diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index 696c52d..fbe55b4 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   import Card from "./Card.svelte";
   import Help from "./Help.svelte";
   import type { HelpTab } from "./help-state";
+  import { summarizeMissed } from "./catchup";
   import Replay from "./Replay.svelte";
   import FxGallery from "./FxGallery.svelte";
   import TokenGallery from "./TokenGallery.svelte";
@@ -1476,6 +1477,26 @@
     return view ? view.treasures.filter((t) => t.owner !== p.id && t.position &&
       t.position.x === p.home.x && t.position.y === p.home.y).length : 0;
   }
+  /** What the chronicle shows: everything, the game's own lines, or the talk. */
+  let logFilter = $state<"all" | "game" | "talk">("all");
+  const isTalk = (text: string) => text.startsWith("\u{1F4AC}") || text.startsWith("\u{1F3B2}");
+  function showLine(line: { text: string }): boolean {
+    return logFilter === "all" ? true : logFilter === "talk" ? isTalk(line.text) : !isTalk(line.text);
+  }
+  /** Talk that arrived while the chronicle was covered or filtered away. */
+  let seenTalk = $state(0);
+  $effect(() => {
+    const count = net.chatCount;
+    if ((!castPanelOn && logFilter !== "game") || net.lastTalkBy === net.you) seenTalk = count;
+  });
+  const unreadTalk = $derived(Math.max(0, net.chatCount - seenTalk));
+  const lastTalk = $derived.by(() => {
+    for (let i = net.log.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+      const t = net.log[i]!.text;
+      if (t.startsWith("\u{1F4AC}")) return t.slice(2).trim();
+    }
+    return null;
+  });
   /** The table is out of reach: play waits, and nothing here can be sent. */
   const offline = $derived(!local.active && net.roomId != null && net.status !== "connected");
   // Talk that never arrived goes back into the composer, with a word.
@@ -2354,7 +2375,7 @@
     <Replay steps={net.moment.steps} moment pov={net.moment.owner}
       onshare={() => net.requestShare()} onclose={() => net.closeMoment()} />
   {:else if net.catchUp && net.catchUp.length > 0}
-    <Replay steps={net.catchUp}
+    <Replay steps={net.catchUp} startAt={net.catchUpStart}
       onshare={net.catchUp[0]?.seq === 0 ? () => net.requestShare(-1) : null}
       onclose={() => net.closeCatchUp()} />
   {:else if local.replaySteps && local.replaySteps.length > 0}
@@ -2983,9 +3004,24 @@
       <aside class="paper-rail">
         {#if !local.active && net.missedMoves > 0}
           <div class="slip catchup">
-            You missed {net.missedMoves} move{net.missedMoves === 1 ? "" : "s"}.
-            <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={() => net.requestCatchUp()}>▶ Watch what happened</button>
-            <button class="hint-cancel" onclick={() => net.markSeen()}>skip</button>
+            <div class="catchup-head">
+              You missed {net.missedMoves} move{net.missedMoves === 1 ? "" : "s"}.
+              <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={() => net.watchCatchUp(0)}>▶ Watch what happened</button>
+              <button class="hint-cancel" onclick={() => net.markSeen()}>skip</button>
+            </div>
+            {#if net.missedSteps && view.you}
+              <ul class="catchup-facts">
+                {#each summarizeMissed(net.missedSteps, view.you, view) as f, i (i)}
+                  <li>
+                    {#if f.step >= 0}
+                      <button class="fact-jump" onclick={() => net.watchCatchUp(f.step)} title="watch this moment">▶ {f.text}</button>
+                    {:else}
+                      <span>{f.text}</span>
+                    {/if}
+                  </li>
+                {/each}
+              </ul>
+            {/if}
           </div>
         {/if}
         {#if view.phase === "finished"}
@@ -3273,6 +3309,16 @@
             {#if youMustRespond}{@render tableGuidance()}{/if}
           </div>
         {/if}
+        <div class="log-filters" class:tucked={castPanelOn} role="group" aria-label="what the chronicle shows">
+          {#each [["all", "All"], ["game", "Game"], ["talk", "Table talk"]] as [k, label] (k)}
+            <button class:current={logFilter === k} onclick={() => (logFilter = k as typeof logFilter)}>
