diff --git a/src/components/journal/ComposePanel.tsx b/src/components/journal/ComposePanel.tsx
index c638523..2489bf7 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/ComposePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/ComposePanel.tsx
@@ -4,12 +4,7 @@
 
 import { Component, createSignal, For, Show, createMemo } from "solid-js";
 import { registeredTypes, canEmit } from "./registry";
-import {
-  sendMessage,
-  revertLatest,
-  canRevert,
-  useJournalStream,
-} from "../stores/journalStream";
+import { sendMessage, useJournalStream } from "../stores/journalStream";
 import type { MessageTypeDef } from "./registry";
 import { DynamicForm } from "./DynamicForm";
 
@@ -20,7 +15,7 @@ export const ComposePanel: Component = () => {
   const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
   const [sending, setSending] = createSignal(false);
 
-  const role = () => stream.myName;
+  const role = () => stream.myRole;
 
   // Available types filtered by role
   const availableTypes = createMemo(() => {
@@ -51,12 +46,6 @@ export const ComposePanel: Component = () => {
     setSending(false);
   };
 
-  const handleRevert = () => {
-    revertLatest();
-  };
-
-  const showRevert = () => canRevert() && stream.myName === "gm";
-
   return (
     <div class="border-t border-gray-200 p-2 space-y-2 bg-white">
       {/* Type picker */}
@@ -81,16 +70,6 @@ export const ComposePanel: Component = () => {
         >
           {sending() ? "..." : "Send"}
         </button>
-
-        <Show when={showRevert()}>
-          <button
-            onClick={handleRevert}
-            class="text-xs text-gray-400 hover:text-red-500"
-            title="Revert last message"
-          >
-            ↩
-          </button>
-        </Show>
       </div>
 
       {/* Dynamic form */}
diff --git a/src/components/journal/JournalInput.tsx b/src/components/journal/JournalInput.tsx
index de9622f..b39825a 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/JournalInput.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/JournalInput.tsx
@@ -21,11 +21,7 @@ import {
   Match,
 } from "solid-js";
 import { sendMessage, useJournalStream } from "../stores/journalStream";
-import {
-  useJournalCompletions,
-  ensureCompletions,
-  type CompletionsState,
-} from "./completions";
+import { useJournalCompletions, ensureCompletions } from "./completions";
 
 // ---- Helpers ----
 
@@ -78,6 +74,10 @@ export const JournalInput: Component = () => {
   const stream = useJournalStream();
   const comp = useJournalCompletions();
 
+  const isObserver = () => stream.myRole === "observer";
+  const isPlayer = () => stream.myRole === "player";
+  const isGm = () => stream.myRole === "gm";
+
   const [text, setText] = createSignal("");
   const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
   const [sending, setSending] = createSignal(false);
@@ -98,6 +98,18 @@ export const JournalInput: Component = () => {
     const raw = text().trim();
     if (!raw) return;
 
+    // Players can't use commands — everything is narrative
+    if (isPlayer() || isObserver()) {
+      const result = sendMessage("narrative", { text: raw });
+      if (!result.success) {
+        setError(result.error);
+      } else {
+        setText("");
+      }
+      textareaRef?.focus();
+      return;
+    }
+
     const parsed = parseInput(raw);
     if (parsed.error) {
       setError(parsed.error);
@@ -132,6 +144,8 @@ export const JournalInput: Component = () => {
 
   function buildCompletions(): CompletionItem[] {
     const raw = text().trim();
+    // Only GM gets completions
+    if (!isGm()) return [];
     const data = comp.data;
     const commands = [
       { label: "/roll", kind: "command" as const, insertText: "/roll " },
@@ -235,9 +249,9 @@ export const JournalInput: Component = () => {
         }
         return;
       }
-      // If not open and starts with /, open completions
+      // If not open and starts with /, open completions (GM only)
       const raw = text();
-      if (raw.startsWith("/")) {
+      if (isGm() && raw.startsWith("/")) {
         e.preventDefault();
         setShowCompletions(true);
         setSelectedIdx(0);
@@ -280,8 +294,8 @@ export const JournalInput: Component = () => {
     const raw = input.value;
     setText(raw);
 
