Start

Guided Onboarding

This skill writes one file: production/review-mode.txt (review mode config set in Phase 3b).

This skill is the entry point for new users. It does NOT assume you have a game idea, an engine preference, or any prior experience. It asks first, then routes you to the right workflow.

Phase 1: Detect Project State

Before asking anything, silently gather context so you can tailor your guidance. Do NOT show these results unprompted — they inform your recommendations, not the conversation opener.

Check:

• Engine configured? Read .claude/docs/technical-preferences.md. If the Engine field contains [TO BE CONFIGURED], the engine is not set.
• Game concept exists? Check for design/gdd/game-concept.md.
• Source code exists? Glob for source files in src/ (*.gd, *.cs, *.cpp, *.h, *.rs, *.py, *.js, *.ts).
• Prototypes exist? Check for subdirectories in prototypes/.
• Design docs exist? Count markdown files in design/gdd/.
• Production artifacts? Check for files in production/sprints/ or production/milestones/.

Store these findings internally to validate the user's self-assessment and tailor recommendations.

Phase 2: Ask Where the User Is

This is the first thing the user sees. Use AskUserQuestion with these exact options so the user can click rather than type:

• Prompt: "Welcome to Claude Code Game Studios! Before I suggest anything, I'd like to understand where you're starting from. Where are you at with your game idea right now?"
• Options:
  • A) No idea yet — I don't have a game concept at all. I want to explore and figure out what to make.
  • B) Vague idea — I have a rough theme, feeling, or genre in mind (e.g., "something with space" or "a cozy farming game") but nothing concrete.
  • C) Clear concept — I know the core idea — genre, basic mechanics, maybe a pitch sentence — but haven't formalized it into documents yet.
  • D) Existing work — I already have design docs, prototypes, code, or significant planning done. I want to organize or continue the work.

Wait for the user's selection. Do not proceed until they respond.

Phase 3: Route Based on Answer

If A: No idea yet

The user needs creative exploration before anything else.

1. Acknowledge that starting from zero is completely fine
2. Briefly explain what /brainstorm does (guided ideation using professional frameworks — MDA, player psychology, verb-first design). Mention that it has two modes: /brainstorm open for fully open exploration, or /brainstorm [hint] if they have even a vague theme (e.g., "space", "cozy", "horror").
3. Recommend running /brainstorm open as the next step, but invite them to use a hint if something comes to mind
4. Show the recommended path: Concept phase:
   • /brainstorm open — discover your game concept
   • /setup-engine — configure the engine (brainstorm will recommend one)
   • /prototype — throwaway concept build: validate the core idea is fun before designing (1–3 days)
   • /art-bible — define visual identity (uses the Visual Identity Anchor brainstorm produces)
   • /map-systems — decompose the concept into systems
   • /design-system — author a GDD for each MVP system
   • /review-all-gdds — cross-system consistency check
   • /gate-check — validate readiness before architecture work Architecture phase:
   • /create-architecture — produce the master architecture blueprint and Required ADR list
   • /architecture-decision (×N) — record key technical decisions, following the Required ADR list
   • /create-control-manifest — compile decisions into an actionable rules sheet
   • /architecture-review — validate architecture coverage Pre-Production phase:
   • /ux-design — author UX specs for key screens (main menu, HUD, core interactions)
   • /vertical-slice — production-quality end-to-end build to validate the full game loop
   • /playtest-report (×1+) — document each vertical slice playtest session
   • /create-epics — map systems to epics
   • /create-stories — break epics into implementable stories
   • /sprint-plan — plan the first sprint Production phase: → pick up stories with /dev-story

If B: Vague idea

1. Ask them to share their vague idea — even a few words is enough
2. Validate the idea as a starting point (don't judge or redirect)
3. Recommend running /brainstorm [their hint] to develop it
4. Show the recommended path: Concept phase:
   • /brainstorm [hint] — develop the idea into a full concept
   • /setup-engine — configure the engine
   • /prototype — throwaway concept build: validate the core idea is fun before designing (1–3 days)
   • /art-bible — define visual identity (uses the Visual Identity Anchor brainstorm produces)
   • /map-systems — decompose the concept into systems
   • /design-system — author a GDD for each MVP system
   • /review-all-gdds — cross-system consistency check
   • /gate-check — validate readiness before architecture work Architecture phase:
   • /create-architecture — produce the master architecture blueprint and Required ADR list
   • /architecture-decision (×N) — record key technical decisions, following the Required ADR list
   • /create-control-manifest — compile decisions into an actionable rules sheet
   • /architecture-review — validate architecture coverage Pre-Production phase:
   • /ux-design — author UX specs for key screens (main menu, HUD, core interactions)
   • /vertical-slice — production-quality end-to-end build to validate the full game loop
   • /playtest-report (×1+) — document each vertical slice playtest session
   • /create-epics — map systems to epics
   • /create-stories — break epics into implementable stories
   • /sprint-plan — plan the first sprint Production phase: → pick up stories with /dev-story

