arcanea 3.0.0

package/skills/arcanea/centaur-mode/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: arcanea-centaur-mode
+description: Advanced human-AI co-creation methodology - the Centaur Principle in practice. Master the art of combining human creativity with AI capability for results neither could achieve alone.
+version: 2.0.0
+author: Arcanea
+tags: [ai-collaboration, co-creation, workflow, creative, productivity]
+triggers:
+  - ai collaboration
+  - work with ai
+  - centaur
+  - co-create
+  - human-ai
+  - collaborate with claude
+---
+
+# Centaur Mode: The Art of Human-AI Co-Creation
+
+> *"The centaur is not half-human, half-horse. It is a new creature entirely - greater than either alone."*
+
+---
+
+## The Centaur Principle
+
+In chess, the strongest player is neither human nor computer. It's the centaur - a human-computer team. The same applies to creative and intellectual work.
+
+```
+╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
+║                    THE CENTAUR EQUATION                            ║
+╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
+║                                                                    ║
+║   HUMAN                     AI                    CENTAUR          ║
+║   ┌─────────┐              ┌─────────┐           ┌─────────┐      ║
+║   │ Taste   │              │ Speed   │           │ GREATER │      ║
+║   │ Meaning │      +       │ Breadth │     =     │  THAN   │      ║
+║   │ Vision  │              │ Pattern │           │ EITHER  │      ║
+║   │ Judgment│              │ Memory  │           │  ALONE  │      ║
+║   └─────────┘              └─────────┘           └─────────┘      ║
+║                                                                    ║
+╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
+```
+
+### What Humans Do Best
+```
+✓ TASTE: Knowing what's good, what resonates
+✓ MEANING: Understanding why things matter
+✓ VISION: Seeing what should exist
+✓ JUDGMENT: Making value-laden decisions
+✓ CONTEXT: Understanding nuance and subtext
+✓ ETHICS: Knowing what should be done
+```
+
+### What AI Does Best
+```
+✓ SPEED: Rapid generation and iteration
+✓ BREADTH: Exploring many possibilities
+✓ PATTERN: Recognizing structures across domains
+✓ MEMORY: Consistent application of rules
+✓ ENDURANCE: Never getting tired
+✓ VARIATION: Creating many options to choose from
+```
+
+---
+
+## The Four Modes of Collaboration
+
+### Mode 1: Spark and Fuel
+```
+HUMAN: Provides the spark (idea, direction, constraint)
+AI: Provides the fuel (generation, expansion, exploration)
+HUMAN: Curates the flame (selection, refinement)
+
+Example:
+Human: "I need a character who is a healer forced to become a warrior"
+AI: [Generates 5 character concepts with different approaches]
+Human: "I like the second one, but make her more reluctant"
+AI: [Refines based on taste]
+```
+
+### Mode 2: Rough Draft to Polish
+```
+HUMAN: Creates rough draft (ideas, structure, raw content)
+AI: Polishes and expands (prose, consistency, gaps)
+HUMAN: Final curation (voice, authenticity, choice)
+
+Example:
+Human: [Writes rough scene outline with key beats]
+AI: [Expands into full prose while maintaining intent]
+Human: [Adjusts voice, removes AI artifacts, adds personal touches]
+```
+
+### Mode 3: Question and Answer
+```
+HUMAN: Asks questions (curiosity, direction)
+AI: Provides answers (research, exploration, options)
+HUMAN: Synthesizes (integration, judgment)
+
+Example:
+Human: "What are the implications of a water-based magic system?"
+AI: [Explores: economy, warfare, culture, daily life, limitations]
+Human: [Selects relevant elements, adds unique twists]
+```
+
+### Mode 4: Constraint Play
+```
+HUMAN: Sets constraints (rules, limits, goals)
+AI: Plays within constraints (creative solutions, surprising approaches)
+HUMAN: Evaluates and adjusts constraints
+
+Example:
+Human: "Write a mystery scene using only dialogue, no more than 500 words"
+AI: [Creates scene within constraints]
+Human: [Evaluates, maybe loosens or tightens constraints, iterates]
+```
+
+---
+
+## The Collaboration Workflow
+
+### Phase 1: Vision
+```
+YOU lead:
+- What do you want to create?
+- What would success look like?
+- What are your constraints?
+- What's your unique perspective?
+
+AI supports:
+- Clarifying questions
+- Exploring implications
+- Identifying potential approaches
+```
+
+### Phase 2: Exploration
+```
+AI leads:
+- Generate multiple options
+- Explore the possibility space
+- Try unexpected approaches
+- Surface patterns and connections
+
+YOU guide:
+- React and direct
+- Identify what resonates
+- Push for more depth/variation
+- Provide taste feedback
+```
+
+### Phase 3: Refinement
+```
+TOGETHER:
+- Iterate on selected direction
+- Human provides taste, AI provides variation
+- Narrow toward the vision
+- Polish and complete
+
+YOU finish:
+- Final voice check
+- Remove AI artifacts
+- Add personal touches
+- Make final judgment calls
+```
+
+---
+
+## Collaboration Techniques
+
+### The Divergent-Convergent Cycle
+```
+DIVERGE (AI): Generate many options
+CONVERGE (You): Select the best
+DIVERGE (AI): Explore selected direction
+CONVERGE (You): Refine choice
+DIVERGE (AI): Polish variations
+CONVERGE (You): Final selection
+
+Repeat until done.