-    // Completions visibility — keep open while user types any /
-    if (raw.startsWith("/")) {
+    // Completions visibility — keep open while user types any / (GM only)
+    if (isGm() && raw.startsWith("/")) {
       setShowCompletions(true);
       setSelectedIdx(0);
     } else {
@@ -386,35 +400,49 @@ export const JournalInput: Component = () => {
 
       {/* Textarea + actions */}
       <div class="flex flex-col">
-        <textarea
-          ref={textareaRef}
-          value={text()}
-          onInput={handleInput}
-          onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
-          placeholder="Type a message, or /roll or /link..."
-          rows={2}
-          class="w-full resize-none border-0 px-3 pt-2.5 pb-1 text-sm
-                 text-gray-800 placeholder-gray-400 focus:outline-none
-                 bg-transparent min-h-[60px]"
-        />
+        <Show
+          when={!isObserver()}
+          fallback={
+            <div class="px-3 py-4 text-xs text-gray-400 italic text-center">
+              You are observing. Open this panel on another device to join as GM
+              or player.
+            </div>
+          }
+        >
+          <textarea
+            ref={textareaRef}
+            value={text()}
+            onInput={handleInput}
+            onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+            placeholder={
+              isGm()
+                ? "Type a message, or /roll or /link..."
+                : "Type a message..."
+            }
+            rows={2}
+            class="w-full resize-none border-0 px-3 pt-2.5 pb-1 text-sm
+                   text-gray-800 placeholder-gray-400 focus:outline-none
+                   bg-transparent min-h-[60px]"
+          />
 
-        {/* Bottom row: error + buttons */}
-        <div class="flex items-center justify-between px-2 pb-2">
-          <Show when={error()}>
-            <p class="text-red-500 text-xs truncate max-w-[60%]">{error()}</p>
-          </Show>
-          <div class="flex items-center gap-1 ml-auto">
-            <button
-              onClick={handleSend}
-              disabled={sending() || !text().trim()}
-              class="bg-blue-600 text-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-xs
+          {/* Bottom row: error + buttons */}
+          <div class="flex items-center justify-between px-2 pb-2">
+            <Show when={error()}>
+              <p class="text-red-500 text-xs truncate max-w-[60%]">{error()}</p>
+            </Show>
+            <div class="flex items-center gap-1 ml-auto">
+              <button
+                onClick={handleSend}
+                disabled={sending() || !text().trim()}
+                class="bg-blue-600 text-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-xs
                      hover:bg-blue-700 disabled:opacity-40 disabled:cursor-not-allowed
                      transition-colors"
-            >
-              Send
-            </button>
+              >
+                Send
+              </button>
+            </div>
           </div>
-        </div>
+        </Show>
       </div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx b/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx
index 5508c40..8bb55c5 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/JournalPanel.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   hydrateFromServer,
   useJournalStream,
   setMyName,
+  setMyRole,
   setSessionId,
   sessions,
   createSession,
@@ -27,6 +28,12 @@ export interface JournalPanelProps {
 export const JournalPanel: Component<JournalPanelProps> = (props) => {
   const stream = useJournalStream();
 
+  // Player list (exclude gm and observer)
+  const playerEntries = () =>
+    Object.entries(stream.players).filter(
+      ([_, p]) => p.role !== "gm" && p.role !== "observer",
+    );
+
   return (
     <>
       {/* Backdrop — only on mobile, starts below header */}
@@ -47,6 +54,19 @@ export const JournalPanel: Component<JournalPanelProps> = (props) => {
         {/* Header */}
         <JournalHeader onClose={props.onClose} />
 
