settled-reach/docs/workshops/wiki-review/round1-tracking.md

# Wiki Review Workshop — Round 1 Tracking Document

**Compiled by:** Qatux (Documenter)
**Date:** 2026-02-12
**Status:** Round 1 complete. Cataloging proposals, tensions, and open questions for Round 2.

---

## Proposal Registry

### Topic 1: Direction Check

| # | Proposal | Author | Support | Status |
|---|----------|--------|---------|--------|
| P-01 | Name the theme: the game is about **complicity**, not just asymmetric information. Add thematic framing to wiki index. | Gore | — | For Round 2 |
| P-02 | Add "Thematic Question" field to NPC profiles — each character's answer to "Is this enough?" Authoring guidance, not mechanical. | Gore | — | For Round 2 |
| P-03 | Elevate contaminated trust as the normal condition of community life, not just a post-arc endpoint. | Gore | — | For Round 2 |
| P-04 | **Strengthen Triangle 1 (Hub Power)** — add concrete smuggler decision moment (Nils volume escalation: side with Nils / side with Voss / split the difference). | Gestalt | Paula (flagged T1/Nils as weak) | For Round 2 |
| P-05 | **Make Torek's ring connection randomizable** per seed in Triangle 3 (Bar Tensions). | Gestalt | Nigel (general randomization advocacy) | For Round 2 |
| P-06 | Consider making **Nils partially present** in v0.1 — even one comm call would strengthen T1. | Gestalt | Paula (wants Nils stub page) | For Round 2 |
| P-07 | Add **smuggler-specific entity attribute keys** to achieve parity with detective investigation vocabulary: `operational_reliability`, `exposure_risk`, `loyalty_assessment`, `leverage_held`, `social_debt`. | Paula | Gore (smuggler lens = complicity) | High priority |
| P-08 | Create **stub wiki pages for off-stage referenced NPCs** (Nils at minimum). | Paula | Gestalt (Nils presence) | Medium priority |
| P-09 | **Normalize Tier 2 depth** — all 10 Tier 2 NPCs should hit the same quality bar. | Paula | Ozzie (Tier 3 soul gap) | Medium priority |
| P-10 | **Flesh out Olin** with actual backstory and motivation to strengthen Triangle 3. | Paula | Gestalt (T3 ambiguity is load-bearing) | Medium priority |
| P-11 | Write **smuggler-perspective FactId progression text** for facts where smuggler starts at KnowsDetails. | Paula | — | Medium priority |
| P-12 | Sera needs one **unprompted composure-crack moment** early — a half-sentence where control slips. | Ozzie | — | For Round 2 |
| P-13 | Tier 3 NPCs (Renn, Tav, Drin) need more **emotional presence** — "furniture that talks" currently. | Ozzie | — | For Round 2 |
| P-14 | Style guide must mandate a **"gut-check line"** per NPC — one voice sample that makes you pause when read aloud. | Ozzie | — | For Round 2 |

### Topic 2: Style Guides

| # | Proposal | Author | Support | Status |
|---|----------|--------|---------|--------|
| P-15 | **Hard mechanical requirements table** (10 constraints) for NPC profiles — engine will break without these. | Gestalt | — | High priority |
| P-16 | **Structured YAML routine block** alongside prose in wiki for engine consumption. | Gestalt | — | For Round 2 |
| P-17 | **Per-tier validation checklist** (Tier 1: 7 items, Tier 2: 7 items, Tier 3: 5 items). | Gestalt | Paula (template formalization) | High priority |
| P-18 | **Formalized Tier 1/2/3 templates** as standalone style guide documents. | Paula | Gestalt (checklist) | High priority |
| P-19 | 7 **implicit conventions made explicit** (voice mood count, dual-lens format, cross-refs, relationship depth, contradiction arc scope, header format, monologue counts). | Paula | Mellanie (similar gaps found) | High priority |
| P-20 | **Location shortcode table** — one canonical ID prefix per location, enforced in YAML. | Mellanie | — | High priority |
| P-21 | **Freeform tag vocabulary** — living list, reviewed, prevents divergent naming. | Mellanie | — | High priority |
| P-22 | **Standardize dual-lens note format** — one sentence per character, imperative voice. | Mellanie | Paula (format varies) | Medium priority |
| P-23 | **Extract voice cards per character** — 5-10 reference lines showing register, vocabulary, sentence length. | Mellanie | — | Medium priority |
| P-24 | **Prerequisite validation** in content pipeline — schema check against fact catalog. | Mellanie | Tyre (validation pipeline) | High priority |
| P-25 | **Standardize mood list usage** — simultaneous emotional states only, not alternatives. | Mellanie | — | Medium priority |

