# What civilization building games are there where the purpose isn't to go to war **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 24, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290 "2011-12-24T16:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290/21 "2012-01-03T22:30:57Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The only Civ game I have really played is Civ2, I never really got into Civ3 and never tried 4 or 5. > > FWIW, a big part of Civ2 was building your military so other countries wouldn’t attack you or so you can attack other nations. When I played I usually tried to build the great wall, Eiffel tower and UN as fast as possible just so that other nations wouldn’t attack me. That way I could devote my building efforts to civ advancements instead of military units. I preferred building city advances, wonders, trade routes, etc. over military units. I’m a total liberal. The game has changed _dramatically_ in this regard. I’ve played 3, 4, and 5, and pretty much always aim to win via science or cultural domination. I can’t remember the last time I tried to win via conquest. Granted, unless you’re sharing a continent with Ghandi, you usually do still need to have a credible enough military so that they won’t attack _you_. But in Civ V, I often rely on my city-states to fight for me. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290/22 "2012-01-03T22:43:27Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Granted, unless you’re sharing a continent with Ghandi, you usually do still need to have a credible enough military so that they won’t attack _you_. [Ghandi!?](http://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/articles/article/8161/civility_28-10-10.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290/23 "2012-01-03T22:48:33Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > [Ghandi!?](http://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/articles/article/8161/civility_28-10-10.jpg) [Gandhi!](http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8500/civ1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290/24 "2012-01-04T00:26:58Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > The Avalon Hill [Civilization](http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/71/civilization) / [Advanced Civilization](http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/177/advanced-civilization) games certainly have war, but it is definitely not the purpose. It’s not even really war - it’s attrition down to how many units the region can support. There are a few advances that modify this, namely _Metalworking_ and _Engineering_, and the _Military_ advance means you get to move last, after all others have committed, but the really aggressive advance isn’t even combat- or resource-oriented - it’s _Monotheism_. Of course, by the time anyone gets that, the game is pretty much on its last or second-to-last round. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290/25 "2012-01-04T00:42:45Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Granted, unless you’re sharing a continent with Ghandi, you usually do still need to have a credible enough military so that they won’t attack _you_. But in Civ V, I often rely on my city-states to fight for me. Gandhi is a motherfucker. Don’t trust him. He looks quiet and friendly and those little round glasses of his are cute, but he’s really teching up to nukes as fast as possible to make you his bitch. And that’s when he’s not just Cultural Winning your ass right out in year 1200. Fuck Gandhi. I’ll take Montezuma before him any day. At least Montezuma is predictable and upfront about wanting to ruin your shit day in, day out. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290/26 "2012-01-04T00:48:23Z")
I’m pretty sure I’ve beaten Galactic Civilization II without going to war with any of the other races. Pwned them by dominating interstellar trade. Bitches see me, they hatin’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-civilization-building-games-are-there-where-the-purpose-isnt-to-go-to-war/607290.md?page=1)