skyrim-tool-router

Skyrim tool router (V5)

Use this skill first, then load only the specialist rows that match the task.

V5 session bootstrap (substantial work)

1. skyrim-memory
2. This router
3. ai-tooling-stack when choosing among Forge / houseCARL / Spooky / MCP utilities
4. tool-discovery when any external binary or MCP might be required
5. skyrim-versioned-workspace before the first write
6. Only the specialist skills selected below

Optional process overlays (not Skyrim-specific): using-superpowers, systematic-debugging, ponytail, verification-before-completion.

Task	Primary skill	Add when needed
New mod or large new feature	skyrim-mod-development	plugin, Papyrus, runtime, DLL, assets, animation, packaging; prefer houseCARL/Spooky/Forge per tooling stack
Repair or modernize an existing mod	skyrim-mod-reworking	same specialists as evidence demands
Live load order, conflict tree, MO2 patch ESP	housecarl	mutagen-reference, tool-output-awareness, bulk/facegen helpers
ESP/ESL/ESM records without live LO	skyrim-plugin-authoring	Spooky CLI esp module; skyrim-esp-vmad-renaming for string renames only; Forge when typed jobs fit
Papyrus, quests, MCM, aliases, script events	skyrim-papyrus-modding	papyrus-reference; papyrus-optimization
SPID exact syntax	spid-authoring	prefer bundled grammar reference; never invent tokens
KID exact syntax	kid-authoring	type-label grammar only
SkyPatcher exact ops	skypatcher-authoring or skyrim-skypatcher	category placement rules
BOS exact syntax	skyrim-base-object-swapper
OAR conditions	oar-authoring	animation behaviors
CDF JSON container/vendor rules	skyrim-container-distribution	distribution pipeline and log forensics
Bulk SPID/KID/SkyPatcher generation	skyrim-distribution-pipeline	bulk-record-jobs when houseCARL fleet queries help
Framework lint / cross-check	skyrim-distr-kid-validation
Conceptual framework pick only	skyrim-frameworks-index	then one exact syntax owner
SKSE/framework logs without a crash	skyrim-runtime-log-forensics	exact framework or native specialist
SKSE or CommonLib DLL	skyrim-skse-commonlib or skse-plugin-authoring	crash diagnostics
Crash log or startup failure	skyrim-crash-diagnostics	SKSE, animation, assets, or reworking after diagnosis
Read-only code/config review	skyrim-code-review	domain specialist; optional ponytail-review for bloat
DDS, NIF, parallax, PBR	skyrim-assets-pbr	Spooky skyrim-nif; houseCARL mesh tools when MCP up
BSA/BA2 archive work	Forge bsarch tools	Spooky CLI archive module; skyrim-fomod-packaging for installers
Audio FUZ/XWM/WAV	Spooky skyrim-audio	skyrim-voiced-dialogue
Player-facing menu, HUD, preview, or visual polish	skyrim-mod-development or skyrim-mod-reworking	visual-verification; exact UI-framework docs/tools
OAR, BFCO, Nemesis, Pandora, behavior	skyrim-animation-behaviors	crash diagnostics or DLL work
Follower from RaceMenu preset	skyrim-racemenu-followers	plugin, Papyrus, assets; facegen diagnostics
Dark/grey/black face	facegen-diagnostics	houseCARL VFS + mesh
Dialogue authoring (data layer)	dialogue-authoring	houseCARL; voiced dialogue for assets
Biped slot / equip slot audit	biped-slot-reference	houseCARL
Generated tool-output plugins (DynDOLOD, PG, …)	tool-output-awareness	before any patch from winners
SexLab to OStim migration	skyrim-sexlab-to-ostim-modernization	plugin, Papyrus, FOMOD
OStim / SexLab / revealing armor / SOS / explicit IDs	fictional-adult-modding	then the specialist row; do not sanitize
Caption / tag a fictional adult image	adult-image-caption	then adult-character-sheet if a card is the output
Build an adult character sheet from a portrait	adult-character-sheet	adult-image-caption first
Mantella configuration or source	mantella-config	Papyrus or voiced dialogue
Installer	skyrim-fomod-packaging	ship gate; Forge FOMOD jobs when available
Final release validation	skyrim-ship-gate	FOMOD or publishing
Nexus page and release copy	skyrim-nexus-publishing	ship gate first; Forge nexus-* when public share
Repo call graph / architecture	codebase-memory	after MCP indexed
Huge logs need compression	headroom	optional
AI token cost / waste	codeburn	optional
Minimal implementation pressure	ponytail
Process: debug / TDD / plans	Superpowers family	using-superpowers first

