diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 91799c9..091d70c 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ backend/                 # FastAPI + SQLite (WAL)
     limits.py            # slowapi limiter + payload-size middleware
     models.py            # pydantic v2 schemas
     logging.py           # structlog JSON
-    migrations/          # 001_initial.sql, 002_keep_tasks_open.sql, …
+    migrations/          # 001_initial.sql consolidated schema
   tests/test_api.py      # pytest + httpx AsyncClient
   pyproject.toml         # uv-managed
 frontend/                # Angular 21+ standalone, signals, zoneless
diff --git a/backend/src/life_towers/api.py b/backend/src/life_towers/api.py
index 3a8fd4a..9fcee2a 100644
--- a/backend/src/life_towers/api.py
+++ b/backend/src/life_towers/api.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ async def get_data(
 
                 block_rows = conn.execute(
                     """
-                    SELECT id, tag, description, is_done, created_at
+                    SELECT id, tag, description, is_done, difficulty, created_at
                     FROM blocks
                     WHERE tower_id = ?
                     ORDER BY position
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ async def get_data(
                         tag=b["tag"],
                         description=b["description"],
                         is_done=bool(b["is_done"]),
+                        difficulty=b["difficulty"],
                         created_at=b["created_at"],
                     )
                     for b in block_rows
@@ -213,8 +214,9 @@ async def put_data(
                             """
                             INSERT INTO blocks
                                 (id, tower_id, user_id, position, tag,
-                                 description, is_done, created_at, updated_at)
-                            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+                                 description, is_done, difficulty,
+                                 created_at, updated_at)
+                            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
                             """,
                             (
                                 block.id,
@@ -224,6 +226,7 @@ async def put_data(
                                 block.tag,
                                 block.description,
                                 1 if block.is_done else 0,
+                                block.difficulty,
                                 created_at,
                                 now,
                             ),
diff --git a/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/001_initial.sql b/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/001_initial.sql
index 14ab170..b8d3761 100644
--- a/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/001_initial.sql
+++ b/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/001_initial.sql
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS pages (
     position                    INTEGER NOT NULL,
     name                        TEXT NOT NULL,
     hide_create_tower_button    INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0 CHECK (hide_create_tower_button IN (0, 1)),
+    keep_tasks_open             INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0 CHECK (keep_tasks_open IN (0, 1)),
     default_date_from           INTEGER,
     default_date_to             INTEGER,
     created_at                  INTEGER NOT NULL,
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS blocks (
     tag           TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
     description   TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
     is_done       INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0 CHECK (is_done IN (0, 1)),
+    difficulty    INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1 CHECK (difficulty >= 1),
     created_at    INTEGER NOT NULL,
     updated_at    INTEGER NOT NULL
 ) STRICT;
diff --git a/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/002_keep_tasks_open.sql b/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/002_keep_tasks_open.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index f9417ad..0000000
--- a/backend/src/life_towers/migrations/002_keep_tasks_open.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-ALTER TABLE pages ADD COLUMN keep_tasks_open INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
-    CHECK (keep_tasks_open IN (0, 1));
diff --git a/backend/src/life_towers/models.py b/backend/src/life_towers/models.py
index d848ad4..4fe8694 100644
--- a/backend/src/life_towers/models.py
+++ b/backend/src/life_towers/models.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class BlockIn(BaseModel):
     tag: str = Field(max_length=200)
     description: str = Field(max_length=10_000)
     is_done: bool
+    difficulty: int = Field(default=1, ge=1, le=100)
     created_at: Optional[int] = None
 
     @field_validator("id")
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ class BlockOut(BaseModel):
     tag: str
     description: str
     is_done: bool
+    difficulty: int
     created_at: int
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_api.py b/backend/tests/test_api.py
index a23603b..0037c88 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_api.py
@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ def _make_tree() -> dict:
                         "tag": f"tag-{pi}-{ti}-{bi}",
                         "description": f"desc-{pi}-{ti}-{bi}",
                         "is_done": False,
+                        "difficulty": bi + 1,
                         "created_at": 1700000000 + bi,
                     }
                 )
@@ -266,6 +267,42 @@ async def test_round_trip(client: AsyncClient) -> None:
             for bi, block in enumerate(tower["blocks"]):
                 assert block["id"] == tree["pages"][pi]["towers"][ti]["blocks"][bi]["id"]
                 assert block["tag"] == tree["pages"][pi]["towers"][ti]["blocks"][bi]["tag"]
+                assert (
+                    block["difficulty"]
+                    == tree["pages"][pi]["towers"][ti]["blocks"][bi]["difficulty"]
+                )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_difficulty_defaults_to_one_when_omitted(client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+    """A block sent without `difficulty` is stored and returned as 1."""
+    token = make_uuidv4()
+    await client.post("/api/v1/register", json={"token": token})
+    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"}
+
+    tree = _make_tree()
+    # Drop difficulty from the very first block.
+    del tree["pages"][0]["towers"][0]["blocks"][0]["difficulty"]
+
+    put_resp = await client.put("/api/v1/data", json=tree, headers=headers)
+    assert put_resp.status_code == 204
+
+    data = (await client.get("/api/v1/data", headers=headers)).json()
+    assert data["pages"][0]["towers"][0]["blocks"][0]["difficulty"] == 1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_difficulty_must_be_positive(client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+    """difficulty < 1 is rejected by validation."""
+    token = make_uuidv4()
+    await client.post("/api/v1/register", json={"token": token})
+    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"}
+
+    tree = _make_tree()
+    tree["pages"][0]["towers"][0]["blocks"][0]["difficulty"] = 0
+
+    resp = await client.put("/api/v1/data", json=tree, headers=headers)
+    assert resp.status_code == 400
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/visuals.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/visuals.spec.ts
index 8b5429c..a1e3384 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/visuals.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/visuals.spec.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ test.describe('Life Towers visuals', () => {
     await page.waitForTimeout(350); // let the welcome modal finish fade-in
     await page.screenshot({ path: 'visuals/01-welcome-modal.png', fullPage: true });
 
-    // Dismiss the welcome modal with Start fresh, then continue.
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start fresh' }).click();
+    // Dismiss the welcome modal with Start empty, then continue.
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start empty' }).click();
     await page.waitForSelector('section.modal', { state: 'detached' });
 
     await page.screenshot({ path: 'visuals/01b-empty-state-after-dismiss.png', fullPage: true });
@@ -171,11 +171,11 @@ test.describe('Life Towers visuals', () => {
     await page.screenshot({ path: 'visuals/11-settings-modal.png', fullPage: true });
   });
 
-  test('"Try an example" populates a sample page', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('"Load sample towers" populates a sample page', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto('/');
     await page.waitForSelector('text=Welcome to Life Towers', { timeout: 15000 });
     await page.waitForTimeout(350);
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Try an example' }).click();
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Load sample towers' }).click();
     await page.waitForSelector('section.modal', { state: 'detached' });
     await page.waitForTimeout(1800);
     await page.screenshot({ path: 'visuals/12-example-data.png', fullPage: true });
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ test.describe('Life Towers visuals', () => {
     await page.waitForTimeout(350);
     await page.screenshot({ path: 'visuals/13-mobile-welcome.png', fullPage: true });
 
