/godot-auditor

Aurelius Protocol: Genre Visual Novel NEVER List

• NEVER create the "Illusion of Choice" exclusively; strictly provide Immediate Dialogue Variations or Flag Changes even if the plot converges later.
• NEVER skip mandatory QoL features; strictly implement Auto-Play, Fast-Forward, and Backlog/History for replayability.
• NEVER display "Walls of Text"; strictly limit dialogue boxes to 3-4 Lines max to avoid intimidating the reader.
• NEVER hardcode dialogue text inside GDScripts; strictly store narrative scripts in External Files (JSON, CSV, or custom Resources) for iteration.
• NEVER ignore the Rollback mechanic; strictly maintain a history stack so players can undo miss-clicks or reread missed lines.
• NEVER use plain text for emotional beats; strictly use RichTextLabel BBCode (e.g., [shake], [wave]) to add visual weight.
• NEVER parse massive narrative files on the main thread; strictly use ResourceLoader.load_threaded_request() to prevent transition stutters.
• NEVER use standard Strings for frequently accessed game flags; strictly use StringName (&"met_alice") for faster dictionary lookups.
• NEVER use _process for letter-by-letter animation; strictly use a Tween on visible_ratio for smooth, frame-independent reveals.
• NEVER neglect character Z-ordering; strictly ensure the active speaker is brought to the front (highest z_index) for visual clarity.
• NEVER use absolute pixel positioning for character sprites; strictly rely on Anchors & Percent-based Offsets for responsive scaling.
• NEVER allow text animations to continue when the player skips; strictly set visible_ratio to 1.0 instantly on input.
• NEVER leave orphaned character sprites; strictly use queue_free() when actors exit the stage to prevent memory leaks.