project-orchestrator

name	project-orchestrator
description	Orchestrate the full game development workflow — Phase 0 design pipeline, sprint cycles, lifecycle gates. Reads workflow state to ensure correct sequencing across sessions. Run this before starting any game development work.
domain	orchestration
type	controller
version	1.0.0
trigger	user
allowed-tools	["Read","Write","Edit","Glob","Grep","Bash"]

Project Orchestrator

This skill is the workflow enforcement layer for the agent team. It reads a state file to determine the current position in the workflow, then executes the correct next step — invoking the right skills, spawning teams at the right phase, and enforcing user approval at every gate.

Workflow Context

Field	Value
Assigned Agent	Orchestrator (main Claude instance)
Sprint Phase	All phases — this skill manages the entire workflow
Directory Scope	docs/.workflow-state.json (state file only)
Workflow Reference	See docs/agent-team-workflow.md

How to Invoke This Skill

Users can trigger this skill by saying:

• /project-orchestrator
• "What's my project status?"
• "Where am I in the workflow?"
• "Continue the workflow"
• "Start the design pipeline"

---

CRITICAL: First Action — Read State

Every time this skill is invoked, immediately do the following:

1. Check for State File

Look for: docs/.workflow-state.json

2. If State File Exists → Resume Flow

1. Read docs/.workflow-state.json

2. Parse workflow_position to determine current step

3. Display the status dashboard (see Status Display Format below)

4. Branch to the appropriate section based on workflow_position.phase:

   • pre_phase_0 → Begin Phase 0 (step 0.1)
   • phase_0 → Resume Phase 0 at the current step
   • sprint → Resume Sprint orchestration at the current sprint phase

5. If status is awaiting_user_approval: The previous session was interrupted before the user approved. Re-present the artifact and use AskUserQuestion to ask for approval.

6. If status is in_progress: The previous session was interrupted mid-step. Check if the artifact file exists:

   • If artifact exists → present it for approval (set status to awaiting_user_approval)
   • If no artifact → re-run the step from scratch

3. If No State File → Check Bootstrap

1. Check if the project directory structure exists (look for scripts/autoloads/, scenes/gameplay/, etc.)
2. If bootstrapped but no state file: Initialize the state file (see State Initialization below) and begin Phase 0
3. If NOT bootstrapped: Tell the user: "This project hasn't been bootstrapped yet. Run /project-bootstrap first to set up the directory structure."

State Initialization

Create docs/.workflow-state.json with:

{
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "project_name": "[read from project.godot or CLAUDE.md]",
  "created_at": "[current ISO timestamp]",
  "updated_at": "[current ISO timestamp]",
  "lifecycle_phase": "not_started",
  "workflow_position": {
    "phase": "pre_phase_0",
    "step": null,
    "status": "pending",
    "substep": null
  },
  "phase_0_progress": {
    "game_ideator": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "concept_validator": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "design_bible_updater": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "art_reference_collector": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "audio_reference_collector": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "narrative_reference_collector": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "game_vision_generator": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "gdd_generator": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "roadmap_planner": { "status": "pending", "artifact": null, "approved_at": null },
    "feature_pipeline": {
      "sprint_1_features": [],
      "sprint_2_features": [],
      "sprint_3_features": [],
      "sprint_4_features": []
    }
  },
  "epics": [],
  "sprints": [],
  "lifecycle_gates": {
    "prototype_gate": { "status": "pending", "decision": null, "decided_at": null },
    "vertical_slice_gate": { "status": "pending", "decision": null, "decided_at": null }
  }
}

---

CRITICAL: Skill Invocation Protocol

Every Phase 0 step and every sprint agent task requires reading a specific skill file. The mapping is defined in skill-registry.json (in this skill's directory).

Before executing ANY step:

1. Look up the current step in skill-registry.json to find the required skill path
2. Read that skill file using the Read tool
3. Then proceed with the skill's instructions

A PreToolUse hook (enforce-skill-read.sh) enforces this — artifact writes are blocked unless the required skill was read first. A PostToolUse hook (track-skill-read.sh) automatically records skill reads in the state file's skill_reads field.

This is NON-NEGOTIABLE even if you "know" what the skill does. The hooks track reads mechanically and will block writes if the read didn't happen in the current step.

---

CRITICAL: Structured Output Formats

All status updates, deliveries, and transitions MUST use the standardized report formats defined in:

.claude/skills/project-orchestrator/report-formats.md

Read this file at the start of every session. It defines templates for:

• Status dashboard (on every invocation)
• Phase transition cards (A→B, B→B.5, etc.)
• Feature delivery cards (when a feature is implemented)
• Sprint summary cards (sprint start and sprint review)
• Epic review banners
• Lifecycle gate banners
• Integration check reports
• Document update logs
• Fix loop reports
• Playtest guides (Phase D, per sprint)

Rules:

• Never freeform a status update — always use the matching template
• Banners (══) for milestones only (sprint start/end, epic reviews, gates)
• Cards (──) for deliverables (features, phase completions, artifacts)
• Logs for supporting details (doc updates, file lists)

---

CRITICAL: Report Delivery Protocol (Hook-Enforced)

A PreToolUse hook (enforce-report-delivery.sh) blocks ALL artifact writes when pending_reports in the state file is non-empty. This ensures reports are always delivered at transition points.

