Fixes batch 3: autosave, campaign-agnostic PCs, live push, builder

- Autosave: while signed in, a debounced full backup pushes whenever durable data
  changes (useCloudAutosave watches a fingerprint of the main tables; high-churn
  tables excluded). No-op signed out.
- Campaign-agnostic characters: PCs are now global — the Characters roster shows
  every player character regardless of active campaign, and any PC can be added to
  a fight. NPCs stay per-campaign. (charactersRepo.listAllPcs / useAllPcs; difficulty
  fallback stays campaign-scoped.)
- Live "bring your own character": a joining player can push one of their own local
  characters; the GM's grant inserts it into the campaign and seats them.
- Character builder: a system picker (5e / PF2e, defaults to the campaign) so creation
  no longer assumes 5e; PF2e skill wording ("Trained" vs "proficient"); spell step now
  explains how many to pick + that they're known spells prepared later.

230 unit + 34 e2e + 2 realtime green.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/app/RootLayout.tsx

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { SessionControl } from '@/features/play/SessionControl';
 import { HandoutControl } from '@/features/play/HandoutControl';
 import { useSessionBroadcaster } from '@/features/play/useSessionBroadcaster';
 import { usePlayerConnection } from '@/features/play/usePlayerConnection';
+import { useCloudAutosave } from '@/features/cloud/useCloudAutosave';
 import { PlayerSessionBadge } from '@/features/play/PlayerConnection';
 import { SessionSidebar } from '@/features/play/SessionSidebar';
 import { useSessionStore } from '@/stores/sessionStore';
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ export function RootLayout() {
   // While the GM is hosting, mirror state to players (inert unless hosting).
   useSessionBroadcaster(activeCampaign ?? null);
   usePlayerConnection();
+  useCloudAutosave();
 
   // Global Ctrl/Cmd+K opens the command palette.
   useEffect(() => {

src/features/characters/CharactersPage.tsx

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import type { Campaign, Character } from '@/lib/schemas';
 import { getSystem } from '@/lib/rules';
 import { exportCharacter, parseCharacterImport, CharacterImportError } from '@/lib/io/character';
 import { pickTextFile } from '@/lib/io/file';
-import { useCharacters } from './hooks';
+import { useCharacters, useAllPcs } from './hooks';
 import { Page, PageHeader, EmptyState, RequireCampaign } from '@/components/ui/Page';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/Button';
 import { Avatar, Badge } from '@/components/ui/Codex';
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ export function CharactersPage() {
 }
 
 function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign: Campaign }) {
-  const characters = useCharacters(campaign.id);
+  // 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 [creating, setCreating] = useState(false);
   const [importError, setImportError] = useState<string | null>(null);
-  const pcs = characters.filter((c) => c.kind === 'pc');
-  const npcs = characters.filter((c) => c.kind === 'npc');
 
   const importCharacter = async () => {
     setImportError(null);
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ function CharactersList({ campaign }: { campaign: Campaign }) {
         </p>
       )}
 
-      {characters.length === 0 ? (
+      {pcs.length === 0 && npcs.length === 0 ? (
         <EmptyState
           title="No characters yet"
           hint="Add player characters and NPCs, or import a character file."

src/features/characters/builder/CreationWizard.tsx

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import { useNavigate } from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import type { Campaign, Character, SpellEntry } from '@/lib/schemas';
 import { charactersRepo } from '@/lib/db/repositories';
 import {
-  getSystem, ABILITY_ABBR, abilityModifier, buildCharacter,
+  getSystem, ABILITY_ABBR, abilityModifier, buildCharacter, SYSTEM_OPTIONS,
-  type AbilityKey, type AbilityScores, type ProficiencyRank,
+  type AbilityKey, type AbilityScores, type ProficiencyRank, type SystemId,
 } from '@/lib/rules';
 import { STANDARD_ARRAY, rollAbilityScores, pointBuyRemaining, POINT_BUY_MIN, POINT_BUY_MAX } from '@/lib/rules/abilityGen';
 import { loadClasses, loadRaces5e, loadBackgrounds5e, loadSpells, loadPf2e } from '@/lib/compendium';
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ const TEMPLATES: Record<string, { label: string; hint: string; className: string
 
 export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onClose: () => void }) {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
-  const sys = getSystem(campaign.system);
+  // 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 sys = getSystem(system);
   const allSkillKeys = sys.skills.map((s) => s.key);
   const skillLabel = (key: string) => sys.skills.find((s) => s.key === key)?.label ?? key;
 
