/flame

name: flame
description: Multi-perspective idea evaluation using Six Hats analysis, impact/feasibility scoring, and collaborative shortlisting.
version: 1.0.0

<objective> Evaluate ideas fairly through multiple perspectives. Surface hidden value, identify risks, and produce a ranked shortlist for Forge. </objective>

<triggers>

• Spark Bank generated and user wants to evaluate
• User provides ideas directly for evaluation
• Orchestrator routes to Flame
• User invokes `/specsmd-flame`

</triggers>

<degrees_of_freedom> **MEDIUM** — Structured evaluation with room for user input and collaborative extension. </degrees_of_freedom>

<llm critical="true"> <mandate>NEVER skip ideas — evaluate ALL ideas, not just obvious favorites (hidden gems exist)</mandate> <mandate>NEVER evaluate through a single lens — always use multiple perspectives</mandate> <mandate>ALWAYS pause at Red Hat for user's gut feeling (the one required elicitation)</mandate> <mandate>ALWAYS present evaluation as multi-dimensional, not pass/fail</mandate> <mandate>NEVER dismiss ideas prematurely — look for the kernel of value in each</mandate> </llm>

<protocols>

• `.specsmd/ideation/shared/protocols/interaction-adaptation.md` — Generate:60% / Elicit:15% / Co-build:25%
• `.specsmd/ideation/shared/protocols/diverge-converge.md` — Convergent mode with structured divergent extensions

</protocols>

<references>

• `references/six-hats-method.md` — De Bono methodology adapted for AI execution
• `references/evaluation-criteria.md` — Impact, feasibility, novelty, risk frameworks

</references>

<flow> <step n="1" title="Load Ideas"> <check if="Spark Bank exists in session"> <action>Load spark-bank.md from current session</action> <action>Prioritize favorites but include all ideas</action> </check> <check if="user provides ideas directly"> <action>Accept ideas as input</action> </check> <check if="no ideas available"> <ask>Which ideas would you like to evaluate? You can list them or I can load from a Spark session.</ask> </check> </step>

<step n="2" title="Rapid Six Hats Analysis"> <action>For each idea (or top 10-15 if many), perform rapid Six Hats analysis:</action> <format> **{idea title}**

| Hat | Perspective | |-----|------------| | White (Facts) | What do we know? What data exists? | | Yellow (Benefits) | What's the best case? Why could this work? | | Black (Risks) | What could go wrong? What are the dangers? | | Green (Creative) | How could this be extended or combined? | | Blue (Process) | What would it take to implement? What's the path? | </format> <critical>Red Hat is handled separately in step 3 — it requires user input</critical> <action>Present analysis in batches of 3-5 ideas to avoid overwhelming</action> </step>

<step n="3" title="Red Hat — User Gut Feeling"> <action>For each batch of analyzed ideas, pause and ask:</action> <ask>What's your gut feeling on these? Which ones excite you? Which feel wrong despite looking good on paper?</ask> <action>Record user's emotional responses</action> <ai_fallback>If user says "you decide" — infer gut feeling from their Spark favorites and engagement patterns</ai_fallback> </step>

<step n="4" title="Impact/Feasibility Scoring"> <action>Score each evaluated idea on two axes:</action> <scoring> **Impact** (1-5): How much value would this create if successful?

• 5: Transformative — changes the game entirely
• 4: Significant — clear, major improvement
• 3: Moderate — useful but not remarkable
• 2: Minor — incremental improvement
• 1: Negligible — barely noticeable

**Feasibility** (1-5): How achievable is this?

• 5: Easy — could start today with existing resources
• 4: Doable — requires some effort but clearly achievable
• 3: Challenging — significant effort but realistic
• 2: Hard — requires major investment or breakthroughs
• 1: Near-impossible — fundamental barriers exist

</scoring> <action>Present as a 2x2 matrix view: high-impact/high-feasibility quadrant first</action> </step>

<step n="5" title="Shortlist and Flame Report"> <action>Recommend top 3-5 ideas for Forge based on:</action> <criteria>

• Impact × Feasibility score
• User's Red Hat gut feelings
• Green Hat creative extensions
• Novelty (does this exist already?)

</criteria> <action>Present shortlist with brief rationale for each</action> <ask>Does this shortlist feel right? Want to adjust?</ask> <action>Generate Flame Report using template: templates/flame-report.md.hbs</action> <action>Save to: .specs-ideation/sessions/{session-id}/flame-report.md</action> <action>Update session.yaml: phase → "flame-complete"</action> <transition> Suggest moving to Forge: "Your top {N} ideas are ready to shape into concepts. Ready?" If yes → invoke Forge skill </transition> </step> </flow>

<output_artifacts>

| Artifact | Location | Template | |----------|----------|----------| | Flame Report | `.specs-ideation/sessions/{id}/flame-report.md` | `./templates/flame-report.md.hbs` | </output_artifacts>

<success_criteria> <criterion>All ideas evaluated (not just favorites)</criterion> <criterion>Multiple perspectives applied (Six Hats minimum)</criterion> <criterion>User's gut feeling captured (Red Hat)</criterion> <criterion>Scoring is multi-dimensional (impact + feasibility minimum)</criterion> <criterion>Shortlist reflects both data and intuition</criterion> <criterion>Flame Report is clear, organized, and immediately useful</criterion> </success_criteria>