+        {/* Player list tabs */}
+        <Show when={stream.connected && playerEntries().length > 0}>
+          <div class="flex items-center gap-1 px-3 py-1.5 border-b border-gray-100 bg-gray-50 overflow-x-auto shrink-0">
+            <For each={playerEntries()}>
+              {([name]) => (
+                <span class="text-xs bg-blue-100 text-blue-700 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full whitespace-nowrap">
+                  {name}
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </For>
+          </div>
+        </Show>
+
         <Show
           when={stream.connected}
           fallback={
@@ -134,75 +154,88 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
           }
         >
           <div class="min-w-0">
-            <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-gray-700 truncate leading-tight">
+            <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-gray-700 truncate leading-tight flex items-center gap-1">
               {stream.myName}
-            </p>
-            {/* Clickable subtitle — session dropdown */}
-            <div ref={dropdownRef} class="relative">
-              <button
-                onClick={() => setDropdownOpen((v) => !v)}
-                class="text-[10px] text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600 truncate leading-tight cursor-pointer text-left"
-              >
-                {stream.sessionName || stream.sessionId}{" "}
-                <span class="text-gray-300">▾</span>
-              </button>
-              <Show when={dropdownOpen()}>
-                <div class="absolute top-full left-0 mt-1 w-48 bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded shadow-lg z-50 py-1 max-h-48 overflow-y-auto">
-                  <For each={Object.entries(manifest().sessions)}>
-                    {([id, meta]) => (
-                      <button
-                        onClick={() => handleSessionSelect(id)}
-                        class={`w-full text-left px-3 py-1 text-xs hover:bg-gray-100 flex items-center gap-1 ${
-                          id === stream.sessionId
-                            ? "bg-blue-50 text-blue-700"
-                            : "text-gray-700"
-                        }`}
-                      >
-                        <span class="truncate flex-1">{meta.name || id}</span>
-                        <Show when={id === stream.sessionId}>
-                          <span class="text-blue-500 shrink-0">✓</span>
-                        </Show>
-                      </button>
-                    )}
-                  </For>
-                  <div class="border-t border-gray-100 my-0.5" />
-                  <Show
-                    when={!showNewInput()}
-                    fallback={
-                      <div class="px-3 py-1 flex gap-1">
-                        <input
-                          type="text"
-                          value={newSessionName()}
-                          onInput={(e) =>
-                            setNewSessionName(e.currentTarget.value)
-                          }
-                          placeholder="Session name"
-                          class="flex-1 border border-gray-300 rounded px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs"
-                          autofocus
-                          onKeyDown={(e) => {
-                            if (e.key === "Enter") handleCreate();
-                            if (e.key === "Escape") setShowNewInput(false);
-                          }}
-                        />
-                        <button
-                          onClick={handleCreate}
-                          class="bg-blue-600 text-white rounded px-2 py-0.5 text-xs hover:bg-blue-700"
-                        >
-                          +
-                        </button>
-                      </div>
-                    }
-                  >
-                    <button
-                      onClick={() => setShowNewInput(true)}
-                      class="w-full text-left px-3 py-1 text-xs text-blue-600 hover:bg-gray-100"
-                    >
-                      + New session
-                    </button>
-                  </Show>
-                </div>
+              <Show when={stream.myRole !== "gm"}>
+                <span
+                  class={`text-[10px] px-1 rounded ${
+                    stream.myRole === "observer"
+                      ? "bg-gray-200 text-gray-500"
+                      : "bg-blue-100 text-blue-600"
+                  }`}
+                >
+                  {stream.myRole}
+                </span>
               </Show>
-            </div>
+            </p>
+            {/* Clickable subtitle — session dropdown (GM only) */}
+            <Show when={stream.myRole === "gm"}>
+              <div ref={dropdownRef} class="relative">
+                <button
+                  onClick={() => setDropdownOpen((v) => !v)}
+                  class="text-[10px] text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600 truncate leading-tight cursor-pointer text-left"
+                >
+                  {stream.sessionName || stream.sessionId}{" "}
+                  <span class="text-gray-300">▾</span>
+                </button>
+                <Show when={dropdownOpen()}>
+                  <div class="absolute top-full left-0 mt-1 w-48 bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded shadow-lg z-50 py-1 max-h-48 overflow-y-auto">
+                    <For each={Object.entries(manifest().sessions)}>
+                      {([id, meta]) => (
+                        <button
+                          onClick={() => handleSessionSelect(id)}
+                          class={`w-full text-left px-3 py-1 text-xs hover:bg-gray-100 flex items-center gap-1 ${
+                            id === stream.sessionId
+                              ? "bg-blue-50 text-blue-700"
+                              : "text-gray-700"
+                          }`}
+                        >
+                          <span class="truncate flex-1">{meta.name || id}</span>
+                          <Show when={id === stream.sessionId}>
+                            <span class="text-blue-500 shrink-0">✓</span>
+                          </Show>
+                        </button>
+                      )}
+                    </For>
+                    <div class="border-t border-gray-100 my-0.5" />
+                    <Show
+                      when={!showNewInput()}
+                      fallback={
+                        <div class="px-3 py-1 flex gap-1">
+                          <input
+                            type="text"
+                            value={newSessionName()}
+                            onInput={(e) =>
+                              setNewSessionName(e.currentTarget.value)
+                            }
+                            placeholder="Session name"
+                            class="flex-1 border border-gray-300 rounded px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs"
+                            autofocus
+                            onKeyDown={(e) => {
+                              if (e.key === "Enter") handleCreate();
+                              if (e.key === "Escape") setShowNewInput(false);
+                            }}
+                          />
+                          <button
+                            onClick={handleCreate}
+                            class="bg-blue-600 text-white rounded px-2 py-0.5 text-xs hover:bg-blue-700"
+                          >
+                            +
+                          </button>
+                        </div>
+                      }
+                    >
+                      <button
+                        onClick={() => setShowNewInput(true)}
+                        class="w-full text-left px-3 py-1 text-xs text-blue-600 hover:bg-gray-100"
+                      >
+                        + New session
+                      </button>
+                    </Show>
+                  </div>
+                </Show>
+              </div>
+            </Show>
           </div>
         </Show>
       </div>
@@ -235,16 +268,12 @@ const JournalHeader: Component<JournalHeaderProps> = (props) => {
 const ConnectDialog: Component = () => {
   const stream = useJournalStream();
   const [playerName, setPlayerName] = createSignal(stream.myName);
+  const [role, setRole] = createSignal<"gm" | "player" | "observer">(
+    stream.myRole,
+  );
   const [connecting, setConnecting] = createSignal(false);
   const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
 
