Personally, I don't like most strategy games because I am not very good with them. If I can get a handle on what works, then sometimes I will like them, but they often feel like busywork, and I have plenty of that in my life already. Now granted, a lot of Hidden Object & puzzle games could be seen as 'busywork' too, but somehow they are relaxing and most strategy games aren't for me. (Civilization is the big exception to this, but I don't know why that is either.) I don't like that feeling that I could lose stuff for having made a wrong move, even though its just virtual stuff. Maybe its the nest-builder instinct that's to blame. ;)

Ditto with "tower defense" games. The only tower defense game that I really got into was Plants vs Zombies, and that's mostly because it made me laugh. I don't know if that helps...

I'll note it down along with the other anime titles i've seen in this thread i didn't know about. :)

Grave of the Fireflies has been on my list for a while now, just haven't gotten around to watching it.

I haven't watched it yet either actually because I know it is going to be emotionally draining, so I have been putting it off for the right time to eventually see it.

ha, I 404 gogbear you! :)

There are strategy games with little to no busywork and high stress (Incubation) and strategy games with lots of busy work and little to no stress (Anno & Settlers series) , but I can't think of many strategy games that have little busywork and are low stress at the same time, I'm sure there are such games but I'm currently drawing a blank here.

How about Advance Wars? Aside form having to resupply your units (ammo & fuel) there isn't a lot of micromanaging and it's easy to keep the overview. Due to the game being turn based, it is more like a tricky puzzle game, it will make your brain smoke at times but it's not hectic or stressful.

EDIT: Incubation is turn based as well so it's not hectic but the atmosphere is dark and oppressive and tension is high so I wouldn't recommend it for people who want a more relaxing experience

That would be interesting, it would also be interesting to know what kind of strategy games the guys prefer. Do the majority prefer turn baed or real time? Strategy games like Command and Conquer or strategy games like Commandos? It will also be nice to see the different type of game genres the guys like, just as it has been with the ladies.

Hmm, interesting. I don't find strategy games stressful, i play them because they're relaxing to play and you can play them for hours on end. (Mainly turn-based strategy like Civilization, and slow paced RTS games like The Settlers, EU IV, Age of Empires)

I like playing games in my own pace, that lets me think over my actions and different strategies/tactics. Any games that requires quick reflexes and/or snap decisions i find stressful.

As above; turn-based/slow paced strategy games for me. :)

Not saying i don't enjoy other RTS, but it not something i'd enjoy playing for several hours at a time.

I have the same taste in strategy games : I did all-nighters on Civilization and Colonization, but can't really get into more fast-paced ones. I like to take my time, and not make hasty decisions, so games like Battle for Wesnoth, The Settler, or Super Robot Wars are more my thing.

(For games who are more action oriented, like racing games, beat 'em all or shmups, it's quite the opposite - the faster the better. ^_^ )

I generally prefer RTS to turn based. I don't always like fast paced games though, I prefer games where I can take my time and enjoy them but with enough tension and frenzied action to keep me occupied. I also like a few different kind of strategy games, ranging from games like Age Of Empires, Command & Conquer, StarCraft (original & Broodwar), Total War (up to Medieval 2) and Dawn of War 1 to less base building types such as Commandos and Robin Hood, where I can take my time solving the missions with my team of merry commandos. I have only played a few turn based strategy games, I don't mind them, but they are sometimes a little too slow for me, I prefer some tension in-between building up my forces and attacking the enemy.

Men who feel like girls sometimes is a tough one. Which do you fell like the most? Which ever that is, then there is your answer :-). Thank you for contributing to the discussion, I don't know how interesting it has been to others, but I have enjoyed seeing the more hard core gamer side to us gamer girls than just the expectation that we are just casual gamers.

I can relate to your wife about having to play as men in RPG's. With other kind of games it's not such a problem, it doesn't really spoil the enjoyment playing a man. Take FPS games, I can play Duke Nukem 3D and enjoy it completely, it never really bothers me that I'm playing one of the manliest men in gaming. Even games like commandos where you play mainly men, I don't really mind because I think of them as my team, not "oh no, not another male character". I do love controling lovely French agent the most, but mainly because I like playing the sniper role and she is one of the two characters on Commando's 2 who can use the sniper rifle.

RPG's are a little different, especially if there is a lot of character building interactions. The female characters also seem to be limited in what they can do in RPGs. Take Diablo 2 that I mentioned earlier in the thread. I prefer to play as the Barbarian or the Paladin, I enjoy beating the hell out of my enemy, get up close and personal and bash the living crap out of the demonic forces with my sword, axe, club or mace, hear them squeal in pain as I slay them and scream for more blood...BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! Sorry about that, got a little carried away :-D. As there is not a lot of character development in Diablo 2, it's not really and issue, but I would have preferred to play a female character who could also use hand to hand weapons for some good pummelling.

It's much worse when the game allows character development, where you make decisions that effect the story. The whole point of a roleplaying game is that I become engrossed in the story, that I picture myself as the valiant hero. It's a bit had to do that when you're stuck playing a man all the time, or even worse, a female character who is trapped in a story full of somewhat repetitive clichés.

The part you mention about being able to play female character with the same (or comparable) options as a male is something I would love. Take my Diablo 2 example, I would love there to be a warrior maiden or a Valkyrie type warrior who is the female white knight. She can handle some magic but also swords, axes, and other hand weapons. Just like the Paladin, but more kick arse :-).

