Why is most mapping either one nation conquering the world, or "good vs evil?"

Because it wouldn't be much of a game if the objective we're to hold hands and run through fields of flowers

What non-war ideas to you suggest in a game about controlling the world?

gael cliche?

My problem is not with all the wars, but with the story given. Most often it seems either good vs evil or conquering the world. I just think there could be more to the story so often.

^such as...?

That's what diplos are for. It doesn't particularly matter what the map try's to make the story,if your good enough at RPing,you can flip the story on its head!

The amount of fighting in diplos can sometimes be pretty damm low,so they are the closest thing to a game NOT being about world conquest. Rather instead becoming a superpower by more subtle means

Idea:

Have an RP world where there are various different nations with various goals. (IE: One wants to gain influence and resources in a region and is establishing a chain of proxies to secure its interests, some want to be completely neutral, a different state seeks to boost its economic influence, another has background goals of world conquest going completely under everyone else's radar, a third party claims to be fighting evil as heroes but is really a prejudiced power acting solely out of its own imperial ambitions, two nations feud over their border, another pair is squabbling over religious disputes, another is carrying WMDs (fantastical or technological) that everyone wants under their control alone, et cetera)

Have their be a balance of power between the various players, with a need for negotiation and diplomacy to gain an upper hand against other powers (or having the biggest stick in some cases).

Have there be no real good vs. evil, just powers vs powers (like MTG's color pie having no "good" or "evil" colors). Unless you're dealing with things that really are objectively evil (ie: Ruthless expansionist dictators/imperialists, malevolent gods/demons, et cetera) or genuinely heroic and completely selfless (Such as a kingdom with a presence in another region that, rather than wanting influence or resources, genuinely seeks to quell an evil present and will leave as soon as it's done).

That sounds like it's a different game entirely.

I'm talking about the community levels here and to an extent youtube mapping videos. Not multiplayer games.

Oh. In that case, my idea still stands for RPs.

That explains a lot, yes.

buy Europa Universalis IV, looks just like what you're looking for
(or any other PDX game for that matter)

Too bad the good games cost so much. >:(

$39.99 on steam, so much. That's like 4 hours of work, at a minimum wage job. .5-2 hours at a decent job.

When you're 16 and without a job it's a lot. It's all relative really.