I'm not familiar with strategus, but i know how it can be hard to build something original and fun to play.
My idea of strategic RPG would be something closer to the native game :
Tickets for troops is a good idea, but we could imagine to manage a little warband instead of a "main character". Like companions in Native.
That way, you can buy (or build) gear to each one, manage their xp and skills.
So, your party will be 5/10/20 max to travel on the map, real time, but a little faster than now.
Battles would happen in a restricted area, 24hours later, only with parties around, joining 1 side or the other.
During battle, you respawn with another character after you die (wounded). That way, you can play many differents style of troops (depending of the composition of your party).
The economy must be quite simple : you own a fief, you get money. Maybe with a little trade and caravan system.
With money, you can pay other players during a battle, lords (faction member) or mercenaries (no faction).
Only 1 fief by player. That way, you must belong to a faction to build a realm and coordinate big battles.
To gain a fief, you can conquer it alone, or be rewarded by your clan after a conquest.
The hiring price of your warband before a battle depends a lot from your fame, your number ( from 1 to 20 troops), your equipment. You can even fight for free in exchange of a fief from your clan !
In a battle of 60 against 80, the incoming of 20 experimented mercs on the battlefield can worth a load of money !...
As you can see, this concept is not so different from strategus, but more battle oriented. You don't loose troops after defeat (you could be frozen for a couple of day in the nearest town to rest) but you cannot own a huge army without a significant number of allies.