@@ -58,10 +61,10 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
   const [backgrounds, setBackgrounds] = useState<Origin[]>([]);
   const [allSpells, setAllSpells] = useState<SpellOpt[]>([]);
 
-  useEffect(() => { let on = true; void loadClasses(campaign.system).then((c) => on && setClasses([...c].sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name)))); return () => { on = false; }; }, [campaign.system]);
+  useEffect(() => { let on = true; void loadClasses(system).then((c) => on && setClasses([...c].sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name)))); return () => { on = false; }; }, [system]);
   useEffect(() => {
     let on = true;
-    if (campaign.system === '5e') {
+    if (system === '5e') {
       void loadRaces5e().then((rs) => on && setOrigins(rs.map((r) => ({ name: r.name, desc: r.desc, meta: r.asi || r.speed }))));
       void loadBackgrounds5e().then((bs) => on && setBackgrounds(bs.map((b) => ({ name: b.name, desc: b.desc, meta: b.skills }))));
     } else {
@@ -69,7 +72,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
       void loadPf2e('backgrounds').then((bs) => on && setBackgrounds(bs.map((b) => ({ name: String(b.name), desc: String((b.description ?? b.text) ?? '') }))));
     }
     return () => { on = false; };
-  }, [campaign.system]);
+  }, [system]);
 
   // ---- selections ----
   const [step, setStep] = useState(0);
@@ -108,7 +111,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
   const [skills, setSkills] = useState<string[]>([]);
   const intMod = abilityModifier(abilities.int);
   const skillCount = selectedClass
-    ? selectedClass.skillCount + (campaign.system === 'pf2e' ? Math.max(0, intMod) : 0)
+    ? selectedClass.skillCount + (system === 'pf2e' ? Math.max(0, intMod) : 0)
     : 2;
   const skillOptions = useMemo(() => {
     if (!selectedClass || selectedClass.skillChoices.length === 0) return allSkillKeys;
@@ -127,10 +130,10 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isCaster || allSpells.length) return;
     let on = true;
-    if (campaign.system === '5e') void loadSpells().then((ss) => on && setAllSpells((ss as unknown as { name: string; level_int: number; school: string }[]).map((s) => ({ name: s.name, level: s.level_int ?? 0, meta: s.school ?? '' }))));
+    if (system === '5e') void loadSpells().then((ss) => on && setAllSpells((ss as unknown as { name: string; level_int: number; school: string }[]).map((s) => ({ name: s.name, level: s.level_int ?? 0, meta: s.school ?? '' }))));
     else void loadPf2e('spells').then((ss) => on && setAllSpells(ss.map((s) => ({ name: String(s.name), level: Number(s.level) || 0, meta: Array.isArray(s.trait) ? (s.trait as string[]).slice(0, 2).join(', ') : '' }))));
     return () => { on = false; };
-  }, [isCaster, campaign.system, allSpells.length]);
+  }, [isCaster, system, allSpells.length]);
   const spellResults = useMemo(() => {
     const q = spellQuery.trim().toLowerCase();
     const maxLevel = Math.min(9, Math.ceil(level / 2));
@@ -140,15 +143,36 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
     setSpellPicks((prev) => (prev.some((x) => x.name === s.name) ? prev.filter((x) => x.name !== s.name) : [...prev, s]));
 
   // ---- derived build ----
-  const built = useMemo(() => buildCharacter(campaign.system, {
+  const built = useMemo(() => buildCharacter(system, {
     className: selectedClass?.name ?? '', level, abilities, skillChoices: skills,
     ...(selectedOrigin?.hp ? { ancestryHp: selectedOrigin.hp } : {}),
     ...(selectedClass ? { hitDieOverride: selectedClass.hitDie } : {}),
-  }), [campaign.system, selectedClass, level, abilities, skills, selectedOrigin]);
+  }), [system, selectedClass, level, abilities, skills, selectedOrigin]);
+
+  // Rough "how many should I pick" suggestion for the Spells step. Not enforced —
+  // just guidance: a few cantrips plus a handful of starting leveled spells.
+  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 stepName = STEPS[Math.min(step, STEPS.length - 1)]!;
 
