Chapters
Calabar
Port of the Cross River · River and rainforest
Play CalabarEra II · Independence
The five ages
- 1
Independence
1960–1962 · town-centre level 1Calabar, the old Efik trading town on the Calabar River, is the oldest port of the East. The prefabricated Residency shipped out from Britain in 1884 still stands above the river, and Hope Waddell, founded in 1895, teaches students from all over the country.
- 2
The First Republic
1963–1967 · town-centre level 4The Calabar cement works is built and opens in March 1967. In 1966 soldiers seize power twice. On 27 May 1967 Calabar is named capital of the new South-Eastern State; three days later the East declares itself an independent republic.
- 3
The war
1967–1968 · town-centre level 7On 6 July 1967 the war comes, and the enemy comes by sea and river. In this game the war is yours to win. Hold the city and it becomes a free republic.
- 4
The end of the war
1969–1970 · town-centre level 10The last battles of the war. Whatever the end, the river will carry trade again.
- 5
The 1970s
1970s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Khaki to Agbada.
People of Calabar
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Administrator.
The Administrator
That is youRunning the oldest port of the East through independence and war.
The Ekpe elders
The Efik lawTheir society has kept order in the Efik towns for three centuries.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The fishermen of the estuary
The waterwaysThey know every channel between Calabar and the sea.
Portrait: fictional depictionYour hero in battle
Air support
Air supportA helicopter flies support for the police and the army. Ability: Air cover. Every unit nearby fights harder: +35% damage for 12 seconds.
The council
| Seat | Who they are | Speaks for |
|---|---|---|
| The Town Clerk | Runs the council offices | people, trade and the treasury |
| The Commissioner of Police | Security, and the army when war comes | the police, the army and Peace |
| Adviser on religious affairs | Churches and mosques | Faith and faith balance |
| Chief Education Officer | Schools and colleges | Progress and research |
| The Efik traders and the port | Merchants and traders | Wealth and Unity |
| Medical Officer of Health | Hospitals and clinics | Health |
| The ECN district engineer | Power | the grid |
| The regional government | It appoints the administrator | whether you keep your post |
The war
The East has declared itself a republic, and an army is coming by sea and river to take Calabar. In this game the war is yours to win: hold the city through seven battles and it becomes the Calabar Republic.
From town-centre level 4 the council warns that war is coming. A battle comes each time the town centre reaches a new level from 5 to 11. Win 4 of the 7 and the city becomes the Calabar Republic.
| Level | Battle | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | The Battle of Oron | They cross the estuary to Oron, on the far shore. |
| 6 | The Duke Town landing | Marines land on the beach below Duke Town. |
| 7 | The Battle of Creek Town | They come up the creeks to Creek Town. |
| 8 | The Battle of Odukpani | A column comes down the road from Odukpani. |
| 9 | The Battle of Itu | They try to cross the Cross River at Itu. |
| 10 | The Battle of Akamkpa | They come out of the forest at Akamkpa, to the north-east. |
| 11 | The Battle for Calabar | The last assault, on the hill and the old town. |
The battles are the game’s own fiction set in real places near the city. No real leader appears, and neither side is painted as the villain.
Raiders and bosses
Who comes for the city in each age. Bosses come once you are into their age. How raids work.
| Age | Raiders | Boss |
|---|---|---|
| First Independence | Armed robbers | None |
| Second The First Republic | Street gangs | None |
| Third The war | Smugglers | A night of rioting After the bitter election |
| Fourth The end of the war | Looters | None |
| Fifth The 1970s | Deserters | None |
Soldiers
| Soldier | From level | |
|---|---|---|
| Police officer | Riot police with shields and batons. | 2 |
| Soldier | Infantry with rifles. | 3 |
| Armoured car | Hard to stop and slow to fall. | 7 |
| Marksman | One heavy shot from far away. | 10 |
Buildings
Every building Calabar can raise, shown as it looks in the middle of the story. What each type does.
People
Housing estate
Unlocks at town-centre level 1From crowded yards to the new estates of the 1960s. Houses your people.
Hospital
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Raises Health, and healthy workers produce more. Raiders never touch it.
High Court
Unlocks at town-centre level 5Raises Trust and some Peace. Low Trust lets officials skim taxes.
Economy
Agro farm
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Mechanised farming and food processing. Tap it when it fills.
Cement works
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Cement for every building site in the city. Materials.
Steel works
Unlocks at town-centre level 2Iron rods and steel frames. Materials.
Cold store
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Refrigerated food storage. Raises your Food storage.
Warehouse
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Containers and building stock. Raises your Materials storage.