+              {label}{#if k === "talk" && unreadTalk > 0}<span class="talk-badge">{unreadTalk}</span>{/if}
+            </button>
+          {/each}
+        </div>
+        {#if castPanelOn && !local.active && unreadTalk > 0 && lastTalk}
+          <div class="talk-peek">💬 {lastTalk}</div>
+        {/if}
         <div class="chronicle" class:tucked={castPanelOn} aria-label="game log" bind:this={chronicleEl}
           onscroll={onChronicleScroll}>
           {#snippet receipt(line: { text: string; receipt?: string[] })}
@@ -3284,13 +3330,13 @@
             {/if}
           {/snippet}
           {#if local.active}
-            {#each local.log as line, i (i)}
+            {#each local.log.filter(showLine) as line, i (i)}
               <div class:table-talk={line.text.startsWith("\u{1F4AC}")}>
                 {#if line.receipt}{@render receipt(line)}{:else}{line.text}{/if}
               </div>
             {/each}
           {:else}
-            {#each net.log as line, i (i)}
+            {#each net.log.filter(showLine) as line, i (i)}
               <div class:table-talk={line.text.startsWith("\u{1F4AC}")}>
                 <span class="log-mark" class:blank={!line.actor} style:background={line.actor ? playerColor(line.actor) : "transparent"}></span>{#if line.receipt}{@render receipt(line)}{:else}{line.text}{/if}
                 {#if line.notable && line.turn !== null && prefs.instantReplay && !net.spectating}
@@ -3307,7 +3353,7 @@
               onclick={() => local.rollTableDie()}>🎲 roll the die</button>
           </div>
         {/if}
-        {#if !local.active && net.roomId && !net.spectating && !castPanelOn}
+        {#if !local.active && net.roomId && !net.spectating}
           <form class="say-box" onsubmit={(e) => {
             e.preventDefault();
             const t = chatDraft.trim();
@@ -4331,7 +4377,29 @@
   .slip.coach .stamp { margin-left: 0.5rem; }
   .slip.urgent { border-left: 4px solid #b3372b; transform: rotate(0.4deg); }
   .slip.ambush-note { border-left: 4px solid #43331f; font-size: 0.85rem; }
-  .slip.catchup { border-left: 4px solid #5b3f9e; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.5rem; flex-wrap: wrap; }
+  .slip.catchup { border-left: 4px solid #5b3f9e; }
+  .catchup-head { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.5rem; flex-wrap: wrap; }
+  .catchup-facts { list-style: none; margin: 0.45rem 0 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.9rem; }
+  .catchup-facts li { margin: 0.15rem 0; }
+  .fact-jump { background: none; border: 0; padding: 0; font: inherit; color: #43331f; cursor: pointer; text-align: left; }
+  .fact-jump:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
+  .log-filters { display: flex; gap: 0.25rem; margin-bottom: 0.3rem; }
+  .log-filters.tucked { display: none; }
+  .log-filters button {
+    font-family: "Oswald", sans-serif;
+    font-size: 0.62rem;
+    letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    background: none;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(233, 225, 203, 0.35);
+    border-radius: 3px;
+    color: #c9bd9f;
+    padding: 0.15rem 0.5rem;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+  .log-filters button.current { border-color: #e9e1cb; color: #e9e1cb; background: rgba(233, 225, 203, 0.14); }
+  .talk-badge { margin-left: 0.3rem; background: #b3372b; color: #fff; border-radius: 999px; padding: 0 0.35rem; font-size: 0.6rem; }
+  .talk-peek { font-family: "Courier Prime", monospace; font-size: 0.82rem; color: #e9e1cb; background: rgba(233, 225, 203, 0.12); border-left: 3px solid #b3372b; padding: 0.3rem 0.5rem; border-radius: 3px; }
   /* The table out of reach: one plain notice, and the controls beneath it go quiet. */
   .slip.offline-slip {
     border-left: 4px solid #b3372b;
diff --git a/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte b/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte
index fdbd21b..e5ca2cd 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/Replay.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { motion } from "./motion";
   import Board from "./Board.svelte";
+  import { wizardColor } from "./colors";
   import FirstPerson from "./fpv/FirstPerson.svelte";
   import { untrack } from "svelte";
