diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/collect.test.ts b/packages/bgm/src/collect.test.ts
index 1239461..8a3216b 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/collect.test.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/collect.test.ts
@@ -86,4 +86,18 @@ describe('collectPackages', () => {
     defMap.defs.set(tokensKey.replace('tokens.yaml', 'dup.yaml'), [tokens[0]!]);
     expect(() => collectPackages(defMap, fixtureRoot)).toThrow(/Duplicate part/);
   });
+
+  it('throws when an info-string id combines with $variants', () => {
+    const defMap = loadDefs('', fixtureRoot);
+    // A part whose `id` comes from $variants rows, but with an info-string id.
+    const tokensKey = [...defMap.defs.keys()].find((k) => k.endsWith('parts/tokens.yaml'))!;
+    const tokens = defMap.defs.get(tokensKey)!;
+    const variant = {
+      ...tokens[0]!,
+      value: { ...tokens[0]!.value, id: undefined, $variants: './parts/seats.csv' },
+      role: { role: 'part', type: 'token', id: 'wood' },
+    };
+    defMap.defs.set(tokensKey.replace('tokens.yaml', 'dup.yaml'), [variant]);
+    expect(() => collectPackages(defMap, fixtureRoot)).toThrow(/can't combine with \$variants/);
+  });
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/collect.ts b/packages/bgm/src/collect.ts
index 07f9721..8cf063b 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/collect.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/collect.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { validatePackage, validatePart, validateSetup, validateSurface } from '.
 import { expandVariants } from './variants.js';
 import {
   BgmError,
+  ROLES,
   type DefFile,
   type ParsedDef,
   type Package,
@@ -31,8 +32,6 @@ import {
   type Surface,
 } from './types.js';
 
-const ROLES = new Set<Role>(['package', 'part', 'surface', 'setup']);
-
 /** Every definition parsed from a def file, keyed by its path-style name. */
 export interface DefMap {
   /** All def files (real + virtual), keyed by name. */
@@ -174,6 +173,11 @@ class PackageAcc {
   }
 
   private add(role: Role, def: ParsedDef, fileName: string) {
+    // `id` on the info string can't combine with `$variants`, since every
+    // row supplies its own `id` and would override it.
+    if (def.role?.id && '$variants' in def.value) {
+      throw new BgmError(`id on the info string can't combine with $variants`, fileName);
+    }
     const expanded = this.expand(def.value, def.file, def.source);
     for (const obj of expanded) {
       switch (role) {
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/markdown.test.ts b/packages/bgm/src/markdown.test.ts
index 3616404..4203935 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/markdown.test.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/markdown.test.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,44 @@ describe('scanMarkdown', () => {
     expect(files[0]!.kind).toBe('yaml');
   });
 
+  it('hashes identical blocks to the same auto-name', () => {
+    const md = ['```yaml\nrole: part\n```', '', '```yaml\nrole: part\n```'].join('\n');
+    const { files } = scanMarkdown(md, 'harbor/harbor.md');
+    expect(files).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(files[0]!.name).toBe(files[1]!.name);
+  });
+
+  it('parses role= metadata from the info string', () => {
+    const md = '```yaml file=cards.yaml role=part.poker-card\nid: 2s\n```';
+    const { files } = scanMarkdown(md, 'poker/poker.md');
+    expect(files[0]).toMatchObject({
+      name: 'poker/cards.yaml',
+      role: { role: 'part', type: 'poker-card' },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('parses role= with type and id', () => {
+    const md = '```yaml file=board.yaml role=surface.game#main\n```';
+    const { files } = scanMarkdown(md, 'poker/poker.md');
+    expect(files[0]!.role).toEqual({ role: 'surface', type: 'game', id: 'main' });
+  });
+
+  it('parses role=package without type or id', () => {
+    const md = '```yaml file=game.yaml role=package\n```';
+    const { files } = scanMarkdown(md, 'poker/poker.md');
+    expect(files[0]!.role).toEqual({ role: 'package' });
+  });
+
+  it('throws on an unknown role=', () => {
+    const md = '```yaml file=a.yaml role=widget\n```';
+    expect(() => scanMarkdown(md, 'poker/poker.md')).toThrow(/Invalid role/);
+  });
+
+  it('throws on role=package with a type', () => {
+    const md = '```yaml file=a.yaml role=package.foo\n```';
+    expect(() => scanMarkdown(md, 'poker/poker.md')).toThrow(/Package role takes no type/);
+  });
+
   it('ignores non-definition languages', () => {
     const md = '```js\nconst x = 1;\n```';
     const { files, fences } = scanMarkdown(md, 'harbor/harbor.md');
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/markdown.ts b/packages/bgm/src/markdown.ts
index 36e8682..d7ac312 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/markdown.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/markdown.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 import * as crypto from 'node:crypto';
 import { posix } from 'node:path';
 import { marked } from 'marked';
-import { BgmError, type DefFile } from './types.js';
+import { BgmError, ROLES, type DefFile, type Role, type RoleMeta } from './types.js';
 