Bank
Unlocks at town-centre level 3Raises how much Wealth you can keep.
Market
Unlocks at town-centre level 3Umbrella stalls that grow into malls. Wealth, plus a little Unity.
ECN power station
Unlocks at town-centre level 1The Electricity Corporation of Nigeria’s station. Every building draws power; when supply runs short, the lights go out.
Calabar port
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Ships load timber, palm oil and cocoa on the Calabar River. A large Wealth producer. Must touch the water.
Culture
Church
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Raises Faith. Keep churches and mosques in balance: if one far outnumbers the other, Unity falls. Raiders never touch it.
Mosque
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Raises Faith. Keep mosques and churches in balance: if one far outnumbers the other, Unity falls. Raiders never touch it.
University
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Lecture halls that grow into a tech campus. Makes Knowledge and runs research. Raiders never touch it.
Stadium
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Match days and concerts. Raises Unity. A big enough stadium can host the Africa Cup of Nations.
Air Force base
Unlocks at town-centre level 7The Nigerian Air Force was formed in 1964. Brings a helicopter to your forces.
The Old Residency
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The house of the British consul, made in Britain and shipped out in parts in 1884; today a museum. Heritage for the ladder.
Defence
Police station
Unlocks at town-centre level 3Raises Peace and keeps robbers off the streets.
Security post
Unlocks at town-centre level 2A floodlit post behind sandbags that fires on attackers.
Security wall
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Concrete walls with razor wire and cameras, section by section.
Checkpoint
Unlocks at town-centre level 4A manned barrier where an avenue crosses the security wall.
Armoured car troop
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Armoured cars behind sandbags. Hits hard, reloads slowly.
Army
Army barracks
Unlocks at town-centre level 2Each level holds more soldiers.
Industrial park
Unlocks at town-centre level 5Factories and workshops. Raises Progress.
Landmarks
Efe Ekpe
Unlocks at town-centre level 4The lodge of the Ekpe society, which once made the law in the Efik towns. Unity and Heritage.
Duke Town beach
Unlocks at town-centre level 9The waterfront below the old town, where canoes and ships have landed for three centuries. Wealth and visitors. Must touch the water.
Research
| Technology | Branch | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Improved seed | Farming | Better seed and fertiliser: +10% Food. |
| Cold chains | Farming | Less food spoils on the way: +15% Food storage. |
| Irrigation | Farming | Year-round farming: +15% Food. |
| Agro-processing | Farming | More value from every harvest: +20% Food. |
| Building codes | Building | Fewer collapses, faster approvals: builds 8% faster. |
| Steel frames | Building | Taller and stronger: buildings +10% sturdier. |
| Local cement | Building | Cheaper materials: builds cost 8% less. |
| Prefab towers | Building | Factory-built floors: builds 10% faster. |
| Police training | Defence | Better trained officers: +8% damage. |
| CCTV network | Defence | Cameras on every post: posts +12% damage. |
| Body armour | Defence | Better protection: +12% unit health. |
| Drones | Defence | Eyes in the sky: +12% damage. |
| Instant payments | Trade | Transfers in seconds: +10% Wealth. |
| Ease of business | Trade | Fewer forms and fees: +12% Wealth. |
| Free trade zone | Trade | Investors and exporters move in: +20% Wealth. |
| Teacher training | Learning | Better teachers: +15% Knowledge. |
| Tech hubs | Learning | Coders and start-ups: research 15% faster. |
| Research labs | Learning | Universities that invent: +20% Knowledge. |
| Festival calendar | Heritage | Concerts, carnivals and festivals: Faith and Unity rise. |
| Nollywood studios | Heritage | Films for the whole continent: Heritage. |
| Afrobeats on the world stage | Heritage | The city’s sound goes global: Heritage. |
| Fintech signature | Heritage | Signature tech. Money moves by phone: Knowledge and Progress. |
| Urban rail signature | Defence | Signature tech. Trains link the districts: walls and posts 25% stronger. |
Did you know?
- The Old Residency in Calabar was made in Britain and shipped out in parts in 1884.
- Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar was founded in 1895.
- The Calabar cement works opened in March 1967.
- On 27 May 1967 Calabar was named capital of the new South-Eastern State.
- In October 1967 an army landed from the sea at Calabar.
- Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960 and a republic on 1 October 1963.
- In 1960 the national motto was “Unity and Faith”; “Peace and Progress” were added in 1978.
- On 27 May 1967 the four regions were replaced by twelve states.
- The Electricity Corporation of Nigeria ran the power stations until NEPA was formed in 1972.