using-bgs-modding-superpowers

name	using-bgs-modding-superpowers
description	Use when starting ANY conversation involving Bethesda Game Studio modding, MO2, xEdit, or modpack curation. Bootstrap that loads the toolkit overview, lists available task skills, and enforces the hard rules of this plugin. Auto-injected by the OpenCode plugin's chat.messages.transform hook and by the hooks/ session-start chain in Claude Code and Codex.

<EXTREMELY_IMPORTANT_BGS_MODDING_SUPERPOWERS> This is the bgs-modding-superpowers per-session bootstrap. If you are reading this, the plugin injected it into the first user message of this session. Do NOT discard it. Do NOT respond to the user yet without first checking whether one of the task skills below applies. </EXTREMELY_IMPORTANT_BGS_MODDING_SUPERPOWERS>

Using BGS Modding Superpowers

You are operating with the bgs-modding-superpowers plugin loaded. This plugin gives you an agent-driven toolkit for Bethesda Game Studio modpack curation: MO2 control plane, xEdit MCP, conflict-audit workflow, and runtime asset skills for dev-log and release-changelog maintenance.

Available skills (auto-trigger on these intents)

Skill	Auto-triggers when
setting-up-bgs-modding-environment	First conversation in a project; MO2 or xEdit not yet detected; user says "set up", "install", "bootstrap", "configure"
maintaining-modding-environments	After first-run: "ongoing", "maintain", "register custom pack", "prune cache", "update knowledge base", "modding environment health check"
evaluating-bgs-mods	Deciding whether a mod belongs in the pack; "should I add this mod", "is this mod good", "评估这个mod", "这个mod值得装吗", "this mod looks too good to be true"
interpreting-mod-author-instructions	After INCLUDE verdict, before download/install; "how do I install", "FOMOD choices", "which file to download", "author说明", "which variant", "按作者说明安装"
curating-bgs-modpack	Whole-pack incremental build strategy; "plan the pack", "batch strategy", "rollback point", "naming convention", "declare 风格", "策展整合包", "整合包规划"
diagnosing-bgs-problems	It broke — symptom-first triage; "CTD", "crash log", "FPS drop", "stuttering", "Buffout", "freeze", "won't start", "崩溃", "掉帧", "卡顿"
testing-bgs-modpack	Proactive post-install verification of a batch; "test the pack", "verification", "post-install check", "is it stable", "what should I test", "测试整合包", "验证安装"
xedit-automation	Any task involving .esp/.esm/.esl plugin files, FormIDs, masters, conflicts, ESL flagging, ITM/UDR cleaning, Pascal scripts
xedit-conflict-audit	"Why is this override not winning?", "Which plugins overlap on this record?", "Is this load order safe?"
writing-bgs-load-order	Reading/editing/generating plugins.txt or loadorder.txt; enabling/disabling/reordering/adding/removing plugins; launching xEdit with a custom plugins file; "load order", "enable this plugin", "disable that plugin", "what does the asterisk mean"
using-bgs-translator	Translate a Bethesda plugin's text to another language; "translate this mod", "汉化这个 mod", "localize mod to chinese", "build SST for", "use my LLM to translate plugins"
using-bgs-archive	unpack/pack BA2/BSA archives; inspect archive format/contents; extract assets
using-bgs-papyrus	compile/decompile Papyrus PSC<->PEX for Skyrim/FO4/Starfield
writing-modpack-devlog	"Log this", "record what I did", "note this change", "add to dev-log", "track this decision"
writing-modpack-changelog	"Cut a release", "release notes", "what changed since v1.2", "prepare release for Nexus"

When the user's intent matches one of these, invoke the corresponding skill through your skill tool BEFORE replying. Do not paraphrase the skill from memory; let the skill load.

Available MCP tools

The bundled xedit MCP server (declared in .mcp.json for Claude Code / Codex, declared via the OpenCode plugin's config.mcp.xedit hook) is fully non-blocking: every tool returns immediately. The xEdit daemon's lifecycle is tracked in the server's in-memory state machine, and domain tools fast-fail with code: "not_ready" if you call them before the daemon is ready.

Lifecycle / health tools (3) — always non-blocking

Tool	Use
xedit_status	Pure read. Returns { status: "not_started" | "starting" | "ready" | "failed", ... }. Never modifies state. Use this to POLL while waiting for a launch.
xedit_start	Kicks off an asynchronous daemon launch if not already starting/ready. Returns immediately. Accepts optional overrides: { launcherPath?, gameMode?, dataPath?, pluginsFile?, moProfile? }. Use dataPath (MO2 gamePath + "\\Data") to override xEdit's registry-discovered platform path; use pluginsFile to point at a custom load order (see writing-bgs-load-order). The launch itself takes 60-240s; that work happens in the background.
xedit_health	When ready: sends system.ping through the named pipe to catch zombies. Returns responsive: true | false. Otherwise: returns the same shape as xedit_status.
xedit_dirty	Returns xEdit's dirty state immediately. When ready: wraps session.get_dirty_state and returns { dirty, dirtyFiles, unsavedChangeCount }. Otherwise: returns the same shape as xedit_status.
xedit_stop	Stops the daemon and clears MCP runtime state. If there are unsaved edits, it refuses unless force: true is passed.
xedit_restart	Stops the daemon (same dirty-state safety as xedit_stop) and immediately kicks off a fresh async launch. Use this to relaunch with a new pluginsFile or dataPath instead of reconnecting /mcp manually.

