Whereas I really like the setting of SMAC, I believe that Conquests is the better game by a wide margin. Best of the series really.
Has anyone tried Open Civilization or something like that?
edit: the game I meant was Freeciv. Anyone tried it? I've heard that the difficulty can be brutal.

Best of both worlds is the
Combat Mission series.
Plot your orders taking as much time as you want, then hitting the "Play" button to watch your plans unfold. Granted, you can't change anything while watching the replay (although [url=http://www.matrixgames.com/products/391/details/Panzer.Command:.Ostfront]the Panzer Command[/url] games from Matrix allow a reaction phase).

Another "WEGO" style game is Dominions 3, this one being a strategy game in the style of Master of Magic. Here you set up troop placement and attack/spellcasting priorities, and the computer plays it out. All you do is watch but it's great fun.

How do I describe it best: It has it's own way to play and is not so easy like the civ series. So, while playing civ3 or civ4 on easy you have good chances to make many mistakes but win at the end, while Freevic will punch you in the face and the other countries really love to battle. So yes, it can be hard, because the AI is not like in the civ series and you must rethink your tactics and maybe your gamestyle. Btw, I'm not a hardcore player, for me and my gamestyle it's a jackpot to start alone on a large island and expand fast ;-)

What I really love about Freeciv is the management system, it is so much easier and faster to control your country and change city productions.

Shiiiiiit, this thread reminded me I didn't remember to take back my Silent Storm Sentinels from my holiday... Damn it.

Wow! Thanks everyone. I'm always made fun of by my RTS friends so I'm glad that I'm not alone. I tried even some 'light' RTSs like Age of Empires but I felt like it was just too overwhelming after a while. The only one I made any headway on was Stronghold - I just exploited the AIs stupidity more than anything else, really. It felt like I figured out the 'trick' to Stronghold and just lathered, rinsed and repeated.

I liked Alpha Centauri a lot, though I have not played it in a while - perhaps I should fire it up again.
I also like MoM and MoO as well (and have those ;) )

one of the TBSs I could NOT get into was Conquest of the New World - for some reason I just could NOT get the hang of it . Combat especially, I lose EVERY time! even when slightly outnumbering my opponent.

You can also do this on Dark Reign.

I don't have the necessary reflexes or quick thinking required for RTS games. I've always loved turn-based games, since they give you freedom to think what you're going to do next. Whenever you lose in TBS, you can only blame yourself :)

For me, it's odd. My very first PC game ever was a RTS, Warcraft 2. But my second PC game was a TBS, Master of Orion.

I remember playing both for a long time. But the key was I had to cheat to beat RTS's, but I beat TBS's fairly. Eventually, I just stopped playing RTS's completely.

I avoid RTS's like the plague now. I can't really say why. I just can't enjoy them anymore.

I totally agree. I don't think I've touched a RTS since Stronghold came out originally.

I used to love RTS before it got so ultra competitive, I still enjoy single player campaigns of these type games as long as it's a good campaign. But my faves of all time are Warcraft 1 & 2 and Command & Conquer (only the first one was good though). And Dune 2 will always have a special place in my heart (guess that dates me though i was in Jr high then soooo yeah)

Recently though a friend at work turned me onto Civ 4 and by the time Civ 5 came out i was totally hooked. So yeah Civ 5 for life!!!

That is the best RTS GOG has to offer imo.

I like both. I find if I want to do anything but play against AI I have to learn the hot keys in RTSes.

True on both accounts!

I'm a RTS kinda person usually, and with TBS, I have to break it down:
Are we talking Fallout: Tactics style or HoMM style?

The HoMM style games just never do well for me, mostly because I hate the combat with a passion. >.>
Fallout: Tactics style I love, when they're done well.

But RTS are almost as addictive for me as Diablo clones.
Best RTS on GOG? Well, 'best' is a highly subjective thing, and it's got too many factors for me to try and claim, especially since I haven't played them all. My favorite one on GOG that I've played though is Warlords Battlecry III.

I don't like RTS games... they make me feel stressed and managing resources in real-time annoys me.

I love TBS games. Civilization and Might and Magic are two of my favorite gaming series of all time and I was OBSESSED with Final Fantasy Tactics back in the day. Sadly I don't play TBS games too often as I enjoy shooters and RPGs more and so many of those come out every year.