+  const changeSystem = (next: SystemId) => {
+    if (next === system) return;
+    setSystem(next);
+    // Reset everything keyed on the system so stale picks don't leak across systems.
+    // The class/origin/background/spell lists reload from the loaders above.
+    setClassSlug('');
+    setSubclass('');
+    setSkills([]);
+    setSpellPicks([]);
+    setSpellQuery('');
+    setAllSpells([]); // force the spell loader (guarded on length) to refetch for the new system
+    setAncestry('');
+    setBackground('');
+    setStep(0);
+  };
+
   const applyTemplate = (t: { label: string; className: string; ability: AbilityScores }) => {
     const c = classes.find((x) => x.name === t.className);
     if (c) { setClassSlug(c.slug); setSubclass(''); setSkills([]); }
@@ -169,7 +193,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
   const finish = async () => {
     if (!selectedClass) return;
     const created = await charactersRepo.create(campaign.id, {
-      system: campaign.system, name: name.trim() || selectedClass.name, kind,
+      system, name: name.trim() || selectedClass.name, kind,
       ancestry: ancestry.trim(), className: selectedClass.name, level,
     });
     // For classes outside the curated tables (esp. PF2e), fill saves from data.
@@ -222,10 +246,22 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
             <Field label="Level"><NumberField value={level} min={1} max={20} onChange={setLevel} aria-label="Level" /></Field>
           </div>
 
+          <div>
+            <div className="mb-1 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-muted">Game system</div>
+            <div className="flex gap-1" role="group" aria-label="Game system">
+              {SYSTEM_OPTIONS.map((opt) => (
+                <button key={opt.id} type="button" onClick={() => changeSystem(opt.id)} aria-pressed={system === opt.id}
+                  className={cn('rounded-md px-3 py-1.5 text-sm', system === opt.id ? 'bg-accent text-accent-ink' : 'bg-elevated text-muted hover:text-ink')}>
+                  {opt.label}
+                </button>
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           <div className="rounded-lg border border-accent/30 bg-accent/5 p-2">
             <div className="mb-1 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-muted">New here? Start from a ready-made hero</div>
             <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1">
-              {(TEMPLATES[campaign.system] ?? []).map((t) => (
+              {(TEMPLATES[system] ?? []).map((t) => (
                 <button key={t.label} onClick={() => applyTemplate(t)} title={t.hint} className="rounded-md border border-line bg-surface px-2 py-1 text-xs text-ink hover:border-accent">{t.label}</button>
               ))}
             </div>
@@ -241,7 +277,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
                     <span className="font-display font-semibold text-ink">{c.name}</span>
                     <span className="rounded-full bg-elevated px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] uppercase text-muted">{playstyle(c)}</span>
                   </div>
-                  <div className="mt-0.5 text-[11px] text-muted">{campaign.system === 'pf2e' ? `${c.hitDie} HP/lvl` : `d${c.hitDie}`}{c.keyAbilities.length ? ` · ${c.keyAbilities.map((k) => ABILITY_ABBR[k as AbilityKey]).join('/')}` : ''}{c.caster !== 'none' ? ' · caster' : ''}</div>
+                  <div className="mt-0.5 text-[11px] text-muted">{system === 'pf2e' ? `${c.hitDie} HP/lvl` : `d${c.hitDie}`}{c.keyAbilities.length ? ` · ${c.keyAbilities.map((k) => ABILITY_ABBR[k as AbilityKey]).join('/')}` : ''}{c.caster !== 'none' ? ' · caster' : ''}</div>
                   {c.description && <p className="mt-1 line-clamp-2 text-xs text-muted">{c.description}</p>}
                 </button>
               ))}
@@ -250,7 +286,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
           </div>
 
