Merge pull request 'Game-Polish' (#10) from Game-Polish into main

Reviewed-on: #10

README.md

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ menu categories:
 | **Tabletop** | 21 | Backgammon, Chess, Checkers, Go, Othello, Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Risk, Monopoly, Blokus, Labyrinth, Mahjong, Stratego, Battleship, Mastermind, Connect 4, Forbidden Island, Azul, Chinese Checkers, Mexican Train, Parchisi |
 | **Cards** | 18 | Cribbage, Gin Rummy, Rummikub, Canasta, Hearts, Uno, Phase 10, Skip-Bo, Go Fish, Old Maid, Nerts, Dominion, Splendor, Freecell, Solitaire Tour, Spire Climb, Zahtzee, Farkle |
 | **Casino** | 9 | Blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Video Poker, Craps, Roulette, Bingo, Slot Machines |
-| **Word** | 15 | Wordle Race, Scrabble, Boggle, Ghost, Word Ladder, Word Search, Hangman, Spelling Bee, Sudoku, Mini Crossword, Tectonic, Bookwork, Kiitos, Tri-Ominoes, Jumble |
+| **Word** | 15 | Wordle Race, Scrabble, Boggle, Ghost, Word Ladder, Word Search, Hangman, Spelling Bee, Sudoku, Mini Crossword, Tectonic, Bookworm, Kiitos, Tri-Ominoes, Jumble |
 | **Logic & Puzzle** | 14 | 2048, Rush Hour, Hexsweeper, Jell-o Monsters, Shift, Mahjong Match, Jewel Quest, Zuma, Bejeweled Blitz, Mini Motorways, Dot Link, Katamino, Genius Square, Block Fighter |
 | **Arcade, Console & PC** | 2 | Colorado Defense, Star Control |
 

data/bookwork.json

@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 {
   "playerBaseHp": 100,
+  "steer": {
+    "wordBoostK": 1.0,
+    "classThreshold": 2,
+    "classDamp": 0.35,
+    "classBoost": 1.8,
+    "vowelBand": [0.30, 0.45]
+  },
+  "specialTiles": {
+    "startLevel": 1,
+    "endLevel": 10,
+    "start": { "gold": 0.10, "diamond": 0.06 },
+    "end":   { "gold": 0.03, "diamond": 0.02 }
+  },
   "milestones": [
     { "afterLevel": 5,  "maxHpBonus": 10, "unlock": "potion" },
     { "afterLevel": 10, "maxHpBonus": 10 },

data/card-backs.json

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 {
   "default": "back-0",
   "cardBacks": [
-    { "id": "back-0", "name": "Card Back 1", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 0, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-1", "name": "Card Back 2", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 1, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-2", "name": "Card Back 3", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 2, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-3", "name": "Card Back 4", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 3, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-4", "name": "Card Back 5", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 4, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-5", "name": "Card Back 6", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 5, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-6", "name": "Card Back 7", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 6, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
-    { "id": "back-7", "name": "Card Back 8", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 7, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" }
+    { "id": "back-0", "name": "Cthulhu", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 0, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-1", "name": "Cyberpunk", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 1, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-2", "name": "Nautical", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 2, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-3", "name": "Steampunk", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 3, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-4", "name": "Jungle", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 4, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-5", "name": "Hi Tech", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 5, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-6", "name": "Fall Mountain", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 6, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" },
+    { "id": "back-7", "name": "Neon Miami", "key": "cardbacks", "spriteIndex": 7, "fallbackColor": "#1a3a6b" }
   ]
 }

src/data/gamesRegistry.js

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ registerGame({ slug: 'ginrummy', name: 'Gin Rummy', category: 'cards', cardGame:
 registerGame({ slug: 'risk', name: 'Risk', category: 'tabletop', minPlayers: 2, maxPlayers: 6, minOpponents: 1, maxOpponents: 5, defaultOpponents: 3, hasTutorial: true, iconFrame: 54, defaultPlayfield: 'combat' });
 registerGame({ slug: 'geniussquare', name: 'Genius Square', category: 'logic', minPlayers: 1, maxPlayers: 2, minOpponents: 1, maxOpponents: 1, iconFrame: 70 });
 registerGame({ slug: 'katamino', name: 'Katamino', category: 'logic', minPlayers: 1, maxPlayers: 1, minOpponents: 0, maxOpponents: 0, iconFrame: 71 });
-registerGame({ slug: 'bookwork', name: 'Bookwork', category: 'word', minPlayers: 1, maxPlayers: 1, minOpponents: 0, maxOpponents: 0, iconFrame: 72 });
+registerGame({ slug: 'bookwork', name: 'Bookworm', category: 'word', minPlayers: 1, maxPlayers: 1, minOpponents: 0, maxOpponents: 0, iconFrame: 72 });
 registerGame({ slug: 'paigow', name: 'Pai Gow Poker', category: 'casino', cardGame: true, minPlayers: 1, maxPlayers: 5, minOpponents: 0, maxOpponents: 4, defaultOpponents: 4, iconFrame: 73 });
 registerGame({ slug: 'spireclimb', name: 'Spire Climb', category: 'cards', cardGame: true, minPlayers: 1, maxPlayers: 1, minOpponents: 0, maxOpponents: 0, hasTutorial: true, iconFrame: 74 });
 registerGame({ slug: 'azul', name: 'Azul', category: 'tabletop', minPlayers: 2, maxPlayers: 4, minOpponents: 1, maxOpponents: 3, defaultOpponents: 3, hasTutorial: true, iconFrame: 75, defaultPlayfield: 'cherry' });

src/games/bookwork/BookworkGame.js

@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ import {
   GRID_SIZE, makeGrid, getAdjacent, isAdjacent,
   wordFromCells, computeDamage, computeSelfDamage,
   clearAndRefill, dropSpecialTile, countPoisonTiles,
-  computeMaxHp, isPotionUnlocked,
+  computeMaxHp, isPotionUnlocked, specialTileChances,
 } from './BookworkLogic.js';
 import { getAttackDamage, getSpecialTile } from './BookworkAI.js';
+import { makeSteeredGrid, refillSteered, parseWordList } from './BookworkSteering.js';
 
 const CELL = 96;
 const GRID_W = CELL * GRID_SIZE;
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
   constructor() { super('BookworkGame'); }
 
   init(data) {
-    this.gameDef = data.game ?? { slug: 'bookwork', name: 'Bookwork' };
+    this.gameDef = data.game ?? { slug: 'bookwork', name: 'Bookworm' };
     this.config = { playerBaseHp: 100, milestones: [], levels: [] };
     this.bank = [];
     this.roster = [];
@@ -56,6 +57,9 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.bgTex  = null;
     // Battle state
     this.grid = null;
+    this.wordSet = null;   // steering dictionary (ENABLE words 3–15); null → unsteered
+    this.steerOpts = {};
+    this.specialSpawn = { goldChance: 0.03, diamondChance: 0.02 };
     this.tileObjs = null;
     this.selection = [];
     this.selGraphics = null;
@@ -85,8 +89,16 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
 
     const raw = this.cache.json.get('bookwork');
     if (raw) this.config = raw;
+    this.steerOpts = this.config.steer ?? {};
     this.bank = (this.config.levels ?? []).slice().sort((a, b) => a.level - b.level);
 
+    // Load the steering dictionary (same ENABLE list the word validator uses).
+    // Non-fatal: if it fails, boards fall back to plain weighted-random.
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch('data/wordlists/enable1.txt');
+      if (res.ok) this.wordSet = parseWordList(await res.text());
+    } catch (_) { this.wordSet = null; }
+
     try {
       const res = await fetch('data/opponents.json');
       const json = await res.json();
@@ -279,7 +291,7 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.clearLayer();
     const cx = GAME_WIDTH / 2;
 