### Topic 3: Regional Style Guide + Krenn System

| # | Proposal | Author | Support | Status |
|---|----------|--------|---------|--------|
| P-26 | **Regional style guide template** (6 sections: Heritage Profile, Naming Conventions, Language Echoes, Aesthetic Markers, Social Structure, 180-Year Drift). | Miri | — | Ready for adoption |
| P-27 | **Krenn System regional brief** — Nordic-Baltic heritage, fully specified for v0.1. | Miri | — | Ready for adoption |
| P-28 | Cultural identity as **mechanical resistance** — regional style guides must include social norms toward authority, privacy expectations, loyalty structures, shared silence. | Gore | Miri (social structure section aligns) | Consensus forming |
| P-29 | **All NPCs get canonical full names** — stored in Core Identity, surface in institutional contexts. | Paula | Miri (family name heritage pool provided) | Consensus forming |
| P-30 | **Document phonological naming rules** — syllable count, consonant preferences, vowel preferences, family name patterns. | Paula | Miri (phonetic signature defined) | Ready to merge |
| P-31 | **Break name-as-tier-signal** — surface full names for 2-3 lower-tier NPCs in natural contexts. | Paula | — | Medium priority |
| P-32 | **Environmental text type catalog** — 8 types, ~65-90 items for v0.1. | Mellanie | — | For Round 2 |
| P-33 | **"Regional brief first" gating workflow** — no content for new regions until cultural brief approved. | Miri | Mellanie (brief was blocking dependency) | For Round 2 |

### Topic 4: Wiki Taxonomy

| # | Proposal | Author | Support | Status |
|---|----------|--------|---------|--------|
| P-34 | **Max 2 levels of spatial nesting** for locations: `locations/{system}/{slug}.md`. | Tyre | — | For Round 2 |
| P-35 | **NPCs flat until collision** — disambiguate with `-{district}` suffix only when needed. | Tyre | — | For Round 2 |
| P-36 | **World hierarchy flat with cross-references** — spatial hierarchy in content, not directory. | Tyre | — | For Round 2 |
| P-37 | **Filesystem is navigation, not identity** — unique identity in YAML frontmatter, not paths. | Tyre | Miri (canonical_id convention) | Consensus forming |
| P-38 | **`canonical_id` convention** in wiki frontmatter for collision-safe cross-referencing (e.g., `krenn.sova.transit.the-terminal`). | Miri | Tyre (identity in frontmatter) | Consensus forming |
| P-39 | Add **`cultural-groups/` section** to wiki index + create `krenn-system.md` as first entry. | Miri | — | Ready for adoption |

### Topic 5: Content Directory + Moddability

| # | Proposal | Author | Support | Status |
|---|----------|--------|---------|--------|
| P-40 | **Three-layer content stack**: base `content/` → `content/dlc/` → `mods/`. | Tyre | — | For Round 2 |
| P-41 | **`content/` directory structure** with `global/` and `districts/` top-level split. | Tyre | Gestalt (similar, used `_global/`) | For Round 2 — see Tension T-02 |
| P-42 | **Three overlay operations**: ADD (new file), REPLACE (entity), MERGE (line pools). | Tyre | — | For Round 2 |
| P-43 | **Schema per content type** (`_schema/` directory), not one monolithic schema. | Tyre | Gestalt (validation checklist aligns) | Consensus forming |
| P-44 | **Validation at three points**: author-time CLI, CI, load-time. | Tyre | Mellanie (prerequisite validation) | Consensus forming |
| P-45 | **Hot-reload for line pools** (dev-only, `notify` crate, `#[cfg(feature = "dev")]`). | Tyre | — | v0.2 scope |
| P-46 | **`pool_eligible` field** on NPCs — randomizer can include/exclude per seed. | Nigel | — | For Round 2 |
| P-47 | **Template role slots** (N regulars, M staff, K outsiders per social site) — modders fill slots, randomizer draws from pools. | Nigel | Gestalt (template model) | For Round 2 |
| P-48 | **Content pack manifest** structure with `extends`, `adds`, `overrides` declarations. | Nigel | Tyre (manifest.yaml) | Consensus forming |

