# PlotDirector

# Phase 5 -- Multi-User, Collaboration & Subscription Architecture

Version: 1.0\
Status: Approved Architecture Document\
Date: June 2026

## Purpose

Phase 5 introduces multi-user support, subscriptions, collaboration
capabilities, storage management, auditing, and monetisation foundations
to PlotDirector.

The goal is to transform PlotDirector from a single-user authoring
platform into a secure SaaS application while preserving its core
philosophy as a planning and writing workspace for authors.

## Core Principles

-   PlotDirector is an active workspace, not a permanent archive.
-   Security takes precedence over convenience.
-   Collaboration supports planning, not real-time writing.
-   Subscription limits should be generous but prevent abuse.

## Definitions

### User

Authenticated account holder within PlotDirector.

### Project

Highest-level container which may represent a standalone book or an
entire series.

### Book

A single book within a project. Subscription limits are enforced against
books.

### Owner

The user who created a project and manages collaborators.

### Collaborator

A user granted edit access to another user's project.

### Subscription

Defines usage limits and capabilities.

## Security Architecture

Project access shall be determined through ProjectUserAccess records.

Access checks must answer:

> Can this user access this project?

Not:

> Does this user own this project?

### Access Roles

#### Owner

-   Full project access
-   Invite/remove collaborators
-   Delete projects
-   Export projects

#### Collaborator

-   View projects
-   Edit projects

Restrictions: - Cannot delete projects - Cannot invite collaborators -
Cannot transfer ownership - Cannot manage subscriptions

Viewer-only access is explicitly excluded from Phase 5.

### ProjectUserAccess

Fields:

-   ProjectUserAccessID
-   ProjectID
-   UserID
-   AccessRole
-   InvitedByUserID
-   InvitedDateUTC
-   AcceptedDateUTC
-   IsActive

All project-scoped operations must validate user access.

Protected areas include:

-   Projects
-   Books
-   Chapters
-   Scenes
-   Timeline
-   Characters
-   Assets
-   Locations
-   Plot Lines
-   Relationships
-   Workspace
-   Imports
-   Exports
-   Attachments

## Subscription Levels

### Draft Desk

-   Books: 2
-   Chapters per Book: 75
-   Scenes per Book: 300
-   Characters per Project: 75
-   Storage: 100 MB
-   Collaborators: 0

### Writing Room

-   Books: 10
-   Chapters per Book: 150
-   Scenes per Book: 1000
-   Characters per Project: 250
-   Storage: 1 GB
-   Collaborators: 1

### Story Forge

-   Books: 30
-   Chapters per Book: 200
-   Scenes per Book: 2000
-   Characters per Project: 500
-   Storage: 5 GB
-   Collaborators: 3

### Author Studio

-   Books: Practical unlimited
-   Chapters: Practical unlimited
-   Scenes: Practical unlimited
-   Characters: Practical unlimited
-   Storage: 20 GB
-   Collaborators: 10

## Collaboration Requirements

Supported:

-   Invite collaborators
-   Remove collaborators
-   View collaborator lists

Excluded:

-   Real-time editing
-   Internal messaging
-   Viewer-only roles
-   Conflict resolution
-   Ownership transfer

## Audit Requirements

Major entities should support:

-   CreatedByUserID
-   CreatedDateUTC
-   ModifiedByUserID
-   ModifiedDateUTC

Track activity for:

-   Projects
-   Books
-   Chapters
-   Scenes
-   Characters
-   Assets
-   Locations
-   Plot Lines
-   Relationships

The audit system should answer:

> Who changed what and when?

## Storage Management

-   Storage tracked per user
-   Limits enforced by subscription
-   Restrict file types
-   Resize uploaded images
-   Convert images to WebP
-   Remove unnecessary metadata

Timeline and planning interfaces should remain fast and primarily
text-based.

## Export and Archiving

Projects should support export including:

-   Project data
-   Images
-   Attachments

Archive workflow:

1.  Export project
2.  Offer download
3.  Remove from active workspace

## Payment Integration

Stripe will be introduced only after:

-   Security is complete
-   Subscription infrastructure exists
-   Limit enforcement is operational

## Phase 5 Implementation Order

1.  Phase 5A -- Project Ownership & Security
2.  Phase 5B -- Subscription Infrastructure
3.  Phase 5C -- Subscription Limit Enforcement
4.  Phase 5D -- Collaboration Foundation
5.  Phase 5E -- Audit History & Activity Tracking
6.  Phase 5F -- Storage Management
7.  Phase 5G -- Export & Archiving
8.  Phase 5H -- Subscription Management UI
9.  Phase 5I -- Stripe Payment Integration

## Out of Scope

-   Real-time collaborative editing
-   Internal messaging systems
-   Viewer-only roles
-   AI collaboration workflows
-   Team organisations
-   Ownership transfer
-   Conflict resolution systems

## Success Criteria

Phase 5 is complete when:

-   Project access is secure
-   Subscription limits are enforced
-   Collaboration functions safely
-   Audit history is available
-   Storage limits are operational
-   Projects can be exported and archived
-   Payment processing is integrated successfully