Phase 1: builder/UX quick wins (5e wording, no-campaign, details, ability UI)

- 5e skill/save proficiency shows 'Not proficient/Proficient/Expertise' instead of the
  PF2e rank names (Untrained/Trained/Expert); PF2e keeps its ranks. (shared rankLabel)
- Characters can be created without a campaign: campaignId is optional ('' = unassigned),
  CharactersPage no longer requires an active campaign, the wizard's campaign prop is
  optional, and the sheet has a Campaign selector to attach/move later.
- New character details: appearance, personality/behaviour, alignment, and a real
  background field (promoted out of notes); a Details wizard step + a Details sheet card.
- Ability step shows a clearer total + 'base · +race' breakdown.
- Point-buy verified correct (8:0..15:9 / 27, clamped 8-15, Next gated on budget).

All schema additions default-safe (characterDefaults updated). 329 tests green, build OK.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

server/src/rooms.test.ts

@@ -129,8 +129,7 @@ describe('RoomHub', () => {
   });
 
   it('survives a player reconnect: the seat is reclaimed with the same stable playerId', () => {
-    let t = 0;
-    const hub = new RoomHub(() => t);
+    const hub = new RoomHub(() => 0);
     const gm = fake(); hub.host(gm);
     const hosted = lastOf(gm, 'hosted') as Extract<ServerMessage, { t: 'hosted' }>;
     const PID = 'stable-player-1';

src/features/characters/CharacterSheet.tsx

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import { Badge, Meter } from '@/components/ui/Codex';
 import { Input, Select } from '@/components/ui/Input';
 import { NumberField } from '@/components/ui/NumberField';
 import { formatModifier } from '@/lib/format';
+import { useCampaigns } from '@/features/campaigns/hooks';
+import { rankLabel } from './sheet/labels';
 import { InventorySection } from './sheet/InventorySection';
 import { AttacksSection } from './sheet/AttacksSection';
 import { ResourcesSection } from './sheet/ResourcesSection';
@@ -32,17 +34,11 @@ const ABILITIES: AbilityKey[] = ['str', 'dex', 'con', 'int', 'wis', 'cha'];
 
 const RANKS_5E: ProficiencyRank[] = ['untrained', 'trained', 'expert'];
 const RANKS_PF2E: ProficiencyRank[] = ['untrained', 'trained', 'expert', 'master', 'legendary'];
-const RANK_LABEL: Record<ProficiencyRank, string> = {
-  untrained: 'Untrained',
-  trained: 'Trained',
-  expert: 'Expert',
-  master: 'Master',
-  legendary: 'Legendary',
-};
 
 export function CharacterSheet({ character }: { character: Character }) {
   // Local editable copy; write-through to the DB on change (debounced + flush on unmount).
   const [c, setC] = useState<Character>(character);
+  const campaigns = useCampaigns();
   const [levelUp, setLevelUp] = useState(false);
   const [genScores, setGenScores] = useState(false);
   const [shared, setShared] = useState(false);
@@ -184,6 +180,12 @@ export function CharacterSheet({ character }: { character: Character }) {
         <Labeled label="Speed">
           <NumberField value={c.speed} min={0} onChange={(speed) => update({ speed })} />
         </Labeled>
+        <Labeled label="Campaign">
+          <Select value={c.campaignId} onChange={(e) => update({ campaignId: e.target.value })}>
+            <option value="">Unassigned</option>
+            {campaigns.map((cm) => <option key={cm.id} value={cm.id}>{cm.name}</option>)}
+          </Select>
+        </Labeled>
       </div>
 
       {/* Vital stats */}
@@ -313,6 +315,29 @@ export function CharacterSheet({ character }: { character: Character }) {
       {/* Inventory, currency, encumbrance */}
       <InventorySection c={c} update={update} />
 