-    const title = this.add.text(cx, 84, 'BOOKWORK', {
+    const title = this.add.text(cx, 84, 'BOOKWORM', {
       fontFamily: 'Righteous', fontSize: '64px', color: COLORS.goldHex,
     }).setOrigin(0.5);
     const sub = this.add.text(cx, 138, 'Spell words from the letter grid to battle your way through 20 opponents.', {
@@ -514,6 +526,7 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.level = level;
     this.levelDef = lv;
     this.opponent = this.opponentFor(lv);
+    this.specialSpawn = specialTileChances(level, this.config.specialTiles ?? {});
     this.clearLayer();
 
     this.playerMaxHp = computeMaxHp(this.config, this.levelsCompleted);
@@ -523,7 +536,7 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.potionUnlocked = isPotionUnlocked(this.config, this.levelsCompleted);
     this.potionUsed  = false;
     this.turnPhase   = 'player';
-    this.grid        = makeGrid();
+    this.grid        = this.wordSet ? makeSteeredGrid(Math.random, this.wordSet, this.steerOpts) : makeGrid();
     this.selection   = [];
 
     this.drawBattleUI();
@@ -832,7 +845,9 @@ export default class BookworkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
 
     // Refill grid
-    this.grid = clearAndRefill(this.grid, cells);
+    this.grid = this.wordSet
+      ? refillSteered(this.grid, cells, Math.random, this.wordSet, { ...this.steerOpts, ...this.specialSpawn })
+      : clearAndRefill(this.grid, cells, Math.random, this.specialSpawn);
     await this.animateRefill(cells);
     this.redrawAllTiles();
 

src/games/bookwork/BookworkLogic.js

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 export const GRID_SIZE = 5;
 
 // Weighted letter pool tuned for playability (vowel-rich, rare letters suppressed)
-const LETTER_WEIGHTS = {
+export const LETTER_WEIGHTS = {
   A:9, B:2, C:3, D:4, E:13, F:2, G:2, H:3, I:8, J:1, K:2,
   L:4, M:3, N:6, O:7, P:2, R:6, S:5, T:7, U:4, V:2, W:2,
   X:1, Y:3, Z:1,
@@ -16,6 +16,29 @@ export function randomLetter(rng = Math.random) {
   return LETTER_POOL[Math.floor(rng() * LETTER_POOL.length)];
 }
 
+// Default spawn chances for multiplier tiles on refills (late-game floor).
+export const SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES = { gold: 0.03, diamond: 0.02 };
+
+// Level schedule for multiplier-tile spawn chances. Interpolates linearly
+// from cfg.start at cfg.startLevel down to cfg.end at cfg.endLevel, then
+// holds cfg.end. Returns { goldChance, diamondChance }.
+//   cfg = { startLevel: 1, endLevel: 10,
+//           start: { gold: 0.10, diamond: 0.06 },
+//           end:   { gold: 0.03, diamond: 0.02 } }
+export function specialTileChances(level, cfg = {}) {
+  const start = cfg.start ?? SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES;
+  const end   = cfg.end   ?? SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES;
+  const from  = cfg.startLevel ?? 1;
+  const to    = cfg.endLevel   ?? from;
+  const t = to > from ? Math.max(0, Math.min(1, (level - from) / (to - from))) : 0;
+  if (t <= 0) return { goldChance: start.gold, diamondChance: start.diamond };
+  if (t >= 1) return { goldChance: end.gold, diamondChance: end.diamond };
+  return {
+    goldChance:    start.gold    + (end.gold    - start.gold)    * t,
+    diamondChance: start.diamond + (end.diamond - start.diamond) * t,
+  };
+}
+
 export function makeGrid(rng = Math.random) {
   const grid = [];
   for (let r = 0; r < GRID_SIZE; r++) {
@@ -69,9 +92,12 @@ export function computeSelfDamage(cells, grid) {
   return cells.filter(({ r, c }) => grid[r][c].type === 'fire').length * 5;
 }
 
-// Cascade tiles down in each column, fill top with new random tiles
-export function clearAndRefill(grid, usedCells, rng = Math.random) {
+// Cascade tiles down in each column, fill top with new random tiles.
+// opts may override spawn chances: { goldChance, diamondChance }.
+export function clearAndRefill(grid, usedCells, rng = Math.random, opts = {}) {
   const used = new Set(usedCells.map(({ r, c }) => `${r},${c}`));
+  const goldChance    = opts.goldChance    ?? SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES.gold;
+  const diamondChance = opts.diamondChance ?? SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES.diamond;
   const next = grid.map((row) => row.map((cell) => ({ ...cell })));
 
   for (let c = 0; c < GRID_SIZE; c++) {
@@ -82,8 +108,8 @@ export function clearAndRefill(grid, usedCells, rng = Math.random) {
     }
     // Fill remainder with new normal tiles
     while (survive.length < GRID_SIZE) {
-      const gold = rng() < 0.03;
-      const diamond = !gold && rng() < 0.02;
+      const gold = rng() < goldChance;
+      const diamond = !gold && rng() < diamondChance;
       const type = gold ? 'gold' : diamond ? 'diamond' : 'normal';
       survive.push({ letter: randomLetter(rng), type });
     }

