They are NOT political borders, they are influence range... Very big difference.

An example:
Like lets take two countries that share a border... Ok, I don't know any... So lets just make them up.

Lets say "Canada" and "America" share a border... and lets say that they had completely different ways of thinking - different cultures.

Now, lets say that "America's" culture was really dominant, they had a greater influence. So much so that their culture spills over to the people in "canada".. The "canadians" the live in a region near the border start thinking and acting like "Americans". but this doesn't mean that where they live is now own by "America" - it is still "Canadian" land and therefor canadian owned. The "canadian" government would not like the "American" government saying that they now own the land.

Secondly, the "Canadians" can prevent "Americans" from going into their region because they own that region.

However, if a region of "Canada" defects and says 'This is it! I am going to follow the "American" government', then and only then does that area of "Canada" now belong to "America".

Now in regards to space, there is a lot of emptiness. No one owns that emptiness (it isn't a part of any race), and so you can't say who and who can't go there. But you do own the planets. So the planets are your regions, and therefor you political borders. You can control who goes there.

Also if an opponents planet is in your region, you still don't own it (until they revolt), and can't govern who can go in the space near that planet (which makes sense, otherwise your opponent won't be allowed near his own planet if it is in your influence and visa versa!! now that would suck).


So, this results in an idea that is different to most TBS games. And different is good! now you have to adapt to that difference and learn how to take advantage of it / stop the opponent from taking advantage to it. It forces you to take a different approach to what you would in, say, civ4.

I mean seriously how would you think humanity would react if suddenly an alien race would pop up and just set a Starbase right in earths orbit? I mean thats what you call a casus belli. Another example would be a Russian Fleet sitting one mile out of New York

that is exactly what i am talking about!

your point is actually quite convincing ... i like the threaten-concept! and could live with that

I would also agree with 4verse. I don't think a real player would simply watch war ships approach his homeworld and colonies without asking what the other's players intentions were. The AI allows for a build up of enemy troops near a world you are about to conquer and doesn't say anything at all. You can take it one step further, It allows you to attack all the planets that a species has and conquer that species in one shot by allowing a build up by everyone of their planets at the same time without a peep. Agreed that you may not do anything about it because you may not have the technology but the threat/warning does put all of your planets on alert long before their fleets reach your orbit and helps determine the intent of the approaching fleet. It should also effect your relationship I and my allies view the species. If an alien race was approaching our planet with an enemy fleet and fleet transports, I don't think my relationship would remain "close" till the bitter end.

ago1000 , The AI does mention that they don't like all your ships being so close to their planets.. And if you leave them there long enough they will attack them.

Secondly, if you do see the AI putting fleets and fleets of ships near all your planets, I think you will be smart enough to see that they are up to something (and therefore declare war) Although it is unfortunate that you can't ask "umm, excuse me, are those ships meant against me, or are you just looking for free parking?". Of course they are just gonna lie anyway if they where intending to attack so asking probably wouldn't help much anyway.

Point well taken SmackleFunky. I've been playing at the lower levels and the AI alien species and I have had good relations. They have never asked about my build up of ships. That's why I'm wondering if the AI set at a higher level if it pay more attention to a build up of arms within a species influence area. I'm sure a human player would ask as they see some ships coming and try to prepare some defence. Furthermore, I hope my suggestions don't seem like complaints. I have to be honest, I've been playing this game for 2-4 hours a night since I picked it up. I'm enjoying it more the Civ4 and RTW.

Political border negotiations would be a cool addition to the game. The most basic form could be a radius around each colonised solar system, or something like that. Perhaps a system sorta like how the influence border is determined, but with each colonised solar system weighted with a constant value rather than one that is variable depending on the planet. If more than one civ has a colony in a system it could be treated as disputed territory, I guess.