How It Works

1. When you reach a transition point, set pending_reports in the state file with the required report type(s)
2. Present the report using the correct format from report-formats.md
3. Clear pending_reports (set to []) in the state file
4. Now artifact writes are unblocked and you can continue

Transition → Required Report Mapping

Transition	Set pending_reports to	Report Format
Sprint Phase D approved (CONTINUE)	["sprint_end_review"]	Sprint End Review (#4)
Starting a new sprint (before Phase A)	["sprint_start"]	Sprint Start Card (#4)
All sprints in epic completed	["epic_review"]	Epic Review Banner (#5)
Lifecycle gate reached	["lifecycle_gate"]	Lifecycle Gate Banner (#6)
Phase B.5 completed	["integration_check"]	Integration Check Report (#8)
Phase A→B, B→B.5, C→D	["phase_transition"]	Phase Transition Card (#2)

Multiple Reports

When multiple reports are required at the same transition (e.g., sprint completes AND epic completes), set all of them:

"pending_reports": ["sprint_end_review", "epic_review"]

Present each report in order, then clear pending_reports to [].

Example Flow: Sprint Completion → Next Sprint

1. User approves Sprint N Phase D → CONTINUE
2. Write state: sprint.current_phase = "completed", pending_reports = ["sprint_end_review"]
3. Present Sprint End Review card (format #4)
4. Check: is this the last sprint in the epic?
   - If YES: write state: pending_reports = ["epic_review", "sprint_start"]
   - If NO: write state: pending_reports = ["sprint_start"]
5. Present Epic Review banner if required (format #5)
6. Present Sprint Start card (format #4)
7. Write state: pending_reports = []
8. NOW you can write feature specs and other artifacts

This is NON-NEGOTIABLE. The hook will block writes to docs/features/, scripts/, scenes/, and all other artifact paths until pending_reports is empty.

---

Phase 0: Design Pipeline

Mode: No team. You (the orchestrator) act as the design-lead agent directly, working interactively with the user. Do NOT create a team for Phase 0.

Before starting: Read .claude/agents/design-lead.md for role context.

Step 0.1: Game Ideator

Precondition: State is at pre_phase_0 or phase_0 with step game_ideator

Action:

1. Update state: workflow_position → { phase: "phase_0", step: "game_ideator", status: "in_progress" }
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/game-ideator/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: run the interactive questioning process with the user
5. When the skill produces its output, save to docs/ideas/game-concepts.md
6. Update state: phase_0_progress.game_ideator.artifact → "docs/ideas/game-concepts.md"
7. Update state: status → "awaiting_user_approval"
8. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of the generated concepts and reference file docs/ideas/game-concepts.md, then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with Game Concept Generation?" Options:

• APPROVE — Select a concept and proceed to Concept Validation
• MODIFY — Adjust constraints and regenerate concepts
• REJECT — Discard and start over from scratch

If the user selects APPROVE, use a follow-up AskUserQuestion to ask which concept to select (list concepts as options).

On APPROVE: Update status → "completed", record approved_at, proceed to Step 0.2 On MODIFY: Update status → "user_requested_changes", gather feedback, re-run skill On REJECT: Update status → "pending", re-run from scratch

---

Step 0.2: Concept Validator

Precondition: game_ideator status is completed or skipped

Action:

1. Update state: step → "concept_validator", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/concept-validator/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: validate the selected concept for feasibility
5. Save output to docs/ideas/concept-validation.md
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of the feasibility assessment, risks identified, and recommended mitigations. Reference file docs/ideas/concept-validation.md, then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with Concept Validation?" Options:

• APPROVE — Risks are acceptable, proceed to Design Bible
• MODIFY — Adjust scope to reduce risk and re-validate
• REJECT — Return to Concept Generation (resets Step 0.1 and 0.2)

On APPROVE: Mark completed, proceed to Step 0.3 On MODIFY: Gather feedback, re-validate with adjusted scope On REJECT: Reset this step AND Step 0.1 to pending, return to Step 0.1

---

Step 0.3: Design Bible

Precondition: concept_validator status is completed or skipped

Action:

1. Update state: step → "design_bible_updater", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/design-bible-updater/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: establish design pillars, creative vision, tone
5. Save output to docs/design-bible.md
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of the design pillars, vision statement, and creative direction. Reference file docs/design-bible.md. Emphasize that the design bible guides ALL future decisions — this is the most important approval. Then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with the Design Bible?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the design pillars and creative direction, proceed to Full Game Vision
• MODIFY — Provide feedback on pillars/tone for revision
• REJECT — Discard and start the Design Bible fresh

On APPROVE: Mark completed, proceed to Steps 0.3a/0.3b/0.3c (Reference Collection) or skip to Step 0.4 if user declines On MODIFY: Gather specific feedback on pillars/tone, revise On REJECT: Reset to pending, start fresh

---

Step 0.3a: Art Reference Collection (Optional)

Precondition: design_bible_updater status is completed or skipped

Action:

1. Update state: step → "art_reference_collector", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/art-reference-collector/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: identify reference game, gather images, analyze style, select style anchors
5. Save output to docs/art-direction.md and style anchors to assets/references/
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of: reference images collected per category, style analysis highlights (palette, line style, scale), which images were selected as style anchors. Reference file docs/art-direction.md, then use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with Art Direction?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the art direction, proceed
• MODIFY — Change style anchors, adjust analysis, add more references
• SKIP — Skip art direction (asset-artist will use default prompts without style anchors)

---

Step 0.3b: Audio Reference Collection (Optional)

Precondition: design_bible_updater status is completed or skipped

Action:

1. Update state: step → "audio_reference_collector", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/audio-reference-collector/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: research audio identity, find Epidemic Sound matches, build search anchor tables
5. Save output to docs/audio-direction.md
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of: audio identity analysis (genre, mood, instrumentation), Epidemic Sound matches found per context, search anchor table. Reference file docs/audio-direction.md, then use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with Audio Direction?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the audio direction, proceed
• MODIFY — Adjust mood targets, add references, change priorities
• SKIP — Skip audio direction (asset-artist will search Epidemic Sound ad-hoc)

