diff --git a/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte b/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte
index b57f3bc..1635fba 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte
@@ -32,6 +32,20 @@
 	});
 
 	async function playBot() {
+		busy = true;
+		error = '';
+		try {
+			rememberName(name);
+			const remote = await Duel.createBotRoom(name.trim());
+			await goto(`/join/${remote.roomId}`);
+		} catch (e) {
+			error = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'The duel could not be opened.';
+		} finally {
+			busy = false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	async function playOffline() {
 		rememberName(name);
 		await goto('/play');
 	}
@@ -66,7 +80,7 @@
 		const g = games[held.roomId];
 		if (g === undefined) return 'looking';
 		if (g === null) return 'unreachable';
-		const others = g.seats.filter((s) => s.id !== held.seat).map((s) => s.name);
+		const others = g.seats.filter((s) => s.id !== held.seat).map((s) => (s.bot ? `${s.name} (the bot)` : s.name));
 		if (!g.state) return `waiting to start${g.seats.length ? ` · ${g.seats.map((s) => s.name).join(', ')}` : ''}`;
 		if (g.state.over) {
 			if (g.state.over.winner === held.seat) return 'you won';
@@ -105,12 +119,14 @@
 			<span>Your wizard's name</span>
 			<input type="text" bind:value={name} maxlength={NAME_MAX} placeholder="e.g. Morwenna" autocomplete="nickname" />
 		</label>
-		<button type="button" class="reveal primary" disabled={!ready} onclick={playBot}>
-			{local ? `Continue against ${local.foe.name} (turn ${local.turnNumber})` : 'Play now against the bot'}
-		</button>
-		{#if local}
-			<p class="muted small">Or start afresh from the board's "New duel".</p>
-		{/if}
+		<button type="button" class="reveal primary" disabled={!ready || busy} onclick={playBot}>Play now against the bot</button>
+		<p class="muted small">
+			{#if local}
+				<button type="button" class="link" onclick={playOffline}>Continue your offline duel against {local.foe.name} (turn {local.turnNumber})</button>
+			{:else}
+				<button type="button" class="link" onclick={playOffline}>Or play offline, in this browser only</button>
+			{/if}
+		</p>
 		<div class="ways">
 			<button type="button" class="quiet" disabled={!ready || busy} onclick={create}>Create a duel</button>
 			<form class="joinform" onsubmit={join}>
@@ -149,8 +165,8 @@
 			{#if local}
 				<div class="ledger-row your-move">
 					<a class="ledger-resume" href="/play">
-						<span class="ledger-code">bot</span>
-						<span class="ledger-info">your move · turn {local.turnNumber} · against {local.foe.name}</span>
+						<span class="ledger-code">here</span>
+						<span class="ledger-info">offline · your move · turn {local.turnNumber} · against {local.foe.name}</span>
 					</a>
 				</div>
 			{/if}
diff --git a/src/lib/game/duel.svelte.ts b/src/lib/game/duel.svelte.ts
index 1049c94..507180c 100644
--- a/src/lib/game/duel.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/game/duel.svelte.ts
@@ -794,6 +794,13 @@ export class Duel {
 		return remoteFrom(seated.view, seated.token);
 	}
 
+	/** A room with the bot already seated: a duel the server keeps, so it can be replayed and seen. */
+	static async createBotRoom(name: string): Promise<Remote> {
+		const seated = await api.create(name, 2);
+		rememberSeat(seated.view.roomId, { seat: seated.seat, token: seated.token });
+		return remoteFrom(await api.addBot(seated.view.roomId, seated.token), seated.token);
+	}
+
 	static async joinRoom(roomId: string, name: string): Promise<Remote> {
 		const seated = await api.join(roomId, name);
 		rememberSeat(roomId, { seat: seated.seat, token: seated.token });