   import { humanize, spellName } from "./net.svelte";
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@
     pov = null,
     onshare = null,
     endLabel = null,
+    startAt = 0,
   }: {
     steps: { seq: number; actor: string; events: GameEvent[]; view: GameView; chat?: { player: string; text: string }[] }[];
     onclose: () => void;
@@ -32,6 +34,8 @@
     onshare?: (() => Promise<string>) | null;
     /** What the leave button says once the reel has run out. */
     endLabel?: string | null;
+    /** The step the reel opens on. */
+    startAt?: number;
   } = $props();
 
   /** The share button's little life: offer, mint, report. */
@@ -49,7 +53,20 @@
     setTimeout(() => (shareState = "idle"), 4000);
   }
 
-  let idx = $state(0);
+  let idx = $state(untrack(() => Math.min(Math.max(0, startAt), Math.max(0, steps.length - 1))));
+  /** The timeline: one tick a step, a turn's first step marked, and the
+   * steps where blows landed or gold changed hands flagged, so a reel of
+   * a hundred moves can be read at a glance and jumped into. */
+  const ticks = $derived(steps.map((s, i) => {
+    let flag: "turn" | "hit" | "gold" | "end" | null = null;
+    for (const e of s.events) {
+      if (e.type === "gameWon" || e.type === "playerEliminated") { flag = "end"; break; }
+      if (e.type === "treasurePickedUp" || (e.type === "treasureDropped" && e.onHomeOf != null)) flag = "gold";
+      else if (!flag && (e.type === "damaged" || e.type === "attackResolved" || e.type === "punched")) flag = "hit";
+      else if (!flag && e.type === "turnStarted") flag = "turn";
+    }
+    return { i, actor: s.actor, flag, color: wizardColor(s.view, s.actor) };
+  }));
   let playing = $state(true);
   let speed = $state(1);
   /** Watch the board from above, or relive it through your own eyes. */
@@ -748,6 +765,15 @@
         </div>
       {/if}
     </div>
+    {#if steps.length > 3}
+      <div class="timeline" role="group" aria-label="the moves, a tick each">
+        {#each ticks as t (t.i)}
+          <button class="tick" class:current={t.i === idx} class:turn={t.flag === "turn"} class:hit={t.flag === "hit"} class:gold={t.flag === "gold"} class:end={t.flag === "end"}
+            style:--who={t.color} title={`move ${t.i + 1} — ${t.actor}${t.flag ? ` · ${t.flag === "turn" ? "turn begins" : t.flag === "hit" ? "a blow" : t.flag === "gold" ? "treasure" : "the end"}` : ""}`}
+            onclick={() => { playing = false; idx = t.i; }} aria-label={`jump to move ${t.i + 1}`}></button>
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+    {/if}
     <div class="replay-controls">
       <button onclick={() => { playing = false; idx = Math.max(0, idx - 1); }} aria-label="previous move">◀</button>
       <button class="playpause" onclick={() => (playing = !playing)} aria-label={playing ? "pause" : "play"}>
@@ -931,6 +957,29 @@
     opacity: 0.7;
   }
   .replay-controls .speed.current { opacity: 1; text-decoration: underline; }
+  .timeline {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: flex-end;
+    gap: 1px;
+    height: 14px;
+    margin: 0.4rem 0.2rem 0.2rem;
+  }
+  .tick {
+    flex: 1 1 0;
+    min-width: 2px;
+    height: 6px;
+    padding: 0;
+    border: 0;
+    border-radius: 1px;
+    background: var(--who, #8d8672);
+    opacity: 0.45;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+  .tick.turn { height: 9px; opacity: 0.7; }
+  .tick.hit { height: 12px; opacity: 0.9; }
+  .tick.gold { height: 14px; opacity: 1; box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px #e0b34a; }
+  .tick.end { height: 14px; opacity: 1; background: #e9e1cb; }
+  .tick.current { opacity: 1; outline: 1px solid #fff; outline-offset: 1px; }
   .replay-controls {
     display: flex;
     justify-content: center;
diff --git a/packages/web/src/catchup.ts b/packages/web/src/catchup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71b76a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/web/src/catchup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+// What happened while you were away, as a few facts before the reel:
+// read from the missed steps as the server redacted them for you, so it
+// tells you only what you would have seen at the table.
