Rome Total War is truly an awesome game, I hate units in the phalanx formation though, so far the only way I found to kill them was to get cavalry to charge from behind but that's hard to do. I thought elephants were pretty strong too till they got to the ennemy skirmishers.
Missile troops can be used to wipe out phalanxes, too. The trick is to isolate them then wipe them out.
Elephants ideally need infantry or cavalry support. Send them in alone, and they will create chaos and do damage, but they'll get wiped out.
One of the best things about Rome, IMO, is that just recruiting armies of your toughest troops won't win battles <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Now to return to RPGs, I think Icewind Dale is pretty good. Sure it doesn't have all the NPC interaction that BG2 or PS:T has, but it has enough to be called an RPG. It's at least by far more an RPG than Diablo. It's a game for those who don't like BG2's or PS:T's complexity, and also don't like mindless H&S. I enjoyed it, at least as much as I enjoyed both Baldur's Gates.
I personally consider IWD a party based version of Diablo. There's no characterisation, your whole group are just meaningless grunts with zero personality who can be replaced at any time and the whole game is basically fighting your way through. More a small group combat game than an RPG, to my mind <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I know I am very much in the minority with this opinion, though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Oh and just a quick note on RTSs, I think Warhammer 40k Dawn of War is really great. Anyone who likes a fast-paced RTS should give it a try.
I think you are right <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
It's a short game - but a very good one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
