> Update 18 September: RC2 healer bells are now published and ready for playtest. Only Compass remains staged. Earlier review below is historical. Receipt: changes/20260918-healer-bells/deployment-receipt.json

# Next four focused release candidates

Proposed order only; no build resumed. One map or one shared system per release. Estimates are active work, not dates or promises. Reassess after each release; optional playtest never blocks completed delivery.

| Candidate | Scope | Finish gate | Rough active effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| RC1 — Tester Compass only | Rebase the staged categorised compass; block travel into closed Glimmer. No pool or bell changes. | All menu groups/destinations checked; current-baseline scoped diff, one backup, publish and confirm. Status: staged components, not deploy-ready. | About 60–90 min; moderate confidence |
| RC2 — Healer bells only | One shared system: three healer sites at 5am and 5pm game time. | Current-baseline startup integration, timing/audio resource and duplicate checks; one backup and publication. Status: staged components. | About 45–75 min; moderate confidence |
| RC3 — Apprentices through level 5 | Curated harmless magic expansion; retain existing restrictions and NPC identities. | Explicit spell whitelist, controlled targets, day/night routines and no unintended harm. Status: requested, not implemented. | About 2–3 focused hours; whitelist uncertainty |
| RC4 — Enchanted approach garden | One coherent garden map with purposeful fey life; correct the fitted entrance and travel connection. | Composition review, usable route/entrance and bounded effects/routines; publish ready for playtest. Status: redesign not implemented. | About 3–5 one-hour sessions; medium/low confidence |

The previous four broad RC umbrellas are superseded. Mercy Square, tavern/healer repairs, assets and Games are already delivered. Tower, faction-war systems, further regional maps, original VFX and audio are backlog, not hidden parts of these four releases. Glimmer diagnosis remains explicitly deferred; it is not silently reopened by RC1.

Full inventory: rc-review-20260917/REVIEW.md. Historical board: rc-review-20260917/board-before.json.