RTS games scare me...

[Ivo]

Just play single player of several games (if you want specific recommendations, others have already provided), most of them are well balanced in terms of difficulty so that you can complete them without being actually any good in terms of "online play". I never memorized build orders or whatever and I completed several single player campaigns in this genre.

Ivo.

[AmishSamurai]

AntonBD, micromanagement-laden games like CoH, Blitzkrieg and Men of War are precisely what the OP wishes to avoid.

I personally recommend getting the Command & Conquer First Decade DVD. Avoid C&C4 at all costs. Also recommendable:

Age of Empires 3

I thought Age of Empires was TBS? My little brother had it for the DS, and I distinctly remember it being turn-based.

[Ivo]

I thought Age of Empires was TBS? My little brother had it for the DS, and I distinctly remember it being turn-based.

The PC Age of Empires are all RTS, there is one TBS game for DS (pretty decent game as well).

Ivo.

[Pulsar_t]

Oh this reminds me there's a free-to-play Age of Empires
http://www.ageofempiresonline.com/

[bladerunner]

I second the Total War series. I am also a big Dune fan so I always recommend Dune II, Dune 2000 and Emperor. Basically just like C&C, just with worms

I also like the city building games like Caesar III. Sid Meier's Civil War is a great tactical game I play regularly that still has a lively online community. I also recommend the Dawn of War series and Stronghold and SH: Crusade.