### Topic 6: Randomizer, PC Briefs, Proc-gen

| # | Proposal | Author | Support | Status |
|---|----------|--------|---------|--------|
| P-49 | **THE FRIEND is never procedurally generated.** Write authored pool, randomize selection. | Gore | Nigel (pool concept) | Consensus — see T-01 for pool size |
| P-50 | **PC-as-NPC requires authored relationship stubs** — Tier 2 minimum for all connections, Tier 1 for FRIEND. | Gore | Gestalt (reverse knowledge), Paula (conversion checklist) | High priority |
| P-51 | **Proc-gen varies context, not content.** Authored emotional core stays fixed; surroundings shift. | Gore | — | For Round 2 |
| P-52 | **Full PC-as-NPC upgrade pipeline** — 16-axis data transfer table, 8 generated-at-upgrade fields, reverse knowledge entries. | Gestalt | Paula (conversion process aligns) | High priority |
| P-53 | **Starting FactId confidence table** + **Starting RelationshipState table** required for PC-upgradable NPCs. | Gestalt | Paula (starting knowledge) | High priority |
| P-54 | **Reverse knowledge entries** — what each related NPC knows about the PC, read bidirectionally from relationship data. | Gestalt | — | Critical insight |
| P-55 | **Three randomization axes**: (1) WHO is FRIEND, (2) WHAT is contraband, (3) WHO is compromised. | Nigel | — | For Round 2 |
| P-56 | **Contraband moral shuffle** — primary contraband varies per seed from pool (lattice / medical / severance / mixed). | Nigel | — | For Round 2 — see T-06 |
| P-57 | **Network shuffle** — conspiracy roles (compromised inspector, schedule manipulator, etc.) assigned to different NPCs per seed. | Nigel | — | For Round 2 |
| P-58 | **NPC-format briefs for both v0.1 PCs** (smuggler + detective). | Paula | Gestalt (upgrade pipeline needs this) | High priority |
| P-59 | **"PC Upgrade" appendix** on every Tier 1/Tier 2 NPC profile template. | Paula | Gestalt (archetype templates) | High priority |
| P-60 | **NPC → PC conversion checklist** for content authors. | Paula | Gestalt (pipeline spec) | High priority |
| P-61 | **Never tell backstory directly** — discover through NPC reactions, monologue, environmental knowledge, social knowledge. | Ozzie | — | Design principle |
| P-62 | **First 60 seconds must feel like "walking into Cheers"** — NPCs greet PC with warmth, history, inside jokes. | Ozzie | Gore (authored relationship stubs) | Design principle |

---

## Key Tensions Requiring Round 2 Resolution

### T-01: FRIEND Pool Size and v0.1 Scope

**Agents:** Gore, Nigel, Gestalt

**The tension:**
- Gore proposes 4-6 FRIEND-eligible NPCs per district, all at Tier 1 authored depth. Each ~70-100 lines. Selection randomized, content never generated.
- Nigel proposes 2-3 FRIEND candidates per character at launch, with architecture supporting more.
- Gestalt maps the upgrade pipeline with bidirectional knowledge but doesn't specify pool size.
- **Unresolved:** Does v0.1 ship with 1 FRIEND per character (Kael + Sera, as currently authored) with pool architecture ready? Or do we author additional FRIEND candidates for v0.1?
- **Content cost:** Each additional FRIEND = ~70-100 authored lines at Tier 1 depth. 2 additional FRIENDs = ~140-200 lines = significant Sprint 3 scope.

