The Philippines experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclones every year according to PAGASA, and an average of 30 earthquakes a day according to PHIVOLCS. At this rate, climate change’s most vulnerable victims are children who encounter climate-related hazards.
With the lack of knowledge systems for disaster-resilience education in the country, an organization created a gamified solution to the problem—with a roll of the dice, players can learn to prepare for approaching disasters from the safety of their homes.
Developed by the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology–National Capital Region (DOST-NCR), Master of Disaster is a board game that immerses players in realistic emergency scenarios common in the Philippines, such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods, fires, and heatwaves.
First conceptualized in 2013, Master of Disaster was created following the devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan. The game was launched in 2019 and updated this year to reflect climate change–driven risks such as landslides, droughts, and extreme heat. More than 10,000 copies have since been distributed nationwide, targeting children and youth as young as seven years old to participate in game-based learning.
Players can obtain playing cards with educational information that they can interact with. They will also be equipped with six playing pieces, 1 dice, 50 hero tokens, and the board that accommodates 6 players. Cooperation is encouraged through “hero tokens,” awarded when players help others survive a scenario.
“Apart from instilling awareness and understanding of the importance of proper disaster response, the game also teaches responsibility, promotes teamwork, and the virtue of helping others,” shares ASSIST on its official website.
For more information on how to get your own Master of Disaster board game, visit assistasia.org/MOD/.