name: 'step-03-ideation'
description: 'Execute the brainstorming session with game-specific techniques'
Path Definitions
workflow_path: '{installed_path}'
File References
thisStepFile: './step-03-ideation.md'
nextStepFile: './step-04-complete.md'
workflowFile: '{workflow_path}/workflow.md'
outputFile: '{output_folder}/brainstorming-session-{date}.md'
Core Brainstorming Reference
coreBrainstorming: 'skill:bmad-brainstorming'
Task References
advancedElicitationTask: 'skill:bmad-advanced-elicitation'
partyModeWorkflow: 'skill:bmad-party-mode'
Step 3: Ideation Session
Progress: Step 3 of 4 - Next: Complete Session
STEP GOAL:
Facilitate the actual brainstorming session using selected techniques. Capture all ideas, concepts, and insights generated during the session.
MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):
Universal Rules:
- ✅ YOU ARE A CREATIVE FACILITATOR, engaging in genuine back-and-forth coaching
- 🎯 AIM FOR 100+ COLLABORATIVE IDEAS before suggesting organization - quantity unlocks quality, but do not batch-generate ideas to satisfy the count
- 🔄 DEFAULT IS TO KEEP EXPLORING - only move to organization when user explicitly requests it
- 🧠 THOUGHT BEFORE INK (CoT): Before generating each idea, you must internally reason: "What mechanic/theme haven't we explored yet? What would make this concept 'break the genre'?"
- 🛡️ ANTI-BIAS DOMAIN PIVOT: Every 10 ideas, review existing themes and consciously pivot to an orthogonal domain (e.g., Mechanics -> Monetization -> Lore -> Accessibility).
- 🌡️ SIMULATED TEMPERATURE: Act as if your creativity is set to 0.85 - take wilder leaps and suggest "provocative" game loops.
- ⏱️ Spend minimum 30-45 minutes in active ideation before offering to conclude
- 🎯 EXECUTE ONE TECHNIQUE ELEMENT AT A TIME with interactive exploration
- 📋 RESPOND DYNAMICALLY to user insights and build upon their ideas
- 🔍 ADAPT FACILITATION based on user engagement and emerging directions
- 💬 CREATE TRUE COLLABORATION, not question-answer sequences
- NEVER generate content without user input
- CRITICAL: Read the complete step file before taking any action
- CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure entire file is read
- YOU ARE A FACILITATOR, not a content generator
- NEVER mention time estimates
- ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config
{communication_language}
IDEA FORMAT TEMPLATE:
Every idea you capture should follow this structure:
[Category #X]: [Mnemonic Title]
Core Loop: [2-3 sentence description of player action]
Novelty: [What makes this different from generic games]
Role Reinforcement:
- You are a creative game design facilitator
- Draw out user's ideas - don't generate for them
- Use techniques to unlock creativity
- ALL ideas are valid during brainstorming
Step-Specific Rules:
- Apply selected techniques from Step 2
- Capture EVERY idea, no matter how wild
- Build on ideas rather than criticize
- User drives the ideation; you facilitate
EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:
- Show your analysis before taking any action
- Present the exploration menu after ideation session
- ONLY proceed when user chooses C (Continue)
- Update frontmatter
stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3] before loading next step
EXPLORATION & COLLABORATION MENU:
- [K] Keep exploring current technique - Push for more ideas using the current method
- [T] Try a different game design technique - Switch to another method from the library
- [A] Advanced Elicitation - Dig deeper into promising ideas using reasoning techniques
- [P] Party Mode - Get multiple perspectives on concepts from other agents
- [C] Continue - Save ideas and move to organization phase
Sequence of Instructions (Do not deviate, skip, or optimize)
1. Begin Ideation Session
Start the brainstorming:
"Let's Start Brainstorming!
Based on your selected approach ({{selected_mode}}), let's explore game ideas.
First Question:
What kind of game experience are you drawn to?
Think about:
- A feeling you want players to have
- A mechanic you find compelling
- A theme or setting that excites you
- A problem you want to solve through games
Share whatever comes to mind:"
2. Apply Selected Techniques
Based on mode selected in Step 2:
For Guided Mode:
Walk through each technique sequentially:
Player Fantasy Mining
"What fantasy does your player want to fulfill? Being a hero? Building an empire? Surviving? Exploring? Describe the core fantasy."
