Playing King of Dragon it really opened my eyes that great strategy games do not have to follow the same old formulas to be great.

Does anyone else know about any great turn based* strategy games that break away from the traditional styles?

*Ok it does not HAVE to be turn based. But I would like it to be slow paced like Star War Rebellion, Distant Worlds or the Paradox grand strategy games. I have never liked the reflex bases RTS as much as the deep thinking strategy games.

Master of Orion 2 and Master of Magic.

I am a big fan of the Civilization games but I am looking for something that is unique and different. Civilizations is one of the big titles that help write the formula that just about every one follows now.

I am looking for a game that marches to the beat of its own drum.

I'm just wondering how well you know the series? Civ 3 is imo the best in the series and it has a lot of depth to it. I've been playing for a decade and am still learning. The experience really varies depending on whether you're playing on Warlord or Deity.

I have played them all. I liked 3 a lot. But Civ 2 test of time will always have a special place in my heart. The problem I have with a lot of strategy games is I feel like they are all trying be another game. You see a lot of clones of Civilizations, Total War or Masters of Orion/Magic.

All of these are great games and many games that follow their formula are great too. For example Galactic Civilizations II is a great game but I would not say that it is unique in strategy games genre. It just does what has already been done (it just does them really well).

I am looking for a strategy games that comes with a different feel than the giants (Civilizations, Total War or Masters of Orion/Magic) of the genre.

I'm not quite sure as to what you're talking about.... On higher difficulties the AI gets a % bonus to production, but they're always producing something for sure (on higher difficulties they also start off with a higher number of units). For example, their shield costs would be lowered by 25% or so (but it's probably the production).

Tried Lords of Magic yet?

http://www.gog.com/gamecard/lords_of_magic_special_eddition

Master of Magic. Have you ever smoked crack or done coke? None of my business really, but it's a similar experience.

ETA: Not that I've done either of those things.

ETA II: But I have done MoM!

How about Battle for Wesnoth? It's free, so you might as well give it a try when you have the time.

@Zookie what (turn-based) strategy games have you played that are on GOG? And is KoDP the only game that falls into what you'd call unique?

Unfortunately the grand strategy field is ignored by many devs as it fits into a really niche set of gamers. Paradox, with a few other contributions, is the only big dev still around that pumps out these games so if you haven't played all their games you should do so. Victoria 2 is a great title and unique in that it focuses on an era which is largely ignored. Crusader Kings 2 which just released another DLC is a lot like Europa Universalis (which you should play if you haven't) but with a bit of RPG. The Patrician series (the third game is the best) is an older but really good medieval market simulation which allows you do focus on naval combat if you so choose. Port Royale 3 just came out and, in my opinion, is just as good as its predecessors.

Both Age of Wonders and Heroes of Might and Magic II and III are fantastic, though their overall formula isn't too unique, just extremely well executed.

I don't know if it is what you're looking for, but I enjoyed the first Dune game; it is sort of an hybrid between strategy and AG