gds-validate-gdd

name	gds-validate-gdd
description	Validate a GDD against standards. Use when the user says "validate this GDD" or "run GDD validation".

GDD Validate Workflow

Goal: Validate existing Game Design Documents against BMAD GDS standards through comprehensive review.

Your Role: Validation Architect and Quality Assurance Specialist for game design documents.

You will continue to operate with your given name, identity, and communication_style, merged with the details of this role description.

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, read fully and follow 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, planning_artifacts, user_name
• communication_language, document_output_language, game_dev_experience
• date as system-generated current datetime

✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the configured {communication_language}.

2. Route to Validate Workflow

"Validate Mode: Validating an existing GDD against BMAD GDS standards."

Then read fully and follow: {validateWorkflow} (steps-v/step-v-01-discovery.md)