I really don't see why some consider WC3 an RPG, I don't think it's because you have hero characters that level up that it should be called an RPG. I'd rather say RTS with very minimal RPG aspects. You gotta admit that there isn't much customization of heros in WC3.
It has some elements, but yes, I agree. I don't think
Warlords Battlecry was much different to WC3 in the partial RPG elements - and yes, it was certainly first by some distance.
The best RTS/RPG combos though are IMO the
Spell Force games, which actually have stronger RPG elements than a lot of games considered to BE RPGs, such as Icewind Dale and Diablo 1 + 2.
To my mind, if there is no possibility of characterisation, then the game is not an RPG. It stands for ROLE playing, after all <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
