Long-term content strategy workshop: 300-world generator model, cultural ingredients menu, three-system NPC architecture (9 patterns x 6 motivations), Sacred/Profane/Middle Kingdom framework. 9 agents across 4 rounds plus lead interview establishing the production path from hand-authored Sova to generated 300 worlds. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
16 KiB
Wiki Review Workshop — Round 2 Tracking Document
Compiled by: Qatux (Documenter) Date: 2026-02-12 Status: Round 2 in progress. 4 of 8 responses read (Gore, Ozzie, Mellanie, Nigel). Awaiting Gestalt, Miri, Tyre, Paula.
Tension Resolution Status
T-01: FRIEND Pool Size and v0.1 Scope → RESOLVED
Consensus achieved. All four respondents converge on the same position:
- Architecture: Pool-based FRIEND selection from day one. Content files structured as pool entries even with single entry.
- v0.1: 1 FRIEND per character (Kael, Sera). Pool size = 1. System supports expansion.
- v0.2: 2 FRIENDs per character. Second candidate drawn from existing NPCs elevated to Tier 1.
- v0.3+: 3 per character. Metagaming fully defeated.
- Depth: Every FRIEND candidate MUST be full Tier 1 (70-100 authored lines). No exceptions. (Gore: "I won't budge on this.")
- Warmth phase: Minimum 10-12 minutes of gameplay where FRIEND is green, warm, present (Ozzie guardrail).
- Content structure:
friends/pool.yamlper district withnpc_id,contradiction_type,tell_type,discovery_method(Nigel).
Supporters: Gore, Nigel, Ozzie (all explicit). Mellanie endorses implicitly via tagged pool confirmation.
Recommended decision ID: D-042 (FRIEND pool architecture)
T-02: Content Directory Naming → PARTIALLY RESOLVED
Nigel explicitly drops his parallel proposal in favor of Tyre's three-layer stack (base → DLC → mods) with ADD/REPLACE/MERGE. Nigel extends with template role-slot system.
Remaining question: global/ vs _global/ prefix. Nigel: "I don't care about the underscore — pick one and ship it." Awaiting Tyre's Round 2 for final preference.
Converged elements:
districts/as atomic content unit (all agree)global/for schema/factions/technology (Tyre + Gestalt + Nigel)- Schema per content type (all agree)
- Mod overlay: ADD/REPLACE/MERGE (Tyre, adopted by Nigel)
New from Nigel: Template role-slot system in templates/bar.yaml — roles with pool, count, pool_eligible fields. This extends Tyre's structure for randomization without changing the directory layout.
Location shortnames resolved by Mellanie: Directory names use wiki slugs (the-terminal, the-last-shift). Line ID prefixes use short forms (terminal_m_001). Two conventions, two purposes, no conflict.
T-03: Kael/Hael Sonic Collision → NOT YET ADDRESSED IN ROUND 2
No Round 2 respondent has engaged with this. Awaiting Paula (who raised it) and Miri (naming authority).
T-04: Smuggler Lens Gap → SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE
All four respondents endorse Paula's diagnosis. The smuggler needs mechanical parity with the detective.
Gore reframes and extends Paula's attributes:
- Endorses
exposure_risk,loyalty_assessmentbut renamesoperational_reliability→trust_read("more personal — that's how you think about colleagues you're risking prison with") - Adds three new attributes:
moral_weight,cover_integrity,loyalty_conflict - Proposes smuggler-specific monologue triggers:
moral_pang,loyalty_test - Proposes smuggler moral arc phases parallel to detective investigation phases: Comfort → Doubt → Reckoning → Compromise
- Proposes smuggler FactId parallels for moral knowledge:
complicity.cost_to_haelprogression
Ozzie adds emotional accumulation layer:
guilt_interactions— how many times smuggler lied to/about this NPCcomplicity_acknowledged— unlocks darker monologue variants after thresholdprotective_actions— has player actively tried to shield this NPC
Mellanie confirms blocking dependency: Smuggler monologue currently gates on detective-shaped prerequisites. Smuggler-specific attributes needed for smuggler monologue to react with same precision.
Nigel connects to randomization: Paula's smuggler attributes are the data model for what varies per seed in smuggler's playthrough. exposure_risk changes per seed because WHO is compromised changes.
