diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index 2561c01..57b1058 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     "Deserializable",
     "Deserialization",
     "Respawn",
-    "decla",
+    "doppler",
     "overridable",
     "serializable"
   ]
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 83f7922..327d1f2 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
 
-# decla.red game server (the `declared-server` package).
+# doppler game server (the `doppler-server` package).
 # The frontend is a static site and is NOT built here — see .forgejo/workflows.
 
 # ---- Stage 1: build the shared lib, then bundle the server -------------------
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c7f1f53..ce57285 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-# [decla.red](https://decla.red)
+# doppler
 
 A 2-dimensional multiplayer game utilising ray tracing.
 
-> **Available at [decla.red](https://decla.red).**
+> **Available at [doppler.schmelczer.dev](https://doppler.schmelczer.dev).**
 
 ![screenshot of in-game fight](media/game-pc.png)
 ![three screenshots taken at iPhone SE screen size](media/collage-iphone.png)
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ CI/CD runs on Forgejo Actions (`.forgejo/workflows/deploy.yml`). On a push to
 `main` it:
 
 - builds the static frontend and rsyncs `frontend/dist/` to the `/pages/declared`
-  mount on the runner host, and
+  mount on the runner host (the mount keeps its pre-rebrand name), and
 - builds the server image from the root `Dockerfile` and pushes it to the Forgejo
   container registry as `<registry>/<owner>/<repo>-server`.
 
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ edit it to add or remove game-server origins.
 Run the server image locally:
 
 ```sh
-docker build -t declared-server .
-docker run -p 3000:3000 declared-server --name "My server" --playerLimit 16
+docker build -t doppler-server .
+docker run -p 3000:3000 doppler-server --name "My server" --playerLimit 16
 ```
diff --git a/backend/deployment/README.md b/backend/deployment/README.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 4e2c7d9..0000000
--- a/backend/deployment/README.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-# Setup a decla.red server on a fresh debian/ubuntu machine
-
-> The method was tested on Debian 10 DigitalOcean droplets.
-
-- Copy the files from this directory to the target machine.
-- Execute the following commands.
-- ```sh
-  chmod +x setup.sh
-  ./setup.sh serverX
-  ```
-
-  > Where `serverX` is the serverX.decla.red subdomain pointing to the server.
-
-- Optionally, change the arguments in [declared-servers.sh](declared-servers.sh).
diff --git a/backend/deployment/declared-servers.service b/backend/deployment/declared-servers.service
deleted file mode 100644
index 678942d..0000000
--- a/backend/deployment/declared-servers.service
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-[Unit]
-Description=declared-server
-
-Requires=basic.target network.target
-
-[Service]
-Type=simple
-ExecStart=/bin/sh /root/declared-servers.sh
-
-[Install]
-WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/backend/deployment/declared-servers.sh b/backend/deployment/declared-servers.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 166ef8b..0000000
--- a/backend/deployment/declared-servers.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-set -e
-
-NODE_ENV=production declared-server --port=3000 --name="Simonyi" --playerLimit=256 --npcCount=48 --scoreLimit=20000
diff --git a/backend/deployment/nginx.conf b/backend/deployment/nginx.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index 1fbf3b5..0000000
--- a/backend/deployment/nginx.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-user www-data;
-worker_processes auto;
-pid /run/nginx.pid;
-
-events {
-	worker_connections 768;
-}
-
-http {
-	sendfile on;
-	tcp_nopush on;
-	tcp_nodelay on;
-	keepalive_timeout 65;
-	types_hash_max_size 2048;
-	server_tokens off;
-
-	include /etc/nginx/mime.types;
-	default_type application/octet-stream;
-
-	ssl_protocols TLSv1 TLSv1.1 TLSv1.2;
-	ssl_prefer_server_ciphers on;
-
-	access_log /var/log/nginx/access.log;
-	error_log /var/log/nginx/error.log;
-
-  map $http_upgrade $connection_upgrade {
-    default upgrade;
-    ''      close;
-  }
-
-  server {
-    listen 443 ssl;
-
-    include /etc/letsencrypt/options-ssl-nginx.conf;
-    ssl_dhparam /etc/letsencrypt/ssl-dhparams.pem;
-    ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/serverName.decla.red/fullchain.pem;
-    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/serverName.decla.red/privkey.pem;
-
-    server_name serverName.decla.red;
-
-    location / {
-      proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000/;
-      proxy_http_version 1.1;
-      proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
-      proxy_set_header Connection $connection_upgrade;
-      proxy_set_header Host $host;
-    }
-  }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/deployment/setup.sh b/backend/deployment/setup.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 017e599..0000000
--- a/backend/deployment/setup.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-set -e
-
-if [ -z "$1" ]; then
-  echo "Please specify a domain" 1>&2
-  exit 1
-fi
-
-domain="$1"
-
-apt install -y curl
-curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_15.x | bash -
-apt update 
-apt install -y nodejs nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx
-npm i -g declared-server
-
-certbot certonly --nginx -m schmelczerandras@gmail.com -d "$domain".decla.red --agree-tos --non-interactive
-
-mv nginx.conf /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
-sed -i "s/serverName/$domain/g" /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
-nginx -s reload
-
-chmod +x /root/declared-servers.sh
-chown root:root /root/declared-servers.sh
-cp declared-servers.service /etc/systemd/system/declared-servers.service
-systemctl enable declared-servers.service
-systemctl start declared-servers
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 9ccaec3..50cd443 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
-  "name": "declared-server",
+  "name": "doppler-server",
   "version": "0.1.0",
-  "description": "Game server for decla.red",
+  "description": "Game server for doppler",
   "keywords": [],
   "author": "András Schmelczer <andras@schmelczer.dev> (https://schmelczer.dev/)",
   "main": "dist/main.js",
   "bin": {
-    "declared-server": "dist/main.js"
+    "doppler-server": "dist/main.js"
   },
   "scripts": {
     "build": "npx webpack --mode production",
diff --git a/backend/src/commands/announce.ts b/backend/src/commands/announce.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e8aadf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/commands/announce.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import { Command } from 'shared';
+
+// Internal request from a game object (e.g. a keystone planet flipping) asking
+// the GameServer to broadcast a one-off announcement to every connected client.
+export class AnnounceCommand extends Command {
+  public constructor(public readonly text: string) {
+    super();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/commands/generate-points.ts b/backend/src/commands/generate-points.ts
index b639d4c..3f1ac98 100644
--- a/backend/src/commands/generate-points.ts
+++ b/backend/src/commands/generate-points.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { Command } from 'shared';
 
 export class GeneratePointsCommand extends Command {
   public constructor(
-    public readonly decla: number,
+    public readonly blue: number,
     public readonly red: number,
   ) {
     super();
diff --git a/backend/src/create-world.ts b/backend/src/create-world.ts
index b3941a0..a1039fc 100644
--- a/backend/src/create-world.ts
+++ b/backend/src/create-world.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
-import { Random, PlanetBase, hsl, settings } from 'shared';
+import { Random, PlanetBase, hsl, settings, evaluateSdf } from 'shared';
 import { LampPhysical } from './objects/lamp-physical';
 import { PlanetPhysical } from './objects/planet-physical';
 import { PhysicalContainer } from './physics/containers/physical-container';
-import { evaluateSdf } from './physics/functions/evaluate-sdf';
 import { Physical } from './physics/physicals/physical';
 
 export const createWorld = (objectContainer: PhysicalContainer) => {
@@ -45,13 +44,16 @@ export const createWorld = (objectContainer: PhysicalContainer) => {
         ) {
           const planet =
             objects.length === 0
-              ? new PlanetPhysical(
+              ? // The first, central giant is the keystone "Heart": a named,
+                // always-contested focal objective the whole match orbits.
+                new PlanetPhysical(
                   PlanetBase.createPlanetVertices(
                     position,
                     Random.getRandomInRange(1600, 2400),
                     Random.getRandomInRange(1600, 2400),
                     Random.getRandomInRange(80, 300),
                   ),
+                  true,
                 )
               : new PlanetPhysical(
                   PlanetBase.createPlanetVertices(
diff --git a/backend/src/game-server.ts b/backend/src/game-server.ts
index 1b51a35..e321737 100644
--- a/backend/src/game-server.ts
+++ b/backend/src/game-server.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { Options } from './options';
 import { PlayerContainer } from './players/player-container';
 import { StepCommand } from './commands/step';
 import { GeneratePointsCommand } from './commands/generate-points';
+import { AnnounceCommand } from './commands/announce';
 
 const gameStateSubscribedRoom = 'gameStateSubscribedRoom';
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
   private deltaTimes!: Array<number>;
   private deltaTimeCalculator!: DeltaTimeCalculator;
 
-  private declaPoints = 0;
+  private bluePoints = 0;
   private redPoints = 0;
   private matchPointAnnounced: Partial<Record<CharacterTeam, boolean>> = {};
 
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     );
     this.deltaTimeCalculator = new DeltaTimeCalculator();
     this.deltaTimes = [];
-    this.declaPoints = 0;
+    this.bluePoints = 0;
     this.redPoints = 0;
     this.matchPointAnnounced = {};
     this.isInEndGame = false;
@@ -63,6 +64,8 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
 
   protected commandExecutors: CommandExecutors = {
     [GeneratePointsCommand.type]: this.addPoints.bind(this),
+    [AnnounceCommand.type]: ({ text }: AnnounceCommand) =>
+      this.players.queueCommandForEachClient(new ServerAnnouncement(text)),
   };
 
   constructor(
@@ -118,19 +121,19 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     this.handlePhysics();
   }
 
-  private addPoints({ decla, red }: GeneratePointsCommand) {
+  private addPoints({ blue, red }: GeneratePointsCommand) {
     if (this.isInEndGame) {
       return;
     }
 
-    this.declaPoints += decla;
+    this.bluePoints += blue;
     this.redPoints += red;
-    if (this.declaPoints >= this.options.scoreLimit) {
-      this.endGame(CharacterTeam.decla);
+    if (this.bluePoints >= this.options.scoreLimit) {
+      this.endGame(CharacterTeam.blue);
     } else if (this.redPoints >= this.options.scoreLimit) {
       this.endGame(CharacterTeam.red);
     } else {
-      this.announceMatchPointOnce(CharacterTeam.decla, this.declaPoints);
+      this.announceMatchPointOnce(CharacterTeam.blue, this.bluePoints);
       this.announceMatchPointOnce(CharacterTeam.red, this.redPoints);
     }
   }
@@ -164,6 +167,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
   }
 
   private timeSinceLastPointUpdate = 0;
+  private physicsAccumulator = 0;
 
   private handlePhysics() {
     const delta = this.deltaTimeCalculator.getNextDeltaTimeInSeconds({ setAsBase: true });
@@ -179,18 +183,32 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     if ((this.timeSinceLastPointUpdate += delta) > 0.5) {
       this.timeSinceLastPointUpdate = 0;
       this.players.queueCommandForEachClient(
-        new UpdateGameState(this.declaPoints, this.redPoints, this.options.scoreLimit),
+        new UpdateGameState(this.bluePoints, this.redPoints, this.options.scoreLimit),
       );
     }
 
-    let scaledDelta = delta;
-    if (this.isInEndGame) {
-      this.timeScaling *= Math.pow(settings.endGameDeltaScaling, delta);
-      scaledDelta /= this.timeScaling;
+    const fixedDelta = settings.targetPhysicsDeltaTimeInSeconds;
+    const maxSubstepsPerFrame = 5;
+
+    this.physicsAccumulator += delta;
+    let substeps = Math.floor(this.physicsAccumulator / fixedDelta);
+    if (substeps > maxSubstepsPerFrame) {
+      substeps = maxSubstepsPerFrame;
+      this.physicsAccumulator = 0;
+    } else {
+      this.physicsAccumulator -= substeps * fixedDelta;
+    }
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < substeps; i++) {
+      let scaledDelta = fixedDelta;
+      if (this.isInEndGame) {
+        this.timeScaling *= Math.pow(settings.endGameDeltaScaling, fixedDelta);
+        scaledDelta /= this.timeScaling;
+      }
+      this.objects.handleCommand(new StepCommand(scaledDelta, this));
+      this.players.step(scaledDelta);
     }
 
-    this.objects.handleCommand(new StepCommand(scaledDelta, this));
-    this.players.step(scaledDelta);
     this.players.stepCommunication(delta);
     this.objects.resetRemoteCalls();
 
@@ -198,7 +216,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
 
     setTimeout(
       this.handlePhysics.bind(this),
-      Math.max(0, settings.targetPhysicsDeltaTimeInSeconds - physicsDelta) * 1000,
+      Math.max(0, fixedDelta - physicsDelta) * 1000,
     );
   }
 
@@ -224,7 +242,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
   }
 
   private get gameProgress(): number {
-    return (Math.max(this.declaPoints, this.redPoints) / this.options.scoreLimit) * 100;
+    return (Math.max(this.bluePoints, this.redPoints) / this.options.scoreLimit) * 100;
   }
 
   public get serverInfo(): ServerInformation {
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts
index bd46282..2f60597 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts
@@ -14,13 +14,18 @@ import {
   CommandReceiver,
   mix,
   clamp01,
+  stepCharacterMovement,
+  applyLeapImpulse,
+  decayMomentum,
+  CharacterMovementState,
+  CharacterWorld,
+  GroundSurface,
 } from 'shared';
 import { DynamicPhysical } from '../physics/physicals/dynamic-physical';
 import { CirclePhysical } from './circle-physical';
 import { PhysicalContainer } from '../physics/containers/physical-container';
 import { BoundingBoxBase } from '../physics/bounding-boxes/bounding-box-base';
 import { ProjectilePhysical } from './projectile-physical';
-import { interpolateAngles } from '../helper/interpolate-angles';
 import { forceAtPosition } from '../physics/functions/force-at-position';
 import { getBoundingBoxOfCircle } from '../physics/functions/get-bounding-box-of-circle';
 import { PlanetPhysical } from './planet-physical';
@@ -92,10 +97,16 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
   private currentPlanet?: PlanetPhysical;
   private secondsSinceOnSurface = settings.planetDetachmentSeconds;
 
+  private bodyVelocity = vec2.create();
+  private timeSinceLastLeap = settings.leapCooldownSeconds;
+
   public head: CirclePhysical;
   public leftFoot: CirclePhysical;
   public rightFoot: CirclePhysical;
 
+  private movementState!: CharacterMovementState;
+  private movementWorld!: CharacterWorld;
+
   private movementActions: Array<MoveActionCommand> = [];
   private lastMovementAction: MoveActionCommand = new MoveActionCommand(vec2.create());
 
@@ -138,6 +149,51 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
     container.addObject(this.head);
     container.addObject(this.leftFoot);
     container.addObject(this.rightFoot);
+
+    this.initMovementBridge();
+  }
+
+  private initMovementBridge() {
+    const self = this;
+    this.movementState = {
+      head: this.head,
+      leftFoot: this.leftFoot,
+      rightFoot: this.rightFoot,
+      get direction() {
+        return self.direction;
+      },
+      set direction(value: number) {
+        self.direction = value;
+      },
+      get currentPlanet() {
+        return self.currentPlanet;
+      },
+      set currentPlanet(value: GroundSurface | undefined) {
+        // On the server every ground is a PlanetPhysical (the world only ever
+        // hands back planets), so this narrowing is safe.
+        self.currentPlanet = value as PlanetPhysical | undefined;
+      },
+      get secondsSinceOnSurface() {
+        return self.secondsSinceOnSurface;
+      },
+      set secondsSinceOnSurface(value: number) {
+        self.secondsSinceOnSurface = value;
+      },
+      bodyVelocity: this.bodyVelocity,
+    };
+
+    this.movementWorld = {
+      // Same set and order forceAtPosition used: planets in the force field,
+      // in container-traversal order (so the f64 gravity sum is unchanged).
+      groundsNear: (center, radius) =>
+        self.container
+          .findIntersecting(getBoundingBoxOfCircle(new Circle(center, radius)))
+          .filter((o): o is PlanetPhysical => o instanceof PlanetPhysical),
+      stepBody: (body, deltaTimeInSeconds) => {
+        const { hitObject } = (body as CirclePhysical).stepManually(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+        return hitObject instanceof PlanetPhysical ? hitObject : undefined;
+      },
+    };
   }
 
   private get isSpawnProtected(): boolean {
@@ -151,10 +207,10 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
   private getPoints(game: CommandReceiver) {
     if (!this.isAlive && !this.hasGeneratedPoints) {
       this.hasGeneratedPoints = true;
-      const decla = this.team === CharacterTeam.decla ? 0 : settings.playerKillPoint;
+      const blue = this.team === CharacterTeam.blue ? 0 : settings.playerKillPoint;
       const red = this.team === CharacterTeam.red ? 0 : settings.playerKillPoint;
 
-      game.handleCommand(new GeneratePointsCommand(decla, red));
+      game.handleCommand(new GeneratePointsCommand(blue, red));
     }
   }
 
@@ -170,7 +226,13 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
     return this.currentPlanet;
   }
 
-  public addKill(victimName: string) {
+  // Persistent launch momentum, streamed to the owning client so its predictor
+  // can reproduce a leap/slingshot/recoil flight instead of only snapping to it.
+  public get launchMomentum(): vec2 {
+    return this.bodyVelocity;
+  }
+
+  public addKill(victimName: string, charge = 0) {
     this.killCount++;
     this.killStreak++;
     this.remoteCall('setKillCount', this.killCount);
@@ -180,11 +242,11 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
       this.health + settings.playerKillHealthReward,
     );
     this.syncHealth();
-    this.remoteCall('onKillConfirmed', victimName, this.killStreak);
+    this.remoteCall('onKillConfirmed', victimName, this.killStreak, charge);
   }
 
-  public registerHit() {
-    this.remoteCall('onHitConfirmed');
+  public registerHit(charge = 0) {
+    this.remoteCall('onHitConfirmed', charge);
   }
 
   private syncHealth() {
@@ -197,6 +259,9 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
 
   public onCollision({ other }: ReactToCollisionCommand) {
     if (
+      // A corpse keeps its collidable circles for the despawn animation; the
+      // isAlive guard stops a flying corpse from eating shots aimed past it.
+      this.isAlive &&
       other instanceof ProjectilePhysical &&
       other.team !== this.team &&
       other.isAlive
@@ -213,10 +278,17 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
       this.remoteCall('setHealth', this.health);
 
       if (this.health <= 0 && this.isAlive) {
+        // Throw the corpse along the killing shot, harder for charged hits.
+        vec2.scaleAndAdd(
+          this.bodyVelocity,
+          this.bodyVelocity,
+          other.direction,
+          mix(settings.deathImpulseMin, settings.deathImpulseMax, other.charge),
+        );
         this.onDie();
-        other.originator.addKill(this.name);
+        other.originator.addKill(this.name, other.charge);
       } else {
-        other.originator.registerHit();
+        other.originator.registerHit(other.charge);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -246,6 +318,8 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
 
     const direction = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), position, this.center);
     vec2.normalize(direction, direction);
+    // Keep the unit direction before vec2.scale repurposes it as the velocity.
+    const shotDirection = vec2.clone(direction);
     const velocity = vec2.scale(direction, direction, speed);
     const projectile = new ProjectilePhysical(
       vec2.clone(this.center),
@@ -255,12 +329,42 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
       velocity,
       this,
       this.container,
+      c,
     );
     this.container.addObject(projectile);
 
+    if (c > 0) {
+      vec2.scaleAndAdd(
+        this.bodyVelocity,
+        this.bodyVelocity,
+        shotDirection,
+        -settings.chargeShotRecoilMax * c,
+      );
+    }
+
     this.remoteCall('onShoot', strength);
   }
 
+  public leap() {
+    if (
+      !this.isAlive ||
+      this.hasJustBorn ||
+      !this.currentPlanet ||
+      this.timeSinceLastLeap < settings.leapCooldownSeconds ||
+      this.projectileStrength < settings.leapStrengthCost
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.timeSinceLastLeap = 0;
+    this.projectileStrength -= settings.leapStrengthCost;
+
+    // Same impulse the client predicts with (shared), so a leap launches
+    // identically on both sides.
+    applyLeapImpulse(this.movementState, this.lastMovementAction.direction);
+    this.remoteCall('onLeap');
+  }
+
   public get boundingBox(): BoundingBoxBase {
     return getBoundingBoxOfCircle(new Circle(this.center, CharacterPhysical.boundRadius));
   }
@@ -363,6 +467,7 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
   private step({ deltaTimeInSeconds, game }: StepCommand) {
     this.getPoints(game);
     this.timeAlive += deltaTimeInSeconds;
+    this.timeSinceLastLeap += deltaTimeInSeconds;
     const oldHead = new Circle(vec2.clone(this.head.center), this.head.radius);
     const oldLeftFoot = new Circle(
       vec2.clone(this.leftFoot.center),
@@ -377,6 +482,7 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
       if ((this.timeSinceDying += deltaTimeInSeconds) > settings.spawnDespawnTime) {
         this.destroy();
       } else {
+        this.freeFallCorpse(deltaTimeInSeconds);
         this.animateScaling(1 - this.timeSinceDying / settings.spawnDespawnTime);
       }
       this.setPropertyUpdates(oldHead, oldLeftFoot, oldRightFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds);
@@ -410,9 +516,28 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
 
     this.regenerateHealth(deltaTimeInSeconds);
 
-    this.currentPlanet?.takeControl(this.team, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    // The planet tallies who is standing on it and resolves capture itself, so
+    // a contested rock can freeze instead of two squads silently cancelling.
