Want to try out RTS games

the only RTS games i've played is age of empires 1 & 2 which was a long time ago. I want to try some more now but dont know which games i should try playing first. Any suggestions?

That sure is a broad question O.o

Anyways, if you want to try out RTS games as a whole, I think I might go for: SC (and SC2 when it arrives), and DoW1.

They are both fairly basic, and relatively different, they are also fairly simple to grasp, but are pretty deep, if you want to explore what makes them tick.

These two games are pretty much the Prototypes of 2 of the most popular RTS types, so after playing them, you will have a good basic understanding of RTS games as soon as you try out a new one.

None of them are that hard to run either, (SC is really old at this point, so if you dont like old graphics, then it may not be for you).

I think it is pretty much agreed on that CoH is the mest newer RTS (and likely the only one that can stand up to blizzards SC and WC franchices), but it is fairly complex, so if you havent playied a game like DoW first (dow1 btw, not 2), it will likely overwhelm, and put you off.

The 2 best rts games out there in my oppinion are CoH and SoaSe, but both of them can make newcommers pale by options and things to think about if you never playied anrts before

My top picks would be:

Starcraft

Homeworld

Sins of a Solar Empire

Supreme Commander

thanks. i just got a new computer and trying out as much games as i can. sometimes low graphics can bother me so i guess ill go with C&C and dow1(i assume stands for dawn of war?)

then maybe ill try soase and CoH when im more comfortable.

also just wondering how the total war and civiliztion games r. worth tryin too after?

one last question lol. C&C or DoW?

Warcraft 3.

World in Conflict is a good RTS.

No resource-gathering, no base-building.

Gamespot rating was a 9.5, and it's a PC-exclusive.

Company of Heroes...

If you want old-school RTS, go with a command and conquer (except 4 apparently) DoW I feel has a superior mechanic than the old base building, resource gathering stuff since your "resources" depend on the territory you hold. (Theres still base-building and tech tree's the way you upgrade is just different, you actually have to fight for the map while your doing it, not after)

Starcraft is way old, and not as great as many would have you believe (great at the time, but a new RTS player would probably just go meh) Warcraft 3 is an RTS moving into RPG territory. DoW2, while I think its brilliant, plays more like the 40k squad commander game on psp, and like Warcraft 3, is moving into RPG territory.

ill probably go just with one of the C&C. any suggestions for which one is the best for me to play?

I wont say SC , CoH or DoW . I didnt like them too much and got bored very fast.

Imo those are the better one from my gameplay experiance :Sins Of A Solar Empire , Cossacks 2 , Rise Of Nations , American Conquest .

Company of Heroes

one last question lol. C&C or DoW?

halokillerz

If you want to dip your toes into C&CEA has put some of thier older games out for free download, itll likely be worth it to see if you like the C&C style ^^

Nearly all C&C games are identical in the way they are playied, so which one is a like flipping a coin.

Only C&C game that stands out to me, is Generals (altho rarely considered a real C&C game), it has the most diverse factions and tactics, altho the ballance is quite horrible :P

Nessecities:

Starcraft (or Warcraft)
A Dawn of War game
A Total War game
Supreme Commander (or Total Annihilation)
World in Conflict (or a Ground Control game)

Those five (and counterparts) pretty well cover most of the RTS sub-genres, and are all fairly easy to learn.

Age of empires 3, Company of heroes, command and conquer, Starcraft

thanks guys, im gonna try DoW first as i know for sure i need to learn how to play RTS's better, especially since i used cheats in AoE lol. (bigdaddy anyone?)

Supreme Commander

Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars

As you can see from the suggestions, you have a basic selection of +- 4 games.

Company of Heroes : World War II RTS, VERY immersive and extremely well thought out. (Actually installing it again now)

WarCraft 3 - ROC + TFT : Fantasy battles, magic and mayhem. Multiplayer is fast paced (usually)

Command and Conquer (3?) : Not a big C&C fan, I'm more a WC3 fanatic, but still a nice fast-paced sci-fi RTS

Age of Empires : Haven't played 3 yet, but I loved 1 & 2

Dawn of War Series : if you like WARHAMMER 40k at all, this is a definate must play.

I have 1 or 2 alternates as well...

World in Conflict,
Galactic Civilizations II (single player only)

(forgot about Starcraft!)

With that list you are bound to find a RTS gameplay type you will love. most of them have excellent single player, and fantastic multiplayer.

Personal recommendation will be Company of Heroes, you really feel part of the game, trying to save evey unit. Not like C&C where you just mass-produce.
The single player campaign is probably the best one I have experienced in a loooong time.