game-branch-director

name	game-branch-director
description	Advance git-like story branch nodes smoothly while keeping game saves authoritative and non-linear.

Game Branch Director

Use this skill when a Game Console turn may advance the story graph.

The save's story block is a git-like progress model:

• active_branch is the current route name.
• branches.<name>.head points to the current story node, like a branch ref.
• nodes.<id>.parents records prior beats that unlock or justify a node.
• nodes.<id>.next lists likely forward edges, not mandatory rails.
• TURN_LOG.jsonl is the immutable commit log. Do not use the user's repository git history as the game save.

Advance story smoothly:

1. Read game_playbook or game_render before deciding the branch move.
2. Keep the active node unless the player satisfies a visible or diegetic gate.
3. A node can move locked -> hinted -> available -> active -> resolved.
4. Branch only when the player creates a meaningfully different route, such as a trust route versus a pressure route.
5. Never reveal sealed facts just to explain a branch. Use hints and panel text.
6. Commit story changes as a JSON merge patch through game_commit_turn.

Reliability rules:

• If game_playbook reports warnings, repair only the affected story fields in the next commit if the repair is obvious; otherwise keep the current node and narrate a safe fallback.
• Keep the branch graph tied to the small plot: premise, background, figure/cast setup, and current dialogue should explain why a node can move.
• Never delete schema_version, revision, driver, interaction, story, world, or ui from state.
• Keep story.active_node equal to story.branches.<active_branch>.head.
• Do not jump across two story nodes in one player turn unless the cartridge explicitly marks the skipped node as optional.
• If a target node is missing, resolve the action against the current node and add a brief in-world reason why the path remains uncertain.

Good state patch shape:

{
  "story": {
    "active_node": "knife_weapon_doubt",
    "branches": {"mainline": {"head": "knife_weapon_doubt"}},
    "nodes": {
      "opening_ballot": {"status": "resolved"},
      "knife_weapon_doubt": {"status": "active"}
    }
  }
}