Request suggestions for a networked game to play.

[MSIC]

I'd like some ideas please for a new game for me and my 2 main gaming friends to play. 1 friend is in Texas, so he can only join us 2 on the weekends due to time differences.

Previously we have mostly played (alot) Star Trek: Birth Of the Federation and Diablo 2.
BOTF (with the new mods) remains a fantastic game, but it's just so damn buggy to reliably play (sometimes we can go for an hour or so without crashing & resuming a saved game, sometimes it's only 5 minutes!!!).
Diablo 2 is also fantastic, but very repetative & old now.

The oldest / slowest machine being used is a P4 2.6 with a Geforce 4 MX, so new 3d graphical games are a no-no.

We have tried Defcon, the demo, but it hasnt taken us.
We are also giving Risk 2 (from 1999) a whirl, but doesnt have alot of depth.

We therefore want something that 2 people can play but when we are all available ideally for 3 people.
Graphics (3d) are not desired, but maybe sommething like a Civ game would be fine. Turn based or maybe RTS is fine, we all have at least a 2 meg broadband connection (and talk over Teamspeak).

All ideas welcome here Thanks in advance.

[Fatboy40]

I'd reccomend Total Anihhilation, you can pick it up cheap and all of your PC's will be able to play it very well.

[TiG]

If you like diablo 2, i'd definitely recommend Neverwinter nights, those machines are fine for it (used to play it on my IGP MX440 on my Shuttle).

Game + 3 expansions for about £20.

TiG

[directhex]

guild wars!

[kalniel]

Unreal Tournament + various incarnations
(NWN)
(Guild Wars)
Starcraft
Toca 2
Micro Machines
Baldurs Gate 1&2
Icewind dale 1&2

[MSIC]

Have tried Guild wars, it's a little too repetative and didnt grab me.
I personally like FPS's but the other 2 dont so Unreal Tournament etc are out.
I think RTS-type games are where we will try, and T.A. appears the best suggestion so far although interestingly am following the wikipedia link to the open source version (spring project).

Keep the ideas coming though, as on-target and relevant as possible please!