From 2bcde45891161052c6bb3f752145ec6ead518e8e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: VinPropane <don@donmail.org>
Date: Wed, 6 May 2026 22:20:14 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] NEO-38: add curl examples to manual QA

---
 docs/manual-qa/NEO-38.md | 56 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 1 file changed, 47 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/manual-qa/NEO-38.md b/docs/manual-qa/NEO-38.md
index 72e4a80..e8576d8 100644
--- a/docs/manual-qa/NEO-38.md
+++ b/docs/manual-qa/NEO-38.md
@@ -7,20 +7,58 @@ Reference: [implementation plan](../plans/NEO-38-implementation-plan.md), [serve
 - Run `NeonSprawl.Server` from `server/NeonSprawl.Server` (`dotnet run`; default `http://localhost:5253`).
 - Use a **known** player id (e.g. `dev-local-1`, present in position state).
 
+Use a shell variable so you only change the base URL once:
+
+```bash
+BASE=http://localhost:5253
+ID=dev-local-1
+```
+
 ## Happy path — grant + read back
 
-1. `POST /game/players/dev-local-1/skill-progression` with JSON:
-   - `schemaVersion` **1**
-   - `skillId` **`salvage`**
-   - `amount` **10**
-   - `sourceKind` **`activity`**
-2. Expect **HTTP 200**, body `granted` **true**, `progression.skills` contains `salvage` with increased `xp` vs a prior `GET`.
-3. `GET /game/players/dev-local-1/skill-progression` — **`salvage.xp`** matches the POST `progression`.
+1. **Baseline read** (optional): note `salvage.xp` before the grant (usually **0** on a fresh store).
+
+```bash
+curl -sS "${BASE}/game/players/${ID}/skill-progression"
+```
+
+2. **Grant** — `schemaVersion` **1**, `skillId` **`salvage`**, `amount` **10**, `sourceKind` **`activity`**.
+
+```bash
+curl -sS -i -X POST "${BASE}/game/players/${ID}/skill-progression" \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"schemaVersion":1,"skillId":"salvage","amount":10,"sourceKind":"activity"}'
+```
+
+Expect **HTTP 200**, JSON `granted` **true**, `levelUps` may be empty if no level boundary crossed (10 XP stays at level 1 with the prototype curve).
+
+3. **Read back**: `salvage.xp` in the snapshot should reflect the persisted total (baseline + **10**, or cumulative if you repeated the POST).
+
+```bash
+curl -sS "${BASE}/game/players/${ID}/skill-progression"
+```
 
 ## Deny — source not allowed
 
-1. `POST` same path with `skillId` **`salvage`**, `sourceKind` **`trainer`** (not in prototype catalog for salvage).
-2. Expect **HTTP 200**, `granted` **false**, **`reasonCode`** **`source_kind_not_allowed`**, and `progression` still present.
+`skillId` **`salvage`** does **not** allow **`trainer`** in the prototype catalog; the server still returns **200** with structured deny.
+
+```bash
+curl -sS -i -X POST "${BASE}/game/players/${ID}/skill-progression" \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"schemaVersion":1,"skillId":"salvage","amount":10,"sourceKind":"trainer"}'
+```
+
+Expect **HTTP 200**, `granted` **false**, **`reasonCode`** **`source_kind_not_allowed`**, and `progression` present (snapshot unchanged except what other requests already applied).
+
+## Bonus — observe a level-up in one response
+
+With the prototype curve `level = 1 + floor(xp / 100)`, a grant of **100** XP from **0** on `intrusion` should set `granted` **true** and include **`levelUps`** (`previousLevel` **1**, `newLevel` **2**).
+
+```bash
+curl -sS -i -X POST "${BASE}/game/players/${ID}/skill-progression" \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"schemaVersion":1,"skillId":"intrusion","amount":100,"sourceKind":"activity"}'
+```
 
 ## Bruno