How to prevent influence taking over planets of my allies?

Hello,

I'm playing the game (1.7) for the first time and I need an advice from the experts.

Is there any way to prevent my influence taking over colonies and core worlds of neighbouring civilizations that I'm in an alliance with?

Previously I used to play some 4x game where borders were pretty much static, the only way to capture new land was during wars. That said I like this dynamic border system here, where you can expand even in peaceful times using your influence.

But on the other hand I don't want influence to mess my relations with my allies. They get angry when my influence flip their colonies to my side.

At this rate (I invested quite a lot into influence spread) I will just completely annihilate all my allies eventually (literally by swallowing them). I would like to prevent it. I like my allies and I want them to survive till the end.

Is there any way to tell my influence to keep covering enemies and neutral neighbours, but stay away from my allies?

Maybe I'm just missing something obvious?

Thank you.

supernova 1.7 galactic civilizations iv

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

Also I was trying to find an option to give them planets (colonies, core worlds) back. But I wasn't able to find it anywhere on the diplomacy/trading screens. Maybe I'm just blind?

That would probably solve my problem, if only temporarily.

Now I own huge chunks of space I never wanted, still covered with their starbases. It's a mess.

Successfully updated karma reason!

And after flipping their last planet (unintentionally, by my damn influence) the game literally rubbed it in my face "Empire XY has been destroyed."

Destroyed? They've been my allies for crying out loud. It's so absurd. And so sad.

I know that diplomacy is THE hardest part to be implemented pretty much in every 4X game so far, these games are primarily about combat and conquering, but still, I wish there were something I could do.

End of my rant.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Thanks for the feedback, this was definitely an interesting take on influence, and how it can affect immersion for those trying for a more allied approach, maybe a treaty could help this in the same way open borders does

Successfully updated karma reason!