I really like the sketch too :>

Thar so cool Christie, while its cool to make a game that we would eventually launch, having a pssion project that you just like to work and expand I feel its really great, and seeing how it create ideas for other projects, like now with the rts you can see the conflict from a different pespective.

number of specialized squads. You mentioned Dawn of War 2 but I also add Dawn of War 1, it can create the feeling of massive scale but I think you control around 20 units end game, but the number of individual units on the map can be massive.

almost being an crpg, Warlords I like but the scale can be a little bigger for armies and Spellforce im not a big fan and played very little of it. Kohan 2 is insteresting that its hero centric but you also create your unit squads mixing different type of units in each squad and control a small...

More recommendation, Godsworn, still in early access, has barely no players but its pretty good, very hero centric and while the army scale is a little bigger its not Age of Empires big. Warlord Battlecry and Spellforce were mentioned and they might be the most hero centric rts games...

There are always place for one more JRpg discourse.

Hahaha I tried to give some games that I believe it fits what you´re searching with War3 style, small scale armies, heroes and maybe some micro, you are very versed in rts but if you need to talk about it my dms are open. =)

I like that this create some cool mystery lore in between those games, and open for cool ways of how a Kobold became the Empress.

Im with you on that, please more FFT