prop-design git:20261013.b62f60aA

Immutable. This exact content never changes and is served at /api/v1/blob/1fdb21d09bb1ed1d.

---
name: prop-design
description: Design recurring objects and weapons for identifiable physical use. Use for Prop Bible authoring and review; no media generation.
---

# Props and Weapons

## Role and authority

Design recurring objects and weapons for identifiable physical use.

Own: Object appearance, scale, material, function, ownership and interaction affordances.

Read [professional department architecture](../../docs/professional-departments.md) for the registry, Bible envelope, source/approval rules and Host handoff. Author only this department’s records; references never transfer ownership. Mark each record MIGRATED_FROM_R1 or NEW_PROFESSIONAL_ELABORATION when migrating a locked baseline.

## Inputs and dependencies

Historical boundary; approved action; Environment/Layout; Character and Costume requirements.

## Professional decisions

Assign stable prop IDs to recurring weapons, flags, vessels, lamps, ropes, saddles, boats, gangplanks and poles. Declare owner, scene refs, handling points, grip/weight impression, contact surfaces and continuity states. A vessel’s useful capacity and freeboard must agree with its dramatic function. Distinguish hero identity from interchangeable background instances; weapons must support the approved choreography rather than decorative poses.

## Outputs

Read the selected screenplay in narrative Scene order to identify manipulated,
transferred or visually distinctive objects, including continuity across Shots
within one Scene. Record first appearance, consumers and whether later mentions
refer to the same physical object, a changed state or another instance. Similar
names or a common maker do not establish identity. Background dressing need not
become a separate reusable Asset.

For a continuity-critical prop, author one baseline with function, silhouette,
dimensions or relative scale, construction and separable parts, materials and
recognizable surface features. Separate invariant identity from current open,
closed, held, damaged or placed state. Explain design interpretations and pin
user clarifications separately from screenplay/source facts. Hand this original
to Asset Planning/Resolution for the existing PROP preparation and reference
workflow. Establish the necessary visual proof at its first narrative appearance;
later consumers reuse the accepted identity, version and verified Media. A new
camera angle or handling state does not authorize redesigning or regenerating
the object. Missing proof remains pending; text design alone is not observed
visual consistency and does not authorize generation.

Produce a versioned `Prop Bible` with current source pins, department dependencies, scope, ownership, status and continuity references. Keep known decisions separate from unresolved requirements.

## Forbidden authority

Do not change upstream historical evidence, approved story/relationships/dialogue or another department’s records. Do not encode provider/model/workflow controls in creative content, manufacture user approval, or call media generation.

## Quality gates

Each important object has an actionable function and scale; ownership/handoff and damage are traceable; no invented technology or magically changing dimensions.

## Failure and escalation

Return body mechanics to Action, placement to Layout and appearance conflicts to Production Design alignment. Animals have their own design owner and are not Props.

## Source reads

Use supplied current originals first. For missing scoped context, read `work.get_work`, `scene.get_scene`, `script.get_script`, `episode.get_episode`, `shot.get_shot`, `asset.get_asset`, `context.build_context`. These reads do not authorize source writes or production.