Slitherine

Diplomacy can be a useful tool in this game but it can be hard to predict the outcome. Sometimes when a race has a positive or negative reaction to your diplomatic talks the graph stays the same. Trade agreements or planetary bombardments will very visibly show rises or dips in the relationship graph, but other times the race will respond positively or negatively (as seen in the facial expressions and gestures of the ambassador) yet the graph will remain neutral. I have given gifts of planets or mineral to a race, yet seen no visible difference in relations according to the graph.

So are these visibly positive/ negative reactions still counted in your relations in gameplay terms? Does the game "remember" all the little interactions and consider those when determining the outcome of future diplomatic actions? For example if I gift a star system to a race and they thank me for it yet the graph shows no upward rise will it still help in my relations in future talks? Can I shower a race with small gifts in the hope of increasing the chance of an alliance in the future?

No, this isn't Civ. The opponent can take your gift and than declare war - because now they have enough resources to do it.

Well whatever diplomatic effect it may or not have it at least is a way of strengthening one of my allies in a material way, so it's of some value