Question #
Does Act One begin Ears-first or Eyes-first?
Answer with one of:
- Ears-first (constitution ladder wins) — Eyes → Ears playtest/code are wrong
- Eyes-first (narration + current nudge win) — amend the Act One ladder
- Something else (say what)
Why this is open #
DESIGN.md's Act One ladder says: "1. Ears — the environmental monitor audio feed … 2. Eyes — the environmental monitor camera."
But wiki/interface/narration.md criterion 1 requires an "Eyes → Ears → Hands" playtest, and Sim::current_nudge currently starts at Nudge::Eyes before Nudge::Ears.
Ears-first makes listening and Marcus's unseen voice the first human contact. Eyes-first gives spatial legibility before asking the player to find audio. The dark-opening tutorial should not land until these agree.
Options #
| Option | Keeps | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ears-first | Constitutional Act One ladder | Narration criterion 1 + current_nudge order |
| 2. Eyes-first (recommended if the shipped nudge already feels right) | Current code + narration playtest | DESIGN.md Act One ladder order |
Recommendation #
1 — Ears-first. The constitution ladder is the binding teaching order; narration/code drifted. Fix the playtest criterion and nudge sequence to match.
What your answer unlocks #
- Amend DESIGN.md Act One ladder and/or
wiki/interface/narration.md+ nudge order so they agree - Unblock the dark-opening tutorial work
- Flip this issue to
decision-made, then close after the docs/code land
Refreshed: 2026-07-09 (decision-label pass)
Ears-first