+    this.currentPlanet?.registerPresence(this);
 
-    const intersectingWithForceField = this.container.findIntersecting(
+    // The whole walking model — gravity gather, movement force, on/off-planet
+    // branch, posture springs, body-momentum, and stepping the three parts —
+    // is the shared simulation the client predicts with, so the two can never
+    // drift. Server-only concerns (scoring, health, shooting, spawn/death,
+    // ownership) stay here around it.
+    const direction = this.averageAndResetMovementActions();
+    stepCharacterMovement(
+      this.movementState,
+      this.movementWorld,
+      direction,
+      deltaTimeInSeconds,
+    );
+
+    this.setPropertyUpdates(oldHead, oldLeftFoot, oldRightFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+  }
+
+  private freeFallCorpse(deltaTime: number) {
+    const intersecting = this.container.findIntersecting(
       getBoundingBoxOfCircle(
         new Circle(
           this.center,
@@ -420,117 +545,20 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
         ),
       ),
     );
-
-    const direction = this.averageAndResetMovementActions();
-    const movementForce = vec2.scale(direction, direction, settings.maxAcceleration);
-    this.leftFoot.applyForce(movementForce, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-    this.rightFoot.applyForce(movementForce, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-
-    if (!this.currentPlanet) {
-      const leftFootGravity = forceAtPosition(
-        this.leftFoot.center,
-        intersectingWithForceField,
-      );
-      const rightFootGravity = forceAtPosition(
-        this.rightFoot.center,
-        intersectingWithForceField,
-      );
-
-      this.leftFoot.applyForce(leftFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-      this.rightFoot.applyForce(rightFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-
-      const sumForce = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), leftFootGravity, movementForce);
-
-      this.setDirection(vec2.length(sumForce) === 0 ? vec2.fromValues(0, -1) : sumForce);
-    } else {
-      const leftFootGravity = this.currentPlanet!.getForce(this.leftFoot.center);
-      const rightFootGravity = this.currentPlanet!.getForce(this.rightFoot.center);
-
-      vec2.add(leftFootGravity, leftFootGravity, rightFootGravity);
-      const gravity = vec2.scale(leftFootGravity, leftFootGravity, 0.5);
-
-      if (
-        vec2.dot(movementForce, gravity) <
-        -vec2.length(movementForce) * settings.climbDotThreshold
-      ) {
-        vec2.scale(gravity, gravity, settings.climbGravityScale);
+    let grounded = false;
+    for (const part of [this.leftFoot, this.rightFoot, this.head]) {
+      part.applyForce(forceAtPosition(part.center, intersecting), deltaTime);
+      vec2.add(part.velocity, part.velocity, this.bodyVelocity);
+      const { hitObject } = part.stepManually(deltaTime);
+      if (hitObject instanceof PlanetPhysical) {
+        grounded = true;
       }
-
-      const scaledLeftFootGravity = vec2.scale(
-        vec2.create(),
-        this.leftFoot.lastNormal,
-        vec2.dot(this.leftFoot.lastNormal, gravity),
-      );
-      this.leftFoot.applyForce(scaledLeftFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-
-      const scaledRightFootGravity = vec2.scale(
-        vec2.create(),
-        this.rightFoot.lastNormal,
-        vec2.dot(this.rightFoot.lastNormal, gravity),
-      );
-
-      this.rightFoot.applyForce(scaledRightFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-
-      if (vec2.length(gravity) <= settings.planetDetachmentForceThreshold) {
-        this.currentPlanet = undefined;
-      }
-      this.setDirection(gravity);
     }
-
-    this.keepPosture();
-    this.stepBodyPart(this.leftFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-    this.stepBodyPart(this.rightFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-    this.stepBodyPart(this.head, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-
-    this.setPropertyUpdates(oldHead, oldLeftFoot, oldRightFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-  }
-
-  private setDirection(direction: vec2) {
-    this.direction = interpolateAngles(
-      this.direction,
-      Math.atan2(direction.y, direction.x) + Math.PI / 2,
-      0.2,
-    );
-  }
-
-  private keepPosture() {
-    const center = this.center;
-    this.springMove(
-      this.leftFoot,
-      center,
-      CharacterPhysical.leftFootOffset,
-      settings.postureFeetStiffness,
-    );
-    this.springMove(
-      this.rightFoot,
-      center,
-      CharacterPhysical.rightFootOffset,
-      settings.postureFeetStiffness,
-    );
-
-    this.springMove(
-      this.head,
-      center,
-      CharacterPhysical.headOffset,
-      settings.postureHeadStiffness,
-    );
-  }
-
-  private springMove(
-    object: CirclePhysical,
-    center: vec2,
-    offset: vec2,
-    stiffness: number,
-  ) {
-    const desiredPosition = vec2.add(vec2.create(), center, offset);
-    vec2.rotate(desiredPosition, desiredPosition, center, this.direction);
-    const positionDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), desiredPosition, object.center);
-
-    // First-order velocity relaxation toward the desired posture position,
-    // added to (not replacing) the gravity/movement velocity accumulated
-    // earlier this tick. stepManually applies it over deltaTime, so the
-    // per-tick displacement is positionDelta * stiffness * deltaTime.
-    vec2.scaleAndAdd(object.velocity, object.velocity, positionDelta, stiffness);
+    // Brake with the exact shared model the living body uses: stiff on contact
+    // so the corpse skids to rest, gentle in the air, plus the constant stop and
+    // the speed cap — so a flung corpse comes to a definite stop instead of
+    // sliding forever.
+    decayMomentum(this.bodyVelocity, grounded, deltaTime);
   }
 
   private regenerateHealth(deltaTimeInSeconds: number) {
@@ -547,14 +575,6 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
     }
   }
 
-  private stepBodyPart(part: CirclePhysical, deltaTime: number) {
-    const { hitObject } = part.stepManually(deltaTime);
-    if (hitObject instanceof PlanetPhysical) {
-      this.secondsSinceOnSurface = 0;
-      this.currentPlanet = hitObject;
-    }
-  }
-
   public onDie() {
     this.isDestroyed = true;
     this.remoteCall('onDie');
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/circle-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/circle-physical.ts
index 2a36215..e1a6abf 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/circle-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/circle-physical.ts
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@ import {
   CommandExecutors,
   CommandReceiver,
   GameObject,
+  resolveCircleMovement,
   serializesTo,
 } from 'shared';
 import { BoundingBox } from '../physics/bounding-boxes/bounding-box';
 import { BoundingBoxBase } from '../physics/bounding-boxes/bounding-box-base';
-import { moveCircle } from '../physics/functions/move-circle';
 import { PhysicalContainer } from '../physics/containers/physical-container';
 import { DynamicPhysical } from '../physics/physicals/dynamic-physical';
+import { Physical } from '../physics/physicals/physical';
 import { ReactToCollisionCommand } from '../commands/react-to-collision';
 
 @serializesTo(Circle)
@@ -32,7 +33,9 @@ export class CirclePhysical extends CommandReceiver implements Circle, DynamicPh
     private _radius: number,
     public owner: GameObject,
     private readonly container: PhysicalContainer,
-    private restitution = 0,
+    // Public + readonly so a CirclePhysical structurally satisfies the shared
+    // PhysicsBody interface the movement simulation operates on.
+    public readonly restitution = 0,
   ) {
     super();
     this._boundingBox = new BoundingBox();
@@ -88,43 +91,49 @@ export class CirclePhysical extends CommandReceiver implements Circle, DynamicPh
     );
   }
 
-  public stepManually(deltaTimeInSeconds: number): {
+  // Position-resolution for one tick. Delegates to the shared
+  // resolveCircleMovement so the server integrates a body with the exact same
+  // geometry the client predictor runs (shared/physics) — no parallel copy to
+  // keep in sync. The onHit callback dispatches the collision reactions at the
+  // same points the old inline move-circle did (both the initial march and the
+  // post-bounce slide). `possibleIntersectors`, when supplied, lets a caller
+  // that already broadphased (e.g. a projectile's gravity query) avoid a second
+  // container query; otherwise it is self-gathered from the swept bounding box.
+  public stepManually(
+    deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+    possibleIntersectors?: Array<Physical>,
+  ): {
     hitObject: GameObject | undefined;
     velocity: vec2;
   } {
-    let delta = vec2.scale(vec2.create(), this.velocity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    const intersecting = (
+      possibleIntersectors ?? this.sweptBroadphase(deltaTimeInSeconds)
+    ).filter((b) => b.gameObject !== this.gameObject && b.canCollide);
 
-    this.radius += vec2.length(delta);
-    const intersecting = this.container
-      .findIntersecting(this.boundingBox)
-      .filter((b) => b.gameObject !== this.gameObject && b.canCollide);
-    this.radius -= vec2.length(delta);
+    const { hitObject, velocity } = resolveCircleMovement(
+      this,
+      deltaTimeInSeconds,
+      intersecting,
+      (intersected) => {
+        const physical = intersected as Physical;
+        physical.handleCommand(new ReactToCollisionCommand(this.gameObject));
+        this.handleCommand(new ReactToCollisionCommand(physical.gameObject));
+      },
+    );
 
-    const { normal, hitSurface, hitObject } = moveCircle(this, delta, intersecting);
+    return { hitObject: (hitObject as Physical | undefined)?.gameObject, velocity };
+  }
 
-    if (hitSurface) {
-      vec2.copy(this.lastNormal, normal!);
-
-      vec2.subtract(
-        this.velocity,
-        this.velocity,
-        vec2.scale(
-          normal!,
-          normal!,
-          (1 + this.restitution) * vec2.dot(normal!, this.velocity),
-        ),
-      );
-
-      if (vec2.length(this.velocity) > 50) {
-        delta = vec2.scale(vec2.create(), this.velocity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
-        moveCircle(this, delta, intersecting);
-      }
-    }
-
-    const lastVelocity = vec2.clone(this.velocity);
-    vec2.zero(this.velocity);
-
-    return { hitObject, velocity: lastVelocity };
+  // Query the container with the bounding box grown by this tick's travel, so a
+  // fast-moving body still sees what it is about to sweep into.
+  private sweptBroadphase(deltaTimeInSeconds: number): Array<Physical> {
+    const sweep = vec2.length(
+      vec2.scale(vec2.create(), this.velocity, deltaTimeInSeconds),
+    );
+    this.radius += sweep;
+    const intersecting = this.container.findIntersecting(this.boundingBox);
+    this.radius -= sweep;
+    return intersecting;
   }
 
   public toArray(): Array<any> {
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts
index 9e7b094..4305b18 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   clamp01,
   id,
   mix,
+  Random,
   serializesTo,
   settings,
   PlanetBase,
@@ -15,25 +16,46 @@ import {
   CommandReceiver,
 } from 'shared';
 import { GeneratePointsCommand } from '../commands/generate-points';
+import { AnnounceCommand } from '../commands/announce';
 import { StepCommand } from '../commands/step';
 
 import { ImmutableBoundingBox } from '../physics/bounding-boxes/immutable-bounding-box';
 import { StaticPhysical } from '../physics/physicals/static-physical';
 import { LampPhysical } from './lamp-physical';
+import type { CharacterPhysical } from './character-physical';
 
 @serializesTo(PlanetBase)
 export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
   public readonly canCollide = true;
   public readonly canMove = false;
+  // Marks this as standable ground for the shared movement simulation (a body
+  // landing on it latches it as currentPlanet). See shared GroundSurface.
+  public readonly isGround = true;
 
   public readonly sizePointMultiplier: number;
 
+  // Planets slowly spin. The angle is authoritative here and streamed to the
+  // client (see getPropertyUpdates), so the rendered outline and this collision
+  // polygon turn as one rigid body. cos/sin are memoised per angle because
+  // distance() is called many times per tick by the raymarcher and SDF sampling.
+  private rotation = 0;
+  private readonly rotationSpeed: number;
+  private cachedRotation = Number.NaN;
+  private cosRotation = 1;
+  private sinRotation = 0;
+
   private _boundingBox?: ImmutableBoundingBox;
 
   private readonly lamps: Array<LampPhysical> = [];
 
   private lastTeam: CharacterTeam = CharacterTeam.neutral;
 
+  // Characters standing on the planet this tick. Filled by registerPresence as
+  // each grounded character steps, drained when the planet resolves capture in
+  // its own step(). Drives the head-count tug-of-war.
+  private presentCharacters: Array<CharacterPhysical> = [];
+  private isContested = false;
+
   protected commandExecutors: CommandExecutors = {
     [StepCommand.type]: this.step.bind(this),
   };
@@ -42,28 +64,41 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
     this.lamps.push(lamp);
   }
 
-  constructor(vertices: Array<vec2>) {
-    super(id(), vertices);
+  constructor(vertices: Array<vec2>, isKeystone = false) {
+    super(id(), vertices, 0.5, isKeystone);
 
     const sizeClass = clamp01(
       (this.radius - settings.planetMinReferenceRadius) /
-      (settings.planetMaxReferenceRadius - settings.planetMinReferenceRadius),
+        (settings.planetMaxReferenceRadius - settings.planetMinReferenceRadius),
     );
 
     this.sizePointMultiplier = mix(1, settings.planetSizePointMultiplierMax, sizeClass);
+
+    this.rotationSpeed =
+      (0.05 + Random.getRandom() * 0.07) * (Random.getRandom() < 0.5 ? -1 : 1);
+  }
+
+  // A grounded character announces itself each tick so the planet can resolve
+  // contested capture from the net head-count.
+  public registerPresence(character: CharacterPhysical) {
+    this.presentCharacters.push(character);
   }
 
   public distance(target: vec2): number {
+    // Evaluate the SDF in the planet's own rotating frame so this collision
+    // outline turns in lockstep with the rendered planet (see planet-shape.ts).
+    const local = this.toLocalFrame(target);
+
     const startEnd = this.vertices[0];
     let vb = startEnd;
 
-    let d = vec2.squaredDistance(target, vb);
+    let d = vec2.dist(local, vb);
     let sign = 1;
 
     for (let i = 1; i <= this.vertices.length; i++) {
       const va = vb;
       vb = i === this.vertices.length ? startEnd : this.vertices[i];
-      const targetFromDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), target, va);
+      const targetFromDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), local, va);
       const toFromDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), vb, va);
       const h = clamp01(
         vec2.dot(targetFromDelta, toFromDelta) / vec2.squaredLength(toFromDelta),
@@ -75,8 +110,8 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
       );
 
       if (
-        (target.y >= va.y && target.y < vb.y && ds.y > 0) ||
-        (target.y < va.y && target.y >= vb.y && ds.y <= 0)
+        (local.y >= va.y && local.y < vb.y && ds.y > 0) ||
+        (local.y < va.y && local.y >= vb.y && ds.y <= 0)
       ) {
         sign *= -1;
       }
@@ -87,11 +122,35 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
     return sign * d;
   }
 
+  // Rotate a world point by -rotation about the centre, matching the shader's
+  // `localTarget = center + R(rotation) * (target - center)` transform exactly.
+  private toLocalFrame(target: vec2): vec2 {
+    if (this.rotation !== this.cachedRotation) {
+      this.cachedRotation = this.rotation;
+      this.cosRotation = Math.cos(this.rotation);
+      this.sinRotation = Math.sin(this.rotation);
+    }
+
+    const dx = target.x - this.center.x;
+    const dy = target.y - this.center.y;
+
+    return vec2.fromValues(
+      this.center.x + this.cosRotation * dx - this.sinRotation * dy,
+      this.center.y + this.sinRotation * dx + this.cosRotation * dy,
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Signed angular velocity in rad/s, exposed so a character standing on the
+  // planet can ride its spin (see carryWithRotatingPlanet in shared).
+  public get angularVelocity(): number {
+    return this.rotationSpeed;
+  }
+
   public get team(): CharacterTeam {
-    return Math.abs(this.ownership - 0.5) < 0.1
+    return Math.abs(this.ownership - 0.5) < settings.planetControlThreshold
       ? CharacterTeam.neutral
       : this.ownership < 0.5
-        ? CharacterTeam.decla
+        ? CharacterTeam.blue
         : CharacterTeam.red;
   }
 
@@ -105,7 +164,7 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
       );
       game.handleCommand(
         new GeneratePointsCommand(
-          this.team === CharacterTeam.decla ? value : 0,
+          this.team === CharacterTeam.blue ? value : 0,
           this.team === CharacterTeam.red ? value : 0,
         ),
       );
@@ -113,12 +172,54 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
   }
 
   private step({ deltaTimeInSeconds, game }: StepCommand) {
+    this.rotation += deltaTimeInSeconds * this.rotationSpeed;
     this.timeSinceLastPointGeneration += deltaTimeInSeconds;
 
     // In reverse order, so that teams can achieve a 100% control.
     this.getPoints(game);
-    this.takeControl(CharacterTeam.neutral, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    this.resolveCapture(deltaTimeInSeconds);
     this.detectFlip(game);
+
+    this.presentCharacters = [];
+  }
+
+  // One capture step per tick driven by the net team head-count, so grouping up
+  // pays off and an equal standoff freezes the planet (contested) instead of
+  // both sides silently cancelling with no feedback.
+  private resolveCapture(deltaTime: number) {
+    let blue = 0;
+    let red = 0;
+    for (const c of this.presentCharacters) {
+      if (c.team === CharacterTeam.blue) {
+        blue++;
+      } else if (c.team === CharacterTeam.red) {
+        red++;
+      }
+    }
+    const net = red - blue;
+    const occupied = blue + red > 0;
+
+    if (net !== 0) {
+      const lead = Math.min(Math.abs(net), settings.maxContestLeadMultiplier);
+      this.takeControl(
+        net > 0 ? CharacterTeam.red : CharacterTeam.blue,
+        deltaTime * lead,
+      );
+    } else if (!occupied) {
+      // Empty planets drift back to neutral; the keystone drifts much slower so
+      // it lingers as a live flashpoint.
+      this.takeControl(
+        CharacterTeam.neutral,
+        this.isKeystone ? deltaTime / settings.keystoneLoseControlScale : deltaTime,
+      );
+    }
+    // occupied tie -> frozen tug-of-war: no ownership change, ring pulses.
+
+    const contested = occupied && net === 0;
+    if (contested !== this.isContested) {
+      this.isContested = contested;
+      this.remoteCall('setContested', contested);
+    }
   }
 
   private detectFlip(game: CommandReceiver) {
@@ -135,10 +236,18 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
       this.remoteCall('generatedPoints', reward);
       game.handleCommand(
         new GeneratePointsCommand(
-          currentTeam === CharacterTeam.decla ? reward : 0,
+          currentTeam === CharacterTeam.blue ? reward : 0,
           currentTeam === CharacterTeam.red ? reward : 0,
         ),
       );
+
+      if (this.isKeystone) {
+        game.handleCommand(
+          new AnnounceCommand(
+            `Team <span class="${currentTeam}">${currentTeam}</span> captured the Heart`,
+          ),
+        );
+      }
     }
 
     const control = Math.abs(this.ownership - 0.5) / 0.5;
@@ -153,11 +262,14 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
   public getPropertyUpdates(): PropertyUpdatesForObject {
     return new PropertyUpdatesForObject(this.id, [
       new UpdatePropertyCommand('ownership', this.ownership, 0),
+      // Stream the spin rate as the rate-of-change so the client can keep the
+      // angle moving when snapshots run late (see planet-view.ts).
+      new UpdatePropertyCommand('rotation', this.rotation, this.rotationSpeed),
     ]);
   }
 
   public takeControl(team: CharacterTeam, deltaTime: number) {
-    if (team === CharacterTeam.decla) {
+    if (team === CharacterTeam.blue) {
       this.ownership -= (0.5 / settings.takeControlTimeInSeconds) * deltaTime;
     } else if (team === CharacterTeam.red) {
       this.ownership += (0.5 / settings.takeControlTimeInSeconds) * deltaTime;
@@ -180,22 +292,20 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
 
   public get boundingBox(): ImmutableBoundingBox {
     if (!this._boundingBox) {
-      const { xMin, xMax, yMin, yMax } = this.vertices.reduce(
-        (extremities, vertex) => ({
-          xMin: Math.min(extremities.xMin, vertex.x),
-          xMax: Math.max(extremities.xMax, vertex.x),
-          yMin: Math.min(extremities.yMin, vertex.y),
-          yMax: Math.max(extremities.yMax, vertex.y),
-        }),
-        {
-          xMin: Infinity,
-          xMax: -Infinity,
-          yMin: Infinity,
-          yMax: -Infinity,
-        },
+      // The polygon spins about its centre (see distance), so this static box
+      // has to cover every orientation, not just the spawn-time one: take the
+      // circumscribed circle around the rotation centre.
+      const maxVertexDistance = this.vertices.reduce(
+        (max, vertex) => Math.max(max, vec2.distance(this.center, vertex)),
+        0,
       );
 
-      this._boundingBox = new ImmutableBoundingBox(xMin, xMax, yMin, yMax);
+      this._boundingBox = new ImmutableBoundingBox(
+        this.center.x - maxVertexDistance,
+        this.center.x + maxVertexDistance,
+        this.center.y - maxVertexDistance,
+        this.center.y + maxVertexDistance,
+      );
     }
 
     return this._boundingBox;
@@ -213,6 +323,11 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
     return vec2.scale(diff, diff, scale);
   }
 
+  // GroundSurface alias the shared movement simulation calls for gravity.
