turn-based is definitely the easier thing to develop - camera handling is simpler, AI is simpler, less need of difficult to tweak collision = should be your choice imo

actually, one of my oh so many (3) projects ATm is an RPG, but its diablo style and thus obviously real time, even though its not that battle heavy.

i always rpefered the action style because im not really a tactical person. a match in warcraft 3 against me usually goes: spike gets troops, tries to level up and hit the enemy as hard as he can in the hopes that in the end he survives long enough to harvest enough gold so that all other players run out of gold and die.
i hate rushes XD