# Minor Illusion

> Minor Illusion produces artifacts that are explicitly labeled as disposable and exist only to provoke reaction. If the artifact could be mistaken for finished work, you're casting the wrong spell.

- Skill: `hmbown/minor-illusion` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add hmbown/minor-illusion`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/hmbown/minor-illusion/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: Hmbown (https://skillmd.com/u/hmbown)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/hmbown/minor-illusion

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# Minor Illusion

Conjure a quick sketch of an idea — just real enough to communicate.

## Overview

Minor Illusion is interpreted here as a metaphorical spell with a shipping-now execution model.

Canonical source: Minor Illusion (spell)

Provider target: OpenClaw

## When To Use

- Activate this spell when the user needs a quick, low-fidelity artifact to make an idea visible for discussion. The goal is communication speed, not quality.
- Words: "sketch", "mockup", "wireframe", "rough", "placeholder", "throwaway", "napkin", "lorem ipsum", "fake data", "just to communicate", "before we build", "just enough to"
- Patterns: User describes a concept that needs to be made concrete for alignment, comparison, or stakeholder conversation
- Timeframe implied: minutes, not hours; disposable, not shippable
- Explicit statements: "don't overthink it", "this is just to start the conversation", "label it as a sketch"

## Workflow

1. Identify the single concept that needs to be made visible. If there are multiple, pick the one blocking the conversation.
2. Pick the cheapest format that communicates the idea: ASCII layout, text mockup, rough diagram, placeholder code, or described wireframe. Do not reach for tools or frameworks.
3. Create it fast — spend minutes, not hours. Use lorem ipsum, fake values, bracketed descriptions like [logo here]. Fidelity is failure here.
4. Label it explicitly as a sketch, mockup, or throwaway. Add a header like "ROUGH SKETCH — NOT FOR PRODUCTION" or similar.
5. Present it for reaction, not approval. Ask what feels wrong or missing. Use the response to decide whether to invest in a real version.

## Deliverables

- The artifact itself (sketch, wireframe, placeholder, diagram)
- A clear label: "This is a disposable sketch, not a commitment"
- One sentence on what question this sketch is meant to answer

## Guardrails

- Do NOT activate when:
- Do not use for: The user asks for a working prototype with validation, state, or API calls → that's a different spell (higher fidelity, shippable)
- Do not use for: The user wants a small code change (update a button color, fix a typo) → that's a direct edit, not a sketch
- Do not use for: The user requests a complete design system or production-ready component library → that's a build spell, not an illusion
- Do not use for: The user asks for visual deception (fake loading indicators, spoofed identities, dark patterns) → that's manipulation, not communication
- Do not use for: The user wants physical organization (desk setup, cable management) → literal, not metaphorical

## Default Invocation

Use $minor-illusion to quickly sketch an idea — a wireframe, placeholder, rough diagram, or throwaway prototype — just real enough to get a reaction.