+
+import { cardDef, type GameEvent, type GameView } from "@wizwar/engine";
+
+export interface MissedStep {
+  seq: number;
+  actor: string;
+  events: GameEvent[];
+  view: GameView;
+  chat?: { player: string; text: string }[];
+}
+
+export interface MissedFact {
+  text: string;
+  /** The step of the reel this fact belongs to. */
+  step: number;
+}
+
+function spell(id: string | null): string {
+  if (!id) return "a punch";
+  try { return cardDef(id).name; } catch { return id; }
+}
+
+function nearHome(view: GameView, you: string, cell: { x: number; y: number }): boolean {
+  const me = view.players.find((p) => p.id === you);
+  if (!me) return false;
+  return Math.abs(me.home.x - cell.x) + Math.abs(me.home.y - cell.y) <= 2;
+}
+
+/** The facts of the missed steps that touch you, in order, capped so the
+ * slip stays a slip. Each fact points at its step for the reel. */
+export function summarizeMissed(steps: readonly MissedStep[], you: string, now: GameView | null): MissedFact[] {
+  const facts: MissedFact[] = [];
+  let lifeLost = 0;
+  let lifeLostStep = -1;
+  let talk = 0;
+  steps.forEach((s, i) => {
+    talk += s.chat?.length ?? 0;
+    for (const e of s.events) {
+      switch (e.type) {
+        case "treasurePickedUp":
+          if (e.owner === you && e.player !== you) facts.push({ text: `${e.player} took your treasure.`, step: i });
+          else if (e.player !== you && e.owner !== e.player) facts.push({ text: `${e.player} picked up ${e.owner}'s treasure.`, step: i });
+          break;
+        case "treasureDropped": {
+          const owner = s.view.treasures.find((t) => t.id === e.treasureId)?.owner;
+          if (e.onHomeOf != null && owner && e.onHomeOf !== owner) {
+            facts.push({ text: owner === you ? `Your treasure was carried home by ${e.player}.` : `${e.player} carried ${owner}'s treasure home.`, step: i });
+          }
+          break;
+        }
+        case "damaged":
+          if (e.player === you && e.amount > 0) { lifeLost += e.amount; if (lifeLostStep < 0) lifeLostStep = i; }
+          break;
+        case "spellCast":
+          if (e.target === you) facts.push({ text: `${e.caster} cast ${spell(e.cardId)} at you.`, step: i });
+          break;
+        case "punched":
+          if (e.target === you) facts.push({ text: `${e.attacker} punched you.`, step: i });
+          break;
+        case "wallDestroyed":
+          if (nearHome(s.view, you, e.edge.cell)) facts.push({ text: "A wall near your home was destroyed.", step: i });
+          break;
+        case "playerEliminated":
+          facts.push({ text: e.player === you ? "You were eliminated." : `${e.player} is out of the game.`, step: i });
+          break;
+        case "gameWon":
+          facts.push({ text: e.player === you ? "You won." : `${e.player} won the game.`, step: i });
+          break;
+        case "tableTalk":
+          talk++;
+          break;
+        default:
+          break;
+      }
+    }
+  });
+  if (lifeLost > 0) facts.splice(Math.min(facts.length, 1), 0, { text: `You lost ${lifeLost} life.`, step: lifeLostStep });
+  if (facts.length === 0) {
+    // Nothing touched you: say what each wizard was up to, all the same.
+    const doings = new Map<string, { moves: number; casts: number; first: number }>();
+    steps.forEach((s, i) => {
+      if (s.actor === you) return;
+      const d = doings.get(s.actor) ?? { moves: 0, casts: 0, first: i };
+      for (const e of s.events) {
+        if (e.type === "moved" && e.player === s.actor) d.moves++;
+        if (e.type === "spellCast" && e.caster === s.actor) d.casts++;
+      }
+      doings.set(s.actor, d);
+    });
+    for (const [who, d] of doings) {
+      const bits = [d.moves > 0 ? `walked ${d.moves} square${d.moves === 1 ? "" : "s"}` : "", d.casts > 0 ? `cast ${d.casts} spell${d.casts === 1 ? "" : "s"}` : ""].filter(Boolean);
+      facts.push({ text: `${who} ${bits.length ? bits.join(" and ") : "passed the time"}; nothing touched you.`, step: d.first });
+    }
+  }
+  if (talk > 0) facts.push({ text: `${talk} line${talk === 1 ? "" : "s"} of table talk.`, step: -1 });
+  const out = facts.slice(0, 6);
+  if (facts.length > 6) out.push({ text: `…and ${facts.length - 6} more.`, step: -1 });
+  if (now) {
+    const me = now.players.find((p) => p.id === you);
+    if (now.phase === "playing" && me?.alive) {
+      const mine = now.activePlayerId === you || now.stack?.waitingOn === you || now.pendingDiscard === you;
+      out.push({ text: mine ? "It's your turn." : `It's ${now.activePlayerId}'s turn.`, step: -1 });
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