---

Step 0.3c: Narrative Reference Collection (Optional)

Precondition: design_bible_updater status is completed or skipped

Action:

1. Update state: step → "narrative_reference_collector", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/narrative-reference-collector/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: analyze story structure, dialogue voice, lore delivery, worldbuilding patterns
5. Save output to docs/narrative-direction.md
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of: narrative structure (model, lore hierarchy, dialogue voice), emotional design targets, key templates created. Reference file docs/narrative-direction.md, then use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with Narrative Direction?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the narrative direction, proceed
• MODIFY — Adjust tone, change lore delivery priorities, add references
• SKIP — Skip narrative direction (downstream skills use their own defaults)

---

Step 0.4: Full Game Vision

Precondition: design_bible_updater status is completed or skipped. Reference collectors (0.3a-c) are completed, skipped, or pending (they don't block the vision).

Action:

1. Update state: step → "game_vision_generator", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/game-vision-generator/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: work through the interactive visioning process with the user to capture the complete game
5. Save output to docs/game-vision.md
6. Update state: phase_0_progress.game_vision_generator.artifact → "docs/game-vision.md"
7. Update state: status → "awaiting_user_approval"
8. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of the vision including: game identity, total mechanics cataloged, scope map breakdown (how many features per lifecycle phase), and key design decisions. Reference file docs/game-vision.md. Emphasize that this vision is the master plan — GDDs will scope down from it. Then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with the Full Game Vision?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the vision and proceed to Prototype GDD
• MODIFY — Provide feedback to adjust mechanics, scope, or priorities
• REJECT — Discard and restart the vision

On APPROVE: Mark completed, proceed to Step 0.5 On MODIFY: Gather specific feedback, revise relevant sections On REJECT: Reset to pending, start fresh

---

Step 0.5: Prototype GDD

Precondition: game_vision_generator status is completed or skipped. The GDD should reference docs/game-vision.md to scope down to prototype-appropriate features.

Action:

1. Update state: step → "gdd_generator", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/gdd-generator/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: create the Game Design Document through interactive Q&A, scoping from the approved Game Vision
5. Save output to docs/prototype-gdd.md
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of the GDD including core loop, mechanics, systems needed, and scope. Reference file docs/prototype-gdd.md, then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with the Prototype GDD?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the GDD and proceed to Roadmap Planning
• MODIFY — Provide feedback to revise specific sections
• REJECT — Discard and restart the GDD

On APPROVE: Mark completed, proceed to Step 0.6 On MODIFY: Gather feedback, revise specific sections On REJECT: Reset to pending

---

Step 0.6: Prototype Roadmap

Precondition: gdd_generator status is completed or skipped

Action:

1. Update state: step → "roadmap_planner", status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Read .claude/skills/roadmap-planner/SKILL.md
4. Follow that skill's instructions: break the GDD into sprint-sized deliverable slices
5. Save output to docs/prototype-roadmap.md
6. Update artifact and status → "awaiting_user_approval"
7. Write state file

User Gate: STOP. Present a summary of the sprint breakdown including how many sprints, what each delivers, and dependencies. Reference file docs/prototype-roadmap.md, then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

Question: "How do you want to proceed with the Prototype Roadmap?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the roadmap and proceed to Feature Pipeline
• MODIFY — Adjust sprint scope, reorder, or add/remove sprints
• REJECT — Discard and restart the roadmap

On APPROVE: Mark completed, proceed to Step 0.7 (Feature Pipeline) On MODIFY: Gather feedback on sprint scope/ordering, revise On REJECT: Reset to pending

---

Step 0.7: Feature Pipeline (Sprint 1 Features)

Precondition: roadmap_planner status is completed or skipped

This step is iterative — it runs once per feature in Sprint 1.

Action:

1. Read the roadmap (docs/prototype-roadmap.md) to identify Sprint 1 features

2. Update state: step → "feature_pipeline", status → "in_progress"

3. For each Sprint 1 feature that hasn't been processed:

   a) Idea Brief (feature-spec-generator):

   1. Read .claude/skills/feature-spec-generator/SKILL.md
   2. Follow that skill's instructions for this specific feature (idea brief mode)
   3. Save to docs/ideas/[feature-name]-idea.md
   4. Present to user for approval

   b) Feature Spec (feature-spec-generator):

   1. Read .claude/skills/feature-spec-generator/SKILL.md
   2. Follow that skill's instructions using the approved idea brief (full spec mode)
   3. Save to docs/features/[feature-name].md
   4. Present to user for approval

4. Track each feature's progress in phase_0_progress.feature_pipeline.sprint_N_features using this per-feature structure:

   {
     "name": "feature-name",
     "idea_brief": { "status": "pending|skipped|completed", "artifact": null },
     "feature_spec": { "status": "pending|completed", "artifact": "docs/features/feature-name.md", "approved_at": null }
   }
   

   Populate entries for ALL sprints defined in the roadmap (not just Sprint 1). Future sprint features start with "status": "pending".

