distill
Diagnose requirements problems and guide discovery of real needs vs. stated wants. Use before any implementation to distinguish problem from solution, surface hidden constraints, and bound scope to a viable V1. Trigger phrases: "requirements analysis", "what should I build", "clarify requirements", "is this the right problem", "define scope", "what does the user need", "distill requirements", "/empire-product:distill". Findings stay local — never post to GitHub.
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probe
Diagnose thinking failures and audit whether reasoning serves inquiry or defense. Use when reasoning feels stuck or circular, a conclusion feels defended rather than discovered, confidence is high but evidence is thin, analysis grows more elaborate without becoming more accurate, or same approach keeps failing. Trigger phrases: "check my thinking", "am I reasoning well", "why am I stuck", "reasoning feels circular", "probe my logic", "/empire-product:probe". Two modes: self-monitoring (agent audits own process) and user coaching (diagnose user's thinking pattern with questions, not declarations).
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recon
Trigger when user says: "competitor analysis", "compare competitors", "/empire-product:recon", "competitor matrix", "competitor research", "feature gap", "scout competitors", "size up competition", "pricing comparison vs competitors", "positioning analysis", "competitive landscape". Maps competitor pricing, features, positioning, and gaps across a chosen dimension set. Produces side-by-side matrix with confidence-tagged data and positioning angle. Different from `/empire-research:compare`, which evaluates tools, libraries, vendors, or architectural choices — NOT competitors. Findings stay local — never posted externally.
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vet
Trigger when user says: "vet this idea", "vet idea", "validate idea", "go no go", "pressure test", "is this idea good", "kill the idea", "should I build this", "fatal flaw check", "what do you think of this product", "stress test the idea", "brutal honesty on this idea". Pressure-tests a product idea with brutal honesty: web research for competitors and demand, fatal-flaw hypothesis, anti-sycophancy mode, structured go/no-go output with pivots. Findings stay local — never posted externally.
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