+      {/* Details */}
+      <section className="mb-6">
+        <SectionTitle>Details</SectionTitle>
+        <div className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2">
+          <Labeled label="Background">
+            <Input value={c.background} onChange={(e) => update({ background: e.target.value })} placeholder="Acolyte, Soldier…" />
+          </Labeled>
+          <Labeled label="Alignment">
+            <Input value={c.alignment} onChange={(e) => update({ alignment: e.target.value })} placeholder="Chaotic Good, Unaligned…" />
+          </Labeled>
+          <Labeled label="Appearance">
+            <textarea value={c.appearance} onChange={(e) => update({ appearance: e.target.value })} rows={3}
+              placeholder="Looks, age, distinguishing features…"
+              className="w-full resize-y rounded-md border border-line bg-surface px-3 py-2 text-sm text-ink focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent/60" />
+          </Labeled>
+          <Labeled label="Personality & behaviour">
+            <textarea value={c.personality} onChange={(e) => update({ personality: e.target.value })} rows={3}
+              placeholder="Traits, ideals, bonds, flaws…"
+              className="w-full resize-y rounded-md border border-line bg-surface px-3 py-2 text-sm text-ink focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent/60" />
+          </Labeled>
+        </div>
+      </section>
+
       {/* Notes */}
       <section className="mb-6">
         <SectionTitle>Notes</SectionTitle>
@@ -427,7 +452,7 @@ function RankRow({
       <Select className="w-auto py-1 text-xs" value={rank} onChange={(e) => onRank(e.target.value as ProficiencyRank)}>
         {ranks.map((r) => (
           <option key={r} value={r}>
-            {RANK_LABEL[r]}
+            {rankLabel(r, system)}
           </option>
         ))}
       </Select>

src/features/characters/CharactersPage.tsx

@@ -7,20 +7,23 @@ import { getSystem } from '@/lib/rules';
 import { exportCharacter, parseCharacterImport, CharacterImportError } from '@/lib/io/character';
 import { pickTextFile } from '@/lib/io/file';
 import { useCharacters, useAllPcs } from './hooks';
-import { Page, PageHeader, EmptyState, RequireCampaign } from '@/components/ui/Page';
+import { useActiveCampaign } from '@/features/campaigns/hooks';
+import { Page, PageHeader, EmptyState } from '@/components/ui/Page';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/Button';
 import { Avatar, Badge } from '@/components/ui/Codex';
 import { Modal } from '@/components/ui/Modal';
 import { CreationWizard } from './builder/CreationWizard';
 
+// A campaign is NOT required: PCs are campaign-agnostic and can be created unassigned.
 export function CharactersPage() {
-  return <RequireCampaign>{(campaign) => <CharactersList campaign={campaign} />}</RequireCampaign>;
+  const campaign = useActiveCampaign();
+  return <CharactersList campaign={campaign} />;
 }
 
-function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign: Campaign }) {
+function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign?: Campaign | undefined }) {
   // PCs are campaign-agnostic — show every player character; NPCs stay per-campaign.
   const pcs = useAllPcs();
-  const npcs = useCharacters(campaign.id).filter((c) => c.kind === 'npc');
+  const npcs = useCharacters(campaign?.id ?? '').filter((c) => c.kind === 'npc');
   const [creating, setCreating] = useState(false);
   const [importError, setImportError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign: Campaign }) {
     const text = await pickTextFile();
     if (text === null) return;
     try {
-      const character = parseCharacterImport(text, campaign.id);
+      const character = parseCharacterImport(text, campaign?.id ?? '');
       await charactersRepo.insert(character);
     } catch (e) {
       setImportError(e instanceof CharacterImportError ? e.message : 'Import failed.');
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign: Campaign }) {
       <PageHeader
         eyebrow="The Roster"
         title="Characters"
-        subtitle={campaign.name}
+        subtitle={campaign?.name ?? 'All player characters'}
         actions={
           <>
             <Button variant="secondary" onClick={importCharacter}>
@@ -78,6 +81,9 @@ function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign: Campaign }) {
       )}
 