src/games/bookwork/BookworkSteering.js

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+// BookworkSteering.js — context-aware letter placement for Bookworm
+//
+// The base engine (BookworkLogic.js) draws every letter independently from a
+// weighted pool. That works, but it occasionally produces "dead" boards (no
+// 3+ letter word findable) and vowel/consonant clumps, and those clumps
+// persist through refills.
+//
+// This module layers a steering policy on the SAME pool: when a letter is
+// chosen for a specific cell, each candidate's weight is adjusted by:
+//   1. class steering — damp the class (vowel/consonant) already
+//      over-represented among the cell's filled neighbours
+//   2. vowel band     — keep the board-wide vowel share inside a target band
+//   3. word boost     — boost letters that complete real 3-letter words given
+//      the letters already placed around this cell
+//
+// Design notes:
+//   • Sampling, never argmax — boards stay varied and the injected-rng
+//     testability of BookworkLogic is preserved.
+//   • No full words are pre-placed. Steering only biases a single letter by
+//     what is already on the board, so the "word-friendly" property is
+//     re-established inductively after every refill — the board stays good
+//     as the game is played, not just at deal time.
+//   • With `wordSet` null every helper degrades to the plain weighted pool.
+
+import { GRID_SIZE, LETTER_WEIGHTS, randomLetter, SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES, getAdjacent, isAdjacent } from './BookworkLogic.js';
+
+const VOWELS = new Set(['A', 'E', 'I', 'O', 'U']);
+
+export const DEFAULT_STEER = {
+  wordBoostK: 1.0,          // weight multiplier per word completed: w *= (1 + K * count)
+  classThreshold: 2,        // neighbour class imbalance (|vowels - consonants|) that triggers steering
+  classDamp: 0.35,          // multiplier applied to the over-represented class
+  classBoost: 1.8,          // multiplier applied to the under-represented class
+  vowelBand: [0.30, 0.45],  // target band for board-wide vowel share
+  bandMinFilled: 10,        // only apply the vowel band once this many cells are filled
+};
+
+// Parse an ENABLE-style word list into a Set of A-Z words within [minLen, maxLen].
+// 3–15 matches the /words/scrabble/validate dictionary (ENABLE, 2–15 letters)
+// and the game's minimum playable word length.
+export function parseWordList(text, minLen = 3, maxLen = 15) {
+  const set = new Set();
+  for (const raw of text.split('\n')) {
+    const w = raw.trim().toUpperCase();
+    if (w.length >= minLen && w.length <= maxLen && /^[A-Z]+$/.test(w)) set.add(w);
+  }
+  return set;
+}
+
+// Context-adjusted weight for every candidate letter at grid[r][c].
+// `grid` may contain unfilled cells ({letter: null}) — they are ignored.
+export function letterWeights(grid, r, c, wordSet = null, opts = {}) {
+  const o = { ...DEFAULT_STEER, ...opts };
+
+  // ── class steering: neighbour balance ───────────────────────────────
+  let v = 0, k = 0;
+  for (const nb of getAdjacent(r, c)) {
+    const l = grid[nb.r][nb.c]?.letter;
+    if (!l) continue;
+    if (VOWELS.has(l)) v++; else k++;
+  }
+  let vowelMult = 1, consonantMult = 1;
+  if (o.classSteer !== false) {
+    if (v >= k + o.classThreshold) { vowelMult = o.classDamp; consonantMult = o.classBoost; }
+    else if (k >= v + o.classThreshold) { consonantMult = o.classDamp; vowelMult = o.classBoost; }
+  }
+
+  // ── vowel band: board-wide share ────────────────────────────────────
+  if (o.vowelBand) {
+    let filled = 0, vTotal = 0;
+    for (let rr = 0; rr < GRID_SIZE; rr++) {
+      for (let cc = 0; cc < GRID_SIZE; cc++) {
+        if (rr === r && cc === c) continue;
+        const l = grid[rr][cc]?.letter;
+        if (!l) continue;
+        filled++;
+        if (VOWELS.has(l)) vTotal++;
+      }
+    }
+    if (filled >= o.bandMinFilled) {
+      const share = vTotal / filled;
+      if (share > o.vowelBand[1]) { vowelMult *= o.classDamp; consonantMult *= o.classBoost; }
+      else if (share < o.vowelBand[0]) { consonantMult *= o.classDamp; vowelMult *= o.classBoost; }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ── word boost: 3-letter words completed through this cell ─────────
+  // For candidate L, count real words of the forms a-L-b (a,b filled
+  // neighbours), L-a-b and a-b-L (a,b filled neighbours, b adjacent a).
+  let counts = null;
+  if (wordSet && o.wordBoostK > 0) {
+    const N = [];
+    for (const nb of getAdjacent(r, c)) {
+      const l = grid[nb.r][nb.c]?.letter;
+      if (l) N.push({ l, r: nb.r, c: nb.c });
+    }
+    if (N.length >= 2) {
+      counts = new Array(26).fill(0);
+      for (let li = 0; li < 26; li++) {
+        const L = String.fromCharCode(65 + li);
+        if (!LETTER_WEIGHTS[L]) continue;
+        const seen = new Set();
+        for (const a of N) {
+          for (const b of N) {
+            if (a === b) continue;
+            const ab = isAdjacent(a, b);
+            const w1 = a.l + L + b.l;
+            if (wordSet.has(w1) && !seen.has(w1)) { seen.add(w1); counts[li]++; }
+            if (ab) {
+              const w2 = L + a.l + b.l;
+              if (wordSet.has(w2) && !seen.has(w2)) { seen.add(w2); counts[li]++; }
+              const w3 = a.l + b.l + L;
+              if (wordSet.has(w3) && !seen.has(w3)) { seen.add(w3); counts[li]++; }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ── final weights ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  const weights = new Array(26).fill(0);
+  for (let li = 0; li < 26; li++) {
+    const L = String.fromCharCode(65 + li);
+    const base = LETTER_WEIGHTS[L];
+    if (!base) continue;
+    let w = base * (VOWELS.has(L) ? vowelMult : consonantMult);
+    if (counts) w *= 1 + o.wordBoostK * counts[li];
+    weights[li] = w;
+  }
+  return weights;
+}
+
+// Sample a letter from a 26-entry weight array (A..Z).
+export function pickWeighted(weights, rng) {
+  let total = 0;
+  for (const w of weights) total += w;
+  if (total <= 0) return String.fromCharCode(65 + Math.floor(rng() * 26));
+  let x = rng() * total;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 26; i++) {
+    x -= weights[i];
+    if (x <= 0) return String.fromCharCode(65 + i);
+  }
+  return 'Z';
+}
+
+// Build a full 5×5 board with context steering (cells placed in random order,
+// each steered by the already-placed neighbours).
+export function makeSteeredGrid(rng = Math.random, wordSet = null, opts = {}) {
+  const grid = Array.from({ length: GRID_SIZE }, () =>
+    Array.from({ length: GRID_SIZE }, () => ({ letter: null, type: 'normal' })));
+  if (!wordSet) {
+    // Degrade to the plain weighted pool.
+    for (const row of grid) for (const cell of row) cell.letter = randomLetter(rng);
+    return grid;
+  }
+  const cells = [];
+  for (let r = 0; r < GRID_SIZE; r++) for (let c = 0; c < GRID_SIZE; c++) cells.push({ r, c });
+  for (let i = cells.length - 1; i > 0; i--) {
+    const j = Math.floor(rng() * (i + 1));
+    [cells[i], cells[j]] = [cells[j], cells[i]];
+  }
+  for (const { r, c } of cells) {
+    grid[r][c].letter = pickWeighted(letterWeights(grid, r, c, wordSet, opts), rng);
+  }
+  return grid;
+}
+
+// Same cascade semantics as BookworkLogic.clearAndRefill (survivors fall to
+// the bottom of each column, fresh tiles drop into the top rows), except the
+// fresh letters are chosen with context steering against the partially
+// rebuilt board. Fresh tiles land ABOVE their column's survivors, so this
+// also completes vertical word fragments the survivors left behind.
+export function refillSteered(grid, usedCells, rng = Math.random, wordSet = null, opts = {}) {
+  const used = new Set(usedCells.map(({ r, c }) => `${r},${c}`));
+  const next = grid.map((row) => row.map((cell) => ({ ...cell })));
+
+  // Pass 1: cascade survivors down each column; mark fresh slots as empty.
+  const newRows = new Array(GRID_SIZE).fill(0);
+  for (let c = 0; c < GRID_SIZE; c++) {
+    const survive = [];
+    for (let r = GRID_SIZE - 1; r >= 0; r--) {
+      if (!used.has(`${r},${c}`)) survive.push({ ...next[r][c] });
+    }
+    newRows[c] = GRID_SIZE - survive.length;
+    for (let i = 0; i < survive.length; i++) next[GRID_SIZE - 1 - i][c] = survive[i];
+    for (let r = 0; r < newRows[c]; r++) next[r][c] = { letter: null, type: 'normal' };
+  }
+
+  // Pass 2: place fresh tiles — per column bottom-up, left→right across
+  // columns — so each new tile sees survivors + already-placed tiles.
+  const goldChance    = opts.goldChance    ?? SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES.gold;
+  const diamondChance = opts.diamondChance ?? SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES.diamond;
+  for (let c = 0; c < GRID_SIZE; c++) {
+    for (let r = newRows[c] - 1; r >= 0; r--) {
+      const weights = wordSet ? letterWeights(next, r, c, wordSet, opts) : null;
+      const letter = weights ? pickWeighted(weights, rng) : randomLetter(rng);
+      const gold = rng() < goldChance;
+      const diamond = !gold && rng() < diamondChance;
+      next[r][c] = { letter, type: gold ? 'gold' : diamond ? 'diamond' : 'normal' };
+    }
+  }
+  return next;
+}