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Try an example' }).click();
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Load sample towers' }).click();
     await page.waitForSelector('section.modal', { state: 'detached' });
     await page.waitForTimeout(1800);
     await page.screenshot({ path: 'visuals/14-mobile-populated.png', fullPage: true });
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/modal/block-edit.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/modal/block-edit.component.ts
index 63296ae..cd50b5b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/modal/block-edit.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/modal/block-edit.component.ts
@@ -23,12 +23,14 @@ export interface BlockEditSave {
   tag: string;
   description: string;
   is_done: boolean;
+  difficulty: number;
 }
 
 interface EditedValue {
   tag: string;
   description: string;
   is_done: boolean;
+  difficulty: number;
 }
 
 @Component({
@@ -73,8 +75,7 @@ interface EditedValue {
               [selected]="editedFor(b.id).tag"
               [alwaysDropShadow]="true"
               [onlyShadowBorder]="true"
-              placeholder="Tag this item…"
-              emptyHint="No tags yet. Type one below to create it."
+              [placeholder]="tagPlaceholder('Tag this item…')"
               (select)="updateTag(b.id, $event)"
               (add)="updateTag(b.id, $event)"
             />
@@ -96,6 +97,26 @@ interface EditedValue {
             <span>Already done</span>
           </label>
 
+          <div class="difficulty">
+            <span class="label">Difficulty</span>
+            <div class="stepper">
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                class="step"
+                aria-label="Decrease difficulty"
+                [disabled]="editedFor(b.id).difficulty <= 1"
+                (click)="updateDifficulty(b.id, -1); $event.stopPropagation()"
+              >−</button>
+              <span class="value">{{ editedFor(b.id).difficulty }}</span>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                class="step"
+                aria-label="Increase difficulty"
+                (click)="updateDifficulty(b.id, 1); $event.stopPropagation()"
+              >+</button>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           <div class="bottom">
             <button (click)="onDelete(b.id); $event.stopPropagation()">Delete</button>
           </div>
@@ -125,8 +146,7 @@ interface EditedValue {
             [selected]="newValue().tag"
             [alwaysDropShadow]="true"
             [onlyShadowBorder]="true"
-            placeholder="Set a category…"
-            emptyHint="No tags yet. Type one below to create it."
+            [placeholder]="tagPlaceholder('Set a category…')"
             (select)="updateNewTag($event)"
             (add)="updateNewTag($event)"
           />
@@ -147,6 +167,26 @@ interface EditedValue {
           <span>Already done</span>
         </label>
 
+        <div class="difficulty">
+          <span class="label">Difficulty</span>
+          <div class="stepper">
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              class="step"
+              aria-label="Decrease difficulty"
+              [disabled]="newValue().difficulty <= 1"
+              (click)="updateNewDifficulty(-1); $event.stopPropagation()"
+            >−</button>
+            <span class="value">{{ newValue().difficulty }}</span>
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              class="step"
+              aria-label="Increase difficulty"
+              (click)="updateNewDifficulty(1); $event.stopPropagation()"
+            >+</button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
         <div class="bottom">
           <button
             (click)="submitNew(); $event.stopPropagation()"
@@ -394,6 +434,68 @@ interface EditedValue {
         }
       }
 
+      .difficulty {
+        @include medium-text();
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        justify-content: center;
+        gap: var(--small-padding);
+        width: max-content;
+        max-width: 100%;
+        margin: 0 auto var(--medium-padding);
+
+        .stepper {
+          display: flex;
+          align-items: center;
+          gap: var(--small-padding);
+
+          .value {
+            min-width: 1.5em;
+            text-align: center;
+            font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+          }
+
+          button.step {
+            all: unset;                       // strip native + global button styles
+            @include square(22px);
+            @include center-child();
+            flex: 0 0 auto;
+            box-sizing: border-box;
+            border-radius: 4px;
+            background: $light-color;
+            box-shadow: $shadow-border;
+            cursor: pointer;
+            // all:unset drops the font to serif and the global button's hover
+            // underline (button::after) survives the reset — re-assert both.
+            font: bold 18px/1 $normal-font;
+            color: $text-color;
+            user-select: none;
+            transition: box-shadow $long-animation-time, transform $short-animation-time, opacity $short-animation-time;
+
+            &::after { content: none; }
+
+            @media (max-width: $mobile-width) {
+              @include square(26px);
+            }
+
+            &:hover,
+            &:focus-visible {
+              box-shadow: $shadow;
+            }
+
+            &:active {
+              transform: scale(0.95);
+            }
+
+            &:disabled {
+              opacity: 0.4;
+              cursor: not-allowed;
+              box-shadow: $shadow-border;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
       .bottom {
         height: 32px;
         @media (max-width: $mobile-width) {
@@ -454,6 +556,7 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
     tag: '',
     description: '',
     is_done: true,
+    difficulty: 1,
   });
 
   // 1-based index of the centered card. 0/N+2 are placeholders.
@@ -471,6 +574,7 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
           tag: b.tag,
           description: b.description,
           is_done: b.is_done,
+          difficulty: b.difficulty ?? 1,
         });
       }
       untracked(() => this.editedValues.set(m));
@@ -510,6 +614,7 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
         tag: '',
         description: '',
         is_done: false,
+        difficulty: 1,
       }
     );
   }
@@ -519,6 +624,10 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
     return v.tag ? getColorOfTag(v.tag, this.baseColor()) : 'transparent';
   }
 
+  tagPlaceholder(fallback: string): string {
+    return this.tags().length === 0 ? 'No tags yet. Open to create one.' : fallback;
+  }
+
   colorOfNewTag = computed(() => {
     const t = this.newValue().tag;
     return t ? getColorOfTag(t, this.baseColor()) : 'transparent';
@@ -561,6 +670,12 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
     this.flushExisting(id);
   }
 
+  updateDifficulty(id: string, delta: number): void {
+    const next = Math.max(1, this.editedFor(id).difficulty + delta);
+    this.patchEdited(id, { difficulty: next });
+    this.flushExisting(id);
+  }
+
   private patchEdited(id: string, patch: Partial<EditedValue>): void {
     this.editedValues.update((m) => {
       const v = m.get(id);
@@ -574,7 +689,13 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
   flushExisting(id: string): void {
     const v = this.editedFor(id);
     if (!v.tag) return; // Skip empty saves
-    this.save.emit({ id, tag: v.tag, description: v.description, is_done: v.is_done });
+    this.save.emit({
+      id,
+      tag: v.tag,
+      description: v.description,
+      is_done: v.is_done,
+      difficulty: v.difficulty,
+    });
   }
 
   onDelete(id: string): void {
@@ -595,6 +716,10 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
     this.newValue.update((v) => ({ ...v, is_done }));
   }
 
