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Mission Grammar

Published mirror · Source of truth: pending in Captainswords.app/docs

Every mission follows the same reusable grammar.

Formula

Catalyst → Verb → Story Problem → Learning Mechanic → Visual Pattern → World Reaction → Reward → Next Story Beat

Definitions

Catalyst

The thing that starts the mission.

Examples:

  • bottle washes ashore
  • net is torn
  • fog blocks the sea
  • lighthouse is dark
  • cargo is uncounted
  • map labels are faded

Verb

The meaningful action.

Examples:

  • repair
  • restore
  • guide
  • deliver
  • light
  • build
  • connect
  • discover
  • rescue

Story Problem

Why the action matters in the world.

Example:

The fisherman cannot feed the harbour because his net is torn.

Learning Mechanic

The actual educational task.

Captain's Words examples:

  • missing letter
  • read word
  • read sentence
  • spell word
  • match word to image
  • sort words by sound
  • restore sentence order

Captain's Numbers examples:

  • count objects
  • compare quantities
  • share equally
  • measure length
  • balance groups
  • add cargo
  • estimate distance

Visual Pattern

How the learning becomes visible.

Examples:

  • repair object
  • fill container
  • reveal map
  • clear fog
  • light lantern
  • guide object
  • sort objects
  • build structure

World Reaction

The visible result of success.

Examples:

  • net repairs
  • lantern lights
  • cargo loads
  • fog clears
  • bridge completes
  • whale moves closer to deep water

Reward

What the child earns.

Examples:

  • trust
  • item
  • clue
  • new route
  • new outfit
  • boat upgrade
  • Grandpa memory

Next Story Beat

How the mission connects to the larger story.

Examples:

  • Harbour Master now trusts the captain.
  • Boat becomes available.
  • Lighthouse route opens.
  • Grandpa's clue appears on the map.