# Narrative Design Workflow

<workflow>

<critical>The workflow execution engine is governed by: {project_root}/bmad/core/tasks/workflow.md</critical>
<critical>You MUST have already completed the GDD workflow</critical>
<critical>This workflow creates detailed narrative content for story-driven games</critical>
<critical>Uses narrative_template for output</critical>
<critical>If users mention gameplay mechanics, note them but keep focus on narrative</critical>

<step n="1" goal="Load GDD context and assess narrative complexity">

<action>Load GDD.md from {output_folder}</action>
<action>Extract game_type, game_name, and any narrative mentions</action>

<ask>What level of narrative complexity does your game have?

**Narrative Complexity:**

1. **Critical** - Story IS the game (Visual Novel, Text-Based Adventure)
2. **Heavy** - Story drives the experience (Story-driven RPG, Narrative Adventure)
3. **Moderate** - Story enhances gameplay (Metroidvania, Tactics RPG, Horror)
4. **Light** - Story provides context (most other genres)

Your game type ({{game_type}}) suggests **{{suggested_complexity}}**. Confirm or adjust:</ask>

<action>Set narrative_complexity</action>

<check>If complexity == "Light":</check>
<ask>Light narrative games usually don't need a full Narrative Design Document. Are you sure you want to continue?

- GDD story sections may be sufficient
- Consider just expanding GDD narrative notes
- Proceed with full narrative workflow

Your choice:</ask>

<action>Load narrative_template from workflow.yaml</action>

</step>

<step n="2" goal="Define narrative premise and themes">

<ask>Describe your narrative premise in 2-3 sentences.

This is the "elevator pitch" of your story.

Examples:

- "A young knight discovers they're the last hope to stop an ancient evil, but must choose between saving the kingdom or their own family."
- "After a mysterious pandemic, survivors must navigate a world where telling the truth is deadly but lying corrupts your soul."

Your premise:</ask>

<template-output>narrative_premise</template-output>

<ask>What are the core themes of your narrative? (2-4 themes)

Themes are the underlying ideas/messages.

Examples: redemption, sacrifice, identity, corruption, hope vs. despair, nature vs. technology

Your themes:</ask>

<template-output>core_themes</template-output>

<ask>Describe the tone and atmosphere.

Consider: dark, hopeful, comedic, melancholic, mysterious, epic, intimate, etc.

Your tone:</ask>

<template-output>tone_atmosphere</template-output>

</step>

<step n="3" goal="Define story structure">

<ask>What story structure are you using?

Common structures:

- **3-Act** (Setup, Confrontation, Resolution)
- **Hero's Journey** (Campbell's monomyth)
- **Kishōtenketsu** (4-act: Introduction, Development, Twist, Conclusion)
- **Episodic** (Self-contained episodes with arc)
- **Branching** (Multiple paths and endings)
- **Freeform** (Player-driven narrative)

Your structure:</ask>

<template-output>story_type</template-output>

<ask>Break down your story into acts/sections.

For 3-Act:

- Act 1: Setup and inciting incident
- Act 2: Rising action and midpoint
- Act 3: Climax and resolution

Describe each act/section for your game:</ask>

<template-output>act_breakdown</template-output>
<elicit-required/>

</step>

<step n="4" goal="Define major story beats">

<ask>List the major story beats (10-20 key moments).

Story beats are significant events that drive the narrative forward.

Format:

1. [Beat name] - Brief description
2. [Beat name] - Brief description
   ...

Your story beats:</ask>

<template-output>story_beats</template-output>
<elicit-required/>

<ask>Describe the pacing and flow of your narrative.

Consider:

- Slow burn vs. fast-paced
- Tension/release rhythm
- Story-heavy vs. gameplay-heavy sections
- Optional vs. required narrative content

Your pacing:</ask>

<template-output>pacing_flow</template-output>

</step>

<step n="5" goal="Develop protagonist(s)">

<ask>Describe your protagonist(s).

For each protagonist include:

- Name and brief description
- Background and motivation
- Character arc (how they change)
- Strengths and flaws
- Relationships to other characters
- Internal and external conflicts

Your protagonist(s):</ask>

<template-output>protagonists</template-output>
<elicit-required/>

</step>

<step n="6" goal="Develop antagonist(s)">

<ask>Describe your antagonist(s).

For each antagonist include:

- Name and brief description
- Background and motivation
- Goals (what they want)
- Methods (how they pursue goals)
- Relationship to protagonist
- Sympathetic elements (if any)

Your antagonist(s):</ask>

<template-output>antagonists</template-output>

</step>

<step n="7" goal="Develop supporting characters">

<ask>Describe supporting characters (allies, mentors, companions, NPCs).

For each character include:

- Name and role
- Personality and traits
- Relationship to protagonist
- Function in story (mentor, foil, comic relief, etc.)
- Key scenes/moments

Your supporting characters:</ask>

<template-output>supporting_characters</template-output>
<elicit-required/>

</step>

<step n="8" goal="Map character arcs">

<ask>Describe the character arcs for major characters.

Character arc: How does the character change from beginning to end?

For each arc:

- Starting state
- Key transformation moments
- Ending state
- Lessons learned

Your character arcs:</ask>

<template-output>character_arcs</template-output>

</step>

<step n="9" goal="Build world and lore">

<ask>Describe your world.

