I have a planet in my database that's occupied by someone ranked around 950. Its Massive, Very Rich Research, Gas, and has no attack or defense at all.

Is it possible that he's finished with all of his research, and he doesn't need this planet anymore? I ask this question because there is no defense or attack on the planet.
Or does he leave it that way because he's the big bad boogie man.

He probably wants it, because at higher ranks Size > Resource Abundance. Chances are he leaves it unguarded to tempt lower ranks into taking it, which allows him to take it back (green badge) and zero the person who took it (probably just for his own enjoyment).

Though it's possible he just doesn't want it.

My bet it's Remric's

i would take it if he takes it back oh well cause you got a green badge also he may not want it so you can get a green badge and a decent planet out of it also your probably outside of his badging range so he won't do that much to you

I know some people who, even if they were trying to get the planet taken, zero the person who takes it "just because".

Hmm ok.
Well, I'm thinking i'm gonna take it. I'll let you guys know how it goes

Assuming your a low rank, I would take it. No reason why you shouldnt. If it is Very rich however, It has had an artifact used on it, So you can maybe assume that he is going to max it and/or plasma it. I would wait.

I'd think if they were going to plasma it, they'd be using a Very Massive. You'd probably do them a favor in taking it. I defend any planet that I actually want. I have a couple stinkers that are completely undefended - my guess is if he wanted it, he'd protect it.

Sometimes high ranks leave planets that are not worth a flux (and not appealing enough for other HIGH ranks to invade) unprotected because they know they can just take it back on a whim (and get a green badge for doing so).

At that high a rank though, it's expensive to invade (10's of billions). No one's going to pay that much just for a green badge and a sub-par planet.

That's also a very good point.

at rank 950 the invade cost is in the range of 24-26billion per invade.

there is also the possibility that the 900+ will hand the planet to a legion mate
That is, the 900+ don't really want the planet and would be happy to give it to a legion mate, but don't feel like paying 5 GP for the normal abondon-share transaction for whatever reason~
in that case, he won't need to personally worry about the invasion costs

His Max invasion cost at rank 950 cannot be higher than 26,288,512,000 Cr. But thats assuming he's got max planets.

Regardless, I leave my less desirable planets un-guarded or with minimal defenses, usually because people in the rank 400 to 1200 region aren't looking for planets of that abundance, if they put defenses on the planet then they would waste the income, and if they flux it they wasted a damned flux on a nothing planet, so why would they bother to take it, if a lowbie comes along and actually takes it I can just take it back, or if I have a better planet I'll colonize or invade that one instead.

Also people around my rank (777) know that if they do take the planet even if I don't want it it's now open season to fight because they took my planet, i might not want the green badge, but hey, might as well go for the Red, Blu and Yellow, and then if I don;t have a better look planet maybe the green again.

if a player is so low that I can't get the badges from them, then i know taking the planet will be cake, and sometimes players will do things that give me benefit.

I've had a fee planets stolen from me I would have stolen back, but they bothered to put enough defenses on, that they get next to nil production and I couldn't possibly invade, which just makes me chuckle, they probably expected to flux it later from the mission flux and forgot to, and instead I just snicker, lol. Or they steal a worthless planet, and flux it, and then I laugh at them for wasting such a valuable artifact.

the thing I love best is when they stick a bunch of defenses on it, and then stick some rare artifact, but because they are low level I can just steal the plant right back, getting my green badge, and getting some rare arti, I've gotten a bunc of stuff like Lepus drones, Zolazin structures, and TO Harvesters that way.

Note: So long as the planet does NOT have any special artifact structures on it, and so long as you don;t put any on it after you take it, you'll probably end up keeping the planet Considering it;s a research planet.

I've had the planet for 24hours now and nothing has happened so far
So i think i'm good

Thanx fellas.

A planet like that I would almost beg a lower level person to take off my hands so I have more room for better ones.

massive?? hah anything less than VM for a gas is junk lol

agreed... i've taken a many very massive very sparse that other folks didnt want... they don't stay that way for long

Research is very easy to build up, mining and artis is much more important at higher ranks i find.