-  // Auto-connect if we have a name from localStorage
-  onMount(() => {
-    if (stream.myName && stream.myName !== "gm") {
-      handleConnect();
-    }
-  });
-
   const handleConnect = async () => {
     const name = playerName().trim() || stream.myName;
     if (!name) return;
@@ -256,6 +285,7 @@ const ConnectDialog: Component = () => {
 
     try {
       setMyName(name);
+      setMyRole(role());
       const sessionId = stream.sessionId || "default";
       setSessionId(sessionId);
       await hydrateFromServer(sessionId);
@@ -263,8 +293,6 @@ const ConnectDialog: Component = () => {
     } catch (e) {
       const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : "Connection failed";
       setError(msg);
-      // If connectStream threw, the error handler also sets connectionStatus to error.
-      // Make sure the error message is captured.
     } finally {
       setConnecting(false);
     }
@@ -273,7 +301,7 @@ const ConnectDialog: Component = () => {
   return (
     <div class="w-full max-w-sm space-y-3">
       <p class="text-sm text-gray-600 text-center">
-        Enter your name to join the session.
+        Enter your name and role to join the session.
         <br />
         <span class="text-xs text-gray-400">
           Connecting to {window.location.host}
@@ -284,10 +312,25 @@ const ConnectDialog: Component = () => {
         value={playerName()}
         onInput={(e) => setPlayerName(e.currentTarget.value)}
         onKeyDown={(e) => e.key === "Enter" && handleConnect()}
-        placeholder="Your name (GM or player)"
+        placeholder="Your name"
         class="w-full border border-gray-300 rounded px-3 py-1.5 text-sm"
         autofocus
       />
+      {/* Role selector */}
+      <div class="flex gap-1">
+        {(["gm", "player", "observer"] as const).map((r) => (
+          <button
+            onClick={() => setRole(r)}
+            class={`flex-1 rounded px-2 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium border transition-colors ${
+              role() === r
+                ? "bg-blue-600 text-white border-blue-600"
+                : "bg-white text-gray-600 border-gray-300 hover:border-gray-400"
+            }`}
+          >
+            {r === "gm" ? "GM" : r === "player" ? "Player" : "Observer"}
+          </button>
+        ))}
+      </div>
       <button
         onClick={handleConnect}
         disabled={connecting() || !playerName().trim()}
diff --git a/src/components/journal/StreamMessage.tsx b/src/components/journal/StreamMessage.tsx
index 8f33d8d..d1253ef 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/StreamMessage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/StreamMessage.tsx
@@ -5,11 +5,7 @@
 import { Component, Show, createMemo } from "solid-js";
 import type { StreamMessage as StreamMessageType } from "./registry";
 import { getMessageType } from "./registry";
-import {
-  revertLatest,
-  canRevert,
-  useJournalStream,
-} from "../stores/journalStream";
+import { revertLatest, useJournalStream } from "../stores/journalStream";
 
