The battle maps seen in DS9 seem to confirm that the war was pretty much three-dimensional, in an indirect way. Namely, they show that while there are theoretical "borders" and "fronts" in the battle, the major maneuvers indicated by the red and green arrows take place regardless of these borders and fronts. There are vast sweeping movements associated with each arrow, and the enemy seems free to roam behind the lines as he pleases.
This is very similar to the naval warfare of pre-radar, pre-radio days. Vast and powerful fleets could move unseen and unchallenged, and one could never know where they'd strike - but there'd always be the risk that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The reasons would be similar, too. It's not just the 3D nature of space that allows entire fleets to slip by "fronts" and "lines", it's the vastness of space. Dominion sensors in DS9 can only span a sector's worth at best; Alpha ones don't seem to do equally well.
In such a fighting environment, it's no wonder that two neighboring star systems may be held by the opposite sides for years, while vastly more distant ones change ownership in frequent, bloody battles.
Timo Saloniemi
This is very similar to the naval warfare of pre-radar, pre-radio days. Vast and powerful fleets could move unseen and unchallenged, and one could never know where they'd strike - but there'd always be the risk that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The reasons would be similar, too. It's not just the 3D nature of space that allows entire fleets to slip by "fronts" and "lines", it's the vastness of space. Dominion sensors in DS9 can only span a sector's worth at best; Alpha ones don't seem to do equally well.
In such a fighting environment, it's no wonder that two neighboring star systems may be held by the opposite sides for years, while vastly more distant ones change ownership in frequent, bloody battles.
Timo Saloniemi
