I have Warophobia!

[oneperson]

That's right, fellow fanatics, for some reason, I have a fear of war in Civ 3 (I play Vanilla). I only declare when it is ABSOLUTELY necessary for my survival, or I need the resources, or enemy civ is 3 times weaker than me, or enemy civ declares war on me. Now, is this normal? If not, does anyone have any ideas on how to 'cure' me of my Warophobia?

 

[MAS]

Play an Always War variant game!


Rule #1, when you meet a civ, declare war to it before the turn ends. (you can make one trade, but declare war before hitting the next turn button)
Rule #2, never sign any peace treaty, ever, not even temporary, when an AI civ wants to talk you, refuse to even see him.

Suggested settings: Standard size map, no closed civ slots, (7 AI) raging barbs, Pangea 70% water, temperate, 5 billion years, wet.

You will soon get used to it, as every unit you meet is always hostile, the AI will just become a part of the environment to you.

Have fun!

PS: (Switch to monarchy government and stay there.)

 

[Aabraxan]

Welcome to CFC, oneperson!

I would also suggest some reading:

1) War Academy articles on warmongering;

2) Succession games of the All-War variety.

 

[Jazzmail]

bleh. No need for the OP to handicap himself with always war.

Just declare war on your friendly neighboors one at a time. Start with the closest.

 

[axehaxe]

It does not sound like you have warophobia, but it does sound to me like sometimes you are going to war for the right reasons, and sometimes not. True if the AI has a key resource (like iron ) that you don't have and it will affect your "big picture" for the better, then have a go at them. You don't want to declare war on an AI just because they are a lot weaker than you necessarily. Think "location". What if you were bordered at a much stronger civ on the same landmass and you decided to make yourself stronger by trying to take out a backward AI on a small island close by first. Then suddenly when most of your troops are raising hell on the island, the strong civ right next to you ROP rapes you with like 130 cavalry and pushes you right off your own continent!! So the strength of the AI should not be your primary deciding factor whether you want to fight them or not. Location first, always: you want a unified empire - "United we stand, Divided we fall". Also, when a AI declares war on you, you don't necessarily have to fight them. Having a phony war can be extremely useful sometimes. It is like getting a luxury for free when you are in republic.

 

[Tomoyo]

bleh. No need for the OP to handicap himself with always war.

Just declare war on your friendly neighboors one at a time. Start with the closest.

I fear that something like that would make him delay declaring war until he had an overkill force or something else like that. If he didn't have "warophobia," that's what he would be doing.

 

[Ringo Kid]

Try a game in which you are always at war with someone - but only one at a time, and try to get pacts or alliances with the other civs so they are fighting each other. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, just take those cities or areas with the important military resources of a given age, like iron or horses. That way over time you will always have a stronger military ; which makes it less likely that the AI will attack you . And even if they do it makes it less likely they can hurt you.

 

[MAS]

The best way to remedy any phobia is to face your fears.

Its like getting used to relatively cold water of a large swimming pool, instead of getting in via the ladder with your toes first, then get stuck on the ladder with only wet feed, because its so cold..., one should just jump in with a splash.

 

[MadScotsMan]

really just declare war if a civ pisses you off. I sometimes have that problem

 

[civverguy]

Play an always war game. I did not want to wage war until I played it.

 

[oneperson]

Thanks, I'll be trying an AW game in the near future.

 

[Mursi lives]

I had similar phobia some years ago. Wasn't even fear. I just couldnt attack a former friend. I also couldnt poprush anything.
Finally I found the antidote to both problems: I played zulus.

 

[gmaharriet]

I have to agree with MAS about trying an AW. Talk about having WarPhobia!!! I played at WarLord level for a whole year and NEVER declared on anyone, just trying for a diplo win. I'd usually just quit a game if a civ declared on me...unless I was in late Industrial Age with tanks and bombers and the AI landed a regular warrior...then I'd get angry and fight.