+  public gravityAt(position: vec2): vec2 {
+    return this.getForce(position);
+  }
+
   public get gameObject(): this {
     return this;
   }
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts
index 51a7866..8a967f1 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ import {
   PropertyUpdatesForObject,
   UpdatePropertyCommand,
   CommandExecutors,
+  Circle,
+  marchCircle,
 } from 'shared';
 import { ImmutableBoundingBox } from '../physics/bounding-boxes/immutable-bounding-box';
 import { CirclePhysical } from './circle-physical';
 import { DynamicPhysical } from '../physics/physicals/dynamic-physical';
 import { PhysicalContainer } from '../physics/containers/physical-container';
 import { CharacterPhysical } from './character-physical';
-import { moveCircle } from '../physics/functions/move-circle';
+import { forceAtPosition } from '../physics/functions/force-at-position';
+import { getBoundingBoxOfCircle } from '../physics/functions/get-bounding-box-of-circle';
 import { StepCommand } from '../commands/step';
 import { ReactToCollisionCommand } from '../commands/react-to-collision';
 
@@ -42,6 +45,9 @@ export class ProjectilePhysical extends ProjectileBase implements DynamicPhysica
     private velocity: vec2,
     public readonly originator: CharacterPhysical,
     readonly container: PhysicalContainer,
+    // Normalised charge (0..1) of the shot that fired this, used by the victim
+    // to scale hit/kill feedback and the death fling.
+    public readonly charge: number = 0,
   ) {
     super(id(), center, radius, team, strength);
     this.object = new CirclePhysical(center, radius, this, container, 0.9);
@@ -71,7 +77,7 @@ export class ProjectilePhysical extends ProjectileBase implements DynamicPhysica
       const intersecting = this.container
         .findIntersecting(this.boundingBox)
         .filter((g) => g instanceof CharacterPhysical && g.team === this.team);
-      const { hitSurface } = moveCircle(this.object, delta, intersecting, true);
+      const { hitSurface } = marchCircle(this.object, delta, intersecting, true);
       wasCollision = hitSurface;
     }
     vec2.add(this.center, this.center, delta);
@@ -124,8 +130,31 @@ export class ProjectilePhysical extends ProjectileBase implements DynamicPhysica
       return;
     }
 
+    // Curveball: the same planetary gravity that pulls on a free-falling
+    // character bends the shot, so slower (charged) shots arc and can be lobbed
+    // over a planet's horizon. Scale is tiny — near-surface gravity is huge.
+    // This single broadphase is reused for the step below: the gravity radius
+    // (maxGravityDistance) dwarfs one tick's travel, so the set is a superset of
+    // the swept-collision box and the step needn't query the container again.
+    const intersecting = settings.projectileGravityEnabled
+      ? this.container.findIntersecting(
+          getBoundingBoxOfCircle(
+            new Circle(this.center, this.object.radius + settings.maxGravityDistance),
+          ),
+        )
+      : undefined;
+
+    if (intersecting) {
+      vec2.scaleAndAdd(
+        this.velocity,
+        this.velocity,
+        forceAtPosition(this.center, intersecting),
+        settings.projectileGravityScale * deltaTimeInSeconds,
+      );
+    }
+
     vec2.copy(this.object.velocity, this.velocity);
-    const { velocity } = this.object.stepManually(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    const { velocity } = this.object.stepManually(deltaTimeInSeconds, intersecting);
     vec2.copy(this.velocity, velocity);
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/physics/functions/is-circle-intersecting.ts b/backend/src/physics/functions/is-circle-intersecting.ts
index 3f497fa..203eb1d 100644
--- a/backend/src/physics/functions/is-circle-intersecting.ts
+++ b/backend/src/physics/functions/is-circle-intersecting.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import { Circle } from 'shared';
-import { evaluateSdf } from './evaluate-sdf';
+import { Circle, evaluateSdf } from 'shared';
 import { PhysicalBase } from '../physicals/physical-base';
 
 export const isCircleIntersecting = (
diff --git a/backend/src/physics/functions/move-circle.ts b/backend/src/physics/functions/move-circle.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 7c82fdc..0000000
--- a/backend/src/physics/functions/move-circle.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,89 +0,0 @@
-import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
-import { GameObject } from 'shared';
-import { CirclePhysical } from '../../objects/circle-physical';
-import { evaluateSdf } from './evaluate-sdf';
-import { Physical } from '../physicals/physical';
-import { ReactToCollisionCommand } from '../../commands/react-to-collision';
-
-export const moveCircle = (
-  circle: CirclePhysical,
-  delta: vec2,
-  possibleIntersectors: Array<Physical>,
-  ignoreCollision = false,
-): {
-  hitSurface: boolean;
-  normal?: vec2;
-  hitObject?: GameObject;
-} => {
-  const direction = vec2.clone(delta);
-
-  if (vec2.length(delta) > 0) {
-    vec2.normalize(direction, direction);
-  }
-
-  const deltaLength = vec2.length(delta);
-  let travelled = 0;
-  const rayEnd = vec2.create();
-  let prevMinDistance = 0;
-  while (travelled < deltaLength) {
-    travelled += prevMinDistance;
-    vec2.add(
-      rayEnd,
-      circle.center,
-      vec2.scale(vec2.create(), direction, Math.min(travelled, deltaLength)),
-    );
-
-    const minDistance = evaluateSdf(rayEnd, possibleIntersectors);
-
-    if (minDistance < circle.radius) {
-      const intersecting = possibleIntersectors.find(
-        (i) => i.distance(rayEnd) <= circle.radius,
-      )!;
-
-      if (ignoreCollision) {
-        circle.center = vec2.add(circle.center, circle.center, delta);
-      } else {
-        intersecting.handleCommand(new ReactToCollisionCommand(circle.gameObject));
-        circle.handleCommand(new ReactToCollisionCommand(intersecting.gameObject));
-      }
-
-      vec2.add(
-        rayEnd,
-        circle.center,
-        vec2.scale(vec2.create(), direction, travelled - prevMinDistance),
-      );
-
-      vec2.copy(circle.center, rayEnd);
-
-      const dx =
-        evaluateSdf(vec2.add(vec2.create(), rayEnd, vec2.fromValues(0.01, 0)), [
-          intersecting,
-        ]) -
-        evaluateSdf(vec2.add(vec2.create(), rayEnd, vec2.fromValues(-0.01, 0)), [
-          intersecting,
-        ]);
-      const dy =
-        evaluateSdf(vec2.add(vec2.create(), rayEnd, vec2.fromValues(0, 0.01)), [
-          intersecting,
-        ]) -
-        evaluateSdf(vec2.add(vec2.create(), rayEnd, vec2.fromValues(0, -0.01)), [
-          intersecting,
-        ]);
-      const normal = vec2.fromValues(dx, dy);
-      vec2.normalize(normal, normal);
-      return {
-        hitSurface: true,
-        normal,
-        hitObject: intersecting?.gameObject,
-      };
-    }
-
-    prevMinDistance = minDistance;
-  }
-
-  vec2.add(circle.center, circle.center, delta);
-
-  return {
-    hitSurface: false,
-  };
-};
diff --git a/backend/src/players/npc.ts b/backend/src/players/npc.ts
index 7bcb3f7..23177b6 100644
--- a/backend/src/players/npc.ts
+++ b/backend/src/players/npc.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ const npcTuning = {
   spreadBase: 60,
   spreadPerDistance: 0.08,
   spreadAggressionFalloff: 1.3,
+
+  // Per-second chance to hop while grounded and on the move, so bots use the
+  // leap verb too instead of being grounded targets.
+  leapChancePerSecond: 0.35,
 };
 
 export class NPC extends PlayerBase {
@@ -141,6 +145,16 @@ export class NPC extends PlayerBase {
     const movement = this.decideMovement(this.nearObjects);
     this.character.handleMovementAction(new MoveActionCommand(movement));
 
+    if (
+      !this.isComingBack &&
+      this.character.groundPlanet &&
+      vec2.length(movement) > 0 &&
+      Random.getRandom() <
+        npcTuning.leapChancePerSecond * this.aggression * deltaTimeInSeconds
+    ) {
+      this.character.leap();
+    }
+
     if (
       (this.timeSinceLastShoot += deltaTimeInSeconds) > npcTuning.shootIntervalSeconds
     ) {
diff --git a/backend/src/players/player-container.ts b/backend/src/players/player-container.ts
index 5faea71..afc67bb 100644
--- a/backend/src/players/player-container.ts
+++ b/backend/src/players/player-container.ts
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ export class PlayerContainer {
 
   private getTeamOfNextPlayer(isNpc = false): CharacterTeam {
     const players = isNpc ? this.players : this._players;
-    const declaCount = players.filter((p) => p.team === CharacterTeam.decla).length;
+    const blueCount = players.filter((p) => p.team === CharacterTeam.blue).length;
     const redCount = players.filter((p) => p.team === CharacterTeam.red).length;
 
-    if ((declaCount === redCount && Random.getRandom() >= 0.5) || declaCount < redCount) {
-      return CharacterTeam.decla;
+    if ((blueCount === redCount && Random.getRandom() >= 0.5) || blueCount < redCount) {
+      return CharacterTeam.blue;
     } else {
       return CharacterTeam.red;
     }
diff --git a/backend/src/players/player.ts b/backend/src/players/player.ts
index 1478029..ca563fc 100644
--- a/backend/src/players/player.ts
+++ b/backend/src/players/player.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { performance } from 'perf_hooks';
 import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
 import {
   CommandExecutors,
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ import {
   PropertyUpdatesForObjects,
   PropertyUpdatesForObject,
   PrimaryActionCommand,
+  LeapActionCommand,
+  InputAcknowledgement,
 } from 'shared';
 import { Socket } from 'socket.io';
 import { BoundingBox } from '../physics/bounding-boxes/bounding-box';
@@ -36,14 +39,27 @@ export class Player extends PlayerBase {
   private timeUntilRespawn = 0;
   private timeSinceLastMessage = 0;
   private objectsPreviouslyInViewArea: Array<GameObject> = [];
+  private lastInputClientTimeMs = 0;
+  private lastLeapClientTimeMs = 0;
 
   protected commandExecutors: CommandExecutors = {
     [SetAspectRatioActionCommand.type]: (v: SetAspectRatioActionCommand) =>
       (this.aspectRatio = v.aspectRatio),
-    [MoveActionCommand.type]: (c: MoveActionCommand) =>
-      this.character?.handleMovementAction(c),
+    [MoveActionCommand.type]: (c: MoveActionCommand) => {
+      // Remember how far into this client's input timeline we've consumed, to
+      // echo back for client-side prediction reconciliation.
+      this.lastInputClientTimeMs = c.clientTimeMs;
+      this.character?.handleMovementAction(c);
+    },
     [PrimaryActionCommand.type]: (c: PrimaryActionCommand) =>
       this.character?.shootTowards(c.position, c.charge),
+    [LeapActionCommand.type]: (c: LeapActionCommand) => {
+      // Record receipt (whether or not leap() accepts it): either way its effect
+      // on bodyVelocity is now reflected in the streamed launch momentum, so the
+      // predictor must stop replaying this leap.
+      this.lastLeapClientTimeMs = c.clientTimeMs;
+      this.character?.leap();
+    },
   };
 
   constructor(
@@ -99,6 +115,13 @@ export class Player extends PlayerBase {
       new Set(this.objectContainer.findIntersecting(bb).map((o) => o.gameObject)),
     );
 
+    // The owning character must always be in its own snapshot, regardless of the
+    // view-area query, so the client predictor never loses its authoritative
+    // anchor (the body can ride a fast spinner to the very edge of the box).
+    if (this.character && !objectsInViewArea.includes(this.character)) {
+      objectsInViewArea.push(this.character);
+    }
+
     const newlyIntersecting = objectsInViewArea.filter(
       (o) => !this.objectsPreviouslyInViewArea.includes(o),
     );
@@ -126,8 +149,22 @@ export class Player extends PlayerBase {
         this.objectsPreviouslyInViewArea
           .map((o) => o.getPropertyUpdates())
           .filter((u) => u) as Array<PropertyUpdatesForObject>,
+        performance.now() / 1000,
       ),
     );
+
+    // Tell the client how much of its own input is reflected in the snapshot it
+    // just received, so its predictor can replay the rest. Only while alive —
+    // a dead player isn't predicting.
+    if (this.character) {
+      this.queueCommandSend(
+        new InputAcknowledgement(
+          this.lastInputClientTimeMs,
+          this.character.launchMomentum,
+          this.lastLeapClientTimeMs,
+        ),
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   private getOtherPlayers(): Array<OtherPlayerDirection> {
diff --git a/frontend/.firebaserc b/frontend/.firebaserc
deleted file mode 100644
index 2f95982..0000000
--- a/frontend/.firebaserc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "projects": {
-    "default": "decla-red
-  }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/firebase.json b/frontend/firebase.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 2c33c29..0000000
--- a/frontend/firebase.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "hosting": {
-    "public": "dist",
-    "ignore": [
-      "firebase.json",
-      "**/.*",
-      "**/node_modules/**"
-    ],
-    "rewrites": [
-      {
-        "source": "**",
-        "destination": "/index.html"
-      }
-    ]
-  }
-}
diff --git a/frontend/package-lock.json b/frontend/package-lock.json
index 9652017..bfa9f49 100644
--- a/frontend/package-lock.json
+++ b/frontend/package-lock.json
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 {
-  "name": "decla.red-frontend",
+  "name": "doppler-frontend",
   "version": "0.0.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
-      "name": "decla.red-frontend",
+      "name": "doppler-frontend",
       "version": "0.0.0",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@plausible-analytics/tracker": "^0.4.5",
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 6dc2f68..fbf1d72 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "name": "decla.red-frontend",
+  "name": "doppler-frontend",
   "version": "0.0.0",
   "description": "",
   "keywords": [],
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.html b/frontend/src/index.html
index e04a9bc..0d4d201 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.html
+++ b/frontend/src/index.html
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
     />
     <meta name="theme-color" content="#b7455e" />
 
-    <meta property="og:url" content="https://decla.red" />
-    <meta property="og:image" content="https://decla.red/og-image.png" />
+    <meta property="og:url" content="https://doppler.schmelczer.dev" />
+    <meta property="og:image" content="https://doppler.schmelczer.dev/og-image.png" />
     <meta property="og:image:width" content="2086" />
     <meta property="og:image:height" content="940" />
     <meta
       property="og:image:alt"
-      content="Dimly lit planets surrounding a text saying 'decla.red'"
+      content="Dimly lit planets surrounding a text saying 'doppler'"
     />
     <meta name="theme-color" content="#b33951" />
     <meta
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="static/favicon-32x32.png" />
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="static/favicon-16x16.png" />
 
-    <title>decla.red</title>
+    <title>doppler</title>
   </head>
 
   <body>
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     <div id="overlay"></div>
 
     <section id="landing-ui">
-      <h1>decla.<span class="red">red</span></h1>
+      <h1>doppler</h1>
       <form id="join-game-form">
         <fieldset class="content">
           <legend>Join a game</legend>
diff --git a/frontend/src/main.scss b/frontend/src/main.scss
index 08e6889..5dcbb56 100644
--- a/frontend/src/main.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/main.scss
@@ -41,6 +41,18 @@ h1 {
   font-size: 6rem;
   text-align: center;
   padding-bottom: $medium-padding;
+  width: fit-content;
+  margin-inline: auto;
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, $bright-blue, $bright-red);
+  background-clip: text;
+  -webkit-background-clip: text;
+  color: transparent;
+
+  &::selection {
+    color: white;
+    -webkit-text-fill-color: white;
+    background-color: $accent;
+  }
 
   @media (max-width: $height-breakpoint) {
     font-size: 4.5rem;
@@ -51,15 +63,6 @@ h1 {
   }
 }
 
-.red {
-  color: $accent;
-
-  &::selection {
-    color: $accent;
-    background-color: white;
-  }
-}
-
 html,
 body,
 canvas {
@@ -126,14 +129,14 @@ body {
       border-radius: 1000px;
       transition: transform 200ms;
 
-      &.decla {
-        color: $bright-decla;
+      &.blue {
+        color: $bright-blue;
 
         .health {
-          background-color: $bright-decla;
+          background-color: $bright-blue;
 
           &:before {
-            background-color: $bright-decla;
+            background-color: $bright-blue;
             opacity: 0.3;
           }
         }
@@ -204,6 +207,14 @@ body {
       @include square(50px);
       border-radius: 1000px;
       mask-image: url('../static/mask.svg');
+
+      &.contested {
+        animation: contested-pulse 0.7s ease-in-out infinite;
+      }
+
+      &.keystone {
+        @include square(72px);
+      }
     }
 
     .falling-point {
@@ -211,8 +222,8 @@ body {
       font-weight: 700;
       animation: falling-point 2s ease-out forwards;
 
-      &.decla {
-        color: $bright-decla;
+      &.blue {
+        color: $bright-blue;
       }
 
       &.red {
@@ -232,8 +243,8 @@ body {
       mask-image: url('../static/chevron.svg');
       mask-size: contain;
 
-      &.decla {
-        background-color: $bright-decla;
+      &.blue {
+        background-color: $bright-blue;
       }
 
       &.red {
@@ -241,6 +252,34 @@ body {
       }
     }
 
+    // Off-screen pointer to the keystone "Heart", tinted by its current owner.
+    .keystone-arrow {
+      transition: transform 150ms;
+      opacity: 0.9;
+
+      @include square($large-icon);
+
+      @media (max-width: $breakpoint) {
+        @include square($small-icon);
+      }
+
+      mask-image: url('../static/chevron.svg');
+      mask-size: contain;
+      background-color: $bright-neutral;
+
+      &.blue {
+        background-color: $bright-blue;
+      }
+
+      &.red {
+        background-color: $bright-red;
+      }
+
+      &.neutral {
+        background-color: $bright-neutral;
+      }
+    }
+
     .joystick {
       @include square($large-icon * 1.3);
       background-color: white;
@@ -293,6 +332,15 @@ body {
         }
       }
 
+      &.leap {
+        right: $medium-padding;
+        bottom: $medium-padding + $large-icon * 1.6 + $small-padding;
+
+        &::after {
+          content: '\25B2';
+        }
+      }
+
       .strength-ring {
         position: absolute;
         top: -3px;
@@ -324,8 +372,8 @@ body {
         display: none;
       }
 
-      .decla {
-        color: $bright-decla;
+      .blue {
+        color: $bright-blue;
       }
 
       .red {
@@ -374,10 +422,10 @@ body {
         transition: width $animation-time;
       }
 
-      .fill.decla {
+      .fill.blue {
         right: 50%;
-        background: $bright-decla;
-        color: $bright-decla;
+        background: $bright-blue;
+        color: $bright-blue;
         border-radius: 1000px 0 0 1000px;
       }
 
@@ -425,7 +473,7 @@ body {
           font-size $animation-time;
       }
 
-      .score.decla {
+      .score.blue {
         right: calc(50% + #{$small-padding});
       }
 
@@ -438,10 +486,10 @@ body {
         font-size: 1.2rem;
       }
 
-      .score.decla.leading {
+      .score.blue.leading {
         text-shadow:
           0 0 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95),
-          0 0 8px $bright-decla;
+          0 0 8px $bright-blue;
       }
 
       .score.red.leading {
@@ -471,9 +519,9 @@ body {
           border-bottom: 5px solid currentColor;
         }
 
-        &.decla {
+        &.blue {
           right: calc(50% + #{$small-padding});
-          color: $bright-decla;
+          color: $bright-blue;
         }
 
         &.red {
@@ -569,6 +617,16 @@ body {
     }
 
     animation: hitmarker-pop 250ms ease-out forwards;
+
+    &.charged {
+
+      &::before,
+      &::after {
+        width: 18px;
+        height: 3px;
+        background-color: $accent;
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   .kill-popup {
@@ -581,6 +639,10 @@ body {
     text-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9);
     animation: kill-popup-rise 1200ms ease-out forwards;
 
+    &.charged {
+      color: $accent;
+    }
+
     .heal {
       color: #6fcf6f;
     }
@@ -623,6 +685,18 @@ body {
   }
 }
 
+@keyframes contested-pulse {
+
+  0%,
+  100% {
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+
+  50% {
+    opacity: 0.35;
+  }
+}
+
 .charge-ring {
   position: fixed;
   @include square(56px);
@@ -646,6 +720,7 @@ body {
 }
 
 @keyframes match-point-pulse {
+
   0%,
   100% {
     box-shadow: 0 0 4px 0 currentColor;
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/analytics.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/analytics.ts
index 474cb7a..e732cc4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/analytics.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/analytics.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { init as plausibleInit } from '@plausible-analytics/tracker';
 
 const ANALYTICS_AUTO_CAPTURE_PAGEVIEWS = true;
-const ANALYTICS_DOMAIN = 'decla.red';
+const ANALYTICS_DOMAIN = 'doppler.schmelczer.dev';
 const ANALYTICS_ENDPOINT = 'https://stats.schmelczer.dev/status';
 const ANALYTICS_LOGGING = process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production';
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/commands/keyboard-listener.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/commands/keyboard-listener.ts
index f16ce42..342d851 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/commands/keyboard-listener.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/commands/keyboard-listener.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
-import { CommandGenerator, MoveActionCommand } from 'shared';
+import { CommandGenerator, LeapActionCommand, MoveActionCommand } from 'shared';
+import { localCharacterPredictor } from '../helper/prediction/local-character-predictor';
 
 export class KeyboardListener extends CommandGenerator {
   private keysDown: Set<string> = new Set();
@@ -13,7 +14,14 @@ export class KeyboardListener extends CommandGenerator {
   }
 
   private keyDownListener = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
-    this.keysDown.add(event.key.toLowerCase());
+    const key = event.key.toLowerCase();
+    // Space leaps (W / ArrowUp already cover walking up). Edge-triggered so a
+    // held key's auto-repeat doesn't spam leaps.