+  updateNewDifficulty(delta: number): void {
+    this.newValue.update((v) => ({ ...v, difficulty: Math.max(1, v.difficulty + delta) }));
+  }
+
   submitNew(): void {
     const v = this.newValue();
     if (!v.tag) return;
@@ -603,6 +728,7 @@ export class BlockEditComponent implements AfterViewInit {
       tag: v.tag,
       description: v.description,
       is_done: v.is_done,
+      difficulty: v.difficulty,
     });
     this.close.emit();
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/modal/modal.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/modal/modal.component.ts
index f68aac3..3a0fda2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/modal/modal.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/modal/modal.component.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {
   Component,
   ChangeDetectionStrategy,
   output,
+  input,
   signal,
   AfterViewInit,
   OnDestroy,
@@ -23,7 +24,17 @@ import { ModalStateService } from '../../services/modal-state.service';
       [class.active]="active()"
       (click)="onBackdropClick($event)"
     >
-      <div class="modal__dialog" #dialog cdkTrapFocus cdkTrapFocusAutoCapture (keydown.escape)="onClose()">
+      <div
+        class="modal__dialog"
+        #dialog
+        role="dialog"
+        aria-modal="true"
+        [attr.aria-labelledby]="labelledBy()"
+        [attr.aria-describedby]="describedBy()"
+        cdkTrapFocus
+        cdkTrapFocusAutoCapture
+        (keydown.escape)="onClose()"
+      >
         <ng-content></ng-content>
       </div>
     </section>
@@ -73,6 +84,8 @@ import { ModalStateService } from '../../services/modal-state.service';
   `,
 })
 export class ModalComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
+  readonly labelledBy = input<string | null>(null);
+  readonly describedBy = input<string | null>(null);
   readonly close = output<void>();
 
   // The active signal starts false; AfterViewInit flips it true on next tick
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.html b/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.html
index 32c2c86..4031662 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.html
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.html
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
       [tower]="tower"
       [dateRange]="dateRange()"
       [keepTasksOpen]="page().keep_tasks_open"
+      [animateInitialStack]="animateInitialStack()"
       (cdkDragStarted)="onTowerDragStart(tower.id)"
       (updateTower)="onUpdateTower(tower.id, $event)"
       (deleteTowerRequest)="onDeleteTower(tower.id)"
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.ts
index 33c5b77..7311479 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/page/page.component.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ interface BlockPatch {
   tag: string;
   description: string;
   is_done: boolean;
+  difficulty: number;
 }
 
 /** Minimum blocks before the date-range slider becomes visible. */
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ const MIN_BLOCKS_FOR_SLIDER = 2;
 })
 export class PageComponent {
   readonly page = input.required<Page>();
+  readonly animateInitialStack = input<boolean>(false);
   readonly dragHappening = output<boolean>();
 
   protected readonly store = inject(StoreService);
@@ -157,6 +159,7 @@ export class PageComponent {
       result.tag,
       result.description,
       result.is_done,
+      result.difficulty,
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.html b/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.html
index 28fd921..9cbafba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.html
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.html
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@
 
 <div class="page-container">
   @if (selectedPage(); as page) {
-    <lt-page [page]="page" (dragHappening)="dragHappening.set($event)" />
+    <lt-page
+      [page]="page"
+      [animateInitialStack]="page.id === animateInitialStackPageId()"
+      (dragHappening)="dragHappening.set($event)"
+    />
   } @else {
     <p>Add a new page to get started!</p>
   }
@@ -53,7 +57,11 @@
 }
 
 @if (showWelcome()) {
-  <lt-modal (close)="showWelcome.set(false)">
+  <lt-modal
+    labelledBy="welcome-title"
+    describedBy="welcome-description"
+    (close)="showWelcome.set(false)"
+  >
     <lt-welcome
       (close)="showWelcome.set(false)"
       (startFresh)="showWelcome.set(false)"
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.ts
index 6dd4008..900ba40 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/pages/pages.component.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   signal,
   computed,
   effect,
+  OnDestroy,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import { StoreService } from '../../services/store.service';
 import { PageComponent } from '../page/page.component';
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ import { Page } from '../../models';
   templateUrl: './pages.component.html',
   styleUrl: './pages.component.scss',
 })
-export class PagesComponent {
+export class PagesComponent implements OnDestroy {
   protected readonly store = inject(StoreService);
 
   /** ID of currently selected page within store.pages(). */
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ export class PagesComponent {
   readonly dragHappening = signal(false);
   readonly showWelcome = signal(false);
   readonly confirmDeletePageId = signal<string | null>(null);
+  readonly animateInitialStackPageId = signal<string | null>(null);
+  private exampleAnimationTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
 
   constructor() {
     effect(() => {
@@ -44,10 +47,27 @@ export class PagesComponent {
   }
 
   onLoadExample(): void {
-    this.store.loadExample();
+    const pageId = this.store.loadExample();
+    this.selectedPageId.set(pageId);
+    this.animateInitialStackPageId.set(pageId);
+    if (this.exampleAnimationTimer !== null) {
+      clearTimeout(this.exampleAnimationTimer);
+    }
+    this.exampleAnimationTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      if (this.animateInitialStackPageId() === pageId) {
+        this.animateInitialStackPageId.set(null);
+      }
+      this.exampleAnimationTimer = null;
+    }, 2500);
     this.showWelcome.set(false);
   }
 
+  ngOnDestroy(): void {
+    if (this.exampleAnimationTimer !== null) {
+      clearTimeout(this.exampleAnimationTimer);
+    }
+  }
+
   readonly pageNames = computed(() => this.store.pages().map((p) => p.name));
 
   readonly selectedPage = computed<Page | null>(() => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/shared/select-add/select-add.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/shared/select-add/select-add.component.ts
index f1cb3fb..5ee768e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/shared/select-add/select-add.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/shared/select-add/select-add.component.ts
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@ import {
       </div>
       <div class="bottom-container">
         <div class="bottom" [class.open]="open()">
-          @if (resolvedItems().length === 0 && emptyHint()) {
-            <p class="empty-hint">{{ emptyHint() }}</p>
-          }
           @for (item of resolvedItems(); track item) {
             @if (editing()) {
               <input
@@ -204,14 +201,6 @@ import {
             }
           }
 
-          .empty-hint {
-            @include medium-text();
-            width: 100%;
-            margin: 0;
-            color: rgba($text-color, 0.72);
-            text-align: left;
-          }
-
           input[type='text'] {
             @include sub-title-text();
             width: 100%;
@@ -384,7 +373,6 @@ export class SelectAddComponent implements OnChanges {
   readonly selected = input<string | null>(null);
   readonly editable = input<boolean>(false);
   readonly placeholder = input<string>('Select…');
-  readonly emptyHint = input<string>('');
   readonly alwaysDropShadow = input<boolean>(false);
   readonly onlyShadowBorder = input<boolean>(false);
 
@@ -419,7 +407,7 @@ export class SelectAddComponent implements OnChanges {
   protected resolvedSelected(): string | null {
     // New API: string
     const s = this.selected();
-    if (s != null) return s;
+    if (s != null && s.trim()) return s;
     // Legacy API: index into options
     const idx = this.selectedIndex();
     const opts = this.resolvedItems();
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.ts
index 2141ce0..9581e4f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.ts
@@ -21,24 +21,100 @@ import { TowerSettingsComponent, TowerSettingsResult } from '../modal/tower-sett
 import { toCss } from '../../utils/color';
 
 /** Tracks which entry path the block-edit modal was opened from. */
-type EditEntry = { filter: 'done' | 'pending'; activeId: string | null };
+interface EditEntry {
+  filter: 'done' | 'pending';
+  activeId: string | null;
+}
 