       {creating && <CreationWizard campaign={campaign} onClose={() => setCreating(false)} />}
+      {npcs.length === 0 && !campaign && pcs.length > 0 && (
+        <p className="mt-4 text-xs text-muted">Tip: select or create a campaign to add NPCs and link this roster.</p>
+      )}
     </Page>
   );
 }

src/features/characters/builder/CreationWizard.tsx

@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ const TEMPLATES: Record<string, { label: string; hint: string; className: string
   ],
 };
 
-export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onClose: () => void }) {
+export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign?: Campaign | undefined; onClose: () => void }) {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   // Characters are campaign-agnostic: the wizard asks which system to build for,
   // defaulting to the campaign's. Changing it resets all dependent selections.
-  const [system, setSystem] = useState<SystemId>(campaign.system);
+  const [system, setSystem] = useState<SystemId>(campaign?.system ?? '5e');
   const sys = getSystem(system);
   const allSkillKeys = sys.skills.map((s) => s.key);
   const skillLabel = (key: string) => sys.skills.find((s) => s.key === key)?.label ?? key;
@@ -165,6 +165,9 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
   const [name, setName] = useState('');
   const [kind, setKind] = useState<Character['kind']>('pc');
   const [level, setLevel] = useState(1);
+  const [alignment, setAlignment] = useState('');
+  const [appearance, setAppearance] = useState('');
+  const [personality, setPersonality] = useState('');
   const [classSlug, setClassSlug] = useState('');
   const [subclass, setSubclass] = useState('');
   const [ancestry, setAncestry] = useState('');
@@ -303,7 +306,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
   const leveledSlots = useMemo(() => built.spellcasting.slots.reduce((n, s) => n + (s.level > 0 ? s.max : 0), 0), [built]);
   const suggestedSpells = Math.max(4, leveledSlots + 2);
 
-  const STEPS = useMemo(() => ['Class', 'Origin', 'Abilities', 'Skills', ...(isCaster ? ['Spells'] : []), 'Review'], [isCaster]);
+  const STEPS = useMemo(() => ['Class', 'Origin', 'Abilities', 'Skills', ...(isCaster ? ['Spells'] : []), 'Details', 'Review'], [isCaster]);
   const stepName = STEPS[Math.min(step, STEPS.length - 1)]!;
 
   const changeSystem = (next: SystemId) => {
@@ -339,12 +342,13 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
     Abilities: system === 'pf2e' ? true : poolValid && pbValid,
     Skills: skills.length === Math.min(skillCount, skillOptions.length),
     Spells: true,
+    Details: true,
     Review: true,
   };
 
