diff --git a/deploy/hash-tokens.ts b/deploy/hash-tokens.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9b8043
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/hash-tokens.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// One-time migration: replace each seat line's raw token with its SHA-256,
+// so no ledger on disk or in a backup holds a live seat key. Idempotent; a
+// line already hashed is left alone. Run ON the droplet from the server
+// directory (tsx is installed there):
+//   cd /opt/waving-hands/app/server && npx tsx ../deploy/hash-tokens.ts /var/lib/waving-hands/rooms
+// Browsers keep their raw tokens; the server hashes what they send and
+// compares, so nobody loses a seat.
+
+import { createHash } from 'node:crypto';
+import { readdirSync, readFileSync, renameSync, statSync, writeFileSync, chownSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+const dir = process.argv[2];
+if (!dir) {
+	console.error('usage: hash-tokens.ts <ledger-dir>');
+	process.exit(2);
+}
+
+let files = 0;
+let lines = 0;
+for (const file of readdirSync(dir).filter((f) => f.endsWith('.jsonl'))) {
+	const path = join(dir, file);
+	const raw = readFileSync(path, 'utf8');
+	let changed = 0;
+	const out = raw
+		.split('\n')
+		.map((line) => {
+			if (!line.trim()) return line;
+			const entry = JSON.parse(line) as Record<string, unknown>;
+			if (entry.t !== 'seat' || typeof entry.token !== 'string') return line;
+			const { token, ...rest } = entry;
+			changed += 1;
+			return JSON.stringify({ ...rest, tokenHash: token ? createHash('sha256').update(token).digest('hex') : '' });
+		})
+		.join('\n');
+	if (!changed) continue;
+	const { uid, gid } = statSync(path);
+	writeFileSync(path + '.tmp', out);
+	chownSync(path + '.tmp', uid, gid);
+	renameSync(path + '.tmp', path);
+	files += 1;
+	lines += changed;
+}
+console.log(`${files} ledger${files === 1 ? '' : 's'} rewritten, ${lines} seat line${lines === 1 ? '' : 's'} hashed`);
diff --git a/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts b/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts
index ba4cbd7..4daba91 100644
--- a/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts
+++ b/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import { createGame, type GameState, type TurnInput, type WizardId } from '../sr
 interface Seat {
 	id: WizardId;
 	name: string;
-	token: string;
 	bot: boolean;
 }
 
@@ -51,9 +50,9 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
 			continue;
 		}
 		let verdict = state ? `${turns} turns, ${state.over ? 'over' : 'in play'}` : 'not started';
-		const human = seats.find((s) => !s.bot);
-		if (host && state && human) {
-			const res = await fetch(`${host}/api/rooms/${code}?token=${encodeURIComponent(human.token)}`);
+		if (host && state) {
+			// The gallery's view carries every wizard's health and the outcome, which is all the comparison needs.
+			const res = await fetch(`${host}/api/rooms/${code}`);
 			if (!res.ok) {
 				verdict += `, server ${res.status}`;
 			} else {
diff --git a/server/src/index.ts b/server/src/index.ts
index 152347a..8d5e479 100644
--- a/server/src/index.ts
+++ b/server/src/index.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //
 //   POST /api/rooms                 {name, size?}      create a duel and take seat A
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/join        {name}             take the next seat
-//   POST /api/rooms/:id/bot         {token}            seat a bot (any seated player may, before the duel begins)
+//   POST /api/rooms/:id/bot         {token}            the host seats a bot, before the duel begins
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/begin       {token}            the host begins the duel with the wizards seated so far
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/unseat      {token, seat}      the host sends a bot away before the duel begins
 //   GET  /api/rooms/:id?token=      the view for that seat; without a token, the gallery's view
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ async function handle(req: IncomingMessage, res: ServerResponse): Promise<void>
 	if (parts.length === 2 && req.method === 'POST') {
 		if (!doors.allow(clientOf(req))) throw new RoomError('Too many duels opened from here just now; try again later.', 429);
 		const body = await readBody(req);
-		const { room, seat } = rooms.create(String(body.name ?? ''), Number(body.size ?? 2));
-		return send(res, 201, { seat: seat.id, token: seat.token, view: rooms.view(room, seat.id) });
+		const { room, seat, token } = rooms.create(String(body.name ?? ''), Number(body.size ?? 2));
+		return send(res, 201, { seat: seat.id, token, view: rooms.view(room, seat.id) });
 	}
 
 	const room = rooms.get(parts[2] ?? '');
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ async function handle(req: IncomingMessage, res: ServerResponse): Promise<void>
 	const body = await readBody(req);
 	if (action === 'join') {
 		if (!doors.allow(clientOf(req))) throw new RoomError('Too many seats taken from here just now; try again later.', 429);
-		const seat = rooms.join(room, String(body.name ?? ''));
-		return send(res, 200, { seat: seat.id, token: seat.token, view: rooms.view(room, seat.id) });
+		const { seat, token: minted } = rooms.join(room, String(body.name ?? ''));
+		return send(res, 200, { seat: seat.id, token: minted, view: rooms.view(room, seat.id) });
 	}
 	if (action === 'bot') {
 		rooms.addBot(room, typeof body.token === 'string' ? body.token : undefined);
diff --git a/server/src/rooms.ts b/server/src/rooms.ts
index ce812d8..c58ecae 100644
--- a/server/src/rooms.ts
+++ b/server/src/rooms.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // same place. Inputs wait in memory until every seat that must move has moved;
 // then the turn resolves at once, bots included.
 