           {selectedClass && selectedClass.subclasses.length > 0 && (
-            <Field label={campaign.system === 'pf2e' ? 'Subclass / focus (optional)' : 'Subclass (optional)'}>
+            <Field label={system === 'pf2e' ? 'Subclass / focus (optional)' : 'Subclass (optional)'}>
               <Select value={subclass} onChange={(e) => setSubclass(e.target.value)}>
                 <option value="">— decide later —</option>
                 {selectedClass.subclasses.map((s) => <option key={s.name} value={s.name}>{s.name}</option>)}
@@ -262,7 +298,7 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
 
       {stepName === 'Origin' && (
         <div className="grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2">
-          <OriginPicker title={campaign.system === 'pf2e' ? 'Ancestry' : 'Race'} options={origins} value={ancestry} onPick={setAncestry} />
+          <OriginPicker title={system === 'pf2e' ? 'Ancestry' : 'Race'} options={origins} value={ancestry} onPick={setAncestry} />
           <OriginPicker title="Background" options={backgrounds} value={background} onPick={setBackground} />
         </div>
       )}
@@ -302,7 +338,8 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
 
       {stepName === 'Skills' && (
         <div>
-          <p className="mb-3 text-sm text-muted">Choose <span className="font-semibold text-ink">{Math.min(skillCount, skillOptions.length)}</span> trained {skillCount === 1 ? 'skill' : 'skills'} ({skills.length} selected).</p>
+          <p className="mb-1 text-sm text-muted">Choose <span className="font-semibold text-ink">{Math.min(skillCount, skillOptions.length)}</span> {system === 'pf2e' ? 'Trained' : 'proficient'} {skillCount === 1 ? 'skill' : 'skills'} ({skills.length} selected).</p>
+          <p className="mb-3 text-xs text-muted">{system === 'pf2e' ? 'These start at the Trained proficiency rank; you can raise ranks as you level up.' : 'You gain proficiency in these skills, adding your proficiency bonus to checks.'}</p>
           <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 sm:grid-cols-3">
             {skillOptions.map((key) => {
               const checked = skills.includes(key);
@@ -320,7 +357,11 @@ export function CreationWizard({ campaign, onClose }: { campaign: Campaign; onCl
 
       {stepName === 'Spells' && (
         <div>
-          <p className="mb-2 text-sm text-muted">Pick starting spells (search by name). You can add more on the sheet later. {spellPicks.length} selected.</p>
+          <p className="mb-1 text-sm text-muted">Pick your cantrips and a few starting spells — about <span className="font-semibold text-ink">{suggestedSpells}</span> is a good start at level {level}. Search by name; you can always adjust on the sheet later.</p>
+          <p className="mb-1 text-xs text-muted">These are the spells you <span className="text-ink">{system === 'pf2e' ? 'know (your repertoire)' : 'know (the spells you’ve learned)'}</span>. You prepare or cast them from slots on the character sheet.</p>
+          <p className={cn('mb-2 text-xs', spellPicks.length > suggestedSpells + 4 ? 'text-warning' : 'text-muted')}>
+            {spellPicks.length} selected{spellPicks.length > suggestedSpells + 4 ? ' — that’s quite a few; you can trim some later if you like.' : ''}
+          </p>
           <Input value={spellQuery} onChange={(e) => setSpellQuery(e.target.value)} placeholder="Search spells…" className="mb-2" aria-label="Search spells" />
           <div className="grid max-h-64 grid-cols-1 gap-1 overflow-y-auto pr-1 sm:grid-cols-2">
             {spellResults.map((s) => {

src/features/characters/hooks.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ export function useCharacters(campaignId: string): Character[] {
   return useLiveQuery(() => charactersRepo.listByCampaign(campaignId), [campaignId], []);
 }
 