+    if ((key === ' ' || key === 'shift') && !this.keysDown.has(key)) {
+      const clientTimeMs = localCharacterPredictor.recordLeap();
+      this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new LeapActionCommand(clientTimeMs));
+    }
+    this.keysDown.add(key);
     this.generateCommands();
   };
 
@@ -28,11 +36,7 @@ export class KeyboardListener extends CommandGenerator {
   };
 
   private generateCommands() {
-    const up = ~~(
-      this.keysDown.has('w') ||
-      this.keysDown.has('arrowup') ||
-      this.keysDown.has(' ')
-    );
+    const up = ~~(this.keysDown.has('w') || this.keysDown.has('arrowup'));
     const down = ~~(this.keysDown.has('s') || this.keysDown.has('arrowdown'));
     const left = ~~(this.keysDown.has('a') || this.keysDown.has('arrowleft'));
     const right = ~~(this.keysDown.has('d') || this.keysDown.has('arrowright'));
@@ -42,7 +46,8 @@ export class KeyboardListener extends CommandGenerator {
       vec2.normalize(movement, movement);
     }
 
-    this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new MoveActionCommand(movement));
+    const clientTimeMs = localCharacterPredictor.recordInput(movement);
+    this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new MoveActionCommand(movement, clientTimeMs));
   }
 
   public destroy() {
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/commands/touch-listener.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/commands/touch-listener.ts
index 4ecb6bf..9dd2cfa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/commands/touch-listener.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/commands/touch-listener.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ import {
   MoveActionCommand,
   last,
   PrimaryActionCommand,
+  LeapActionCommand,
   holdDurationToCharge,
   settings,
 } from 'shared';
 import { Game } from '../game';
 import { ChargeIndicator } from '../charge-indicator';
+import { localCharacterPredictor } from '../helper/prediction/local-character-predictor';
 
 export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
   private static readonly deadZone = 8;
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
 
   private fireButton: HTMLElement;
   private fireStrengthRing: HTMLElement;
+  private leapButton: HTMLElement;
 
   private fireDownAt: number | null = null;
 
@@ -46,7 +49,12 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
     this.fireButton.addEventListener('touchstart', this.fireButtonDownListener);
     this.fireButton.addEventListener('touchend', this.fireButtonUpListener);
 
+    this.leapButton = document.createElement('div');
+    this.leapButton.className = 'touch-button leap';
+    this.leapButton.addEventListener('touchstart', this.leapButtonListener);
+
     this.overlay.appendChild(this.fireButton);
+    this.overlay.appendChild(this.leapButton);
 
     target.addEventListener('touchstart', this.touchStartListener);
     target.addEventListener('touchmove', this.touchMoveListener);
@@ -101,12 +109,17 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
     vec2.set(delta, delta.x, -delta.y);
     if (deltaLength > TouchListener.deadZone) {
       const direction = vec2.normalize(delta, delta);
-      this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new MoveActionCommand(direction));
+      this.sendMove(direction);
     } else {
-      this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new MoveActionCommand(vec2.create()));
+      this.sendMove(vec2.create());
     }
   };
 
+  private sendMove(direction: vec2) {
+    const clientTimeMs = localCharacterPredictor.recordInput(direction);
+    this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new MoveActionCommand(direction, clientTimeMs));
+  }
+
   private touchEndListener = (event: TouchEvent) => {
     event.preventDefault();
 
@@ -127,7 +140,7 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
     } else if (event.touches.length === 0) {
       this.isJoystickActive = false;
       this.joystick.parentElement?.removeChild(this.joystick);
-      this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new MoveActionCommand(vec2.create()));
+      this.sendMove(vec2.create());
     }
   };
 
@@ -136,6 +149,12 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
     event.stopPropagation();
   };
 
+  private leapButtonListener = (event: TouchEvent) => {
+    this.swallowTouch(event);
+    const clientTimeMs = localCharacterPredictor.recordLeap();
+    this.sendCommandToSubscribers(new LeapActionCommand(clientTimeMs));
+  };
+
   private fireButtonDownListener = (event: TouchEvent) => {
     this.swallowTouch(event);
     this.fireDownAt = performance.now();
@@ -170,6 +189,9 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
     if (!this.fireButton.parentElement) {
       this.overlay.appendChild(this.fireButton);
     }
+    if (!this.leapButton.parentElement) {
+      this.overlay.appendChild(this.leapButton);
+    }
 
     const character = this.game.gameObjects.player;
     if (character) {
@@ -186,7 +208,9 @@ export class TouchListener extends CommandGenerator {
 
     this.fireButton.removeEventListener('touchstart', this.fireButtonDownListener);
     this.fireButton.removeEventListener('touchend', this.fireButtonUpListener);
+    this.leapButton.removeEventListener('touchstart', this.leapButtonListener);
 
     this.fireButton.parentElement?.removeChild(this.fireButton);
+    this.leapButton.parentElement?.removeChild(this.leapButton);
   }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/configuration.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/configuration.ts
index d3b16fe..9ab3fb6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/configuration.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/configuration.ts
@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 /**
  * Hardcoded list of game servers the landing page offers to players.
  *
- * Each entry is the public origin of a dockerized `declared-server` instance.
+ * Each entry is the public origin of a dockerized `doppler-server` instance.
  * The join screen polls `<origin>/state` (see `serverInformationEndpoint`) and
  * only shows a server once it responds, so listing an offline origin here is
  * harmless. Add or remove origins as you deploy more server containers.
  */
+// This origin predates the rebrand; update it once the game server is
+// redeployed under a doppler subdomain.
 const productionServers: Array<string> = ['https://declared.schmelczer.dev'];
 
 /**
  * When the page is served from localhost (i.e. the webpack-dev-server), also
  * offer the local backend so a `npm start` server can be joined during
  * development. The backend's default port is 3000 (see backend/src/options.ts).
- * In production the hostname is `declared.schmelczer.dev`, so this never leaks.
+ * In production the page is served from its own hostname, so this never leaks.
  */
 const isDevelopment =
   typeof location !== 'undefined' &&
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/feedback-hud.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/feedback-hud.ts
index 801828b..316aecf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/feedback-hud.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/feedback-hud.ts
@@ -33,17 +33,19 @@ export abstract class FeedbackHud {
     setTimeout(() => element.parentElement?.removeChild(element), lifetimeMs);
   }
 
-  public static hitMarker() {
+  public static hitMarker(charge = 0) {
     const { x, y } = this.focusPoint();
     const marker = document.createElement('div');
-    marker.className = 'hitmarker';
+    marker.className =
+      'hitmarker' + (charge >= settings.chargedHitThreshold ? ' charged' : '');
     marker.style.left = `${x}px`;
     marker.style.top = `${y}px`;
     this.addTransient(marker, 250);
   }
 
-  public static killConfirmed(victimName?: string, streak = 1) {
+  public static killConfirmed(victimName?: string, streak = 1, charge = 0) {
     const { killfeed } = this.ensureRoot();
+    const charged = charge >= settings.chargedHitThreshold;
 
     const entry = document.createElement('div');
     entry.className = 'kill-entry';
@@ -53,13 +55,13 @@ export abstract class FeedbackHud {
 
     const { x, y } = this.focusPoint();
     const popup = document.createElement('div');
-    popup.className = 'kill-popup';
+    popup.className = 'kill-popup' + (charged ? ' charged' : '');
     popup.innerHTML = `+${settings.playerKillPoint} <span class="heal">+${settings.playerKillHealthReward}❤</span>`;
     popup.style.left = `${x}px`;
     popup.style.top = `${y}px`;
     this.addTransient(popup, 1200);
 
-    const callout = this.streakName(streak);
+    const callout = this.streakName(streak) ?? (charged ? 'Charged Kill!' : undefined);
     if (callout) {
       const el = document.createElement('div');
       el.className = 'streak-callout';
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts
index bce7784..cad62cd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   CommandExecutors,
   Command,
   settings,
+  InputAcknowledgement,
 } from 'shared';
 import { io, Socket } from 'socket.io-client';
 import { KeyboardListener } from './commands/keyboard-listener';
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ import { CharacterShape } from './shapes/character-shape';
 import { PlanetShape } from './shapes/planet-shape';
 import { RenderCommand } from './commands/types/render';
 import { StepCommand } from './commands/types/step';
+import { serverTimeline } from './helper/server-timeline';
+import { localCharacterPredictor } from './helper/prediction/local-character-predictor';
 import { Tutorial } from './tutorial';
 import { Scoreboard } from './scoreboard';
 
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@ export class Game extends CommandReceiver {
   private scoreboard = new Scoreboard();
   private announcementText = document.createElement('h2');
   private arrows: { [id: number]: HTMLElement } = {};
+  private keystoneArrow?: HTMLElement;
   private socketReceiver!: CommandSocket;
   private tutorial!: Tutorial;
 
@@ -74,9 +78,12 @@ export class Game extends CommandReceiver {
     this.isBetweenGames = true;
 
     this.socket?.close();
+    serverTimeline.reset();
+    localCharacterPredictor.reset();
     this.gameObjects = new GameObjectContainer(this);
     this.overlay.innerHTML = '';
     this.arrows = {};
+    this.keystoneArrow = undefined;
     this.isEnding = false;
     this.lastAnnouncementText = '';
     this.overlay.appendChild(this.scoreboard.element);
@@ -146,6 +153,12 @@ export class Game extends CommandReceiver {
       this.timeSinceLastAnnouncement = 0;
     },
     [UpdateGameState.type]: (c: UpdateGameState) => (this.lastGameState = c),
+    [InputAcknowledgement.type]: (c: InputAcknowledgement) =>
+      localCharacterPredictor.acknowledge(
+        c.clientTimeMs,
+        c.bodyVelocity,
+        c.lastLeapClientTimeMs,
+      ),
     [GameEndCommand.type]: () => (this.isEnding = true),
     [UpdateOtherPlayerDirections.type]: (c: UpdateOtherPlayerDirections) =>
       (this.lastOtherPlayerDirections = c),
@@ -274,6 +287,11 @@ export class Game extends CommandReceiver {
     this.resolveStarted();
     deltaTime /= 1000;
 
+    // Stepped before the end-game time scaling on purpose: the slow motion is
+    // already baked into the snapshots the server sends, so the playback
+    // cursor itself must keep running on wall-clock time.
+    serverTimeline.step(deltaTime);
+
     let shouldChangeLayout = false;
     if (++this.framesSinceLastLayoutUpdate > 1) {
       shouldChangeLayout = true;
@@ -318,6 +336,71 @@ export class Game extends CommandReceiver {
       this.handleOtherPlayerDirections(this.lastOtherPlayerDirections);
     }
 
+    this.handleKeystoneArrow();
+
     this.announcementText.innerHTML = this.lastAnnouncementText;
   }
+
+  // Points an off-screen chevron toward the keystone "Heart" planet, tinted by
+  // who currently holds it, so the match's focal objective is always findable.
+  private handleKeystoneArrow() {
+    if (!this.renderer) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const keystone = this.gameObjects.planets.find((p) => p.isKeystone);
+    if (!keystone) {
+      if (this.keystoneArrow) {
+        this.keystoneArrow.style.display = 'none';
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!this.keystoneArrow) {
+      this.keystoneArrow = document.createElement('div');
+      this.overlay.appendChild(this.keystoneArrow);
+    }
+
+    const width = this.renderer.canvasSize.x;
+    const height = this.renderer.canvasSize.y;
+    const display = this.renderer.worldToDisplayCoordinates(keystone.center);
+    const margin = 48;
+    const onScreen =
+      display.x >= margin &&
+      display.x <= width - margin &&
+      display.y >= margin &&
+      display.y <= height - margin;
+
+    const control = Math.abs(keystone.ownership - 0.5);
+    const team =
+      control < settings.planetControlThreshold
+        ? 'neutral'
+        : keystone.ownership < 0.5
+          ? 'blue'
+          : 'red';
+    this.keystoneArrow.className = 'keystone-arrow ' + team;
+
+    if (onScreen) {
+      this.keystoneArrow.style.display = 'none';
+      return;
+    }
+    this.keystoneArrow.style.display = 'block';
+
+    const center = vec2.fromValues(width / 2, height / 2);
+    const dir = vec2.fromValues(display.x - center.x, display.y - center.y);
+    const angle = Math.atan2(dir.y, dir.x);
+
+    const aspectRatio = width / height;
+    const directionRatio = dir.x / dir.y;
+    let deltaX: number, deltaY: number;
+    if (aspectRatio < Math.abs(directionRatio)) {
+      deltaX = (width / 2 - margin) * Math.sign(dir.x);
+      deltaY = deltaX / directionRatio;
+    } else {
+      deltaY = (height / 2 - margin) * Math.sign(dir.y);
+      deltaX = deltaY * directionRatio;
+    }
+
+    const p = vec2.add(center, center, vec2.fromValues(deltaX, deltaY));
+    this.keystoneArrow.style.transform = `translateX(${p.x}px) translateY(${p.y}px) translateX(-50%) translateY(-50%) rotate(${angle + Math.PI / 2}rad)`;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/linear-extrapolator.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/linear-extrapolator.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 9154fc1..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/linear-extrapolator.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-export class LinearExtrapolator {
-  private velocity = 0;
-  private compensationVelocity = 0;
-  private timeSinceSet = 0;
-
-  constructor(private currentValue: number) {}
-
-  public addFrame(value: number, rateOfChange: number) {
-    this.timeSinceSet = 0;
-    const differenceFromCurrent = value - this.currentValue;
-
-    if (Math.abs(differenceFromCurrent) > 200) {
-      this.currentValue = value;
-      this.compensationVelocity = 0;
-    } else {
-      this.compensationVelocity = differenceFromCurrent / (1 / 30);
-    }
-
-    this.velocity = rateOfChange;
-  }
-
-  public getValue(deltaTime: number): number {
-    this.currentValue += deltaTime * this.velocity;
-
-    const compensationTimeLeft = 1 / 30 - this.timeSinceSet;
-
-    if (compensationTimeLeft > 0) {
-      this.currentValue +=
-        Math.min(compensationTimeLeft, deltaTime) * this.compensationVelocity;
-    }
-
-    this.timeSinceSet += deltaTime;
-
-    return this.currentValue;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/circle-extrapolator.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/circle-interpolator.ts
similarity index 53%
rename from frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/circle-extrapolator.ts
rename to frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/circle-interpolator.ts
index e5b4d45..62816e5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/circle-extrapolator.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/circle-interpolator.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 import { Circle } from 'shared';
-import { LinearExtrapolator } from './linear-extrapolator';
-import { Vec2Extrapolator } from './vec2-extrapolator';
+import { LinearInterpolator } from './linear-interpolator';
+import { Vec2Interpolator } from './vec2-interpolator';
 
-export class CircleExtrapolator {
-  private center: Vec2Extrapolator;
-  private radius: LinearExtrapolator;
+export class CircleInterpolator {
+  private center: Vec2Interpolator;
+  private radius: LinearInterpolator;
 
   constructor(currentValue: Circle) {
-    this.center = new Vec2Extrapolator(currentValue.center);
-    this.radius = new LinearExtrapolator(currentValue.radius);
+    this.center = new Vec2Interpolator(currentValue.center);
+    this.radius = new LinearInterpolator(currentValue.radius);
   }
 
   public addFrame(value: Circle, rateOfChange: Circle) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/linear-interpolator.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/linear-interpolator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcc23b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/linear-interpolator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { last, mix } from 'shared';
+import { serverTimeline } from '../server-timeline';
+
+interface Frame {
+  time: number;
+  value: number;
+  velocity: number;
+}
+
+// How far past the newest snapshot the value may coast on its last known
+// velocity (network hiccup) before freezing in place.
+const maxCoastSeconds = 0.06;
+
+// When fresh snapshots arrive after a coast, they usually disagree with where
+// the coast ended up; the difference decays away with this time constant
+// instead of being shown as a jump.
+const blendSeconds = 0.12;
+
+// At 25 snapshots per second this spans over a second of state, far more than
+// rendering ever needs; it only bounds memory while the tab is hidden and
+// snapshots keep arriving without being consumed.
+const maxFrames = 32;
+
+/**
+ * Replays a server-streamed scalar by interpolating between timestamped
+ * snapshots at the shared timeline's render time, which trails the newest
+ * snapshot. The streamed rate of change is only used to coast briefly when
+ * the buffer runs dry.
+ */
+export class LinearInterpolator {
+  private frames: Array<Frame> = [];
+  private blendOffset = 0;
+  private lastValue: number;
+  private isCoasting = false;
+
+  constructor(private readonly initialValue: number) {
+    this.lastValue = initialValue;
+  }
+
+  public addFrame(value: number, rateOfChange: number) {
+    const time = serverTimeline.snapshotTime;
+    const newest = last(this.frames);
+    const wasCoasting = this.isCoasting;
+
+    if (newest && time <= newest.time) {
+      this.frames[this.frames.length - 1] = {
+        time: newest.time,
+        value,
+        velocity: rateOfChange,
+      };
+    } else {
+      this.frames.push({ time, value, velocity: rateOfChange });
+      if (this.frames.length > maxFrames) {
+        this.frames.shift();
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (wasCoasting) {
+      // Continue from where the coast left off and let the offset decay,
+      // instead of jumping onto the freshly revealed trajectory.
+      this.blendOffset = this.lastValue - this.sample(serverTimeline.renderTime);
+    }
+  }
+
+  public getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds: number): number {
+    this.blendOffset *= Math.exp(-deltaTimeInSeconds / blendSeconds);
+    return (this.lastValue = this.sample(serverTimeline.renderTime) + this.blendOffset);
+  }
+
+  private sample(time: number): number {
+    if (this.frames.length === 0) {
+      return this.initialValue;
+    }
+
+    while (this.frames.length >= 2 && this.frames[1].time <= time) {
+      this.frames.shift();
+    }
+
+    const [current, next] = this.frames;
+    this.isCoasting = false;
+
+    if (time <= current.time) {
+      return current.value;
+    }
+
+    if (next) {
+      return mix(
+        current.value,
+        next.value,
+        (time - current.time) / (next.time - current.time),
+      );
+    }
+
+    this.isCoasting = true;
+    return (
+      current.value + current.velocity * Math.min(time - current.time, maxCoastSeconds)
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/vec2-extrapolator.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/vec2-interpolator.ts
similarity index 57%
rename from frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/vec2-extrapolator.ts
rename to frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/vec2-interpolator.ts
index 72ae904..ae6fb52 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/extrapolators/vec2-extrapolator.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/interpolators/vec2-interpolator.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
-import { LinearExtrapolator } from './linear-extrapolator';
+import { LinearInterpolator } from './linear-interpolator';
 
-export class Vec2Extrapolator {
-  private x: LinearExtrapolator;
-  private y: LinearExtrapolator;
+export class Vec2Interpolator {
+  private x: LinearInterpolator;
+  private y: LinearInterpolator;
 
   constructor(currentValue: vec2) {
-    this.x = new LinearExtrapolator(currentValue.x);
-    this.y = new LinearExtrapolator(currentValue.y);
+    this.x = new LinearInterpolator(currentValue.x);
+    this.y = new LinearInterpolator(currentValue.y);
   }
 
   public addFrame(value: vec2, rateOfChange: vec2) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/client-character-world.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/client-character-world.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a08dbc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/client-character-world.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import {
+  CharacterWorld,
+  GroundSurface,
+  Id,
+  PhysicsBody,
+  planetDistance,
+  planetGravity,
+  resolveCircleMovement,
+} from 'shared';
+
+// What the predictor needs to know about a planet to collide and be pulled by
+// it. The client reads this off its PlanetViews.
+export interface PredictablePlanet {
+  id: Id;
+  vertices: Array<vec2>;
+  center: vec2;
+  radius: number;
+  rotation: number;
+  rotationSpeed: number;
+}
+
+// A planet collision/gravity surface whose rotation can be advanced during
+// replay, so its outline turns in lockstep with the body the carry term moves —
+// exactly as the server steps the planet before the character each tick.
+class PlanetSurface implements GroundSurface {
+  public readonly canCollide = true;
+  public readonly isGround = true;
+  public readonly id: Id;
+  public center: vec2;
+  public angularVelocity: number;
+  private vertices: Array<vec2>;
+  private radius: number;
+  private rotation = 0;
+  private cos = 1;
+  private sin = 0;
+
+  constructor(planet: PredictablePlanet) {
+    this.id = planet.id;
+    this.center = planet.center;
+    this.vertices = planet.vertices;
+    this.radius = planet.radius;
+    this.angularVelocity = planet.rotationSpeed;
+    this.setRotation(planet.rotation);
+  }
+
+  public sync(planet: PredictablePlanet) {
+    this.center = planet.center;
+    this.vertices = planet.vertices;
+    this.radius = planet.radius;
+    this.angularVelocity = planet.rotationSpeed;
+    this.setRotation(planet.rotation);
+  }
+
+  private setRotation(rotation: number) {
+    this.rotation = rotation;
+    this.cos = Math.cos(rotation);
+    this.sin = Math.sin(rotation);
+  }
+
+  public advance(deltaTimeInSeconds: number) {
+    this.setRotation(this.rotation + this.angularVelocity * deltaTimeInSeconds);
+  }
+
+  public distance(target: vec2): number {
+    return planetDistance(target, this.vertices, this.center, this.cos, this.sin);
+  }
+
+  public gravityAt(target: vec2): vec2 {
+    return planetGravity(this.center, this.radius, target);
+  }
+}
+
+// The planets-only collision world the local predictor runs against. It holds
+// persistent surfaces keyed by planet id (so a `currentPlanet` reference stays
+// valid across frames) and never dispatches collision reactions — damage,
+// scoring and the like are server-authoritative.
+export class ClientCharacterWorld implements CharacterWorld {
+  private surfaces = new Map<Id, PlanetSurface>();
+  private ordered: Array<PlanetSurface> = [];
+
+  // Refresh from the current PlanetViews. Far planets contribute zero gravity
+  // (the falloff clamps to 0 past maxGravityDistance) and never collide, so the
+  // whole set can be handed to every query without a range filter. Ordered by
+  // id so the (rare) two-surface contact picks a stable surface.
