"Locking down" friendships and alliances

[Starwars]

In the game, if you manage to get a friendship declared with someone, you are basically safe from war with that particular AI.

Do you like this?

Personally I like it in the sense that... well, it actually does make it feel like it's worth something. On the other hand, it also limits your options because you are "locked in". So even if they do something that pisses you off, like declaring war on a city state, forward settling you, continuing to convert your cities to their religion even though you asked them not to, etc etc, you have to wait until the friendship "wears off" if you want to declare war on them.

Does this feel weird to anyone else? I think it'd be nice to have options to break off friendships, or even alliances, but with some huge penalties. Maybe negative diplomatic favor modifiers amongst other things (maybe amenities as well, along with diplomatic penalties with other leaders of course). Making it possible to actually backstab someone, or be backstabbed as it were, if the climate changes in a way where you might consider it necessary.

It feels so weird and limiting that it's basically set in stone for those turns.

 

[Uberfrog]

Generally I like it. As you say, it means there’s is a solid gameplay function for declarations friendship.

If you want to benefit from the improved relationship, you have to hold back your backstabbing for a few turns. You run the risk of them doing stuff you don’t like in the meantime (but can also do it to them).