Files
Claude-Code-Game-Studios/.claude/skills/create-stories/CONTRACT.md
T
DonchitosandClaude Opus 5 d05699707f Release 1.1.0 — one config file, and a process weight you choose
`project.yaml` at the repo root is now the single source of truth for a
project's configuration, replacing `production/stage.txt`,
`production/review-mode.txt` and `.claude/docs/technical-preferences.md` (all
three still read as a fallback; nothing is force-deleted).

**`modes.rigor` — one question instead of six.** `minimal`, `standard` or
`full` fronts six knobs: `modes.workflow`, `docs.density`, `qa.level`,
`modes.story_granularity`, `modes.review_mode` and `team.size`. It defaults to
`minimal`, which is a change from 1.0's behaviour: the heavier tier was
measured costing several times more to reach working code without producing a
better result, and returning nothing when a fresh developer inherited the
project. Pin `modes.rigor: standard` to keep 1.0's process level.

Also in this release:

- `/settings` to view or change any setting, and `project.local.yaml` for
  per-developer preferences that should not be committed.
- `system_overrides` to hold one system to a higher standard than the rest of
  the project, and `testing.strict` to set per test type whether missing
  evidence blocks a story or warns.
- A story that changes anything the player sees is not closed until the game
  has been launched, observed, and a screenshot retained in
  `production/qa/evidence/`. A parse check is not a run. This holds at every
  rigor level, including `minimal`, where automated tests are waived but the
  look is not.
- The code root is engine-specific and enforced as such: Godot `src/`, Unity
  `Assets/`, Unreal `Source/<Module>/`. Two of the three will not build a
  project laid out any other way.
- Migration tooling for existing projects: `.claude/scripts/migrate-v1-config.sh`
  converts a 1.0 layout, non-destructively by default, with a report to review
  before `--finalize` deletes anything.
- Ask-before-write holds regardless of personal automation settings.

Upgrading from 1.0 or earlier: see UPGRADING.md. Full list of changes:
CHANGELOG.md.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_016xvzG3i7pWQg4LjyDwWMXd
2026-09-23 12:25:11 +10:00

6.8 KiB

/create-stories — Handoff Contract

Role in Pipeline

Decomposes a single epic into implementable story files by tracing GDD acceptance criteria through ADR decisions and manifest rules — sits between /create-epics and /story-readiness + /dev-story.

Inputs Required

Files That Must Exist

File Required Fields / Sections Read-Only?
production/epics/[epic-slug]/EPIC.md Layer:, GDD: path, Architecture Module:, ## Governing ADRs table, ## GDD Requirements table with TR-IDs Yes
design/gdd/[filename].md All 8 required sections, especially ## Acceptance Criteria, ## Formulas, ## Edge Cases Yes
docs/architecture/adr-NNNN-[slug].md (all governing ADRs) Status:, Decision, Implementation Guidelines, Engine Compatibility, Engine Notes Yes
docs/architecture/control-manifest.md Layer rules (required patterns, forbidden patterns, guardrails), Manifest Version: date in header Yes
docs/architecture/tr-registry.yaml All TR-IDs for the epic's system, with stable id values Yes

Preconditions

  • /create-epics has been run and the target EPIC.md has Status: Ready
  • The EPIC.md contains a populated ## GDD Requirements table (not empty)
  • All governing ADRs listed in the EPIC.md exist as files
  • Foundation epics have stories created before Core epics are started; Core before Feature; Feature before Presentation

Outputs Produced

Files Written

File Guaranteed Fields / Sections Notes
production/epics/[epic-slug]/story-NNN-[slug].md Epic:, Status:, Layer:, Type:, Manifest Version:, ## Context (GDD path + TR-[system]-NNN + ADR reference + ADR Decision Summary + Engine/Risk + Engine Notes + Control Manifest Rules), ## Acceptance Criteria, ## Implementation Notes, ## Out of Scope, ## Test Evidence, ## Dependencies Created per story
production/epics/[epic-slug]/EPIC.md ## Stories table replacing the "Not yet created" placeholder Updated in-place

