Prepare the v1.6.0 release

docs/releases/README.md

@@ -22,4 +22,5 @@ See the [release procedure](../release.md) for creating a candidate and tag.
 When asynchronous publication succeeds, the corresponding Gitea release is the
 canonical source for downloadable binaries and checksums.
 
+- [v1.6.0](v1.6.0.md)
 - [v1.5.0](v1.5.0.md)

docs/releases/v1.6.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Narratio v1.6.0
+
+Narratio v1.6.0 makes large pipeline configurations easier to organize,
+inspect, and vary while adding character-oriented artifact generation and a
+guarded, reproducible release procedure.
+
+## Summary
+
+Pipeline configuration can now be assembled from explicit additive imports and
+a selected production or testing profile. Campaigns can own a canonical,
+versioned party roster, and Scriptorium artifact families can expand one
+definition into concrete per-character artifacts, dependencies, variables, and
+publish rules.
+
+New read-only configuration commands expose the fully resolved pipeline,
+source provenance, semantic digest, and profile differences before a session is
+run. Stage reuse now records configuration-sensitive semantic evidence so
+profile or configuration changes cannot silently reuse incompatible work.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+This is a backward-compatible feature release. Existing monolithic pipeline
+files, concrete Scriptorium artifacts, publish rules, and configurations
+without profiles remain supported. When profiles are declared and no explicit
+profile is selected, Narratio uses the configured production default.
+
+An unversioned party file plus a separate players file remains available as an
+isolated legacy compatibility path, but it cannot drive artifact families. New
+campaigns and new party-oriented features should use the `narratio.party.v1`
+schema. Existing manifests remain readable; missing legacy semantic evidence
+is treated as stale rather than trusted.
+
+Narratio continues to consume the documented Notarius D&D pipeline contract.
+The release workflow still cross-compiles Linux, macOS, and Windows binaries
+for `amd64` and `arm64`; cross-compilation is not native runtime evidence for
+macOS or Windows.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+No special action is required for existing monolithic configurations that do
+not adopt profiles or artifact families. On the first run after upgrading,
+stages recorded by older manifests may regenerate once because those records do
+not contain the new semantic configuration evidence.
+
+To adopt the new configuration model, use the maintained
+`examples/production-testing` bundle as a migration reference: split stable
+settings into explicit imports, define a production default and optional
+testing profile, convert campaign party data to `narratio.party.v1`, remove the
+separate players file, and then introduce character artifact families. Review
+the result with `narratio config validate`, `config show`, `config sources`, and
+`config diff` before running a session.
+
+Campaign, session, previous-session, and run identifiers must satisfy the
+documented portable identity grammar. Existing manifests or remote state with
+unsafe legacy identifiers must be migrated before use.
+
+## Changes
+
+- Added root-owned, non-recursive additive pipeline imports with strict,
+  source-aware conflict detection.
+- Added named pipeline profiles with an explicit production default and
+  deliberate command-line selection.
+- Added `config validate`, `config show`, `config sources`, and `config diff`
+  for read-only inspection of resolved configuration and provenance.
+- Added the strict `narratio.party.v1` campaign roster, including stable
+  character IDs, player and character names, optional aliases, and classes.
+- Added deterministic players derivation and canonical party delivery to
+  downstream integrations.
+- Added character-oriented artifact families, corresponding member
+  dependencies, family selection, and generated publish policies.
+- Added semantic configuration fingerprints and stage-specific resume checks
+  across transcript and artifact stages.
+- Added shared release candidate, asset build, and guarded tag-publication
+  scripts, with tag-triggered publication remaining asynchronous.