**Consensus:** THE FRIEND is always authored, never proc-gen. Pool-based selection is the architecture. Pool size and v0.1 scope need a decision.

### T-02: Content Directory Naming (`global/` vs `_global/`, `lines/` vs separate dirs)

**Agents:** Tyre, Gestalt

**The tension:**
- Tyre: `global/` (no prefix), `_schema/` and `_meta/` with underscore for infra. `lines/` subdirectory for dialogue+monologue.
- Gestalt: `_global/` with underscore prefix. Separate `dialogue/` and `monologue/` directories.
- Both agree on `districts/` as atomic content unit.
- Minor naming difference, but affects tooling paths, mod documentation, and every content reference.

**Needs:** One decision, either works. Tyre's `global/` is more conventional; Gestalt's `_global/` sorts infrastructure to top.

### T-03: Kael/Hael Sonic Collision

**Agents:** Paula, Miri

**The tension:**
- Paula flags Kael/Hael as one letter apart — potential confusion in dialogue, monologue, and player memory.
- Miri's Krenn naming brief includes both names as valid Krenn phonology (short, consonant-heavy, -el ending).
- Changing either name has cascade effects (Kael appears in ~10+ files, Hael in ~5+).
- **Unresolved:** Is this a real usability problem, or acceptable cultural texture? If a problem, which name changes?

### T-04: Smuggler Lens Gap

**Agents:** Paula, Gore, Gestalt

**The tension:**
- Paula: Wiki is detective-shaped. Investigation attributes are well-defined; smuggler operational attributes are not.
- Paula proposes 5 new smuggler-specific entity attribute keys.
- Gore frames this thematically: smuggler lens = complicity, detective lens = judgment.
- Gestalt hasn't yet mapped these proposed attributes to the ECS data model.
- **Needs Round 2:** Gestalt to validate Paula's proposed attributes map cleanly to EntityKnowledge, or propose alternatives.

### T-05: Triangle 1 (Hub Power) and the Nils Problem

**Agents:** Gestalt, Paula

**The tension:**
- Both independently flag T1 as the weakest triangle.
- Gestalt: smuggler role is passive ("wants everyone to calm down" is not a decision). Proposes Nils volume escalation as concrete fork.
- Paula: Nils referenced in 5+ profiles but has no wiki page. Risk of contradictory characterizations.
- Gestalt also proposes making Nils partially present (comm call).
- **Needs Round 2:** Agree on T1 strengthening approach. Nils stub page seems consensus. Comm call presence and decision moment need design validation.

### T-06: Randomizer Scope for v0.1

**Agents:** Nigel, Gore, Tyre, Gestalt

**The tension:**
- Nigel proposes three randomization axes (FRIEND identity, contraband type, compromised NPCs) with evidence placement variation.
- Gore endorses FRIEND pool but says proc-gen must vary context not content.
- Tyre scopes v0.1 content pipeline as "directory structure + YAML parser + basic schema validation (1 sprint)." No mod overlay, no hot-reload. Randomization support is implicit but not specified.
- **The question:** Does v0.1 implement seed-based variation, or just build the architecture that supports it? Nigel's proposals are mechanically exciting but significantly expand v0.1 scope if implemented immediately.
- **Nigel's contraband moral shuffle** is particularly scope-heavy — different contraband types require different FactId progressions, different dialogue flavor, different NPC attitudes.

### T-07: Wiki Structure vs Content Directory Structure

**Agents:** Tyre, Miri, Gestalt

**The tension:**
- Miri proposes wiki restructure to `star-systems/{system}/station-X/.../` deep nesting with `characters/` flat.
- Tyre proposes wiki keeps current shallow structure (`locations/{system}/slug.md`, `npcs/` flat).
- Both agree content directory (`content/`) uses `districts/` as atomic unit.
- Current wiki already has: `locations/krenn-system/`, `npcs/`, `world/` — closer to Tyre's proposal.
- Miri's proposal references D-040 (which I note doesn't exist in the current decisions directory — this may be a forward reference or error).
- **Needs clarification:** Is Miri proposing a wiki restructure or describing a future state? Does D-040 exist?

