Does anyone know any rts games where you don't have to control every single unit on the map? Sort of like assigning a group of units to the AI in a total war game. Or a more polished majesty type of game.

The reason I am asking is because I have tried the Company of Heroes demo today and got a bit overwhelmed having to issue orders and use abilities of every unit I have in the heat of battle.

I would much rather prefer having detailed control over a single unit and simply giving general orders to other units.

It might not be what you're looking for, but 'globaulation' and globulation 2 take this approach: http://globulation2.org/wiki/Main_Page

They're no-cost game experiments more than commercial games, but perhaps worth checking out.

Try one of my favourite game series ever. Kohan. "Kohan Ahriman's Gift" is probably the best in the series so go for that first.

They have a similar engine to Company of Heroes with some important differences.
It's in a fantasy setting.
You can chose what type of units you want in the troop. Want infantry on the front and archers at the back? No problem.
It's bigger scale.
You can take over and settle new cities. Buy buildings in them and expand them.
There are Heroes, Kohan leaders that can be assigned to a troop and boost its strength considerable. Melee Kohan, ranged, healing, infantry, cavalry, summoning, there are all kinds of Kohans.
Flanking is important. Hitting squishy support units in the back of the troop first is a very effective way of fighting.

It's slower than Company of Heroes but since it's a RTS it will get frantic late in the game if there haven't been a quick victory with lots of troops.

I think it's on some clients like Steam but I prefer to buy it from the developers store http://www.timegate.com/store/ .
That way you get a DRM free install file with the only protection being a serial code. Sort of like on GOG.

There's world in Conflict. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqx-0Q4X0ps&feature=related

During the campaign you'll have AI team mates holding down certain areas of the map and well you don't get large amounts of units to use.

I remembered another game series. Supreme Ruler 2020. There you are in control of a country and can set your ministers to do most of the work. Though I have only played the prequel and in that the war minister royally sucked and couldn't attack anything without failing horribly.

Bought Supreme Ruler 2020 a while ago on a sale. Maybe I'll try it this weekend. If so I'll let you know. :)

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/SupremeRuler2020/

http://www.battlegoat.com/supreme_2020.php Conquest? Which Conquest game?

Do you know if the first Kohan on that site, or its Warchest bundle, is the Game of the Year edition?

http://www.mobygames.com/game/kohan-immortal-sovereigns-game-of-the-year-edition

I looked into that bundle before, but I thought that when you buy it from their store, it was to be downloaded from Direct-2-Drive or something similar. But maybe I misunderstood, or has it changed ever since GameFly acquired Direct-2-Drive?

I don't know it it's the GotY edition. Immortal Sovereigns is the first though and Ahriman's Gift a stand alone expansion that adds Kohans and units if I remember correct.
I usually play Ahriman's Gift ( Sometimes Kings of War but that's rare.).

I've bought them on their store several times. :P The first times I got a email with a link where I could download the games and it wasn't through another service. The last time I ticket the option to pay for a DVD that they shipped to me with all of the games.

Don't know it that have changed though.