This skill should be used when the GM needs panel creation ideas or atmospheric enhancement suggestions. Triggers on: - "What panels should I create" or "panel suggestions" - Requests for atmospheric panels matching genre or location - Patterns for combat, travel, dungeon, or social scenarios - Best practices for when to create, update, or dismiss panels Provides pre-defined patterns organized by context (universal, location, genre, game state).
This skill inherits all available tools. When active, it can use any tool Claude has access to.
references/genre-patterns.mdreferences/location-patterns.mdPre-defined panel patterns and best practices for creating atmospheric info panels in adventures. Use these patterns as inspiration when creating panels with the create_panel MCP tool.
Panel Limit: Maximum 5 panels active at once. Dismiss stale panels before creating new ones.
| Position | Behavior | Best For |
|---|---|---|
sidebar | Persistent, scrollable list | Character sheets, resources, quest logs |
header | Single panel, replaces previous | Location banners, urgent alerts, tickers |
overlay | Modal, blocks interaction | Critical choices, dramatic reveals, combat focus |
These patterns work across all genres and RPG systems.
When to create: Weather becomes mechanically relevant (affects visibility, movement, damage, or skill checks)
Pattern:
weathersidebartrue (until conditions change)Examples:
**Heavy Rain**
- Visibility: 60ft
- Ranged attacks: Disadvantage
- Perception (sight): -5 penalty
**Blizzard Conditions**
- Visibility: 20ft
- Movement: Half speed
- CON save DC 10/hour or 1 level exhaustion
- Duration: 3 more hours
Update triggers: Weather worsens/improves, mechanical effects change Dismiss trigger: Weather becomes narratively irrelevant (no longer affects mechanics)
When to create: Character enters dangerous state (HP < 25%, death saves, critical conditions)
Pattern:
status-alertheader (high visibility for urgency)false (temporary danger indicator)Examples:
**CRITICAL** - 8/42 HP - Poisoned (3 rounds remaining)
**DEATH SAVES** - Successes: 2 - Failures: 1 - Roll now!
**BLEEDING** - Lose 1d4 HP/round - Medicine DC 12 to stop
Update triggers: HP changes, condition worsens/improves, save results Dismiss trigger: Character healed above threshold, condition removed, character stabilized
When to create: Time pressure exists (ritual completion, event countdown, limited-time decision)
Pattern:
timerheader (constant reminder of urgency)false (temporary countdown)Examples:
**Ritual Completes in 3 Rounds** - Portal stabilizing... Stop it now or too late!
**Quest Deadline: 2 Days** - Merchant caravan departs at dawn on Day 3
**Bomb Detonates: 4 Rounds** - Disarm check DC 18 Thieves' Tools
Update triggers: Time passes (each round, turn, day), deadline extended/shortened Dismiss trigger: Timer expires, event completes, countdown cancelled
When to create: Limited resource becomes tactically important (ammunition, spell slots, inventory weight, rations)
Pattern:
resourcessidebartrue (ongoing tracking)Examples:
**Resources**
- Arrows: 12/20
- Torches: 3 (4 hrs light each)
- Rations: 6 days
- Waterskins: Full (2/2)
**Spell Slots**
1st: 3/4
2nd: 2/3
3rd: 1/2
Update triggers: Resource consumed, resource restored (loot, rest, purchase) Dismiss trigger: Resources no longer scarce, tracking no longer relevant
When to create: Major decision point requiring player focus - moral dilemmas, branching paths, irreversible actions
Pattern:
critical-choiceoverlay (demands attention, blocks other interaction)false (dismiss after decision)Example:
**The Ritual Chamber**
The cultist holds a knife to the prisoner's throat. The portal behind him crackles with energy.
**Your options:**
- Attack the cultist (risk the prisoner)
- Negotiate (portal continues charging)
- Target the portal (cultist completes sacrifice)
- Something else?
*What do you do?*
Update triggers: New information revealed, situation changes Dismiss trigger: Player makes decision, situation resolves
Patterns triggered by specific game mechanical states.
When to create: Combat begins and turn order matters
Pattern:
initiativesidebarfalse (combat-only)Example:
**Combat - Round 2**
> Kael (Init 18) - 24/32 HP - Shield of Faith
Goblin 1 (Init 14) - DEAD
Mira (Init 10) - 28/28 HP
Goblin 2 (Init 8) - 6/12 HP - Prone
Ogre (Init 5) - 45/59 HP - Raging
Update triggers: Turn advances, HP changes, conditions applied/removed, combatants join/die Dismiss trigger: Combat ends (all enemies defeated/fled, party flees, parley reached)
When to create: Party reputation with factions affects available options
Pattern:
factionssidebartrue (ongoing political state)Example:
**Faction Relations**
- **Merchant Guild**: Honored (+3) [up]
10% discount, guild hall access
- **City Guard**: Neutral (0)
- **Thieves Guild**: Hostile (-2) [down]
Prices doubled, ambush risk
Update triggers: Party action affects faction, quest completed, time passes (reputation decays) Dismiss trigger: Factions become irrelevant to current story
When to create: Exploration-focused session where discoveries should be tracked
Pattern:
discoveriessidebarfalse (session-specific)Example:
**Today's Discoveries**
- Ancient mural depicting ritual sacrifice
- 3 rooms mapped (see locations.md)
- Lore: "The Crimson King sleeps beneath"
- Treasure: 300gp, Ring of Protection +1
- NPC: Met ghost of Archmage Theron
Update triggers: Party discovers something notable, session time passes Dismiss trigger: Session ends, list becomes too long (archive to state files)
For more specialized patterns, see:
DO create panels when:
DON'T create panels when:
Don't create duplicate panels - always check with list_panels first and update existing.
Dismiss proactively - don't leave stale panels cluttering the UI.
| Position | Use For |
|---|---|
sidebar | Persistent status, ongoing tracking, reference info |
header | Urgent alerts, tickers, time-sensitive warnings |
overlay | Critical choices, dramatic reveals, combat focus moments |
This skill is for inspiration and reference when creating panels. The actual panel creation happens via MCP tools:
create_panel(id="weather", title="Current Conditions", content="...", position="sidebar", persistent=true)
update_panel(id="weather", content="...updated conditions...")
dismiss_panel(id="weather")
list_panels() // Check before creating to avoid duplicates
Workflow:
list_panels to check for conflicts/duplicatescreate_panel MCP toolRemember: These are suggestions, not requirements. Use judgment for what enhances the experience.