I took someone's suggestion, played an AW at Warlord...with many of the folks on this board making suggestions. A few months later I did the same thing at Regent level. Both times it helped me enormously to get used to the feeling of being at war and not caring if the other AI were mad at me. I've been playing 2 1/2 years now and don't fear war anymore.

Good luck!!!

 

[Sweetchuck]

Maybe your phobia is because you haven't warred much.

Just do it. Attack a neighbor and go through a dozen turns or so.

Keep an earlier save and go back to it once you have it out of your system (even if it goes well or not), then at least you have those warring turns under your belt.

Might come in handy during the time when it would be beneficial for you to be at war (or if the AI declares war on you).

 

[CommandoBob]

That's right, fellow fanatics, for some reason, I have a fear of war in Civ 3 (I play Vanilla). I only declare when it is ABSOLUTELY necessary for my survival, or I need the resources, or enemy civ is 3 times weaker than me, or enemy civ declares war on me. Now, is this normal? If not, does anyone have any ideas on how to 'cure' me of my Warophobia?

Thanks, I'll be trying an AW game in the near future.

Good move.

My Fears
For a while I hesitated about attacking other civs because I was afraid of what they would do in response.

Now I know: not much.

Sure, the AI will send some units your way but hardly ever will it execute a coordinated attack. It might lucky and capture a few weaker outlying cities, which generally means that you goofed up and missed something. The AI will attack stacks of one and two units, especially early in the war. But after a few turns the AI will run of out gas (more turns at the higher levels) and then you can attack the units that are hunkered down in the cities.

The AI onslaught can be fearsome, especially at the higher levels. But it is also rather predictable. You can either attack them or let them attack you, which of course will depend on the game situation. But they will attack.

A Basic Warmongering Tip
Be sure to build up artillery before you start your war (catapults, trebuchets, etc). Even in defense these are good units to have with your forces, since they can react defensively and attack the enemy units before they attack you. Use the artillery to bombard the units you plan to attack and try to redline them all. It will make them easier to kill. Try to kill the red-lined with elites if you have them; they have a good chance of winning and thus promoting.

 

[HyCrest]

Slaughter two towns and call me in the morning.

 

[Hooray]

"Those who do not thoroughly comprehend the dangers inherent in employing the army are incapable of truly knowing the potential advantages of military actions." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

I think you overestimate the dangers of war, and therefore give no thought to the potential benefits. An Always War game could help in this regard, as you will likely gain a new appreciation for the dangers of war as well as the benefits.

In non-AW terms, if you have the luxury of avoiding war, perhaps you are playing on too low of a level. Try moving to a higher level where waging offensive wars will become more necessary for your expansion and preventing AIs from becoming too powerful.

 

[Circuit]

What bothers me about war is severing relations with the other civ, especially if they love me. That's something I've been getting over. Find a civ that is not too strong and with the ideal terrain. Take 'em over, and you will be more powerful. Then go for the next civ with these specifications. And another, and another... Pretty soon, you will be the strongest civ with the largest empire (and be careful when signing alliances with another civ. You could end up making the competition stronger). Little bites add up.

 

[Charles 22]

That's right, fellow fanatics, for some reason, I have a fear of war in Civ 3 (I play Vanilla). I only declare when it is ABSOLUTELY necessary for my survival, or I need the resources, or enemy civ is 3 times weaker than me, or enemy civ declares war on me. Now, is this normal? If not, does anyone have any ideas on how to 'cure' me of my Warophobia?

There's a word for your condition, though you may not have lapsed to the point of no return, and that is that you are a peacemonger!!

 

[sirdanilot]

I have a bit like the same problem. I don't go to war untill I am absolutely sure that I can win, and that is usually not untill tanks. I just love those things . Especially when the enemy ai doesn't have them, and that is usually the case. And even more when they don't have rubber so each of my tanks can blast away two riflemen.
Maybe I could try an ancient war too... or even better an always war game.