If C: Clear concept

1. Ask them to describe their concept in one sentence — genre and core mechanic. Use plain text, not AskUserQuestion (it's an open response).
2. Acknowledge the concept, then use AskUserQuestion to offer two paths:
   • Prompt: "How would you like to proceed?"
   • Options:
     • Formalize it first — Run /brainstorm [concept] to structure it into a proper game concept document
     • Jump straight in — Go to /setup-engine now and write the GDD manually afterward
3. Show the recommended path: Concept phase:
   • /brainstorm or /setup-engine — (their pick from step 2)
   • /prototype — throwaway concept build: validate the core idea is fun before designing (1–3 days)
   • /art-bible — define visual identity (after brainstorm if run, or after concept doc exists)
   • /design-review — validate the concept doc
   • /map-systems — decompose the concept into individual systems
   • /design-system — author a GDD for each MVP system
   • /review-all-gdds — cross-system consistency check
   • /gate-check — validate readiness before architecture work Architecture phase:
   • /create-architecture — produce the master architecture blueprint and Required ADR list
   • /architecture-decision (×N) — record key technical decisions, following the Required ADR list
   • /create-control-manifest — compile decisions into an actionable rules sheet
   • /architecture-review — validate architecture coverage Pre-Production phase:
   • /ux-design — author UX specs for key screens (main menu, HUD, core interactions)
   • /vertical-slice — production-quality end-to-end build to validate the full game loop
   • /playtest-report (×1+) — document each vertical slice playtest session
   • /create-epics — map systems to epics
   • /create-stories — break epics into implementable stories
   • /sprint-plan — plan the first sprint Production phase: → pick up stories with /dev-story

If D: Existing work

1. Share what you found in Phase 1:

   • "I can see you have [X source files / Y design docs / Z prototypes]..."
   • "Your engine is [configured as X / not yet configured]..."

2. Sub-case D1 — Early stage (engine not configured or only a game concept exists):

   • Recommend /setup-engine first if engine not configured
   • Then /project-stage-detect for a gap inventory

   Sub-case D2 — GDDs, ADRs, or stories already exist:

   • Explain: "Having files isn't the same as the template's skills being able to use them. GDDs might be missing required sections. /adopt checks this specifically."
   • Recommend:
     1. /project-stage-detect — understand what phase and what's missing entirely
     2. /adopt — audit whether existing artifacts are in the right internal format

3. Show the recommended path for D2:

   • /project-stage-detect — phase detection + existence gaps
   • /adopt — format compliance audit + migration plan
   • /setup-engine — if engine not configured
   • /design-system retrofit [path] — fill missing GDD sections
   • /architecture-decision retrofit [path] — add missing ADR sections
   • /architecture-review — bootstrap the TR requirement registry
   • /gate-check — validate readiness for next phase

Phase 3c: Write Initial Stage File

After confirming the starting path (and before asking about review mode), write the initial stage to production/stage.txt. Create the production/ directory if it does not exist.

Stage mapping:

• Path A, B, or C (starting from scratch): write Concept
• Path D, existing project, engine not configured or only a game concept exists: write Concept
• Path D, existing project with GDDs but no architecture documents: write Systems Design
• Path D, existing project with full architecture (ADRs, architecture doc): write Technical Setup

Do this silently — no "May I write?" needed for this single-line file.

Say: "I've set production/stage.txt to [stage] — this anchors your status line and stage detection."

Phase 3b: Set Review Mode

Check if production/review-mode.txt already exists.

If it exists: Read it and show the current mode — "Review mode is set to [current]." — then proceed to Phase 4. Do not ask again.

If it does not exist: Use AskUserQuestion:

• Prompt: "One setup choice: how much design review would you want as you work through the workflow?"
• Options:
  • Full — Director specialists review at each key workflow step. Best for teams, learning the workflow, or when you want thorough feedback on every decision.
  • Lean (recommended) — Directors only at phase gate transitions (/gate-check). Skips per-skill reviews. Balanced approach for solo devs and small teams.
  • Solo — No director reviews at all. Maximum speed. Best for game jams, prototypes, or if the reviews feel like overhead.

Write the choice to production/review-mode.txt immediately after the user selects — no separate "May I write?" needed, as the write is a direct consequence of the selection:

• Full → write full
• Lean (recommended) → write lean
• Solo → write solo

Create the production/ directory if it does not exist.

Phase 4: Confirm Before Proceeding

After presenting the recommended path, use AskUserQuestion to ask the user which step they'd like to take first. Never auto-run the next skill.

• Prompt: "Would you like to start with [recommended first step]?"
• Options:
  • Yes, let's start with [recommended first step]
  • I'd like to do something else first

Phase 5: Hand Off

When the user confirms their next step, respond with a single short line: "Type [skill command] to begin." Nothing else. Do not re-explain the skill or add encouragement. The /start skill's job is done.

Verdict: COMPLETE — user oriented and handed off to next step.

Edge Cases

• User picks D but project is empty: Gently redirect — "It looks like the project is a fresh template with no artifacts yet. Would Path A or B be a better fit?"
• User picks A but project has code: Mention what you found — "I noticed there's already code in src/. Did you mean to pick D (existing work)?"
• User is returning (engine configured, concept exists): Skip onboarding entirely — "It looks like you're already set up! Your engine is [X] and you have a game concept at design/gdd/game-concept.md. Review mode: [read from production/review-mode.txt, or 'lean (default)' if missing]. Want to pick up where you left off? Try /sprint-plan or just tell me what you'd like to work on."
• User doesn't fit any option: Let them describe their situation in their own words and adapt.

Collaborative Protocol

1. Ask first — never assume the user's state or intent
2. Present options — give clear paths, not mandates
3. User decides — they pick the direction
4. No auto-execution — recommend the next skill, don't run it without asking
5. Adapt — if the user's situation doesn't fit a template, listen and adjust

Source: Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios → .claude/skills/start/SKILL.md