[Spectarofdeath]

I like the idea about making certain techs capturable, but not as good as the original. You might be able to make race specific techs that can't be researched by any one else, but you can capture it, but it will never be as good as the race that has that tech. Or maybe being able to make treaties that forbid certain technologies. And rather than complete surrender of a empire, how about making terms, (You can only build ships of XX tons, research XX techs) of course, keep unconditonal surrender as a option. And Civil wars, I think that would be a cool idea, rather then just planets breaking away, have a few systems and a % of your fleet create a new empire when morale gets to low.