Huh. I'll have to try letting the AI manage the cities. The AI workers just want to build forts over all my resources so I didn't want to trust it. (Talking about Civ 4, btw.)

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 was awesome. My group of friends used to play that game all the time

Yup, I'm the same way. I don't trust the A.I. to manage my Civ cities. I'm sure it'd do just fine, but I just feel the need to micromanage those!

HOMM3: Yes, one of the best of all time!

@Shoe Even if a game had the best A.I. ever designed, you're too much of turn-based micromanager to trust it. I wouldn't either.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is very good. HOMM5 isn't shabby, either. Turn-based strategy games are some of my favorites. Among the best in recent years are the King's Bounty series. I'm giving Disciples 3: Renaissance a try now; I hope to have something to write about soon!

I'm surprised X-Com wasn't mentioned! Silent Storm was OK...I just couldn't get into its rigidly linear structure. Not to mention those mech walkers....

I also let the A.I. take over lesser cities in Civ 4, but I always micromanage workers (I'll only automate road/rail construction). The A.I. never puts down the best improvements, especially when you're trying to shape very specialized cities. I do hope that Civ 5 can address this, though.

You guys seem pretty big on turn-based GBA games -- ever play Rebelstar: Tactical Command?

I guess it's not really what people would immediately think of as being a strategy game, but I'm still saddened by the lack of mentions of Worms.

HoMM 3 and Civ IV are both choices I can definitely agree with, but I don't think there is any game that I enjoy more in hotseat/local MP mode than Worms 2 or Armageddon.