We use Hirota's method formulated as a recursive scheme to construct a
complete set of soliton solutions for the affine Toda field theory ba
sed on an arbitrary Lie algebra. Our solutions include a new class of
solitons connected with two different types of degeneracies encountere
d in Hirota's perturbation approach. We also derive an universal mass
formula for all Hirota's solutions to the affine Toda model valid for
all underlying Lie groups. Embedding of the affine Toda model in the c
onformal affine Toda model plays a crucial role in this analysis.