# Handoff Report: Survey & Architecture of Design Requests (DRQs) Across 6 Departments

**Author**: `explorer_survey_drq`  
**Date**: 2026-10-01T22:09:00Z  
**Directory**: `c:/Projects/FreeExile/.agents/teamwork/explorer_survey_drq/`  

---

## 1. Observation

1. **DRQ Template Structure (`docs/design_requests/templates/DESIGN_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md`)**:
   - Lines 9-20: 9 metadata keys (`Mã Yêu Cầu (Request ID)`, `Tên Yêu Cầu (Title)`, `Phòng Ban Khởi Tạo (Requesting Dept)`, `Tài Liệu Nguồn Căn Cứ (Source Document)`, `Phân Loại Tài Nguyên (Asset Category)`, `Mức Độ Ưu Tiên (Priority)`, `Sub-Agent Tiếp Nhận Chỉ Định (Assigned Subagent)`, `Ngày Khởi Tạo (Created Date)`, `Hạn Định Mục Tiêu (Target SLA)`).
   - Lines 33-44: Table of technical specifications with Power of Two requirement ($2^n$), Isometric 2.5D projection, Metal compute shaders, Ngũ Hành palette, and Mobile Safe Area.
   - Lines 57-77: 2-stage approval gate checkboxes and verdicts (`PENDING`, `PASS`/`FAIL` for QA; `PENDING`, `APPROVED`/`REJECTED` for CEO).

2. **Parser & Validation Logic (`tools/asset_pipeline/design_pipeline_manager.py`)**:
   - Lines 87-121: Regex parsing for all fields. Enums parsed into `AssetCategory` (`concept`, `sprite`, `vfx`, `ui`, `pipeline`) and `Priority` (`critical`, `high`, `medium`, `low`).
   - Lines 215-227: `scan_inbox()` globs `docs/design_requests/inbox/*.md` and sorts by priority rank (`critical` = 0, `high` = 1, `medium` = 2, `low` = 3).
   - Lines 289-344: `qa_technical_audit()` strictly checks image dimensions for `is_power_of_two`, file size caps, and normal map presence.

3. **Current Repository State**:
   - `docs/design_requests/inbox/`: 0 files (directory is clean).
   - `docs/design_requests/approved/`: 18 files from previous iterations (e.g., `DRQ-20260929-AGENT-ORB-TIERS.md`, `DRQ-20260930-MARTIAL-CHARACTER-ECOSYSTEM.md`).
   - `client/webapp/assets/animations/`: Contains hero animations and only 2 mob animations (`mob_feral_hellhound_anim_atlas`, `mob_skeleton_warrior_anim_atlas`). 10 mobs and 2 bosses have static PNGs in `monsters/` but lack animation atlases in `animations/`.
   - `client/webapp/assets/skills/`: Only 1 monolithic atlas (`martial_skills_atlas.png`).

4. **CLI Execution**:
   - Direct execution `python tools/asset_pipeline/design_pipeline_manager.py report` failed with `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'tools'`.
   - Executing as module: `python -m tools.asset_pipeline.design_pipeline_cli report` succeeded with exit code 0, reporting 18 total approved requests and 0 in other stages.

