I have been reading A Song of Ice and Fire series and have a thirst for conquest.  What I do not have is knowledge of new video games.  I am seeking recommendations.  I have the following platforms to play:

1) Nintendo DS
2) Laptop, Windows XP, 2 GB RAM
2a) I don't know what my video card can handle.  It can't run the first Overlord.  I'll give you specs if you can tell me how to find it in XP.
3) PS2 Slim

A bit about my desires: I don't mind a single-player game but I would prefer some multiplayer capabilities.  I don't care if it is high or low fantasy, but I definitely do want a game that manages resources beyond military forts (farms, research, etc).  I loved the old SSI Stronghold D&D game.  I do not want a Star/Warcraft game.

What's hot right now that I can still run?  Even on the DS.

The Total War series springs to mind: Shogun, Medieval, Rome, Medieval II, and some later ones depicting unapplicable time periods. Action on the strategic map is turn based (moving troops, diplomats, spies etc.; also building units and constructing buildings in towns), while combat takes place in real time. As the titles suggest, no fantasy content in these ones, and they're pretty detailed when it comes to period battle tactics.

If you want more fantasy and less history, and you don't insist on shiny graphics, there's Dominions 3, which is explicitly designed for multiplayer (though single player free-for-all can be played against the AI). Management is rather abstract yet complex, with spell research (hundreds of strategical and combat spells divided into a dozen schools and requiring different skill sets to cast), personnel management (cost/value ratio is very important, and your spellcaster units can become major combat factors if you properly manage their development and equipment) and the terrain dictating the production and placement of your troops. Dozens of factions vaguely based on historical cultures and various fantasy/literary tropes.
In combat, you don't get to control your armies. Instead, you give them standing orders about formations and basic battle plans (incl. what spells your casters should be casting), and they'll carry them out to the best of their abilities.

Have you tried the Europa Universalis series?

A game called "Mount & Blade" caught my eye recently at Half Price Books. Now ordinarily that wouldn't be a good sign, but what I've read about it is interesting. It's been updated a couple times, not sure exactly which version is current, but some of them are multi-player.

This is the publisher's site: http://www.taleworlds.com/main.aspx
Here's the Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount&Blade

Mount and Blade isn't exactly a strategy game.  There's strategy in it, questing, some town-building, but also a lot of third-person combat.  It's hella fun though, and there are tons of mods.

The best I seen so far is either Medieval Total War and Crusader King. The former focuses on battles and the later focuses on building your dynasty.

Master of Magic is on GOG.com for like $6.  

It's Civ, but medieval fantasy.  One of the best games ever made.

Quote from: J Arcane;381127Master of Magic is on GOG.com for like $6.  

It's Civ, but medieval fantasy.  One of the best games ever made.

Seconded.

Master of Orion 2. Awesome.

I also recommend Crusader Kings. It's pure strategy in that there is essentially no tactical battle element to it - you raise an army, it meets another army, the result is calculated automatically.

But the dynasty building element is great. Get the expansion, Deus Vult, and get the latest patches, though.