Melee Art Handoff — Lean mesh (full V1–V5 stubs)

Feed one family per AI chat. Draw one picture per part. Never assemble a full weapon.

Build order: Family Spine (1) → keyed 5-packs → shared Soft Object Path 5-packs.

Spine = core chassis everything attaches to. Frame archetypes / WSM bands = data only — never drawn.

Effect packages for V1–V5 = TBA. Parent socket → MeleeFeel ownership locked in the Exact Variables spec (Head / Guard / Haft / Pommel / Core). Modules = weapon feel only (gun module rules) — not loot modifiers.

Authority: GDD O17 (frame) · fig-142 (family → alias matrix) · vol. 06 / 09 · source data _melee_module_variants.py
Exact variables: docs/superpowers/specs/2026-11-08-melee-part-exact-variables-design.md
Guns parallel: 2026-10-20-gun-parts-art-handoff.md · GDD O14 (gun Family Part Matrix) · fig-140-3.jpg
Art style lock: tfa_gdd_html/figures/gdd_artstyle_lock.jpg (from 2026-11-09)

---

Taxonomy

Layer	Draw?
Spine	Yes — 1 core chassis per family · NOT a module
Modules	Yes — 5 named variants each; shared unless keyed
Corp finish C1–C5	Paint / materials on same AABB — not V1–V5 dials
Legendary / Unique / Apex	Hand-authored — outside Refit five-packs

One-liner: Spine first. Modules = Head/Guard/Haft/Pommel/Core aliases. Wrist Razors/Claws = Wrist slot only. Effects TBA.

Naming: Art stub = {FamilyOrShare}_{Alias}_V#. GDD / FS / Refit UI = parent socket name. Soft Object Path stem later: w_module_<slot>_<host>_c#_kit_v# (see docs/inventory/mesh-naming.md).

What counts as a MODULE

• MODULE = Blade / Bit / Tip / Talons / Cap / DoubleEdge · Guard / Collar / KnucklePlate · Grip / Haft / Shaft / HandBrace / GripWrap · Pommel / ButtSpike / Counterweight / ButtCap / Brace · Core
• NOT a module = Family Spine · frame archetype data · corp paint layer

Global style lock

PROJECT: Terra Firma: Awakening — Earth Dual Armory (Melee)
TAXONOMY: Family Spine = core chassis. Modules = shared unless keyed. Do NOT assemble a full weapon.
ATTACH ORDER: Spine → Head/alias → Guard/alias → Haft/alias → Pommel/alias → Core.
WRIST LOCK: Wrist Razors/Claws = hotkey 1 Wrist Melee slot ONLY — not Weapon 1–4.
STYLE: Peak-human corp densifier. Steel + dark polymer + cyan edge light. Match GDD O15.
RULES: One subject per picture. Part ONLY on dark ground. Draw ONLY the named stub.
EFFECTS: V1–V5 effect packages TBA — draw visual spice only.
THIS SESSION: [paste session header]

Reference: E:\Cursor_Terra\programming bible\tfa_gdd_html\figures\o15.jpg

---

Parent sockets (locked ownership)

Full Primary/Secondary + MeleeFeel matrix: 2026-11-08-melee-part-exact-variables-design.md.
GDD plates: figures/fig-140-4.jpg (Primary/Secondary) · figures/fig-140-5.jpg (matrix) · frame still figures/o17.jpg. Canvas lock 1280×720.

Parent	Aliases (family art names)	Frame (O17)	Primary MeleeFeel	Secondary MeleeFeel	V# effect
Head	Blade, Bit/Head, Tip, Talons, Cap, Double Edge, Tip/Blade	Damage · AR	Strike Impact · Active-frame timing · Sweet-spot bias	Recovery Kick on connect · Swing Stability on connect · Hit Impulse feel	TBA
Guard	Guard, Collar, Knuckle Plate	Block	Clash settle · Defense-while-swinging feel · Swing Stability under trade	Free-aim Swing tightness · Recovery Kick damp · Move-Swing guard carry	TBA
Haft	Grip, Haft, Shaft, Hand Brace, Grip Wrap	WSM	WSM / cadence feel · Inertia Drop · Handling turn-in	Equip/Draw · Free-aim Swing · Air Swing Control · Move-Swing	TBA
Pommel	Pommel, Butt Spike, Counterweight, Butt Cap, Brace	Balance	Balance · Recovery Kick · Momentum carry	Strike Impact contribution · Air Sway · Swing Stability after miss · Stagger feel outbound	TBA
Core	Core / Cell / Servo	Channel	Channel spool-up · Channel regen cadence · Special/charge ready timing	Inertia Drop after channel verb · Equip/Draw with live cell · Air Swing Control while channeling	TBA

Corp C1–C5 = finish only (same volume). Not on modules: crit, execute, cleave-as-loot, chip%, lifesteal, procs, combo scalers, Reach/length.