Output Guarantees

  • Every story file contains a TR-[system]-NNN reference in its ## Context section (or TR-[system]-??? with a warning if the registry has no match)
  • Every story file contains an ADR Governing Implementation: line referencing at least one ADR, or an explicit No ADR applies note
  • Every story file has a Status: field — either Ready or Blocked (if the governing ADR is Proposed)
  • Every story file has a Type: field — one of: Logic, Integration, Visual/Feel, UI, Config/Data
  • Every story file has a Manifest Version: field matching the date from docs/architecture/control-manifest.md's header at time of writing
  • Every story file has a ## Test Evidence section stating the expected evidence location for its type
  • Every story file has a ## Acceptance Criteria section with at least one checkbox item copied from the GDD
  • Every story file has a ## Dependencies section (may say "None" but is never omitted)
  • The EPIC.md ## Stories table is updated with a row per story including #, Story title, Type, Status, and ADR
  • Stories with a Proposed ADR have Status: Blocked and a note: BLOCKED: ADR-NNNN is Proposed — run /architecture-decision to advance it
  • Every story file has an Engine and a Risk field. Risk is taken from docs/engine-reference/<engine>/VERSION.md; when that file is missing or assigns no level, Risk is NOT ASSESSED (no VERSION.md risk rating) — never a guessed level
  • NOT ASSESSED is an emittable value of the Risk field, and downstream readers must handle it. /dev-story treats it as HIGH when deciding whether to spawn the engine specialist: an unknown risk is not a low one

Immutability Rules

  • READS but does NOT modify: the epic's GDD, all ADR files, docs/architecture/tr-registry.yaml, docs/architecture/control-manifest.md
  • MODIFIES: production/epics/[epic-slug]/story-NNN-[slug].md (creates), production/epics/[epic-slug]/EPIC.md (updates Stories section only)

Hard Constraints (Never Violate)

  • Never start implementation — this skill stops at the story file level
  • Never invent acceptance criteria — all criteria must come from the GDD
  • Never invent implementation notes — all guidance must come from the referenced ADR
  • Never write story files without presenting the full story list for approval first
  • Never mark a story Status: Ready if its governing ADR has Status: Proposed
  • Never omit the Manifest Version: field — downstream readiness checks depend on it
  • Never reuse a story number (NNN) that already exists in the epic directory

Downstream Skill Expects

Next skill: /story-readiness (then /dev-story)

It will read:

  • Each story-NNN-[slug].md file — specifically: Status:, Type:, Manifest Version: (header), TR-[system]-NNN (in ## Context), ADR Governing Implementation: line, ## Acceptance Criteria section, ## Test Evidence section, ## Dependencies section
  • docs/architecture/control-manifest.md — to compare its Manifest Version: against the story's embedded version
  • The referenced ADR file — to verify its Status: field is still Accepted

It assumes:

  • Manifest Version: in the story header is a date string that can be compared against the manifest's current Manifest Version: date
  • TR-[system]-NNN IDs are resolvable in docs/architecture/tr-registry.yaml
  • The ADR referenced by name in ADR Governing Implementation: exists as a file in docs/architecture/ (pattern: adr-NNNN-[slug].md)
  • Status: Ready means the story is a candidate for assignment (not Draft, not in progress)
  • ## Acceptance Criteria contains checkbox items that are directly testable
  • ## Test Evidence specifies an exact file path or evidence doc path where proof will be stored

Known Fragile Points

  • If the story file format (header field names, section names, checkbox syntax) changes, /story-readiness will silently skip checks for fields it cannot parse — stories may pass readiness that should fail
  • If control-manifest.md is regenerated with a new Manifest Version: date after stories are written, all existing stories will show a stale manifest version and fail the readiness manifest check — every story in the epic will need its Manifest Version: updated
  • If a governing ADR is renumbered or its file is renamed after stories are written, the ADR Governing Implementation: reference in story files will point to a missing file and /story-readiness will BLOCK those stories
  • If tr-registry.yaml deprecates or supersedes a TR-ID that is already embedded in story files, /story-readiness will flag those stories as NEEDS WORK
  • The EPIC.md Stories table update is append-style — if /create-stories is run twice for the same epic, duplicate rows will appear in the table