+  public sync(planets: Array<PredictablePlanet>) {
+    const seen = new Set<Id>();
+    for (const planet of planets) {
+      seen.add(planet.id);
+      const existing = this.surfaces.get(planet.id);
+      if (existing) {
+        existing.sync(planet);
+      } else {
+        this.surfaces.set(planet.id, new PlanetSurface(planet));
+      }
+    }
+    for (const id of [...this.surfaces.keys()]) {
+      if (!seen.has(id)) {
+        this.surfaces.delete(id);
+      }
+    }
+    this.ordered = [...this.surfaces.entries()]
+      .sort((a, b) => Number(a[0]) - Number(b[0]))
+      .map((e) => e[1]);
+  }
+
+  // Advance every planet's collision frame by one replay substep, so surfaces
+  // and the carried body rotate together. The surfaces are re-synced to the
+  // newest snapshot rotation each frame (see sync), so the replay only ever
+  // steps forward from there.
+  public advance(deltaTimeInSeconds: number) {
+    for (const surface of this.ordered) {
+      surface.advance(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    }
+  }
+
+  public surfaceById(id: Id | undefined): GroundSurface | undefined {
+    return id == null ? undefined : this.surfaces.get(id);
+  }
+
+  public idOf(surface: GroundSurface | undefined): Id | undefined {
+    return surface instanceof PlanetSurface ? surface.id : undefined;
+  }
+
+  public groundsNear(): Array<GroundSurface> {
+    return this.ordered;
+  }
+
+  public stepBody(
+    body: PhysicsBody,
+    deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+  ): GroundSurface | undefined {
+    const { hitObject } = resolveCircleMovement(body, deltaTimeInSeconds, this.ordered);
+    return hitObject && (hitObject as GroundSurface).isGround
+      ? (hitObject as GroundSurface)
+      : undefined;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/input-history.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/input-history.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ec2604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/input-history.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+
+interface InputSample {
+  timeMs: number;
+  direction: vec2;
+}
+
+// Keep a little over a second of input — far more than any sane reconciliation
+// window — so a brief stall (or a backgrounded tab catching up) can still be
+// replayed, while old samples are pruned to bound memory.
+const retainMs = 1500;
+
+// A timeline of the local player's movement directions in client-clock time.
+// Each generated MoveActionCommand is stamped with the time this hands out, and
+// the same sample is recorded here so the predictor replays exactly the input
+// the server will eventually receive. Direction is piecewise-constant: the
+// active direction at any instant is the most recent sample at or before it.
+export class InputHistory {
+  private samples: Array<InputSample> = [];
+
+  public record(direction: vec2, timeMs: number): void {
+    this.samples.push({ timeMs, direction: vec2.clone(direction) });
+
+    const cutoff = timeMs - retainMs;
+    while (this.samples.length > 1 && this.samples[1].timeMs <= cutoff) {
+      this.samples.shift();
+    }
+  }
+
+  // The held direction at `timeMs`: the latest sample at or before it, or zero
+  // before any input exists.
+  public directionAt(timeMs: number): vec2 {
+    let direction = vec2.create();
+    for (const sample of this.samples) {
+      if (sample.timeMs <= timeMs) {
+        direction = sample.direction;
+      } else {
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    return vec2.clone(direction);
+  }
+
+  public reset(): void {
+    this.samples = [];
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/local-character-predictor.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/local-character-predictor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c147477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/prediction/local-character-predictor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,328 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import {
+  Circle,
+  CharacterMovementState,
+  Id,
+  PhysicsBody,
+  settings,
+  stepCharacterMovement,
+  applyLeapImpulse,
+  tickPlanetDetachment,
+  feetRadius,
+  headRadius,
+} from 'shared';
+import { ClientCharacterWorld, PredictablePlanet } from './client-character-world';
+import { InputHistory } from './input-history';
+
+const stepMs = 1000 / 200; // match the server's 200 Hz fixed tick
+const stepSeconds = 1 / 200;
+
+// Don't replay more than this far back: if the last acknowledged input is older
+// (a stall, or a backgrounded tab catching up) snap to the authoritative pose
+// instead of grinding through hundreds of steps.
+const maxReplayMs = 300;
+
+// Render-side easing of the correction the reconciliation produces each frame,
+// so a snapshot that disagrees with the prediction is smoothed out instead of
+// popping. Short, so the local player still feels immediate.
+const smoothSeconds = 0.06;
+
+// A correction bigger than this isn't prediction error — it's a respawn,
+// teleport, or a server-side impulse (leap / slingshot / recoil / death throw)
+// the predictor doesn't model. Snap to it rather than gliding across the gap.
+const snapDistance = 250;
+
+const makeBody = (center: vec2, radius: number): PhysicsBody => ({
+  center: vec2.clone(center),
+  radius,
+  velocity: vec2.create(),
+  lastNormal: vec2.fromValues(0, 1),
+  restitution: 0,
+});
+
+// Predicts the local player's character so it responds to input immediately,
+// instead of lagging ~100 ms + RTT behind like the interpolated remote objects.
+// Each frame it resets to the latest authoritative snapshot and replays the
+// player's own un-acknowledged input through the SAME movement simulation the
+// server runs (shared/stepCharacterMovement), then eases the rendered pose
+// toward the result. Discrete server-side impulses it can't model show up as a
+// large correction and snap rather than rubber-band.
+export class LocalCharacterPredictor {
+  private readonly inputHistory = new InputHistory();
+  private readonly world = new ClientCharacterWorld();
+
+  private authoritative?: { head: Circle; leftFoot: Circle; rightFoot: Circle };
+  private lastAckClientTimeMs?: number;
+  // Wall-clock (client) time the latest authoritative snapshot was received. The
+  // replay predicts forward from HERE by the snapshot's age, so the local pose
+  // advances smoothly with real time between the 25 Hz snapshots. Anchoring to
+  // the last *acked input* time instead breaks when input is sent only on change
+  // (a held key sends nothing): that time freezes, the window pins to the
+  // maxReplayMs clamp, the replay displacement goes constant, and the pose
+  // stair-steps at the snapshot rate.
+  private authReceiptMs = 0;
+  // Authoritative launch momentum at the last snapshot — seeds each replay so a
+  // leap/slingshot/recoil flight is reproduced and continuously corrected.
+  private authoritativeBodyVelocity = vec2.create();
+  // Wall-clock times the player issued a leap, replayed (with the impulse
+  // applied locally) so the launch is felt immediately, not after a round trip.
+  private leapHistory: Array<number> = [];
+  // clientTimeMs of the last leap the server has folded into the streamed
+  // momentum. Leaps at or before this are already in authoritativeBodyVelocity;
+  // only newer ones are replayed, so a leap is never applied twice.
+  private lastLeapAckMs = -Infinity;
+  // Latest streamed shooting-strength, to gate predicted leaps as the server does.
+  private currentStrength = settings.playerMaxStrength;
+
+  // Continuous state carried between replays (the snapshot carries only poses).
+  // The facing direction is NOT carried — it is re-derived from the pose each
+  // frame (see directionFromPose / simulate); only the latched planet and the
+  // time-since-surface persist.
+  private carriedPlanetId?: Id;
+  private carriedSecondsSinceSurface = 1;
+
+  // The eased, rendered pose handed to the view.
+  private renderHead = new Circle(vec2.create(), headRadius);
+  private renderLeftFoot = new Circle(vec2.create(), feetRadius);
+  private renderRightFoot = new Circle(vec2.create(), feetRadius);
+  private hasRender = false;
+
+  public get head(): Circle {
+    return this.renderHead;
+  }
+  public get leftFoot(): Circle {
+    return this.renderLeftFoot;
+  }
+  public get rightFoot(): Circle {
+    return this.renderRightFoot;
+  }
+
+  // Stamp a movement command and record it for replay. Returns the wall-clock
+  // time the command should carry so the server can echo it back.
+  public recordInput(direction: vec2): number {
+    const timeMs = Math.round(performance.now());
+    this.inputHistory.record(direction, timeMs);
+    return timeMs;
+  }
+
+  public acknowledge(
+    clientTimeMs: number,
+    bodyVelocity: vec2,
+    lastLeapClientTimeMs: number,
+  ): void {
+    // Inputs only advance the acknowledgement forward; the launch momentum and
+    // leap boundary always adopt the latest authoritative values.
+    if (this.lastAckClientTimeMs === undefined || clientTimeMs > this.lastAckClientTimeMs) {
+      this.lastAckClientTimeMs = clientTimeMs;
+    }
+    vec2.set(this.authoritativeBodyVelocity, bodyVelocity[0], bodyVelocity[1]);
+    this.lastLeapAckMs = lastLeapClientTimeMs;
+  }
+
+  public setAuthoritative(head: Circle, leftFoot: Circle, rightFoot: Circle): void {
+    this.authoritative = { head, leftFoot, rightFoot };
+    this.authReceiptMs = Math.round(performance.now());
+  }
+
+  // The player pressed leap; remember when, so the replay applies the same
+  // impulse the server will. Recorded regardless of whether the server accepts
+  // it — a rejected leap (no strength/cooldown) self-corrects via the streamed
+  // authoritative momentum.
+  public recordLeap(): number {
+    const timeMs = Math.round(performance.now());
+    this.leapHistory.push(timeMs);
+    const cutoff = timeMs - 1500;
+    while (this.leapHistory.length > 0 && this.leapHistory[0] <= cutoff) {
+      this.leapHistory.shift();
+    }
+    return timeMs;
+  }
+
+  public setStrength(strength: number): void {
+    this.currentStrength = strength;
+  }
+
+  public reset(): void {
+    this.inputHistory.reset();
+    this.leapHistory = [];
+    this.lastLeapAckMs = -Infinity;
+    this.authoritative = undefined;
+    this.lastAckClientTimeMs = undefined;
+    this.authReceiptMs = 0;
+    vec2.zero(this.authoritativeBodyVelocity);
+    this.currentStrength = settings.playerMaxStrength;
+    this.carriedPlanetId = undefined;
+    this.carriedSecondsSinceSurface = 1;
+    this.hasRender = false;
+  }
+
+  public get canPredict(): boolean {
+    return this.authoritative !== undefined && this.lastAckClientTimeMs !== undefined;
+  }
+
+  // During spawn-in and death the server freezes walking and only scales the
+  // body (CharacterPhysical.step returns early), so its head radius is below
+  // nominal. Predicting then would walk the body off a position the server is
+  // holding still — let interpolation show the animation instead.
+  private get isAnimatingInOrOut(): boolean {
+    return (
+      this.authoritative !== undefined &&
+      this.authoritative.head.radius < headRadius - 0.5
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Run one frame of prediction. Returns true if it produced a rendered pose the
+  // caller should use (otherwise fall back to interpolation). `planets` is the
+  // current collision world; `frameSeconds` is the render delta.
+  public update(planets: Array<PredictablePlanet>, frameSeconds: number): boolean {
+    if (!this.canPredict || this.isAnimatingInOrOut) {
+      // Resume from the authoritative pose with a snap rather than gliding from
+      // a stale rendered one.
+      this.hasRender = false;
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    this.world.sync(planets);
+    const predicted = this.simulate();
+
+    if (!this.hasRender) {
+      this.snapRenderTo(predicted);
+      this.hasRender = true;
+    } else {
+      this.easeRenderTo(predicted, frameSeconds);
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // The body's facing angle is encoded in the pose: each part is sprung toward
+  // center + R(direction)*offset and the head's offset points +y, so
+  // direction = atan2(head - center) - PI/2. Re-deriving it from the snapshot
+  // each frame (rather than carrying the previous frame's evolved value onto
+  // this past pose, re-evolved by a variable substep count) keeps the posture
+  // seed a pure function of the snapshot — carrying it fed a frame-rate-dependent
+  // loop that wobbled the rendered limbs.
+  private directionFromPose(head: Circle, leftFoot: Circle, rightFoot: Circle): number {
+    const cx = (head.center[0] + leftFoot.center[0] + rightFoot.center[0]) / 3;
+    const cy = (head.center[1] + leftFoot.center[1] + rightFoot.center[1]) / 3;
+    return Math.atan2(head.center[1] - cy, head.center[0] - cx) - Math.PI / 2;
+  }
+
+  private simulate(): CharacterMovementState {
+    const auth = this.authoritative!;
+    const now = Math.round(performance.now());
+    // Predict forward from the latest snapshot by its age, clamped so a stall
+    // (or a backgrounded tab catching up) snaps instead of grinding hundreds of
+    // steps. This advances with wall-clock time even while a held key sends no
+    // fresh input, so the pose no longer pins to the 25 Hz snapshot cadence.
+    const startMs = Math.max(this.authReceiptMs, now - maxReplayMs);
+    const windowMs = Math.max(0, now - startMs);
+    const steps = Math.floor(windowMs / stepMs);
+    const remainderSeconds = (windowMs - steps * stepMs) / 1000;
+
+    const state: CharacterMovementState = {
+      head: makeBody(auth.head.center, auth.head.radius),
+      leftFoot: makeBody(auth.leftFoot.center, auth.leftFoot.radius),
+      rightFoot: makeBody(auth.rightFoot.center, auth.rightFoot.radius),
+      direction: this.directionFromPose(auth.head, auth.leftFoot, auth.rightFoot),
+      currentPlanet: this.world.surfaceById(this.carriedPlanetId),
+      secondsSinceOnSurface: this.carriedSecondsSinceSurface,
+      // Leaps before the replay window are already baked into this; leaps inside
+      // the window are re-applied below, so neither is double-counted.
+      bodyVelocity: vec2.clone(this.authoritativeBodyVelocity),
+    };
+
+    // The planet collision frames were synced (in update(), just before this)
+    // to the NEWEST snapshot's rotation — the same instant the authoritative
+    // body pose is from — so the body and the surface start the replay at the
+    // same phase. The loop below advances the surfaces FORWARD in lockstep with
+    // the body's carry from that shared phase, so no rewind is needed (and the
+    // persistent surfaces are re-synced next frame, so this never accumulates).
+
+    const cooldownMs = settings.leapCooldownSeconds * 1000;
+    // Mirror the server: each accepted leap spends leapStrengthCost, so a burst
+    // of leaps in one replay window is gated by the running strength rather than
+    // a single up-front affordability check.
+    let availableStrength = this.currentStrength;
+    let lastLeapMs = -Infinity;
+
+    let t = startMs;
+    for (let i = 0; i < steps; i++) {
+      const input = this.inputHistory.directionAt(t);
+      tickPlanetDetachment(state, stepSeconds);
+      stepCharacterMovement(state, this.world, input, stepSeconds);
+      this.world.advance(stepSeconds);
+
+      // A leap issued during this step launches now (the next step injects the
+      // momentum), gated like the server: on a surface, off cooldown, with
+      // strength. applyLeapImpulse is a no-op off-surface.
+      for (const leapMs of this.leapHistory) {
+        if (
+          leapMs >= t &&
+          leapMs < t + stepMs &&
+          // Only leaps the server hasn't yet folded into the seed, so a leap
+          // is never both seeded and replayed.
+          leapMs > this.lastLeapAckMs &&
+          state.currentPlanet &&
+          leapMs - lastLeapMs >= cooldownMs &&
+          availableStrength >= settings.leapStrengthCost
+        ) {
+          applyLeapImpulse(state, this.inputHistory.directionAt(leapMs));
+          availableStrength -= settings.leapStrengthCost;
+          lastLeapMs = leapMs;
+        }
+      }
+
+      t += stepMs;
+    }
+
+    // Final sub-tick of the leftover (< stepMs) so the predicted pose is a
+    // continuous function of the window length rather than advancing in 5 ms
+    // quanta — the floor() above would otherwise surface that as a per-frame
+    // wobble on top of the ~16.7 ms render cadence.
+    if (remainderSeconds > 0) {
+      tickPlanetDetachment(state, remainderSeconds);
+      stepCharacterMovement(
+        state,
+        this.world,
+        this.inputHistory.directionAt(now),
+        remainderSeconds,
+      );
+      this.world.advance(remainderSeconds);
+    }
+
+    this.carriedPlanetId = this.world.idOf(state.currentPlanet);
+    this.carriedSecondsSinceSurface = state.secondsSinceOnSurface;
+
+    return state;
+  }
+
+  private snapRenderTo(state: CharacterMovementState): void {
+    this.renderHead = new Circle(vec2.clone(state.head.center), state.head.radius);
+    this.renderLeftFoot = new Circle(
+      vec2.clone(state.leftFoot.center),
+      state.leftFoot.radius,
+    );
+    this.renderRightFoot = new Circle(
+      vec2.clone(state.rightFoot.center),
+      state.rightFoot.radius,
+    );
+  }
+
+  private easeRenderTo(state: CharacterMovementState, frameSeconds: number): void {
+    const q = 1 - Math.exp(-frameSeconds / smoothSeconds);
+    this.easePart(this.renderHead, state.head, q);
+    this.easePart(this.renderLeftFoot, state.leftFoot, q);
+    this.easePart(this.renderRightFoot, state.rightFoot, q);
+  }
+
+  private easePart(render: Circle, target: PhysicsBody, q: number): void {
+    if (vec2.distance(render.center, target.center) > snapDistance) {
+      vec2.copy(render.center, target.center);
+    } else {
+      vec2.lerp(render.center, render.center, target.center, q);
+    }
+    render.radius = target.radius;
+  }
+}
+
+export const localCharacterPredictor = new LocalCharacterPredictor();
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/helper/server-timeline.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/server-timeline.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28aab75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/helper/server-timeline.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import { clamp, settings } from 'shared';
+
+// Convergence rate of the playback cursor towards its target; a deviation
+// decays with a time constant of 1 / rateGain seconds.
+const rateGain = 2;
+
+// Playback speed stays within [0.75, 1.25]× so corrections are invisible.
+const maxRateAdjustment = 0.25;
+
+// Beyond this divergence (tab was in the background, server changed) chasing
+// the target is pointless: jump straight to it.
+const resyncSeconds = 0.3;
+
+/**
+ * The playback clock for state streamed from the server.
+ *
+ * Snapshot timestamps estimate the server's clock: the newest received
+ * timestamp plus the time elapsed since it arrived. Rendering happens
+ * settings.interpolationDelaySeconds behind that estimate, so there is
+ * normally a newer snapshot to interpolate towards and network jitter is
+ * absorbed by the buffer instead of being shown.
+ *
+ * The cursor never jumps under normal operation: it runs at a gently adjusted
+ * rate to stay on target and only snaps after a long divergence.
+ */
+class ServerTimeline {
+  private cursor?: number;
+  private newestSnapshotTime?: number;
+  private sinceNewestSnapshot = 0;
+  private _snapshotTime = 0;
+
+  /** Timestamp of the update batch currently being applied. */
+  public get snapshotTime(): number {
+    return this._snapshotTime;
+  }
+
+  /** The point on the server's clock that should be rendered this frame. */
+  public get renderTime(): number {
+    return this.cursor ?? 0;
+  }
+
+  public onSnapshot(timestamp: number) {
+    this._snapshotTime = timestamp;
+    if (this.newestSnapshotTime === undefined || timestamp > this.newestSnapshotTime) {
+      this.newestSnapshotTime = timestamp;
+      this.sinceNewestSnapshot = 0;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Must be called with unscaled wall-clock time, even during the end-game
+  // slow motion: the slowdown is already baked into the snapshots.
+  public step(deltaTimeInSeconds: number) {
+    if (this.newestSnapshotTime === undefined) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.sinceNewestSnapshot += deltaTimeInSeconds;
+    const target =
+      this.newestSnapshotTime +
+      this.sinceNewestSnapshot -
+      settings.interpolationDelaySeconds;
+
+    if (this.cursor === undefined || Math.abs(target - this.cursor) > resyncSeconds) {
+      this.cursor = target;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const rate = clamp(
+      1 + (target - this.cursor) * rateGain,
+      1 - maxRateAdjustment,
+      1 + maxRateAdjustment,
+    );
+    this.cursor += deltaTimeInSeconds * rate;
+  }
+
+  public reset() {
+    this.cursor = undefined;
+    this.newestSnapshotTime = undefined;
+    this.sinceNewestSnapshot = 0;
+    this._snapshotTime = 0;
+  }
+}
+
+export const serverTimeline = new ServerTimeline();
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/game-object-container.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/game-object-container.ts
index eb6b3dc..81c1e2e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/game-object-container.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/game-object-container.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {
+  Circle,
   Command,
   CommandExecutors,
   CommandReceiver,
@@ -9,10 +10,15 @@ import {
   Id,
   PropertyUpdatesForObjects,
   RemoteCallsForObjects,
+  settings,
+  UpdatePropertyCommand,
 } from 'shared';
 import { BeforeDestroyCommand } from '../commands/types/before-destroy';
 import { StepCommand } from '../commands/types/step';
 import { Game } from '../game';
+import { serverTimeline } from '../helper/server-timeline';
+import { PredictablePlanet } from '../helper/prediction/client-character-world';
+import { localCharacterPredictor } from '../helper/prediction/local-character-predictor';
 import { Camera } from './types/camera';
 import { CharacterView } from './types/character-view';
 import { PlanetView } from './types/planet-view';
@@ -27,6 +33,9 @@ export class GameObjectContainer extends CommandReceiver {
       this.player = c.character as CharacterView;
       this.player.isMainCharacter = true;
       this.addObject(this.player);
+      // Fresh character (first spawn or respawn at a far planet): drop any
+      // prediction state so it snaps to the new body instead of gliding across.
+      localCharacterPredictor.reset();
     },
 
     [CreateObjectsCommand.type]: (c: CreateObjectsCommand) =>
@@ -36,7 +45,19 @@ export class GameObjectContainer extends CommandReceiver {
       this.defaultCommandExecutor(c);
 
       if (this.player) {
-        this.camera.center = this.player.position;
+        // Override the interpolated pose of the local player with the predicted
+        // one so it responds to input immediately. Remote objects keep
+        // interpolating. A large correction (respawn / death) snaps inside the
+        // predictor rather than rubber-banding.
