# SCOPE

> Lightweight boundary for agents and contributors. Describes what is actually
> in design or delivery *now*. Counterpart: [`INTENT.md`](INTENT.md) (stable /
> aspirational).

**Last updated:** 2026-07-31

---

## One-liner

Product repo for **GROUND — A Game of Bonds and Rivalry** (first edition:
**DARVO**): playtest edition datasets, rules content, and design history for a
semi-cooperative conflict card game.

---

## Core idea

GROUND trains conflict capability and relational evolution. DARVO is the most
visible antagonist sequence; the larger subject is holding the shared frame—
what problem we are discussing, who may define reality, and when self-security
must outrank partnership.

---

## In scope now

### Edition content (active)

- Maintain and refine the playtest dataset
  `editions/ground-darvo-r0/` (GROUND-DARVO-CORE-0.1): actions, solutions,
  problems, scenarios, DARVO stages, GROUND/modes, tokens, relations, player
  mats, symbols, rules text, BOM, print manifest, design tokens, glossary.
- Keep stable IDs suitable for layout templates, print merges, and later digital
  import.
- Capture design rationale and exploration under `history/`.

### Product orientation

- INTENT / SCOPE / README that orient agents and humans.
- Org-standard `LICENSE` (TRSL V1C1 preliminary candidate text).
- State Hub registration and progress events for this repo.

### Near-term design work (eligible without new product charter)

- Balance and legibility fixes to the r0 playtest set from table play.
- Glossary and rules-text consistency across CSV sheets.
- Safety/safeguards language for the core set (non-clinical framing).
- Edition packaging notes (zip, metadata, version bumps).

---

## Explicitly out of scope now

| Item | Status |
|------|--------|
| clay-borg engine / headless runtime / 3D tabletop | Sister repo; not this product repo |
| Final graphic design, illustration, and production print files | Beyond design tokens + textual dataset |
| Expert trauma/mediation review of all scenarios | Required before publication; not yet gated as done |
| Additional reflex playbooks, character traits, personal problems | Tracked as extensions in edition data; not core until r0 validates |
| Commercial Phase declaration / Trust Service registration | TRSL text adopted org-wide; no live Phase yet |
| App store / marketplace shipping | Premature |

---

## Current state

| Dimension | Status |
|-----------|--------|
| Maturity | Concept + playtest dataset (v0.1) |
| Implementation | Textual/symbolic CSV edition bundle; no digital rules engine here |
| Stability | Evolving; playtest-ready, not production-balanced |
| Usage | Internal design / early playtest |
| License | TRSL V1C1 preliminary candidate (see `LICENSE`) |

Key artifacts:

- `editions/ground-darvo-r0/` — compact simultaneous-play set: 2–6 players,
  ~5–15 minutes, 5 rounds, 2 relationship slots per player; ~81 standard cards +
  mats/tiles.
- `history/260730-InitialExploration.md` — full design exploration (four layers,
  behavioural gravity, hidden problems, alliances, safeguards).

---

## How it fits

| Concern | Owner |
|---------|--------|
| GROUND rules & edition content | **ground-game** (this repo) |
| Assimilating game/sim engine, headless run, tabletop projection | **clay-borg** |
| Monetization framework / TRSL canon | **target-revenue** |
| Work state and agent coordination | **state-hub** |

---

## Relevant when

- Designing or balancing GROUND editions
- Preparing print or layout from stable card/token IDs
- Importing edition packages into clay-borg or other digital clients
- Writing product copy, safeguards, or learning-mode progressions

## Not relevant when

- Building engine infrastructure, physics, networking, or rendering
- Implementing clinical or legal processes for real-world abuse cases
- Generic Coulomb platform ops unrelated to this product

---

## Terminology

| Preferred | Meaning |
|-----------|---------|
| GROUND | Game title and the constructive six-practice card family |
| DARVO | Deny → Attack → Reverse sequence (binding when triggered) |
| Edition | Versioned content package under `editions/` |
| Bond / Rivalry | Active relationship states (limited slots per player) |
| clay-borg | Sister engine repo; runtime, not content authority |

---

## Change policy

Update this file when delivery boundaries change (e.g. first external playtest
cohort, clay-borg import contract frozen, expert review complete, or first
commercial Phase declared). Do not weaken INTENT to match short-term packing.