Recommended decision ID: D-043 (Smuggler knowledge vocabulary and moral arc)
T-05: Triangle 1 and the Nils Problem → NOT YET ADDRESSED IN ROUND 2
Ozzie endorses Gestalt's T1 fix (Nils volume escalation decision) in drive-by. No deep engagement yet. Awaiting Gestalt Round 2.
T-06: Randomizer Scope for v0.1 → SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE
Nigel revises his own proposal. Key concession:
- Primary contraband FIXED per district (walks back full contraband shuffle). Lattice components always the core of Sova's ring. Culturally grounded, morally load-bearing.
- Secondary contraband varies per seed (medical-grade / severance / enhanced / nothing). Adds moral wrinkle without breaking cultural logic.
- Gore's complicity thesis acknowledged as constraint — contraband variation must preserve the moral ambiguity, not dilute it.
PC-as-NPC split into two concepts (Nigel):
| Concept | Scope | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Other PC exists as NPC | v0.1 | ~20-30 items | Detective NPC visible in smuggler playthrough and vice versa |
| B: PC identity randomization | v0.2+ | 16+ relationship pairs | Different dock worker/detective each playthrough |
Concept A endorsed for v0.1 by Nigel and Ozzie. Low cost, high payoff (second-playthrough wow moment).
District entanglement map (Nigel): Per-seed flags on NPCs determine ring connection, compromise status, role assignments. Constrained by D-029 ratio (30/50/20). Connects to Gestalt's T3 randomization proposal.
Seed configuration schema proposed (Nigel): runtime/seed-state.yaml recording randomizer decisions at game start.
Recommended decisions:
- D-044 (Primary contraband fixed per district, secondary varies per seed)
- D-045 (PC-as-NPC Concept A in v0.1 scope)
- D-046 (Seed configuration schema)
T-07: Wiki Structure vs Content Directory → NOT YET ADDRESSED
Awaiting Tyre and Miri Round 2.
T-08: Tier 3 Emotional Depth → PARTIALLY RESOLVED (New Pattern Proposed)
Gore proposes THE MIRROR — a new NPC archetype:
- Honest character whose transparency reveals others' dishonesty
- No secret, no contradiction arc, no tell system
- Full Tier 1 emotional depth (50-70 authored lines, 10-15 monologue per character)
- Hael is the first MIRROR
- NOT a Tier promotion — a new pattern alongside THE FRIEND
Ozzie DISAGREES on the solution but agrees on the diagnosis:
- Keep Hael Tier 2 structurally
- Add ~15-20 lines: hopeful/confiding voice samples, door-checking atmospheric beat, Kael-Hael togetherness scene
- "Not every powerful character needs to be mechanically complex. Hael doesn't need state machines. Hael needs the player to feel something when they walk past."
The tension within the tension: Gore wants a new formal pattern (THE MIRROR: 50-70 lines, no secret, unique template). Ozzie wants a quality upgrade within existing Tier 2 (add 15-20 lines, no new pattern).
Both agree:
- Hael must NOT have a contradiction arc or secret
- Hael needs more authored content than current Tier 2 delivers
- Hael's power is simplicity and transparency
The question for the team: Is THE MIRROR a reusable pattern worth formalizing, or is Hael a one-off exceptional Tier 2 NPC?