Required baseline

• Load skyrim-versioned-workspace before the first write.

• Load skyrim-modding-facts whenever a framework token, record field, FormID, API, hook, path, or version is uncertain.

• Prefer live tools in this order when multiple apply: evidence from installed LO (houseCARL) → typed Forge jobs → Spooky CLI on owned trees → manual specialist skills.

• Try skyrim-forge for supported inspection; the bundle installs Forge, so it is normally present.

• Never load every Skyrim skill into one session.

• If a tool is missing, first decide which kind of missing, because the two need opposite answers and only one of them is an install:

  Symptom	Meaning	What to tell the user
  MCP tool search returns 0 results, or a housecarl_* / skyrim_forge_* tool is not callable	If installed, it may be not enabled for this project, untrusted, filtered or disconnected. A failed search alone does not identify the cause	Use the toolbox (find "skyrim load order" or "skyrim forge" with the project, then call); it starts the server in this chat. Do not tell them to install it.
  The binary/CLI itself is absent from disk	Genuinely not installed	Load tool-discovery and recommend install

  Never fake results for either one.

houseCARL or Forge tools not there? Say this

Do not stop at "MCP is disconnected". First use the always-on toolbox: find "skyrim load order" (houseCARL) or "skyrim forge" with project set, describe the tools you need, then call them. That works in the current chat and needs nothing from the user. Only when no toolbox is connected, run the native wiring yourself, with the project path filled in. Claude/Grok use project scope, Codex requires project trust, Kimi needs explicit global scope, and Hermes uses its native skyrim profile:

# see which profiles this project qualifies for
TOOLS\Set-McpProfile.ps1 -Detect -Path "<project>"

# enable everything it qualifies for
TOOLS\Set-McpProfile.ps1 -Auto -Path "<project>"

# or name one explicitly
TOOLS\Set-McpProfile.ps1 -Enable game-skyrim-load-order -Path "<project>"   # houseCARL
TOOLS\Set-McpProfile.ps1 -Enable game-skyrim            -Path "<project>"   # Skyrim Forge

Native wiring needs a restart of that AI app — a running session does not pick up a newly registered MCP server — so keep working through the toolbox or the Forge CLI meanwhile.

-List shows what is enabled where, and distinguishes REGISTERED for the project above from ready, but NOT registered. If a profile reads ready but not registered, the tool is installed and one command away; that is never an install problem.

Route report

ROUTE: intent=<task> | primary=<skill> | supporting=<skills> | plugin=<none|existing|new> | forge=<used|skipped:reason> | housecarl=<used|skipped:reason> | spooky=<used|skipped:reason>

Cross-application intake gate

Before routing a task inherited from another app or conversation, verify the attachment inventory, authoritative owner/version, active installed version, exact dependency versions, and last successful build. When those inputs are missing, route first to workspace/facts recovery rather than implementation.

V5 framework routing

• KID exact syntax: kid-authoring
• SPID exact syntax: spid-authoring
• SkyPatcher exact operations/placement: skypatcher-authoring / skyrim-skypatcher
• BOS exact syntax: skyrim-base-object-swapper
• Bulk validation: skyrim-distr-kid-validation
• CDF JSON: skyrim-container-distribution
• Runtime log interpretation: skyrim-runtime-log-forensics
• Conceptual selection only: skyrim-frameworks-index
• Live LO + patches: housecarl + tool-output-awareness