I was thinking that having a treaty where if accepted would prohibit empires from placing ships within a certain distance from each other's colonies. Say about 20 squares, or movement points away, (or maybe the terms can be set by the player or computer controled empire, whichever is proposing it), and if opposing empire colonies are within 20 movement points of each other it would be set lower. Of course something would have to be figured out for two oppossing empires in the same star system, the planets would be very close together. If they are that close the treaty could automatically be set to a small number, like no oppossing ships allowed 2-5 spaces from the other empire's planets. Just throwing an idea out. I believe this would make it more realistic in a sense that player's, or the computer, can't amass a huge fleet on the other's doorstep and then invade. It gives a little more time to prepare a defense. If the treaty border is crossed then war would automatically be declared.