Beginner Protection
How long does beginner protection last in Old Light?
Every new empire starts with a shield lasting five days. During that window no other player can attack you, probe you, or land a vanguard on your stars. The same shield reapplies each time you respawn after being eliminated, so a fresh start always comes with breathing room.
Every new empire starts with a shield. For the first five days, no other player can attack you, probe you, or land a vanguard on your stars.
The same shield reapplies every time you respawn after being eliminated, so a wipe and a fresh start always come with breathing room. Five days is enough to work through the Quickstart without anyone interrupting.
What it blocks
While the shield is up, every hostile fleet sent at your stars is refused, probes included.
How to lose the shield early
The shield breaks the moment you dispatch a hostile fleet at another human player. That includes sending a single probe. Once you've fired the first hostile shot at a rival, the shield drops permanently for this lifetime and it doesn't come back when the trip is recalled or the target dies.
Attacking NPCs does not end the shield. Hunting grey rivals is part of finding your feet, and the protection window is built for exactly that.
Strategy
A suggested order for those five days:
Get a Reactor and your extractors up as far as you can, so your economy isn't crawling.
Build a Shipyard and run a couple of marauders at the nearest NPC to learn how combat feels.
After your shield expires, Morale makes a big empire pay for attacking a much smaller one.
Vacation Mode is not available while the shield is up.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Common questions
How do I lose beginner protection early?
The shield breaks the moment you dispatch a hostile fleet at another human player, including a single probe. Once you fire that first shot, the shield drops permanently for this lifetime. It doesn't return if the trip is recalled or the target dies.
Does attacking NPCs end my shield?
No. Attacking NPCs does not end the shield. Hunting grey rivals is part of finding your feet, and the protection window is built for exactly that kind of practice.
What should I do during the five days?
Build a real foundation. Raise your Reactor and extractors as far as you can so your economy isn't crawling, then build a Shipyard and run a couple of marauders at the nearest NPC to learn how combat feels.