diff --git a/.cursor/rules/story-kickoff.md b/.cursor/rules/story-kickoff.md
index 7aa6276..436dcb9 100644
--- a/.cursor/rules/story-kickoff.md
+++ b/.cursor/rules/story-kickoff.md
@@ -38,16 +38,18 @@ When the user starts work on a **Jira story** (e.g. issue key `NS-14`, phrases l
 - Add **`docs/plans/{JIRA_KEY}-implementation-plan.md`** (example: `docs/plans/NS-14-implementation-plan.md`). Create `docs/plans/` if it does not exist.
 - **Commit** the plan on the **story branch** from step 1b when it is ready (at agent discretion per [commit-and-review](commit-and-review.md)); do not put ticketed plan-only work only on `main` while implementation stays on a branch—see [git workflow](git-workflow.md).
 
-**Required sections** in that file:
+**Required sections** in that file (do **not** ship a plan that omits any of these):
 
 - Story reference (key, title, link if available)
 - Goal, scope, and out-of-scope (from Jira)
 - Acceptance criteria checklist (from Jira)
 - Technical approach (concise)
-- **Files to add** (paths)
-- **Files to modify** (paths and one-line rationale each)
-- **Tests** — what will be added or changed; if none, say why (e.g. no harness yet, manual verification only)
-- Open questions / risks (if any)
+- **Files to add** — **mandatory:** explicit list of new file paths (or state “none” with one line why)
+- **Files to modify** — **mandatory:** explicit list of paths **with a one-line rationale each** (or state “none” with one line why)
+- **Tests** — **mandatory:** explicit list of test files to **add** or **change**, and what each will cover; if truly no automated tests, say why (e.g. no harness yet) and what manual verification replaces them
+- Open questions / risks (if none, write “None.”)
+
+These three lists (**files to add**, **files to modify**, **tests**) must **always** be generated during kickoff—they are not optional prose and must not be left implicit inside “Technical approach” only.
 
 ## 5. After the plan