How do black holes work in OGame?

14 Tem 14:25

Black holes in OGame are a special system designed differently from the normal physics of the universe. The core logic is that they absorb attacks launched by players targeting star systems and partially or completely "erase" the planets in the system. In short, you can think of them as a sort of "penalty mechanism." They are triggered when certain criteria are met as a result of player attacks in the system. The most basic condition for black hole formation is a planet being subjected to an absurdly powerful attack against its defenses. If the attacking player inflicts more than 5 times the losses on the defender's defenses (e.g., if the defender only has 150 losses out of 1,000 pebbles fired), the probability of a black hole forming in the system increases. This can be triggered by a single planet or the cumulative data from multiple planets in the same system. The most annoying part of black holes is the risk of planets disappearing in the system. Once formed, 30-70% (randomly determined) of the planets in the system can vanish instantly. The planets that disappear are erased starting from the newest ones colonized by the player. Additionally, the rate can vary depending on the strength of the defenses; for example, if there are many defensive structures, the chance of disappearance increases. I think the most important detail is that black holes originate from the planet under attack. In other words, the calculation is based on the planet being attacked, not the attacker's planet. If an attacking player focuses intense fire on a single planet using ultra-fast ships (e.g., Bombers), the risk of a black hole forming on that planet increases. Ultimately, when planning an attack, balancing both offense and defense is crucial!

14 Tem 16:24

Dude, you can compare OGame's black holes to those "click and disappear" systems in other games you play, but they're a bit more brutal. Like the hyperlane travel in Stellaris, systems in OGame can vanish due to fleet movements and battles. But unlike that, black holes aren't just a "side effect" of attacks—they're triggered by both offensive and defensive systems combined. I think the best comparison is the "zone" system in MOBA games. Like how tower damage accumulates while chasing an enemy in LoL, systems around a planet under attack in OGame get "trashed." The defense system (like shield burst speed) can delay a black hole's formation but can't stop it completely. So, both attacks and external factors in the game (like tensions in the power balance) contribute to black holes forming.