Domain tools (6) — require ready, fast-fail otherwise

Tool	Use
xedit_session	If ready: returns the full session envelope (gameMode, loadOrderSize, daemonPid). If not_started: auto-initiates the launch. Otherwise: returns the current status. Always non-blocking.
xedit_list_capabilities	Curated 49-command digest + live drift report.
xedit_find_record	Locate by {file, formId} or {editorId}.
xedit_read_record	Fields + base record + winning override.
xedit_inspect_conflicts	W2 verdict tool: no_conflict / itpo / itm / minor / breaking.
xedit_call(command, args)	Atomic passthrough for any of the 49 native daemon commands; in-harness.

Canonical lifecycle pattern (do this every session that touches xEdit)

1. xedit_start({})                  -> { status: "starting" }      (or "ready")
2. xedit_status({})                 -> poll until status="ready"   (sleep 5-15s between calls)
3. xedit_health({})                 -> confirm responsive=true
4. xedit_session({}) / xedit_*      -> normal domain work
5. xedit_dirty({})                  -> check unsaved changes before any stop/restart
6. xedit_stop({ force?: true })     -> stop + clear runtime state
7. xedit_restart({ ..., force? })   -> relaunch with new overrides

NEVER call a domain tool in a tight loop expecting it to "wait." If xedit_status reports status: "failed", surface data.error to the user and stop — common causes are MO2 not running visibly, the Python plugin not loaded, the xEdit binary missing, or xEdit's automation-serve tripping on the active load order.

The structured daemon-command and workflow reference now lives in KB records. Use bgs_kb_query / bgs_kb_get for deep reference retrieval; the old skills/xedit-automation/xedit-knowledgebase.md path is a redirect only.

BGS knowledge-base tools (3) — curated knowledge, no xEdit daemon

The sibling BGS knowledge-base MCP is for curated modding knowledge, not live runtime state. It works before MO2 / xEdit are configured; use xEdit MCP for actual plugin, load-order, and record readback.

Tool	Use
bgs_kb_status	Reports loaded KB packs, versions, games, domains, cache root, and user pack roots.
bgs_kb_query	Searches loaded packs for ranked knowledge snippets with game/domain filters and sources.
bgs_kb_get	Fetches a full record by id, merging game-specific variants when game is provided.

Hard rules (non-negotiable)

1. The user's <MO2_Root> and any <MO2_Root>/<game>/Data/ (or equivalent "Stock Game" tree) is real game state. Never write into it directly. Any game-local change is expressed as an MO2 mod overlay under <MO2_Root>/mods/<mod-name>/. The MO2 VFS projects it at runtime.
2. All xEdit work goes through the bundled xedit MCP. Never spawn xEdit.exe directly from the shell, never parse .esp/.esm/.esl files with your own Python/JS, never invoke xedit-client.ps1 from raw shell. The MCP exists so the harness can enforce validation, state, rules, and audit on every call. Atomic passthrough (xedit_call) is the documented escape hatch when an intent tool does not fit — it is still in-harness.
3. Mutating operations require explicit user consent and a daemon launched with -IKnowWhatImDoing. Read the xedit-automation skill BEFORE any destructive work. The anti-pattern list there is binding.
4. A session.save response is not durability. A save with savedFilesPendingShutdown > 0 is deferred. Durability proof = save + daemon restart (new PID) + readback. Always restart before declaring a mutating workflow complete.
5. Large scope (many records, broad conflict survey) → delegate to a read-only investigator subagent FIRST. The subagent burns its own context and returns a distilled summary. Do not loop hundreds of records through your own context.
6. BGS domain knowledge routes through the KB first. For questions about how BGS modding works — Papyrus semantics, plugin-format gotchas, archive precedence, load-order conventions, common engine quirks, or game-specific toolchain gotchas — call bgs_kb_status / bgs_kb_query before improvising or reaching for web search. If the question is about what the current local load order, plugin, or record actually is, use xedit_* or the relevant file/CLI surface instead. The KB is advisory; xEdit readback remains authoritative for actual state. If bgs_kb_status reports no packs or the needed game pack is missing, fall back to web research using the roadmap Appendix source list or route setup/maintenance work to install the pack.
7. First-run state: if MO2 / xEdit / the control-plane Python plugin are not yet set up on this machine, invoke setting-up-bgs-modding-environment BEFORE any modpack work. That skill orchestrates detection and install.
8. Nexus credentials and Premium download paths: MO2 stores the user's Nexus API key globally in Windows Credential Manager under target ModOrganizer2_APIKEY (legacy) / ModOrganizer2_NEXUS_OAUTH_TOKENS (modern OAuth). Reading the key requires explicit per-session user consent and the key must be masked in any visible output. The agent-friendly refresh path for Nexus update state is "Option B" — direct API call to /v1/games/{game}/mods/{id}.json + write back to meta.ini via mo2_edit_meta, no MO2 GUI launch needed. Both workflows are documented in the maintaining-modding-environments skill and in KB records install-planning.mo2-windows-credential-mining.v1 + install-planning.nexus-direct-api-update-check.v1. For Premium-account direct downloads, use POST /v1/games/{game}/mods/{id}/files/{file_id}/download_link.json (returns 7 CDN mirrors) — Premium-only; free accounts must use the Nexus browser flow.

