Strategy Games Board/Computer

OK, just wanted to get a feel for any other strategy gamers out there and any recommendations for good strategy games whether they be a board game or a computer game.

I prefer turn based strategy computer games. Stuff like Civilization where you do all of your orders and then push a button and let the computer do all of its orders. Would like a game where it doesn't take the computer AI forever to figure out what it is going to do though. Anyone know of any computer games that can be completed in 45 minutes or less? I have Colossus which is a computerized version of the board game Titan that I can generally finish in 45 minutes. Looking for some type of game with some strategy and economics. I used to have an old game set in the UK where you would have sheep, wheat, ore and cattle and you would have to purchase military units to defend your lands and then march out to take other lands until you conquered everything or all the other computer nations gave in. But it doesn't run in todays computers. Just looking for something to play with at lunch. I am also interested in games like this on a bigger scale that I can play over several hours. I don't mind Space games along these lines either. I have played a few in the past. I just like the challenging ones with decent AI.

For board games I have stuff like Diplomacy, Machiavelli, Wooden Ships and Iron Men, Axis and Allies, King Maker, Advanced Civilization, Titan, Talisman, Carcossone, Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico and several others I can't recall right now. I prefer the ones where strategy plays a bigger role than how well you roll dice, but can usually get talked into a game of Titan or Axis and Allies. I just hate having a graet strategy fall apart due to poor dice rolling.

I have an old game of War in the Pacific that I haven't played since I was in high school. Chances are I won't get to play until I retire now. I also have several of the old Squad Leader scenarios/box sets. Used to be a big fan of Avalon Hill and SSI games.

Any recomendations on new/classic games?

Moved the topic to a more appropriate section.

You named pretty much a lot of the good board games. As far as Computer RTSs go, kinda hard to find something that fits your 45 minute mark, but as far as games that I like, Heroes of Might and Magic V, Warcraft 2 and 3 and their expansions (There was actually a story there can you believe it?), Rome: Total War series, Medievil series, just to name a few.

I fondly remember the Avalon Hill games. AH used to have open playtesting in Baltimore, and I'd periodically go up there and play some of their games when I was stationed in the D.C area. (I got in on some of the early Squad Leader testing.) I spent a lot of time playing Kingmaker in the barracks with some of the other guys when I was in Germany and it is still my favorite. (I also happen to be a fan Medieval British History.) The computer version of it sucked mightily. I used to kick ass at Wooden Ships/Iron Men, but I found it helped being a sail-powered sailor.

One of AH's more involved games that I used to like to play was Blitzkreig. Even at the basic version of the game, it was an all day and night affair. The Advanced Game could take several days to play out. (My brother and I played an advanced game four hours a night for three weeks.)

As for quick and dirty computer games to play at lunch, I can't help you there. I haven't had much time to play any games of late. Anymore, I am lucky to be able to get a couple of hours on the weekends to LOTRO.