 /** A done block augmented with per-render animation state. */
-interface StyledBlock extends Block {
+export interface StyledBlock extends Block {
   _anim: '' | 'descend' | 'ascend';
   _transform: string;
   _opacity: string;
 }
 
+/** One rendered square. A block draws `difficulty` squares, all sharing the
+ *  block's color + animation state. */
+interface RenderSquare {
+  key: string;
+  block: StyledBlock;
+}
+
 const BLOCKS_PER_ROW = 6;
 
+/** How many squares a block draws (its difficulty, clamped to >= 1). */
+function squareCount(block: Block): number {
+  const n = Math.floor(block.difficulty ?? 1);
+  return Number.isFinite(n) && n > 0 ? n : 1;
+}
+
+function totalSquares(blocks: Block[]): number {
+  return blocks.reduce((sum, block) => sum + squareCount(block), 0);
+}
+
+/** Pick the newest blocks (array tail) whose cumulative square-count (each
+ *  block costs `difficulty` squares) fits within `limit`, preserving order. */
+function fitNewestBySquares(blocks: StyledBlock[], limit: number): StyledBlock[] {
+  const chosen: StyledBlock[] = [];
+  let used = 0;
+  for (let i = blocks.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+    const cost = squareCount(blocks[i]);
+    if (used + cost > limit) break;
+    used += cost;
+    chosen.unshift(blocks[i]);
+  }
+  return chosen;
+}
+
+export function selectVisibleStyledBlocks(
+  styled: StyledBlock[],
+  visibleLimit: number,
+  enteringInRangeId: string | null,
+): { visibleStyled: StyledBlock[]; hiddenCount: number } {
+  // `visibleLimit` is a number of SQUARE slots. A block draws `difficulty`
+  // squares, so we cap by cumulative square cost, not by raw block count.
+  const normalizedLimit = Math.max(0, visibleLimit);
+  const restingBlocks = styled.filter((b) => b._opacity === '1');
+  let shownRestingBlocks = fitNewestBySquares(restingBlocks, normalizedLimit);
+  const enteringBlock =
+    enteringInRangeId === null ? undefined : restingBlocks.find((b) => b.id === enteringInRangeId);
+
+  if (enteringBlock && !shownRestingBlocks.some((b) => b.id === enteringBlock.id)) {
+    // Guarantee the just-completed block a slot, then fill the remaining
+    // square budget with the newest of the others.
+    const reservedBudget = Math.max(0, normalizedLimit - squareCount(enteringBlock));
+    const others = restingBlocks.filter((b) => b.id !== enteringBlock.id);
+    shownRestingBlocks = [enteringBlock, ...fitNewestBySquares(others, reservedBudget)];
+  }
+
+  const hiddenCount = Math.max(0, totalSquares(restingBlocks) - totalSquares(shownRestingBlocks));
+  const usedSquares = totalSquares(shownRestingBlocks);
+  const remainingBudget = Math.max(0, normalizedLimit - usedSquares);
+  const transitioningBlocks =
+    remainingBudget > 0
+      ? fitNewestBySquares(
+          styled.filter((b) => b._opacity !== '1'),
+          remainingBudget,
+        )
+      : [];
+  const shownIds = new Set([
+    ...shownRestingBlocks.map((b) => b.id),
+    ...transitioningBlocks.map((b) => b.id),
+  ]);
+
+  return {
+    hiddenCount,
+    visibleStyled: styled.filter((b) => shownIds.has(b.id)),
+  };
+}
+
 @Component({
   selector: 'lt-tower',
   standalone: true,
   imports: [BlockComponent, TasksComponent, ModalComponent, TowerSettingsComponent, BlockEditComponent],
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
   template: `
-    <div class="tower">
+    <div #towerRoot class="tower">
       <div class="tower-header">
         <input
           #nameInput
@@ -76,26 +152,31 @@ const BLOCKS_PER_ROW = 6;
         <div
           #stackZone
           class="stack-zone"
+          [class.empty]="tower().blocks.length === 0"
           [style.--block-stack-height]="blockStackHeight()"
         >
           <img
             src="assets/plus-sign.svg"
             class="add-block"
             alt="Add block"
+            role="button"
+            tabindex="0"
             (pointerdown)="$event.stopPropagation()"
             (click)="$event.stopPropagation(); openAddBlock()"
+            (keydown.enter)="$event.stopPropagation(); openAddBlock()"
+            (keydown.space)="$event.preventDefault(); $event.stopPropagation(); openAddBlock()"
           />
 
           <div class="block-container-container">
             <div class="block-container">
-              @for (b of visibleBlocks(); track b.id) {
+              @for (sq of squares(); track sq.key) {
                 <lt-block
-                  [block]="b"
+                  [block]="sq.block"
                   [baseColor]="tower().base_color"
-                  [class]="b._anim"
-                  [style.transform]="b._transform"
-                  [style.opacity]="b._opacity"
-                  (clicked)="onEditBlock(b)"
+                  [class]="sq.block._anim"
+                  [style.transform]="sq.block._transform"
+                  [style.opacity]="sq.block._opacity"
+                  (clicked)="onEditBlock(sq.block)"
                 />
               }
             </div>
@@ -209,6 +290,7 @@ const BLOCKS_PER_ROW = 6;
           --block-stack-height: 0px;
           --add-block-size: 48px;
           --add-block-clearance: var(--medium-padding);
+          --empty-add-block-center-offset: 0px;
 
           @include card();
           overflow: hidden;
@@ -297,6 +379,16 @@ const BLOCKS_PER_ROW = 6;
               transform: translateX(-50%);
             }
 
+            &.empty img.add-block {
+              top: max(
+                0px,
+                min(
+                  calc(50% - var(--add-block-size) / 2 - var(--empty-add-block-center-offset)),
+                  calc(100% - var(--add-block-size))
+                )
+              );
+            }
+
             .block-container-container {
               position: absolute;
               inset: 0;
@@ -431,16 +523,18 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   readonly dateRange = input<{ from: number; to: number } | null>(null);
   /** When true, the tasks accordion starts expanded on load. */
   readonly keepTasksOpen = input<boolean>(false);
+  /** When true, completed blocks descend on this tower's first measured render. */
+  readonly animateInitialStack = input<boolean>(false);
 
   // ── Outputs ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   readonly updateTower = output<TowerSettingsResult>();
   readonly deleteTowerRequest = output<void>();
   /** Emitted when a new block is created from the carousel's "Create now" card. */
-  readonly addBlock = output<{ tag: string; description: string; is_done: boolean }>();
+  readonly addBlock = output<{ tag: string; description: string; is_done: boolean; difficulty: number }>();
   /** Emitted when an existing block is patched from the carousel. */
   readonly saveBlock = output<{
     blockId: string;
-    result: { tag: string; description: string; is_done: boolean };
+    result: { tag: string; description: string; is_done: boolean; difficulty: number };
   }>();
   readonly deleteBlock = output<string>();
 
@@ -452,12 +546,13 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   readonly hiddenBlockCount = signal(0);
 
   private readonly stackZone = viewChild<ElementRef<HTMLElement>>('stackZone');
+  private readonly towerRoot = viewChild<ElementRef<HTMLElement>>('towerRoot');
   private readonly maxVisibleBlocks = signal<number | null>(null);
   private resizeObserver: ResizeObserver | null = null;
 
