How to play a non-imperialistic game?

[madman1981]

Say if I want to play the world map as the Americans. I want a similar development to the world history, and see if i can survive as a nation, not conquering the whole world (though Canada would be nice ). Is there any way to avoid your opponents growing bigger and more powerful than the Soviet Union ever was? Kind of takes the realism out of it when you always end up battling one or two other nations who rule the most of the world...

 

[HellboundHeathcliff]

There's no way to keep the AI in check. They will expand until there is no more land.

 

[Pfeffersack]

There are some worldmaps which are designed to keep the AI nations in their historical borders (or at least close to it) by using terrain barriers, ressources and barbarians.Haven't a download link ATM, sorry.

 

[madman1981]

Too bad that it works that way. I guess I'll have to try playing on a lower difficulty level, and just try to survive within my borders then.

This is something I hope can be fixed in Civ4. Because it is a little silly that you won't be able to play a game that develops towards what the world is today. I'm not saying 200 nations.. but at least fewer huge empires, and more democracy, decentralization and independence movements that makes Empire more difficult.