diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index f1c4a60..3b63924 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ All planned implementation work must be represented in `TODO.md`.
 - Use checkbox items for each concrete task.
 - Keep tasks small enough to complete and review independently.
 - Add new tasks when discoveries expand the scope.
+- When starting a task, claim it for the agent workflow by changing `[ ]` to `[-]`. Keep it `[-]`
+  while implementation or verification is in progress; only change it to `[x]` after the work and
+  relevant checks are finished. If work is abandoned or blocked, leave a clear note and return the
+  item to `[ ]` (or add a follow-up task).
 - Mark a task complete only after the implementation and relevant verification are finished.
 - If any verification check fails, do not mark the task complete. Fix the failure, or if it cannot be fixed, add a follow-up task to `TODO.md`, record the failure in `MEMORY.md`, and report it in the handoff summary.
 - Do not use prose status updates as a substitute for checkboxes.
@@ -52,7 +56,7 @@ Recommended format:
 ## Core Gameplay
 
 - [ ] Add player movement controls.
-- [ ] Implement NPC approach behavior.
+- [-] Implement NPC approach behavior. (claimed; implementation/verification in progress)
 - [x] Define escalation levels.
 
 ## Documentation
diff --git a/MEMORY.md b/MEMORY.md
index cc3b645..a199c70 100644
--- a/MEMORY.md
+++ b/MEMORY.md
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
   `docs/screens/designs/` and `docs/screens/concepts/` stay reference-only; QA captures stay in
   `docs/screenshots/`. When a mockup becomes runtime art, copy/process it into `assets/images/`
   with a new name (no overwrites) and keep a fallback in code.
+  **Mockup copies:** 21 design references were copied to `assets/images/ui/` (byte-identical
+  filenames); `docs/screens/designs/` remains the reference-only copy. `tools/screen_designs.py`
+  still reads the docs tree until the code-path task moves it; keep the two in sync meanwhile.
 
 ## Handoff (read this first)
 
@@ -135,6 +138,22 @@ Session memory for durable decisions, state, and gotchas. Keep concise, remove o
   flat plane, so avoidance (not a baked mesh) routes guests around props. Placements live in
   `PROP_PLACEMENTS` with `placement_problems()` validation; variants come from `variant_for(index)`.
   `smoke_props.gd` must be windowed because the guard reads captured-mouse input.
+- **Realism pass tooling (2026-11-01):** `tools/scene_concepts.py` (`list`/`generate`/`process`/
+  `audit`/`realism`) never overwrites an image (`next_free_path` adds `-vN`; `process` skips
+  existing targets). Raw AI output: `assets/textures/ai/v2/raw/` (gitignored). Candidate pool:
+  `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/` (gitignored except the validated picks un-ignored in
+  `.gitignore`: skyline day-v4/dusk-v3/night-v4 plus brick/pavers/asphalt/asphalt_wet + normals).
+  Concepts: `docs/screens/concepts/` (committed, `.gdignore`, targets in its README). Runs:
+  `docs/screens/realism/<run>/` (PNG captures gitignored; `report*.{json,md}` + `sheet.jpg`
+  committed). `src/test/capture_realism.gd` swaps textures at runtime by the material's
+  *original* albedo path (`--swap/--night-swap/--tint/--normal=OLD=NEW`) and writes to
+  `--out=res://...`. Changing game code is not needed for an A/B test. Gotchas:
+  gpt-5-image-mini honours `background=transparent` for the 3:2 skyline requests, but it writes
+  garbled "HOLLYWOOD" lettering unless the prompt forbids signs. Skyline strips are 2:1 to match
+  one UV repeat of the ring. `elapsed_s = 620` gives the *Evening* phase (pink sky), not night.
+  The gemini-flash-lite realism scores are noisy (±1–2), and the judge sometimes returns a 400
+  "API key not valid" from the provider, which the one retry covers. None of the v2 assets are
+  wired into the game yet.
 - **Blender asset library (v0.6.0, integrated 2026-11-01):**
   `tools/blender_assets.py` (`build`/`render` in Blender; `audit`/`sheet`/`list` stdlib) writes
   `assets/models/blender/{npc,npc_gear,props}/*.glb`, `manifest.json` (integration source of
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index b217458..46d98d9 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # TODO
 
 Godot 4.3 prototype. Latest release **v0.6.0** (Blender character/gear/prop library, baked AO, environment lift).
-Headless suite **222/222** plus **69** Python tooling tests; the session, PLAN-verb, crowd, emergency,
+Headless suite **222/222** plus **81** Python tooling tests; the session, PLAN-verb, crowd, emergency,
 timeline, audio, scenario-content, props, NPC-budget, movement, and windowed focus/radial smokes
 pass. Anonymous downloads are enabled on the host.
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ and scene visuals with those mockups — verified with
 