   // ── Derived ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   /** Pending (not-done) blocks — fed to the tasks accordion. */
-  readonly pending = computed(() => this.tower().blocks.filter(b => !b.is_done));
+  readonly pending = computed(() => this.tower().blocks.filter((b) => !b.is_done));
 
   /** CSS color string for the tower name input. */
   readonly towerNameCss = computed(() => toCss(this.tower().base_color));
@@ -467,7 +562,7 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     const entry = this.editEntry();
     if (!entry) return [];
     const isDone = entry.filter === 'done';
-    return this.tower().blocks.filter(b => b.is_done === isDone);
+    return this.tower().blocks.filter((b) => b.is_done === isDone);
   });
 
   readonly editViewTitle = computed(() => {
@@ -492,8 +587,23 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
 
   private readonly _visibleBlocks = signal<StyledBlock[]>([]);
   readonly visibleBlocks = this._visibleBlocks.asReadonly();
+
+  /** Flat list of squares to render: each visible block expands into
+   *  `difficulty` adjacent squares that wrap (via the flex container) into
+   *  the row above. All squares of a block share its animation state. */
+  readonly squares = computed<RenderSquare[]>(() => {
+    const out: RenderSquare[] = [];
+    for (const b of this.visibleBlocks()) {
+      const n = squareCount(b);
+      for (let k = 0; k < n; k++) {
+        out.push({ key: `${b.id}#${k}`, block: b });
+      }
+    }
+    return out;
+  });
+
   readonly blockStackHeight = computed(() => {
-    const rows = Math.ceil(this.visibleBlocks().length / BLOCKS_PER_ROW);
+    const rows = Math.ceil(this.squares().length / BLOCKS_PER_ROW);
     const cqw = rows * (100 / BLOCKS_PER_ROW);
     return rows === 0 ? '0px' : `${Number(cqw.toFixed(4))}cqw`;
   });
@@ -505,10 +615,11 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     effect(() => {
       const range = this.dateRange();
       const maxVisibleBlocks = this.maxVisibleBlocks();
+      const animateInitialStack = this.animateInitialStack();
       // Reconcile all done blocks, then cap the rendered stack to the rows
       // that fit below the tasks and add button.
       const allDone = this.tower().blocks.filter((b) => b.is_done);
-      untracked(() => this.reconcile(allDone, range, maxVisibleBlocks));
+      untracked(() => this.reconcile(allDone, range, maxVisibleBlocks, animateInitialStack));
     });
   }
 
@@ -545,6 +656,7 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
 
     const styles = getComputedStyle(stackZone);
     const addBlockSize = this.parseCssPixels(styles.getPropertyValue('--add-block-size'), 48);
+    this.measureEmptyAddBlockOffset(stackZone);
     const fallbackClearance = addBlockSize <= 32 ? 7.5 : 15;
     const clearance = this.parseCssPixels(
       styles.getPropertyValue('--add-block-clearance'),
@@ -557,6 +669,18 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     this.maxVisibleBlocks.set(Math.max(0, rows) * BLOCKS_PER_ROW);
   }
 
+  private measureEmptyAddBlockOffset(stackZone: HTMLElement): void {
+    const towerRoot = this.towerRoot()?.nativeElement;
+    if (!towerRoot) return;
+
+    const stackRect = stackZone.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const towerRect = towerRoot.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const stackCenter = stackRect.top + stackRect.height / 2;
+    const towerCenter = towerRect.top + towerRect.height / 2;
+    const offset = Math.max(0, stackCenter - towerCenter);
+    stackZone.style.setProperty('--empty-add-block-center-offset', `${offset}px`);
+  }
+
   private parseCssPixels(value: string, fallback: number): number {
     const parsed = Number.parseFloat(value);
     return Number.isFinite(parsed) ? parsed : fallback;
@@ -566,16 +690,23 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     allDone: Block[],
     range: { from: number; to: number } | null,
     maxVisibleBlocks: number | null,
+    animateInitialStack: boolean,
   ): void {
+    if (this.isFirstRun && animateInitialStack && maxVisibleBlocks === null) {
+      this._visibleBlocks.set([]);
+      this.hiddenBlockCount.set(0);
+      return;
+    }
+
     const ids = allDone.map((b) => b.id);
     const prev = this.prevDoneIds;
     const prevSet = new Set(prev);
-    const newIds = ids.filter(id => !prevSet.has(id));
+    const newIds = ids.filter((id) => !prevSet.has(id));
     const grewByOne =
       !this.isFirstRun &&
       ids.length === prev.length + 1 &&
       newIds.length === 1 &&
-      prev.every(id => ids.includes(id));   // no IDs disappeared
+      prev.every((id) => ids.includes(id)); // no IDs disappeared
 
     const inRange = (b: Block) =>
       !range || (b.created_at >= range.from && b.created_at <= range.to);
@@ -605,47 +736,37 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
       });
     }
 
+    const newInRangeId = grewByOne ? newIds[0] : null;
     const visibleLimit =
       maxVisibleBlocks === null ? Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY : Math.max(0, maxVisibleBlocks);
-    const restingBlocks = styled.filter((b) => b._opacity === '1');
-    const hiddenCount = Number.isFinite(visibleLimit)
-      ? Math.max(0, restingBlocks.length - visibleLimit)
-      : 0;
     let visibleStyled = styled;
+    let hiddenCount = 0;
     if (Number.isFinite(visibleLimit)) {
-      const shownRestingBlocks =
-        hiddenCount > 0 ? restingBlocks.slice(hiddenCount) : restingBlocks;
-      const remainingSlots = Math.max(0, visibleLimit - shownRestingBlocks.length);
-      const transitioningBlocks =
-        remainingSlots > 0
-          ? styled.filter((b) => b._opacity !== '1').slice(-remainingSlots)
-          : [];
-      const shownIds = new Set([
-        ...shownRestingBlocks.map((b) => b.id),
-        ...transitioningBlocks.map((b) => b.id),
-      ]);
-      visibleStyled = styled.filter((b) => shownIds.has(b.id));
+      ({ visibleStyled, hiddenCount } = selectVisibleStyledBlocks(
+        styled,
+        visibleLimit,
+        newInRangeId,
+      ));
     }
     this.hiddenBlockCount.set(hiddenCount);
 
+    if (this.isFirstRun && animateInitialStack) {
+      const initialBlocks = visibleStyled.filter((b) => b._opacity === '1' && inRange(b));
+      if (initialBlocks.length > 0) {
+        this.startDescendAnimation(visibleStyled, initialBlocks);
+        this.prevDoneIds = ids;
+        this.isFirstRun = false;
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+
     if (grewByOne) {
       const newId = newIds[0];
-      const newBlock = visibleStyled.find(b => b.id === newId);
+      const newBlock = visibleStyled.find((b) => b.id === newId);
       if (newBlock && inRange(newBlock)) {
         // Snap newly-added in-range block to start position, then on the next
         // paint flip it back to rest — that's what makes it visibly fall.
-        newBlock._anim = '';
-        newBlock._transform = 'translateY(500%)';
-        newBlock._opacity = '0';
-        this._visibleBlocks.set(visibleStyled);
-        requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-          requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-            newBlock._anim = 'descend';
-            newBlock._transform = 'translateY(0)';
-            newBlock._opacity = '1';
-            this._visibleBlocks.set([...this._visibleBlocks()]);
-          });
-        });
+        this.startDescendAnimation(visibleStyled, [newBlock]);
         this.prevDoneIds = ids;
         this.isFirstRun = false;
         return;
@@ -658,6 +779,25 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     this.isFirstRun = false;
   }
 