   const finish = async () => {
     if (!selectedClass) return;
-    const created = await charactersRepo.create(campaign.id, {
+    const created = await charactersRepo.create(campaign?.id, {
       system, name: name.trim() || selectedClass.name, kind,
       ancestry: ancestry.trim(), className: selectedClass.name, level,
     });
@@ -354,11 +358,16 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
       for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(selectedClass.saveRanks)) saveRanks[k] = v.toLowerCase() as ProficiencyRank;
     }
     const spells: SpellEntry[] = spellPicks.map((s) => newSpellEntry({ id: newId(), name: s.name, level: Math.min(10, Math.max(0, s.level)) }));
-    const notes = [subclass ? `Subclass: ${subclass}` : '', background ? `Background: ${background}` : ''].filter(Boolean).join('\n');
+    // Subclass still rides in notes for now (Phase 3 moves it onto classes[]); background is a real field.
+    const notes = subclass ? `Subclass: ${subclass}` : '';
     await charactersRepo.update(created.id, {
       ...built,
       ...(Object.keys(saveRanks).length ? { saveRanks } : {}),
       spellcasting: { ...built.spellcasting, spells },
+      ...(background ? { background } : {}),
+      ...(alignment.trim() ? { alignment: alignment.trim() } : {}),
+      ...(appearance.trim() ? { appearance: appearance.trim() } : {}),
+      ...(personality.trim() ? { personality: personality.trim() } : {}),
       ...(notes ? { notes } : {}),
       ...(selectedOrigin?.speed ? { speed: selectedOrigin.speed } : {}),
     });
@@ -596,8 +605,10 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
                   ) : (
                     <NumberField className="mt-1" value={pb[i]!} min={fMin} max={fMax} aria-label={`${ABILITY_ABBR[a]} score`} onChange={(v) => setPb((prev) => prev.map((x, j) => (j === i ? Math.max(fMin, Math.min(fMax, v)) : x)))} />
                   )}
-                  <div className="mt-1 text-xs text-accent">
-                    {racial ? <span className="text-muted">{base}+{racial} · </span> : null}{formatModifier(abilityModifier(value))}
+                  <div className="mt-1">
+                    <span className="font-display text-sm font-semibold text-ink">{value}</span>
+                    <span className="ml-1 text-xs text-accent">{formatModifier(abilityModifier(value))}</span>
+                    {racial ? <div className="text-[10px] leading-tight text-muted">{base} base · +{racial} race</div> : null}
                   </div>
                 </div>
               );
@@ -659,6 +670,32 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
         </div>
       )}
 
+      {stepName === 'Details' && (
+        <div className="space-y-3">
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted">Optional flavour — you can fill any of this in later on the sheet.</p>
+          <Field label="Alignment">
+            <Select value={alignment} onChange={(e) => setAlignment(e.target.value)}>
+              <option value="">— none —</option>
+              {['Lawful Good', 'Neutral Good', 'Chaotic Good', 'Lawful Neutral', 'True Neutral', 'Chaotic Neutral', 'Lawful Evil', 'Neutral Evil', 'Chaotic Evil', 'Unaligned'].map((a) => (
+                <option key={a} value={a}>{a}</option>
+              ))}
+            </Select>
+          </Field>
+          <label className="block text-xs text-muted">
+            Appearance
+            <textarea value={appearance} onChange={(e) => setAppearance(e.target.value)} rows={3}
+              placeholder="Looks, age, distinguishing features…"
+              className="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-line bg-surface px-2 py-1.5 text-sm text-ink focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent/60" />
+          </label>
+          <label className="block text-xs text-muted">
+            Personality &amp; behaviour
+            <textarea value={personality} onChange={(e) => setPersonality(e.target.value)} rows={3}
+              placeholder="Traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, how they act…"
+              className="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border border-line bg-surface px-2 py-1.5 text-sm text-ink focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent/60" />
+          </label>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {stepName === 'Review' && selectedClass && (
         <div className="space-y-3 text-sm">
           <div className="rounded-lg border border-line bg-surface p-3">

src/features/characters/sheet/AttacksSection.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/Button';
 import { Input, Select } from '@/components/ui/Input';
 import { NumberField } from '@/components/ui/NumberField';
 import { SheetSection, type SectionProps } from './common';
+import { rankLabel } from './labels';
 
 const ABILITIES: AbilityKey[] = ['str', 'dex', 'con', 'int', 'wis', 'cha'];
 const RANKS_5E: ProficiencyRank[] = ['untrained', 'trained', 'expert'];
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ export function AttacksSection({ c, update }: SectionProps) {
                   {ABILITIES.map((ab) => <option key={ab} value={ab}>{ABILITY_ABBR[ab]}</option>)}
                 </Select>
                 <Select className="w-auto py-1" value={a.rank} onChange={(e) => patch(a.id, { rank: e.target.value as ProficiencyRank })} aria-label="Attack proficiency">
-                  {ranks.map((r) => <option key={r} value={r}>{r}</option>)}
+                  {ranks.map((r) => <option key={r} value={r}>{rankLabel(r, c.system)}</option>)}
                 </Select>
                 <label className="text-xs text-muted">dice<Input className="ml-1 inline-block h-8 w-20" value={a.damageDice} onChange={(e) => patch(a.id, { damageDice: e.target.value })} aria-label="Damage dice" /></label>
                 <label className="text-xs text-muted">+item<NumberField className="ml-1 w-14" value={a.itemBonus} onChange={(v) => patch(a.id, { itemBonus: v })} aria-label="Item bonus" /></label>