src/games/mahjong/MahjongGame.js

@@ -81,7 +81,17 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
       const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
       if (tracks.length) new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
     } catch { /* optional */ }
-    this.add.rectangle(GAME_WIDTH / 2, GAME_HEIGHT / 2, GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, FELT).setDepth(DEPTH.bg);
+    // Backdrop: the playfield chosen on the opponent-select screen (image
+    // texture, or the generated canvas texture for the "colored" playfields),
+    // falling back to its flat color and finally to the classic deep green.
+    const pf = this.playfield;
+    if (pf?.key && this.textures.exists(pf.key)) {
+      this.add.image(GAME_WIDTH / 2, GAME_HEIGHT / 2, pf.key)
+        .setDisplaySize(GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT).setDepth(DEPTH.bg);
+    } else {
+      const color = pf?.fallbackColor ? parseInt(pf.fallbackColor.replace('#', ''), 16) : FELT;
+      this.add.rectangle(GAME_WIDTH / 2, GAME_HEIGHT / 2, GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, color).setDepth(DEPTH.bg);
+    }
 
     const names = [auth.user?.username ?? 'You'];
     const skills = { 0: 5 };
@@ -130,11 +140,16 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   buildPortraits() {
+    // Each portrait sits just to the left of its own tiles, at the vertical
+    // centre of that area (rows/columns are all centred on their midpoints),
+    // so it reads as belonging to that player without ever covering a tile.
+    // Keep ~18-20px clearance: human hand left edge ≥ 391 (14 tiles), left
+    // column left edge 133, right column left edge 1836, top row ≥ 616.
     const spots = [
-      { x: 90,   y: 870, r: 46 },   // human — bottom left
-      { x: 1830, y: 170, r: 40 },   // seat 1 — right
-      { x: 560,  y: 95,  r: 40 },   // seat 2 — top
-      { x: 90,   y: 310, r: 40 },   // seat 3 — left
+      { x: 325,  y: 975, r: 46 },   // human — left of the bottom hand row
+      { x: 1778, y: 580, r: 40 },   // seat 1 — left of the right column
+      { x: 558,  y: 70,  r: 40 },   // seat 2 — left of the top row
+      { x: 75,   y: 580, r: 40 },   // seat 3 — left of the left column
     ];
     for (let seat = 0; seat < 4; seat++) {
       const { x, y, r } = spots[seat];
@@ -219,7 +234,10 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     }).setOrigin(0.5));
     this.refPanel = panel;
 
-    this.refBtn = new Button(this, 1810, 44, 'Hands', () => this.toggleReference(), {
+    // Parked just left of the reference panel's open position (1490) so it
+    // never ends up under it; y=210 clears seat 2's melds (y≤98) and bonus
+    // tiles (y≤157), which sit at x 1330+.
+    this.refBtn = new Button(this, 1399, 210, 'Hands', () => this.toggleReference(), {
       width: 150, height: 52, fontSize: 22, variant: 'ghost',
     }).setDepth(DEPTH.ref + 1);
   }
@@ -233,6 +251,15 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
       ease: 'Quad.Out',
     });
     this.refBtn.setLabel(this.refOpen ? 'Close' : 'Hands');
+    // Seat 1's portrait sits under the open panel. Its <video> is a DOM node
+    // that always renders above canvas content, so hide it while covered.
+    this.portraitCtrls[1]?.controller?.setVideoVisible?.(!this.refOpen);
+  }
+
+  // The claim row and the self win/kong buttons sit under the open panel's
+  // footprint — close it whenever they appear so nothing clickable is covered.
+  closeReferenceIfOpen() {
+    if (this.refOpen) this.toggleReference();
   }
 
   // ── tile drawing ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -382,7 +409,7 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
         bx += 40;
       }
     } else { // sides — vertical column of rotated backs
-      const x = seat === 1 ? 1858 : 62;
+      const x = seat === 1 ? 1858 : 155; // columns stay right of their portraits (seat 1: 1778+40, seat 3: 75+40)
       let y = 580 - ((n - 1) * step) / 2;
       for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
         const back = this.makeTileBack(SM_W, SM_H);
@@ -390,7 +417,7 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
         this.dyn.add(back);
         y += step;
       }
-      const mx = seat === 1 ? 1745 : 175;
+      const mx = seat === 1 ? 1745 : 270; // melds/bonus offset from their column
       let my = 330;
       for (const m of p.melds) {
         const row = this.makeMeldRow(m, 38, 52, false);
@@ -481,6 +508,7 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
       btn.setVisible(!!spec);
       if (spec) btn.setLabel(`Kong ${shortName(spec.kind)}`);
     });
+    if (show && (acts?.canWin || this.kongSpecs.length > 0)) this.closeReferenceIfOpen();
   }
 
   // ── human input ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -521,6 +549,7 @@ export default class MahjongGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     return new Promise((resolve) => {
       this.claimResolve = resolve;
       this.chowOptions = opts.chows;
+      this.closeReferenceIfOpen();
       const visible = [];
       if (opts.win) visible.push(this.claimBtns.win);
       if (opts.kong) visible.push(this.claimBtns.kong);

src/scenes/GameMenuScene.js

@@ -2,12 +2,11 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_HEIGHT, GAME_WIDTH, COLORS } from '../config.js';
 import { api } from '../services/api.js';
 import { Button } from '../ui/Button.js';
+import { Plaque } from '../ui/Plaque.js';
 import { addFullscreenButton } from '../ui/FullscreenButton.js';
 import { playMenuMusic, stopMenuMusic } from '../ui/MenuMusic.js';
 import { TutorialModal } from '../ui/TutorialModal.js';
 
-let _lastCategory = null;
-
 const CATEGORIES = [
   { key: 'tabletop', label: 'Tabletop' },
   { key: 'cards', label: 'Cards & Dice' },
@@ -22,10 +21,29 @@ const ICON_INACTIVE = 56;
 const ICON_ACTIVE = 72;
 const ICON_OVERSHOOT = 86;
 const ICON_X_OFFSET = -145;
+// How far (px) a grid travels off screen when switching categories.
+const GRID_TRAVEL = GAME_WIDTH + 800;
+
+// The most recently selected category. Module scope so it survives scene
+// restarts (scene.start() reuses the instance) and also covers paths that
+// start the menu without category data — the menu always returns to where
+// the user last was.
+let lastCategory = null;
 
 export default class GameMenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   constructor() { super('GameMenu'); }
 
+  init(data) {
+    // Category to restore on entry: the explicit one (coming back from the
+    // opponent picker) or the most recently selected one.
+    this._initialCategory = (data && data.category) || lastCategory;
+    // scene.start() reuses the existing scene instance, so instance props from
+    // the previous visit survive — reset them so this create() starts clean
+    // (otherwise showCategory()'s "same category" guard swallows the restore).
+    this._currentCategory = null;
+    this._gridAnim = null;
+  }
+
   async create() {
     playMenuMusic();
     const cx = GAME_WIDTH / 2;
@@ -33,12 +51,18 @@ export default class GameMenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.add.image(cx, GAME_HEIGHT / 2, 'bg-menu').setDisplaySize(GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT);
     addFullscreenButton(this);
 
-    const titleText = this.add.text(cx, 60, 'Choose a game', {
+    const titleText = this.add.text(cx, 60, 'Choose a Game Category', {
       fontFamily: 'Righteous',
       fontSize: '64px',
       color: COLORS.textHex,
     }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(1);
-    this.add.rectangle(cx, 60, titleText.width + 64, titleText.height + 28, 0x000000, 0.7);
+    titleText.setLetterSpacing(2);
+    titleText.setShadow(0, 4, 'rgba(0,0,0,0.9)', 8);
+    this._titleText = titleText;
+    const plateW = titleText.width + 64;
+    const plateH = titleText.height + 28;
+    this._titleBg = new Plaque(this, plateW, plateH).setPosition(cx, 60).setDepth(0.5);
+    this._titlePlateW = plateW;
 
     const loadingText = this.add.text(cx, 540, 'Loading game list…', {
       fontSize: '24px', color: COLORS.mutedHex,
@@ -107,14 +131,49 @@ export default class GameMenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       this._tabIcons[key] = icon;
     });
 