+        localCharacterPredictor.setStrength(
+          this.player.strengthFraction * settings.playerMaxStrength,
+        );
+        if (localCharacterPredictor.update(this.predictablePlanets(), c.deltaTimeInSeconds)) {
+          this.player.head = localCharacterPredictor.head;
+          this.player.leftFoot = localCharacterPredictor.leftFoot;
+          this.player.rightFoot = localCharacterPredictor.rightFoot;
+        }
+        this.camera.follow(this.player.position, c.deltaTimeInSeconds);
       }
     },
 
@@ -45,10 +66,15 @@ export class GameObjectContainer extends CommandReceiver {
         this.objects.get(c.id)?.processRemoteCalls(c.calls),
       ),
 
-    [PropertyUpdatesForObjects.type]: (c: PropertyUpdatesForObjects) =>
-      c.updates.forEach((u) =>
-        u.updates.forEach((au) => this.objects.get(u.id)?.handleCommand(au)),
-      ),
+    [PropertyUpdatesForObjects.type]: (c: PropertyUpdatesForObjects) => {
+      serverTimeline.onSnapshot(c.timestamp);
+      c.updates.forEach((u) => {
+        u.updates.forEach((au) => this.objects.get(u.id)?.handleCommand(au));
+        if (this.player && u.id === this.player.id) {
+          this.feedPredictor(u.updates);
+        }
+      });
+    },
 
     [DeleteObjectsCommand.type]: (c: DeleteObjectsCommand) =>
       c.ids.forEach((id: Id) => this.deleteObject(id)),
@@ -73,6 +99,34 @@ export class GameObjectContainer extends CommandReceiver {
     this.camera.handleCommand(c);
   }
 
+  // Hand the local player's raw authoritative pose to the predictor (the
+  // interpolated pose would already be ~100 ms stale). The three body parts
+  // arrive together in one snapshot.
+  private feedPredictor(updates: Array<UpdatePropertyCommand>) {
+    let head: Circle | undefined;
+    let leftFoot: Circle | undefined;
+    let rightFoot: Circle | undefined;
+    for (const u of updates) {
+      if (u.propertyKey === 'head') head = u.propertyValue as Circle;
+      else if (u.propertyKey === 'leftFoot') leftFoot = u.propertyValue as Circle;
+      else if (u.propertyKey === 'rightFoot') rightFoot = u.propertyValue as Circle;
+    }
+    if (head && leftFoot && rightFoot) {
+      localCharacterPredictor.setAuthoritative(head, leftFoot, rightFoot);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private predictablePlanets(): Array<PredictablePlanet> {
+    return this.planets.map((p) => ({
+      id: p.id,
+      vertices: p.vertices,
+      center: p.center,
+      radius: p.radius,
+      rotation: p.predictionRotation,
+      rotationSpeed: p.predictionRotationSpeed,
+    }));
+  }
+
   private addObject(object: GameObject) {
     this.objects.set(object.id, object);
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/camera.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/camera.ts
index 2d07048..f1cf670 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/camera.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/camera.ts
@@ -13,10 +13,28 @@ export class Camera extends CommandReceiver {
   public center: vec2 = vec2.create();
   private aspectRatio?: number;
 
+  // A short exponential lag masks any residual stepping in the followed
+  // position without the camera noticeably trailing during normal movement.
+  private static readonly followSeconds = 0.08;
+
+  // Swooshing across half the map after a respawn would be disorienting;
+  // beyond this distance the camera cuts instead.
+  private static readonly snapDistance = 1500;
+
   constructor(private game: Game) {
     super();
   }
 
+  public follow(target: vec2, deltaTimeInSeconds: number) {
+    if (vec2.distance(target, this.center) > Camera.snapDistance) {
+      vec2.copy(this.center, target);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const q = 1 - Math.exp(-deltaTimeInSeconds / Camera.followSeconds);
+    vec2.lerp(this.center, this.center, target, q);
+  }
+
   protected commandExecutors: CommandExecutors = {
     [RenderCommand.type]: this.draw.bind(this),
   };
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/character-view.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/character-view.ts
index 034d97a..1806993 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/character-view.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/character-view.ts
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import {
 import { BeforeDestroyCommand } from '../../commands/types/before-destroy';
 import { RenderCommand } from '../../commands/types/render';
 import { StepCommand } from '../../commands/types/step';
-import { CircleExtrapolator } from '../../helper/extrapolators/circle-extrapolator';
-import { LinearExtrapolator } from '../../helper/extrapolators/linear-extrapolator';
+import { CircleInterpolator } from '../../helper/interpolators/circle-interpolator';
+import { LinearInterpolator } from '../../helper/interpolators/linear-interpolator';
 import { Pointer } from '../../helper/pointer';
 import { CharacterShape } from '../../shapes/character-shape';
 import { SoundHandler, Sounds } from '../../sound-handler';
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export class CharacterView extends CharacterBase {
   private muzzleFlashIntensity = 0;
   private hitFlashIntensity = 0;
   private strength = settings.playerMaxStrength;
-  private strengthExtrapolator = new LinearExtrapolator(settings.playerMaxStrength);
+  private strengthInterpolator = new LinearInterpolator(settings.playerMaxStrength);
   private nameElement: HTMLElement = document.createElement('div');
   private statsElement: HTMLElement = document.createElement('div');
   private killCountElement: HTMLElement = document.createElement('span');
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ export class CharacterView extends CharacterBase {
 
   public isMainCharacter = false;
 
-  private leftFootExtrapolator: CircleExtrapolator;
-  private rightFootExtrapolator: CircleExtrapolator;
-  private headExtrapolator: CircleExtrapolator;
+  private leftFootInterpolator: CircleInterpolator;
+  private rightFootInterpolator: CircleInterpolator;
+  private headInterpolator: CircleInterpolator;
 
   protected commandExecutors: CommandExecutors = {
     [RenderCommand.type]: this.draw.bind(this),
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ export class CharacterView extends CharacterBase {
       0,
     );
 
-    this.leftFootExtrapolator = new CircleExtrapolator(this.leftFoot!);
-    this.rightFootExtrapolator = new CircleExtrapolator(this.rightFoot!);
-    this.headExtrapolator = new CircleExtrapolator(this.head!);
+    this.leftFootInterpolator = new CircleInterpolator(this.leftFoot!);
+    this.rightFootInterpolator = new CircleInterpolator(this.rightFoot!);
+    this.headInterpolator = new CircleInterpolator(this.head!);
 
     this.nameElement.className = 'player-tag ' + this.team;
     this.nameElement.innerText = this.name;
@@ -140,16 +140,16 @@ export class CharacterView extends CharacterBase {
     rateOfChange,
   }: UpdatePropertyCommand) {
     if (propertyKey === 'head') {
-      this.headExtrapolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
+      this.headInterpolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
     }
     if (propertyKey === 'leftFoot') {
-      this.leftFootExtrapolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
+      this.leftFootInterpolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
     }
     if (propertyKey === 'rightFoot') {
-      this.rightFootExtrapolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
+      this.rightFootInterpolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
     }
     if (propertyKey === 'strength') {
-      this.strengthExtrapolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
+      this.strengthInterpolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
     }
   }
 
@@ -176,30 +176,41 @@ export class CharacterView extends CharacterBase {
     }
   }
 
-  public onHitConfirmed() {
+  public onHitConfirmed(charge = 0) {
     if (!this.isMainCharacter) {
       return;
     }
-    SoundHandler.play(Sounds.click, 0.4, 1.7);
-    FeedbackHud.hitMarker();
+    // A charged hit lands lower and harder than a panic tap.
+    SoundHandler.play(Sounds.click, mix(0.4, 0.75, charge), mix(1.7, 1.05, charge));
+    if (charge >= settings.chargedHitThreshold) {
+      VibrationHandler.vibrate(25);
+    }
+    FeedbackHud.hitMarker(charge);
   }
 
-  public onKillConfirmed(victimName?: string, streak = 1) {
+  public onKillConfirmed(victimName?: string, streak = 1, charge = 0) {
     if (!this.isMainCharacter) {
       return;
     }
-    SoundHandler.play(Sounds.click, 1, 0.7);
-    VibrationHandler.vibrate(60);
-    FeedbackHud.killConfirmed(victimName, streak);
+    SoundHandler.play(Sounds.click, 1, mix(0.7, 0.5, charge));
+    VibrationHandler.vibrate(mix(60, 110, charge));
+    FeedbackHud.killConfirmed(victimName, streak, charge);
+  }
+
+  public onLeap() {
+    if (!this.isMainCharacter) {
+      return;
+    }
+    SoundHandler.play(Sounds.shoot, 0.3, 1.5);
   }
 
   private step({ deltaTimeInSeconds }: StepCommand): void {
-    this.head! = this.headExtrapolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
-    this.leftFoot! = this.leftFootExtrapolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
-    this.rightFoot! = this.rightFootExtrapolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    this.head! = this.headInterpolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    this.leftFoot! = this.leftFootInterpolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    this.rightFoot! = this.rightFootInterpolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
 
     this.strength = clamp(
-      this.strengthExtrapolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds),
+      this.strengthInterpolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds),
       0,
       settings.playerMaxStrength,
     );
@@ -224,7 +235,7 @@ export class CharacterView extends CharacterBase {
   public onShoot(strength: number) {
     const q = clamp01(
       (strength - settings.chargeShotStrengthMin) /
-      (settings.chargeShotStrengthMax - settings.chargeShotStrengthMin),
+        (settings.chargeShotStrengthMax - settings.chargeShotStrengthMin),
     );
     SoundHandler.play(Sounds.shoot, mix(0.55, 1, q), mix(1.15, 0.8, q));
     this.muzzleFlashIntensity = mix(0.35, 1, q);
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/planet-view.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/planet-view.ts
index 9c38963..06e6880 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/planet-view.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/planet-view.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 import { BeforeDestroyCommand } from '../../commands/types/before-destroy';
 import { RenderCommand } from '../../commands/types/render';
 import { StepCommand } from '../../commands/types/step';
+import { LinearInterpolator } from '../../helper/interpolators/linear-interpolator';
 import { PlanetShape } from '../../shapes/planet-shape';
 
 const fallingPointLifetimeMs = 2000;
@@ -39,7 +40,10 @@ abstract class FlareBudget {
 export class PlanetView extends PlanetBase {
   private shape: PlanetShape;
   private ownershipProgress: HTMLElement;
-  private readonly rotationSpeed: number;
+  // Rotation is owned by the backend (it drives the collision polygon too) and
+  // streamed in; the interpolator replays the angle on the shared snapshot
+  // timeline, in sync with the characters standing on the surface.
+  private readonly rotationInterpolator = new LinearInterpolator(0);
 
   private flareLight?: CircleLight;
   private flareIntensity = 0;
@@ -52,19 +56,39 @@ export class PlanetView extends PlanetBase {
     [UpdatePropertyCommand.type]: this.updateProperty.bind(this),
   };
 
-  constructor(id: Id, vertices: Array<vec2>, ownership: number) {
-    super(id, vertices);
+  constructor(id: Id, vertices: Array<vec2>, ownership = 0.5, isKeystone = false) {
+    super(id, vertices, ownership, isKeystone);
     this.shape = new PlanetShape(vertices, ownership);
     this.shape.randomOffset = Random.getRandom();
-    this.rotationSpeed =
-      (0.05 + Random.getRandom() * 0.07) * (Random.getRandom() < 0.5 ? -1 : 1);
 
     this.ownershipProgress = document.createElement('div');
-    this.ownershipProgress.className = 'ownership';
+    this.ownershipProgress.className = 'ownership' + (isKeystone ? ' keystone' : '');
+  }
+
+  public setContested(contested: boolean) {
+    this.ownershipProgress.classList.toggle('contested', contested);
+  }
+
+  private renderedRotation = 0;
+  private rotationSpeed = 0;
+  // Newest streamed rotation VALUE — the server-current angle at the latest
+  // snapshot — as opposed to renderedRotation, which the interpolator holds
+  // ~interpolationDelaySeconds in the PAST for drawing. The predictor seeds the
+  // local body from the same snapshot's pose, so it must collide against the
+  // planet at THIS (newest) phase and advance forward from it; using the drawn
+  // lagged angle biases the body off the surface by omega*delay*radius and
+  // wobbles it whenever the spin or the interpolator's rate cursor varies.
+  private latestRotation = 0;
+  public get predictionRotation(): number {
+    return this.latestRotation;
+  }
+  public get predictionRotationSpeed(): number {
+    return this.rotationSpeed;
   }
 
   private step({ deltaTimeInSeconds }: StepCommand): void {
-    this.shape.rotation += deltaTimeInSeconds * this.rotationSpeed;
+    this.renderedRotation = this.rotationInterpolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    this.shape.rotation = this.renderedRotation;
     this.shape.colorMixQ = this.ownership;
 
     if (this.flareIntensity > 0) {
@@ -120,8 +144,18 @@ export class PlanetView extends PlanetBase {
     this.releaseFlareSlot();
   }
 
-  private updateProperty({ propertyValue }: UpdatePropertyCommand): void {
-    this.ownership = propertyValue;
+  private updateProperty({
+    propertyKey,
+    propertyValue,
+    rateOfChange,
+  }: UpdatePropertyCommand): void {
+    if (propertyKey === 'rotation') {
+      this.rotationInterpolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
+      this.latestRotation = propertyValue;
+      this.rotationSpeed = rateOfChange;
+    } else {
+      this.ownership = propertyValue;
+    }
   }
 
   private draw({ renderer, overlay, shouldChangeLayout }: RenderCommand): void {
@@ -137,7 +171,7 @@ export class PlanetView extends PlanetBase {
 
       if (this.lastGeneratedPoint !== undefined) {
         const element = document.createElement('div');
-        element.className = 'falling-point ' + (this.ownership < 0.5 ? 'decla' : 'red');
+        element.className = 'falling-point ' + (this.ownership < 0.5 ? 'blue' : 'red');
         element.innerText = '+' + this.lastGeneratedPoint;
         element.style.left = `${screenPosition.x}px`;
         element.style.top = `${screenPosition.y}px`;
@@ -159,12 +193,17 @@ export class PlanetView extends PlanetBase {
   }
 
   private getGradient(): string {
-    const sideDecla = this.ownership < 0.5;
-    const sidePercent = (Math.abs(this.ownership - 0.5) / 0.5) * 100;
-    return sideDecla
+    const sideBlue = this.ownership < 0.5;
+    // Keep the ring neutral through the same dead-band that gates scoring
+    // (settings.planetControlThreshold), so "the ring fills" and "this planet
+    // pays my team" happen together rather than disagreeing.
+    const control = Math.abs(this.ownership - 0.5);
+    const t = settings.planetControlThreshold;
+    const sidePercent = control <= t ? 0 : ((control - t) / (0.5 - t)) * 100;
+    return sideBlue
       ? `conic-gradient(
-      var(--bright-decla) ${sidePercent}%,
-      var(--bright-decla) ${sidePercent}%,
+      var(--bright-blue) ${sidePercent}%,
+      var(--bright-blue) ${sidePercent}%,
       rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) ${sidePercent}%,
       rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%
     )`
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/projectile-view.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/projectile-view.ts
index 7a246fe..5843e59 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/projectile-view.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/objects/types/projectile-view.ts
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ import {
 } from 'shared';
 import { RenderCommand } from '../../commands/types/render';
 import { StepCommand } from '../../commands/types/step';
-import { Vec2Extrapolator } from '../../helper/extrapolators/vec2-extrapolator';
+import { Vec2Interpolator } from '../../helper/interpolators/vec2-interpolator';
 
 export class ProjectileView extends ProjectileBase {
   private light: CircleLight;
 
-  private centerExtrapolator: Vec2Extrapolator;
+  private centerInterpolator: Vec2Interpolator;
 
   protected commandExecutors: CommandExecutors = {
     [RenderCommand.type]: this.draw.bind(this),
@@ -36,17 +36,17 @@ export class ProjectileView extends ProjectileBase {
       settings.paletteDim[settings.colorIndices[team]],
       0,
     );
-    this.centerExtrapolator = new Vec2Extrapolator(center);
+    this.centerInterpolator = new Vec2Interpolator(center);
   }
 
   private updateProperty({ propertyValue, rateOfChange }: UpdatePropertyCommand): void {
-    this.centerExtrapolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
+    this.centerInterpolator.addFrame(propertyValue, rateOfChange);
   }
 
   private handleStep({ deltaTimeInSeconds }: StepCommand): void {
     this.step(deltaTimeInSeconds);
 
-    this.center = this.centerExtrapolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    this.center = this.centerInterpolator.getValue(deltaTimeInSeconds);
     this.light.center = this.center;
     this.light.intensity = Math.min(
       0.1,
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/scoreboard.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/scoreboard.ts
index 38dff4e..41b02ba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/scoreboard.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/scoreboard.ts
@@ -8,35 +8,35 @@ import { CharacterTeam, UpdateGameState, clamp, settings } from 'shared';
 export class Scoreboard {
   public readonly element = document.createElement('div');
 
-  private readonly declaFill = document.createElement('div');
+  private readonly blueFill = document.createElement('div');
   private readonly redFill = document.createElement('div');
-  private readonly declaScore = document.createElement('span');
+  private readonly blueScore = document.createElement('span');
   private readonly redScore = document.createElement('span');
   private readonly youMarker = document.createElement('div');
 
   constructor() {
     this.element.className = 'planet-progress';
 
-    this.declaFill.className = 'fill decla';
+    this.blueFill.className = 'fill blue';
     this.redFill.className = 'fill red';
 
-    this.declaScore.className = 'score decla';
+    this.blueScore.className = 'score blue';
     this.redScore.className = 'score red';
 
     this.youMarker.className = 'you-marker';
     this.youMarker.innerText = 'YOU';
 
     this.element.append(
-      this.declaFill,
+      this.blueFill,
       this.redFill,
-      this.declaScore,
+      this.blueScore,
       this.redScore,
       this.youMarker,
     );
   }
 
   public update(
-    { declaCount, redCount, limit }: UpdateGameState,
+    { blueCount, redCount, limit }: UpdateGameState,
     localTeam: CharacterTeam | undefined,
   ) {
     const { scoreboardHalfWidthPercent, scoreboardMinFillPercent } = settings;
@@ -46,23 +46,23 @@ export class Scoreboard {
         clamp(count / limit, 0, 1) * scoreboardHalfWidthPercent,
       );
 
-    this.declaFill.style.width = fraction(declaCount) + '%';
+    this.blueFill.style.width = fraction(blueCount) + '%';
     this.redFill.style.width = fraction(redCount) + '%';
 
     const isMatchPoint = (count: number) =>
       count / limit >= settings.matchPointScoreRatio;
-    this.declaFill.classList.toggle('match-point', isMatchPoint(declaCount));
+    this.blueFill.classList.toggle('match-point', isMatchPoint(blueCount));
     this.redFill.classList.toggle('match-point', isMatchPoint(redCount));
 
-    this.declaScore.innerText = String(Math.round(declaCount));
+    this.blueScore.innerText = String(Math.round(blueCount));
     this.redScore.innerText = String(Math.round(redCount));
 
-    this.declaScore.classList.toggle('leading', declaCount > redCount);
-    this.redScore.classList.toggle('leading', redCount > declaCount);
+    this.blueScore.classList.toggle('leading', blueCount > redCount);
+    this.redScore.classList.toggle('leading', redCount > blueCount);
 
-    if (localTeam === CharacterTeam.decla || localTeam === CharacterTeam.red) {
+    if (localTeam === CharacterTeam.blue || localTeam === CharacterTeam.red) {
       this.youMarker.style.display = '';
-      this.youMarker.classList.toggle('decla', localTeam === CharacterTeam.decla);
+      this.youMarker.classList.toggle('blue', localTeam === CharacterTeam.blue);
       this.youMarker.classList.toggle('red', localTeam === CharacterTeam.red);
     } else {
       this.youMarker.style.display = 'none';
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/shapes/planet-shape.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/shapes/planet-shape.ts
index 6fa7565..1d1ec9e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/shapes/planet-shape.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/shapes/planet-shape.ts
@@ -54,19 +54,24 @@ export class PlanetShape extends PolygonFactory(settings.planetEdgeCount, 0) {
               float l = planetLengths[j];
               float randomOffset = planetRandoms[j];
               float rotation = planetRotations[j];
-              vec2 targetCenterDelta = target - center;
-              float targetDistance = length(targetCenterDelta);
-              vec2 targetTangent = targetCenterDelta / clamp(targetDistance, 0.01, 1000.0);
 
               float cr = cos(rotation);
               float sr = sin(rotation);
-              vec2 rotatedTangent = vec2(
-                cr * targetTangent.x - sr * targetTangent.y,
-                sr * targetTangent.x + cr * targetTangent.y
+
+              // Spin the whole planet: evaluate the SDF in the planet's own
+              // rotating frame so the polygon outline turns together with its
+              // terrain, instead of the terrain sliding over a fixed outline.
