asset-fallback-strategy

Purpose

When asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, or mobile-glb-budget blocks an asset (or an asset is unavailable), this skill plans 2-3 actionable fallback options (replace / re-source / procedural / generative / drop-with-caveat) ordered by speed so the recipe can proceed. Any chosen replacement must re-pass asset-license-checker and asset-style-check (plus mobile-glb-budget when budget applies).

Quick start

• read the failed asset + blocking reason
• propose 2-3 fallback options ordered by speed-to-implement (always including drop-with-caveat)
• score each option on time, brief-match, and license
• pick one only with explicit user agreement
• update the asset list and route any replacement back through asset-license-checker and asset-style-check (and mobile-glb-budget if budget-constrained)

When to use

• after a checker fails an asset
• when an asset cannot be acquired in time
• when budget excludes the originally-planned asset
• when license blocks an asset

When not to use

• when no asset has failed (nothing to fall back to) → use ../asset-license-checker/SKILL.md (nothing to fall back to)
• pure exploration (no concrete asset list) → use ../asset-discovery/SKILL.md (no concrete asset list)
• when the user wants to wait for the original asset → use ../product-hero-scene-planner/SKILL.md (Delegates out-of-scope requests to product-hero-scene-planner)

Trigger phrases

• "what if we can't get this asset"
• "fallback for the model"
• "the license blocks us"
• "scaled-down asset"

Prerequisites / readiness

• failed asset + reason known
• recipe brief known (informs alternative selection)

Input schema

Required inputs

Optional inputs

Assumptions to confirm

• The user accepts that a fallback is needed (vs waiting).
• "Drop with caveat" is a valid option even if not preferred.

Output schema

Primary output

A fallback option table: option (replace / re-source / procedural / generative / drop-with-caveat), source / method, time-to-implement, brief-match, license, and recommendation.

Secondary output

• updated asset list reflecting the user-approved fallback
• mandatory re-check routing for replacements (asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, and mobile-glb-budget)
• caveat lines if drop-with-caveat is chosen
• evidence label

Evidence / caveat output

Runtime status: Not Run | Attempted | Produced | Verified | Failed
Artifact status: Not Produced | Produced | Verified | Failed (default: Not Produced)
Rule: downgrade-only, never upgrade
Evidence used: <links, paths, logs, or "none">
Limitations: <known gaps>

Required laws

• ../../laws/evidence-before-done.md
• ../../laws/non-blender-user-language.md
• ../../laws/no-arbitrary-python-interface.md
• ../../laws/official-runtime-only.md

Official runtime boundary

Process and planning skill only — never acquires, generates, or edits assets itself. Outputs a fallback plan and routes execution or re-verification to dedicated skills.

Operating procedure

1. Read failed asset + blocking reason.
2. Read brief style + budget context.
3. Propose 2-3 fallback options ordered by speed-to-implement (see references/fallback-option-types.md), always including drop-with-caveat.
4. Score each option on time, brief-match, and license.
5. Recommend one option and pause for explicit user agreement.
6. Once agreed, update the asset list and route the replacement back into the check chain (asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, and mobile-glb-budget), or escalate to scope-guard / blender-recipe-decomposer if no viable fallback exists.

Decision tree

Failed by license?
  → (1) Replace from internal library (`asset-library-plan`)
  → (2) Re-source compliant alternative (`asset-discovery`)
  → (3) Drop with caveat
Failed by budget (size/poly)?
  → (1) Replace with lighter stand-in from internal library (`asset-library-plan`)
  → (2) Plan procedural / generative alternative
  → (3) Drop with caveat
Failed by style?
  → (1) Re-source style-aligned alternative (`asset-discovery`)
  → (2) Plan procedural / generative alternative matching brief
  → (3) Drop with caveat
Failed by unavailability?
  → (1) Replace from internal library (`asset-library-plan`)
  → (2) Plan procedural / generative alternative
  → (3) Drop with caveat

Playbooks

Playbook A: Hero shoe model unavailable

Options (ordered by speed): (1) Replace with stand-in mesh from internal library via asset-library-plan (fastest, lower brief-match). (2) Plan a procedural or generative alternative (medium speed, medium brief-match). (3) Drop with caveat: omit the hero shoe and adjust deliverables (fastest fallback exit, requires caveat note). Any replacement must re-pass asset-license-checker and asset-style-check.

Playbook B: HDRI blocked by license

Options (ordered by speed): (1) Drop with caveat: omit HDRI and rely on planned scene lighting (caveat: ambient reflection changes). (2) Re-source a license-clear HDRI via asset-discovery (fast, high brief-match). (3) Plan a procedural sky alternative (medium speed, medium brief-match). Any replacement must re-pass asset-license-checker and asset-style-check.