-    const startKey = allActiveCats.find(c => c.key === _lastCategory) ? _lastCategory : allActiveCats[0].key;
-    this.showCategory(startKey);
+    // No category is selected by default — the user picks one to see games.
+    this._hintText = this.add.text(cx, 540, 'Select a category above to see its games', {
+      fontSize: '26px', color: COLORS.mutedHex,
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
 
-    new Button(this, cx, GAME_HEIGHT - 60, 'Back', () => this.scene.start('Landing'), { variant: 'ghost' });
+    this._backBtn = new Button(this, cx, GAME_HEIGHT - 60, 'Back', () => this.scene.start('Landing'), { variant: 'ghost' });
+
+    // Returning from the opponent picker: restore the category that was
+    // active when the game was chosen — its grid flies back in from the right.
+    if (this._initialCategory) {
+      this.showCategory(this._initialCategory);
+    }
+
+    // The landing scene zooms the logo out before starting us, so fade the
+    // menu controls in to complete the handoff.
+    const fadeIn = [...Object.values(this._tabs), ...Object.values(this._tabIcons), this._hintText, this._backBtn].filter(Boolean);
+    for (const obj of fadeIn) obj.setAlpha(0);
+    this.tweens.add({
+      targets: fadeIn,
+      alpha: 1,
+      duration: 450,
+      ease: 'Power2.easeOut',
+    });
   }
 
   showCategory(key) {
-    _lastCategory = key;
+    if (key === this._currentCategory) return;
+    this._currentCategory = key;
+    lastCategory = key;
+
+    if (this._hintText) { this._hintText.destroy(); this._hintText = null; }
+    if (this._titleText) {
+      this._titleText.setText('Choose a game');
+      const newW = this._titleText.width + 64;
+      const newH = this._titleText.height + 28;
+      if (this._titlePlateW && Math.abs(this._titlePlateW - newW) > 1) {
+        this._titleBg.animateSize(newW, newH, 240, 'Quad.easeOut');
+        this._titlePlateW = newW;
+      }
+      // Little pop so the label swap reads as intentional.
+      this._titleText.setScale(0.9);
+      this.tweens.add({ targets: this._titleText, scaleX: 1, scaleY: 1, duration: 240, ease: 'Back.easeOut' });
+    }
     for (const [k, btn] of Object.entries(this._tabs)) {
       btn.setActive(k === key);
     }
@@ -162,13 +221,41 @@ export default class GameMenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       }
     }
 
-    for (const obj of this._gameObjects) obj.destroy();
+    // Interrupt any grid animation still in flight (user changed their mind mid-flight).
+    if (this._gridAnim) {
+      for (const obj of this._gridAnim.objects) obj.destroy();
+      this._gridAnim = null;
       this._gameObjects = [];
+    }
     if (this._ptrMoveHandler) {
       this.input.off('pointermove', this._ptrMoveHandler, this);
       this._ptrMoveHandler = null;
     }
 
+    const oldObjects = this._gameObjects;
+    this._gameObjects = [];
+    if (oldObjects.length === 0) {
+      this.buildCategoryGrid(key);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Fly the outgoing grid off the left edge, then bring the new one in from the right.
+    for (const obj of oldObjects) obj.disableInteractive();
+    this._gridAnim = { objects: oldObjects };
+    this.tweens.add({
+      targets: oldObjects,
+      x: `-=${GRID_TRAVEL}`,
+      duration: 380,
+      ease: 'Power2.easeIn',
+      onComplete: () => {
+        this._gridAnim = null;
+        for (const obj of oldObjects) obj.destroy();
+        this.buildCategoryGrid(key);
+      },
+    });
+  }
+
+  buildCategoryGrid(key) {
     const games = this._gamesByCategory[key];
     if (!games || games.length === 0) return;
 
@@ -267,6 +354,18 @@ export default class GameMenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         this._gameObjects.push(qg, qLabel);
       }
     });
+
+    // Fly the grid in from off screen right.
+    const objs = this._gameObjects;
+    for (const obj of objs) obj.x += GRID_TRAVEL;
+    this._gridAnim = { objects: objs };
+    this.tweens.add({
+      targets: objs,
+      x: `-=${GRID_TRAVEL}`,
+      duration: 420,
+      ease: 'Power2.easeOut',
+      onComplete: () => { this._gridAnim = null; },
+    });
   }
 
   openGame(game) {

src/scenes/LandingScene.js

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_HEIGHT, GAME_WIDTH, COLORS } from '../config.js';
 import { auth } from '../services/auth.js';
 import { Button } from '../ui/Button.js';
+import { Plaque } from '../ui/Plaque.js';
 import { addFullscreenButton } from '../ui/FullscreenButton.js';
 import { playMenuMusic } from '../ui/MenuMusic.js';
 
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@ export default class LandingScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
     const logo = this.add.image(cx, 290, 'main-title').setOrigin(0.5, 0.5).setAlpha(0);
     logo.postFX.addShadow(3, 6, 0.005, 2, 0x000000, 10, 0.75);
+    this._logo = logo;
+    this._transitioning = false;
 
     this.tweens.add({
       targets: logo,
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@ export default class LandingScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   renderButtons() {
     const cx = GAME_WIDTH / 2;
     const user = auth.user;
+    this._avatar = null;
 
     const avatarR  = 28;
     const avatarGap = 18;
@@ -65,6 +69,8 @@ export default class LandingScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       fontSize: '36px',
       color: COLORS.accentHex,
     }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(1);
+    this._welcomeText = welcomeText;
+    welcomeText.setShadow(0, 3, 'rgba(0,0,0,0.8)', 5);
 
     const hasAvatar = !!user?.avatarPath;
     const totalW = hasAvatar ? avatarR * 2 + avatarGap + welcomeText.width : welcomeText.width;
@@ -72,7 +78,8 @@ export default class LandingScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
     welcomeText.setX(hasAvatar ? groupLeft + avatarR * 2 + avatarGap + welcomeText.width / 2 : cx);
 
-    this.add.rectangle(cx, y, totalW + pad.x * 2, welcomeText.height + pad.y * 2, 0x000000, 0.45);
+    this._welcomeBg = new Plaque(this, totalW + pad.x * 2, welcomeText.height + pad.y * 2, { radius: 16 })
+      .setPosition(cx, y);
 
     if (hasAvatar) {
       const avatarCx = groupLeft + avatarR;
@@ -86,11 +93,11 @@ export default class LandingScene extends Phaser.Scene {
               this.load.start();
             });
           }
-          if (!this.scene.isActive('Landing')) return;
+          if (this._transitioning || !this.scene.isActive('Landing')) return;
           const maskG = this.make.graphics({ x: 0, y: 0, add: false });
           maskG.fillStyle(0xffffff);
           maskG.fillCircle(avatarCx, y, avatarR);
-          this.add.image(avatarCx, y, key)
+          this._avatar = this.add.image(avatarCx, y, key)
             .setDisplaySize(avatarR * 2, avatarR * 2)
             .setMask(maskG.createGeometryMask())
             .setDepth(1);
@@ -98,7 +105,39 @@ export default class LandingScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       })();
     }
 
