It sure as heck isn't an RPG, but Armageddon Empires probably one of the best turn based strategy games I've ever played. Really cool combination of card driven mechanics and a hex based board game. As an added bonus you're supporting an indy developer, and it only costs 20 bucks.
http://www.crypticcomet.com/games/AE/armageddon_empires.html
It's also chock full of references/Easter eggs/shoutouts to all sorts of other games, Sci-fi series, ect particularly with the independents. You can find an independent stronghold called Vault 13, fight a giant cuthuluesque monster, find a tech base with a giant tank in the armoury called an OGRE, all sorts of crazyness.
Here is a review: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/armageddon-empires-review