> Gate definition, loaded by `/gate-check` for the TARGET PHASE ONLY.
> Never load the other five — one gate applies per invocation.


# Gate: Pre-Production → Production


**Required Artifacts:**
- [ ] Vertical slice exists in `prototypes/` with a REPORT.md (run `/vertical-slice`) — **recommended, not blocking**; if absent, surface as CONCERNS
- [ ] First sprint plan exists in `production/sprints/`
- [ ] Art bible is complete (all 9 sections) and AD-ART-BIBLE sign-off verdict is recorded in `design/art/art-bible.md` — where `review_mode` skips that gate (`lean`, `solo`), a `SKIPPED` sign-off line `/art-bible` records stands in for it, and a header still reading `[Not yet reviewed]` on such a project reads "sign-off skipped — [mode] mode", never missing
- [ ] Entity inventory exists at `design/assets/entity-inventory.md` (recommended — run `/asset-spec` with no arguments to generate collaboratively from GDDs + art bible)
- [ ] All MVP-tier GDDs from systems index are complete
- [ ] Master architecture document exists at `docs/architecture/architecture.md`
- [ ] At least 3 ADRs covering Foundation-layer decisions exist in `docs/architecture/`
- [ ] All Foundation and Core layer ADRs have status `Accepted` (not `Proposed`) — stories cannot be unblocked until their governing ADR is accepted
- [ ] Control manifest exists at `docs/architecture/control-manifest.md`
      (generated by `/create-control-manifest` from Accepted ADRs)
- [ ] Epics defined in `production/epics/` with at least Foundation and Core
      layer epics present (use `/create-epics layer: foundation` and
      `/create-epics layer: core` to create them, then `/create-stories [epic-slug]`
      for each epic)
- [ ] Vertical Slice build exists and is playable (not just scope-defined) — **recommended, not blocking**; if absent, surface as CONCERNS
- [ ] Vertical Slice has been playtested with at least 1 documented session — **recommended, not blocking**; if absent, surface as CONCERNS
- [ ] Vertical Slice playtest report exists at `production/qa/playtests/` or equivalent — **recommended, not blocking**; if absent, surface as CONCERNS
- [ ] UX specs exist for key screens: main menu, core gameplay HUD (at `design/ux/`), pause menu
- [ ] HUD design document exists at `design/ux/hud.md` (if game has in-game HUD)
- [ ] All key screen UX specs have passed `/ux-review` (verdict APPROVED or NEEDS REVISION accepted)

**Quality Checks:**
- [ ] **Core loop fun is validated** — playtest data confirms the central mechanic is enjoyable, not just functional. Explicitly check the Vertical Slice playtest report.
- [ ] UX specs cover all UI Requirements sections from MVP-tier GDDs
- [ ] Interaction pattern library documents patterns used in key screens
- [ ] Accessibility tier from `design/accessibility-requirements.md` is addressed in all key screen UX specs
- [ ] Sprint plan references real story file paths from `production/epics/`
      (not just GDDs — stories must embed GDD req ID + ADR reference)
- [ ] **Vertical Slice is COMPLETE**, not just scoped — the build demonstrates the full core loop end-to-end. At least one complete [start → challenge → resolution] cycle works.
- [ ] Architecture document has no unresolved open questions in Foundation or Core layers
- [ ] All ADRs have Engine Compatibility sections stamped with the engine version
- [ ] All ADRs have ADR Dependencies sections (even if all fields are "None")
- [ ] Manual validation confirms GDDs + architecture + epics are coherent
      (run `/review-all-gdds` and `/architecture-review` if not done recently)
- [ ] **Core fantasy is delivered** — at least one playtester independently described an experience that matches the Player Fantasy section of the core system GDDs (without being prompted).

**Vertical Slice Validation** (only run these checks if a Vertical Slice was built):
- [ ] A human has played through the core loop without developer guidance
- [ ] The game communicates what to do within the first 2 minutes of play
- [ ] No critical "fun blocker" bugs exist in the Vertical Slice build
- [ ] The core mechanic feels good to interact with (this is a subjective check — ask the user)

> **Verdict rules for Vertical Slice:**
> - **Slice was built AND any validation item is NO** → verdict is automatically FAIL. A broken
>   or unfun vertical slice should not advance to Production.
> - **Slice was built but its report says NOT ASSESSED** (nobody has played it) → it is not a
>   PROCEED, and its validation items were not checked (they are not NO): the Vertical Slice
>   Validation block does not run, so the FAIL rule above does not apply. The gate item is NOT
>   ASSESSED, never passed — and a "not yet" to "a human has played it" means the same.
> - **Slice was not built (skipped)** → downgrade to CONCERNS only, not FAIL. Surface the risk
>   clearly: "Advancing without a validated Vertical Slice increases the risk of late-stage design
>   pivots. Recommended before committing full production scope." The user decides.
> - Skipping is a valid solo dev or time-constrained call. Shipping a broken one is not.

## Workflow tier reductions

The checklist above is the **`full` baseline**. At lower tiers apply the
reduction for the resolved tier; items not named keep their status above.
Reductions only ever *relax* a requirement — `workflow_overrides` is the
only thing that adds one.

- **`full`** — sprint plan + complete (9-section) art bible + epics + UX specs + control manifest all required; **Vertical Slice keeps its Section 2 status** (see note) — its playtest is recommended, 1 documented session with 3+ better
- **`standard`** — epics + sprint plan required; art bible complete + UX specs + control manifest → recommended; **Vertical Slice keeps its Section 2 status**
- **`minimal`** — the minimal floor only: a filled **`design/game-brief.md`** with its build order, and **stories** under `production/epics/` (`workflow-modes.md` — the brief's build order is the plan, so there is **no sprint plan**); everything else **drops** — sprint plan, epics, playtests, art bible, entity inventory, MVP GDDs, the master architecture document, both ADR items, control manifest, the UX items (key screen specs, HUD document, `/ux-review`), and the Vertical Slice items (the slice, its playtest, and the Vertical Slice Validation block) — the two current-build checks below replace them
  **Quality checks at `minimal`:** every check that reads a dropped artifact drops with it — the sprint-plan, architecture, both ADR, GDD-coherence, UX and accessibility checks, and the Player Fantasy check (no GDD holds one). Two still apply, to the current build instead of a slice: **the core loop is fun** (ask the user, or read a playtest note if one exists) and **it runs end to end** — one complete start → challenge → resolution cycle. A "no" to either is FAIL, as a NO on a built slice is at the other tiers; a "not yet" to the fun question means nobody has played the build — NOT ASSESSED.

> **The Vertical Slice keeps its Section 2 status at `full` and `standard`.** The
> Pre-Production → Production "prototype/Vertical Slice" floor is NOT upgraded to
> blocking by the tier table — the Vertical Slice artifacts stay *recommended,
> not blocking* (absent → CONCERNS, not FAIL) exactly as Section 2 defines, at
> `full` and `standard` alike. At `minimal` they drop — the minimal route never
> builds a slice — and the two current-build checks replace them. The
> genuinely-required floor item at this gate is the **sprint plan** at `standard`
> and `full`, and the **brief's build order plus stories** at `minimal`. The one
> hard rule that binds at every tier: if a Vertical Slice *was built* and any of
> its validation items is NO (at `minimal`, if the current build fails either of
> its two checks), the verdict is FAIL regardless of tier — tier reductions relax
> what must *exist*, never what must *work*.