New Proposals from Round 2
From Gore
| # | Proposal | Cross-refs |
|---|---|---|
| P-63 | THE MIRROR pattern — new NPC archetype for honest characters. 50-70 authored lines, no secret, no tell, full emotional depth. | T-08, D-034 pattern |
| P-64 | cultural_gate modifier for dialogue access — regional culture modifies disclosure independently of relationship state. |
P-28 (Gore R1), Miri brief |
| P-65 | Smuggler moral arc phases (Comfort → Doubt → Reckoning → Compromise) parallel to detective investigation phases. | P-07 (Paula), T-04 |
| P-66 | Smuggler-specific monologue triggers: moral_pang, loyalty_test. |
P-07 (Paula), T-04 |
| P-67 | Rename operational_reliability → trust_read. |
P-07 (Paula) |
| P-68 | Add moral_weight, cover_integrity, loyalty_conflict to smuggler attributes. |
P-07 (Paula), T-04 |
| P-69 | "Complicity" as named theme alongside "asymmetric information" as mechanic. | P-01 (Gore R1) |
From Ozzie
| # | Proposal | Cross-refs |
|---|---|---|
| P-70 | Hael: Tier 2 + 15-20 extra lines (not Tier 1 promotion, not MIRROR). Add hopeful/confiding voice, door-checking beat, Kael-Hael togetherness scene. | T-08, Gore MIRROR |
| P-71 | Smuggler emotional accumulation attributes: guilt_interactions, complicity_acknowledged, protective_actions. |
P-07 (Paula), T-04 |
| P-72 | Sera composure crack — one half-sentence in early game: "About Kael — no, it's nothing." | P-12 (Ozzie R1) |
| P-73 | Smuggler "Cheers moment" opening using Miri's Krenn brief: kuum vendor, chin-lift, hüva, heritage food. | P-62 (Ozzie R1), Miri brief |
| P-74 | Second FRIEND drawn from existing NPCs elevated to Tier 1. "MARET? She was just background noise last time." | T-01, Nigel pool |
| P-75 | Green→amber reframe: Color shift should feel like CLARITY, not LOSS. "Green was a lie. Amber is honesty." | Gore contaminated trust |
From Mellanie
| # | Proposal | Cross-refs |
|---|---|---|
| P-76 | Environmental text concrete examples delivered: bar menu, safety notice, news ticker cycle, corridor graffiti. All voiced with Krenn cultural markers. | P-32 (Mellanie R1), Miri brief |
| P-77 | Combined style guide TOC — merges Paula templates + Mellanie conventions + Gestalt constraints + Miri regional into unified document. | P-18 (Paula), P-15 (Gestalt), P-26 (Miri) |
| P-78 | Smuggler voice card with three paired examples showing dual-lens cultural register. Summary table: thinks in people vs data, first names vs surnames, fragments vs complete sentences. | T-04, Miri brief |
| P-79 | Anchor line requirement per tier (operationalizing Ozzie's gut-check): Tier 1 = 2+ anchors across phases. Tier 2 = 1 anchor minimum. Tier 3 = voice hint should gesture at humanity. | P-14 (Ozzie R1) |
| P-80 | Location shortname resolution: directory = wiki slug (the-terminal), line ID prefix = short form (terminal_m_001). |
Tyre Q-W10 |
From Nigel
| # | Proposal | Cross-refs |
|---|---|---|
| P-81 | Template role-slot system in template YAML: slot, count, pool, pool_eligible fields. |
P-47 (Nigel R1), Tyre structure |
| P-82 | friends/pool.yaml per district with metadata: contradiction_type, tell_type, discovery_method. |
T-01 |
| P-83 | Primary contraband fixed, secondary varies per seed — walks back full shuffle. Secondary: medical/severance/enhanced/nothing. | P-56 (Nigel R1), Gore complicity |
| P-84 | PC-as-NPC Concept A for v0.1 — other PC exists as NPC. ~20-30 authored items. | T-06, Ozzie wow moment |
| P-85 | District entanglement map in seed configuration — per-seed NPC flags for ring connection, compromise status, role. | P-57 (Nigel R1), Gestalt T3 randomize |
| P-86 | Seed configuration schema (runtime/seed-state.yaml). |
T-06 |
| P-87 | News ticker headline pool (40-50 entries, randomizer selects 15-20 per seed). | P-32 (Mellanie), wow moment #5 |
| P-88 | Cultural substrate vocabulary as randomizable social tell per seed (word "vakt" has different social charge). | Miri brief, replayability |
Updated Consensus Table (Round 2)