+  private startDescendAnimation(visibleStyled: StyledBlock[], blocks: StyledBlock[]): void {
+    for (const block of blocks) {
+      block._anim = '';
+      block._transform = 'translateY(500%)';
+      block._opacity = '0';
+    }
+    this._visibleBlocks.set(visibleStyled);
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        for (const block of blocks) {
+          block._anim = 'descend';
+          block._transform = 'translateY(0)';
+          block._opacity = '1';
+        }
+        this._visibleBlocks.set([...this._visibleBlocks()]);
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
   // ── Event handlers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   onRename(event: Event): void {
@@ -676,7 +816,12 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   onMarkTaskDone(block: Block): void {
     this.saveBlock.emit({
       blockId: block.id,
-      result: { tag: block.tag, description: block.description, is_done: true },
+      result: {
+        tag: block.tag,
+        description: block.description,
+        is_done: true,
+        difficulty: block.difficulty,
+      },
     });
   }
 
@@ -691,11 +836,21 @@ export class TowerComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
 
   onBlockSave(ev: BlockEditSave): void {
     if (ev.id === null) {
-      this.addBlock.emit({ tag: ev.tag, description: ev.description, is_done: ev.is_done });
+      this.addBlock.emit({
+        tag: ev.tag,
+        description: ev.description,
+        is_done: ev.is_done,
+        difficulty: ev.difficulty,
+      });
     } else {
       this.saveBlock.emit({
         blockId: ev.id,
-        result: { tag: ev.tag, description: ev.description, is_done: ev.is_done },
+        result: {
+          tag: ev.tag,
+          description: ev.description,
+          is_done: ev.is_done,
+          difficulty: ev.difficulty,
+        },
       });
     }
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.vitest.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.vitest.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..056c7e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/tower/tower.component.vitest.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import type { StyledBlock } from './tower.component';
+import { selectVisibleStyledBlocks } from './tower.component';
+
+function block(id: string, opacity = '1', difficulty = 1): StyledBlock {
+  return {
+    id,
+    tag: 'tag',
+    description: id,
+    is_done: true,
+    difficulty,
+    created_at: 1,
+    _anim: '',
+    _transform: opacity === '1' ? 'translateY(0)' : 'translateY(500%)',
+    _opacity: opacity,
+  };
+}
+
+describe('selectVisibleStyledBlocks', () => {
+  it('reserves a capped visible slot for the newly completed block', () => {
+    const styled = [
+      block('newly-done'),
+      block('done-1'),
+      block('done-2'),
+      block('done-3'),
+      block('done-4'),
+      block('done-5'),
+      block('done-6'),
+      block('done-7'),
+    ];
+
+    const result = selectVisibleStyledBlocks(styled, 6, 'newly-done');
+
+    expect(result.hiddenCount).toBe(2);
+    expect(result.visibleStyled.map((b) => b.id)).toEqual([
+      'newly-done',
+      'done-3',
+      'done-4',
+      'done-5',
+      'done-6',
+      'done-7',
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('uses the normal capped window when no new block is entering', () => {
+    const styled = [
+      block('done-0'),
+      block('done-1'),
+      block('done-2'),
+      block('done-3'),
+      block('done-4'),
+      block('done-5'),
+      block('done-6'),
+      block('done-7'),
+    ];
+
+    const result = selectVisibleStyledBlocks(styled, 6, null);
+
+    expect(result.hiddenCount).toBe(2);
+    expect(result.visibleStyled.map((b) => b.id)).toEqual([
+      'done-2',
+      'done-3',
+      'done-4',
+      'done-5',
+      'done-6',
+      'done-7',
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('caps by square cost (difficulty), not by raw block count', () => {
+    // Each block draws 2 squares, so only 3 blocks fit in 6 square slots.
+    const hard = (id: string): StyledBlock => block(id, '1', 2);
+    const styled = [hard('a'), hard('b'), hard('c'), hard('d'), hard('e')];
+
+    const result = selectVisibleStyledBlocks(styled, 6, null);
+
+    expect(result.visibleStyled.map((b) => b.id)).toEqual(['c', 'd', 'e']);
+    expect(result.hiddenCount).toBe(4);
+  });
+
+  it('counts hidden squares when reserving the entering block', () => {
+    const styled = [
+      block('newly-done', '1', 3),
+      block('done-1', '1', 2),
+      block('done-2', '1', 2),
+      block('done-3', '1', 2),
+      block('done-4', '1', 2),
+    ];
+
+    const result = selectVisibleStyledBlocks(styled, 6, 'newly-done');
+
+    expect(result.hiddenCount).toBe(6);
+    expect(result.visibleStyled.map((b) => b.id)).toEqual(['newly-done', 'done-4']);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/components/welcome/welcome.component.ts b/frontend/src/app/components/welcome/welcome.component.ts
index e1168b2..be26d3c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/components/welcome/welcome.component.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/components/welcome/welcome.component.ts
@@ -1,31 +1,106 @@
 import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy, output } from '@angular/core';
+import { A11yModule } from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'lt-welcome',
   standalone: true,
-  imports: [],
+  imports: [A11yModule],
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
   template: `
     <div class="welcome-card">
-      <button class="exit" type="button" (click)="close.emit()" aria-label="Close"></button>
+      <h2 id="welcome-title" tabindex="-1" cdkFocusInitial>Welcome to Life Towers</h2>
 
-      <h2>Welcome to Life Towers</h2>
+      <button
+        class="exit"
+        type="button"
+        (click)="close.emit()"
+        aria-label="Dismiss welcome"
+      ></button>
 
-      <p class="lead">
-        A visual TODO with bite. Each <strong>page</strong> is a context (work, hobbies, a project).
-        Each <strong>tower</strong> is a stack of related tasks. As you finish a task, it falls into the
-        tower as a colored square — the more you do, the taller it grows.
+      <p class="lead" id="welcome-description">
+        Life Towers turns completed tasks into visible stacks. Create pages for work, hobbies,
+        home, or any project. Add towers for task groups, then check off tasks to build them
+        block by block.
       </p>
 