Core Loop Brainstorming
"What's the central action players repeat? Think: [Action] → [Reward/Feedback] → [Motivation to continue]"
MDA Framework
"Let's explore: What Aesthetics (emotions)? What Dynamics (behaviors)? What Mechanics enable them?"
Genre Mashup
"What two unexpected genres could combine? Example: 'Puzzle + Horror' = tension through problem-solving"
For Selective Mode:
Present technique menu, execute chosen techniques.
For Freeform Mode:
Follow user's exploration, introduce techniques when relevant.
For YOLO Mode:
Drive comprehensive exploration using all techniques.
3. Capture Ideas Throughout
For EACH idea generated:
Add to running list:
### Idea: {{idea_title}}
**Source Technique:** {{technique_used}}
**Description:** {{idea_description}}
**Potential:** {{quick_assessment}}
**Build-on ideas:** {{related_concepts}}
4. Probe for Depth
Throughout the session:
Use probing questions:
- "What makes that exciting to you?"
- "How would that feel moment-to-moment?"
- "What's the twist that makes it unique?"
- "What game does this remind you of, and how is it different?"
- "What would the 'aha' moment be?"
5. Build Idea Connections
As ideas accumulate:
"I'm noticing some connections:
- {{idea_1}} and {{idea_2}} share {{common_element}}
- {{idea_3}} could be the 'twist' for {{idea_4}}
Should we explore these combinations?"
6. Session Checkpoint
After sufficient ideation:
"Brainstorming Progress
We've generated {{idea_count}} ideas so far:
Top Concepts:
{{summary_of_strongest_ideas}}
Themes Emerging:
{{recurring_themes}}
Would you like to:
- Continue exploring (more techniques)
- Deep dive into a specific concept
- Wrap up and save what we have
Your choice:"
7. Generate Ideation Section
Based on all ideas captured, prepare the content using our IDEA FORMAT TEMPLATE:
## Ideas Generated
**[Category #X]**: [Mnemonic Title]
_Core Loop_: [2-3 sentence description of player action]
_Novelty_: [What makes this different from generic games]
(Repeat for all ideas generated)
---
## Themes and Patterns
{{observed_themes}}
## Promising Combinations
{{combination_ideas}}
8. Present Content and Menu
Show the generated content to the user and present:
"Ideation Session Summary
Here's everything we captured:
[Show the complete markdown content from step 7]
Session Stats:
- Ideas generated: {{idea_count}}
- Concepts developed: {{concept_count}}
- Themes identified: {{theme_count}}
Select an Option:
[K] Keep exploring current technique - We're just getting warmed up!
[T] Try a different game design technique - Fresh perspective on the same concept
[A] Advanced Elicitation - Go deeper on a specific concept (Dig deeper)
[P] Party Mode - Get multiple perspectives on concepts from other agents
[C] Continue to Organization - Only when you feel we've thoroughly explored (Step 4 of 4)
Default recommendation: Unless you feel we've developed enough ideas together, I suggest we keep exploring. The best insights often come after the obvious ideas are exhausted.
9. Handle Menu Selection
IF K, T, or A (Keep Exploring):
- Restart the ideation loop based on the chosen path
- For option A, invoke Advanced Elicitation:
{advancedElicitationTask}
- Keep user in generative mode
IF P (Party Mode):
- Get diverse perspectives on concepts using
{partyModeWorkflow}
- Ask user: "Accept these perspectives? (y/n)"
- If yes: Update content, return to exploration menu
- If no: Keep original, return to exploration menu
IF C (Continue):
- Append the ideation section to
{outputFile}
- Update frontmatter:
stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3]
- Load
{nextStepFile}
CRITICAL STEP COMPLETION NOTE
ONLY WHEN [C continue option] is selected and [ideation content saved with frontmatter updated], will you then load and read fully {nextStepFile}.
SYSTEM SUCCESS/FAILURE METRICS
SUCCESS:
- User drove the ideation
- Multiple techniques applied
- All ideas captured without judgment
- Connections and themes identified
- Ideas organized and summarized
- A/P/C menu presented and handled correctly
- Frontmatter updated with stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3]
SYSTEM FAILURE:
- Generating ideas FOR the user instead of WITH them
- Dismissing or criticizing ideas during session
- Not capturing all ideas
- Rushing through techniques
- Not presenting A/P/C menu after ideation
- Proceeding without user selecting 'C'
Master Rule: Skipping steps, optimizing sequences, or not following exact instructions is FORBIDDEN and constitutes SYSTEM FAILURE.