With all the discussion about the forthcoming M2TW, I've started to wonder - what do people here look for in a strategy game? It seems like some want a blistering AI, others historical authenticity etc. Perhaps the best way to identify this is to consider what do people consider great strategy games?

To narrow it down to something comparable to Total War, please rule out "tactical" strategy games where you command individual soldiers or characters. Some of my favourites are those kind of squad-based games (X-com, Jagged Alliance 2) but that may be because they are close to role-playing games which is a genre I love. Hardcore historical wargames, traditional RTSs, civilisation type games etc all qualify though.

Personally, I find Total War games rather hard to beat - especially RTW mods such as RTR. If forced to choose at this moment in time, I'd probably go with Europa Barbarorum, even though it's still a beta.

Beyond that, I really liked the Panzer General games - I consider them like Total War games, in that they were historical wargames lite. They set up historical campaigns with lots of period flavour but had fun gameplay that was somewhat abstracted from that of a hardcore simulation.

I also find things to admire - particularly the challenge from the AI - in turn-based empire games like Civ4 and Imperialism2.

If I were to identify common elements in my favourite strategy games, they would be:
(1) historical flavour with a fair amount of detail and complexity (lots of units or techs etc);
(2) the hook of a long campaign, where individual decisions have lasting consequences (upgrading units, gaining experience, investing in the economy or technology etc);
(3) a cerebral game speed (turns or a pause button required);
(4) at least moderately challenging gameplay (e.g. must have interesting trade-offs and choices in the combat and economic models etc);
(5) fairly brisk gameplay - beer and pretzels - (I want gaming to be exciting, not slow and agonising).