Get Battle Realms. It's one of the best real time strategy games. The world is asian-influenced and low tech, with archers, musketeers, crossbowmen etc. (there's also magic in the game) There's 4 clans in the game: Dragon, Serpent, Wolf, Lotus and they're pretty well balanced. The graphics are beautiful, and every unit moves smoothly. Also it's got some of the best tunes around. You dont "create" soldiers, you train peasants into them (send a dragon peasant into a training yard and he becomes a spearman, send a wolf peasant into a wolves' den and he becomes a pack master). Single Player mode is good but Multiplayer is where the fun's at.
Edit: and it's only $10 (or $20 if you buy the original + expansion "Winter of the Wolf")
Threaded Mode