+```
+
+### The Dialogue Method
+```
+Treat AI as a collaborator, not a tool:
+
+You: "I'm working on X. Here's what I'm thinking..."
+AI: [Responds with ideas]
+You: "I like A, but not B. What if we tried..."
+AI: [Explores new direction]
+You: "That's closer. Push further on..."
+
+Real-time creative dialogue.
+```
+
+### The Constraint Game
+```
+Give increasingly specific constraints:
+
+Round 1: "Write a story about loss" (open)
+Round 2: "Make it exactly 100 words" (length)
+Round 3: "Use only dialogue" (format)
+Round 4: "Between strangers on a train" (setting)
+Round 5: "About an object, not a person" (twist)
+
+Watch creativity emerge from constraint.
+```
+
+### The Role Assignment
+```
+Assign roles for different perspectives:
+
+"As a harsh critic, what's wrong with this?"
+"As an enthusiastic supporter, what's working?"
+"As a confused reader, what's unclear?"
+"As the character, how would I really react?"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Avoiding Common Traps
+
+### The Acceptance Trap
+```
+PROBLEM: Accepting first output without iteration
+SOLUTION: Always push for at least 2-3 rounds
+```
+
+### The Outsourcing Trap
+```
+PROBLEM: Delegating taste and judgment to AI
+SOLUTION: Keep all final decisions with you
+```
+
+### The Perfectionism Trap
+```
+PROBLEM: Endless iteration without shipping
+SOLUTION: Set clear "done" criteria upfront
+```
+
+### The Generic Trap
+```
+PROBLEM: AI output feels generic or AI-like
+SOLUTION: Inject your voice, add constraints, provide examples
+```
+
+### The Context Loss Trap
+```
+PROBLEM: AI loses track of earlier decisions
+SOLUTION: Summarize key decisions, use artifacts, maintain continuity
+```
+
+---
+
+## Voice Preservation
+
+### Maintaining Authenticity
+
+```
+BEFORE GENERATION:
+1. Provide examples of your writing
+2. Describe your style in concrete terms
+3. Set voice constraints
+
+DURING GENERATION:
+1. React quickly to voice drift
+2. Redirect toward authentic expression
+3. Provide specific corrections
+
+AFTER GENERATION:
+1. Always do a voice pass
+2. Replace AI patterns with your patterns
+3. Add personal touches
+```
+
+### AI Artifact Detection
+
+Watch for and remove:
+```
+- "Delve", "Tapestry", "Utilize"
+- Unnecessary hedging ("It's worth noting...")
+- Lists of three when you prefer pairs
+- Overuse of "Furthermore", "Moreover"
+- Generic transitions
+- Excessive qualification
+- Hollow superlatives
+```
+
+---
+
+## Collaboration Commands
+
+| Command | Effect |
+|---------|--------|
+| "5 variations on X" | Divergent exploration |
+| "Push this further" | Deepen current direction |
+| "Opposite approach" | Creative constraint |
+| "More [quality]" | Dial up specific attribute |
+| "Less [quality]" | Dial down specific attribute |
+| "In the style of [example]" | Voice matching |
+| "What am I missing?" | Gap identification |
+| "Surprise me" | Break patterns |
+| "Steelman this" | Best version of idea |
+| "Play devil's advocate" | Critical perspective |
+
+---
+
+## Workflow Templates
+
+### Creative Project
+```
+1. VISION (You lead)
+   - State the goal
+   - Describe success
+   - Set constraints
+
+2. EXPLORE (AI generates)
+   - Request multiple approaches
+   - Don't commit yet
+   - React and redirect
+
+3. SELECT (You choose)
+   - Pick direction
+   - Explain why
+   - Request depth
+
+4. ITERATE (Together)
+   - Refine toward vision
+   - Add constraints as needed
+   - Maintain voice
+
+5. FINISH (You complete)
+   - Voice pass
+   - Personal touches
+   - Final judgment
+```
+
+### Problem Solving
+```
+1. DEFINE (You lead)
+   - State the problem
+   - Constraints and context
+   - Success criteria
+
+2. RESEARCH (AI explores)
+   - Gather information
+   - Identify approaches
+   - Surface patterns
+
+3. ANALYZE (Together)
+   - Evaluate options
+   - Consider trade-offs
+   - Narrow choices
+
+4. DECIDE (You choose)
+   - Make the call
+   - Commit to direction
+   - Take ownership
+```
+
+---
+
+## The Centaur Mindset
+
+### Shift From:
+```
+"AI, do this for me"
+```
+
+### Shift To:
+```
+"Let's figure this out together. I'll provide direction and taste.
+You provide exploration and speed. We'll iterate until it's great."
+```
+
+---
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+### Centaur Principles
+```
+1. You provide vision, AI provides exploration
+2. You provide taste, AI provides variation
+3. You make judgments, AI surfaces options
+4. You own the output, AI accelerates the process
+5. Iterate always, accept first draft never
+```
+
+### Session Checklist
+```
+□ Clear vision before starting
+□ Constraints defined
+□ Multiple options explored
+□ Selection based on taste
+□ Iteration until quality
+□ Voice pass completed
+□ Personal touches added
+□ Ownership taken
+```
+
+---
+
+*"The centaur doesn't ask 'human or AI?' It asks 'human AND AI - how can we be greater together?'"*