If Init Project

IF Init Project

Overview

Use this skill to initialize the current directory as an Ink interactive fiction project. It extends the traditional narrative project contract with design files for locations, dialogue, progression, state, Ink source, and playtest review.

Required Inputs

Collect or infer:

• provisional title;
• story language;
• genre, tone, audience, POV, and tense;
• premise and playable fantasy;
• expected scope;
• free exploration constraints;
• known locations, characters, obstacles, inventory, knowledge, or skills.

Ask only for missing information that blocks initialization, especially story.language.

Files To Create Or Update

Create or normalize:

README.md
story.yaml

00_meta/
01_style/
02_story/
03_characters/

04_design/
  map.md
  locations.yaml
  dialogue_matrix.md
  progression.yaml
  state_model.md
  story_beats.md
  critical_path.md
  slices/

05_ink/
  main.ink
  locations/
  dialogues/
  systems/

06_playtest/
  route_matrix.md
  playability.review.md

07_continuity/
  canon_facts.yaml
  entities.yaml
  locations.yaml
  unresolved_threads.yaml

08_exports/

Metadata Contract

Persist this minimum contract in story.yaml:

project:
  title: ""
  format: "interactive_fiction_ink"
  status: "initialized"
story:
  genre: ""
  subgenre: ""
  language: ""
  audience: ""
  estimated_length: ""
  premise_status: "provisional"
narrative:
  tone: ""
  voice: ""
  pov: ""
  tense: ""
interactive:
  engine: "ink"
  entrypoint: "05_ink/main.ink"
  navigation_model: "free_2d_map"
  conversation_model: "free_order_dialogues"
workflow:
  canonical_root: "."
  initialized_at: ""
  next_skill: "if-design-structure"

Language Rules

• Skill text, folder names, filenames, and YAML keys stay in English.
• Human-readable project content is written in story.language.
• Use normal Unicode and correct orthography for the selected language.

Procedure

1. Inspect the current directory and preserve useful existing material.
2. Create missing folders and files from the canonical IF structure.
3. Initialize story.yaml without overwriting confirmed metadata.
4. Seed design files with concise operational prompts in story.language.
5. Seed YAML files as valid structured empty data where no facts are known.
6. Create 05_ink/main.ink as a minimal entrypoint with includes/placeholders only if no Ink source exists.
7. Recommend if-design-structure next.

Restrictions

• Do not draft a full game here.
• Do not invent confirmed locations, characters, objects, or unlocks.
• Do not rename canonical files away from English names.