settled-reach/docs/sprints/sprint-7/copy.md

Sprint 7: Talk — Copy Tasks

Goal: Complete interaction UI layer and activate basic dialogue system with NPC conversations.

Branch: copy Agents: Mellanie (author), Paula (narrative), Gestalt (systems)

Carry-over from Sprint 6

None — all Sprint 6 copy tickets completed.

New Tickets

#	Title	Blocked by
#443	Archetype evidence presentation spec — detective case file vs smuggler notebook	—

Use db/connectors/ticket show <id> for full details.

Key Decisions

• decisions/content.md — D-065 (inventory spec), D-034 (THE FRIEND pattern)
• decisions/perception.md — D-033 (entity color as relationship)
• decisions/scope.md — D-027 (vertical slice criteria)

Notes

#443: Archetype evidence presentation spec

What exists:

• D-065 inventory spec (3x3 grid, 1-9 hotkeys, all characters get 9 slots)
• D-034 THE FRIEND pattern (contradiction discovery as wow moment #3)
• Smuggler character profile (wiki, NPC-format brief from Sprint 5 #383)
• Detective character profile (wiki, NPC-format brief from Sprint 5 #383)
• Inventory UI (client #438, Sprint 6/7) — will render items in grid

What the ticket needs:

• Design specification document at docs/design/archetype-evidence-presentation.md
• Detective version: Case file aesthetic — institutional, analytical, organized
  • Evidence item presentation: formal labels, clinical descriptions
  • Contradiction markers: flagged discrepancies, red highlight on conflicting data
  • Visual language: clean, structured, Commission-approved formatting
  • Example items: badge, datapad, evidence tags, contraband samples
• Smuggler version: Personal notebook aesthetic — informal, pragmatic, survival-focused
  • Evidence item presentation: handwritten notes, practical labels, street terminology
  • Contradiction markers: crossed-out notes, question marks, personal uncertainty
  • Visual language: rough, lived-in, annotated by hand
  • Example items: manifest copy, access token, comm log (from Sprint 6 #441)
• UI copy for both archetypes (item names, descriptions, tooltip text)
• Spec must inform visual design (for future sprite work) and copy tone

Integration points:

• Informs client inventory UI rendering (future: item sprites will follow this aesthetic)
• Informs copy team authoring of item descriptions (tone, voice, formatting)
• Builds on D-065 inventory mechanics (both archetypes use same 3x3 grid, different presentation)
• Supports D-034 THE FRIEND contradiction discovery (how contradictions appear in case file vs notebook)

Gotchas:

• This is a design spec, not implementation — no code, no sprites yet
• Focus on: tone, voice, labeling conventions, contradiction presentation, archetype differentiation
• Smuggler notebook should feel personal (this is YOUR notebook), detective case file should feel institutional (this is COMMISSION evidence)
• Contradiction presentation is key: detective sees "DISCREPANCY FLAGGED", smuggler sees "wait, that doesn't add up" handwritten note
• Reference D-033 entity color as relationship model — evidence is also relationship-dependent (what detective flags as suspicious, smuggler sees as normal)

Dependency Chain

#443 (evidence spec) → standalone, design document

Sprint 7 Copy Load

Sprint 7 has only 1 copy ticket — light workload. #443 is a design specification (not authoring), estimated 4-6 hours.

If capacity allows, copy team can preview Sprint 8 content work:

• Line pool authoring (once server #308 spec is complete)
• Dialogue content for v0.1 NPCs
• Monologue pool expansion

PR Workflow

When ready to submit, create a PR with tea CLI. All flags are required to avoid TTY prompts:

tea pr create --repo jpmschweitzer/settled-reach --login schweitz --title "docs(copy): archetype evidence presentation spec" --description "See docs/sprints/sprint-7/copy.md" --base main --head copy