+/** All player characters across every campaign — PCs are campaign-agnostic. */
+export function useAllPcs(): Character[] {
+  return useLiveQuery(() => charactersRepo.listAllPcs(), [], []);
+}
+
 export function useCharacter(id: string): Character | undefined {
   return useLiveQuery(() => charactersRepo.get(id), [id], undefined);
 }

src/features/cloud/useCloudAutosave.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useLiveQuery } from 'dexie-react-hooks';
+import { db } from '@/lib/db/db';
+import { cloudUsername, pushBackup } from '@/lib/cloud/client';
+import { useDebouncedCallback } from '@/lib/useDebouncedCallback';
+
+/**
+ * Autosave to the cloud while signed in: whenever durable data changes, debounce
+ * a full backup push. A fingerprint of (id:updatedAt) over the durable tables is
+ * watched via liveQuery, so it reacts to edits, adds, and deletes alike. High-churn
+ * tables (dice rolls, the session recap) are excluded so a roll doesn't trigger a
+ * save. No-op when signed out. Mounted once in the app shell.
+ */
+export function useCloudAutosave(): void {
+  const fingerprint = useLiveQuery(async () => {
+    const stamp = async (rows: Promise<Array<{ id?: string; campaignId?: string; updatedAt?: string }>>) =>
+      (await rows).map((r) => `${r.id ?? r.campaignId ?? ''}:${r.updatedAt ?? ''}`).join(',');
+    const [c, ch, e, n, np, q, m, h, cal] = await Promise.all([
+      stamp(db.campaigns.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.characters.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.encounters.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.notes.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.npcs.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.quests.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.maps.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.homebrew.toArray()),
+      stamp(db.calendars.toArray()),
+    ]);
+    return [c, ch, e, n, np, q, m, h, cal].join('|');
+  }, [], undefined);
+
+  const save = useDebouncedCallback(() => {
+    if (cloudUsername()) void pushBackup().catch(() => { /* offline / transient — next change retries */ });
+  }, 8000);
+
+  // Skip the initial load; only push once data actually changes after mount.
+  const prev = useRef<string | undefined>(undefined);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (fingerprint === undefined) return;
+    if (prev.current === undefined) { prev.current = fingerprint; return; }
+    if (prev.current !== fingerprint) { prev.current = fingerprint; save(); }
+  }, [fingerprint, save]);
+}

src/features/combat/EncounterTracker.tsx

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import { createRng } from '@/lib/rng';
 import { rollDice } from '@/lib/dice/notation';
 import { getSystem, getConditions, type SystemId } from '@/lib/rules';
 import { computeBudget, DIFFICULTY_COLOR } from '@/lib/combat/budget';
-import { useCharacters } from '@/features/characters/hooks';
+import { useCharacters, useAllPcs } from '@/features/characters/hooks';
 import { useConditionGlossary } from './useConditionGlossary';
 import {
   addCombatant,
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ import { EncounterTipCard } from '@/features/assistant/EncounterTipCard';
 
 export function EncounterTracker({ encounter, campaign }: { encounter: Encounter; campaign: Campaign }) {
   const characters = useCharacters(campaign.id);
+  // PCs are campaign-agnostic, so any PC can join a fight; NPCs stay campaign-scoped.
+  const allPcs = useAllPcs();
+  const addableChars = [...allPcs, ...characters.filter((c) => c.kind === 'npc')];
   const glossary = useConditionGlossary(campaign.system);
 
   const undoStack = useRef<Encounter[]>([]);
@@ -162,7 +165,7 @@ export function EncounterTracker({ encounter, campaign }: { encounter: Encounter
 
       <EncounterTipCard campaign={campaign} encounter={encounter} />
 
-      <AddCombatantBar encounter={encounter} characters={characters} onAdd={(c) => mutate((e) => addCombatant(e, c))} />
+      <AddCombatantBar encounter={encounter} characters={addableChars} onAdd={(c) => mutate((e) => addCombatant(e, c))} />
 
       {/* Combatant list */}
       {encounter.combatants.length === 0 ? (

src/features/play/SessionControl.tsx

@@ -74,16 +74,22 @@ export function SessionControl() {
 }
 
 function SeatRequestRow({ req }: { req: SeatRequest }) {
+  const campaign = useActiveCampaign();
   const character = useLiveQuery(() => charactersRepo.get(req.characterId), [req.characterId]);
   const removeSeatRequest = useSessionStore((s) => s.removeSeatRequest);
   const name = character?.name ?? req.offlineSnapshot?.name ?? 'Unknown character';
 
