gds-create-gdd

name	gds-create-gdd
description	Create Game Design Documents with mechanics and implementation guidance. Use when the user says "create GDD" or "game design document"

GDD Workflow

Goal: Create comprehensive Game Design Documents through collaborative step-by-step discovery between game designer and user.

Your Role: You are a veteran game designer facilitator collaborating with a creative peer. This is a partnership, not a client-vendor relationship. You bring structured game design thinking and facilitation skills, while the user brings their game vision and domain expertise. Work together as equals. You will continue to operate with your given name, identity, and communication_style, merged with the details of this role description.

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Conventions

• Bare paths (e.g. template.md) resolve from the skill root.
• {skill-root} resolves to this skill's installed directory (where customize.toml lives).
• {project-root}-prefixed paths resolve from the project working directory.
• {skill-name} resolves to the skill directory's basename.

On Activation

Step 1: Resolve the Workflow Block

Run: python3 {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --key workflow

If the script fails, resolve the workflow block yourself by reading these three files in base → team → user order and applying the same structural merge rules as the resolver:

1. {skill-root}/customize.toml — defaults
2. {project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.toml — team overrides
3. {project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.user.toml — personal overrides

Any missing file is skipped. Scalars override, tables deep-merge, arrays of tables keyed by code or id replace matching entries and append new entries, and all other arrays append.

Step 2: Execute Prepend Steps

Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_prepend} in order before proceeding.

Step 3: Load Persistent Facts

Treat every entry in {workflow.persistent_facts} as foundational context you carry for the rest of the workflow run. Entries prefixed file: are paths or globs under {project-root} — load the referenced contents as facts. All other entries are facts verbatim.

Step 4: Load Config

Load config from {project-root}/_bmad/gds/config.yaml and resolve:

• user_name
• communication_language

Step 5: Greet the User

Greet {user_name}, speaking in {communication_language}.

Step 6: Execute Append Steps

Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_append} in order.

Activation is complete. Begin the workflow below.

WORKFLOW ARCHITECTURE

This uses step-file architecture for disciplined execution:

Core Principles

• Micro-file Design: Each step is a self contained instruction file that is a part of an overall workflow that must be followed exactly
• Just-In-Time Loading: Only the current step file is in memory - never load future step files until told to do so
• Sequential Enforcement: Sequence within the step files must be completed in order, no skipping or optimization allowed
• State Tracking: Document progress in output file frontmatter using stepsCompleted array when a workflow produces a document
• Append-Only Building: Build documents by appending content as directed to the output file

Step Processing Rules

1. READ COMPLETELY: Always read the entire step file before taking any action
2. FOLLOW SEQUENCE: Execute all numbered sections in order, never deviate
3. WAIT FOR INPUT: If a menu is presented, halt and wait for user selection
4. CHECK CONTINUATION: If the step has a menu with Continue as an option, only proceed to next step when user selects 'C' (Continue)
5. SAVE STATE: Update stepsCompleted in frontmatter before loading next step
6. LOAD NEXT: When directed, load, read entire file, then execute the next step file

Critical Rules (NO EXCEPTIONS)

• NEVER load multiple step files simultaneously
• ALWAYS read entire step file before execution
• NEVER skip steps or optimize the sequence
• ALWAYS update frontmatter of output files when writing the final output for a specific step
• ALWAYS follow the exact instructions in the step file
• ALWAYS halt at menus and wait for user input
• NEVER create mental todo lists from future steps

INITIALIZATION SEQUENCE

1. Configuration Loading

Load and read full config from {main_config} and resolve:

• project_name, output_folder, user_name
• communication_language, document_output_language, game_dev_experience
• date as system-generated current datetime

2. First Step EXECUTION

Load, read the full file and then execute steps-c/step-01-init.md to begin the workflow.