If you aren't into strategy titles and are looking to get started for a little less cash, Interplay has released its Ultimate Strategy Archives for Windows 95 and DOS for only US$34.95.
The box set holds eight games including:
Sid Meier's CivilizationSid Meier's Railroad Tycoon DeluxeHeroes of Might and MagicJagged Alliance Deadly GamesM.A.X. Mechanized Assault & ExplorationConquest of the New World DeluxeDark ColonyX-Com
The Ultimate Strategy Archives is the third in the series of box sets released by the company after the Forgotten Realms Archives and The Ultimate RPG Archives. And in case you're worried about all those manuals, Interplay has combined all the manuals into a 240-page guidebook so it will be a lot harder to lose.