 export const StreamMessageCard: Component<{
   message: StreamMessageType;
diff --git a/src/components/journal/registry.ts b/src/components/journal/registry.ts
index ba0d9d5..771dd25 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/registry.ts
+++ b/src/components/journal/registry.ts
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ export interface MessageTypeDef<P = unknown> {
   type: string;
   /** Human-readable label shown in the compose panel dropdown */
   label: string;
-  /** Which roles can emit this type. Empty array = all roles allowed. */
-  emitters?: ("gm" | "player")[];
+  /** Which roles can emit this type. Empty array = all roles (including observer) allowed. */
+  emitters?: ("gm" | "player" | "observer")[];
   /** Zod schema used to validate payload before publish */
   schema: ZodType<P>;
   /** Returns a default payload for compose panel initialization */
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@ export function validatePayload<P>(
   }
   return {
     success: false,
-    error: result.error.issues.map((i) => `${i.path.join(".")}: ${i.message}`).join("; "),
+    error: result.error.issues
+      .map((i) => `${i.path.join(".")}: ${i.message}`)
+      .join("; "),
   };
 }
 
@@ -122,5 +124,5 @@ export function canEmit(type: string, role: string): boolean {
   if (!def) return false;
   const emitters = def.emitters;
   if (!emitters || emitters.length === 0) return true;
-  return emitters.includes(role as "gm" | "player");
+  return emitters.includes(role as "gm" | "player" | "observer");
 }
diff --git a/src/components/journal/types/article.tsx b/src/components/journal/types/article.tsx
index dc8e79a..8555f05 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/types/article.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/types/article.tsx
@@ -42,9 +42,7 @@ const RevealLink: Component<ArticleRevealPayload> = (p) => {
 
   const displayLabel = () => {
     if (p.label) return p.label;
-    const file = fileNameFromPath(p.path);
-    if (p.section) return `${file} § ${slugToTitle(p.section)}`;
-    return file;
+    return fileNameFromPath(p.path);
   };
 
   const handleClick = (e: MouseEvent) => {
diff --git a/src/components/journal/types/narrative.tsx b/src/components/journal/types/narrative.tsx
index 67f0e01..aaf203c 100644
--- a/src/components/journal/types/narrative.tsx
+++ b/src/components/journal/types/narrative.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export type NarrativePayload = z.infer<typeof schema>;
 registerMessageType<NarrativePayload>({
   type: "narrative",
   label: "Narrative",
+  emitters: ["gm", "player"],
   schema,
   defaultPayload: () => ({ text: "" }),
   render: (p) => <p class="text-sm whitespace-pre-wrap">{p.text}</p>,
diff --git a/src/components/stores/journalStream.ts b/src/components/stores/journalStream.ts
index 328c0b3..800ef01 100644
--- a/src/components/stores/journalStream.ts
+++ b/src/components/stores/journalStream.ts
@@ -41,8 +41,12 @@ export interface JournalStreamState {
   connectionError: string | null;
   /** This client's identity */
   myName: string;
+  /** Role: gm | player | observer. Immutable while connected. */
+  myRole: "gm" | "player" | "observer";
   /** Broker URL, set after connect */
   brokerUrl: string | null;
+  /** Active player list (keyed by player name) */
+  players: Record<string, { role: string }>;
 }
 
 export interface SessionMeta {
@@ -62,19 +66,22 @@ export interface SessionManifest {
 const LS_PLAYER_NAME = "ttrpg.playerName";
 const LS_BROKER_URL = "ttrpg.brokerUrl";
 const LS_LAST_SESSION = "ttrpg.lastSessionId";
+const LS_PLAYER_ROLE = "ttrpg.playerRole";
 
 function loadPersisted(): {
   myName: string;
   brokerUrl: string | null;
   lastSessionId: string | null;
+  myRole: string;
 } {
   if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") {
-    return { myName: "gm", brokerUrl: null, lastSessionId: null };
+    return { myName: "gm", brokerUrl: null, lastSessionId: null, myRole: "gm" };
   }
   return {
     myName: localStorage.getItem(LS_PLAYER_NAME) || "gm",
     brokerUrl: localStorage.getItem(LS_BROKER_URL),
     lastSessionId: localStorage.getItem(LS_LAST_SESSION),
+    myRole: localStorage.getItem(LS_PLAYER_ROLE) || "gm",
   };
 }
 
