They are not bad but they lack any sort of character.

A quick google search. I can't test the download links at work.
C&C: http://www.gamershell.com/news_41337.html
C&C Tiberian Sun: http://www.gamershell.com/download_55872.shtml
Red Alert: http://redalert1.com/

I think there are links on the Wikipedia pages of the games too, but not sure.

Forget the first Warcraft, it has too archaic user interface (almost as bad as Dune 2) to be a good RTS example today, and also otherwise too simple gameplay.

I disliked Warcraft 3 somewhat as the screen seemed too stuffed up, and how they prevented you from freely slowing down the game speed, like you could in e.g. Starcraft, or the earlier Warcraft games. I think Warcraft 3 was the first RTS where Blizzard started using the gameplay speed as one factor in making the game harder. I didn't like it, other RTS games remained challenging even without restricting the gameplay speed, like Starcraft and Rise of Nations.

I think Starcraft, or Age of Empires 1 or 2, are good starting points. Simple enough to learn, but still gradually expanding to make the single-player experience interesting.

Emperor: Battle for Dune
Not as well known as other games of it's genre, but IMO one of the best. Also not that hard to learn to play.

I would strongly recommend against Men of War & AI war. Men of War is just so dang difficult, and AI War can be overwhelming. Defcon is quite different from the norm, so it can't really be compared to most other RTSs.

Depending on your definition of RTS (does it also include RTTs? Men of War is by the way an RTT), here are my recommendations for good beginners games:
Total Annihilation: Kingdoms
Ground Control (RTT)
[url=http://www.fileplanet.com/210105/210000/fileinfo/Command-&-Conquer:-Tiberian-Sun-(Full-Game)]Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun[/url]
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 (1 is a bit harder, but still a good game)

I dont play them I'm too thick and find it hard to get immersed in them, on saying that, you could try something like Spellforce series, it has an interesting story and a mix of RPG and RTS, it may be a more gentle start, I remember trying Shogun and the instructor calling me all sorts of names because I was so stupid, I gave up after that, if I want to get insulted I can just go to the local chipper and ask if they have a healthy options menu :P

This. I first played AOE1 when I was around 10 years old, I think? And I managed it without much troubles on Easiest and Easy difficulty settings.

You should try that as well. You could also start with AOE2 of course. But I wouldn't recommend starting AOE2 HD with multiplayer. People there are good as CRAZY.

I would say Powermonger is a nice easy start.

Now GOG, release it, I know you're sitting on it

Single player or multi?

Here on GoG Total Annihilation + Core Contingency is still especially golden on multi. Single player is pretty much skirmish type "story", but on multi ive had some of the best multiplayer matches ever. Mods -> http://taesc.tauniverse.com/

A bit more modern choice would be Supreme Commander + Forged Alliance (not Supreme Commander2, its not super bad but it is dumbed down). Supreme Commander Gold pack is atm on sale in Steam. 6-7€ i think?

Supreme Commander + FA active fan lobby can be found at: http://www.faforever.com/ The lobby works very well and you can also just spectate matches. Lots of players all the time.

i started with Age of Empires and Starcraft.

wasnt there a online/ browser version of RA2 somewhere? im not on about that "new" online rubbish there pushing out er tib alliances wasnt it? (ive been part of the beta for that and still couldnt get into it, its not all bad but i just kept thinking i have something else i can do.).

i second Age of Empires too, still not sure if its worth getting the HD version on steam, ill prob end up picking it up when its on offer knowing me.

its such a shame your not in the uk, i have spare (disc) copies of most of Red Alert / C&C games. and some for Age of Empires and Pharaoh (though that is more a deviation from this). id have gladly sent you them ><.

I find i hard to belive there is someone into strategy games who TRUELY has never played any rts title at all. But if you happen to be the one I'd recommend classics for a beginning. The most accessible generic-basebuilding-style today are probably Warcraft III and Starcraft II. Dawn of War has a few twists on the template but still a great game. I was never much into CnC series but if you want to give it a try start with Tiberium Wars. For a more strategic scale try Supreme Commander. Sadly none of them are available here yet. (Come to think about it it is the biggest gap in the gog catalogue - no major RTS classics?)

The thing with older games is that you have to be at least accustomed to genre conventions to have fun playing them. Games available here that I have played and would recommend for someone new to the genre:
Dungeon Keeper - game is in real time, you build a base and there are strategy elements but it is not truely an RTS
Dragonshard - Warcraft III wannabe (in a good sense)
Earth21x0 series - a bit second grade experience
Ground Control - no basebuilding makes it a RTT game
Imperial Glory - Total War wannabe (in not as good sense)
Knights and Merchants - Settlers/RTS mashup
KKnD - undoubtly classic yet I still cannot play it, try yourself
Lords of the Realm - proto Total War
Populous 3 - god game/RTS mashup
Settlers 3 and later - Settlers/RTS mashup
Seven Kingdoms - intresting take on RTS conventions
Total Annihilation - THE game that inspired Supreme Commander (TA:Kingdoms is like Matrix 2 - it never existed)
Other games I either didn't really play much or divert from the definition so much it no longer applies.

If you are TBS player and find RTS games too hectic, I recommend you to start with one where you can issue orders while the game is paused. To me, that feature is a must, or I'd suffer a heart attack otherwise. Many people have recommended you Age of Empires 2. I would recommend Empire Earth instead, just because of this. I guess AoE2 is the better game, but EE allows you to create an empire without feeling threatened from the very beginning, as your settlements have a decent defense. And if it turns out that you like it, it will be easy to move to AoE2 or other similar games.

Another good option, but hard to find at the moment, is Rise of Nations.

Not quite for beginners, and not even a classical RTS, but after you get some experience with other games (I suggest you start with Warcraft 2 and 3, Starcraft+ Broodwar, Red Alert 2+ Yuri's Revenge, Dune 2000 ) you should give Sacrifice a shot. It's a mixture of Action/RTS, and one of the best games ever made.


Also, try the original Shogun: Total War, it's a simpler installment than the following ones, and it's TB on the campaign map, only the battles are real-time, so you won't feel overwhelmed . You can get it from GG really cheap .

It really depends on your style. I have several C&C games, and played them extensively, years ago, but even with the release of C&C RA3 3: Uprising from the bundle, I've only played it once. Instead, I am finding myself wanting to play Starcraft 1 OR 2, Warcraft 1 OR 2 or Age of Empires 2 OR 3. Warcraft is my overall favorite, but sadly I don't own them anymore, so when I got AOE2HD, which is fantastic, I was thrilled.

Those three series are probably the easiest of all the RTS ones, simply because of the interfaces and the huge community that you simply won't find anywhere else.

That being said, here are some other recommendations.

Knights & Merchants - Kind of an AOE/Settlers Mix
Settlers - Just look for it here and buy it (You won't be disappointed)
Warlords Batlecry 3 - Many people recommend the 2nd, but I love the 3rd, it is all in all a great game, with more focus on Combat than Building.

EDIT: OH and find Dune 2000, there is (Or was) a website that lets you play it online. It is very similar to C&C Red Alert, but just pure awesome.

EDIT 2: It totally IS worth it. It's the AOE 2 that we know and love, in HD. Though the term HD really means more zoomed out, but it does have full widescreen/eyefinity support. And it has full Steam Workshop integration, which makes it INCREDIBLY easy to try out mods and texture packs and more. Plus it is getting a new expansion, I believe.