-import { randomBytes } from 'node:crypto';
+import { createHash, randomBytes, timingSafeEqual } from 'node:crypto';
 import { chooseBotTurn } from '../../src/lib/game/bot';
 import { resolveTurn } from '../../src/lib/game/resolve';
 import { GESTURES, type Gesture } from '../../src/lib/game/spells';
@@ -23,10 +23,15 @@ const CHAT_KEEP = 200;
 export interface Seat {
 	id: WizardId;
 	name: string;
-	token: string;
+	/** SHA-256 of the seat's token, hex; empty for a bot. */
+	tokenHash: string;
 	bot: boolean;
 }
 
+export function hashToken(token: string): string {
+	return createHash('sha256').update(token).digest('hex');
+}
+
 export interface Room {
 	id: string;
 	size: number;
@@ -113,25 +118,26 @@ export class Rooms {
 		return this.rooms.size;
 	}
 
-	/** The seat a token unlocks. */
+	/** The seat a token unlocks, compared by hash in constant time. */
 	seatOf(room: Room, token: string | undefined): Seat {
-		const seat = room.seats.find((s) => !s.bot && s.token === token);
+		if (!token) throw new RoomError('That token opens no seat at this duel.', 403);
+		const given = Buffer.from(hashToken(token), 'hex');
+		const seat = room.seats.find((s) => !s.bot && s.tokenHash.length === given.length * 2 && timingSafeEqual(Buffer.from(s.tokenHash, 'hex'), given));
 		if (!seat) throw new RoomError('That token opens no seat at this duel.', 403);
 		return seat;
 	}
 
-	create(name: string, size: number): { room: Room; seat: Seat } {
+	create(name: string, size: number): { room: Room; seat: Seat; token: string } {
 		if (!Number.isInteger(size) || size < 2 || size > MAX_SEATS) throw new RoomError(`A table seats 2 to ${MAX_SEATS} wizards.`);
 		let id = newCode();
-		while (this.rooms.has(id)) id = newCode();
+		while (this.rooms.has(id) || this.store.exists(id)) id = newCode();
 		const room: Room = { id, size, createdAt: Date.now(), seats: [], state: null, pending: {}, chat: [], seq: 0, updatedAt: Date.now() };
 		this.rooms.set(id, room);
 		this.commit(room, { t: 'room', id, seats: size, createdAt: room.createdAt });
-		const seat = this.sit(room, name, false);
-		return { room, seat };
+		return { room, ...this.sit(room, name, false) };
 	}
 
-	join(room: Room, name: string): Seat {
+	join(room: Room, name: string): { seat: Seat; token: string } {
 		if (room.state) throw new RoomError('The duel has begun; no more seats are taken.', 409);
 		return this.sit(room, name, false);
 	}
@@ -145,23 +151,27 @@ export class Rooms {
 		this.commit(room, { t: 'start', seed: newSeed(), rules: CURRENT_RULES });
 	}
 
+	/** The host seats a bot in an empty chair. */
 	addBot(room: Room, token: string | undefined): Seat {
-		this.seatOf(room, token);
+		const host = this.seatOf(room, token);
+		if (host.id !== room.seats[0]?.id) throw new RoomError('Only the wizard who opened the table may seat a bot.', 403);
 		if (room.state) throw new RoomError('The duel has begun; no more seats are taken.', 409);
 		const taken = new Set(room.seats.map((s) => s.name.toLowerCase()));
 		const pool = BOT_NAMES.filter((n) => !taken.has(n.toLowerCase()));
 		const name = pool[Math.floor(Math.random() * pool.length)] ?? 'The Construct';
-		return this.sit(room, name, true);
+		return this.sit(room, name, true).seat;
 	}
 
