Modern OGame is not the game from ten years ago. Two systems shape today's strategy: player classes and Lifeforms. Understanding them is key to not falling behind those who do exploit them.
The three classes
Collector: more mine production and faster cargo ships; the miner's choice. General: faster combat ships and recycler, lower deuterium consumption and access to the Reaper; the fleeter's class. Discoverer: better expeditions and faster research; ideal to grow through expeditions.
Each class also unlocks its own ship: Crawler (Collector), Reaper (General) and Pathfinder (Discoverer).
What Lifeforms are
Since 2022, each planet can develop one of several lifeforms, with their own buildings and technologies. They grant bonuses that affect almost everything: production, costs, times, speed, combat and expeditions. Managing them means balancing population and food on each planet.
How they affect your math
Lifeform bonuses add to your technologies. In combat, for example, they increase weapon, shield and hull; in economy, mine production. That is why in modern tools you should enter those bonuses as percentages so the results match your real account.
Try it in the tools
The Battle Simulator lets you pick a class and add Lifeform bonuses as weapon, shield and hull percentages, so the simulation reflects your real situation. Experiment with different combinations before committing your fleet.