5. When ALL Sprint 1 features have approved specs → Phase 0 is complete

User Gate (per feature): STOP after each idea brief and each spec. Present a summary of the document produced, then use AskUserQuestion with these options:

For idea briefs: Question: "How do you want to proceed with the [feature-name] Idea Brief?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the idea brief and proceed to Feature Spec
• MODIFY — Provide feedback to revise the idea brief
• REJECT — Discard and restart this idea brief

For feature specs: Question: "How do you want to proceed with the [feature-name] Feature Spec?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the spec and move to next feature (or complete Phase 0)
• MODIFY — Provide feedback to revise the spec
• REJECT — Discard and restart this spec

---

Phase 0 Completion → Transition to Sprint 1

When all Phase 0 steps are completed (or skipped):

1. Update state:
   • lifecycle_phase → "prototype"
   • workflow_position → { phase: "sprint", step: "A", status: "pending" }
2. Initialize the first sprint entry in sprints array
3. Write state file
4. Display: "Phase 0 complete! All design documents approved. Ready to begin Sprint 1."
5. Proceed to Sprint Orchestration

---

Sprint Orchestration

Mode: Multi-agent team. Use TeamCreate, Task, TaskCreate, SendMessage tools.

Reference: See docs/agent-team-workflow.md for full sprint details and phase-transitions.md for valid transitions.

Sprint Setup

When beginning a new sprint:

1. Read the roadmap to identify this sprint's deliverable, features, and parent epic 1a. Validate sprint scope — check feature count against limits:
   • Prototype: max 2 features
   • Vertical Slice: max 3 features
   • Production: max 4 features If the roadmap assigns more features than the limit, split into multiple sprints and inform the user. 1b. Ensure epic exists in state — if this is the first sprint of an epic, add the epic:

   {
     "epic_number": E,
     "name": "[Player-facing goal from roadmap]",
     "lifecycle_phase": "[current lifecycle phase]",
     "status": "in_progress",
     "sprint_numbers": [N],
     "review": null
   }
   

   If the epic already exists, append this sprint number to sprint_numbers.
2. Create git branch: git checkout -b sprint/[N]-[short-description]
3. Create team: TeamCreate: team_name="sprint-[N]", description="Sprint [N]: [deliverable]"
4. Add sprint entry to state with full detail — including all tasks from the roadmap pre-populated:

   {
     "sprint_number": N,
     "name": "[deliverable slice name]",
     "epic_number": E,
     "branch": "sprint/N-description",
     "lifecycle_phase": "[current lifecycle phase]",
     "current_phase": "A",
     "team_name": "sprint-N",
     "godot_path": null,
     "phases": {
       "A": { "status": "pending", "agents": [], "completed_at": null, "notes": null },
       "B": { "status": "pending", "agents": [], "completed_at": null, "notes": null },
       "B5": { "status": "pending", "checklist": {}, "issues_found": 0, "issues_fixed": 0, "smoke_test": null, "notes": null },
       "C": { "status": "pending", "agents": [], "completed_at": null, "notes": null },
       "D": { "status": "pending", "substep": null, "fix_loop": { "iterations": [] }, "approval": {} }
     },
     "features": ["feature-name-1", "feature-name-2"],
     "tasks": []
   }
   

5. Populate tasks from the roadmap — read docs/prototype-roadmap.md (or equivalent) and create a task entry for EVERY task listed in this sprint, using this schema:

   {
     "id": "SYS-N.M",
     "agent": "systems-dev|gameplay-dev|ui-dev|content-architect|asset-artist|team-lead",
     "phase": "A|B|B5|C|D",
     "feature": "feature-name or null for integration/bug tasks",
     "description": "What this task does — one line",
     "status": "pending|completed",
     "files_created": [],
     "files_modified": [],
     "completed_at": null,
     "notes": null
   }
   

   Task ID prefixes: SYS- (systems-dev), GP- (gameplay-dev), UI- (ui-dev), CON- (content-architect), ART- (asset-artist), TL- (team-lead). Include tasks for ALL phases (A, B, B5, C, D) that are defined in the roadmap.
6. Populate features list from the roadmap/feature specs
7. Write state file
8. Transition to Phase A

IMPORTANT — Task Tracking During Sprint:

• When a task is completed: update its status to "completed", fill in files_created, files_modified, completed_at, and notes
• When Phase D fix loop iterations occur: add TL- tasks for each fix
• When phases complete: update completed_at and notes on the phase entry
• When B.5 integration runs: fill in checklist, issues_found, issues_fixed, smoke_test
• When Phase D approval occurs: fill in the approval object with per-feature decisions

---

Phase A: Spec & Foundation

1. Update sprint current_phase → "A", Phase A status → "in_progress"

2. Write state file

3. Spawn agents:

   design-lead (if specs need refinement):

   Task: name="design-lead", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the design-lead agent. Read .claude/agents/design-lead.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md and docs/agent-team-workflow.md for context.
   Your task: refine and finalize feature specs for Sprint N: [list features]"
   

   systems-dev:

   Task: name="systems-dev", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the systems-dev agent. Read .claude/agents/systems-dev.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md and docs/agent-team-workflow.md for context.
   Your task: implement system-level features for Sprint N. Read these specs: [list].
   Use the feature-implementer skill. Signal when foundation APIs are ready."
   

   asset-artist:

   Task: name="asset-artist", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the asset-artist agent. Read .claude/agents/asset-artist.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md and docs/agent-team-workflow.md for context.
   Check for docs/art-direction.md — if it exists, read it for style anchors and palette.
   Check for docs/audio-direction.md — if it exists, read it for music/SFX search anchors.
   Your task: generate visual and audio assets for Sprint N features: [list]"
   

4. Create tasks via TaskCreate for each agent's work, with dependencies

5. Record spawned agents in Phase A state: phases.A.agents = ["systems-dev", "asset-artist"]

As tasks complete: Update the corresponding task entry in sprints[N].tasks with status: "completed", files_created, files_modified, completed_at, and notes.

