Empire & Borders
How do empire borders work in Old Light?
Every system you own projects a border. Hexes within 2 hexes of an occupied system count as your territory and take your empire's colour on the map, even with nothing built there. A bordered hex is claimed by you but occupied by no one.
In Old Light, every star system you own claims the hexes within 2 hexes of it as your empire's territory.
Those hexes take on your empire's colour on the galaxy map.
How borders form
Each claimed system pushes its empire colour outward to nearby hexes.
A hex inside a border is claimed by that empire but occupied by no one.
Who wins when borders overlap?
When two empires sit close enough that their borders would meet, the older claim wins the disputed hex. Whichever empire planted a flag in that part of the galaxy first holds the borderlands.
The first empire into a region sets the boundary that every later arrival has to fit around.
A captured system counts as a new claim from the moment it changes hands, so its new owner never inherits the old claim's age. How empire borders work covers what that means when empires go to war.
Who can see your borders?
Borders are public. Every empire's claimed hexes light up in their colour across the whole galaxy. You always see who holds the borderlands. What an empire has built on a system is the only thing that stays private until you send a Probe; ownership and borders are open. The galaxy map shows every empire's borders, refreshed every 10 minutes.
Territory also determines who holds each sector's bonus. Blanket enough of a sector and the bonus is yours. See Sector Bonus.
Frank Exchange Of Views
Common questions
What happens when two empires' borders overlap?
The older claim wins the disputed hex. Whichever empire planted a flag in that region first holds the borderlands, so seniority matters. A newcomer squeezing in next door cannot redraw the boundary.
Can other players see my borders?
Yes. Borders and ownership are public across the whole galaxy, so everyone sees who holds each borderland. What you have built on a system stays private until someone sends a probe.
Why do borders matter for sector bonuses?
Territory decides who holds each sector's bonus. Cover enough of a sector with your borders and the bonus is yours.