### T-08: Tier 3 Emotional Depth vs Scope

**Agents:** Ozzie, Paula, Gestalt

**The tension:**
- Ozzie: Renn, Tav, Drin are "furniture that talks" — need soul.
- Paula: Tier 3 is defined as sketch/minimal (3 axes, 1 voice hint, 10-15 lines). Olin specifically needs backstory.
- D-023/D-029: Tier 3 is explicitly "procedural filler with systemic hooks." ~30% of NPCs are truly flat.
- **The question:** Can Tier 3 NPCs have emotional presence without becoming Tier 2? Or should some current Tier 3s be promoted? Drin is already doing Tier 2 narrative work (Triangle 2, Triangle 5, compromised by Harek).
- Ozzie's "gut-check line" proposal (P-14) is a low-cost middle ground — one memorable line doesn't require full Tier 2 depth.

---

## Emerging Consensus (Likely Decisions)

| # | Topic | Consensus | Confidence | Supporters |
|---|-------|-----------|------------|------------|
| C-01 | THE FRIEND is never proc-gen | Authored pool, randomized selection | High | Gore, Nigel, Gestalt, Paula |
| C-02 | All NPCs need canonical full names | Store in Core Identity, surface in institutional contexts | High | Paula, Miri |
| C-03 | Regional style guide template | Adopt Miri's 6-section template | High | Miri, Gore, Mellanie |
| C-04 | Krenn System regional brief | Adopt Miri's Nordic-Baltic brief as canonical | High | Miri (author), Mellanie (unblocked) |
| C-05 | Formalized tier templates | Paula's Tier 1/2/3 templates + Gestalt's mechanical checklists | High | Paula, Gestalt, Mellanie |
| C-06 | Content directory: `global/` + `districts/` | Both Tyre and Gestalt converge on this split | High | Tyre, Gestalt |
| C-07 | Schema per content type | Per-type schemas, not monolithic | High | Tyre, Gestalt |
| C-08 | Identity in frontmatter, not paths | `canonical_id` or equivalent in YAML frontmatter | High | Tyre, Miri |
| C-09 | Location shortcode table | One canonical ID per location | High | Mellanie, Tyre |
| C-10 | Smuggler needs own knowledge vocabulary | Parity with detective investigation attributes | High | Paula, Gore |
| C-11 | Triangle 1 needs strengthening | Nils stub page + concrete smuggler decision moment | High | Gestalt, Paula |
| C-12 | PC-as-NPC requires explicit specs | Starting knowledge tables, reverse knowledge, conversion checklist | High | Gestalt, Paula, Gore, Ozzie |
| C-13 | Regional brief gates content creation | No NPC/dialogue/env text until cultural brief approved | High | Miri, Mellanie |
| C-14 | Backstory through discovery, not exposition | NPC reactions + monologue reveal PC history organically | High | Ozzie, Gore |

---

## Open Questions for Round 2

| # | Question | Raised By | Needs Input From |
|---|----------|-----------|------------------|
| Q-W01 | Does v0.1 ship with 1 FRIEND per character (Kael/Sera) or do we author additional pool candidates? | Gore/Nigel | Project lead (scope decision) |
| Q-W02 | `global/` vs `_global/` prefix for content directory? | Tyre vs Gestalt | Project lead (convention call) |
| Q-W03 | Is Kael/Hael sonic collision a real usability problem? Should either name change? | Paula | Mellanie (authoring impact), Ozzie (player confusion) |
| Q-W04 | Does v0.1 implement seed-based randomization or just the architecture for it? | Nigel | Project lead + Tyre (scope) |
| Q-W05 | Does D-040 exist? Miri references it for wiki taxonomy but it's not in current decisions directory. | Qatux | Miri |
| Q-W06 | Should some Tier 3 NPCs be promoted to Tier 2? (Drin does Tier 2 narrative work.) | Ozzie | Gestalt (mechanical impact), project lead |
| Q-W07 | `lines/` (Tyre) vs separate `dialogue/` + `monologue/` (Gestalt) for content subdirectory? | Tyre vs Gestalt | Project lead (convention call) |
| Q-W08 | What is the `district` or `template` atomic content pack unit for modding? | Tyre | Gestalt, Nigel |
| Q-W09 | Should modder-added line pools have weighting/caps to prevent NPC voice drowning? | Tyre | Gestalt, Nigel |
| Q-W10 | Should location shortcodes match wiki slugs or use abbreviated forms? | Tyre | Mellanie, Paula |
| Q-W11 | Is Torek's ring connection always authored (one answer) or randomizable per seed? | Gestalt | Nigel, project lead |