Transition to Phase B when:

• All feature specs are approved by user
• systems-dev signals "foundation APIs ready"

---

Phase B: Implementation

1. Update sprint current_phase → "B", Phase B status → "in_progress"

2. Write state file

3. Spawn additional agents:

   gameplay-dev:

   Task: name="gameplay-dev", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the gameplay-dev agent. Read .claude/agents/gameplay-dev.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md, docs/agent-team-workflow.md, and docs/systems-bible.md for context.
   Your task: implement gameplay features for Sprint N. Read these specs: [list].
   Use the feature-implementer skill."
   

   ui-dev:

   Task: name="ui-dev", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the ui-dev agent. Read .claude/agents/ui-dev.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md, docs/agent-team-workflow.md, and docs/systems-bible.md for context.
   Your task: implement UI features for Sprint N. Read these specs: [list].
   Use the feature-implementer skill."
   

   content-architect:

   Task: name="content-architect", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the content-architect agent. Read .claude/agents/content-architect.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md and docs/agent-team-workflow.md for context.
   Your task: create data files for Sprint N features: [list]"
   

4. Keep asset-artist running from Phase A

5. Create tasks via TaskCreate for each feature, with addBlockedBy for dependencies

As tasks complete: Update the corresponding task entry in sprints[N].tasks with status: "completed", files_created, files_modified, completed_at, and notes. When the phase finishes, update phases.B.completed_at and phases.B.notes.

Per-Feature Progress Reports:

As each feature is completed by an implementing agent, present a Feature Completion Report to the user. This is a non-blocking progress update — the sprint continues. Use this format:

## Feature Complete: [Feature Name]

### What Was Built
[2-3 sentences: what this feature does and why]

### What's Different Now
- [Visible change 1]
- [Visible change 2]

### How to Playtest
1. [Steps to test]
2. Success: [what confirms it works]

### Known Limitations
- [Anything not yet wired up or placeholder]

The user does not need to respond. If they raise concerns, address them before continuing. Otherwise proceed to the next feature.

Transition to Phase B.5 when:

• All Phase B tasks are marked complete in TaskList

---

Phase B.5: Integration Wiring (Team Lead)

This phase is MANDATORY. The team lead (you) personally verifies that all pieces built by independent agents actually connect. Skipping this phase was the #1 source of bugs in early sprints.

1. Update sprint current_phase → "B5", Phase B5 status → "in_progress"
2. Write state file
3. Shut down all Phase B agents (they're done implementing)
4. Run the integration checklist below in order:

Integration Checklist

Scene Instantiation Verification:

• Every new .tscn created this sprint is instantiated or loaded by at least one other scene or script
• No orphaned scenes (search for ExtResource or load()/preload() references to each new scene)
• New UI scenes are added to the correct parent (e.g., HUD children go in hud.tscn)

project.godot Verification:

• run/main_scene points to the correct scene
• All new autoloads are registered in [autoload] section
• Input map includes any new actions added this sprint

Signal Wiring Verification:

• Every signal emitted by new code has at least one listener connected
• Every signal listener references a signal that actually exists in EventBus or the emitting node
• No duplicate signal connections (idempotency check)

Collision Layer Verification:

• New physics bodies use the correct collision layers per docs/known-patterns.md registry
• collision_layer (what I am) and collision_mask (what I detect) are not confused
• Area2D triggers have collision_layer = 0 and collision_mask set to the target layer

Group Membership Verification:

• Nodes expected to be in groups (e.g., "player", "enemies") are added via .add_to_group() or scene property
• Code that calls get_nodes_in_group() or is_in_group() references groups that actually exist

Naming Convention Verification:

• Autoload scripts do NOT use class_name that matches the autoload name (use FooClass pattern)
• No class_name conflicts between scripts

Spatial/Dimension Verification:

• New rooms/levels use dimensions consistent with docs/known-patterns.md Reference Dimensions
• Spawned entities are positioned within room bounds
• Camera limits match room dimensions

Cross-Feature Integration:

• Features that share state (e.g., health system + HUD, boss + health bar) are actually wired together
• Room transitions preserve persistent entities (player, HUD)
• Save/load (if applicable) covers new state introduced this sprint

After Checklist

5. Run class cache rebuild: godot --headless --editor --quit
6. Run smoke test: godot --headless --quit 2>&1
7. If issues found → fix them directly, re-run smoke test
8. Record results in state:

   "B5": {
     "status": "completed",
     "checklist": {
       "orphaned_scenes": "passed",
       "project_godot": "passed",
       "signals": "passed",
       "collision_layers": "passed",
       "groups": "passed",
       "naming": "passed",
       "dimensions": "passed",
       "cross_feature": "passed"
     },
     "issues_found": 0,
     "issues_fixed": 0,
     "smoke_test": "passed"
   }
   

9. GIT COMMIT (if fixes were needed): ask user to approve

Transition to Phase C when:

• All checklist items pass
• Smoke test passes

---

Phase C: QA & Documentation

1. Update sprint current_phase → "C", Phase C status → "in_progress"

2. Write state file

3. Spawn qa-docs:

   qa-docs:

   Task: name="qa-docs", subagent_type="general-purpose", team_name="sprint-N"
   Prompt: "You are the qa-docs agent. Read .claude/agents/qa-docs.md for your role.
   Read CLAUDE.md and docs/agent-team-workflow.md for context.
   Your tasks:
   1. Run code-reviewer on all new/modified scripts
   2. Update docs/systems-bible.md
   3. Update docs/architecture.md
   4. Update CHANGELOG.md
   Save reviews to docs/code-reviews/"
   

4. Keep developer agents running for critical issue fixes

5. Optionally spawn design-lead to pipeline next sprint's specs (parallel)

Transition to Phase D when:

• qa-docs completes all reviews
• Developers fix all critical issues
• Headless smoke test passes (see below)

Phase C Exit: Headless Smoke Test

Before transitioning to Phase D, run the Godot headless smoke test.