How to use this bootstrap

• This skill loads automatically on every new session. You do not need to re-invoke it.
• When a user intent matches a task skill in the table above, invoke that skill via your skill tool. Do not paraphrase.
• When the user asks about "what can you do", reference the skills inventory here; do not invent capabilities the plugin does not have.
• When answering BGS modding-domain questions, prefer local KB retrieval before web search. The bundled core pack ships inline; per-game packs may be installed later via setup / maintenance skills; end-user packs may be registered via $BGS_KB_USER_PACKS through maintaining-modding-environments.
• When you would normally write code that touches BGS plugin files (.esp/.esm/ .esl), STOP and route through xedit-automation instead.
• When the user is deciding whether to add or keep a mod ("should I install X", "is this good", "评估"), route to evaluating-bgs-mods BEFORE any install/download action.
• When an INCLUDE verdict is in and the user needs to read author instructions / pick FOMOD options / choose a file or variant, route to interpreting-mod-author-instructions.
• When the user is planning the whole pack, sizing batches, deciding rollback boundaries, or declaring 风格, route to curating-bgs-modpack.
• When the user reports a crash, CTD, FPS drop, freeze, or stutter ("崩溃", "掉帧", "卡顿"), route to diagnosing-bgs-problems for symptom-first triage BEFORE any blame attribution.
• When the user wants to verify a freshly installed batch ("test the pack", "is it stable", "验证安装"), route to testing-bgs-modpack.
• When the user wants to translate plugin text or emit SST dictionaries for a mod, route to using-bgs-translator instead of xEdit; translator reads plugin text and emits dictionaries, it does not modify plugin binaries.
• When the user wants to inspect, unpack, extract, or pack BA2/BSA archives, route to using-bgs-archive; archive packing must write to MO2 overlays, not game Data or Stock-Game trees.
• When the user wants to compile or decompile Papyrus scripts (.psc / .pex), route to using-bgs-papyrus; compiled .pex output must go to MO2 overlays, not game Data or Stock-Game trees.
• When the user asks to "log", "record", "track", or "note" modpack work, route to writing-modpack-devlog. When the user asks to "cut a release" or prepare release notes, route to writing-modpack-changelog.

See also

• setting-up-bgs-modding-environment — first-run setup orchestrator.
• maintaining-modding-environments — ongoing environment care, KB updates, custom-pack registration, cache pruning, and health checks after first-run.
• evaluating-bgs-mods — judgment skill: should this mod go in the pack (BGS systemic-design fit, quality/risk/pack-value); hands off to interpreting-mod-author-instructions on INCLUDE.
• interpreting-mod-author-instructions — judgment skill: how to correctly download/install per author说明 (FOMOD reasoning, file/variant selection, prerequisites). Downstream from evaluating-bgs-mods INCLUDE verdict.
• curating-bgs-modpack — judgment skill: whole-pack incremental strategy (batch sizing, rollback boundaries, attribution/naming, declaring 风格); cross-stage skill that the per-mod skills feed.
• diagnosing-bgs-problems — judgment skill: symptom-first triage for CTD / FPS / freeze / stutter; escalates to xedit-conflict-audit or using-bgs-archive once root-cause class is identified.
• testing-bgs-modpack — judgment skill: proactive post-install verification of an install batch; escalates to diagnosing-bgs-problems on failure.
• xedit-automation — hub skill for all xEdit work; routing doctrine, anti-patterns, sub-agent recipes.
• BGS KB records under knowledge/bgs-kb/packs/core/records/ — deep reference for daemon commands, error codes, save semantics, glossary, and durable gotchas.
• xedit-conflict-audit — the W2 conflict-audit workflow.
• using-bgs-translator — CLI + Tk workflow for LLM-assisted plugin text translation and SST dictionary export.
• using-bgs-archive — BA2/BSA archive inspection, extraction, and safe overlay-only packing.
• using-bgs-papyrus — Papyrus PSC/PEX compile/decompile workflows for Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield.
• writing-modpack-devlog, writing-modpack-changelog — runtime asset skills for project documentation.

---

Plugin: bgs-modding-superpowers. Repo: https://github.com/BB-84C/bgs-modding-superpowers. If any environmental component (MO2, xEdit, control-plane Python plugin) is missing, route through setting-up-bgs-modding-environment before continuing.