---

## Per-Agent Proposal Counts

| Agent | Proposals | Topics Addressed | Key Contributions |
|-------|-----------|-----------------|-------------------|
| **Gore** | 7 (P-01 through P-03, P-49 through P-51, P-28) | 1, 3, 6 | Thematic spine (complicity), FRIEND never proc-gen, cultural identity as mechanical resistance |
| **Gestalt** | 9 (P-04 through P-06, P-15 through P-17, P-41, P-52 through P-54) | 1, 2, 5, 6 | Triangle analysis, mechanical requirements, content directory, PC upgrade pipeline |
| **Paula** | 12 (P-07 through P-11, P-18, P-19, P-29 through P-31, P-58 through P-60) | 1, 2, 3, 6 | Smuggler lens gap, tier templates, naming analysis, PC conversion |
| **Miri** | 5 (P-26, P-27, P-33, P-38, P-39) | 3, 4 | Regional style guide template + Krenn brief, canonical_id, growth planning |
| **Ozzie** | 5 (P-12 through P-14, P-61, P-62) | 1, 6 | Emotional gut-checks, NPC soul assessment, PC-as-NPC wow moments |
| **Mellanie** | 8 (P-20 through P-25, P-32, P-25) | 2, 3 | Authoring conventions, location shortcodes, environmental text catalog |
| **Nigel** | 5 (P-46 through P-48, P-55 through P-57) | 5, 6 | Mod pool_eligible, template role slots, three randomization axes |
| **Tyre** | 8 (P-34 through P-37, P-40, P-42 through P-45) | 4, 5 | Taxonomy rules, content directory architecture, mod overlay mechanics |

---

## Notable Quotes (For SUMMARY.md)

- **Gore on complicity:** "Every character in Sova Transit District is complicit in something. [...] The player becomes complicit in whatever they choose. Watching IS participating."
- **Gore on Hael:** "Hael [...] is the emotional fulcrum of the entire vertical slice. One person who never touches the conspiracy is the person the conspiracy most damages."
- **Ozzie on Hael:** "Not Kael, not Sera — HAEL. The partner sitting in the bar, checking the door every time it opens. [...] THAT'S the game."
- **Paula on detective bias:** "The smuggler's content pipeline is systematically under-served compared to the detective's."
- **Gestalt on T1:** "The smuggler's role is 'caught between' — but what do they DO?"
- **Miri on naming drift:** "Nobody decided Krenn names should be short and consonant-heavy. But when Finnish, Estonian, and Latvian naming traditions blend in a working-class logistics culture that values directness, compression happens naturally."
- **Mellanie on blocking dependency:** "I don't have a regional style brief to write against. [...] The brief is my blocking dependency."
- **Nigel on mods as replayability:** "Mods are replayability we don't have to build."
- **Ozzie on the wow moment:** "The wow moment isn't 'I read my backstory.' The wow moment is 'I HAVE a backstory and I'm discovering it the way I'd discover a real place — by living in it.'"
- **Gore on proc-gen:** "Procedural generation amplifies authored content only when the authored content is the emotional core and the procedural content is the context that reframes it."

---

*62 proposals tracked. 8 tensions identified. 11 open questions for Round 2. 14 emerging consensus items.*