-      <p class="muted">
-        Everything you write is saved to a small remote database, keyed to a private UUID token shown
-        under <em>Settings → Account</em>. Copy that token to recover your data on another device, or
-        paste a friend's token to look at theirs.
+      <p class="sr-only">
+        Preview showing three towers with pending task bars at the top and completed task
+        blocks stacked below.
+      </p>
+      <div class="tower-preview" aria-hidden="true">
+        <div class="preview-shell">
+          <div class="preview-page-tab"></div>
+          <div class="preview-towers">
+            <div class="preview-tower preview-tower--reading">
+              <span class="preview-task"></span>
+              <div class="preview-stack">
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="preview-tower preview-tower--projects">
+              <span class="preview-task"></span>
+              <span class="preview-task preview-task--short"></span>
+              <div class="preview-stack">
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="preview-tower preview-tower--exercise">
+              <span class="preview-task"></span>
+              <div class="preview-stack">
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+                <span></span>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <h3 class="sr-only" id="welcome-basics-title">How Life Towers works</h3>
+      <dl class="basics" aria-labelledby="welcome-basics-title">
+        <div class="basic">
+          <dt class="basic__label">Pages</dt>
+          <dd class="basic__text">Keep each area separate.</dd>
+        </div>
+        <div class="basic">
+          <dt class="basic__label">Towers</dt>
+          <dd class="basic__text">Stack related tasks together.</dd>
+        </div>
+        <div class="basic">
+          <dt class="basic__label">Blocks</dt>
+          <dd class="basic__text">Finished tasks become colored blocks.</dd>
+        </div>
+      </dl>
+
+      <p class="account-note">
+        Your towers save with a private recovery token in Settings, then Account. Use it to
+        restore your workspace on another device.
+      </p>
+
+      <p class="choice-note">
+        Start empty if you know what to track, or load sample towers you can edit or delete.
       </p>
 
       <div class="actions">
-        <button type="button" (click)="startFresh.emit()">Start fresh</button>
-        <button type="button" class="primary" (click)="loadExample.emit()">Try an example</button>
+        <button type="button" (click)="startFresh.emit()">Start empty</button>
+        <button type="button" class="primary" (click)="loadExample.emit()">Load sample towers</button>
       </div>
     </div>
   `,
@@ -34,12 +109,27 @@ import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy, output } from '@angular/core';
 
     :host { display: block; }
 
+    .sr-only {
+      position: absolute;
+      width: 1px;
+      height: 1px;
+      padding: 0;
+      margin: -1px;
+      overflow: hidden;
+      clip: rect(0 0 0 0);
+      clip-path: inset(50%);
+      white-space: nowrap;
+      border: 0;
+    }
+
     .welcome-card {
       @include card();
-      width: 66vw;
-      max-width: 480px;
+      width: min(560px, calc(100vw - (2 * var(--large-padding))));
+      max-width: 560px;
+      max-height: calc(100svh - (2 * var(--medium-padding)));
+      overflow-y: auto;
       @media (max-width: $mobile-width) {
-        width: 88vw;
+        width: min(88vw, calc(100vw - (2 * var(--medium-padding))));
         max-width: 88vw;
         padding: var(--medium-padding);
       }
@@ -48,8 +138,20 @@ import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy, output } from '@angular/core';
       position: relative;
       box-shadow: $shadow;
       text-align: left;
+      font-family: $normal-font;
+      font-weight: 300;
+      font-size: var(--medium-font-size);
+      line-height: 1.45;
       @include inner-spacing(var(--medium-padding));
 
+      h2,
+      h3,
+      p,
+      dl,
+      dd {
+        margin: 0;
+      }
+
       .exit {
         position: absolute;
         top: var(--medium-padding);
@@ -58,31 +160,231 @@ import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy, output } from '@angular/core';
       }
 
       h2 {
+        font-family: $title-font;
+        font-weight: 400;
+        font-size: var(--larger-font-size);
         text-align: center;
-        margin-bottom: var(--medium-padding);
         padding: 0 36px;
+        line-height: 1.25;
 
         @media (max-width: $mobile-width) {
           padding: 0 28px;
         }
       }
 
-      p.lead { color: $text-color; }
+      .lead {
+        color: $text-color;
+        font-family: inherit;
+        font-weight: inherit;
+        font-size: inherit;
+        line-height: inherit;
+        max-width: 46ch;
+        margin-inline: auto;
+        text-align: center;
+      }
 
-      p.muted {
-        color: rgba($text-color, 0.7);
-        font-size: var(--medium-font-size);
-        em { font-style: italic; }
+      .tower-preview {
+        box-sizing: border-box;
+        padding: var(--medium-padding) 0;
+        border-top: 1px solid rgba($text-color, 0.08);
+        border-bottom: 1px solid rgba($text-color, 0.08);
+
+        @media (max-width: $mobile-width) {
+          padding-block: var(--small-padding);
+        }
+      }
+
+      .preview-shell {
+        width: min(100%, 370px);
+        margin: 0 auto;
+      }
+
+      .preview-page-tab {
+        width: 96px;
+        height: 14px;
+        margin: 0 auto var(--small-padding);
+        border-radius: var(--border-radius);
+        background: rgba($text-color, 0.08);
+        box-shadow: $shadow-border;
+      }
+
+      .preview-towers {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
+        align-items: end;
+        gap: var(--small-padding);
+      }
+
+      .preview-tower {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        min-height: 128px;
+        padding: 6px;
+        box-sizing: border-box;
+        border-radius: var(--border-radius);
+        background: rgba($text-color, 0.025);
+        box-shadow: $shadow-border;
+      }
+
+      .preview-task {
+        display: block;
+        width: 74%;
+        height: 5px;
+        margin-bottom: 4px;
+        border-radius: var(--border-radius);
+        background: var(--task-color);
+      }
+
+      .preview-task--short {
+        width: 48%;
+      }
+
+      .preview-stack {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
+        align-content: end;
+        gap: 2px;
+        min-height: 86px;
+        margin-top: auto;
+
+        span {
+          display: block;
+          aspect-ratio: 1;
+          border-radius: 2px;
+          background: var(--block-color);
+          box-shadow: $shadow-border;
+        }
+
+        span:nth-child(2n) {
+          filter: saturate(0.9) brightness(1.06);
+        }
+
+        span:nth-child(3n) {
+          filter: saturate(1.08) brightness(0.96);
+        }
+      }
+
+      @media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+        @keyframes preview-task-pulse {
+          0%, 100% {
+            opacity: 0.42;
+            transform: scaleX(0.86);
+          }
+          45%, 70% {
+            opacity: 1;
+            transform: scaleX(1);
+          }
+        }
+
+        @keyframes preview-block-fall {
+          0% {
+            opacity: 0;
+            transform: translateY(-220%);
+          }
+          60%, 100% {
+            opacity: 1;
+            transform: translateY(0);
+          }
+        }
+
+        .preview-task {
+          transform-origin: left center;
+          animation: preview-task-pulse 2600ms ease-in-out infinite;
+        }
+
+        .preview-stack span {
+          opacity: 0;
+          animation: preview-block-fall 1200ms cubic-bezier(0.5, 0, 1, 0) forwards;
+          animation-delay: calc(160ms + var(--fall-index, 0) * 95ms);
+        }
+
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(1) { --fall-index: 0; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(2) { --fall-index: 1; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(3) { --fall-index: 2; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(4) { --fall-index: 3; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(5) { --fall-index: 4; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(6) { --fall-index: 5; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(7) { --fall-index: 6; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(8) { --fall-index: 7; }
+        .preview-stack span:nth-child(9) { --fall-index: 8; }
+      }
+
+      .preview-tower--reading {
+        --block-color: hsl(18, 70%, 58%);
+        --task-color: hsla(18, 70%, 58%, 0.26);
+      }
+
+      .preview-tower--projects {
+        --block-color: hsl(209, 65%, 52%);
+        --task-color: hsla(209, 65%, 52%, 0.24);
+      }
+
+      .preview-tower--exercise {
+        --block-color: hsl(130, 45%, 44%);
+        --task-color: hsla(130, 45%, 44%, 0.22);
+      }
+
+      .basics {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
+        gap: var(--small-padding);
+
+        @media (max-width: $mobile-width) {
+          grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+        }
+      }
+
+      .basic {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: 4px;
+        min-width: 0;
+      }
+
+      .basic__label {
+        font-family: inherit;
+        font-weight: inherit;
+        color: $text-color;
+        font-size: inherit;
+        line-height: inherit;
+      }
+
+      .basic__text,
+      .account-note,
+      .choice-note {
+        font-family: inherit;
+        font-weight: inherit;
+        color: rgba($text-color, 0.82);
+        font-size: inherit;
+        line-height: inherit;
+      }
+
+      .account-note,
+      .choice-note {
+        max-width: 54ch;
+        margin-inline: auto;
+      }
+
+      .choice-note {
+        text-align: center;
       }
 
