Oddly enough, one can conquer the world without lifting as much as a finger, or in my case, a gun. I was German playing on a random world with Raging hordes and the almighty Deity (rhymes, eh?) level. In the beginning, Germany consisted of about 9 cities with an average population of 8. Yes, a fairly mediocre sized empire, but smart nonetheless. Germany was in the control of King Wilhelm I (me) and we were the most technologically advanced nation in the world (even Toynbee thought so.) I had the luck of living beside 4 warmongers. Because of this, I only fought wars for defensive purposes. I prefered to lay the foundations of my empire and build upon it rather than ravage my neighbours and kill unnecessarily. It was successful too. By 1200 A.D. the Imperial German Empire consisted of 30 cities with an average population of about twenty two with my capital (Berlin) sized at twenty eight. True, my neighbours were eyeing Germany with suspicion and scorn, but I turned the other cheek and continued to expand slowly and steadily.

Then the Greeks started to fling mud and eventually bullets. They threatened me and bullied me, not keeping in mind that I was far superior to them. No matter, I thought. I don't care. Okay...that feeling lasted about nine turns before they attacked Leipzig.

Fortunately, it failed. I yawned and met with the Americans and the Indians. Oh look! I've got 8000 gold pieces in my pocket book! You want it? Sure, sure, but this is what you have to do in return...That went nicely. India and America went to war with the Greeks. However, Greece was strong. Hmmm...Russia seems left out. Perhaps Lenin could use a big fat bag of gold in his treasury. Egypt was crying out for attention and so was Japan. Spend, spend, spend...

I'm broke, but at least I don't have to pull my economy toward a war time one. When the gunpowder smoke cleared, Greece was no more and America and Russia turned against Egypt. Fight, fight, fight...Egypt's gone. Both the Americans and Russians were weakened. Do I take advantage of the situation? Of course! Send in the spies and all the American cities (Save for Washington) was under my rule. Russia suffered a similar fate. My economy was not to be confused with that of a war machine, but a diplomatic funder, that is, the cash cow that provided me with the money to bride, cheat, blackmail, and otherwise subdue my opponents. With the Americans and Russians out of the way for the time being, I turned against Japan and India with the similar tactic. The year 1980 witnessed the dawn of the I.G.W.C. the Imperial German World Consortium. All civs had one city left for all their new found ones had defected to the I.G.W.C. with *persuasion* from my...ambassadors. Oh well, if I was going to fight a war of aggression, why not now? *Poof!* The world was mine. All this without lifting a weapon, save for the pen and the pocket book. More amazing yet, my cheques didn't bounce.

klee@Direct.CA