-    new Button(this, cx, 810, 'Play', () => this.scene.start('GameMenu'), { width: 480 });
-    new Button(this, cx, 890, 'Profile', () => this.scene.start('Profile'), { width: 480 });
+    this.playBtn = new Button(this, cx, 810, 'Play', () => this.goToGameMenu(), { width: 480 });
+    this.profileBtn = new Button(this, cx, 890, 'Profile', () => this.scene.start('Profile'), { width: 480 });
+  }
+
+  goToGameMenu() {
+    if (this._transitioning) return;
+    this._transitioning = true;
+
+    this.playBtn.disableInteractive();
+    this.profileBtn.disableInteractive();
+
+    // Fade the landing buttons out while the logo zooms past the camera.
+    const fadeOut = [this.playBtn, this.profileBtn, this._welcomeText, this._welcomeBg].filter(Boolean);
+    if (this._avatar) fadeOut.push(this._avatar);
+    this.tweens.add({
+      targets: fadeOut,
+      alpha: 0,
+      duration: 350,
+      ease: 'Power2.easeOut',
+    });
+
+    if (!this._logo) { this.scene.start('GameMenu'); return; }
+    this.tweens.killTweensOf(this._logo);
+    this.tweens.add({
+      targets: this._logo,
+      x: GAME_WIDTH / 2,
+      y: GAME_HEIGHT / 2,
+      scaleX: 2.4,
+      scaleY: 2.4,
+      alpha: 0,
+      duration: 700,
+      ease: 'Cubic.easeIn',
+      onComplete: () => this.scene.start('GameMenu'),
+    });
   }
 }

src/scenes/OpponentSelectScene.js

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_HEIGHT, GAME_WIDTH, COLORS } from '../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../ui/Button.js';
+import { Plaque } from '../ui/Plaque.js';
 import { playMenuMusic, stopMenuMusic, setMenuMusicVolume } from '../ui/MenuMusic.js';
 import { enqueue as enqueueSpeech, resetQueue as resetSpeechQueue } from '../ui/SpeechQueue.js';
 
@@ -17,8 +18,8 @@ const CARD_TILE_GAP = 14;
 
 // Opponent grid scroll area
 const OPP_SCROLL_W = 1780;
-const OPP_SCROLL_H = 440;
-const OPP_SCROLL_TOP = 155; // top edge of scroll area
+const OPP_SCROLL_H = 415;
+const OPP_SCROLL_TOP = 180; // top edge of scroll area (below the subtitle plaque)
 
 export default class OpponentSelectScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   constructor() { super('OpponentSelect'); }
@@ -58,21 +59,32 @@ export default class OpponentSelectScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.add.image(cx, GAME_HEIGHT / 2, bgKey).setDisplaySize(GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT).setDepth(-1);
     this.add.rectangle(cx, GAME_HEIGHT / 2, GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, 0x000000, 0.45).setDepth(-1);
 
-    const titleText = this.add.text(cx, 60, this.gameDef.name, {
+    // Brass-plaque headers, same treatment as the game menu headings. The
+    // subtitle plaque sits in the band between the title plaque and the
+    // opponent list (OPP_SCROLL_TOP) — keep those in sync if you move either.
+    const TITLE_Y = 55;
+    const PLATE_GAP = 10;
+    const titleText = this.add.text(cx, TITLE_Y, this.gameDef.name, {
       fontFamily: 'Righteous',
       fontSize: '52px',
       color: COLORS.textHex,
     }).setOrigin(0.5);
-    const titlePill = this.add.rectangle(cx, 60, titleText.width + 48, titleText.height + 20, 0x000000, 0.72);
-    this.children.moveBelow(titlePill, titleText);
+    titleText.setLetterSpacing(2);
+    titleText.setShadow(0, 4, 'rgba(0,0,0,0.9)', 8);
+    const titlePlate = new Plaque(this, titleText.width + 64, titleText.height + 28).setPosition(cx, TITLE_Y);
+    this.children.moveBelow(titlePlate, titleText);
 
-    const subtitleText = this.add.text(cx, 122, 'Choose your opponent', {
+    const subtitleText = this.add.text(cx, 0, 'Choose your opponent', {
       fontFamily: 'Righteous',
       fontSize: '36px',
       color: COLORS.mutedHex,
     }).setOrigin(0.5);
-    const subtitlePill = this.add.rectangle(cx, 122, subtitleText.width + 48, subtitleText.height + 20, 0x000000, 0.72);
-    this.children.moveBelow(subtitlePill, subtitleText);
+    subtitleText.setShadow(0, 3, 'rgba(0,0,0,0.8)', 5);
+    const subPlateH = subtitleText.height + 28;
+    const subtitleY = TITLE_Y + (titleText.height + 28) / 2 + PLATE_GAP + subPlateH / 2;
+    subtitleText.setY(subtitleY);
+    const subtitlePlate = new Plaque(this, subtitleText.width + 64, subPlateH, { radius: 16 }).setPosition(cx, subtitleY);
+    this.children.moveBelow(subtitlePlate, subtitleText);
 
     let opponents = [];
     try {
@@ -87,7 +99,7 @@ export default class OpponentSelectScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
 
     const min = this.gameDef.minOpponents ?? 1;
-    new Button(this, cx - 150, 1013, 'Back', () => this.scene.start('GameMenu'), {
+    new Button(this, cx - 150, 1013, 'Back', () => this.scene.start('GameMenu', { category: this.gameDef.category }), {
       variant: 'ghost',
       width: 280,
     });

src/ui/Button.js

@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ export class Button extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
       if (this._active) return;
       const { bgHover: bgh, textHoverColor: thc, variant: v } = this.options;
       if (v === 'ghost') {
-        this._drawBg(bgh, 0.18);
-        this.text.setColor(COLORS.goldHex);
+        this._drawBg(bgh, 0.9);
+        this.text.setColor(thc);
       } else {
         this._drawBg(bgh, 1);
         this.text.setColor(thc);

src/ui/Plaque.js

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
+import { COLORS } from '../config.js';
+
+// A rounded, brass-trimmed plaque in the same design language as the
+// category tabs. Use instead of a flat black rectangle behind title text.
+export class Plaque extends Phaser.GameObjects.Graphics {
+  constructor(scene, width = 300, height = 90, options = {}) {
+    super(scene, false);
+    const {
+      fill      = 0x241c10,
+      fillAlpha = 0.92,
+      border    = COLORS.accent,
+      radius    = 18,
+    } = options;
+    this._opts = { fill, fillAlpha, border, radius };
+    this._w = width;
+    this._h = height;
+    this.postFX.addShadow(0, 3, 0.004, 1.5, 0x000000, 8, 0.65);
+    this.redraw(width, height);
+    scene.add.existing(this);
+  }
+
+  redraw(w, h) {
+    this._w = w;
+    this._h = h;
+    const { fill, fillAlpha, border, radius } = this._opts;
+    const r = Math.max(4, Math.min(radius, w / 2, h / 2));
+    this.clear();
+    this.fillStyle(fill, fillAlpha);
+    this.fillRoundedRect(-w / 2, -h / 2, w, h, r);
+    // Faint warm highlight just inside the top edge reads as a raised plate.
+    this.lineStyle(2, 0xfff6dd, 0.16);
+    this.lineBetween(-w / 2 + r + 4, -h / 2 + 4, w / 2 - r - 4, -h / 2 + 4);
+    this.lineStyle(2, border, 1);
+    this.strokeRoundedRect(-w / 2, -h / 2, w, h, r);
+  }
+
+  // Animate the plate to a new size. Graphics in this Phaser build exposes
+  // no setScaleX/setScaleY (and scaling a redrawn shape is unreliable), so
+  // we tween a size proxy and redraw every frame instead.
+  animateSize(w, h, duration = 240, ease = 'Quad.easeOut', onComplete) {
+    if (this._sizeTween) this._sizeTween.stop();
+    const proxy = { w: this._w, h: this._h };
+    this._sizeTween = this.scene.tweens.add({
+      targets: proxy,
+      w,
+      h,
+      duration,
+      ease,
+      onUpdate: () => {
+        if (!this.scene) return; // destroyed mid-animation
+        this.redraw(proxy.w, proxy.h);
+      },
+      onComplete: () => {
+        this._sizeTween = null;
+        if (!this.scene) return; // destroyed mid-animation
+        this.redraw(w, h);
+        if (onComplete) onComplete();
+      },
+    });
+  }
+}