| # | Topic | Round 1 Confidence | Round 2 Confidence | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-01 | THE FRIEND never proc-gen, pool-based selection | High | Confirmed | Gore/Nigel/Ozzie all restate |
| C-02 | All NPCs need canonical full names | High | High (no new data) | Awaiting Paula/Miri R2 |
| C-03 | Regional style guide template | High | Confirmed | Gore endorses Miri, Ozzie uses for concrete examples |
| C-04 | Krenn System brief canonical | High | Confirmed | Gore calls it "best work product in workshop," Ozzie builds opening from it, Mellanie produces environmental text from it |
| C-05 | Formalized tier templates | High | Confirmed | Mellanie proposes merged style guide TOC |
| C-06 | Content directory: global + districts | High | Confirmed | Nigel adopts Tyre's structure |
| C-10 | Smuggler needs own knowledge vocabulary | High | Strongly confirmed | All 4 respondents endorse, Gore extends with moral arc |
| C-12 | PC-as-NPC requires explicit specs | High | Confirmed + scoped | Nigel splits into Concept A (v0.1) and B (v0.2+) |
| C-14 | Backstory through discovery | High | Confirmed | Ozzie's Cheers opening built from Miri's cultural texture |
| C-15 | (NEW) Complicity as named theme | — | High | Gore (R1+R2), Ozzie endorses, Mellanie endorses |
| C-16 | (NEW) Primary contraband fixed per district | — | High | Nigel walks back shuffle, Gore's complicity constrains |
| C-17 | (NEW) PC-as-NPC Concept A in v0.1 | — | High | Nigel + Ozzie explicit. ~20-30 items. |
| C-18 | (NEW) FRIEND pool v0.1=1, v0.2=2, v0.3=3 | — | High | All 4 converge on phased rollout |
| C-19 | (NEW) Anchor line requirement in style guide | — | High | Ozzie (concept), Mellanie (operationalized per tier) |
| C-20 | (NEW) Combined style guide document | — | High | Mellanie proposed TOC merging all contributors |
Remaining Open Items
| # | Item | Waiting On |
|---|---|---|
| Q-W03 | Kael/Hael sonic collision | Paula R2, Miri R2 |
| Q-W05 | D-040 existence check | Miri R2 |
| Q-W08 | global/ vs _global/ prefix |
Tyre R2 |
| Q-W12 | (NEW) THE MIRROR: new pattern vs enhanced Tier 2? | Gore vs Ozzie — needs project lead |
| Q-W13 | (NEW) cultural_gate as dialogue modifier — mechanical feasibility? |
Gestalt R2, Tyre R2 |
| Q-W14 | (NEW) Seed configuration schema location — content/ or runtime/? | Tyre R2 |
| Q-W15 | (NEW) Sound texture for Krenn culture — quiet social / loud work? | Ozzie asks Miri/Inigo |
Recommended Decisions for Recording (Preliminary)
Based on Round 2 consensus so far. Will finalize after all 8 responses.
| ID | Decision | Confidence | Key Supporters |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-042 | FRIEND pool architecture: pool-based selection, v0.1=1 per character, full Tier 1 minimum, content structured as pool entries from day one | High | Gore, Nigel, Ozzie |
| D-043 | Smuggler knowledge vocabulary: trust_read, exposure_risk, loyalty_assessment, leverage_held, social_debt, moral_weight, cover_integrity, loyalty_conflict + monologue triggers moral_pang, loyalty_test + moral arc phases (Comfort→Doubt→Reckoning→Compromise) |
High | Gore, Paula (R1), Ozzie, Mellanie, Nigel |
| D-044 | Primary contraband fixed per district, secondary varies per seed | High | Nigel (revised), Gore (constraint) |
| D-045 | PC-as-NPC Concept A in v0.1 (other PC visible as NPC, ~20-30 items) | High | Nigel, Ozzie |
| D-046 | Seed configuration schema (records randomizer decisions at game-start) | Medium-High | Nigel (proposed), needs Tyre validation |
| D-047 | Complicity as named thematic core alongside asymmetric information as mechanic | High | Gore (R1+R2), Ozzie, Mellanie |
| D-048 | Anchor line requirement in NPC style guide (Tier 1: 2+ per phase, Tier 2: 1 minimum) | High | Ozzie (concept), Mellanie (operationalized) |
| D-049 | Combined content style guide document (Mellanie TOC) | High | Mellanie, Paula (R1), Gestalt (R1), Miri (R1) |
88 proposals tracked (62 Round 1 + 26 Round 2). 8 tensions (3 resolved, 2 partially resolved, 3 pending remaining responses). 20 consensus items. 8 preliminary decisions recommended. Awaiting Gestalt, Miri, Tyre, Paula Round 2 responses.