CaptainPatch
Lifelong gamer
Throughout history, empires have chaffed against one another _without_ actually going to war. Just units from two different nations, each thinking that even if they weren't within their borders, they were within their "sphere of influence" and therefore the other unit was tresspassing.
This situation seems apropos to Civ V because of the countless occasions where AI opponents make you want to punch its lights out. Settlers way the hell from their home, insisting on building a city right up next to one of your fledgling cities. It happens often enough, "Don't settle near our borders" just doesn't cut it. So much simpler to just attack the Settler _before_ it becomes an unwanted squatter. But is it enough of provocation to warrant going to full-fledged war?
Or, my favorite (in the masochistic sense), I've just spent four turns pounding down a barbarian encampment, bleeding myself down to <25%. But just before I'm about to move into the empty encampment when up pops an AI Scout or Brute that jumps in and steals the prize that _I_ bled for! He's a dirty thief! It's okay to just summarily execute a thief, isn't it? Why should I be obligated to go to war, just for executing a thief?
These things all occur out on the frontier, many leagues away from the Capitals filled with politicians and diplomats. Sure, the event may make for some diplomatic tension. (More than that if it happens frequently.) But do these occurrences mandate a full-blown Declaration of War?
This situation seems apropos to Civ V because of the countless occasions where AI opponents make you want to punch its lights out. Settlers way the hell from their home, insisting on building a city right up next to one of your fledgling cities. It happens often enough, "Don't settle near our borders" just doesn't cut it. So much simpler to just attack the Settler _before_ it becomes an unwanted squatter. But is it enough of provocation to warrant going to full-fledged war?
Or, my favorite (in the masochistic sense), I've just spent four turns pounding down a barbarian encampment, bleeding myself down to <25%. But just before I'm about to move into the empty encampment when up pops an AI Scout or Brute that jumps in and steals the prize that _I_ bled for! He's a dirty thief! It's okay to just summarily execute a thief, isn't it? Why should I be obligated to go to war, just for executing a thief?
These things all occur out on the frontier, many leagues away from the Capitals filled with politicians and diplomats. Sure, the event may make for some diplomatic tension. (More than that if it happens frequently.) But do these occurrences mandate a full-blown Declaration of War?