I think pausable real time games like Homeworld that can be played like a pseudo turn based game should definitely be considered.

That's because the question is...

You tried Disciples ? It's superficially similar to HoMM, but a totally different game in reality .

Really, why? I tried to play it but quickly stopped again because the interface was annoying.

Where do I start really? Resources don't just magically get consumed from a central pool. Meaning that mines have to be connected to power stations to fuel them and to factories to deliver them goods. Factories also need power btw.
Also builder units need resources stored in them in order to build.
Units have limited ammo which can be resupplied if needed.
Every building/unit can be upgraded in millions of ways. You can either research upgrades which have a small effect on each unit/building or you can buy specific upgrades with gold. For example you can buy upgrades for units to increase its range. Or you might want to upgrade its speed to use it in hit and run attacks.
The game shows you the sight/attack range of the units, making planning an important part.
Air/naval and ground units which have to be used wisely and in combinations.

Ok thanks, maybe the start is just slow, I don't remember any of that. Guess I should try it again.

It does have a pretty steep learning and adjustment curve as it is a very complex game. Stay away from M.A.X. 2 though... seriously :D

I would like to throw in another vote for Incubation. The base game has only moderate difficulty, very comfortable to play with only one mission that is challenging. The Wilderness mission pack however (included in the GOG Battle Isle Platinum pack) is what really makes this game worth getting. In comparison, the base game feels more like a lengthy tutorial. Some of the those Wilderness missions made me physically break a sweat, no kidding.

Battle Isle Platinum
Fallout Tactics
Jagged Alliance 2
S2: Silent Storm
Shadowrun Returns
The Banner Saga

This game is great, if OP doesn't mind emulators or has a N64 or Wii I'd definitely recommend it.
Dragon Force on the Saturn is excellent also.

Hmmm... sounds like something to add to my ever-growing wish list...

Final Fantasy Tactics is clearly a winner of the genre, if you like the JRPG setting and you have access to it somehow.

Xenonauts is stupidly good. There's more than the TBS aspect, because there is a management side, but everything is put together very well.

Panzer Corps is a WW2 TBS & Tactics game that I like quite a lot. You can play as Axis or Allies, in Europe or in Afrika depending on what you buy. I liked that studio a lot before I got to know one of the guys there. :p

Battle Worlds: Kronos I haven't started yet.

Expeditions Conquistador, same. Has RPG elements, I guess, and TBS combat. Looks very interesting.

Crowd-funding just boosted that genre in the last few years.

Not turn based, but pausable real time is sins of a solar empire.
Or good turn based try CMBO Combat Mission Beyond Overlord.

Regards Markl

Clearly Sachys suffers from an unknown desease that makes it hard to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong :)

If you don't want to give up on the idea of a fantasy TBS, I'd also like to give a shoutout for my overall favorite of the subgenre: Disciples 2. The game has a completely different vibe going, and a different combat system that is deceivingly simple at first glance.

How about the dnd games, since they're based on a turn based tactical system? For TBS I'd actually recommend Temple of Elemental Evil, since it very accurately implements the turn based rules of the pnp system (and uses one of dnd's more tactical editions). Fair warning, though: the game is a buggy mess, and to say that its plot's weak would be to credit it with having a plot at all :P

You should certainly install the Circle of Eight modpack, preferably the new content version. After that, I can recommend the game for TBS, if you're prepared to put up with more than the occasional crash.