tools/verifyBookwork.js

@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
-// verifyBookwork.js — engine tests for Bookwork
+// verifyBookwork.js — engine tests for Bookworm
 
 import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import {
   GRID_SIZE, makeGrid, getAdjacent, isAdjacent,
   wordFromCells, computeDamage, computeSelfDamage,
   clearAndRefill, dropSpecialTile, countPoisonTiles,
-  computeMaxHp, isPotionUnlocked,
+  computeMaxHp, isPotionUnlocked, specialTileChances, SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES,
 } from '../src/games/bookwork/BookworkLogic.js';
+import { refillSteered } from '../src/games/bookwork/BookworkSteering.js';
 import { getAttackDamage, getSpecialTile } from '../src/games/bookwork/BookworkAI.js';
 
 let pass = 0, fail = 0;
@@ -92,6 +93,34 @@ const after  = clearAndRefill(gridR, used);
 ok('grid still 5×5 after refill', after.length === GRID_SIZE && after.every((r) => r.length === GRID_SIZE));
 ok('all cells have letter+type after refill', after.flat().every((c) => c.letter && c.type));
 
+// ── special tile schedule ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log('\nspecial tile schedule');
+const SCHED = {
+  startLevel: 1, endLevel: 10,
+  start: { gold: 0.10, diamond: 0.06 },
+  end:   { gold: 0.03, diamond: 0.02 },
+};
+ok('no cfg → current defaults', specialTileChances(1) .goldChance === 0.03 && specialTileChances(1).diamondChance === 0.02);
+const at = (lv) => specialTileChances(lv, SCHED);
+ok('level 1 = boosted start', at(1).goldChance === 0.10 && at(1).diamondChance === 0.06);
+ok('level 10 = current rates', at(10).goldChance === 0.03 && at(10).diamondChance === 0.02);
+ok('level 20 holds at current rates', at(20).goldChance === 0.03 && at(20).diamondChance === 0.02);
+ok('clamps below startLevel', at(0).goldChance === 0.10);
+const ramp = Array.from({ length: 10 }, (_, i) => specialTileChances(i + 1, SCHED).goldChance);
+ok('gold chance monotonically decreases L1→L10', ramp.every((v, i) => i === 0 || v <= ramp[i - 1]));
+ok('ramp stays within [end, start]', ramp.every((v) => v >= 0.03 && v <= 0.10));
+
+const forcedGold = clearAndRefill(makeGrid(), used, Math.random, { goldChance: 1 });
+const newCount = 3;
+ok('goldChance:1 → every fresh tile is gold',
+  forcedGold.flat().filter((c) => c.type === 'gold').length === newCount);
+const forcedDiamond = clearAndRefill(makeGrid(), used, Math.random, { goldChance: 0, diamondChance: 1 });
+ok('diamondChance:1 → every fresh tile is diamond',
+  forcedDiamond.flat().filter((c) => c.type === 'diamond').length === newCount);
+const steeredGold = refillSteered(makeGrid(), used, Math.random, null, { goldChance: 1 });
+ok('refillSteered honors goldChance:1',
+  steeredGold.flat().filter((c) => c.type === 'gold').length === newCount);
+
 // ── dropSpecialTile ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 console.log('\ndropSpecialTile');
 const gridS = makeGrid(() => 0.5);
@@ -175,6 +204,10 @@ if (bwData) {
   ok('hp increases over levels', bwData.levels[19].hp > bwData.levels[0].hp);
   ok('playerBaseHp present', bwData.playerBaseHp > 0);
   ok('milestones array present', Array.isArray(bwData.milestones));
+  const st = bwData.specialTiles;
+  ok('specialTiles schedule well-formed', !!st && st.startLevel < st.endLevel
+    && st.start.gold > st.end.gold > 0 && st.start.diamond > st.end.diamond > 0
+    && st.end.gold === SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES.gold && st.end.diamond === SPECIAL_TILE_CHANCES.diamond);
 }
 