src/features/characters/sheet/labels.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import type { ProficiencyRank, SystemId } from '@/lib/rules';
+
+const RANK_LABEL_PF2E: Record<ProficiencyRank, string> = {
+  untrained: 'Untrained', trained: 'Trained', expert: 'Expert', master: 'Master', legendary: 'Legendary',
+};
+// 5e proficiency is binary; "Expertise" = doubled proficiency (stored as 'expert').
+const RANK_LABEL_5E: Record<ProficiencyRank, string> = {
+  untrained: 'Not proficient', trained: 'Proficient', expert: 'Expertise', master: 'Expertise', legendary: 'Expertise',
+};
+
+/** Display label for a proficiency rank in the active system (5e avoids PF2e rank names). */
+export function rankLabel(rank: ProficiencyRank, system: SystemId): string {
+  return system === '5e' ? RANK_LABEL_5E[rank] : RANK_LABEL_PF2E[rank];
+}

src/lib/db/repositories.ts

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export const charactersRepo = {
   },
 
   async create(
-    campaignId: string,
+    campaignId: string | undefined,
     draft: Pick<Character, 'name' | 'kind' | 'ancestry' | 'className' | 'level'> & {
       system: Character['system'];
     },
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export const charactersRepo = {
     const sys = getSystem(draft.system);
     const character = characterSchema.parse({
       id: newId(),
-      campaignId,
+      campaignId: campaignId ?? '',
       system: draft.system,
       kind: draft.kind,
       name: draft.name,

src/lib/schemas/character.ts

@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ export type Defenses = z.infer<typeof defensesSchema>;
 
 export const characterSchema = z.object({
   id: z.string(),
-  campaignId: z.string(),
+  /** Owning campaign; '' = unassigned (PCs can be created without a campaign and attached later). */
+  campaignId: z.string().default(''),
   system: systemIdSchema,
   kind: characterKindSchema.default('pc'),
 
@@ -146,6 +147,14 @@ export const characterSchema = z.object({
   /** class, free text for MVP */
   className: z.string().max(80).default(''),
   level: int.min(1).max(20).default(1),
+  /** background / heritage (promoted out of the notes string). */
+  background: z.string().max(80).default(''),
+  /** alignment, free text (e.g. "Chaotic Good", "Unaligned"). */
+  alignment: z.string().max(40).default(''),
+  /** physical description / looks. */
+  appearance: z.string().max(4000).default(''),
+  /** personality, behaviour, bonds, ideals, flaws. */
+  personality: z.string().max(4000).default(''),
 
   abilities: abilityScoresSchema,
   hp: hpSchema,
@@ -204,9 +213,13 @@ export type CharacterDraft = z.infer<typeof characterDraftSchema>;
 /** Default values for the Phase-1 depth fields. Used by create + DB migration. */
 export function characterDefaults(): Pick<
   Character,
-  'currency' | 'inventory' | 'feats' | 'attacks' | 'resources' | 'spellcasting' | 'concentration' | 'equippedArmor' | 'defenses' | 'conditions'
+  'currency' | 'inventory' | 'feats' | 'attacks' | 'resources' | 'spellcasting' | 'concentration' | 'equippedArmor' | 'defenses' | 'conditions' | 'background' | 'alignment' | 'appearance' | 'personality'
 > {
   return {
+    background: '',
+    alignment: '',
+    appearance: '',
+    personality: '',
     currency: { cp: 0, sp: 0, ep: 0, gp: 0, pp: 0 },
     inventory: [],
     feats: [],