Boulder City

Biodata

Background / History

Boulder City began as Mansion Town, centered on Boulder Mansion. With assistance from the Post-War Reconstruction Committee, its survivors expanded from the original mansion into an Outer City and constructed the Great Wall to defend against Tidal Waves. The wall was built through sustained manual construction—cement, rebar, and trucks—rather than appearing through advanced technology. 250 562

Following the Post-War Reconstruction Committee's collapse in Wasteland Era 45, many skilled personnel left. The Inner City gradually consolidated authority, while an AI known as Fang Ming retained control of Boulder Mansion's security systems and limited contact with the militia. 562

Boulder City industrialized early, spread chips throughout Clearwater City and the southern River Valley Province, and became a major trading center. Its merchants, factories, mercenaries, and military industry gave it influence far beyond the Great Wall. 250 545

Its prosperity was sharply unequal. The Inner City nobles and black-card holders accumulated wealth and authority, while Outer City workers, scavengers, and slum residents faced poor conditions, unemployment, criminal exploitation, and limited routes to advancement. 249 356 571

Economic competition with the New Alliance, labor unrest, arson, and the collapse of confidence in the chip economy triggered a revolt against the nobles. The residents, militia, and workers ultimately overthrew the old order; Boulder Mansion collapsed, and the former Inner City ruling class lost its privileges. 563 567 568

The Alliance supplied food, shelter, medical care, specialists, and transitional support. Boulder City was annexed as the Alliance's fifth city, while its residents established a new civic order under City Lord Lovett. 567 568 573

Geography & Districts

• Great Wall — Massive concrete defensive wall enclosing the settlement and serving as its defining landmark. It was built to resist Tidal Waves. 250 562
• Inner City — Formerly the seat of the nobles and Boulder Mansion; its renovated pre-war high-rises formed the city's social and political peak. 249
• Outer City — Industrial and residential area containing factories, merchants, workers, and City Hall functions. 250 352
• Slums — A heavily populated area shaped by unemployment and overcrowding; gangs, black markets, scavengers, mercenaries, and marauders operated there. 258 575
• Market — Trade area near the city gate, frequented by wastelanders and traveling merchants. 577
• Boulder Military Industry Building — Major military-industrial facility with over a thousand engineers and designers; accepts equipment-customization orders after joining the Alliance. 571

Government

Former order

New order

Lovett, Guild Master of the Fellow Workers' Association, was elected City Lord after the revolution. The City Lord handles major decisions and oversight, while City Hall officials and professionals administer daily municipal work; the office is supervised by both Boulder City's residents and the Alliance. 573

• The new government prioritized restoring industrial production and improving worker treatment. 573
• Former Inner City residents were required to register and confess crimes; those who cooperated and made amends received leniency, while resisters faced severe punishment. 568
• The city later established its own City Hall, City Lord, and Court without a separate Inner City. 801

Economy

• Chips became the hard currency of Clearwater City and the southern corridor after Boulder City used trade to extend its influence beyond the Great Wall. 250 545
• Its early industrialization produced weapons, armor, consumer goods, exoskeletons, bionic prosthetics, and other manufactured products. 284 364
• Boulder Military Industry developed weapons, power armor, bioroids, prosthetics, and the Awakening serum known as Dragon's Blood. 362 421
• The old economy depended on extreme inequality: laborers could create 20 chips of value while receiving only 1 chip in wages. 571
• The city imposed an entry tax of 1–2 chips to regulate migration into its already overcrowded districts. 575
• After joining the Alliance, prefabricated apartments were built for workers, and free housing was allocated according to priority criteria. 573 574

Security & Military

• Boulder City's militia operated from the Great Wall and maintained artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, missiles, radar, and aircraft. 259 416 421
• Its mercenary groups were a major regional military service; Boulder Military Industry advertised weapons, ammunition, and armed mediation or arbitration for clients able to pay in chips. 127
• Mercenaries generally wore improvised steel-plate protection; wealthier personnel could obtain exoskeletons, full armor, or power armor. 72
• The city deployed weapons intended for Tidal Waves—including incendiary and high-explosive aircraft munitions—to support the New Alliance against the Legion. 389
• Boulder Military Industry's military assets became part of the Alliance following the city's incorporation. 570 571

Society

• The old city was divided between privileged Inner City residents and a much larger population of workers, scavengers, mercenaries, and slum dwellers. 249 417
• Ordinary residents could most reliably improve their circumstances by joining caravans or becoming mercenaries. 249
• Many residents regarded people beyond the Great Wall as uncivilized “hicks,” reflecting Boulder City's long-standing regional prestige and isolation. 72 545
• The slums supported gang activity, stolen-goods fencing, black-market trade, human trafficking, and recruitment for marauders and mercenary groups. 258 259 575
• After the Alliance takeover, major gangs were dismantled, the slums and market were reopened, and a Mercenary Guild was established to regulate local mercenary work. 577 580

Relationships

• New Alliance — Began as a trading partner and neighboring power; later supplied military aid, loans, humanitarian relief, and administrative support before Boulder City became its fifth city. 352 389 568 571
• Dawn City — Connected through trade, diplomacy, an underground passage, and eventually rapid rail travel. 352 573 1114
• Post-War Reconstruction Committee — Assisted Boulder City's original expansion and construction of the Great Wall. 250 273
• Ideal City / The Corporation — Boulder City's upper class emulated Ideal City's products, culture, and development model. 284 387
• Boulder Military Industry — The city's premier industrial and military manufacturer; became an Alliance asset after the revolution. 570 571

Notable Events

• Caravan trade with Bett Street — Boulder City merchants traded supplies and acquired “special products,” including enslaved people. 14
• First New Alliance expedition — Players and caravans entered Boulder City, documenting its Great Wall, Inner City, slums, trade system, and social hierarchy. 249 250
• Dawn City agreement — Boulder City and Dawn City negotiated airspace, trade, and cooperation through Duron and Lukka. 352
• Legion conflict — Boulder City supplied the New Alliance with armory stocks and Tidal Wave munitions. 389
• Great Revolution — Workers, militia, and residents overthrew the Inner City nobility amid economic crisis and social unrest. 567 568
• Alliance incorporation — Boulder City became the fifth city of the Alliance and joined the Human Revival United Front. 568 571
• Post-revolution reconstruction — New housing, restored production, cleared underground links, and public celebrations marked the city's recovery. 573 574 580

Trivia

• Boulder City was once the largest survivor settlement in Clearwater City. 248
• The city’s radio station, Voice of Boulder City, mixed music, news, advertisements, and commentary by broadcaster Mr. House. 356
• Boulder City’s old ruling structure and black-card system influenced other survivor settlements, including Red River Town and Garbage City. 572
• An express train from Dawn City to Boulder City later reduced the journey to approximately one hour. 1114