 - [x] Decide the canonical runtime image root (`assets/images/` for UI/scene art): recorded in
       `MEMORY.md` and [ADR-0014](docs/adr/0014-runtime-image-root.md).
-- [ ] Move the reference mockups from `docs/screens/designs/` into the runtime root (keep `docs/screens/designs/` as a docs-only copy or replace it with the new path).
+- [x] Move the reference mockups from `docs/screens/designs/` into the runtime root (keep `docs/screens/designs/` as a docs-only copy or replace it with the new path).
 - [ ] Document one convention for game vs reference vs development images across `assets/textures/`, `assets/images/`, `assets/models/generated/`, `docs/screenshots/`, and `docs/screens/designs/`.
 - [ ] Re-run `godot --headless --path . --import` to regenerate `.import` sidecars after any move.
 - [ ] Confirm `.gitignore` still excludes development-only outputs (concepts, Blender sources, raw AI fabrics) under the new layout.
@@ -80,77 +80,109 @@ measure the in-game result against that target with the screenshot tools. Plan:
 **Rule for every step: never overwrite an existing image.** New outputs get new paths. When a
 path is taken, the tools pick the next free `-vN` suffix. Raw AI output stays on disk under
 `assets/textures/ai/v2/raw/` (gitignored like the other raw AI folders). Processed game-ready
-candidates go to `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/`, scene references to `docs/screens/concepts/`,
-and trial captures and reports to `docs/screens/realism/<run>/`.
+candidates go to `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/`, a local pool where only the validated picks
+are tracked (ADR-0014). Scene references go to `docs/screens/concepts/`, and trial captures and
+reports to `docs/screens/realism/<run>/`.
 
 ### Step 1 — Tooling (`tools/scene_concepts.py`)
 
-- [ ] Add a catalogue of prompts in three groups: `scene` (16:9 example 3D game frames),
+- [x] Add a catalogue of prompts in three groups: `scene` (16:9 example 3D game frames),
       `backdrop` (4:1 skyline panoramas with transparent sky), and `texture` (seamless PBR
       surface tiles). Each entry has a name, prompt, role and target path.
-- [ ] `generate [--group] [--only] [--variants N]`: call the OpenRouter image API through
+- [x] `generate [--group] [--only] [--variants N]`: call the OpenRouter image API through
       `generate_textures.generate_image` (key from the repo `.env`), save raw output, and never
       overwrite (`next_free_path`). Print every file written.
-- [ ] `process`: turn raw backdrops into 2048×512 RGBA strips that tile horizontally (edge
+- [x] `process`: turn raw backdrops into 2048×512 RGBA strips that tile horizontally (edge
       crossfade, sky made fully transparent, hard alpha for the alpha-scissor material). Turn raw
       textures into seamless 1024² tiles (`asset_pipeline.make_seamless`) plus a normal map
       (`make_normal_maps.normal_map`). Skip outputs that already exist.
-- [ ] `audit`: run `asset_pipeline.audit_image` on the processed candidates (`backdrop` /
+- [x] `audit`: run `asset_pipeline.audit_image` on the processed candidates (`backdrop` /
       `tile` roles) and fail on any bad result.
-- [ ] `realism`: for each trial capture, report the Pillow detail metrics (edge density,
+- [x] `realism`: for each trial capture, report the Pillow detail metrics (edge density,
       contrast, colour spread, saturation) next to the matching concept image. Optionally ask a
       vision model (`google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite`) for 0–10 realism scores (lighting,
       materials, texture detail, backdrop, overall) with concrete fixes. Write a new JSON +
       Markdown report per run.
-- [ ] Unit tests (`tools/test_scene_concepts.py`): catalogue shape, the no-overwrite path
+- [x] Unit tests (`tools/test_scene_concepts.py`): catalogue shape, the no-overwrite path
       picker, backdrop/tile processing on synthetic images, metrics, and the judge payload/parse
       (offline, no network).
 
 ### Step 2 — Example 3D scene images
 
-- [ ] Generate 3D-game-style example frames for every venue and time of day: Hollywood entrance
+- [x] Generate 3D-game-style example frames for every venue and time of day: Hollywood entrance
       (morning, golden hour, rainy night), boulevard skyline view (day, dusk), Joke Shop alley
       (evening, close-up of the door), studio stage door (night arrival), sidewalk material
       close-up, entrance steps and podium, crowd-control barrier line, and a responder arrival
       wide shot.
-- [ ] Review the set and record the visual targets each frame sets (sky, haze, material detail,
+- [x] Review the set and record the visual targets each frame sets (sky, haze, material detail,
       backdrop depth) in the report.
 
 ### Step 3 — Backgrounds (replace the outdated skyline)
 
-- [ ] Generate skyline panoramas for day, dusk and night (lit windows): Hollywood/Los Angeles
+- [x] Generate skyline panoramas for day, dusk and night (lit windows): Hollywood/Los Angeles
       mid-rise blocks, palm silhouettes, the hills on the horizon, a transparent sky, and a
       straight-on view, in several variants each.
-- [ ] Process them into `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/skyline_{day,dusk,night}.png`,
-      seamless horizontally for the 3× UV repeat around the backdrop ring.
+- [x] Process them into `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/skyline_{day,dusk,night}*.png`,
+      seamless horizontally for the 3× UV repeat around the backdrop ring. Strips are 2048×1024
+      (2:1, one UV repeat of the 400×60 m ring is about 133×60 m). 12 candidates, 11 audit
+      clean; `skyline_day-v3` misses the seam limit by 0.6. Variants 1–2 contain garbled
+      "Hollywood" lettering, so the prompt now forbids signs. Picks: `skyline_day-v4`,
+      `skyline_dusk-v3`, `skyline_night-v4`.
 
