Master of Magic was a great game. I'll def. have to see if AoW2 compares.
Yeah, I don't mind the pause style games so much, either, and this seems to be the way companies try and play to both markets. FF was great, as were the Infinity engine games (Baldur's Gate etc.), and Neverwinter Nights. But there is something about strict turn based stuff that keeps bringing me back. I can get my min-maxing out in a safe clean enviroment! People ragged on Fallout Tactics for the liberties it took with the Fallout universe, but I loved it. It was a little buggy, but I could have fine tuned control over every aspect of play. I mean I know you can min-max in NWN if you want, but in FT you could min max your movement fer chrissake!
Hand of Evil is right though, these things run in cycles. if ToEE is doing well in the marketplace, other companies will try for some of that market. There are tons of good RPG licenses floating around, ready to be used.