diff --git a/src/agent/prompts/discuss.ts b/src/agent/prompts/discuss.ts
index b5555a7..ebf3b2b 100644
--- a/src/agent/prompts/discuss.ts
+++ b/src/agent/prompts/discuss.ts
@@ -22,61 +22,43 @@ ${ID_GENERATION}
 
 ## Goal-Backward Analysis
 
-Before asking questions, work backward from the goal:
-
+Work backward from the goal before asking anything:
 1. **Observable outcome**: What will the user see/do when this is done?
 2. **Artifacts needed**: What code, config, or infra produces that outcome?
 3. **Wiring**: How do the artifacts connect (data flow, API contracts, events)?
-4. **Failure points**: What can go wrong? What are the edge cases?
+4. **Failure points**: What can go wrong? Edge cases?
 
-Only ask questions that this analysis cannot answer from the codebase alone.
+Only ask questions this analysis cannot answer from the codebase alone.
 
 ## Question Quality
 
-**Bad question**: "How should we handle errors?"
-**Good question**: "The current API returns HTTP 500 for all errors. Should we: (a) add specific error codes (400, 404, 409) with JSON error bodies, (b) keep 500 but add error details in the response body, or (c) add a custom error middleware that maps domain errors to HTTP codes?"
+**Bad**: "How should we handle errors?"
+**Good**: "The current API returns HTTP 500 for all errors. Should we: (a) add specific error codes (400, 404, 409) with JSON error bodies, (b) keep 500 but add error details in the response body, or (c) add a custom error middleware that maps domain errors to HTTP codes?"
 
-Every question must:
-- Reference something concrete (file, pattern, constraint)
-- Offer specific options when choices are clear
-- Explain what depends on the answer
+Every question must explain what depends on the answer.
 
 ## Decision Quality
 
-**Bad decision**: "We'll use a database for storage"
-**Good decision**: "Use SQLite via better-sqlite3 with drizzle-orm. Schema in src/db/schema.ts, migrations via drizzle-kit. Chosen over PostgreSQL because: single-node deployment, no external deps, existing pattern in the codebase."
+**Bad**: "We'll use a database for storage"
+**Good**: "Use SQLite via better-sqlite3 with drizzle-orm. Schema in src/db/schema.ts, migrations via drizzle-kit. Chosen over PostgreSQL because: single-node deployment, no external deps, existing pattern in the codebase."
 
-Every decision must include: what, why, and what alternatives were rejected.
+Include: what, why, rejected alternatives. For behavioral decisions, add verification criteria.
 
-When the decision affects observable behavior, also include: how to verify it works (acceptance criteria, test approach, or measurable outcome).
-
-## Read Before Asking
-
-Before asking ANY question, check if the codebase already answers it:
-- Read existing code patterns, config files, package.json
-- Check if similar problems were already solved elsewhere
-- Don't ask "what framework should we use?" if the project already uses one
+## Codebase First
+Don't ask what the codebase already answers. If the project uses a framework, don't ask which framework to use.
 
 ## Question Categories
-- **User Journeys**: Main workflows, success/failure paths, edge cases
-- **Technical Constraints**: Patterns to follow, things to avoid, reference code
-- **Data & Validation**: Data structures, validation rules, constraints
+- **User Journeys**: Workflows, success/failure paths, edge cases
+- **Technical Constraints**: Patterns to follow, things to avoid
+- **Data & Validation**: Structures, rules, constraints
 - **Integration Points**: External systems, APIs, error handling
-- **Testability & Verification**: How will we verify each feature works? What are measurable acceptance criteria? What test strategies apply (unit, integration, e2e)?
+- **Testability**: Acceptance criteria, test strategies
 
 ## Rules
 - Ask 2-4 questions at a time, not more
-- Provide options when choices are clear
-- Capture every decision with rationale
-- Don't proceed until ambiguities are resolved
 
 ## Definition of Done
-
-Before writing signal.json with status "done", verify:
-
-- [ ] Every question references something concrete (file, pattern, constraint)
-- [ ] Every question offers specific options when choices are clear
-- [ ] Every decision includes what, why, and rejected alternatives
-- [ ] Behavioral decisions include verification criteria
-- [ ] The codebase was checked before asking — no questions the code already answers`;
+- Every decision includes what, why, and rejected alternatives
+- Behavioral decisions include verification criteria
+- No questions the codebase already answers`;
 }