I prefer turn-based strategy. I absolutely adore both Warlock and Civ II (I can't tell you how many times I've played it through -- besides Zoo Tycoon, it's my most-played game of all time.)

I used to love Zoo Tycoon (and many of the other Tycoon type games), though I have not played it for a long time. The last game I played that was like Zoo Tycoon was Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis, which was similar to Zoo Tycoon, but with dinosaurs.

Well I feel manly enough most of the time :-P.

But when I play a female character I can get really into it and roleplay it (like with TES3/4 and Mass Effect). I just started another go at VtM:Bloodlines - as a female Toriador (modification "Slut" - +Seduction, doubled amount of blood points from men, mental talent harder to raise). And am I having fun. I love how the game plays out differently depending on the sex of your character (okay Nosferatu aside), although it's just one thing among others that lead to varying options - try playing i.e. as Brujah and then Ventrue or even Malkavian (wow that) - the overall feel differs a lot.
But I'm disgressing.

Regarding you problem with the "fair sex" (no offense meant, you are obviously a Nord Warrior woman) being bound to either the ranger type or mage: I can totally understand the inconveniece. I could recommend the following games:

VtM: Bloodlines - obviously. Play Brujah or Gangrel and melee massacre FTW. Plus, as a female vampire you are still able to seduce the "the more susceptible sex" *grin*. Argueably this is one of the best games ever made (a shame it killed Troika, sucked them dry, so to speak). It's got long conversations (especially in the beginning) but there is a fair amount of carnage later on. Character developement is fairly simple and straightforward - no rocket science like trying to powergame D&D where you either have to be an avid PnP player or have to consult FAQs for the best builds.

Divine Divinity - if you like Diablo/2 you may find interest in this one. It's an action RPG with a whole lot of story. It's a little old school - meaning there are a few dead ends and you can botch some quests by doing things in the wrong order (or killing the wrong people). Running around and killing things is a lot like Diablo - just with a little more background and a large "open" world. What you will like is that sex has no influence on your character class. All classes (basically warrior, ranger, mage) can be played either male or female and they don't limit you as much as in other games (meaning you can (and should - at least a little) learn magic even as a warrior.

If you are into more complex (and less "Blood for the Blood God") RPGs there are obviously a lot more to choose from.

Well then, I guess you will have to wait for the men's giveaway :-).

I do enjoy more complex RPG's, I may like a bit of blood lust, but I have no problem playing other character types or more challenging or complex RPS's. If it's a good RPG, then I usually play through with several different characters, just to experience the differences between each class. I already own Divine Divinity on GOG, though I have not gotten around to playing it yet, I will also look into VtM. I do also play as the mage or archer class that female characters normally get and I do enjoy a bit of magic now and then. I don't mind being classed as a "Nord Warrior woman" (no offence taken, in fact, how could anyone be offended by an innocent comment?), but can I at least have some functional armour, not the stupid binki-armour most seem to get. It may look pretty, but it offers no protection :-).

Out of curiosity, why do you prefer to play female characters when there is no romance? I understand why you would prefer not to in a romance story, but what makes you prefer women in normal stories over the male characters?

I was just kidding :-) - well mostly. I didn't want to sneak into the GA or anything. I already have more than a thousand games (physical copies included, and even with a 50% trash ratio I'll never be able to play them all). Also I will enter giveaways only if the games really interest me - for "want to try" or "want to have it DRM-free/English" or series completionist reasons. I would never cheat myself in.

And I was afraid I was crossing a line here :-). While I really think many of the women in Skyrim are rather beautiful I get it they are not to everybody's taste (and not "pretty" as that).
As for the armour: I do like the occasional infamous chain mal bikini (with magic "clinging to the body" properties) - if the setting is whacky, cartoony, "low fantasy" enough. But in a more serious setting I also prefer more "realistic" armor. This is a thing I really like about the TES series: every armour looks like it means business.

Well, except for one - the Dark Seducer (name says everything) armour you can get in The Shivering Isles. While it looks like the cliched "bra and panties" it's actually a very good set of armour. And I loved it - The Shivering Isles is about madness and obsession and dementia. And the armour is Daedric (magic or divine - as your character will see it) and so is pretty well explained.

I know there are "skimpy female armour" mods out there but they would break the game for me. The Forsworn (rebel faction) wear kind of "skimpy" armour (but sexes). But they are basically savages so it fits their style (but not the weather). And there is no incentive to use this armour other than having a look how your character looks like with it.

You will also have no problem with DD - a full plate is still full on a female character. And in VtM:Bloodlines vampires don't wear amour - it's set in modern times (rather 90's with console commands on the computer). Your looks/clothing you start with depends on your clan.

That's a rather tough question. And have yet to come up with definitive answer. The obvious one would be "if I'm to stare at someone's ass for the next 40+ hours it should at least be a nice looking one" but this doesn't hold true for first person games and also not really for isometric 2D games (like BG or DD). I can't really say. I just started one day out of curiosity (with TES3 Oblivion) somehow liked it better. And then I stuck to it whenever there is a choice. I find it easier to roleplay a female character somehow (especially of I can create one with that "deceiving looks" - pretty, maybe a little fragile - but deadly). I also love to play sneaky, sniper like characters if the game lends itself to it.