diff --git a/docs/roadmap/validate.md b/docs/roadmap/validate.md
index 18431f1..e9d579e 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/validate.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/validate.md
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ Provide an explicit success/error operation for consumers that want to check an
 actual prompt request without generating a model response or receiving a
 prepared snapshot.
 
+The check applies to concrete variable values and input bindings for one
+invocation. It does not certify that an application's configured bindings cover
+every possible request or template branch.
+
 Scriptorium motivates this addition: applications invoke it as a subprocess and
 could use a `validate` command to fail early when their supplied variables,
 inputs, or other request settings cannot pass preparation. PromptKit owns the
@@ -38,9 +42,14 @@ See the [consumer inspection and preparation guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.m
 Add a separate method on the existing engine:
 
 ```go
-func (e *Engine) Validate(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) error
+func (e *Engine) ValidateRequest(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) error
 ```
 
+`ValidateRequest` names the object being checked and distinguishes this operation
+from generated-output validation. `validate` remains the recommended downstream
+CLI command name; preflight describes the workflow, without implying provider
+or capacity readiness checks.
+
 Use the complete existing `RunRequest`, including input bindings, caller
 variables, profile selection, execution overrides, session settings, output
 contract overrides, and appended messages. Apply the same request conversion
@@ -60,7 +69,8 @@ meaning of its returned snapshot. The intended distinction is:
 
 - `InspectRequirements`: discover what a prompt may require for a supplied
   context, including partial discovery where appropriate.
-- `Validate`: determine whether the actual supplied request passes preparation.
+- `ValidateRequest`: determine whether the actual supplied request passes
+  preparation.
 - `Prepare`: perform preparation and return its snapshot.
 - `PrepareExecution`: prepare an owned snapshot that can later be executed.
 - `Run`: prepare and execute the request.
@@ -72,23 +82,54 @@ the branches selected by supplied values. It applies existing rules to missing
 bindings and variables rather than adding stricter required-field rules,
 rejecting additional caller keys, or restricting supported templates.
 
+For example, consider a message containing
+`{{if eq .mode "detailed"}}{{input "details"}}{{end}}`, where `details` is not
+declared required. A request with `mode=brief` can prepare without that input;
+one with `mode=detailed` needs it. Declaring the input required makes it
+necessary regardless of the selected branch. Similarly, an evaluated
+`{{.audience}}` fails when the key is absent, but supplying an empty string does
+not itself fail preparation. Optional lookups such as `{{index . "audience"}}`
+retain their existing semantics. These examples illustrate preparation parity,
+not new required-field rules; see the [input and template formats](../formats.md#inputs)
+and [requirement classifications](../../requirements.go).
+
 No LLM request is made. This is not a promise of zero I/O: artifact and schema
 loaders still perform their existing resource work, including caller-supplied
-loader behavior. Avoiding inference makes the operation useful for fail-fast
-workflows, but large inputs or resource processing can still cost time and
-memory. No fixed latency or allocation guarantee is proposed.
+loader behavior. The current preparation path loads every supplied input, even
+if the selected template branch does not use it. Avoiding inference makes the
+operation useful for fail-fast workflows, but large inputs or resource
+processing can still cost time and memory. No fixed latency or allocation
+guarantee is proposed.
 
 Success does not establish provider acceptance, context-window fit, generated
 output validity, or application-domain correctness. It also does not reserve
 execution capacity or retain a snapshot for a subsequent invocation. Later
 requests can differ, and referenced resources can change. Consumers that need
-execution tied to the checked snapshot should use `PrepareExecution`.
+execution tied to the checked snapshot within one process and engine should use
+`PrepareExecution`. Its [opaque handle](../../prepared_execution.go) cannot
+connect separate subprocess invocations.
 
 This is request-scoped validation using an already constructed engine. It does
 not expand configuration ownership beyond the final handoff described by
 [ADR 0001](../adr/0001-configuration-boundary.md), or introduce eager validation
 of all configured prompts and resources.
 
+## Downstream CLI Guidance
+
+Scriptorium's proposed `validate` and existing `run` commands should share
+request construction: argument interpretation, defaults, profile selection,
+and overrides must describe the same request for equivalent caller inputs.
+This allows PromptKit's preparation parity to carry through the CLI boundary.
+Scriptorium owns exit statuses and diagnostic presentation.
+
+A `scriptorium validate` call followed by `scriptorium run` performs two
+independent preparations; the first does not retain an executable snapshot for
+the second. When assessing CLI latency, measure the complete subprocess call,
+including process startup and engine construction, as well as preparation.
+Avoiding the public prepared snapshot does not eliminate the other preparation
+work. These are downstream integration recommendations, not Scriptorium changes
+included in this unit of work.
+
 ## Work Needed
 
 - Add the public error-only method through the existing facade and internal
@@ -117,9 +158,9 @@ of all configured prompts and resources.
 ## Completion And Scope
 
 The feature is complete when consumers can submit an ordinary `RunRequest` to
-`Engine.Validate` and obtain preparation success or its existing failure without
-a model call or public prepared snapshot, with focused tests and canonical
-documentation establishing that behavior.
+`Engine.ValidateRequest` and obtain preparation success or its existing failure
+without a model call or public prepared snapshot, with focused tests and
+canonical documentation establishing that behavior.
 
 This unit of work does not include changes to Scriptorium, CLI commands or exit
 codes, aggregated diagnostics, presence-only validation modes, provider probes,