Yes. this would definetly stop those pesky trade ships from flying around my planets like flies, trying to set up trade routes even though they have maxed out their trade routes.

  

The Yor seem to think otherwise.

Ha, that's what they say in reference to sphere of influence, but let's follow up on their consistency regarding that issue. I can distinctly recall being asked to move my ships away from the altarians' border last game, and this is not an isolated incident. I have also seen 4 different UP proposals concerning territory:

-In an effort to keep civilizations from exploiting the goodwill of other races, we will be voting on whether or not to enforce a tax on starbases residing in sectors not controlled by their empire. This law would last 3 years and hopefully keep our galaxy from becoming overcrowded with the mammoth structures. How much do you feel starbase owners should be taxed when occupying another race's territory?

-As a permanent solution to the problem of starbase overcrowding in foreign sectors, the suggestion of a 'Starbase Tax' will be voted on. For every structure a civilization owns outside their territory, a stiff fine will be enforced monthly.

-In fairness to sector owners, colonized planets that are located in sectors not under their control will have a tax levied on them. This will be a 2 year policy if passed.

-Sometimes even the friendliest of neighbors can quickly outlast their welcome. The same is true with colonized planets. When a colony of one civilization is located in the center of another empire, tempers can quickly flare up at the slightest misstep. For this reason, we've come together to vote on issuing a permanent Star-Faring Tax. Colonies located in a sector not their own will be taxed out of their monthly income.

So much for not owning space.

Besides, this is different. This isn't necessarily "owning" space, in the sense that you have legal rights to to it, it's a warning, saying "if you come to close to me, I'll kick your a$$". It really is no more than a way to threaten other civs (which is why it would strain relations). Also, this wouldn't necessarily apply to one's sphere of influence (though one could do that if they wanted), just areas of particular importance, such as key starbases or manufacturing worlds. One trick i did before was park a troop transport outside every empty world my enemy had, and when they were all in place, BOOM, they lost half of their empire. They never recovered, in fact they surrendered almost immediately. I laughed that time, but I mean, the AI didn't even get ready, let alone do a pre-emptive strike, like I would have done. All they did was "please move your ships from our borders", once. Additionally, it could be used to protect other civs, if you wanted. You could even set it up where they paid you to place protection zones around them.

P.S. Don't hurt me for bagging on you Stardock!!! I love you!!!

What setting do you play on, millertime? Usually, if I try to do that (the whole sneak up on them and invade every planet in one turn thing), the AI starts noticing, and they'll begin reinforcing their worlds and putting pickets in orbit around the planets. The only time it worked was when I stabbed one of my allies in the back using spore ships and killed them in one turn, and as you can imagine, it had consequences.

Ok. back to the idea of claiming space...

I was thinking there could be at least two types of "militarized zones". The first one is a "come in here and we will woop your @$$!", the second one is a "come in here and we will fine you 500bc every week for a month!". Except you could choose how much to fine people and how long to fine them depending on the importance of the area. The more you fine though, the less other civs will like you. depending on where it is. Militirized zones shouldn't affect trade ships, unless you specifically say so, like a little check box could be there to choose that option.

I'm not sure about this one... how about a "no-spy zone", simply put, enemy spies are not allowed in there and enemy sensor range stops at the edge of the zone.

If the enemy puts a spy in there, it's either an act of war, or you fine fine them.

This zone would also let you hide ships so you can build up a huge armada, or something like that.

This fourth one may be going a little toooo far....

A "no-influence zone", it simply blocks so and so much influence from penetrating it's border, but doesn't promote your influence.

Well, what do you think?

  

what gets me is the devs have decided that you cant own space but the ai can.

In order for political borders to work in this game, the devs would have to put in something like light years. One of the things they touted when GC2 came out was that anyone could colonize a system at any time, as long as there were planets available to be colonized. This addition would change that back to what it was in GC1, where you colonize a system and lay claim to it, something I am in favor of. If I colonize a system I don't want to be force to colonize all available worlds at once and I don't want to have to invade just to take what is rightfully mine. I can't walk up to your property and take over a corner of it, you'd kick my ass if I tried to do that. This may speed up the colony rush but there more ways to make it so the colony rush is still not really fast. Why should an alien race be allowed to colonize Mars? By all right that planet is mine and I can kick ass to take it back, which is fun. But borders is something that would require a lot of work to make it work correctly.