 ### Step 4 — Textures
 
-- [ ] Generate higher-detail seamless tiles: red brick facade, granite/limestone facade
+- [x] Generate higher-detail seamless tiles: red brick facade, granite/limestone facade
       (studio), sidewalk concrete pavers with joints, asphalt with aggregate, wet night asphalt,
       stone steps, striped awning canvas, and stucco wall.
-- [ ] Process them into 1024² game-ready tiles plus normal maps in
-      `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/` and audit them.
+- [x] Process them into 1024² game-ready tiles plus normal maps in
+      `assets/textures/ai/game_ready/v2/` and audit them (16 tiles + 16 normals, all good). The
+      `awning_canvas` seam crossfade smears the stripes at the tile edge; it needs a
+      stripe-aligned crop.
 
 ### Step 5 — In-game trial captures (no game-code change)
 
-- [ ] Add `src/test/capture_realism.gd`. It boots the Hollywood venue, captures a fixed shot
+- [x] Add `src/test/capture_realism.gd`. It boots the Hollywood venue, captures a fixed shot
       list (entrance day, boulevard/skyline day, boulevard night), and can swap textures at
       runtime from `--skyline=` / `--brick=` / `--concrete=` / `--asphalt=` user arguments. The
       swap finds materials by their current texture, so baseline and candidate frames use the
       same camera. Writes to `user://screenshots/realism/<tag>/`.
-- [ ] Capture the baseline (current assets) and the candidate set (v2 skyline + textures), and
+- [x] Capture the baseline (current assets) and the candidate set (v2 skyline + textures), and
       copy them into `docs/screens/realism/<run>/{baseline,candidate}/`.
 
 ### Step 6 — Compare against the realistic target
 
-- [ ] Run `scene_concepts.py realism` on baseline and candidate. Record the metric deltas and the
-      vision scores, and note which candidate textures/backdrops win.
-- [ ] Note the remaining realism gaps (sky/fog, lighting, building geometry, NPC fidelity) as
+- [x] Run `scene_concepts.py realism` on baseline and candidate. Record the metric deltas and the
+      vision scores, and note which candidate textures/backdrops win. Run
+      `docs/screens/realism/2026-11-01-v2/` (`report-v2.md`, `sheet.jpg`) gives these mean
+      judge scores: backdrop 2.6 → 3.6 (v2 day + night skyline) → **4.0** (v2 day + dusk
+      skyline for the Evening phase), texture detail 1.2 → 1.6–1.75, overall 1.6 → 2.0. Single
+      scores swing by ±1–2 between runs, so read them as trends. The `characters` score
+      moved from 3.0 to 1.0 with identical NPCs, which shows the noise.
+- [x] Note the remaining realism gaps (sky/fog, lighting, building geometry, NPC fidelity) as
       follow-up tasks below.
 
+### Step 6b — Follow-ups from the 2026-11-01 realism report
+
+- [ ] Fix sidewalk overexposure: the concrete reads near-white in every day shot, while the
+      concepts keep the ground mid-grey. Lower the albedo tint or the sun energy, or add tonemap
+      exposure in `Materials.configure_environment`.
+- [ ] Make the Evening/Late phases darker and lit by practical lights (marquee, lamps,
+      windows), and add wet-asphalt roughness at night, as in the rain-night concept.
+- [ ] Choose the skyline per phase (day → `skyline_day`, Evening → `skyline_dusk`, Late →
+      `skyline_night`) and lower the fog density on the backdrop so the night windows show.
+- [ ] Raise the backdrop plane (60 m → ~90 m) or use 2 UV repeats so the skyline is not a
+      thin strip at the horizon.
+- [ ] Add facade depth (plinth, cornice, window reveals) and replace the blob trees and shrubs
+      with denser foliage meshes (Blender library follow-up).
+- [ ] Re-cut `awning_canvas` so its stripes align at the tile edge.
+- [ ] Capture shots from the Joke Shop and the studio too (add them to `capture_realism.gd` /
+      `SHOTS`).
+
 ### Step 7 — Adopt the winners (after the in-flight normal-map/AO work is committed)
 
+- [x] Track the validated picks in place (ADR-0014). `game_ready/v2/*` is a gitignored local
+      pool; `.gitignore` un-ignores the skyline picks and the brick/pavers/asphalt (+ wet) tiles
+      and their normals. Never replace the existing `game_ready/` files.
 - [ ] Point `WorldBuilder.T_SKYLINE` at the chosen v2 skyline (separate day/night textures through
       `set_night_mode`), and retune `albedo_color` for the realistic strip.
 - [ ] Switch `materials.gd` / `world_builder.gd` surface preloads to the chosen v2 tiles + normal
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