@@ -99,7 +106,9 @@ const [state, setState] = createStore<JournalStreamState>({
   connectionStatus: "disconnected",
   connectionError: null,
   myName: initialName,
+  myRole: (persisted.myRole as "gm" | "player" | "observer") || "gm",
   brokerUrl: persisted.brokerUrl,
+  players: {},
 });
 
 // Sync initial URL params if they came from localStorage (not URL)
@@ -127,6 +136,17 @@ export function setMyName(name: string): void {
   syncUrlParam("player", name);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Change the current player's role. Persisted to localStorage.
+ * Only callable when disconnected.
+ */
+export function setMyRole(role: "gm" | "player" | "observer"): void {
+  setState("myRole", role);
+  if (typeof localStorage !== "undefined") {
+    localStorage.setItem(LS_PLAYER_ROLE, role);
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Set the active session ID and sync to URL. Also resolves the human-readable
  * session name from the cached manifest.
@@ -270,7 +290,7 @@ export async function connectStream(
 
   return new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
     const client = mqtt.connect(brokerUrl, {
-      clientId: `${state.myName}-${Date.now()}`,
+      clientId: `${state.myName}-${state.myRole}-${Date.now()}`,
       protocol: brokerUrl.startsWith("wss") ? "wss" : "ws",
       reconnectPeriod: 2000,
     });
@@ -297,6 +317,19 @@ export async function connectStream(
         if (err) console.error("[stream] sessions sub err:", err);
       });
       client.subscribe(`ttrpg/${sessionId}/meta`, { qos: 1 });
+      // Presence tracking
+      client.subscribe(`ttrpg/${sessionId}/presence/+`, { qos: 1 });
+
+      // Publish own presence (retained)
+      const presenceData = JSON.stringify({
+        name: state.myName,
+        role: state.myRole,
+      });
+      client.publish(
+        `ttrpg/${sessionId}/presence/${state.myName}`,
+        presenceData,
+        { qos: 1, retain: true },
+      );
 
       resolve();
     });
@@ -340,6 +373,33 @@ export async function connectStream(
         return;
       }
 
+      // Presence: ttrpg/{sessionId}/presence/{playerName}
+      if (
+        parts.length >= 4 &&
+        parts[0] === "ttrpg" &&
+        parts[2] === "presence"
+      ) {
+        const playerName = parts[3];
+        if (raw) {
+          try {
+            const presence = JSON.parse(raw);
+            setState("players", playerName, {
+              role: presence.role || "player",
+            });
+          } catch {
+            setState("players", playerName, { role: "player" });
+          }
+        } else {
+          // Tombstone — player disconnected
+          setState(
+            produce((s) => {
+              delete s.players[playerName];
+            }),
+          );
+        }
+        return;
+      }
+
       if (parts.length >= 3 && parts[0] === "ttrpg" && parts[2] === "stream") {
         try {
           const msg: StreamMessage = JSON.parse(raw);
@@ -505,12 +565,24 @@ export function revertLatest():
 
 export function disconnectStream(): void {
   if (_mqttClient) {
-    _mqttClient.end(true);
+    // Clear our presence before disconnecting (tombstone)
+    const sessionId = state.sessionId;
+    if (sessionId) {
+      _mqttClient.publish(`ttrpg/${sessionId}/presence/${state.myName}`, "", {
+        qos: 1,
+        retain: true,
+      });
+    }
+    // Force disconnect without reconnect
+    _mqttClient.end(true, void 0, () => {
+      // noop
+    });
     _mqttClient = null;
     _mqttConnected = false;
   }
   setState("connected", false);
   setState("connectionStatus", "disconnected");
+  setState("players", {});
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------