Epic: Character Creation Validation Coverage

[Jasrags]

Overview

Comprehensive validation coverage for the character creation system. This epic addresses all identified gaps between the current 13 server-side validators, client-side budget context, and component-level inline validation.

Priority Tiers

P0 — Critical (blocks usability)

• Display server-side finalization validation errors to user #252 — Display server-side finalization validation errors to user

P1 — Critical (data integrity)

• Server-side validation for priority-metatype-path consistency #253 — Server-side validation for priority-metatype-path consistency
• Spell validation: duplicate detection and tradition compatibility #254 — Spell validation: duplicate detection and tradition compatibility
• Adept power server-side validation (PP totals, prerequisites, duplicates) #255 — Adept power server-side validation (PP totals, prerequisites, duplicates)
• Server-side validation: require tradition selection for magicians and mystic adepts #267 — Require tradition selection for magicians and mystic adepts

P2 — High (rule enforcement gaps)

• Identity/SIN validation: rating ranges and license constraints #256 — Identity/SIN validation: rating ranges and license constraints
• Foci bonding karma validation #257 — Foci bonding karma validation
• Real-time equipment availability and legality feedback #258 — Real-time equipment availability and legality feedback
• Vehicle and drone availability/legality validation #259 — Vehicle and drone availability/legality validation
• Knowledge skill and language duplicate detection #260 — Knowledge skill and language duplicate detection

P3 — Medium (defense in depth)

• Server-side nuyen and karma budget recalculation #261 — Server-side nuyen and karma budget recalculation
• Augmentation capacity and grade validation #262 — Augmentation capacity and grade validation
• Skill validation gaps: minimum allocation and Aptitude enforcement #263 — Skill validation gaps: minimum allocation and Aptitude enforcement

P4 — Low (quality of life)

• Minor validation gaps: character info, contacts, armor stacking #264 — Minor validation gaps: character info, contacts, armor stacking

Current Validation Strengths

• Attribute min/max bounds (server + client)
• Quality karma limits and prerequisites (server + client)
• Budget overspend detection (client-side comprehensive)
• Knowledge/language rules (detailed, Bilingual-aware)
• Contact budget rules (karma overflow handling)
• Complex form validation (duplicates, catalog, limits)
• Skill group constraints

Architecture

The validation system has three layers:

1. 13 server-side validators in lib/rules/validation/character-validator.ts
2. Budget context in lib/contexts/CreationBudgetContext.tsx
3. Component-level inline validation in each creation card

Recommended Approach

1. Start with Display server-side finalization validation errors to user #252 (error display) — unlocks visibility for all other validators
2. Then P1 items which fix data integrity holes
3. P2 items add missing rule enforcement
4. P3/P4 are defense-in-depth and polish