 /** The languages that count as definition files; others are ignored. */
 const DEF_LANGS = new Set(['yaml', 'yml', 'json', 'toml']);
@@ -60,13 +60,14 @@ export function scanMarkdown(text: string, sourcePath: string): MarkdownResult {
 
     fences.push({ startLine, endLine, info, content: token.text });
 
-    const name = parseInfo(info);
+    const name = parseInfo(info, token.text);
     if (name) {
       files.push({
         name: posix.join(posix.dirname(sourcePath), name),
         text: token.text,
         source: `${sourcePath}:${startLine}-${endLine}`,
         kind: kindOf(name),
+        role: parseRole(info, `${sourcePath}:${startLine}`),
       });
     }
   }
@@ -78,13 +79,35 @@ export function scanMarkdown(text: string, sourcePath: string): MarkdownResult {
  * Parse a fence's info string for a `file=` segment and derive the virtual
  * file name. Blocks without `file=` are auto-named from their content hash.
  */
-function parseInfo(info: string): string | null {
+function parseInfo(info: string, content: string): string | null {
   const fileMatch = /file=(\S+)/.exec(info);
   if (fileMatch) return fileMatch[1]!;
 
   const lang = info.split(/\s+/)[0];
   if (!lang || !DEF_LANGS.has(lang)) return null;
-  return `./${hash(info)}.yaml`;
+  return `./${contentHash(content)}.yaml`;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse a fence's info string for a `role=` segment into role metadata.
+ * `role=part.cargo` -> `{ role: 'part', type: 'cargo' }`;
+ * `role=surface.game#main` -> `{ role: 'surface', type: 'game', id: 'main' }`;
+ * `role=package` -> `{ role: 'package' }`. Returns `undefined` when absent.
+ */
+function parseRole(info: string, source: string): RoleMeta | undefined {
+  const match = /role=(\S+)/.exec(info);
+  if (!match) return undefined;
+  const spec = match[1]!;
+  const [role, rest] = spec.split('.');
+  if (!role || !ROLES.has(role as Role)) {
+    throw new BgmError(`Invalid role "${spec}"`, source);
+  }
+  if (role === 'package') {
+    if (rest) throw new BgmError(`Package role takes no type or id`, source);
+    return { role: 'package' };
+  }
+  const [type, id] = (rest ?? '').split('#');
+  return { role: role as Role, type: type || undefined, id: id || undefined };
 }
 
 /** Derive the def file type from its name's extension. */
@@ -96,9 +119,9 @@ function kindOf(name: string): DefFile['kind'] {
   return 'yaml';
 }
 
-/** A stable content hash for auto-named blocks. */
-function hash(text: string): string {
-  return crypto.createHash('sha1').update(text).digest('hex').slice(0, 8);
+/** Hash the block's content, so identical blocks dedupe to the same name. */
+function contentHash(content: string): string {
+  return crypto.createHash('sha1').update(content).digest('hex').slice(0, 8);
 }
 