index 5d105d9..780e2f7 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
@@ -363,6 +363,8 @@ class Net {
   chatPending = $state<string | null>(null);
   /** Table talk that never arrived: handed back to the composer. */
   chatUnsent = $state<string | null>(null);
+  /** Who spoke last at the table: your own words are never unread. */
+  lastTalkBy = $state<string | null>(null);
   /** A finished table's call for a rematch: where it went, and who called. */
   rematchCall = $state<{ roomId: string; by: string } | null>(null);
   /** A rematch lobby: the last table's wizards not yet seated. */
@@ -393,6 +395,11 @@ class Net {
   onFx: ((events: GameEvent[]) => void) | null = null;
   /** A catch-up reel delivered by the server. */
   catchUp = $state<{ seq: number; actor: string; events: GameEvent[]; view: GameView; chat?: { player: string; text: string }[] }[] | null>(null);
+  /** The missed steps, fetched for the summary slip before any reel is opened. */
+  missedSteps = $state<{ seq: number; actor: string; events: GameEvent[]; view: GameView; chat?: { player: string; text: string }[] }[] | null>(null);
+  /** Where the catch-up reel opens: the step a summary line pointed at. */
+  catchUpStart = $state(0);
+  private catchUpWanted: "summary" | "reel" = "reel";
   /** One turn's reel, summoned from a chronicle line's instant-replay
    * eye — steps plus the wizard whose eyes the camera wears. */
   moment = $state<{ steps: { seq: number; actor: string; events: GameEvent[]; view: GameView; chat?: { player: string; text: string }[] }[]; owner: string } | null>(null);
@@ -549,13 +556,17 @@ class Net {
             const last = this.seen[this.roomId] ?? 0;
             this.missedMoves = Math.max(0, msg.seq - last);
             if (this.missedMoves === 0) this.markSeen();
+            // The missed steps come now, for the facts on the slip; the
+            // reel waits for a tap.
+            else if (!this.missedSteps) this.requestCatchUp(true);
           }
           if (document.visibilityState === "visible") this.watching = this.roomId;
         }
         break;
       }
       case "catchUp":
-        this.catchUp = msg.steps;
+        if (this.catchUpWanted === "summary") this.missedSteps = msg.steps;
+        else this.catchUp = msg.steps;
         break;
       case "moment":
         this.moment = { steps: msg.steps, owner: msg.owner };
@@ -569,7 +580,7 @@ class Net {
         let talk = 0;
         if (!msg.replayed) this.onFx?.(msg.events as GameEvent[]);
         for (const e of msg.events as GameEvent[]) {
-          if (e.type === "tableTalk") talk++;
+          if (e.type === "tableTalk") { talk++; this.lastTalkBy = e.player; }
           if (e.type === "gameStarted" && !msg.replayed) {
             this.openingRolls = { rolls: e.dieRolls, first: e.firstPlayer, players: e.players };
           }
@@ -627,6 +638,7 @@ class Net {
         break;
       case "chat": {
         if (msg.player === this.you && this.chatPending === msg.text) this.chatPending = null;
+        this.lastTalkBy = msg.player;
         this.log = [...this.log, { text: `\u{1F4AC} ${msg.player}: ${msg.text}`, turn: null, notable: false, actor: msg.player }];
         this.chatCount += 1;
         if (this.roomId) this.markChatSeen();
@@ -866,6 +878,8 @@ class Net {
    * line, and wiping it would erase the only notice of why. */
   leaveLocal(): void {
     localStorage.removeItem(SEAT_KEY);
+    this.missedSteps = null;
+    this.catchUp = null;
     this.pending = null;
     this.unsent = null;
     this.unconfirmed = null;
@@ -904,18 +918,27 @@ class Net {
     this.send({ type: "catchUp", sinceSeq: 0, full: true });
   }
 
-  /** Ask for the reel of everything since we last watched. */
-  requestCatchUp(): void {
+  /** Ask for the steps since we last watched: for the summary slip, or for the reel. */
+  requestCatchUp(summaryOnly = false): void {
     if (!this.roomId) return;
+    this.catchUpWanted = summaryOnly ? "summary" : "reel";
     this.send({ type: "catchUp", sinceSeq: this.seen[this.roomId] ?? 0 });
   }
 
+  /** Open the reel of the missed steps, at the step a fact pointed to. */
+  watchCatchUp(startAt = 0): void {
+    this.catchUpStart = Math.max(0, startAt);
+    if (this.missedSteps) this.catchUp = this.missedSteps;
+    else this.requestCatchUp(false);
+  }
+
   /** All caught up: remember it and clear the banner. */
   markSeen(): void {
     if (!this.roomId) return;
     this.seen[this.roomId] = this.currentSeq;
     localStorage.setItem(SEEN_KEY, JSON.stringify(this.seen));
     this.missedMoves = 0;
+    this.missedSteps = null;
   }
 
   closeCatchUp(): void {