IMPORTANT — Godot Path: The Godot binary may not be in PATH. Check the sprint state for godot_path. If not set, try these locations in order:

1. godot (if in PATH)
2. /Users/*/Downloads/Godot.app/Contents/MacOS/Godot (macOS download)
3. Ask the user for the path

Once found, record it in the sprint state as "godot_path" so future sprints don't need to search again.

Procedure:

1. After all QA fixes are applied, rebuild the class cache first:

   [godot_path] --headless --editor --quit 2>&1
   

   This is required whenever new class_name declarations were added this sprint. Skipping it causes stale cache errors that look like missing classes.

2. Run the headless smoke test:

   [godot_path] --headless --quit 2>&1
   

3. This catches compile/parse errors that would waste user time:

   • Script syntax errors
   • class_name conflicts with autoload singletons
   • Missing dependencies or broken resource references

4. If errors are found:

   • Read the error output and diagnose
   • Fix the issues directly (you are the team lead)
   • Rebuild class cache again if you changed any class_name declarations
   • Re-run the headless test
   • Repeat until it passes cleanly

5. If clean: Update state and transition to Phase D

6. Record the smoke test result in the sprint state:

   "smoke_test": { "status": "passed", "attempts": 2, "errors_fixed": ["class_name conflict", "missing resource"] }
   

7. Review captured output: The capture-smoke-test.sh hook automatically logs all smoke test output to:

   • docs/sprint-logs/sprint-{N}-smoke-test.log — Human-readable log with categorized errors/warnings
   • docs/sprint-logs/sprint-{N}-smoke-test-latest.json — Machine-readable summary with error counts

   Read the latest JSON summary to confirm the captured result matches your assessment before proceeding.

CRITICAL: Never present Phase D sprint review to the user until the headless smoke test passes. The user should never encounter compile errors.

---

Phase D: Sprint Review (ITERATIVE USER GATE)

Phase D is iterative — it includes a fix loop where the user can report issues via screenshots or descriptions, the team lead fixes them, and the user re-tests. Bug reports during review are first-class workflow events, not interruptions.

Phase D Sub-States

Track the current sub-state in workflow_position.substep:

Sub-State	Description
smoke_test	Running initial headless smoke test
generating_playtest_guide	Generating playtest guide from feature specs + sprint tasks
presenting_review	Compiling and presenting the sprint review + playtest guide
user_testing	User is playtesting, may report issues
fix_loop	User reported issues, team lead is fixing
final_approval	Fix loop complete, presenting formal approval gate

Step 1: Smoke Test

1. Update sprint current_phase → "D", Phase D status → "in_progress", substep → "smoke_test"
2. Write state file
3. Shut down all agents: SendMessage: type="shutdown_request" to each
4. TeamDelete
5. Clear team_name in sprint state
6. Run: godot --headless --quit 2>&1
7. If errors → fix them, re-run until clean
8. Update substep → "generating_playtest_guide"

Step 2: Generate Playtest Guide

1. Update substep → "generating_playtest_guide" (if not already set)
2. Gather context from these sources:
   • Feature specs (docs/features/{name}.md) — what each feature does, acceptance criteria
   • Sprint tasks (workflow state sprints[N].tasks) — what was actually built, files created/modified
   • project.godot — run/main_scene for the entry point scene
   • Systems bible (docs/systems-bible.md) — navigation flow between scenes (how to reach each feature)
   • Previous playtest guide (docs/sprint-logs/sprint-{N-1}-playtest-guide.md, if exists) — for the "Cumulative Game State" section baseline
3. Generate docs/sprint-logs/sprint-{N}-playtest-guide.md using the Playtest Guide template from report-formats.md (format #10)
4. Update substep → "presenting_review"
5. Present the playtest guide path alongside the sprint review in the next step

Step 3: Present Sprint Review

Compile Sprint Review using this format (from workflow doc):

# Sprint [N] Review: "[Deliverable Slice Name]"

## Completed Features
For each feature:
- **Feature name** — status: COMPLETE | PARTIAL | BLOCKED
- What was built (1-2 sentences)
- Files created/modified
- Deviations from spec (if any)

## QA Summary
- Critical issues found: [count]
- Performance warnings: [count]
- Code quality suggestions: [count]
- All critical issues resolved: YES/NO

## Smoke Test
- Status: PASSED (N attempts, errors fixed: [list or "none"])
- Full log: `docs/sprint-logs/sprint-{N}-smoke-test.log`

## Assets Produced
- [list with paths]

## Content Produced
- [list with paths]

## Documentation Updated
- Systems bible: YES/NO
- Architecture doc: YES/NO
- Changelog: YES/NO

## Metrics
- Features planned: [N] | Completed: [N] | Carried over: [N]

## Next Sprint Preview
- Proposed deliverable: "[what player can do next]"
- Feature specs ready: [list]

## Questions for User
- [decisions needed]

Present the review and reference the playtest guide: "The playtest guide is at docs/sprint-logs/sprint-{N}-playtest-guide.md — it has step-by-step test instructions for each feature. Report any bugs or issues (screenshots welcome), or proceed to the formal approval when ready."

