I don't think that's an option, because it invalidates role of the temples.

Maybe there's a way to make declaring war to Nakalim more problematic, like alienating Academy, paying a lot more influence or allow Nakalim to force peace/cold war like Drakken did in EL.

Eh, Umbral Choir being able to abduct via invasions doesn't invalidate hacking for Abductions either.

I like this option as long as the invaded system is under a temple influence area. This allows to give systems even at war, but at the cost that you have to invade them. And doesn't invalidate the temple mechanics.

I agree, the current system is needlessly constraining.

Firstly, handing a system over to the Academy would be a much more logical battle resolution option for the Nakalim than Razing. It would also help cut back the AI's cockroach-like colonizing attitude but that's just my personal opinion.

The other thing that could work is that a system with a Temple could gift uncolonized systems within your sphere of influence that are adjacent to it. This "parent Temple" will also serve as the Food source for that growing colony. Accordingly, the Temple cannot be removed until the process is complete. This way, you can make use of the trash systems in your territory, though you will have to watch your Food and hope to the Lost that 3 planet system won't grow a tier3 resource deposit later on.

Naturally, systems gifted away this way would give lesser rewards than a properly converted ones, but even if all you get is 1 relic for your trouble, it will add up and stil be meaningful, especially if you get unlucky with finding relics the normal way.

Yes, I propose this three-pronged result of conquering a system:

1. Occupy - you should be ALSO able to gave away your systems to Academy.

2. Pillage, with a twist

a) there's a 100% chance there's a relic there (as Nakalim hunt relics of all civs) but there's a random chance of it's amount - 1-5?

OR

b)there's a small chance, let's say 5% that it has relics on it - let's say 5-10 - that werent detected beforehand.

In each case you are left to decide, if academy reward (and victory points) are worth it

3. Raze - changed with "Cede" to outrighty hand it over to Academy.

That would both enforce their lore and even in-code name - Templars.

Well I sat down and thought about it, and then I remembered the Lumeris trait is also completely useless and thus nevemind. Let there be trash.

Or give Lumeris ability to sell system instead of razing it.

Systems ceded to the academy give you (besides the bonus) a free system for your expansion victory. If you could just roam around the whole map invading systems with no negative repercussions (assuming your fleet is able to handle it) you have a much easier tim for a supremacy win than the factions which would usually be more associated with such a playstyle like cravers. Because they have to deal with the happiness penalty of having many systems, but you just hand them over and don't have to deal with that. The overcolonization penalty is the one thing which keeps the supremacy victory somewhat in check, nakalim would play around that if they could just conquer systems to hand them over.

I do agree with lo_fabre, if the target is in a temple range it should be fine. Giving away your own systems would be too easy since it's what i mentioned above with slightly more extra steps. You just invade and then hand over the drawback to the AI.