+              vec2 targetCenterDelta = target - center;
+              float targetDistance = length(targetCenterDelta);
+              vec2 localTarget = center + vec2(
+                cr * targetCenterDelta.x - sr * targetCenterDelta.y,
+                sr * targetCenterDelta.x + cr * targetCenterDelta.y
               );
-              vec2 noisyTarget = target - (
+              vec2 targetTangent = (localTarget - center) / clamp(targetDistance, 0.01, 1000.0);
+
+              vec2 noisyTarget = localTarget - (
                 targetTangent * planetTerrain(vec2(
-                  l * abs(atan(rotatedTangent.y, rotatedTangent.x)),
+                  l * abs(atan(targetTangent.y, targetTangent.x)),
                   randomOffset
                 )) / 12.0
               );
@@ -97,7 +102,7 @@ export class PlanetShape extends PolygonFactory(settings.planetEdgeCount, 0) {
 
               if (dist < minDistance) {
                 minDistance = dist;
-                color = mix(${colorToString(settings.declaPlanetColor)}, ${colorToString(
+                color = mix(${colorToString(settings.bluePlanetColor)}, ${colorToString(
         settings.redPlanetColor,
       )}, planetColorMixQ[j]);
               }
@@ -124,11 +129,32 @@ export class PlanetShape extends PolygonFactory(settings.planetEdgeCount, 0) {
   public randomOffset = 0;
   public rotation = 0;
 
+  // Circle about the rotation centre (the vertex centroid, which is what the
+  // shader spins around — see planetMinDistance above). The vertices never
+  // change after construction, so cache it once.
+  private readonly cullCenter: vec2;
+  private readonly cullRadius: number;
+
   constructor(
     public vertices: Array<vec2>,
     public colorMixQ: number,
   ) {
     super(vertices);
+
+    this.cullCenter = vertices.reduce(
+      (sum, v) => vec2.add(sum, sum, v),
+      vec2.create(),
+    );
+    vec2.scale(this.cullCenter, this.cullCenter, 1 / vertices.length);
+
+    this.cullRadius = vertices.reduce(
+      (max, v) => Math.max(max, vec2.distance(this.cullCenter, v)),
+      0,
+    );
+  }
+
+  public minDistance(target: vec2): number {
+    return vec2.distance(target, this.cullCenter) - this.cullRadius;
   }
 
   protected getObjectToSerialize(transform2d: mat2d, _: number): any {
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/tutorial.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/tutorial.ts
index 823ef40..c0d1155 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/tutorial.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/tutorial.ts
@@ -4,17 +4,19 @@ import {
   CommandExecutors,
   CommandReceiver,
   Id,
+  LeapActionCommand,
   MoveActionCommand,
   PrimaryActionCommand,
 } from 'shared';
 import { GameObjectContainer } from './objects/game-object-container';
 import { PlanetView } from './objects/types/planet-view';
 
-type StageTrigger = 'move' | 'shoot' | 'capture';
+type StageTrigger = 'move' | 'shoot' | 'leap' | 'capture';
 
 const stages: ReadonlyArray<{ hint: string; clearsOn: StageTrigger }> = [
   { hint: 'WASD / drag to walk', clearsOn: 'move' },
   { hint: 'Click / tap to shoot', clearsOn: 'shoot' },
+  { hint: 'Space / leap button to launch off a planet', clearsOn: 'leap' },
   { hint: 'Stand on a planet to capture it', clearsOn: 'capture' },
 ];
 
@@ -42,6 +44,11 @@ export class Tutorial extends CommandReceiver {
         this.advance();
       }
     },
+    [LeapActionCommand.type]: () => {
+      if (this.clearsOn() === 'leap') {
+        this.advance();
+      }
+    },
   };
 
   constructor(overlay: HTMLElement) {
@@ -86,7 +93,7 @@ export class Tutorial extends CommandReceiver {
       }
       if (standing) {
         const drift = standing.ownership - this.standingBaseline;
-        const progress = player.team === CharacterTeam.decla ? -drift : drift;
+        const progress = player.team === CharacterTeam.blue ? -drift : drift;
         if (progress > captureProgressThreshold) {
           this.finish();
         }
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/_vars.scss b/frontend/src/styles/_vars.scss
index 377d9db..f19825b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/_vars.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/_vars.scss
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ $breakpoint: 700px;
 $height-breakpoint: 500px;
 $large-icon: 48px;
 $small-icon: 32px;
-$bright-decla: #4069a5;
+$bright-blue: #4069a5;
 $bright-red: #d15652;
 $bright-neutral: #ccc;
 
 :root {
-  --bright-decla: #{$bright-decla};
+  --bright-blue: #{$bright-blue};
   --bright-red: #{$bright-red};
   --bright-neutral: #{$bright-neutral};
 }
diff --git a/shared/src/commands/types/actions/leap-action.ts b/shared/src/commands/types/actions/leap-action.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0115e73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/commands/types/actions/leap-action.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { serializable } from '../../../serialization/serializable';
+import { Command } from '../../command';
+
+// Sent client -> server when the player triggers a leap (Space / leap button).
+// The launch direction is derived server-side from the character's surface
+// normal and current movement input. clientTimeMs is the client's wall-clock at
+// the press, echoed back via InputAcknowledgement so the predictor knows which
+// leaps the server has already folded into the streamed launch momentum and
+// must not replay again.
+@serializable
+export class LeapActionCommand extends Command {
+  public constructor(public readonly clientTimeMs: number = 0) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  public toArray(): Array<any> {
+    return [this.clientTimeMs];
+  }
+}
diff --git a/shared/src/commands/types/actions/move-action.ts b/shared/src/commands/types/actions/move-action.ts
index 67674fe..117d3e3 100644
--- a/shared/src/commands/types/actions/move-action.ts
+++ b/shared/src/commands/types/actions/move-action.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,19 @@ import { Command } from '../../command';
 
 @serializable
 export class MoveActionCommand extends Command {
-  public constructor(public readonly direction: vec2) {
+  // clientTimeMs is the client's wall-clock (integer ms, survives the
+  // serializer's toFixed(3)) when the input was generated. The server echoes
+  // the latest one back via InputAcknowledgement so the client knows how much
+  // of its input timeline is already baked into a snapshot and can replay the
+  // rest for prediction. Defaults to 0 for inputs the server itself synthesises.
+  public constructor(
+    public readonly direction: vec2,
+    public readonly clientTimeMs: number = 0,
+  ) {
     super();
   }
 
   public toArray(): Array<any> {
-    return [this.direction];
+    return [this.direction, this.clientTimeMs];
   }
 }
diff --git a/shared/src/commands/types/input-acknowledgement.ts b/shared/src/commands/types/input-acknowledgement.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f488e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/commands/types/input-acknowledgement.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { serializable } from '../../serialization/serializable';
+import { Command } from '../command';
+
+// Sent server -> owning client only, alongside that client's own character
+// snapshot. Carries the clientTimeMs of the most recent movement input the
+// server had received when the snapshot was taken (so the client's predictor
+// can reset to the snapshot and replay just the inputs the server hasn't seen
+// yet) and the authoritative launch momentum (so the predictor reproduces a
+// leap/slingshot/recoil flight rather than only snapping to it). See
+// LocalCharacterPredictor.
+@serializable
+export class InputAcknowledgement extends Command {
+  public constructor(
+    public readonly clientTimeMs: number,
+    public readonly bodyVelocity: vec2,
+    // clientTimeMs of the most recent leap the server has received: any leap at
+    // or before it is already reflected in bodyVelocity, so the predictor must
+    // not replay it.
+    public readonly lastLeapClientTimeMs: number,
+  ) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  public toArray(): Array<any> {
+    return [this.clientTimeMs, this.bodyVelocity, this.lastLeapClientTimeMs];
+  }
+}
diff --git a/shared/src/commands/types/property-updates-for-objects.ts b/shared/src/commands/types/property-updates-for-objects.ts
index a9e4985..bef2d6b 100644
--- a/shared/src/commands/types/property-updates-for-objects.ts
+++ b/shared/src/commands/types/property-updates-for-objects.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,16 @@ import { Command } from '../command';
 
 @serializable
 export class PropertyUpdatesForObjects extends Command {
-  constructor(public readonly updates: Array<PropertyUpdatesForObject>) {
+  constructor(
+    public readonly updates: Array<PropertyUpdatesForObject>,
+    // Seconds on the server's monotonic clock at the moment this state was
+    // captured. Only differences between timestamps are meaningful.
+    public readonly timestamp: number,
+  ) {
     super();
   }
 
   public toArray(): Array<any> {
-    return [this.updates];
+    return [this.updates, this.timestamp];
   }
 }
diff --git a/shared/src/commands/types/update-game-state.ts b/shared/src/commands/types/update-game-state.ts
index 40ce4e1..7e66c19 100644
--- a/shared/src/commands/types/update-game-state.ts
+++ b/shared/src/commands/types/update-game-state.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { Command } from '../command';
 @serializable
 export class UpdateGameState extends Command {
   public constructor(
-    public readonly declaCount: number,
+    public readonly blueCount: number,
     public readonly redCount: number,
     public readonly limit: number,
   ) {
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ export class UpdateGameState extends Command {
   }
 
   public toArray(): Array<any> {
-    return [this.declaCount, this.redCount, this.limit];
+    return [this.blueCount, this.redCount, this.limit];
   }
 }
diff --git a/shared/src/main.ts b/shared/src/main.ts
index 949cc2d..d9af9ca 100644
--- a/shared/src/main.ts
+++ b/shared/src/main.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export * from './commands/command-executors';
 export * from './commands/command-generator';
 export * from './commands/types/actions/move-action';
 export * from './commands/types/actions/primary-action';
+export * from './commands/types/actions/leap-action';
 export * from './commands/types/actions/set-aspect-ratio-action';
 export * from './helper/array';
 export * from './helper/last';
@@ -46,3 +47,13 @@ export * from './objects/types/planet-base';
 export * from './objects/types/projectile-base';
 export * from './settings';
 export * from './communication/transport-events';
+export * from './commands/types/input-acknowledgement';
+export * from './physics/sdf';
+export * from './physics/evaluate-sdf';
+export * from './physics/sdf-normal';
+export * from './physics/march-circle';
+export * from './physics/depenetrate-circle';
+export * from './physics/resolve-circle-movement';
+export * from './physics/planet-sdf';
+export * from './physics/interpolate-angles';
+export * from './physics/character-movement';
diff --git a/shared/src/objects/types/character-base.ts b/shared/src/objects/types/character-base.ts
index 69cc670..b461127 100644
--- a/shared/src/objects/types/character-base.ts
+++ b/shared/src/objects/types/character-base.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { serializable } from '../../serialization/serializable';
 import { GameObject } from '../game-object';
 
 export enum CharacterTeam {
-  decla = 'decla',
+  blue = 'blue',
   neutral = 'neutral',
   red = 'red',
 }
@@ -28,9 +28,13 @@ export class CharacterBase extends GameObject {
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
   public onShoot(strength: number) { }
 
-  public onHitConfirmed() { }
+  public onLeap() { }
 
-  public onKillConfirmed(victimName?: string, streak?: number) { }
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+  public onHitConfirmed(charge?: number) { }
+
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+  public onKillConfirmed(victimName?: string, streak?: number, charge?: number) { }
 
   public setHealth(health: number) {
     this.health = health;
diff --git a/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts b/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts
index ba90ff2..e3835e1 100644
--- a/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts
+++ b/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export class PlanetBase extends GameObject {
     id: Id,
     public readonly vertices: Array<vec2>,
     public ownership: number = 0.5,
+    public readonly isKeystone: boolean = false,
   ) {
     super(id);
     this.center = vertices.reduce((sum, v) => vec2.add(sum, sum, v), vec2.create());
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@ export class PlanetBase extends GameObject {
   public generatedPoints(value: number) {}
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
   public onFlipped(team: CharacterTeam) {}
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+  public setContested(contested: boolean) {}
 
   public static createPlanetVertices(
     center: vec2,
@@ -54,6 +57,6 @@ export class PlanetBase extends GameObject {
   }
 
   public toArray(): Array<any> {
-    return [this.id, this.vertices];
+    return [this.id, this.vertices, this.ownership, this.isKeystone];
   }
 }
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/character-movement.ts b/shared/src/physics/character-movement.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5744b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/character-movement.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,354 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { settings } from '../settings';
+import { GroundSurface, PhysicsBody } from './sdf';
+import { interpolateAngles } from './interpolate-angles';
+
+// Body layout, copied verbatim from CharacterPhysical so the predicted body
+// matches the authoritative one to the bit. The head sits this far above the
+// feet; offsets are measured from the centre of mass.
+export const headRadius = 50;
+export const feetRadius = 20;
+
+const desiredHeadOffset = vec2.fromValues(0, 55);
+const desiredLeftFootOffset = vec2.fromValues(-20, 0);
+const desiredRightFootOffset = vec2.fromValues(20, 0);
+const centerOfMass = vec2.scale(
+  vec2.create(),
+  vec2.add(
+    vec2.create(),
+    vec2.add(vec2.create(), desiredHeadOffset, desiredLeftFootOffset),
+    desiredRightFootOffset,
+  ),
+  1 / 3,
+);
+export const headOffset = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), desiredHeadOffset, centerOfMass);
+export const leftFootOffset = vec2.subtract(
+  vec2.create(),
+  desiredLeftFootOffset,
+  centerOfMass,
+);
+export const rightFootOffset = vec2.subtract(
+  vec2.create(),
+  desiredRightFootOffset,
+  centerOfMass,
+);
+export const boundRadius = (headRadius + feetRadius * 2) * 2;
+
+// The character's movement state: the three body parts plus the small amount of
+// carried state the step reads and writes. Backend CharacterPhysical and the
+// client predictor both expose this shape.
+export interface CharacterMovementState {
+  readonly head: PhysicsBody;
+  readonly leftFoot: PhysicsBody;
+  readonly rightFoot: PhysicsBody;
+  direction: number;
+  currentPlanet: GroundSurface | undefined;
+  secondsSinceOnSurface: number;
+  // Persistent launch momentum (leap / slingshot / recoil / death throw).
+  // Walking rebuilds and zeroes each body part's velocity every tick,
+  // so anything that should carry accumulates here, is injected into the parts
+  // before they step, and decays by friction. Stays zero for ordinary walking.
+  // The client predictor leaves this zero and relies on the reconciliation snap
+  // to follow server-side impulses, but the field is here so the server can
+  // delegate its full movement to stepCharacterMovement unchanged.
+  bodyVelocity: vec2;
+}
+
+// The collision/gravity world the movement queries. The server backs this with
+// its spatial container (planets + dynamics, dispatching collision reactions);
+// the client backs it with the planets it knows about, dispatching nothing.
+export interface CharacterWorld {
+  // Planets within `radius` of `center` that exert gravity / can be stood on.
+  groundsNear(center: vec2, radius: number): Array<GroundSurface>;
+  // Resolve one body part's motion this tick; returns the ground it landed on.
+  stepBody(body: PhysicsBody, deltaTimeInSeconds: number): GroundSurface | undefined;
+}
+
+const applyForce = (body: PhysicsBody, force: vec2, deltaTimeInSeconds: number) => {
+  vec2.add(
+    body.velocity,
+    body.velocity,
+    vec2.scale(vec2.create(), force, deltaTimeInSeconds),
+  );
+};
+
+// ((head + leftFoot) + rightFoot) / 3, in the exact association the server uses
+// everywhere it reads the character centre — do not reassociate.
+export const characterCenter = (state: CharacterMovementState): vec2 => {
+  const center = vec2.add(vec2.create(), state.head.center, state.leftFoot.center);
+  vec2.add(center, center, state.rightFoot.center);
+  return vec2.scale(center, center, 1 / 3);
+};
+
+const setDirection = (state: CharacterMovementState, direction: vec2) => {
+  state.direction = interpolateAngles(
+    state.direction,
+    Math.atan2(direction[1], direction[0]) + Math.PI / 2,
+    0.2,
+  );
+};
+
+const springMove = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  body: PhysicsBody,
+  center: vec2,
+  offset: vec2,
+  stiffness: number,
+) => {
+  const desiredPosition = vec2.add(vec2.create(), center, offset);
+  vec2.rotate(desiredPosition, desiredPosition, center, state.direction);
+  const positionDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), desiredPosition, body.center);
+  // First-order velocity relaxation toward the desired posture position, added
+  // to the gravity/movement velocity already accumulated this tick. The dt
+  // arrives later when the body integrates velocity, so the per-tick
+  // displacement is positionDelta * stiffness * dt.
+  vec2.scaleAndAdd(body.velocity, body.velocity, positionDelta, stiffness);
+};
+
+const keepPosture = (state: CharacterMovementState) => {
+  const center = characterCenter(state);
+  springMove(state, state.leftFoot, center, leftFootOffset, settings.postureFeetStiffness);
+  springMove(
+    state,
+    state.rightFoot,
+    center,
+    rightFootOffset,
+    settings.postureFeetStiffness,
+  );
+  springMove(state, state.head, center, headOffset, settings.postureHeadStiffness);
+};
+
+// While standing on a planet, ride its spin: rigidly rotate the whole body
+// about the planet centre by the same per-tick angle the collision SDF turns
+// by (negative, matching R(-rotation)), so the player is carried with the
+// surface instead of sliding across it.
+const carryWithRotatingPlanet = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+) => {
+  const planet = state.currentPlanet;
+  if (!planet) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const angle = -planet.angularVelocity * deltaTimeInSeconds;
+  const center = planet.center;
+  state.head.center = vec2.rotate(vec2.create(), state.head.center, center, angle);
+  state.leftFoot.center = vec2.rotate(vec2.create(), state.leftFoot.center, center, angle);
+  state.rightFoot.center = vec2.rotate(
+    vec2.create(),
+    state.rightFoot.center,
+    center,
+    angle,
+  );
+};
+
+// Launch off the current surface: directed by the foot contact normals plus
+// the movement input, slingshotted by the planet's spin. Mutates bodyVelocity
+// (which the next tick injects into the body) and detaches. Shared so the
+// server's leap() and the client's prediction apply the exact same impulse.
+// The caller does the gating (strength, cooldown, alive); this is a no-op when
+// not on a surface.
+export const applyLeapImpulse = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  moveDirection: vec2,
+) => {
+  const planet = state.currentPlanet;
+  if (!planet) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const up = vec2.add(
+    vec2.create(),
+    state.leftFoot.lastNormal,
+    state.rightFoot.lastNormal,
+  );
+  if (vec2.length(up) === 0) {
+    vec2.set(up, 0, 1);
+  } else {
+    vec2.normalize(up, up);
+  }
+
+  const launch = vec2.scale(vec2.create(), up, settings.leapUpBias);
+  if (vec2.length(moveDirection) > 0) {
+    vec2.scaleAndAdd(
+      launch,
+      launch,
+      vec2.normalize(vec2.create(), moveDirection),
+      settings.leapMoveBias,
+    );
+  }
+  vec2.normalize(launch, launch);
+  vec2.scaleAndAdd(state.bodyVelocity, state.bodyVelocity, launch, settings.leapSpeed);
+
+  // Slingshot: add the tangential velocity of the spinning surface under the
+  // body (the same motion carryWithRotatingPlanet imparts).
+  const center = characterCenter(state);
+  const omega = planet.angularVelocity;
+  const surfaceVelocity = vec2.fromValues(
+    omega * (center[1] - planet.center[1]),
+    -omega * (center[0] - planet.center[0]),
+  );
+  vec2.scaleAndAdd(
+    state.bodyVelocity,
+    state.bodyVelocity,
+    surfaceVelocity,
+    settings.slingshotScale,
+  );
+
+  state.currentPlanet = undefined;
+  state.secondsSinceOnSurface = settings.planetDetachmentSeconds;
+};
+
+// Time-based detachment: a grounded body that hasn't touched a surface for a
+// while floats free. Kept as its own step because on the server it runs before
+// the ownership/scoring blocks; the client calls it at the head of each tick.
+export const tickPlanetDetachment = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+) => {
+  if ((state.secondsSinceOnSurface += deltaTimeInSeconds) > settings.planetDetachmentSeconds) {
+    state.currentPlanet = undefined;
+  }
+};
+
+// Inject the persistent launch momentum onto every body part right before they
+// step, so the whole body translates rigidly without disturbing the posture
+// springs (which only set up relative offsets). No-op while walking.
+const applyBodyMomentum = (state: CharacterMovementState) => {
+  if (vec2.squaredLength(state.bodyVelocity) === 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+  vec2.add(state.leftFoot.velocity, state.leftFoot.velocity, state.bodyVelocity);
+  vec2.add(state.rightFoot.velocity, state.rightFoot.velocity, state.bodyVelocity);
+  vec2.add(state.head.velocity, state.head.velocity, state.bodyVelocity);
+};
+
+// Decay one launch-momentum vector in place by one tick. Stiff on the ground
+// (skid to a stop), gentle in the air so a leap or slingshot still carries
+// across the gaps. The gentle exponential only asymptotes, though, so on top of
+// it a constant deceleration brakes the momentum to a definite stop in a couple
+// of seconds instead of leaving a 15+ second drift, and a hard cap stops stacked
+// impulses (rapid recoil, a leap into a slingshot) from building without bound.
+// Shared so the living body, the client predictor, and the ragdoll corpse all
+// brake identically.
+export const decayMomentum = (
+  bodyVelocity: vec2,
+  onGround: boolean,
+  deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+) => {
+  const speed = vec2.length(bodyVelocity);
+  if (speed === 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const friction = onGround
+    ? settings.groundMomentumFriction
+    : settings.airMomentumFriction;
+  const target = Math.min(
+    speed * Math.exp(-friction * deltaTimeInSeconds) -
+      settings.momentumStopDeceleration * deltaTimeInSeconds,
+    settings.maxBodyMomentum,
+  );
+  if (target <= 1) {
+    vec2.zero(bodyVelocity);
+  } else {
+    vec2.scale(bodyVelocity, bodyVelocity, target / speed);
+  }
+};
+
+const decayBodyMomentum = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+) => {
+  decayMomentum(state.bodyVelocity, !!state.currentPlanet, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+};
+
+const sumGravity = (grounds: Array<GroundSurface>, position: vec2): vec2 =>
+  grounds.reduce(
+    (sum, ground) => vec2.add(sum, sum, ground.gravityAt(position)),
+    vec2.create(),
+  );
+
+const latchGround = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  ground: GroundSurface | undefined,
+) => {
+  if (ground) {
+    state.secondsSinceOnSurface = 0;
+    state.currentPlanet = ground;
+  }
+};
+
+// One tick of character movement. This is the exact movement block of the
+// authoritative CharacterPhysical.step (gravity gather → movement force →
+// on/off-planet branch → posture → step the three body parts), with all
+// server-only concerns (scoring, health, shooting, spawn/death animation,
+// ownership) left to the caller. `inputDirection` is the already-averaged,
+// already-normalized movement direction for this tick and is consumed in place.
