If you haven't played Rise of Nations you are really missing out. It is easily the best RTS of all time. The polish, gameplay, balance, is all just perfect. It is the only RTS that actually gets the macromanaging aspect right. You are actively encouraged NOT to micromanage units, and you get damage penalties if you try to focus fire. The game is all about making an economy, expanding your territory, knowing when to build a balanced army and maneuvering with the army as a whole. The game can become frantic and exciting at any time, from rushing in the stone age to racing for the future-technologies, with military strategies ranging from raiding with single units, to spamming cannons as turks or cavalry as french, all the way to trying to cause a losing game to draw by causing Armageddon with nukes! Ah, I need to go reinstall it now!