Chapters
Calabar
Carnival and tourism · River and rainforest
Play CalabarEra III · Khaki to Agbada
The five ages
- 1
Democracy returns
1999–2000 · town-centre level 1Civilian rule returns in May 1999. Calabar is a quiet civil-service town on its river, and the state sets out to make it a place visitors want to come to. Start with homes, markets, power and order.
- 2
Lines open
2001–2004 · town-centre level 4Mobile phones arrive in 2001. The streets are swept and planted, and the first Calabar Carnival is held in 2004.
- 3
Tourism
2005–2007 · town-centre level 7The first mountain race at the Obudu ranch is run on 27 November 2005. Tinapa’s first phase opens on 2 April 2007, and the Marina Resort on 26 May 2007.
- 4
The carnival city
2008–2010 · town-centre level 10Visitors pour in every December for the carnival, while Tinapa struggles to fill its shops.
- 5
Naija Now
2010s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Naija Now.
People of Calabar
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Governor.
The Governor
That is youFour years to turn a quiet town into a place the world visits.
The carnival bands
December in CalabarThousands of dancers rehearse all year for the parade.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The street sweepers
The clean cityUp before dawn, every day of the year.
Portrait: fictional depictionYour hero in battle
Helicopter gunship
Air coverFlies over walls straight to the fight. Ability: Air cover. Every unit nearby fights harder: +35% damage for 12 seconds.
The council
| Seat | Who they are | Speaks for |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioner for Finance | The treasury and the economy | people, trade and the treasury |
| Commissioner of Police | Security | the police, the army and Peace |
| Adviser on religious affairs | Churches and mosques | Faith and faith balance |
| Commissioner for Education | Schools and universities | Progress and research |
| Commissioner for Commerce | Markets and investors | Wealth and Unity |
| Commissioner for Health | Hospitals | Health |
| Commissioner for Energy | Power and fuel | the grid |
| The House of Assembly | Lawmakers | impeachment, and whether you keep office |
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 Democracy returns | Armed robbers | None |
| Second Lines open | Street gangs | None |
| Third Tourism | Kidnap gangs | A wave of kidnappings Gangs strike the highways |
| Fourth The carnival city | Cult gangs | A night of riots The city burns for a night |
| Fifth Naija Now | Armed militia | 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 face-me-I-face-you blocks to towers. 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.
NEPA power station
Unlocks at town-centre level 1The national grid’s local station. When it fails, NEPA has “taken light” and the generators start. Every building draws power.
Calabar port
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Ships load timber, cocoa and goods 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 base
Unlocks at town-centre level 7A helipad and hangar. Brings the helicopter gunship 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 unit
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Armoured vehicles 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
Marina Resort
Unlocks at town-centre level 4The waterfront resort opened on 26 May 2007, on the site where captives were once shipped; its Slave History Museum opened in 2011. Heritage and visitors.
Carnival Calabar
Unlocks at town-centre level 6Every December since 2004, bands in costume dance through the streets. Unity and visitors.
Tinapa
Unlocks at town-centre level 8A business and leisure resort whose first phase opened on 2 April 2007. Wealth and visitors.
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?
- Carnival Calabar has been held every year since 2004.
- The first Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race was run on 27 November 2005.
- The first phase of the Tinapa resort opened on 2 April 2007.
- The Marina Resort in Calabar opened on 26 May 2007.
- The Old Residency in Calabar was made in Britain and shipped out in parts in 1884.
- Nigeria returned to civilian rule on 29 May 1999, after more than fifteen years of military government.
- Commercial mobile phone service began in Nigeria in August 2001.
- NEPA, the National Electric Power Authority, became PHCN in 2005.
- By the end of 2005 every bank needed ₦25 billion in capital, and 89 banks became 25.
- Nigeria marked fifty years of independence on 1 October 2010.