The RTS Debate, everyone has there favourite Options

[Glasseater]

all the talk in the v17 feedback got me thinking about good RTS games.
what is everyones favourite?
Mine has to be starcraft just because it is so balanced while each race is still quite unique.
let the debate begin

[TheTacoMan]

Hmm, i'm a huge RTS fan, so this is a very hard choice for me...

1. Wacraft 3 - It'd be impossible not to list this as the best RTS. As well as having a solid base game, thousands of custom maps have been made for WC3. I still actively play WC3, both custom maps and the base RTS.
2. CnC3 - IMO, the best CnC game. It had a bit of balance issues at the start, but once they sorted those out, it was a really solid unique RTS. Then they ruined it with Kane's Wrath (which was still fun, but fucked up the balance). CnC3 was the last RTS i really got into competitively
3. Red Alert 3 - It may not be balanced, it may not have as big of a competitive leg as other RTS's like CnC and WC3, but dammit, it's just so ridiculous and fun! What other game features battle bears and man cannons? And lets not forget the cheesy cut scenes!
4. Total Annhilation - Supreme Commander, while being a valiant effort, somehow managed to not capture that feel that the original TA had. Maybe it's just rose-tinted glasses, but i still remember dogfights between dozens of jets swarming across the map, while my solid WALL of turrets kept my base safe.
5. Age of Empires II - The third one was crap, but AoE II took all of the great things about AoE I and improved them!