 // ── Summary ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

tools/verifyBookwormBoard.js

@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+// verifyBookwormBoard.js — Bookworm board-quality harness
+//
+// Compares the plain weighted-random board (baseline) against the steering
+// layer (class steering + vowel band + word-completion boost) on:
+//   • static boards — words available, dead boards, vowel share
+//   • simulated sessions — play the longest word each turn, refill, repeat:
+//     words available per turn, dead turns (no word to play), turn survival
+//
+// Deterministic (seeded RNG). The dictionary is the same ENABLE list
+// (3–15 letters) that /words/scrabble/validate accepts, so "available word"
+// means "word the player can actually submit".
+//
+// Run: node tools/verifyBookwormBoard.js
+
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import {
+  GRID_SIZE, makeGrid, clearAndRefill, getAdjacent,
+} from '../src/games/bookwork/BookworkLogic.js';
+import {
+  makeSteeredGrid, refillSteered, parseWordList, letterWeights, pickWeighted, DEFAULT_STEER,
+} from '../src/games/bookwork/BookworkSteering.js';
+
+const N_BOARDS = 300;
+const N_SESSIONS = 60;
+const MAX_TURNS = 30;
+
+let pass = 0, fail = 0;
+function ok(label, cond) {
+  if (cond) { console.log(`  ✓ ${label}`); pass++; }
+  else      { console.error(`  ✗ ${label}`); fail++; }
+}
+
+// ── deterministic rng ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+function mulberry32(seed) {
+  let a = seed >>> 0;
+  return function () {
+    a |= 0; a = (a + 0x6D2B79F5) | 0;
+    let t = Math.imul(a ^ (a >>> 15), 1 | a);
+    t = (t + Math.imul(t ^ (t >>> 7), 61 | t)) ^ t;
+    return ((t ^ (t >>> 14)) >>> 0) / 4294967296;
+  };
+}
+
+// ── word finding (boggle DFS with prefix pruning; one path per word) ─────────
+function buildPrefixSet(wordSet) {
+  const pre = new Set();
+  for (const w of wordSet) for (let i = 1; i <= w.length; i++) pre.add(w.slice(0, i));
+  return pre;
+}
+
+function findWords(grid, wordSet, prefixSet) {
+  const found = new Map(); // word -> [cells]
+  const visited = Array.from({ length: GRID_SIZE }, () => new Array(GRID_SIZE).fill(false));
+  const dfs = (r, c, word, cells) => {
+    const w = word + grid[r][c].letter;
+    const isWord = w.length >= 3 && wordSet.has(w);
+    if (isWord && !found.has(w)) found.set(w, [{ r, c }, ...cells]);
+    if (!prefixSet.has(w)) return;
+    if (cells.length + 1 >= GRID_SIZE * GRID_SIZE) return;
+    for (const { r: nr, c: nc } of getAdjacent(r, c)) {
+      if (visited[nr][nc]) continue;
+      visited[nr][nc] = true;
+      dfs(nr, nc, w, [...cells, { r, c }]);
+      visited[nr][nc] = false;
+    }
+  };
+  for (let r = 0; r < GRID_SIZE; r++) for (let c = 0; c < GRID_SIZE; c++) {
+    visited[r][c] = true;
+    dfs(r, c, '', []);
+    visited[r][c] = false;
+  }
+  return found;
+}
+
+const VOWELS = new Set(['A', 'E', 'I', 'O', 'U']);
+const vowelShare = (grid) =>
+  grid.flat().filter((c) => c.letter && VOWELS.has(c.letter)).length / (GRID_SIZE * GRID_SIZE);
+
+const quantile = (arr, q) => {
+  const s = [...arr].sort((a, b) => a - b);
+  return s[Math.min(s.length - 1, Math.floor(q * s.length))];
+};
+const mean = (arr) => arr.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0) / Math.max(1, arr.length);
+
+// ── setup ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log('Loading dictionary…');
+const wordSet = parseWordList(readFileSync('./data/wordlists/enable1.txt', 'utf8'));
+const prefixSet = buildPrefixSet(wordSet);
+console.log(`  ${wordSet.size} words (3–15 letters), ${prefixSet.size} prefixes\n`);
+
+const variants = {
+  baseline: {
+    make: (rng) => makeGrid(rng),
+    refill: (g, cells, rng) => clearAndRefill(g, cells, rng),
+  },
+  steered: {
+    make: (rng) => makeSteeredGrid(rng, wordSet, DEFAULT_STEER),
+    refill: (g, cells, rng) => refillSteered(g, cells, rng, wordSet, DEFAULT_STEER),
+  },
+};
+
+// ── steering sanity ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log('Steering sanity');
+{
+  const rng = mulberry32(1);
+  const g = makeSteeredGrid(rng, wordSet, DEFAULT_STEER);
+  ok('steered grid is 5×5', g.length === GRID_SIZE && g.every((r) => r.length === GRID_SIZE));
+  ok('all cells filled with A-Z', g.flat().every((c) => /^[A-Z]$/.test(c.letter)));
+  ok('no Q (absent from base pool)', !g.flat().some((c) => c.letter === 'Q'));
+  const w = letterWeights(g, 2, 2, wordSet, DEFAULT_STEER);
+  ok('letterWeights: Q weight is 0', w['Q'.charCodeAt(0) - 65] === 0);
+  ok('letterWeights: total weight > 0', w.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0) > 0);
+  const letter = pickWeighted(w, mulberry32(7));
+  ok('pickWeighted returns a letter in the pool', /^[A-Z]$/.test(letter) && letter !== 'Q');
+  const ref = refillSteered(g, [{ r: 0, c: 0 }, { r: 1, c: 0 }, { r: 2, c: 0 }], mulberry32(3), wordSet, DEFAULT_STEER);
+  ok('steered refill keeps 5×5', ref.length === GRID_SIZE && ref.flat().every((c) => /^[A-Z]$/.test(c.letter)));
+}
+
+// ── static board quality ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log(`\nStatic boards (N=${N_BOARDS} each)`);
+const staticStats = {};
+for (const [name, v] of Object.entries(variants)) {
+  const wordCounts = [], shares = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < N_BOARDS; i++) {
+    const g = v.make(mulberry32(1000 + i));
+    wordCounts.push(findWords(g, wordSet, prefixSet).size);
+    shares.push(vowelShare(g));
+  }
+  staticStats[name] = {
+    wordCounts,
+    dead: wordCounts.filter((n) => n === 0).length,
+    min: Math.min(...wordCounts),
+    p5: quantile(wordCounts, 0.05),
+    median: quantile(wordCounts, 0.5),
+    mean: mean(wordCounts),
+    max: Math.max(...wordCounts),
+    vowelMin: Math.min(...shares),
+    vowelMax: Math.max(...shares),
+    vowelMean: mean(shares),
+  };
+}
+
+const row = (label, f) =>
+  console.log(`  ${label.padEnd(28)} ${String(f('baseline')).padStart(14)} ${String(f('steered')).padStart(14)}`);
+console.log('  ' + 'metric'.padEnd(28) + 'baseline'.padStart(14) + 'steered'.padStart(14));
+row('words/board (min)',        (n) => staticStats[n].min);
+row('words/board (p5)',         (n) => staticStats[n].p5);
+row('words/board (median)',     (n) => staticStats[n].median);
+row('words/board (mean)',       (n) => staticStats[n].mean.toFixed(1));
+row('words/board (max)',        (n) => staticStats[n].max);
+row('dead boards (0 words)',    (n) => `${staticStats[n].dead} (${(100 * staticStats[n].dead / N_BOARDS).toFixed(1)}%)`);
+row('vowel share (min–max)',    (n) => `${(100 * staticStats[n].vowelMin).toFixed(0)}–${(100 * staticStats[n].vowelMax).toFixed(0)}%`);
+row('vowel share (mean)',       (n) => `${(100 * staticStats[n].vowelMean).toFixed(1)}%`);
+
+// ── simulated sessions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log(`\nSimulated sessions (N=${N_SESSIONS}, max ${MAX_TURNS} turns, greedy longest-word play)`);
+const sessionStats = {};
+for (const [name, v] of Object.entries(variants)) {
+  const totals = [], wpt = [], dead = [], initial = [], longest = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < N_SESSIONS; i++) {
+    const rng = mulberry32(90000 + i);
+    let grid = v.make(rng);
+    let deadTurn = false, total = 0;
+    for (let t = 0; t < MAX_TURNS; t++) {
+      const words = findWords(grid, wordSet, prefixSet);
+      if (t === 0) initial.push(words.size);
+      if (words.size === 0) { deadTurn = true; break; }
+      total += words.size;
+      wpt.push(words.size);
+      let best = null;
+      for (const [w, cells] of words) if (!best || w.length > best.length) best = { w, cells };
+      longest.push(best.w.length);
+      grid = v.refill(grid, best.cells, rng);
+    }
+    totals.push(total);
+    if (deadTurn) dead.push(1); else dead.push(0);
+  }
+  sessionStats[name] = {
+    deadRate: mean(dead),
+    totalMedian: quantile(totals, 0.5),
+    totalMean: mean(totals),
+    wptMin: Math.min(...wpt),
+    wptP5: quantile(wpt, 0.05),
+    wptMedian: quantile(wpt, 0.5),
+    initialMedian: quantile(initial, 0.5),
+    longestMax: Math.max(...longest),
+  };
+}
+
+row('dead sessions (stuck)',    (n) => `${Math.round(sessionStats[n].deadRate * N_SESSIONS)}/${N_SESSIONS} (${(100 * sessionStats[n].deadRate).toFixed(0)}%)`);
+row('initial words (median)',   (n) => sessionStats[n].initialMedian);
+row('words/turn (min)',         (n) => sessionStats[n].wptMin);
+row('words/turn (p5)',          (n) => sessionStats[n].wptP5);
+row('words/turn (median)',      (n) => sessionStats[n].wptMedian);
+row('total words (median)',     (n) => sessionStats[n].totalMedian);
+row('total words (mean)',       (n) => sessionStats[n].totalMean.toFixed(0));
+row('longest word seen',        (n) => sessionStats[n].longestMax);
+
+// ── comparisons ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+console.log('\nComparison');
+ok('steered median words/board ≥ baseline', staticStats.steered.median >= staticStats.baseline.median);
+ok('steered dead boards ≤ baseline', staticStats.steered.dead <= staticStats.baseline.dead);
+ok('steered p5 words/board ≥ baseline', staticStats.steered.p5 >= staticStats.baseline.p5);
+ok('steered dead-session rate ≤ baseline', sessionStats.steered.deadRate <= sessionStats.baseline.deadRate);
+ok('steered median words/turn ≥ baseline', sessionStats.steered.wptMedian >= sessionStats.baseline.wptMedian);
+ok('steered median total words ≥ baseline', sessionStats.steered.totalMedian >= sessionStats.baseline.totalMedian);
+
+console.log(`\n${pass + fail} checks: ${pass} passed, ${fail} failed\n`);
+process.exit(fail > 0 ? 1 : 0);