+export const stepCharacterMovement = (
+  state: CharacterMovementState,
+  world: CharacterWorld,
+  inputDirection: vec2,
+  deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+) => {
+  const center = characterCenter(state);
+  const grounds = world.groundsNear(center, boundRadius + settings.maxGravityDistance);
+
+  const movementForce = vec2.scale(inputDirection, inputDirection, settings.maxAcceleration);
+  applyForce(state.leftFoot, movementForce, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+  applyForce(state.rightFoot, movementForce, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+
+  if (!state.currentPlanet) {
+    const leftFootGravity = sumGravity(grounds, state.leftFoot.center);
+    const rightFootGravity = sumGravity(grounds, state.rightFoot.center);
+
+    applyForce(state.leftFoot, leftFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+    applyForce(state.rightFoot, rightFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+
+    const sumForce = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), leftFootGravity, movementForce);
+    setDirection(state, vec2.length(sumForce) === 0 ? vec2.fromValues(0, -1) : sumForce);
+  } else {
+    carryWithRotatingPlanet(state, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+
+    const leftFootGravity = state.currentPlanet.gravityAt(state.leftFoot.center);
+    const rightFootGravity = state.currentPlanet.gravityAt(state.rightFoot.center);
+
+    vec2.add(leftFootGravity, leftFootGravity, rightFootGravity);
+    const gravity = vec2.scale(leftFootGravity, leftFootGravity, 0.5);
+
+    if (
+      vec2.dot(movementForce, gravity) <
+      -vec2.length(movementForce) * settings.climbDotThreshold
+    ) {
+      vec2.scale(gravity, gravity, settings.climbGravityScale);
+    }
+
+    const scaledLeftFootGravity = vec2.scale(
+      vec2.create(),
+      state.leftFoot.lastNormal,
+      vec2.dot(state.leftFoot.lastNormal, gravity),
+    );
+    applyForce(state.leftFoot, scaledLeftFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+
+    const scaledRightFootGravity = vec2.scale(
+      vec2.create(),
+      state.rightFoot.lastNormal,
+      vec2.dot(state.rightFoot.lastNormal, gravity),
+    );
+    applyForce(state.rightFoot, scaledRightFootGravity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+
+    if (vec2.length(gravity) <= settings.planetDetachmentForceThreshold) {
+      state.currentPlanet = undefined;
+    }
+    setDirection(state, gravity);
+  }
+
+  keepPosture(state);
+
+  applyBodyMomentum(state);
+
+  latchGround(state, world.stepBody(state.leftFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds));
+  latchGround(state, world.stepBody(state.rightFoot, deltaTimeInSeconds));
+  latchGround(state, world.stepBody(state.head, deltaTimeInSeconds));
+
+  decayBodyMomentum(state, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+};
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/depenetrate-circle.ts b/shared/src/physics/depenetrate-circle.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7232f73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/depenetrate-circle.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { PhysicsBody, Sdf } from './sdf';
+import { evaluateSdf } from './evaluate-sdf';
+import { sdfNormal } from './sdf-normal';
+
+// Planet collision outlines rotate (see PlanetPhysical.distance), so a surface
+// can sweep into a circle that hasn't itself moved. marchCircle assumes an
+// overlap-free start — beginning inside, it registers a zero-distance hit and
+// never moves again — so any overlap must be resolved here, before marching.
+// Iterating handles concave spots, where leaving one face pushes into another;
+// if no overlap-free position exists nearby (a crevice narrower than the
+// circle), it gives up and leaves the rest to a later tick.
+export const depenetrateCircle = (
+  body: PhysicsBody,
+  possibleIntersectors: Array<Sdf>,
+) => {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+    const distance = evaluateSdf(body.center, possibleIntersectors);
+    if (distance >= body.radius) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const normal = sdfNormal(body.center, possibleIntersectors);
+    if (vec2.squaredLength(normal) === 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    vec2.copy(body.lastNormal, normal);
+    body.center = vec2.scaleAndAdd(
+      vec2.create(),
+      body.center,
+      normal,
+      body.radius - distance + 0.01,
+    );
+  }
+};
diff --git a/backend/src/physics/functions/evaluate-sdf.ts b/shared/src/physics/evaluate-sdf.ts
similarity index 53%
rename from backend/src/physics/functions/evaluate-sdf.ts
rename to shared/src/physics/evaluate-sdf.ts
index 16bc96c..f3c60cf 100644
--- a/backend/src/physics/functions/evaluate-sdf.ts
+++ b/shared/src/physics/evaluate-sdf.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
-import { PhysicalBase } from '../physicals/physical-base';
+import { Sdf } from './sdf';
 
-export const evaluateSdf = (target: vec2, objects: Array<PhysicalBase>) =>
+export const evaluateSdf = (target: vec2, objects: Array<Sdf>) =>
   objects
     .filter((i) => i.canCollide)
     .reduce((min, i) => (min = Math.min(min, i.distance(target))), 1000000);
diff --git a/backend/src/helper/interpolate-angles.ts b/shared/src/physics/interpolate-angles.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from backend/src/helper/interpolate-angles.ts
rename to shared/src/physics/interpolate-angles.ts
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts b/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a8f0c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { PhysicsBody, Sdf } from './sdf';
+import { evaluateSdf } from './evaluate-sdf';
+import { sdfNormal } from './sdf-normal';
+
+export interface MarchResult {
+  hitSurface: boolean;
+  normal?: vec2;
+  hitObject?: Sdf;
+}
+
+// Raymarch a circle by `delta`, stopping at the first surface it would overlap.
+// Extracted verbatim from the backend's move-circle so server and client
+// resolve motion identically. The collision *reaction* is no longer dispatched
+// here: on a real (non-ignored) hit, `onHit(intersecting)` is invoked at the
+// exact point the backend used to dispatch its ReactToCollisionCommands, and
+// the backend wrapper supplies that callback. The client passes none.
+export const marchCircle = (
+  body: PhysicsBody,
+  delta: vec2,
+  possibleIntersectors: Array<Sdf>,
+  ignoreCollision = false,
+  onHit?: (intersecting: Sdf) => void,
+): MarchResult => {
+  const direction = vec2.clone(delta);
+
+  if (vec2.length(delta) > 0) {
+    vec2.normalize(direction, direction);
+  }
+
+  const deltaLength = vec2.length(delta);
+  let travelled = 0;
+  const rayEnd = vec2.create();
+  let prevMinDistance = 0;
+  while (travelled < deltaLength) {
+    travelled += prevMinDistance;
+    vec2.add(
+      rayEnd,
+      body.center,
+      vec2.scale(vec2.create(), direction, Math.min(travelled, deltaLength)),
+    );
+
+    const minDistance = evaluateSdf(rayEnd, possibleIntersectors);
+
+    if (minDistance < body.radius) {
+      const intersecting = possibleIntersectors.find(
+        (i) => i.distance(rayEnd) <= body.radius,
+      )!;
+
+      if (ignoreCollision) {
+        body.center = vec2.add(body.center, body.center, delta);
+      } else {
+        onHit?.(intersecting);
+      }
+
+      vec2.add(
+        rayEnd,
+        body.center,
+        vec2.scale(vec2.create(), direction, travelled - prevMinDistance),
+      );
+
+      vec2.copy(body.center, rayEnd);
+
+      const normal = sdfNormal(rayEnd, [intersecting]);
+      return {
+        hitSurface: true,
+        normal,
+        hitObject: intersecting,
+      };
+    }
+
+    prevMinDistance = minDistance;
+  }
+
+  vec2.add(body.center, body.center, delta);
+
+  return {
+    hitSurface: false,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/planet-sdf.ts b/shared/src/physics/planet-sdf.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24af49d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/planet-sdf.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { clamp, clamp01 } from '../helper/clamp';
+import { settings } from '../settings';
+
+// Rotate a world point into the planet's own frame: R(-rotation) about the
+// centre, matching the shader's localTarget = center + R(rotation)*(target-center).
+// cos/sin are passed in so the server can keep memoising them per angle.
+export const toPlanetLocalFrame = (
+  target: vec2,
+  center: vec2,
+  cos: number,
+  sin: number,
+): vec2 => {
+  const dx = target[0] - center[0];
+  const dy = target[1] - center[1];
+  return vec2.fromValues(
+    center[0] + cos * dx - sin * dy,
+    center[1] + sin * dx + cos * dy,
+  );
+};
+
+// Signed distance to the (smooth, noise-free) planet polygon, evaluated in the
+// planet's rotating frame. Extracted verbatim from PlanetPhysical.distance so
+// the client collides against the exact same outline the server does. Indexed
+// vector access keeps it independent of the .x/.y prototype plugin.
+export const planetDistance = (
+  target: vec2,
+  vertices: Array<vec2>,
+  center: vec2,
+  cos: number,
+  sin: number,
+): number => {
+  const local = toPlanetLocalFrame(target, center, cos, sin);
+
+  const startEnd = vertices[0];
+  let vb = startEnd;
+
+  let d = vec2.dist(local, vb);
+  let sign = 1;
+
+  for (let i = 1; i <= vertices.length; i++) {
+    const va = vb;
+    vb = i === vertices.length ? startEnd : vertices[i];
+    const targetFromDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), local, va);
+    const toFromDelta = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), vb, va);
+    const h = clamp01(
+      vec2.dot(targetFromDelta, toFromDelta) / vec2.squaredLength(toFromDelta),
+    );
+
+    const ds = vec2.fromValues(
+      vec2.dist(targetFromDelta, vec2.scale(vec2.create(), toFromDelta, h)),
+      toFromDelta[0] * targetFromDelta[1] - toFromDelta[1] * targetFromDelta[0],
+    );
+
+    if (
+      (local[1] >= va[1] && local[1] < vb[1] && ds[1] > 0) ||
+      (local[1] < va[1] && local[1] >= vb[1] && ds[1] <= 0)
+    ) {
+      sign *= -1;
+    }
+
+    d = Math.min(d, ds[0]);
+  }
+
+  return sign * d;
+};
+
+// Gravity a planet exerts at a world position. Verbatim from
+// PlanetPhysical.getForce.
+export const planetGravity = (center: vec2, radius: number, position: vec2): vec2 => {
+  const diff = vec2.subtract(vec2.create(), center, position);
+  const dist = Math.max(settings.minGravityDistance, vec2.length(diff) - radius);
+  vec2.normalize(diff, diff);
+  const scale = clamp(
+    settings.maxGravityQ * ((settings.maxGravityDistance / dist) ** 1.5 - 1),
+    0,
+    settings.maxGravityStrength,
+  );
+  return vec2.scale(diff, diff, scale);
+};
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/resolve-circle-movement.ts b/shared/src/physics/resolve-circle-movement.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47f0c1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/resolve-circle-movement.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { PhysicsBody, Sdf } from './sdf';
+import { depenetrateCircle } from './depenetrate-circle';
+import { marchCircle } from './march-circle';
+
+// The position-resolution half of the backend's CirclePhysical.stepManually,
+// extracted so server and client integrate a body identically. The caller is
+// responsible for the broadphase (gathering `possibleIntersectors`, including
+// the swept-radius bump) because that depends on each side's spatial structure;
+// everything from depenetration onward lives here.
+//
+// `onHit` is threaded through to marchCircle so the backend can dispatch its
+// collision reactions at the same points as before (including the second,
+// post-bounce slide march); the client passes none. Velocity is reset to zero
+// at the end — the character re-applies all forces from zero every tick, so a
+// body that retained velocity would double-integrate and diverge.
+export const resolveCircleMovement = (
+  body: PhysicsBody,
+  deltaTimeInSeconds: number,
+  possibleIntersectors: Array<Sdf>,
+  onHit?: (intersecting: Sdf) => void,
+): { hitObject?: Sdf; velocity: vec2 } => {
+  let delta = vec2.scale(vec2.create(), body.velocity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+
+  depenetrateCircle(body, possibleIntersectors);
+
+  const { normal, hitSurface, hitObject } = marchCircle(
+    body,
+    delta,
+    possibleIntersectors,
+    false,
+    onHit,
+  );
+
+  if (hitSurface) {
+    vec2.copy(body.lastNormal, normal!);
+
+    vec2.subtract(
+      body.velocity,
+      body.velocity,
+      vec2.scale(
+        normal!,
+        normal!,
+        (1 + body.restitution) * vec2.dot(normal!, body.velocity),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    if (vec2.length(body.velocity) > 50) {
+      delta = vec2.scale(vec2.create(), body.velocity, deltaTimeInSeconds);
+      marchCircle(body, delta, possibleIntersectors, false, onHit);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const lastVelocity = vec2.clone(body.velocity);
+  vec2.zero(body.velocity);
+
+  return { hitObject, velocity: lastVelocity };
+};
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/sdf-normal.ts b/shared/src/physics/sdf-normal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..507a8eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/sdf-normal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+import { Sdf } from './sdf';
+import { evaluateSdf } from './evaluate-sdf';
+
+// Central-difference gradient of the combined SDF. Can be zero where the
+// samples cancel out (e.g. on the medial axis of a shape) — callers must
+// handle that case. Uses indexed access so it never depends on the vec2 .x/.y
+// prototype plugin (identical numerically: .x === [0]).
+export const sdfNormal = (target: vec2, objects: Array<Sdf>): vec2 => {
+  const dx =
+    evaluateSdf(vec2.fromValues(target[0] + 0.01, target[1]), objects) -
+    evaluateSdf(vec2.fromValues(target[0] - 0.01, target[1]), objects);
+  const dy =
+    evaluateSdf(vec2.fromValues(target[0], target[1] + 0.01), objects) -
+    evaluateSdf(vec2.fromValues(target[0], target[1] - 0.01), objects);
+
+  const normal = vec2.fromValues(dx, dy);
+  return vec2.squaredLength(normal) > 0 ? vec2.normalize(normal, normal) : normal;
+};
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/sdf.ts b/shared/src/physics/sdf.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38bb74c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/src/physics/sdf.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { vec2 } from 'gl-matrix';
+
+// Minimal signed-distance collider the geometry functions need. Backend
+// Physicals and the client's planet surfaces both satisfy this structurally.
+export interface Sdf {
+  readonly canCollide: boolean;
+  // Planets set this true so a body landing on one can latch it as ground;
+  // everything else leaves it falsy. Replaces the server's
+  // `instanceof PlanetPhysical` check with a structural flag both sides share.
+  readonly isGround?: boolean;
+  distance(target: vec2): number;
+}
+
+// A movable circle the geometry resolves in place. Backend CirclePhysical and
+// the client predictor's plain bodies both satisfy this.
+export interface PhysicsBody {
+  center: vec2;
+  radius: number;
+  velocity: vec2;
+  lastNormal: vec2;
+  readonly restitution: number;
+}
+
+// A planet-like surface: collidable, exerts gravity, and spins. Drives the
+// character's on-surface movement branch.
+export interface GroundSurface extends Sdf {
+  readonly isGround: true;
+  readonly center: vec2;
+  readonly angularVelocity: number;
+  gravityAt(target: vec2): vec2;
+}
diff --git a/shared/src/settings.ts b/shared/src/settings.ts
index f38bd81..61041a5 100644
--- a/shared/src/settings.ts
+++ b/shared/src/settings.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import { rgb255 } from './helper/rgb255';
 import { CharacterTeam } from './objects/types/character-base';
 
-const declaColor = rgb255(64, 105, 165);
+const blueColor = rgb255(64, 105, 165);
 const neutralColor = rgb255(82, 165, 64);
 const redColor = rgb255(209, 86, 82);
 const q = 2.5;
-const declaColorDim = rgb255(64 * q, 105 * q, 165 * q);
+const blueColorDim = rgb255(64 * q, 105 * q, 165 * q);
 const redColorDim = rgb255(209 * q, 86 * q, 82 * q);
-const declaPlanetColor = declaColorDim;
+const bluePlanetColor = blueColorDim;
 const redPlanetColor = redColorDim;
 
 export const settings = {
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ export const settings = {
   worldRadius: 4000,
   objectsOnCircleLength: 0.002,
   updateMessageInterval: 1 / 25,
+  // How far behind the estimated server time remote state is rendered: ~2.5
+  // update intervals, so a late packet rarely leaves the client without a
+  // newer snapshot to interpolate towards.
+  interpolationDelaySeconds: 0.1,
   planetEdgeCount: 7,
   playerKillPoint: 25,
   takeControlTimeInSeconds: 2.5,
@@ -29,7 +33,11 @@ export const settings = {
   maxGravityDistance: 800,
   minGravityDistance: 1,
   maxGravityQ: 5000,
-  planetControlThreshold: 0.2,
+  // Half-width of the neutral dead-band around 50% ownership. A planet only
+  // counts as captured (team(), point generation, flip) once |ownership-0.5|
+  // exceeds this, and the rendered ownership ring stays neutral until the same
+  // point — so what you see matches what scores.
+  planetControlThreshold: 0.12,
   playerMaxHealth: 100,
   maxGravityStrength: 50000,
   planetMinReferenceRadius: 150,
@@ -64,8 +72,8 @@ export const settings = {
   chargeShotSpeedMax: 3400,
   playerColorIndexOffset: 3,
   backgroundGradient: [rgb255(90, 38, 43), rgb255(43, 39, 73)],
-  declaColor,
-  declaPlanetColor,
+  blueColor,
+  bluePlanetColor,
   npcNames: [
     'Adam',
     'Andrew',
@@ -119,12 +127,12 @@ export const settings = {
   redColor,
   redPlanetColor,
   colorIndices: {
-    [CharacterTeam.decla]: 0,
+    [CharacterTeam.blue]: 0,
     [CharacterTeam.neutral]: 1,
     [CharacterTeam.red]: 2,
   },
-  palette: [declaColor, neutralColor, redColor],
-  paletteDim: [declaColorDim, neutralColor, redColorDim],
+  palette: [blueColor, neutralColor, redColor],
+  paletteDim: [blueColorDim, neutralColor, redColorDim],
   targetPhysicsDeltaTimeInSeconds: 1 / 200,
   inViewAreaSize: 1920 * 1080 * 4,
   scoreboardHalfWidthPercent: 50,
@@ -137,4 +145,65 @@ export const settings = {
   lampFlareDecaySeconds: 0.6,
   maxConcurrentFlipFlares: 3,
   announcementVisibleSeconds: 2,
+
+  chargedHitThreshold: 0.6,
+
+  // Projectiles fall through planetary gravity like a free-falling character,
+  // so slower (charged) shots arc. Scale kept tiny: near a surface gravity is
+  // maxGravityStrength=50000, which at full strength would corkscrew a shot into
+  // the planet — 0.04 gives a readable bend instead.
+  projectileGravityEnabled: true,
+  projectileGravityScale: 0.04,
+
+  // Speed the corpse is flung at along the killing shot's direction, lerped by
+  // that shot's charge. Added to whatever momentum the victim already carried.
+  deathImpulseMin: 280,
+  deathImpulseMax: 1300,
+
+  // A planet's net team head-count drives a single capture step per tick; the
+  // lead multiplier is capped so a zerg can't flip instantly. Equal head-counts
+  // freeze the planet (contested) instead of silently cancelling.
+  maxContestLeadMultiplier: 2,
+
+  // Persistent body momentum decays per second by these exponents. Airborne is
+  // near-frictionless so leaps and slingshots carry across the gaps; grounded is
+  // stiff so you skid to a stop on landing rather than sliding forever.
+  airMomentumFriction: 0.4,
+
+  groundMomentumFriction: 7,
+
+  // On top of the exponential frictions above, a constant deceleration (u/s^2)
+  // applied to body momentum. The exponential alone only asymptotes toward zero,
+  // so a fast launch keeps a slow tail for 15+ seconds — it reads as drifting
+  // forever with nothing slowing you. This constant brake brings the momentum to
+  // a definite stop in a couple of seconds, while the gentle exponential still
+  // lets the launch cover its distance first.
+
+  momentumStopDeceleration: 400,
+  // Hard ceiling (u/s) on body momentum, so stacked impulses — rapid charged-shot
+  // recoil, or a leap chained into a spin slingshot — can't build speed without
+  // bound. Kept above the overcharge fling (1700) so single launches survive.
+
+  maxBodyMomentum: 2000,
+
+  // Leap: a charged-cost launch off a surface, paid from the shared shooting
+  // strength pool so it trades against firepower.
+  leapStrengthCost: 32,
+
+  leapSpeed: 1350,
+  leapUpBias: 1,
+  leapMoveBias: 0.65,
+  leapCooldownSeconds: 0.35,
+
+  // Fraction of the planet's tangential surface velocity you keep when you leave
+  // it (slingshot). Leap off a fast spinner to be flung far.
+  slingshotScale: 1,
+
+  // Recoil speed imparted opposite a shot, scaled by its charge (0 for taps).
+  chargeShotRecoilMax: 650,
+
+  // The central giant is a named, always-contested focus. Its neutral decay is
+  // slowed so control lingers and teams keep fighting over it; flips are
+  // announced to everyone and an off-screen arrow points the way.
+  keystoneLoseControlScale: 2.5,
 };