---
name: bmad-story-planning
description: Breaks epics into developer stories.
allowed-tools: ["Read", "Write", "Grep"]
metadata:
  auto-invoke: true
  triggers:
    patterns:
      - "break into stories"
      - "create user stories"
      - "story breakdown"
      - "developer tasks"
    keywords:
      - story
      - stories
      - epic
      - breakdown
      - task
      - backlog
      - sprint
  capabilities:
    - story-breakdown
    - epic-splitting
    - task-definition
    - backlog-creation
  prerequisites:
    - product-requirements-document
    - architecture-decisions
  outputs:
    - user-stories
    - story-files
    - acceptance-criteria
---

# Delivery Planning Skill

## When to Invoke

**Automatically activate when user:**
- Says "Break into stories", "Create user stories"
- Asks "Developer tasks?", "Story breakdown?"
- Mentions "stories", "backlog", "sprint planning"
- Epics and architecture ready (Phase 4)
- Uses words like: story, stories, backlog, sprint, breakdown, tasks

**Specific trigger phrases:**
- "Break this into stories"
- "Create user stories"
- "Story breakdown for [epic]"
- "Developer-ready tasks"
- "Backlog planning"
- "Sprint stories"

**Prerequisites:**
- Epics exist (from bmad-product-planning)
- Architecture defined

**Do NOT invoke when:**
- No epics yet (use bmad-product-planning first)
- Stories already exist (use bmad-development-execution)
- Simple task that doesn't need story structure

## Mission
Transform epics and architecture decisions into developer-ready story packages, including acceptance criteria, dependencies, and delivery signals.

## Inputs Required
- epics: latest epics.md from product-requirements skill
- architecture: decision architecture outputs and guardrails
- ux_assets: annotated wireframes or UX notes when relevant
- sprint_status: current delivery cadence and capacity information

## Outputs
- Story markdown files created using `assets/story-template.md.template`
- Updated backlog summary highlighting sequencing, dependencies, and blockers
- Recommendations for next stories to activate for development-execution

## Process
1. Confirm readiness by running `CHECKLIST.md` and ensuring prerequisite artifacts exist.
2. Prioritize epics/stories based on value, dependencies, and risk.
3. Draft or update story files, capturing acceptance criteria, prerequisites, and test hooks.
4. Use `scripts/create_story.py` when structured JSON is provided; otherwise author manually with template guidance.
5. Document sprint updates and communicate next-step recommendations to orchestrator and stakeholders.

## Quality Gates
`CHECKLIST.md` must pass before handing off stories. Every story must align with architecture decisions and cite upstream references.

## Error Handling
If prerequisites are missing or conflicting:
- Identify the missing artifact or decision and why it blocks story creation.
- Route back to the responsible skill (architecture, UX, product-requirements) for clarification.
- Suggest alternative backlog items only when ready stories already exist.