Update substep → "user_testing"

Step 4: Fix Loop

When the user reports issues (screenshots, text descriptions, bug reports):

1. Update substep → "fix_loop", increment fix_loop_iteration in state
2. Diagnose the reported issue
3. Fix the issue in code
4. Re-run headless smoke test (godot --headless --quit 2>&1) to verify the fix doesn't introduce new errors
5. Report back to the user: describe what was fixed, ask them to test again
6. Update substep → "user_testing"
7. Repeat as many times as needed — this loop has no iteration limit

Track fix loop history in the sprint state, and add a corresponding TL- task for each fix:

"fix_loop": {
  "iterations": [
    { "reported_by": "user", "issue": "Parser error: class_name hides autoload", "fix": "Removed class_name from autoload scripts", "smoke_test": "passed", "task_id": "TL-N.1" },
    { "reported_by": "user", "issue": "UI text too small at 1080p", "fix": "Increased theme font size and panel dimensions", "smoke_test": "passed", "task_id": "TL-N.2" }
  ]
}

Each fix loop iteration must also create a task entry in sprints[N].tasks:

{ "id": "TL-N.M", "agent": "team-lead", "phase": "D", "feature": null, "description": "Fix: [issue summary]", "status": "completed", "files_created": [], "files_modified": ["affected files"], "completed_at": "[timestamp]", "notes": "[details]" }

Step 5: Final Approval

When the user indicates they're satisfied (says "looks good", "ready to approve", or asks to proceed):

Update substep → "final_approval"

Present formal approval gate using AskUserQuestion for each decision point:

Per-feature decisions — For each feature, use AskUserQuestion: Question: "What is your decision for [feature-name]?" Options:

• ACCEPT — Feature is complete and acceptable
• REQUEST CHANGES — Send back for fixes (returns to Phase C)
• REJECT — Discard this feature's implementation

Next sprint scope — Use AskUserQuestion: Question: "How do you want to proceed with the next sprint?" Options:

• APPROVE — Accept the proposed next sprint scope
• MODIFY SCOPE — Adjust the next sprint's scope or reorder features
• REORDER — Change the sprint ordering

Overall sprint decision — Use AskUserQuestion: Question: "What is your overall decision for Sprint [N]?" Options:

• CONTINUE — Accept sprint results and move forward
• PAUSE — Pause development (can resume later)
• PIVOT — Significant direction change needed

Record approval decisions in the sprint state:

"approval": {
  "feature-name-1": "accepted|request_changes|rejected",
  "feature-name-2": "accepted|request_changes|rejected",
  "next_sprint": "approved|modified|reordered",
  "overall": "continue|pause|pivot"
}

On Continue (all features accepted):

1. Update Phase D status → "completed", sprint current_phase → "completed"
2. Merge sprint branch: git checkout main && git merge sprint/N-description
3. Check epic completion — read the current epic from state. If this was the last sprint in the epic's sprint_numbers:
   • Present the Epic Review (see below)
   • Wait for user decision before proceeding
4. Check if this is the last sprint in the current lifecycle phase:
   • If YES → proceed to Lifecycle Gate
   • If NO → proceed to next Sprint Setup (which begins the next epic if applicable)
5. Write state file

On Request Changes (any feature):

1. Return to Phase C, re-spawn relevant agents
2. Update state accordingly

---

Epic Review

When the final sprint in an epic is completed (all sprint numbers in epic.sprint_numbers have current_phase: "completed"), present an Epic Review before starting the next epic.

Presenting the Epic Review

Compile and present this format:

## Epic Review: "[Epic Goal]"

### Goal Assessment
- Epic goal: [What we set out to achieve]
- Achieved: [YES / PARTIAL / NO]
- Evidence: [What the user can now do in-game that proves it]

### Sprints Completed
- Sprint N: "[deliverable]" — [accepted / partially accepted]
- Sprint N+1: "[deliverable]" — [accepted / partially accepted]

### Lessons Learned
- [What worked well]
- [What to improve for next epic]

### Next Epic Preview
- Epic: "[Next goal]"
- Sprints planned: [count]
- First sprint: "[deliverable]"

Then use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "How do you want to proceed after Epic [N]: '[Goal]'?" Options:

• PROCEED — Move to the next epic
• ITERATE — Add a fix sprint to address gaps in this epic's goal
• PAUSE — Pause to reassess direction before continuing

On PROCEED:

1. Update epic status → "completed", set review.goal_achieved and review.user_decision → "proceed", review.reviewed_at
2. Write state file
3. Proceed to next Sprint Setup (first sprint of next epic)

On ITERATE:

1. Update epic status → "iterated", set review.goal_achieved → "partial", review.user_decision → "iterate"
2. Create a new iteration sprint at the end of the epic's sprint_numbers
3. Discuss scope with user, then proceed to Sprint Setup for the iteration sprint

On PAUSE:

1. Update review.user_decision → "pause", review.reviewed_at
2. Write state file
3. Wait for user to resume — on next /project-orchestrator invocation, re-present the pause state

---

Lifecycle Gates

Prototype Gate (after all prototype sprints)

Present a summary to the user including sprints completed, core loop assessment, and known issues. Then use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "PROTOTYPE GO/NO-GO — Is this fun? How do you want to proceed?" Options:

• GO — Proceed to Vertical Slice phase
• PIVOT — Revise GDD and re-prototype
• KILL — Stop development, return to concepts

On GO:

1. Update lifecycle_phase → "vertical_slice"
2. Update lifecycle_gates.prototype_gate → { status: "completed", decision: "GO" }
3. Update the Game Vision — Read .claude/skills/game-vision-generator/SKILL.md and update docs/game-vision.md based on prototype learnings (what worked, what didn't, scope adjustments). Present changes for user approval.
4. Set workflow_position → { phase: "phase_0", step: "vertical_slice_gdd" }
5. Run gdd-generator (vertical slice mode, scoping from updated vision) → then roadmap-planner (vertical slice mode) → then feature pipeline
6. Then begin Vertical Slice sprints