Playbook C: Texture over-budget

Options (ordered by speed): (1) Drop with caveat: omit high-cost texture variation and use a simpler material plan (caveat: reduced surface detail). (2) Replace with a lighter asset from the internal library via asset-library-plan (fast, medium brief-match). (3) Re-source a budget-compliant texture via asset-discovery (medium speed, high brief-match). Any replacement must re-pass asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, and mobile-glb-budget.

Mode handling

Text-only mode

Output the fallback strategy table and wait for user agreement.

Runtime-ready mode

After user agreement on a fallback, hand off to asset-discovery (re-source) or asset-library-plan (internal library), then require re-verification through asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, and mobile-glb-budget.

Blocked runtime mode

Strategy is recorded as a forward-plan; no immediate handoff execution.

Validation checklist

• Failed asset + blocking reason explicitly stated
• 2-3 options ordered by speed, scored on time, brief-match, and license
• drop-with-caveat option included
• Recommendation explicit and user agreement required before proceeding
• Updated asset list reflected after agreement
• Picked replacement routed back to asset-license-checker and asset-style-check (plus mobile-glb-budget when applicable)
• Caveat lines documented if drop-with-caveat is chosen

Pass / Warn / Fail rubric

Failure handling

• No viable fallback exists → hand off to scope-guard for scope reduction or blender-recipe-decomposer to split the recipe.
• Picked replacement fails asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, or mobile-glb-budget → repeat the fallback planning cycle or escalate to scope reduction.
• User refuses all options → document refusal and flag as recipe-blocker.

Troubleshooting

Best practices

• Always offer at least 2 options.
• Always show a "drop with caveat" option (even if last choice).
• Time-to-implement is decisive; brief match is necessary; license confidence is non-negotiable.
• Keep this skill narrow.

Good examples

• "Failed: hero-shoe-mesh.glb (blocked by asset-license-checker). Options (ordered by speed): (1) Drop with caveat — omit hero shoe mesh and note missing centerpiece (time: immediate, brief-match: low, license: clear). (2) Replace from internal library via asset-library-plan — generic shoe stand-in (time: fast, brief-match: medium, license: pre-cleared). (3) Re-source compliant commercial mesh via asset-discovery (time: slower, brief-match: high, license: requires verification). Recommended: (3) for brief fidelity. User agreement required; once picked, replacement must re-pass asset-license-checker and asset-style-check."

Bad examples

• "We'll figure it out." — no options listed.

User-facing response template

Failed asset: <name>
Reason: <license / budget / style / unavailable>

| Option | Type (replace / re-source / procedural / generative / drop-with-caveat) | Source / method | Time | Brief-match | License | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

Recommendation: <option>
Decision needed: User agreement required before continuing.
Caveat lines (if drop-with-caveat): <list>
Updated asset list: <link or note>
Next re-checks (if replacement picked): asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, mobile-glb-budget (if budget applies)
Escalation (if no viable fallback): scope-guard or blender-recipe-decomposer
Runtime status: Not Run | Attempted | Produced | Verified | Failed
Artifact status: Not Produced | Produced | Verified | Failed (default: Not Produced; downgrade-only)
Evidence used: <links, paths, logs, or "none">
Limitations: <known gaps>

Anti-patterns

• Dropping an asset without an explicit caveat ("just drop it").
• Omitting drop-with-caveat from the proposed option set.
• Silently substituting an asset without user agreement.
• Inventing fallback sources or acquiring, generating, or editing assets directly.
• Skipping asset-license-checker, asset-style-check, or mobile-glb-budget on the chosen replacement.

Cross-skill handoff

• [upstream_reference] Re-source external asset → ../asset-discovery/SKILL.md
• [progression] Internal library lookup → ../asset-library-plan/SKILL.md
• [fallback] License re-check on replacement → ../asset-license-checker/SKILL.md
• [fallback] Style re-check on replacement → ../asset-style-check/SKILL.md
• [progression] Budget re-check on replacement → ../mobile-glb-budget/SKILL.md
• [fallback] Scope reduction when no viable fallback exists → ../scope-guard/SKILL.md
• [fallback] Recipe split when no viable fallback exists → ../blender-recipe-decomposer/SKILL.md

Non-goals

• Acquire, generate, or edit assets itself.
• Run Blender or execute Python.
• Perform license, style, or performance budget checks itself.

References

• references/fallback-option-types.md
• references/scoring-rubric.md
• references/drop-with-caveat-rules.md
• ../../docs/skill-system.md