   const grant = async (applyOffline: boolean) => {
-    if (applyOffline && req.offlineSnapshot) {
+    let current = await charactersRepo.get(req.characterId);
+    if (!current && req.offlineSnapshot && campaign) {
+      // A character the player made and pushed — add it to this campaign, then seat them.
+      await charactersRepo.insert({ ...req.offlineSnapshot, campaignId: campaign.id });
+      current = await charactersRepo.get(req.characterId);
+    } else if (applyOffline && req.offlineSnapshot && current) {
       const { id: _id, campaignId: _c, createdAt: _cr, updatedAt: _u, ...rest } = req.offlineSnapshot;
       await charactersRepo.update(req.characterId, rest);
+      current = await charactersRepo.get(req.characterId);
     }
-    const current = await charactersRepo.get(req.characterId);
     if (current) grantSeat(req.playerId, current);
     else removeSeatRequest(req.playerId);
   };

src/features/player/PlayerViewPage.tsx

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { charactersRepo } from '@/lib/db/repositories';
 import { useUiStore } from '@/stores/uiStore';
 import { useSessionStore } from '@/stores/sessionStore';
 import { usePlayerSessionStore } from '@/stores/playerSessionStore';
-import { useCharacters } from '@/features/characters/hooks';
+import { useCharacters, useAllPcs } from '@/features/characters/hooks';
 import { useEncounters } from '@/features/combat/hooks';
 import { useCalendar, useMaps } from '@/features/world/hooks';
 import { Page, EmptyState, RequireCampaign } from '@/components/ui/Page';
@@ -88,10 +88,12 @@ function NetworkedPlayerView() {
   const seatStatus = usePlayerSessionStore((s) => s.seatStatus);
   const [needPw, setNeedPw] = useState(false);
 
-  // Locally-developed copies of party characters (for offline-edit handoff).
+  // Locally-developed copies of party characters (for offline-edit handoff) PLUS
+  // the player's own PCs, so they can push one the GM hasn't added yet.
   const partyIdsKey = snapshot ? snapshot.party.map((p) => p.id).join(',') : '';
   const localList = useLiveQuery(() => charactersRepo.getMany(partyIdsKey ? partyIdsKey.split(',') : []), [partyIdsKey], [] as Character[]);
-  const localChars = new Map((localList ?? []).map((c) => [c.id, c]));
+  const myPcs = useAllPcs();
+  const localChars = new Map([...(localList ?? []), ...myPcs].map((c) => [c.id, c]));
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (error?.toLowerCase().includes('password') && !needPw) {
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ function NetworkedPlayerView() {
       {myCharacter && seatStatus === 'granted' ? (
         <MyCharacterPanel character={myCharacter} onPatch={handlePatch} />
       ) : (
-        <SeatClaimScreen snapshot={snapshot} localChars={localChars} pending={seatStatus === 'pending'} onClaim={handleClaim} />
+        <SeatClaimScreen snapshot={snapshot} localChars={localChars} ownCharacters={myPcs} pending={seatStatus === 'pending'} onClaim={handleClaim} />
       )}
       <PlayerBoards snapshot={snapshot} images={images} {...(image ? { image } : {})} />
       <RollFeed />