Include:

- Setting (time period, location, world type)
- World rules (magic systems, technology level, societal norms)
- Atmosphere and aesthetics
- What makes this world unique

Your world:</ask>

<template-output>world_overview</template-output>

<ask>What is the history and backstory of your world?

- Major historical events
- How did the world reach its current state?
- Legends and myths
- Past conflicts

Your history:</ask>

<template-output>history_backstory</template-output>
<elicit-required/>

</step>

<step n="10" goal="Define factions and locations">

<ask optional="true">Describe factions, organizations, or groups (if applicable).

For each:

- Name and purpose
- Leadership and structure
- Goals and methods
- Relationships with other factions

Your factions:</ask>

<template-output>factions_organizations</template-output>

<ask>Describe key locations in your world.

For each location:

- Name and description
- Narrative significance
- Atmosphere and mood
- Key events that occur there

Your locations:</ask>

<template-output>locations</template-output>

</step>

<step n="11" goal="Define dialogue framework">

<ask>Describe your dialogue style.

Consider:

- Formal vs. casual
- Period-appropriate vs. modern
- Verbose vs. concise
- Humor level
- Profanity/mature language

Your dialogue style:</ask>

<template-output>dialogue_style</template-output>

<ask>List key conversations/dialogue moments.

Include:

- Who is involved
- When it occurs
- What's discussed
- Narrative purpose
- Emotional tone

Your key conversations:</ask>

<template-output>key_conversations</template-output>

<check>If game has branching dialogue:</check>
<ask>Describe your branching dialogue system.

- How many branches/paths?
- What determines branches? (stats, choices, flags)
- Do branches converge?
- How much unique dialogue?

Your branching system:</ask>

<template-output>branching_dialogue</template-output>

</step>

<step n="12" goal="Environmental storytelling">

<ask>How will you tell story through the environment?

Visual storytelling:

- Set dressing and props
- Environmental damage/aftermath
- Visual symbolism
- Color and lighting

Your visual storytelling:</ask>

<template-output>visual_storytelling</template-output>

<ask>How will audio contribute to storytelling?

- Ambient sounds
- Music emotional cues
- Voice acting
- Audio logs/recordings

Your audio storytelling:</ask>

<template-output>audio_storytelling</template-output>

<ask optional="true">Will you have found documents (journals, notes, emails)?

If yes, describe:

- Types of documents
- How many
- What they reveal
- Optional vs. required reading

Your found documents:</ask>

<template-output>found_documents</template-output>

</step>

<step n="13" goal="Narrative delivery methods">

<ask>How will you deliver narrative content?

**Cutscenes/Cinematics:**

- How many?
- Skippable?
- Real-time or pre-rendered?
- Average length

Your cutscenes:</ask>

<template-output>cutscenes</template-output>

<ask>How will you deliver story during gameplay?

- NPC conversations
- Radio/comm chatter
- Environmental cues
- Player actions
- Show vs. tell balance

Your in-game storytelling:</ask>

<template-output>ingame_storytelling</template-output>

<ask>What narrative content is optional?

- Side quests
- Collectible lore
- Optional conversations
- Secret endings

Your optional content:</ask>

<template-output>optional_content</template-output>

<check>If multiple endings:</check>
<ask>Describe your ending structure.

- How many endings?
- What determines ending? (choices, stats, completion)
- Ending variety (minor variations vs. drastically different)
- True/golden ending?

Your endings:</ask>

<template-output>multiple_endings</template-output>

</step>

<step n="14" goal="Gameplay integration">

<ask>How does narrative integrate with gameplay?

- Does story unlock mechanics?
- Do mechanics reflect themes?
- Ludonarrative harmony or dissonance?
- Balance of story vs. gameplay

Your narrative-gameplay integration:</ask>

<template-output>narrative_gameplay</template-output>

<ask>How does story gate progression?

- Story-locked areas
- Cutscene triggers
- Mandatory story beats
- Optional vs. required narrative

Your story gates:</ask>

<template-output>story_gates</template-output>

<ask>How much agency does the player have?

- Can player affect story?
- Meaningful choices?
- Role-playing freedom?
- Predetermined vs. dynamic narrative

Your player agency:</ask>

<template-output>player_agency</template-output>

</step>

<step n="15" goal="Production planning">

<ask>Estimate your writing scope.

- Word count estimate
- Number of scenes/chapters
- Dialogue lines estimate
- Branching complexity

Your scope:</ask>

<template-output>writing_scope</template-output>

<ask>Localization considerations?

- Target languages
- Cultural adaptation needs
- Text expansion concerns
- Dialogue recording implications

Your localization:</ask>

<template-output>localization</template-output>

<ask>Voice acting plans?

- Fully voiced, partially voiced, or text-only?
- Number of characters needing voices
- Dialogue volume
- Budget considerations

Your voice acting:</ask>

<template-output>voice_acting</template-output>

</step>

<step n="16" goal="Completion and next steps">

<action>Generate character relationship map (text-based diagram)</action>
<template-output>relationship_map</template-output>

<action>Generate story timeline</action>
<template-output>timeline</template-output>

<ask optional="true">Any references or inspirations to note?

- Books, movies, games that inspired you
- Reference materials
- Tone/theme references

Your references:</ask>

<template-output>references</template-output>

<ask>Narrative Design complete! Next steps:

1. Proceed to solutioning (technical architecture)
2. Create detailed script/screenplay (outside workflow)
3. Review narrative with team/stakeholders
4. Exit workflow

Which would you like?</ask>

</step>

</workflow>
