diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index 9624469..5cb302f 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -949,6 +949,14 @@
     illusionPrompt = null;
   }
 
+  // The council of three: what each temperament would do from your seat.
+  let councilHints = $state<import("./hints").TableHint[] | null>(null);
+  async function askCouncil() {
+    if (!view) return;
+    const { tableHints } = await import("./hints");
+    councilHints = tableHints(view);
+  }
+
   let pickChoice = $state(false);
   function pickUp() {
     if (treasuresHere.length > 1) { pickChoice = true; return; }
@@ -1630,6 +1638,21 @@
             <div class="peek-note">{creatureStats(commandedCreature)}</div>
           </div>
         {/if}
+        {#if councilHints}
+          <div class="slip council">
+            <div class="council-head">The council considers your position…
+              <button class="hint-cancel" onclick={() => (councilHints = null)}>enough</button>
+            </div>
+            {#each councilHints as h (h.name)}
+              <div class="council-row">
+                <span class="council-name">{h.glyph} {h.name}</span>
+                <span class="council-mood">({h.mood})</span>
+                {h.advice}
+              </div>
+            {/each}
+            <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={askCouncil}>ask again</button>
+          </div>
+        {/if}
         {#if actionsSpent}
           {#if view.turn.drawForbidden}
             <div class="slip urgent">Your own bolt has left you reeling — the rest of this turn is lost, and no cards come with it.</div>
@@ -1766,6 +1789,7 @@
               {/if}
             </span>
             <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={pass}>let it resolve</button>
+            <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={askCouncil}>🎓 hints</button>
           {/if}
           {#if youMustDiscard}
             <span class="hint-alert">Hand over the limit — mark cards and discard.</span>
@@ -1939,6 +1963,7 @@
           <button class="stamp" class:primary={punchWallMode} disabled={view.turn.attackUsed && !punchWallMode}
             onclick={() => (punchWallMode = !punchWallMode)}>
             {punchWallMode ? "Click the wall to punch — or cancel" : "Punch a wall…"}</button>
+          <button class="stamp" onclick={askCouncil}>🎓 Ask the automatons</button>
           <button class="stamp" onclick={startDiscardMode}>Discard cards…</button>
           <label class="inline draw-pick">
             draw
@@ -2354,6 +2379,17 @@
   .stamp.big { font-size: 0.95rem; padding: 0.6rem 1.3rem; }
   .stamp.tiny { font-size: 0.62rem; padding: 0.22rem 0.5rem; box-shadow: 1px 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.3); }
   .stamp.discard-one { background: #8a7a5e; }
+  .slip.council { background: #ece4f1; border-color: #7a6f9a; }
+  .council-head {
+    font-weight: 700;
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    align-items: baseline;
+    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
+  }
+  .council-row { margin: 0.2rem 0; }
+  .council-name { font-weight: 700; }
+  .council-mood { color: #8a7a5e; font-size: 0.72rem; }
   .stamp:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #d8b23a; outline-offset: 2px; }
 
   .game {
diff --git a/packages/web/src/hints.ts b/packages/web/src/hints.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..227c06d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/web/src/hints.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// The council of three: each automaton temperament reads YOUR view — the
+// same cards and board you see, nothing more — and says what it would do
+// in your robes. Purely advisory; nothing is dispatched.
+
+import { automatonCommand, cardDef, type Command, type GameView } from "@wizwar/engine";
+import type { AutomatonStyle } from "@wizwar/engine";
+
+const DIRECTION: Record<string, string> = { N: "north", S: "south", E: "east", W: "west" };
+
+const VOICES: Record<AutomatonStyle, { name: string; glyph: string; mood: string }> = {
+  hunter: { name: "The Hunter", glyph: "🏹", mood: "eyes on the gold" },
+  berserker: { name: "The Berserker", glyph: "🔥", mood: "eyes on the blood" },
+  worrier: { name: "The Worrier", glyph: "🛡", mood: "eyes on the exits" },
+};
+
+function nameOf(view: GameView, instanceId: string): string {
+  const c = view.yourHand.find((c) => c.instanceId === instanceId);
+  return c ? cardDef(c.cardId).name : "a card";
+}
+
+function describe(view: GameView, cmd: Command): string {
+  switch (cmd.type) {
+    case "move":
+      return `step ${DIRECTION[cmd.direction]}`;
+    case "playNumberForMovement":
+      return `play the ${nameOf(view, cmd.instanceId)} for extra movement`;
+    case "cast": {
+      const card = nameOf(view, cmd.instanceId);
+      const at =
+        cmd.target?.kind === "player" ? ` at ${cmd.target.playerId}`
+        : cmd.target?.kind === "cell" ? ` at the square (${cmd.target.cell.x}, ${cmd.target.cell.y})`
+        : cmd.target?.kind === "edge" ? ` on the wall line beside (${cmd.target.cell.x}, ${cmd.target.cell.y})`
+        : cmd.target?.kind === "creature" ? " on the monster"
+        : "";
+      const num = cmd.numberInstanceIds?.length
+        ? ` with ${cmd.numberInstanceIds.map((id) => nameOf(view, id)).join(" and ")}`
+        : "";
+      return `cast ${card}${at}${num}`;
+    }
+    case "counteract":
+      return `answer with ${nameOf(view, cmd.instanceId)}`;
+    case "pass":
+      return "let it resolve — nothing in hand is worth spending on this";
+    case "punch":
+      return `punch ${cmd.targetId}`;
+    case "punchWall":
+      return "punch the wall";
+    case "pickUpTreasure":
+      return "pick up the treasure here (that ends the turn's actions)";
+    case "pickUpObject":
+      return "pick up the object here (that ends the turn's actions)";
+    case "dropTreasure":
+      return "drop the treasure here";
+    case "dropObject":
+      return `drop ${nameOf(view, cmd.instanceId)} here`;
+    case "warpStep":
+      return "step through the warp underfoot";
+    case "testIllusion":
+      return "test that shimmering wall — doubting it is free";
+    case "moveCreature":
+      return `march the monster ${DIRECTION[cmd.direction]}`;
+    case "creatureAttack":
+      return `set the monster on ${cmd.targetId}`;
+    case "setAmbush":
+      return `lay an ambush with ${nameOf(view, cmd.instanceId)}`;
+    case "armWard":
+      return cmd.armed ? "arm the Ward over the gold" : "stand the Ward down";
+    case "discard":
+      return `shed ${cmd.instanceIds.map((id) => nameOf(view, id)).join(", ")} to make room`;
+    case "endTurn":
+      return cmd.draw > 0 ? `end the turn and draw ${cmd.draw}` : "end the turn";
+    default:
+      return "bide";
+  }
+}
+
+export interface TableHint {
+  name: string;
+  glyph: string;
+  mood: string;
+  advice: string;
+}
+
+/** What each temperament would do from this seat, phrased for a novice. */
+export function tableHints(view: GameView): TableHint[] {
+  const styles: AutomatonStyle[] = ["hunter", "berserker", "worrier"];
+  const out: TableHint[] = [];
+  for (const s of styles) {
+    const v = VOICES[s];
+    let advice: string;
+    try {
+      const cmd = automatonCommand(view, s, "archmage");
+      advice = cmd ? `I would ${describe(view, cmd)}.` : "Nothing calls for us right now — wait for your moment.";
+    } catch {
+      advice = "…I have no counsel here.";
+    }
+    out.push({ name: v.name, glyph: v.glyph, mood: v.mood, advice });
+  }
+  return out;
+}