As for why you're finding this Steam Summer Sale disappointing (Referring to to posts above- too long to quote)- I suspect much of it is you've got everything you wanted on your backlog, so it's only newer stuff you're looking at, or things you are going to buy on sale only.

Things like AOW3 for half off is pretty damn good given how new it is, or LH for 80% off.

That said, I only spent $3.50 or so this far- Papers Please which I'm not feeling, and One Way Heroics, which is the best under $1 game I've played in a while.  (it's worth getting at $3- especially at 87 cents)

I do think your worries about stagnation aren't justified- there's always going to be folks making games on the indie side of things, so there will always be innovation.  An end to volatility in markets does not lead to end in innovation.

Thanks for reminding me to check this^ one out; game looks great.

Before my PC died?

Warlock 2, AoW3; Endless Legend.

I only started playing this game again because it runs on my laptop, and I bought and played Heroes of Might and Magic V, the original Age of Wonders (I already owned the second), and mods for Civ' IV until I was bored before picking this game back up.

This isn't even including the Sci-Fi or Historical genres, which I consider separate from fantasy, or games of other genres.

Strange that you don't include Dota 2 in that round up. It dwarves everything else, IIRC.

DOTA2 and all those MOBA's are crap and exactly what is wrong with mainstream gaming nowadays.

I guess you missed how much of Sins' MP resembles Dota [2]: 5v5s the common form of play... check! Hero (capital ship) abilities can leveled four times and they have an ultimate one too (levelable 3 times in Dota 2, but only twice in Sins:R)... check! "Captain's Mode" (in Dota) is the PUG practiced on ICO. Etc.

And it you're thinking about the pay2win aspect, Dota [2] doesn't have that, although many if not most other MOBAs (and MMORPGs) have that element.

And I was apparently wrong in that LoL (also not mentioned here) is still the most popular according to http://www.latinpost.com/articles/12821/20140517/league-of-legends-vs-dota-2-riot-games-moba-still-dominates-pc-gaming-field-but-valves-steam-hit-growing-in-popularity.htm. LoL is apparently so popular it can snub Steam altogether (http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/12/07/league-of-legends-appears-in-steam-apps-database/), so you won't find [correct] stats about LoL on Steam. The twitch.tv top is perhaps more interesting/relevant: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/league-of-legends-was-the-most-watched-game-on-twitch-in-may/1100-6420756/

Dominions 4 is my current timesink. Has played a lot of Warlock 2 lately as well.

If someone made a Dominions with proper UI, AI and Graphics, we would have the best game ever made

I don't know if it strictly speaking fits into the category of "fantasy strategy games", but one game I have been playing a lot deserves mentioning:

King of the Dragon Pass

If you can, check it's modernized version on iOs, it's superb. If you can't, the old PC version is available at GOG.