[c_of_red]

500 points won't buy a modern MBT. So you will most surely be using infantry. Those won't be very modern infantry, either. As far as playing capture the flag, the not so Intelligent AI (AAI? Artificial Almost Intelligence) and other issues, the BEST way around them is PBEM. That will put the I back into AI ( mostly, I have played a few opponents, who will remain nameless, that just never seemed to get up to speed). It also solves the capture the flag issue as well as the merry-go-round battle. You just agree ahead of time on your objectives, turn the little flaggy things off and have at it.
I got involved with an interesting offshoot a few years back. Greybeard (at the blitz) would pick each players units and assign them objectives as a 3rd party. GB, being a sneaky old _______, would not always assign the same objectives In one game I played my opponents objectives were a bridge over a river. Mine were the hills and town that river went thru. SO it was possible for BOTH of us to "win". In another one, I had to hold a crossroads for a certain number of turns (12? 16? I forget) and my opponent had to exit units off the map, with him getting points for each unit. I lost that one.

So my free advice ( A true value, being worth EXACTLY what you paid for it) is to locate an opponent that is willing to help you experiment.
The game is really great when played against another Human. Best UGOIGO system out there.