[Strategia_In_Ultima]

(Sorry about not editing, but for some strange reason every time I edit a post I turn up at the last page of the thread - and that means a LOT of navigating to get back here)

The ability to specify racial animosities and likings for races when modding/at startup. For example, you might create a race with an abundant backstory that involves their near annihilation at the hands of the Amon'krie and their rescue by support from the Xiati, but if the AI controlling this race strikes a Partnership treaty with the Amon'krie and declares total all-out war on the Xiati, this does not reflect your intentions..... So you need to specify that they really hate the Amon'Krie and love the Xiati.

Galactic Councils.
Councils would be formed by one or more players within an alliance or even in a war, Council Chairbeings would be elected every now and then, and you can join and leave Councils freely according to their rules. Council Chairbeings could posess the power to mediate in a war between two Councillors (i.e. members) or even to start a joint war on a non-Councillor's race. This to simulate the UN/Galactic Senate/Republic or whatever. Councils could be saved separately and utilized many times, like saving a race. Also, Councils would greatly add to the Roleplaying factor of the game. It would be perfectly suited to simulate, say, the following situation:

A galactic empire/republic/whatever is in decline. Its many races have started to act more independently. The old Council still retains all its members, but the Council World is essentially powerless. All the Council Head can do is use diplomatic channels, intrigue, blackmailing etc. to achieve his goals.
The Council World system would have no WP access and a System Shield would be in place on the planet to prevent races from attacking and destroying the powerless Council world. The races are each fully independent, but the Council can still achieve goals like the UN. If two or more races have been at war for decades, the Council can be used as a channel to negotiate a treaty between the races, if an uneasy one. No race can withdraw from the council and the Chairbeing does not change.

Essentially, the Council would be a combination of a large alliance of sorts, a massive center for excessive use of intel and a large diplomatic arena.
Council Chairbeings would be the most powerful and influential leaders in the galaxy, as they can utilize the widest variety of means to achieve their goals - they have the largest diplomatic power, they know a lot about the member races and so can use blackmail (think along the lines of "I know you're massing your fleets there-and-there to attack this ally with whom you have a Trade treaty. You would be in big trouble if that ally knew of your plans. If you do this-and-this for me, I will not reveal your plans to your ally."), and they can also utilize deep-level high-effect intel, they can gather information much easier, their sabotage would be more powerful and they could possibly even use a project that would give them total control over the other empire.

I know, I'm ranting. It's just that I love this idea personally - and that's not just because I thought it up.