Best game choice for a long, protracted, "turtling" game?

[ImperialGuard]

Another suggestion is: Dominions 3: The Awakening

If you are looking for depth and complexity, this would be a good choice.

Been out for years, has a good reputation. It just got "greenlit" on Steam, so you should be able to get it there (is available on Gamersgate).

They are releasing "Dominions 4" in another month.

 

[calad]

Another suggestion is: Dominions 3: The Awakening

If you are looking for depth and complexity, this would be a good choice.

Been out for years, has a good reputation. It just got "greenlit" on Steam, so you should be able to get it there (is available on Gamersgate).

They are releasing "Dominions 4" in another month.

Absolutely agreed. Knowing all details is equal beign the Bible master.

 

[Jarrema]

I can say one thing...

I am maniac for details and micro. I never used auto-anything option in my games.
That is why I love EU4, CK and similar games.

But...
level of details in Dominions 4... it was too much for me. That game is a micro-monster.

 

[tesb]

nobody mentioned sins of a solar empire yet?

big scale: check
sessions take forever: check
involves heavy turtling: check
only sandbox mode: check
good ai: check

also: tons of mods, looks good and cheap (just get rebellion)

 

[GoodGame]

nobody mentioned sins of a solar empire yet?

big scale: check
sessions take forever: check
involves heavy turtling: check
only sandbox mode: check
good ai: check

also: tons of mods, looks good and cheap (just get rebellion)

Turtling isn't necessary in sins though. With the hero units and clever tech-racing, you can be quite bold and penetrate deeply into enemy/neutral territory without much base building.

I'm not downgrading Sins at all, just saying that the OP obviously wanted some kind of RTS with a heavy emphasis on defensive posturing. That's Empire Earth, totally. Sins is a very balanced RTS (i.e. not defence or rush focused), which is actually a good thing.

 

[Akka]

The main reason why nobody mentioned Sins of a Solar Empire is probably because it's actually discussed at length in the OP

 

[cardgame]

I'll second the Company of Heroes vote, and it's also co-op (or PvP) if you want, although turtling PvP never seems to end well for anyone.