You CAN totally avoid combat in Fallout: New Vegas

[Freelance Henchman]

I just about never play the "lol EVulz" route though, but I do like to retaliate violently if bandits attack my stalwart band and such or some freaky animal/mutant/mutant animal attacks. Let's face it, the archetypal RPG D&D was originally a modification of war games and combat is simply part of this sort of game. Not saying playing it pacifist style is WRONG AND BAD, just I think combat should be an option too (haha, as if it would ever get left out) and it should be fun.

 

[SCO]

Frankly, i find that boring and psychopathic, though i have done much worse on some strategy games.

Eh? Conquering the world in Total War exclusively by bribe-buying enemy settlements, or increasing your territory in a Paradox game solely relying on diplo-annex?

I guess it's something to try in those games. But i think it is impossible to totally avoid combat in strategy games... the AI will always declare war eventually, and a country can't run away - though rulers certainly and often did.

 

[SCO]

Actually a interesting game would be one where if you're conquered, you start being a provincial governor of the conquered gov instead. You can then make a power grab for the center of politics, change the other empire gradually, or rebel from imperial authority.

This would be done with some elastic "traditions" mechanic, so once you're conquered you can't just remain with the same policies, but can change them over time (and the rebels want to change them Now etc).