Strategus use the same servers as cRPG (Eu3 duel server becomes Eu3 Strategus server when a battle is up)
But Strategus is bugged (don't know why) with the last patch, it can't work as it's now, that's why it's down. Also, the last session of Strat was almost blocked, nobody move except lesser clans (which were crushed by bigger clans).
Many things will be implemented in new Strat (trade, craft, caravans...) This need a lot of work i guess. And we have very short info, just tease...
But it's true that many old players wait the release to play again. New players don't even know what we talk about.