Organize!

The School of Public Life

"The School of Public Life works for a world where everyone can participate in public life and decision making regardless of social status. We help active citizens to organise themselves into a movement to stand up for their rights and interests effectively." - they write on their website.

Their board game "Organize!" showcases this work and models their activities. One of the great advantages of board gaming is that we can step out of our comfort zone without any stakes, which is very useful here, as it allows us to observe processes that we have not yet dared or been able to initiate in reality, although we know they are necessary.

The Content of the Game

24 Issue Cards

The greatest value of the game, for me, is the 24 issue cards. I see incredible content development behind them, as selecting and briefly elaborating on 24 important social issues is no small feat. Alongside the description of the issues, a goal is also articulated for each one.

Four Types of Power

To achieve our goals, the game gives us power. There are four types of power cards: Community, Media and Public Opinion, Democratic Institutions, Allies. Let's look at an example for each:

Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay is very simple; we achieve our goals by playing power cards. Each round, we draw an issue card, determine the citizen group we are playing as, and then play power cards in turn. The latter is essentially a storytelling game element, as we need to interpret the specific card in the reality of the issue and narrate an event or a story within the context.

The Game Master Question

The question of having a game master is always delicate. I fundamentally dislike games that can only be played with a game master. First, because it's not a good role: someone is left out of the game. Second, it may require knowledge that is not available everywhere.

I was concerned about this latter point, but the section of the rulebook that discusses the preparation of the game master reassured me that it is a surmountable task. Probably, the added value is greater if we can acquire an expert in a specific topic to serve as the game master, but testing the game showed that it is possible to delve into the topics even without one.

The Point of This Game

And essentially, that's the point of this game. To highlight issues and connect them with characters, thereby creating a context in which we can collectively think about social issues. The game does not offer solutions, but it encourages thought, which can lead to action.

It seems to me that the game has taken this on itself and fulfills it. The game elements—storytelling, the luck factor with dice rolls, and recording different levels of scoring—are supplements and supports for collective thinking and discussions about important matters.