subagent-arena

name	subagent-arena
description	Run parallel independent subagents on the same investigation or design question, collect structured outputs, then synthesize the best elements or score approaches. Use for complex research, architecture decisions, or when multiple valid strategies exist. Trigger with "run an arena", "parallel subagents", "compare approaches", "investigate from multiple angles".
version	1.0.0
author	Cobus Greyling

Subagent Arena

Harness the parallel reasoning strength of grok-build-0.1.

When to Use

• Ambiguous or high-stakes design questions
• Need to explore multiple implementation strategies safely
• Large investigation where one agent might miss angles
• User explicitly asks for comparison or multiple perspectives

How to Run an Arena

1. Define the exact question / charter (write it down).
2. Spawn 2–4 subagents with deliberately different charters or constraints.
   • Example charters:
     • "Approach A: minimal diff, ship fast"
     • "Approach B: most correct long-term architecture"
     • "Approach C: best testability and observability"
     • "Approach D: security and compliance first"
3. Give each subagent:
   • The same core context + specific charter
   • Instructions to produce structured output (Goal, Tradeoffs, Recommended Steps, Risks, Confidence)
   • "Do not make any edits. Investigation only."
4. Synthesize:
   • Compare outputs side-by-side (use a table).
   • Extract the strongest ideas from each.
   • Propose a hybrid or winning path.
5. Present synthesis + recommendation and (usually) hand off to plan-mode-orchestrator.

Structured Output Template for Subagents

**Charter:** ...
**Findings:**
- ...
**Tradeoffs:**
- ...
**Recommended Next Steps:**
1. ...
**Risks:**
- ...
**Confidence:** High / Medium / Low

Best Practices

• Make charters distinct enough to be useful.
• Keep subagents read-only unless the arena is specifically about implementation tactics.
• Always synthesize — never just paste raw subagent output.
• Track token/cost impact when relevant (especially useful in showcases).

Integration with Other Skills

• Almost always followed by plan-mode-orchestrator.
• Pair with architecture-reviewer or security-audit for specialized arenas.

Example Prompts

• "Run a subagent arena on the best way to add persistent memory to the MCP control center."
• "Use parallel subagents to investigate the three possible test strategies for the session analyzer."