On PIVOT:

1. Stay in prototype, record pivot reason
2. Update the Game Vision if the pivot changes the overall game direction
3. Reset to gdd_generator step, revise GDD
4. Plan new prototype sprints

On KILL:

1. Set lifecycle_phase → "killed"
2. Optionally restart from game_ideator

---

Vertical Slice Gate (after all VS sprints)

Present a summary to the user including quality bar assessment and polish level. Then use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "VERTICAL SLICE GO/NO-GO — Can this be a good game? How do you want to proceed?" Options:

• GO — Proceed to Production
• ITERATE — More polish sprints before moving on
• RESCOPE — Reduce production scope
• KILL — Stop development

Handle each decision similarly to the Prototype Gate, adjusting lifecycle phase and workflow position accordingly.

---

State File Management

Writing State

After EVERY state change:

1. Update updated_at to current timestamp
2. Write the complete state object to docs/.workflow-state.json
3. Use the Write tool (overwrite entire file — do not try to patch)

Validation on Resume

When reading state on session start, validate:

1. For each step with status completed: check that the artifact file exists
2. If artifact is missing for a completed step: warn the user and use AskUserQuestion to ask whether to re-run or mark as skipped
3. For sprint state: verify the team exists (it won't survive session restarts — recreate if needed)

---

Edge Cases

User Requests to Skip a Step

If the user says "skip this" or "I don't need concept validation":

1. WARN: Present the consequences of skipping, then use AskUserQuestion:

   Question: "Skipping [step] means [specific consequence]. The workflow recommends this step because [reason]. Are you sure?" Options:

   • CONFIRM SKIP — Skip this step and proceed (accepts the risks)
   • CANCEL — Do not skip, continue with this step

   Consequence reference:

   • Skipping concept validation → feasibility risks unassessed
   • Skipping design bible → no pillars to guide design decisions
   • Skipping GDD → no shared design document for agents
   • Skipping roadmap → no sprint structure

2. If user selects CONFIRM SKIP: set step status to "skipped", proceed to next step

3. Never skip silently. Always warn and require explicit confirmation via AskUserQuestion.

User Requests to Backtrack

If the user says "go back to the GDD" or "redo the design bible":

1. Identify the target step

2. Present the consequences, then use AskUserQuestion:

   Question: "Going back to [step] will reset the following steps to pending: [list dependent steps]. Do you want to proceed?" Options:

   • CONFIRM BACKTRACK — Reset dependent steps and go back to [step]
   • CANCEL — Stay at the current step

3. If user selects CONFIRM BACKTRACK:

   • Set target step and all dependent steps to "pending" (cascade reset)
   • Clear their artifacts from state (files remain on disk)
   • Resume from target step

4. See phase-transitions.md for the full cascade reset table.

User Requests to Jump Forward

If the user says "start Sprint 2" or "jump to vertical slice":

1. Check preconditions for the target position

2. List any incomplete prerequisites, then use AskUserQuestion:

   Question: "The following steps haven't been completed: [list]. Do you want to skip them all and jump to [target]?" Options:

   • CONFIRM JUMP — Mark all prerequisites as skipped and jump forward
   • CANCEL — Stay at the current step and complete prerequisites first

3. If user selects CONFIRM JUMP, skip all prerequisites and jump to target

Session Restart Recovery

On every invocation, this skill reads the state file. Recovery logic:

State Found	Action
in_progress + artifact exists	Present artifact for approval
in_progress + no artifact	Re-run the step
awaiting_user_approval	Re-present artifact and ask for approval
user_requested_changes	Ask user for their feedback again
completed	Proceed to next step
Sprint with team_name set	Check if team exists; recreate if needed
Phase D substep smoke_test	Re-run the headless smoke test
Phase D substep generating_playtest_guide	Check if playtest guide file exists; if yes, advance to presenting_review; if no, regenerate it
Phase D substep presenting_review	Re-compile and present the sprint review + reference playtest guide
Phase D substep user_testing	Remind user they were playtesting, reference playtest guide, ask for status
Phase D substep fix_loop	Show the last reported issue and ask if the fix is still needed
Phase D substep final_approval	Re-present the formal approval gate

---

User Approval Protocol

Every user gate follows this consistent pattern using the AskUserQuestion tool:

1. Present context — Display a brief summary (1-3 sentences) of what was produced, the artifact file path, and any key decisions or tradeoffs.

2. Use AskUserQuestion — Instead of asking the user to type a response, always use the AskUserQuestion tool to present selectable options. This ensures a clean, clickable UX.

   Standard approval gate format:

   AskUserQuestion:
     Question: "How do you want to proceed with [Step Name]?"
     Options:
       - APPROVE — Accept and proceed to [next step]
       - MODIFY — Provide feedback for revision
       - REJECT — Discard and restart this step
   

3. Follow-up questions — If additional input is needed after a selection (e.g., which concept to pick, what feedback to give), use additional AskUserQuestion calls or ask the user for free-text input as appropriate.

4. Lifecycle gates use GO/PIVOT/KILL (or GO/ITERATE/RESCOPE/KILL) options instead of APPROVE/MODIFY/REJECT.

5. Confirmation gates (skip, backtrack, jump forward) use CONFIRM/CANCEL options.

CRITICAL: Do NOT proceed past any approval gate without an explicit user selection via AskUserQuestion. If the user changes the subject or asks an unrelated question, the gate remains active. When they return to the workflow, re-present the gate using AskUserQuestion.