-	private sit(room: Room, rawName: string, bot: boolean): Seat {
+	/** Take the next free seat. The token is returned once and never stored; the ledger keeps its hash. */
+	private sit(room: Room, rawName: string, bot: boolean): { seat: Seat; token: string } {
 		if (room.seats.length >= room.size) throw new RoomError('Every seat at this duel is taken.', 409);
 		const name = cleanName(rawName);
 		if (room.seats.some((s) => s.name.toLowerCase() === name.toLowerCase())) throw new RoomError('Another wizard here already has that name.', 409);
 		const id = SEAT_IDS.find((s) => !room.seats.some((taken) => taken.id === s))!;
-		const seat: Seat = { id, name, token: bot ? '' : newId(18), bot };
-		this.commit(room, { t: 'seat', id: seat.id, name, token: seat.token, bot });
-		return seat;
+		const token = bot ? '' : newId(18);
+		const seat: Seat = { id, name, tokenHash: bot ? '' : hashToken(token), bot };
+		this.commit(room, { t: 'seat', id: seat.id, name, tokenHash: seat.tokenHash, bot });
+		return { seat, token };
 	}
 
 	/** The host sends a bot away before the duel begins. People leave by not coming back. */
@@ -174,17 +184,14 @@ export class Rooms {
 		this.commit(room, { t: 'unseat', id: seat.id });
 	}
 
-	/** Record a seat's move; resolve the turn once nobody else is awaited. */
+	/** Record a seat's move on the ledger, so a restart keeps it; resolve the turn once nobody else is awaited. */
 	submit(room: Room, token: string | undefined, raw: unknown): void {
 		const seat = this.seatOf(room, token);
 		if (!room.state) throw new RoomError('The duel has not begun: seats are still empty.', 409);
 		if (room.state.over) throw new RoomError('The duel is over.', 409);
 		if (!waitingOn(room).includes(seat.id)) throw new RoomError('It is not your move.', 409);
-		room.pending[seat.id] = cleanInput(raw);
-		room.updatedAt = Date.now();
-		room.seq += 1;
+		this.commit(room, { t: 'input', at: Date.now(), id: seat.id, input: cleanInput(raw) });
 		if (waitingOn(room).length === 0) this.resolve(room);
-		this.notify(room);
 	}
 
 	private resolve(room: Room): void {
@@ -286,7 +293,10 @@ function apply(room: Room, line: LedgerLine): void {
 		case 'room':
 			break;
 		case 'seat':
-			room.seats.push({ id: line.id, name: line.name, token: line.token, bot: line.bot });
+			room.seats.push({ id: line.id, name: line.name, tokenHash: line.tokenHash ?? (line.token ? hashToken(line.token) : ''), bot: line.bot });
+			break;
+		case 'input':
+			room.pending[line.id] = line.input;
 			break;
 		case 'unseat':
 			room.seats = room.seats.filter((s) => s.id !== line.id);
@@ -314,7 +324,7 @@ function replay(id: string, lines: LedgerLine[]): Room | null {
 	const room: Room = { id, size: first.seats, createdAt: first.createdAt, seats: [], state: null, pending: {}, chat: [], seq: lines.length, updatedAt: first.createdAt };
 	for (const line of lines) {
 		apply(room, line);
-		if (line.t === 'turn') room.updatedAt = line.at;
+		if (line.t === 'turn' || line.t === 'input') room.updatedAt = line.at;
 	}
 	return room;
 }
diff --git a/server/src/store.ts b/server/src/store.ts
index 63489a2..39fd48a 100644
--- a/server/src/store.ts
+++ b/server/src/store.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ import type { TurnInput, WizardId } from '../../src/lib/game/state';
 
 export type LedgerLine =
 	| { t: 'room'; id: string; seats: number; createdAt: number }
-	| { t: 'seat'; id: WizardId; name: string; token: string; bot: boolean }
+	/** A seat holds only the hash of its token; the token itself goes once to the browser that earned it. Ledgers written before hashing carry `token` and are read once more. */
+	| { t: 'seat'; id: WizardId; name: string; tokenHash?: string; token?: string; bot: boolean }
+	/** One seat's move for the turn in progress, so a restart keeps it. The turn line that follows carries every input again. */
+	| { t: 'input'; at: number; id: WizardId; input: TurnInput }
 	/** A bot sent away by the host before the duel began; its seat id is free again. */
 	| { t: 'unseat'; id: WizardId }
 	/** Ledgers from before revisions were recorded resolve under rules 1. */
@@ -41,6 +44,11 @@ export class Store {
 			.map((l) => JSON.parse(l) as LedgerLine);
 	}
 
+	/** Whether a ledger exists on disk, loaded or not; a code must not be reissued over one. */
+	exists(roomId: string): boolean {
+		return existsSync(this.path(roomId));
+	}
+
 	roomIds(): string[] {
 		return readdirSync(this.dir)
 			.filter((f) => f.endsWith('.jsonl'))
diff --git a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
index fca9946..c4b63cc 100644
--- a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
 		</ul>
 		{#if !watching}
 			<div class="ways">
-				{#if r.seats.length < r.size}
+				{#if r.seats.length < r.size && room.isHost}
 					<button type="button" class="quiet" onclick={() => room?.addBot()}>Seat a bot</button>
 				{/if}
 				{#if room.isHost}