       .actions {
         display: flex;
         justify-content: space-around;
+        align-items: flex-end;
+        flex-wrap: wrap;
         gap: var(--large-padding);
         margin-top: var(--large-padding);
 
         button {
+          font-family: inherit;
+          font-weight: inherit;
+          font-size: inherit;
+          margin: 0;
           max-width: 100%;
+          line-height: inherit;
+          text-align: center;
         }
 
         button.primary {
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/models/index.ts b/frontend/src/app/models/index.ts
index 1f0af8b..e9216d0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/models/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/models/index.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ export interface Block {
   tag: string;
   description: string;
   is_done: boolean;
+  /** How many squares this block draws in the tower (>= 1). */
+  difficulty: number;
   created_at: number;
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.ts b/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.ts
index f158445..ad5b41d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ interface ExampleBlockSeed {
   tag: string;
   desc: string;
   done: boolean;
+  difficulty?: number;
   ageHrs: number;
 }
 
@@ -318,12 +319,14 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
     tag: string,
     description: string,
     is_done = false,
+    difficulty = 1,
   ): void {
     const block: Block = {
       id: uuidV4(),
       tag,
       description,
       is_done,
+      difficulty,
       created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
     };
     this._pages.update((pages) =>
@@ -578,7 +581,7 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
 
   // ── Example data ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-  loadExample(): void {
+  loadExample(): string {
     const now = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
 
     const page: Page = {
@@ -593,7 +596,13 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
         // oldest → newest (left → right), matching the slider's old → new
         // labels; pending tasks stay on top for the accordion.
         this.makeExampleTower('Reading', { h: 0.05, s: 0.7, l: 0.55 }, now, [
-          { tag: 'novel', desc: 'Finish The Brothers Karamazov', done: false, ageHrs: 0 },
+          {
+            tag: 'novel',
+            desc: 'Finish The Brothers Karamazov',
+            done: false,
+            difficulty: 4,
+            ageHrs: 0,
+          },
           ...this.makeExampleDoneBlocks(
             [
               { tag: 'novel', desc: (n) => `Read chapter ${n}` },
@@ -606,8 +615,20 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
           ),
         ]),
         this.makeExampleTower('Side projects', { h: 0.58, s: 0.65, l: 0.5 }, now, [
-          { tag: 'angular', desc: 'Modernise the towers app', done: false, ageHrs: 0 },
-          { tag: 'rust', desc: 'Port the sync layer to Tauri', done: false, ageHrs: 1 },
+          {
+            tag: 'angular',
+            desc: 'Modernise the towers app',
+            done: false,
+            difficulty: 3,
+            ageHrs: 0,
+          },
+          {
+            tag: 'rust',
+            desc: 'Port the sync layer to Tauri',
+            done: false,
+            difficulty: 5,
+            ageHrs: 1,
+          },
           ...this.makeExampleDoneBlocks(
             [
               { tag: 'angular', desc: (n) => `Refined UI pass ${n}` },
@@ -620,8 +641,8 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
           ),
         ]),
         this.makeExampleTower('Exercise', { h: 0.36, s: 0.6, l: 0.5 }, now, [
-          { tag: 'run', desc: '10k Sunday', done: false, ageHrs: 0 },
-          { tag: 'climb', desc: 'Lead 6a outdoors', done: false, ageHrs: 4 },
+          { tag: 'run', desc: '10k Sunday', done: false, difficulty: 2, ageHrs: 0 },
+          { tag: 'climb', desc: 'Lead 6a outdoors', done: false, difficulty: 4, ageHrs: 4 },
           ...this.makeExampleDoneBlocks(
             [
               { tag: 'run', desc: (n) => `Easy run ${n}` },
@@ -640,6 +661,7 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
     this.analytics.trackStart();
     this.analytics.trackExampleLoaded();
     this.scheduleSave();
+    return page.id;
   }
 
   private makeExampleTower(
@@ -657,6 +679,7 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
         tag: b.tag,
         description: b.desc,
         is_done: b.done,
+        difficulty: b.difficulty ?? 1,
         created_at: nowSec - Math.floor(b.ageHrs * 3600),
       })),
     };
@@ -674,6 +697,7 @@ export class StoreService implements OnDestroy {
         tag: pattern.tag,
         desc: pattern.desc(sequence),
         done: true,
+        difficulty: 1 + ((i + (i % patterns.length) * 2) % 5),
         ageHrs: newestAgeHrs + (EXAMPLE_DONE_BLOCKS_PER_TOWER - 1 - i) * spacingHrs,
       };
     });
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.vitest.ts b/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.vitest.ts
index 75d3f30..3081883 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.vitest.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/app/services/store.service.vitest.ts
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ describe('StoreService', () => {
                   tag: 'a',
                   description: 'Created first, completed last',
                   is_done: false,
+                  difficulty: 1,
                   created_at: 100,
                 },
                 {
@@ -248,6 +249,7 @@ describe('StoreService', () => {
                   tag: 'b',
                   description: 'Still pending',
                   is_done: false,
+                  difficulty: 1,
                   created_at: 300,
                 },
                 {
@@ -255,6 +257,7 @@ describe('StoreService', () => {
                   tag: 'c',
                   description: 'Already done',
                   is_done: true,
+                  difficulty: 1,
                   created_at: 200,
                 },
               ],
@@ -281,19 +284,23 @@ describe('StoreService', () => {
     const api = makeMockApi();
     const store = configure(api);
 
-    store.loadExample();
+    const pageId = store.loadExample();
 
     const [page] = store.pages();
+    expect(page.id).toBe(pageId);
     expect(page.name).toBe('Hobbies');
     expect(page.towers).toHaveLength(3);
 
     const doneBlocks = page.towers.flatMap((tower) => tower.blocks.filter((b) => b.is_done));
     expect(doneBlocks.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(300);
+    expect(new Set(page.towers.flatMap((tower) => tower.blocks.map((b) => b.difficulty))).size)
+      .toBeGreaterThan(1);
 
     for (const tower of page.towers) {
       const doneDates = tower.blocks.filter((b) => b.is_done).map((b) => b.created_at);
       expect(doneDates.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(100);
       expect(doneDates).toEqual([...doneDates].sort((a, b) => a - b));
+      expect(new Set(tower.blocks.map((b) => b.difficulty)).size).toBeGreaterThan(1);
     }
 
     store.ngOnDestroy();