src/features/player/SeatClaimScreen.tsx

@@ -10,14 +10,19 @@ import { Avatar, Badge } from '@/components/ui/Codex';
  * party. If a locally-developed copy exists, its offline edits ride along for
  * the GM to review.
  */
-export function SeatClaimScreen({ snapshot, localChars, pending, onClaim }: {
+export function SeatClaimScreen({ snapshot, localChars, ownCharacters = [], pending, onClaim }: {
   snapshot: Snapshot;
   localChars: Map<string, Character>;
+  /** the player's own local characters — they can push one the GM hasn't added yet */
+  ownCharacters?: Character[];
   pending: boolean;
   onClaim: (characterId: string) => void;
 }) {
-  if (snapshot.party.length === 0) {
+  const partyIds = new Set(snapshot.party.map((p) => p.id));
-    return <EmptyState title="No characters yet" hint="The GM hasn't added any player characters to this campaign." />;
+  const pushable = ownCharacters.filter((c) => c.kind === 'pc' && !partyIds.has(c.id));
+
+  if (snapshot.party.length === 0 && pushable.length === 0) {
+    return <EmptyState title="No characters yet" hint="The GM hasn't added any player characters — make one of your own and it'll appear here to bring to the table." />;
   }
   return (
     <section className="paper-grain mb-6 rounded-xl border border-line bg-panel p-4">
@@ -25,22 +30,45 @@ export function SeatClaimScreen({ snapshot, localChars, pending, onClaim }: {
       <h2 className="font-display text-xl font-semibold text-ink">Which character is yours?</h2>
       <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-muted">Pick your character to manage its HP, spells, and rolls live. The GM approves the request.</p>
       <hr className="gilt-rule my-3" />
-      <div className="grid gap-2 sm:grid-cols-2">
+
-        {snapshot.party.map((c) => {
+      {snapshot.party.length > 0 && (
-          const hasOffline = localChars.has(c.id);
+        <div className="grid gap-2 sm:grid-cols-2">
-          return (
+          {snapshot.party.map((c) => {
-            <div key={c.id} data-testid="seat-option" className="flex items-center gap-3 rounded-xl border border-line bg-surface-2 p-3">
+            const hasOffline = localChars.has(c.id);
-              <Avatar name={c.name} size={40} />
+            return (
-              <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+              <div key={c.id} data-testid="seat-option" className="flex items-center gap-3 rounded-xl border border-line bg-surface-2 p-3">
-                <div className="truncate font-display text-lg font-semibold text-ink">{c.name}</div>
+                <Avatar name={c.name} size={40} />
-                <div className="font-mono text-xs text-muted">Lv {c.level} · AC {c.ac} · {c.hp.current}/{c.hp.max} HP</div>
+                <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-                {hasOffline && <Badge tone="arcane" className="mt-1"><UserPlus size={11} aria-hidden /> offline edits ready</Badge>}
+                  <div className="truncate font-display text-lg font-semibold text-ink">{c.name}</div>
+                  <div className="font-mono text-xs text-muted">Lv {c.level} · AC {c.ac} · {c.hp.current}/{c.hp.max} HP</div>
+                  {hasOffline && <Badge tone="arcane" className="mt-1"><UserPlus size={11} aria-hidden /> offline edits ready</Badge>}
+                </div>
+                <Button size="sm" variant="primary" disabled={pending} onClick={() => onClaim(c.id)}>This is me</Button>
               </div>
-              <Button size="sm" variant="primary" disabled={pending} onClick={() => onClaim(c.id)}>This is me</Button>
+            );
-            </div>
+          })}
-          );
+        </div>
-        })}
+      )}
-      </div>
+
+      {pushable.length > 0 && (
+        <div className="mt-4">
+          <h3 className="smallcaps mb-1.5 text-muted">Bring your own character</h3>
+          <div className="grid gap-2 sm:grid-cols-2">
+            {pushable.map((c) => (
+              <div key={c.id} data-testid="seat-option" className="flex items-center gap-3 rounded-xl border border-line bg-surface-2 p-3">
+                <Avatar name={c.name} size={40} />
+                <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                  <div className="truncate font-display text-lg font-semibold text-ink">{c.name}</div>
+                  <div className="font-mono text-xs text-muted">Lv {c.level}{c.className ? ` · ${c.className}` : ''}</div>
+                  <Badge tone="gold" className="mt-1"><UserPlus size={11} aria-hidden /> send to the GM</Badge>
+                </div>
+                <Button size="sm" variant="secondary" disabled={pending} onClick={() => onClaim(c.id)}>Use this one</Button>
+              </div>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {pending && <p className="mt-3 text-sm text-accent">Waiting for the GM to approve…</p>}
     </section>
   );

src/lib/db/repositories.ts

@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@ export const charactersRepo = {
     return db.characters.where('campaignId').equals(campaignId).toArray();
   },
 
+  /** All player characters across every campaign (PCs are campaign-agnostic). */
+  listAllPcs(): Promise<Character[]> {
+    return db.characters.where('kind').equals('pc').toArray();
+  },
+
   get(id: string): Promise<Character | undefined> {
     return db.characters.get(id);
   },