diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index d092e15..1edebfe 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -1931,6 +1931,7 @@
       <div class="handoff-card">
         <div class="handoff-eyebrow">wizard {local.setup.names.length + 1} of {local.setup.count}</div>
         <div class="handoff-name setup-title">What is your name?</div>
+        <div class="lobby-head">Your colour</div>
         <div class="standee-row" role="group" aria-label="choose your wizard">
           {#each [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] as c (c)}
             {@const taken = local.setup.colors.includes(c)}
@@ -2094,6 +2095,7 @@
     <section class="boxlid">
       <div class="boxlid-inner">
         <div class="boxlid-title small">Room {net.roomId}</div>
+        <div class="lobby-head">Invite friends</div>
         <div class="boxlid-tag">Share the code — or the link. Two to six wizards enter the maze.</div>
         <div class="invite-row">
           <code class="invite-link">{inviteLink}</code>
@@ -2128,6 +2130,7 @@
           </div>
         {/if}
         {:else}
+        <div class="lobby-head">Your colour</div>
         <div class="standee-row" role="group" aria-label="choose your wizard">
           {#each [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] as c (c)}
             {@const takenBy = Object.entries(net.roomColors).find(([, v]) => v === c)?.[0]}
@@ -2148,6 +2151,9 @@
           <button class="stamp tiny abandon" title="dissolve this room for everyone"
             onclick={() => net.abandonRoom()}>abandon room</button>
           {#if net.players.length < 6}
+            <div class="lobby-head">Or seat a computer wizard</div>
+            <div class="boxlid-tag">An automaton plays a full seat by the rules — a hunter goes for treasure,
+              a berserker for blood, a worrier for the shadows between; mystery deals one at random.</div>
             <span class="bot-row">
               <span class="bot-label">⚙ seat a</span>
               <select class="tier-pick" bind:value={botTier} aria-label="automaton difficulty"
@@ -2167,12 +2173,16 @@
             Include Expansion Set #1 — monsters &amp; wands
           </label>
           <button
-            class="stamp big"
+            class="stamp big begin"
             disabled={net.players.length < 2 || net.players.length > 6}
             onclick={() => net.start(withExpansion)}
           >
-            Flip the boards ({net.players.length} wizard{net.players.length === 1 ? "" : "s"})
+            Start the game
+            <span class="sub">flip the boards · {net.players.length} wizard{net.players.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}</span>
           </button>
+          {#if net.players.length < 2}
+            <div class="begin-hint">Seat a computer wizard, or invite a friend, and the boards can flip.</div>
+          {/if}
         {:else}
           <p class="waiting">Waiting for {net.hostId} to flip the boards…</p>
         {/if}
@@ -3164,6 +3174,17 @@
     color: #6b5a41;
     margin: 0.5rem 0 0.4rem;
   }
+  .lobby-head {
+    font-family: "Oswald", sans-serif;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 0.14em;
+    font-size: 0.72rem;
+    color: #8a6d3f;
+    margin: 1.1rem 0 0;
+  }
+  .stamp.big.begin { display: inline-flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; line-height: 1.15; }
+  .stamp.big.begin .sub { font-size: 0.68rem; letter-spacing: 0.1em; opacity: 0.75; margin-top: 0.15rem; }
+  .begin-hint { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #8a6d3f; margin-top: 0.4rem; }
   .about-link {
     background: none;
     border: none;