to cause problems before you are taken over completely, you can't expect to have it all your own way.

If you are referring to what I would do individually in a game of course I would try a different approach but not everyone wants to put the time and effort to come back from a setback on a game.

It is now 15 out of 25 inactive, I can understand 2 or 3 not having the time when they thought they might but I find it selfish and childish to take on a country and not make an effort, It's a pity the developers havn't done anything to help the situation.

Its a massive problem that they totally ignore.

Welcome to the internet. This problem is facing all free games. Because it is free, many people feel no attachment to it, they just start a game and then there's a good movie on or something or they just lose interest (or worse, they forgot they ever HAD an interest).

Best prevented by joining bigger maps, not because there are less drop-outs, but because the same percentage means more people will be there after these few days.

Ive been in ghost games... theyr terrifying ZERO active players like i actually got creeped out

I'm at the stage of finishing a game today and looking for a new one, it seems they get churned out at quite a rate.

Co player said to join the one he just joined but it was a couple of hours later that I read the message and the gameworld was full, 20 minutes later there were only 12 players, I assume they join to see what countries are available and don't take one on.

This seems like a terrible way to run the game, with so many options available why can't we get more information about what we are joining before we need to join?

Why can't they have player information available so we know we aren't joining in with people who constantly quit after a few days?

I would of thought that even if it's put into 'high command' benefits, most regular players would want to join a gameworld where they know it will still be 70% full after 10 days.