Lords of Magic

Lords Of Magic is a beautifully crafted strategy/RPG that's as enjoyable to play as it is to behold. You begin the game as a warrior, mage or thief, and then embark on various perilous quests with up to 12 NPCs for company. As the game progresses, your character and those around you gain experience by either training, or fighting battles against the usual pointy-eared evil folk that take place in a realtime environment. Movement from one part of Urak to the other is turn-based.

Also nestling snugly into the gameplay is a resource management section that enables you to develop villages, and thus create new heroes and champions to aid the cause. LOM is a seriously involving game, and once you manage to master the different game styles a rich fantasy experience awaits. Not a classic, but certainly recommended.