Looking for a lengthy RTS game

I'm mainly a console gamer. But for six months I will be away from my PS3 and will be gaming with my laptop.

I will be mainly playing Dota 2 but I'm also looking to buy a game that is lengthy and has RTS elements.

I have narrowed my choices to these three:

1. Civilization 5 (Gameplay fun?)

2. Total War Rome 2 (I read there were many bugs? Have they been patched/fixed?)

3. Europa Universalis 4 (I read it has a steep learning curve?)

If you have played any of these, then please post your insights or mini reviews. Or if you have played more than one or just know a lot about said games, then please compare them.

Also, feel free to suggest more games like the ones I mentioned.

Thank you!

i'd say go for EU4 the learning curve may be steep but it's worth all the hours you're going to put into this amazing game :)

Good luck running modern total war games on a laptop.

Civ is great and pretty relaxed which can be well suited to playing on a laptop. I'd also add Anno 1404 or 2070 to your list though. That would be my recommendation over all the games you mentioned.

Depends on the laptop surely! Rome II runs fine on mine. :)

Rome 2 is a winner for me, Civ 5 got me bored it's not for me... maybe if you're more into plain looking at map and economy and stuff this game is for you. Rome 2 has far more action now with the battle cam which you hover above selected unit and you watch the fight from real close.