neon-sprawl/docs/decomposition/milestones/phase_execution_plan.md

Phase Execution Plan

Turns high-level phase gates into executable checklists.

Phase 1 - Prototype (Core Fun Proof)

Required Outcomes

• Movement and interaction loop works in shared space.
• Locked isometric camera works (follow, zoom, no rotation).
• Combat MVP, 3-skill progression, gather->craft loop, and onboarding quests work.
• Security-zone PvP optionality and parity policy are demonstrable.

Pass/Fail Checklist

• Core fun gate validated
• Readability gate validated
• Progression gate validated
• Crafting relevance gate validated
• PvP optionality gate validated

Phase 2 - Pre-production (Build the Machine)

Required Outcomes

• Service contracts and world/zone architecture are implementation-ready.
• Content pipeline and validation tooling can ship safe changes.
• Vertical slice quality bar achieved.
• Solo-dev delivery governance is operating with stable cadence.

Stage Gates

• Gate A - Architecture Readiness
• Gate B - Pipeline Readiness
• Gate C - Vertical Slice Readiness
• Gate D - Production Readiness

Phase 3 - Production

Required Outcomes

• Zone/content expansion proceeds with telemetry-driven tuning.
• Social systems and repeatable mid/endgame loops are live in staged cohorts.

Readiness Checks

• Throughput targets are sustained
• KPI trends support continued rollout

Phase 4 - Launch and Live Ops

Required Outcomes

• Infrastructure, onboarding, trust/safety, and operations are launch-ready.
• 6-12 month live roadmap is defined and feasible for solo operation.

Readiness Checks

• Operational runbooks complete
• Launch metrics and alerts active
• Post-launch content cadence plan approved