Game Entry
Eternum takes place in 'Seasons', multi-week campaigns with long-term strategic and diplomatic developments. There are several weeks between each season that allow for iterative development and feature expansion in each subsequent season.
Realms NFT Holder Entry 
Realms NFT holders have the exclusive benefit of free entry into each season of Eternum through the minting of Season Passes. Each Season Pass is unique to the Realm it was minted from and allows the holder to initiate a settling transaction to enter the game. To do this, Lords must first mint the Season Pass here using the wallet that contains the Realms NFT, then transfer the Season Pass to their Cartridge Wallet.
Non-Realm Holder Entry
⚖️ Season Pass Marketplace
Should a Realm NFT holder decide not to use their Season Pass, they can transfer it or sell it on the Season Pass Marketplace, providing an avenue for non-Realm holders to acquire Season Passes to participate in the game.
🏕️ Villages
Villages are modest outposts that can be established around settled Realms, offering an accessible entry point into Eternum. Villages have some restrictions but offer a low-cost, casual taste of Eternum gameplay to newcomers while also acting as an avenue for established players to expand their production. Each Realm can support up to six surrounding Villages.
For detailed information about Villages, including settling mechanics, resource production, and progression paths, visit our Villages guide.
Realm Control Mechanics
As long as you maintain control of a settled Realm or Village, you can actively participate without additional entry fees, engage in the market using $LORDS tokens, and enjoy uninterrupted gameplay until the end of the season. However, Eternum is a high-stakes game, it can be unforgiving and players must accept that their valuable holdings may become a target for other players. Thankfully, the game offers high-stakes and low-stakes gameplay to ensure that players can participate in the world at their own pace and risk tolerance.
⚔️ Realms - High Stakes
Once settled, Realms can be conquered and claimed within a Season, transferring control to the conqueror. Realms are the key playing pieces in Eternum and allow for the full gameplay experience in producing resources, training armies, conducting trade, and pursuing territorial expansion. This level of capability comes with increased risk, as Realms must continually manage defenses, alliances, and strategic positioning to protect themselves from rivals.
🌴 Villages - Low Stakes
Unlike Realms, Villages cannot be conquered by other players, making them an ideal choice for casual players seeking a lower-risk gameplay experience. Villages can still participate in most gameplay activities, but production rates are limited to 50% the rate of Realms and progression paths are limited. These features make Villages perfect for new players looking to learn the game mechanics without the constant threat of conquest.