---

Family kits (O15)

Family	Slot	Head	Guard	Haft	Pommel	Core
Combat Blades	Weapon 1–4	Blade	Guard	Grip	Pommel	Core
Dirks & Daggers	Weapon 1–4	Blade (keyed small)	Guard	Grip	Pommel	Core
Cleaving Axes	Weapon 1–4	Bit/Head	Collar	Haft	Butt Spike	Core
Impact Mauls	Weapon 1–4	Head	Collar	Haft	Counterweight	Core
Polearms	Weapon 1–4	Head/Blade	Collar	Shaft	Butt Cap	Core
Spears & Lances	Weapon 1–4	Tip	Collar	Shaft	Butt Cap	Core
Heavy Spears	Weapon 1–4	Tip (keyed heavy)	Collar	Shaft	Butt Cap	Core
Staves	Weapon 1–4	Cap/Head	none	Shaft + Grip Wrap	Butt Cap	Core
Scepters / Rods	Weapon 1–4	Head	Collar	Haft	Pommel	Core
Glaives	Weapon 1–4	Tip/Blade	Collar	Shaft	Brace	Core
Dual Blade	Weapon 1–4 (2H)	Double Edge	Collar	Haft	Pommel	Core
Wrist Razors / Claws	Wrist only (hotkey 1)	Talons	Knuckle Plate	Hand Brace	Counterweight	Core

Lock: Claws are not a Weapon 1–4 family. They are the same family as Wrist Razors and equip only in the Wrist Melee paper-doll slot.

---

Shared vs keyed Soft Object Paths

Shared (draw once): Melee_Core_V# · Melee_Collar_V# · Melee_Shaft_V# · Melee_ButtCap_V# · Melee_Pommel_V# · Melee_Guard_V# · Melee_Grip_V#

Keyed (own 5-pack): Dirk Blade · Axe Bit + ButtSpike · Maul Head + Counterweight · Polearm HeadBlade · Spear Tip · HeavySpear Tip · Staff Cap + GripWrap · Scepter Head · Glaive TipBlade + Brace · DualBlade DoubleEdge · full Wrist kit (Talons / KnucklePlate / HandBrace / Counterweight) · family Spines · family Hafts where listed

---

Sessions (one family per chat)

SESSION 0 — SHARED PACKS

• [SPINE] none
• Shared MODULE 5-packs: Core, Collar, Shaft, ButtCap, Pommel, Guard, Grip

SESSION 1 — Combat Blades

• [SPINE] CombatBlade_Spine
• [MODULE] Blade_Blade_V1…V5 + shared Guard / Grip / Pommel / Core

SESSION 2 — Dirks & Daggers

• [SPINE] Dirk_Spine
• [MODULE] Dirk_Blade_V1…V5 + shared Guard / Grip / Pommel / Core

SESSION 3 — Cleaving Axes

• [SPINE] Axe_Spine
• [MODULE] Axe_Bit_V# · Axe_Haft_V# · Axe_ButtSpike_V# + shared Collar / Core

SESSION 4 — Impact Mauls

• [SPINE] Maul_Spine
• [MODULE] Maul_Head_V# · Maul_Haft_V# · Maul_Counterweight_V# + shared Collar / Core

SESSION 5 — Polearms

• [SPINE] Polearm_Spine
• [MODULE] Polearm_HeadBlade_V# + shared Collar / Shaft / ButtCap / Core

SESSION 6 — Spears & Lances

• [SPINE] Spear_Spine
• [MODULE] Spear_Tip_V# + shared Collar / Shaft / ButtCap / Core

SESSION 7 — Heavy Spears

• [SPINE] HeavySpear_Spine
• [MODULE] HeavySpear_Tip_V# + shared Collar / Shaft / ButtCap / Core

SESSION 8 — Staves

• [SPINE] Staff_Spine
• [MODULE] Staff_Cap_V# · Staff_GripWrap_V# + shared Shaft / ButtCap / Core
• No Guard

SESSION 9 — Scepters / Rods

• [SPINE] Scepter_Spine
• [MODULE] Scepter_Head_V# · Scepter_Haft_V# + shared Collar / Pommel / Core

SESSION 10 — Glaives

• [SPINE] Glaive_Spine
• [MODULE] Glaive_TipBlade_V# · Glaive_Brace_V# + shared Collar / Shaft / Core

SESSION 11 — Dual Blade

• [SPINE] DualBlade_Spine
• [MODULE] DualBlade_DoubleEdge_V# · DualBlade_Haft_V# + shared Collar / Pommel / Core

SESSION 12 — Wrist Razors / Claws (Wrist slot only)

• [SPINE] Wrist_Spine
• [MODULE] Wrist_Talons_V# · Wrist_KnucklePlate_V# · Wrist_HandBrace_V# · Wrist_Counterweight_V# + shared Core
• REJECT: drawing these as Weapon 1–4 claw pairs / dual-wield hand weapons

Full stub briefs live in _melee_module_variants.py (FAMILY_KITS / all_module_stubs()).

---

MASTER COUNT (meshes)

Layer	Count
Family Spines	12
Deduped module meshes (V1–V5 × unique stubs)	see _melee_module_variants.master_count()
Effect packages	TBA

---

DO NOT CROSS

• Do not keep a separate Weapon 1–4 Claws family — collapsed into Wrist Razors / Claws.
• Do not invent a sixth parent socket.
• Staves: no Guard; do not invent one.
• Dual Blade ≠ two Combat Blades ≠ Wrist/Claws.
• Never GenerateImage the Shiv brand mark.
• V1–V5 effects TBA — do not invent numeric bands in art briefs.