---

## 2. Logic Chain

1. From Observation 1 and 2, any new DRQ file placed in `docs/design_requests/inbox/` must strictly match the regex patterns in `design_pipeline_manager.py:87-121` and use valid enum values (`UI`, `SPRITE`, `VFX`, `CONCEPT`, `PIPELINE` for Category; `CRITICAL`, `HIGH`, `MEDIUM`, `LOW` for Priority).
2. From Observation 3, `docs/design_requests/inbox/` currently contains 0 files. The acceptance criteria in `ORIGINAL_REQUEST.md` (AC1) require:
   - Each of the 6 departments must have at least 3 DRQs in `inbox/`.
   - Total new DRQs must be $\ge 20$.
   - Each DRQ must be a separate file named `DRQ-YYYYMMDD-[FEATURE].md`.
3. To guarantee full coverage and prevent under-delivery, exactly 21 DRQs have been designed across the 6 departments:
   - Systems: 4 DRQs (`DRQ-20261001-SYS-PASSIVE-TREE-NODES`, `DRQ-20261001-SYS-CRAFTING-STATION-UI`, `DRQ-20261001-SYS-MAP-DEVICE-ARENA`, `DRQ-20261001-SYS-HIDEOUT-SAFEHAVEN-PROPS`)
   - Narrative/NPC: 3 DRQs (`DRQ-20261001-NPC-FERAL-ELDERS-AVATARS`, `DRQ-20261001-NPC-QUEST-SCROLL-VARIANTS`, `DRQ-20261001-NPC-CUTSCENE-STORYBOARD`)
   - Economy: 4 DRQs (`DRQ-20261001-ECO-CURRENCY-BLOODSTONES`, `DRQ-20261001-ECO-CRAFTING-ORBS-CATALOG`, `DRQ-20261001-ECO-BAZAAR-TRADE-PANELS`, `DRQ-20261001-ECO-LOOT-DROP-PARTICLES`)
   - Security: 3 DRQs (`DRQ-20261001-SEC-SHIELD-ACTIVE-ANIMATION`, `DRQ-20261001-SEC-ALERT-BADGES-QUARANTINE`, `DRQ-20261001-SEC-UI-FORENSIC-WATERMARK`)
   - Client: 4 DRQs (`DRQ-20261001-CLI-LOADING-SCREEN-ART`, `DRQ-20261001-CLI-LOGIN-PARALLAX-LAYERS`, `DRQ-20261001-CLI-WORLD-BACKGROUND-LAYERS`, `DRQ-20261001-CLI-TOUCH-CONTROLS-PROMOTION`)
   - Server: 3 DRQs (`DRQ-20261001-SRV-AGENT-ORB-ACTIVATION-VFX`, `DRQ-20261001-SRV-HARVEST-REPORT-OVERLAY`, `DRQ-20261001-SRV-AOI-SYNC-TELEMETRY-VISUAL`)
   - Total = $4 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 21$ DRQs ($\ge 20$). Every department has $\ge 3$ DRQs.
4. From Observation 4, downstream subagents and CLI invocations should run via `python -m tools.asset_pipeline.design_pipeline_cli scan` or `report` to ensure Python module resolution succeeds across all operating systems.

---

## 3. Caveats

1. **Read-Only Investigation Scope**: In accordance with the Explorer archetype and subagent instructions, no files were created in `docs/design_requests/inbox/` or outside `.agents/teamwork/explorer_survey_drq/`. Creation of the 21 DRQs will be executed by the designated builder/producer subagent or orchestrator.
2. **Date Stamping**: Date `2026-10-01` (`20261001`) was selected for all 21 proposed request IDs to align with the prompt timestamp `2026-10-01T22:03:34Z`. If the project operates in UTC+7 (2026-10-02), the date code can trivially be updated to `20261002`.

---

## 4. Conclusion

The DRQ template schema, validation pipeline, and asset gaps have been comprehensively surveyed and documented. A complete technical specification for 21 new DRQs across all 6 departments is compiled in `.agents/teamwork/explorer_survey_drq/analysis.md`. The design pipeline toolset (`design_pipeline_manager.py` / `design_pipeline_cli.py`) is verified functional. The next phase can immediately begin writing the 21 DRQ files into `docs/design_requests/inbox/`.

---

## 5. Verification Method

To verify the findings independently:
1. **Verify pipeline manager report output**:
   ```bash
   python -m tools.asset_pipeline.design_pipeline_cli report
   ```
   *Expected result*: Status report showing 18 approved DRQs, 0 inbox, 0 in progress, 0 pending, 0 rejected.
2. **Inspect survey report**:
   View `.agents/teamwork/explorer_survey_drq/analysis.md` to confirm all 21 DRQ definitions, their metadata, priority distribution, technical specifications, and deliverables.
3. **Template schema compliance**:
   Cross-reference any DRQ specification in `analysis.md` against `docs/design_requests/templates/DESIGN_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md` to verify all 5 sections and required fields.