 /** The 1-based line number where `raw` starts within `text`. */
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/parse.test.ts b/packages/bgm/src/parse.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..526ef45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/parse.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { parseDefText } from './parse.js';
+import type { DefFile } from './types.js';
+
+function file(overrides: Partial<DefFile> = {}): DefFile {
+  return {
+    name: 'poker/cards.yaml',
+    text: 'id: 2s',
+    source: 'poker/poker.md:3-5',
+    kind: 'yaml',
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+describe('parseDefText', () => {
+  it('merges role= metadata into the parsed object', () => {
+    const defs = parseDefText(file({ role: { role: 'part', type: 'poker-card' } }));
+    expect(defs[0]!.value).toMatchObject({ role: 'part', type: 'poker-card', id: '2s' });
+  });
+
+  it('merges role= with type and id', () => {
+    const defs = parseDefText(
+      file({ text: 'id: main', role: { role: 'surface', type: 'game', id: 'main' } }),
+    );
+    expect(defs[0]!.value).toMatchObject({ role: 'surface', type: 'game', id: 'main' });
+  });
+
+  it('merges role= into every item of a list block', () => {
+    const defs = parseDefText(
+      file({
+        text: '- id: a\n- id: b',
+        role: { role: 'part', type: 'tile' },
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(defs.map((d) => d.value)).toEqual([
+      { role: 'part', type: 'tile', id: 'a' },
+      { role: 'part', type: 'tile', id: 'b' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('carries the role metadata on the parsed def', () => {
+    const defs = parseDefText(file({ role: { role: 'part', type: 'poker-card' } }));
+    expect(defs[0]!.role).toEqual({ role: 'part', type: 'poker-card' });
+  });
+
+  it('errors on a role conflict with the content', () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      parseDefText(file({ text: 'role: surface', role: { role: 'part' } })),
+    ).toThrow(/Conflicting role/);
+  });
+
+  it('errors on a type conflict with the content', () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      parseDefText(file({ text: 'type: tile', role: { role: 'part', type: 'card' } })),
+    ).toThrow(/Conflicting type/);
+  });
+
+  it('errors on an id conflict with the content', () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      parseDefText(file({ text: 'id: 2s', role: { role: 'part', type: 'card', id: '3s' } })),
+    ).toThrow(/Conflicting id/);
+  });
+
+  it('accepts matching role metadata and content', () => {
+    const defs = parseDefText(
+      file({ text: 'role: part\ntype: card', role: { role: 'part', type: 'card' } }),
+    );
+    expect(defs[0]!.value).toMatchObject({ role: 'part', type: 'card' });
+  });
+
+  it('leaves the object unchanged without role metadata', () => {
+    const defs = parseDefText(file({ text: 'role: part\ntype: card\nid: 2s' }));
+    expect(defs[0]!.value).toEqual({ role: 'part', type: 'card', id: '2s' });
+  });
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/parse.ts b/packages/bgm/src/parse.ts
index bf786bc..3dde891 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/parse.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/parse.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import { BgmError, type DefFile, type ParsedDef } from './types.js';
 /**
  * Parse a def file's text into a list of definition objects.
  *
+ * A code block's `role=` info-string metadata is merged into every parsed
+ * object, erroring on a conflict with the same key in the content.
+ *
  * @returns the parsed objects; the root object (index `-1`) or the list
  *   items (index `0..n`)
  */
@@ -33,7 +36,8 @@ export function parseDefText(file: DefFile): ParsedDef[] {
 
   const push = (value: unknown, index: number) => {
     if (value !== null && typeof value === 'object' && !Array.isArray(value)) {
-      out.push({ file: file.name, index, value: value as Record<string, unknown>, source: file.source });
+      const merged = mergeRole(file, value as Record<string, unknown>);
+      out.push({ file: file.name, index, value: merged, source: file.source, role: file.role });
     } else if (value !== null) {
       throw new BgmError(`Expected a JSON object, got ${typeof value}`, file.source);
     }
@@ -47,6 +51,27 @@ export function parseDefText(file: DefFile): ParsedDef[] {
   return out;
 }
 
+/** Merge a code block's `role=` metadata into a parsed object, erroring on conflict. */
+function mergeRole(file: DefFile, value: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  const meta = file.role;
+  if (!meta) return value;
+  const out = { ...value };
+  const keys: Array<[key: string, fromMeta: string | undefined]> = [
+    ['role', meta.role],
+    ['type', meta.type],
+    ['id', meta.id],
+  ];
+  for (const [key, fromMeta] of keys) {
+    if (fromMeta === undefined) continue;
+    const fromContent = out[key];
+    if (fromContent !== undefined && fromContent !== fromMeta) {
+      throw new BgmError(`Conflicting ${key}: "${fromMeta}" on the info string vs "${fromContent}" in content`, file.source);
+    }
+    out[key] = fromMeta;
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
 function parseText(kind: DefFile['kind'], text: string): unknown {
   switch (kind) {
     case 'json':
diff --git a/packages/bgm/src/types.ts b/packages/bgm/src/types.ts
index 8114ead..d37dacc 100644
--- a/packages/bgm/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/bgm/src/types.ts
@@ -188,6 +188,20 @@ export interface Setup {
 
 export type Role = 'package' | 'part' | 'surface' | 'setup';
 
+/** The four definition roles. */
+export const ROLES: ReadonlySet<Role> = new Set(['package', 'part', 'surface', 'setup']);
+
+/**
+ * Role metadata declared on a code block's info string (`role=part.cargo`).
+ * `type` and `id` are optional; anything not given comes from the content or
+ * from `$variants` rows.
+ */
+export interface RoleMeta {
+  role: Role;
+  type?: string;
+  id?: string;
+}
+
 /**
  * A raw definition object as written by the author. Definitions can be the
  * root of a file/block or an item in the file's list.
@@ -228,6 +242,8 @@ export interface DefFile {
   source: string;
   /** File type derived from the name's extension. */
   kind: 'yaml' | 'json' | 'toml' | 'markdown' | 'csv';
+  /** Role declared on a code block's info string, if any. */
+  role?: RoleMeta;
 }
 
 /** A single parsed definition (one JSON object from a def file). */
@@ -239,6 +255,8 @@ export interface ParsedDef {
   value: Record<string, unknown>;
   /** Source location for error messages (real path or `file.md:12-19`). */
   source: string;
+  /** Role declared on the code block's info string, if any. */
+  role?: RoleMeta;
 }
 
 /**