Real time strategy suggestions?

[Superman]

I really haven't played any PC games (other than chess) in probably four years. I now end up with about an hour a day where I have my laptop and no internet connection, so I'd like to get a fun game to pass the time. I love RPG games ("Command & Conquer" types, "Star Trek Armada," that one game where you fight as Rome on a battlefield), so can anyone recommend any newer ones? I don't know much about recent games, so what would be a good one in this genre?

[RazorOutlaw]

Rome: Total War is the Rome game you might be thinking of. You can pick that up for 10 or less, either from Half.com or Wal*Mart.

I'd recommend Command and Conquer: Generals, unless you're a stickler for the old style of gameplay.

Cossacks is sort of a super-fast sadistic version of Age of Empires, if you can find that and tolerate the speed you might have fun. But again, you'd probably have to visit a place like Half.com

What games have you played 4 years ago, by the way?

[Stark]

Company of Heroes and WiC are the best modern RTSs and you'll decide between them based on what style of play you prefer. C&C3 is basically C&C but new, which is great if you're into that. Supreme Commander is TA but more so.

Spellforce is pretty silly but has a cool reverse UI that everyone needs to steal (and is kinda Diablo + RTS). The Act of War games are basically a '24' RTS, and is an interesting twist on the traditional 'fast' RTS.

Of course, Kohan, Conquest, Defcon and Dungeon Keeper 2 are better than all of them, but they're old and you'll prolly already have them.

[Shinova]

Basically what's said. World in Conflict is also real time tactical; there's no base-building, and similarily little time between reinforcements.

[Stark]

The term 'real time tactical' is as useless and stupid as 'real time strategy'. The term is so retarded and the tangible difference so small it makes my teeth itch. There's just so damn much strategy in RTS's, right guys!

I play WiC instead of CoH because CoH is a rushtastic skirmishing raiding do-18-things-at-once kind of RTS, and I suck at them. WiC is much more my kind of RTS, with it's relatively slow pace, tighter focus, and lack of base nonsense.

[RazorOutlaw]

Oh, oh new games. Not recent-ish ones.

Stark suggested at least one offering, WiC. Although he's amazed that I only tried the demo recently, I'm right behind him in saying it's a good game (slow paced though?)

I'd recommend DoW: Dark Crusade next if you haven't tried it, maybe picking up the Dawn of Warhammer mod for something that might feel close to the table top experience.

Yeah that's about it really in terms of big budget worthwhile RTS games. There's always Age of Empires 3...

[Shinova]

Dark Crusade has more unit and faction variety, but Company of Heroes is basically Dawn of War gameplay made better. And Relic is probably working on something entirely new that is DoW-related.

[Nathaniel]

Don't get Cossacks unless you either have days to waste or can tolerate really shitty AI. You see, there are only two really two types of game you can play in Cossacks. The first is the most common type in multiplayer, with tiny maps, rapid base building, brutal glitches, and a retarded game balance that allows everbody to rush with exactly the same units. The second is more interesting overall with vast maps, enormous resources, an insane number of troops (there is literally no population limit as long as you can keep building houses) and at least an hour's peace time. The problem with the second mode is that you have to have somebody to play against otherwise it just sucks.

[RazorOutlaw]

??
I know both expansion packs upped the size of maps so if your assaulting army failed, by the time you got your next army to the enemy town you basically had to fight the same battle all over again. If you got stuck playing the vanilla, I'm sorry. That game didn't have too many options, especially compared to its pseudo-sequel American Conquest.

I've never played Cossacks 2, however, just the demo and I thought that was fun.

[Stark]

I could never really find an 'enjoyable' way to play Cossacks either. It's an interesting game - different is always good - but it really doesn't reward sophisticated play. The fantasy version (Heroes of Annihilated Empires or whatever) is even WORSE, because of the massive disparity between the unit types.

[Superman]

The games I used to play most often were the "Civilization" titles, although I remember the last one being somewhat stupid. I loved "Age of Empires," and the Star Wars version of it was also great.

I really hate fantasy type games with a passion. Not sure why exactly, but I do.

So, I guess I'm looking for something that's not part of the fantasy genre, and maybe something like AOE, Civ, etc...

Thanks!

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

It's an older title, but if you can find Rise of Nations and its expansion, that sounds like it might be perfect for you. It's like the bastard child of Civilization and Age of Empires.

[BountyHunterSAx]

If you're not too big on graphics; preferring tight gameplay mechanic and/or balance, then you hould look into Starcraft: BroodWar. The entire package - game and expansion - can be bought for about $15-$20 in best buy/gamestop/wal-mart. Also, there is still a lively online multiplayer community, still a large pro-gamer scene, and the campaigns themselves iwll last you hours.


Of course it's sci-fi themed; and since you're on this board I can surmise that you naturally don't want any part of that.

-AHAMD

[Xisiqomelir]

I really haven't played any PC games (other than chess) in probably four years. I now end up with about an hour a day where I have my laptop and no internet connection, so I'd like to get a fun game to pass the time. I love RPG games ("Command & Conquer" types, "Star Trek Armada," that one game where you fight as Rome on a battlefield), so can anyone recommend any newer ones? I don't know much about recent games, so what would be a good one in this genre?

Are you sure single player RTS is what you want? Maybe you should try another genre like danmaku, which I find gives a much more rewarding 1P experience than any RTS' campaign mode.

[Noble Ire]

Age of Mythology has very good graphics and good gameplay, and its campaign is one of the best I've ever seen in an RTS. I didn't find the multiplayer as appealing, but that shouldn't really matter for you. In addition to being engaging and well-written, the campaign is very long, especially on higher difficulty levels.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

I've been playing Company of Heroes and its expansion, Opposing Fronts, and it's just been a blast. If you're not too bothered by the fair amount of micro-managing that's involved, I would highly recommend it.

[ray245]

Is there a RTS with a chain of command? Like you are the colonel and let your troops do some 'micro-managing?

[Uraniun235]

I really haven't played any PC games (other than chess) in probably four years. I now end up with about an hour a day where I have my laptop and no internet connection, so I'd like to get a fun game to pass the time. I love RPG games ("Command & Conquer" types, "Star Trek Armada," that one game where you fight as Rome on a battlefield), so can anyone recommend any newer ones? I don't know much about recent games, so what would be a good one in this genre?

Are you sure single player RTS is what you want? Maybe you should try another genre like danmaku, which I find gives a much more rewarding 1P experience than any RTS' campaign mode.

"I like playing single-player RTS games!"
"I don't like single-player RTS campaigns, you should try different ones instead!"

[Qwerty 42]

Have you tried the Star Trek versus Star Wars download for Armada? It really changes the fundamental nature of the game, and makes it much more enjoyable, imho. All for free, too.