DOS · JOY (JOY) · May 29, 2026 · May 29, 2026
diff --git a/docs/SUMMARY.md b/docs/SUMMARY.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 - [Alpha Builder Brief Index](design/152-alpha-builder-brief-index.md)
 - [Alpha Open Issue Handoff Coverage](setup/alpha-open-issue-handoff-coverage.md)
 - [Alpha Playable Loop Handoff Coverage](setup/alpha-playable-loop-handoff-coverage.md)
+- [Design Session Backlog Handoff](setup/design-session-backlog-handoff.md)
 - [Open Design Decision Backlog](design/148-open-design-decision-backlog.md)
 - [Post-Alpha and Beta Roadmap Decomposition](design/85-post-alpha-and-beta-roadmap-decomposition.md)
 
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@
 - [Agent Workspace Guardrails](setup/agent-workspace-guardrails.md)
 - [Alpha Open Issue Handoff Coverage](setup/alpha-open-issue-handoff-coverage.md)
 - [Alpha Playable Loop Handoff Coverage](setup/alpha-playable-loop-handoff-coverage.md)
+- [Design Session Backlog Handoff](setup/design-session-backlog-handoff.md)
 - [Documentation Navigation and GitBook Sync](setup/docs-navigation-and-gitbook.md)
 - [Fusion Install](setup/fusion-install.md)
 - [GitHub Project Tracking](setup/github-project-tracking.md)

diff --git a/docs/setup/agent-handoff.md b/docs/setup/agent-handoff.md
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ forbidden scope, and define verification. Use
 The main agent remains responsible for integration and must inspect subagent
 output before merging, cherry-picking, pushing, or claiming done.
 
+For design-only sessions, use
+[Design Session Backlog Handoff](design-session-backlog-handoff.md) to choose
+work that can safely update docs, evidence templates, issue routing, and GitBook
+navigation without touching Unity scenes, C# gameplay, or Nakama runtime code.
+
 ## Current manual JOY actions
 
 1. Add Unity Linux Dedicated Server Build Support for Unity `6000.5.0b8` via

diff --git a/docs/setup/design-session-backlog-handoff.md b/docs/setup/design-session-backlog-handoff.md
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# Design Session Backlog Handoff
+
+*Status: Active planning handoff*
+*Created: 2026-05-30*
+
+## Purpose
+
+This page gives design-focused agents a current next-work map. It is not the
+task queue source of truth. GitHub issues and Project #5 still own execution
+state. Use this page when a session is limited to documentation, design,
+evidence templates, configuration, backlog hygiene, or public GitBook cleanup.
+
+## Operating Rule
+
+Design sessions may strengthen source docs, evidence templates, issue routing,
+and public-safe handoff notes. They must not edit Unity scenes, prefabs,
+ProjectSettings, C# gameplay code, Nakama runtime code, or active worktree code
+unless JOY explicitly changes the lane.
+
+## Ready For Design Or Docs Work
+
+| Priority | Issue | Next Design Action | Source Of Truth | Stop Line |
+| ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
+| P1 | #287 | Fill or refine the full-route evidence pack only after runtime child evidence exists. Until then, improve blocker mapping and promotion discipline. | `docs/playtests/_templates/alpha-route-full-pass/`, `docs/design/123-alpha-full-route-evidence-pack-builder-brief.md` | Do not claim #260 ready without M0-M3 runtime evidence. |
+| P1 | #137 | Keep Gate outcome report rows mapped to server-owned state, explicit zero, denial, or honest labels. | `docs/design/64-gate-outcome-report-and-memory-flow-design.md`, `docs/playtests/_templates/gate-outcome-report/` | Do not close without Nakama outcome rows, Unity UI, and Play Mode evidence. |
+| P2 | #251 | Improve believability evidence only if it adds a missing prompt, verdict, or redaction rule. | `docs/playtests/_templates/ai-npc-believability/`, `docs/design/108-alpha-ai-npc-believability-prompt-pack.md` | Do not count fallback or copied role text as believability pass. |
+| P2 | #140 | Keep AI NPC debug evidence aligned with PromptTrace redaction and player/debug separation. | `docs/playtests/_templates/ai-npc-debug-surface/`, `docs/setup/play-mode-smoke-checklist.md` | Do not close without visible Play Mode debug surface evidence. |
+| P2 | #149 | Keep offline-agent policy/report rows mapped to server activity, ledger, policy, Garden state, or honest simulation. | `docs/design/150-alpha-offline-agent-policy-and-return-report-design.md`, `docs/playtests/_templates/offline-agent-return-report/` | Do not close without Unity UI and server evidence. |
+| P2 | #288 | Keep scoped voice-session docs tied to server-minted material, text fallback, line id parity, and Ida blendshape verification. | `docs/design/82-alpha-npc-voice-and-facial-animation-lane.md`, `docs/playtests/_templates/npc-voice-session-playback/` | Do not close on local OS speech, hardcoded clips, or unverified facial mapping. |
+| P2 | #263 | Tighten presentation experiment adoption gates only when a new experiment lane appears. | `docs/design/126-alpha-presentation-pipeline-experiment-gates.md`, `docs/playtests/_templates/presentation-pipeline-experiment/` | Do not imply broad UI Toolkit, Addressables, Animation Rigging, Web, or vendor migration. |
+| P3 | #265 | Split future roadmap only after alpha evidence gates exist. | `docs/design/85-post-alpha-and-beta-roadmap-decomposition.md`, `docs/design/148-open-design-decision-backlog.md` | Do not create implementation issues for deferred systems without evidence and decision links. |
+
+## Runtime Or Main-Dev Owned
+
+These issues can be discussed by a design session, but implementation belongs
+to main-dev, backend, or a Unity validation owner.
+
+| Issue | Runtime Owner Lane | Why Design Should Not Implement It Directly |
+| ---- | ---- | ---- |
+| #23, #24, #25 | Unity package import owner | Paid asset imports require Unity lock, console evidence, and one package per commit. |
+| #26 | Combat/backend owner | Server-authoritative combat needs C#/Fusion/Nakama validation. |
+| #30 | UI and body lifecycle owner | Reincarnation presentation must match runtime body-loss and ledger state. |
+| #134, #135 | Nakama/AI NPC owner | State of Mind and society queues require backend/runtime tests. |
+| #138, #141, #218 | Unity UI owner | Garden prep, HUD/chat, and inventory UI need UGUI/TMP runtime evidence. |
+| #139 | Dialogue UI owner | Focused portrait implementation is already represented by open PR #269. |
+| #282, #283, #284, #285, #286 | Unity route owner | M1-M5 route slices need scene placement, Play Mode screenshots, console state, and validation lock. |
+| #320 | Nakama/economy owner | Ledger expansion needs idempotency and server-authority tests. |
+
+## Current Design Session Bias
+
+When more than one docs task is available, prefer this order:
+
+1. Evidence templates that prevent false readiness claims.
+2. Builder briefs that unblock a main-dev or Unity owner.
+3. Public GitBook navigation cleanup for docs that already exist.
+4. Issue comments or tracking updates that clarify what remains open.
+5. New backlog only when a missing design contract blocks the alpha route.
+
+Avoid broad speculative lore, economy, marketplace, PvP, pet, mount, season,
+or advanced progression work until the alpha route evidence proves the core
+loop.
+
+## Handback Checklist
+
+Before ending a design-only session, report:
+
+- PRs merged.
+- Issues updated.
+- Docs and templates changed.
+- Checks run.
+- Open runtime blockers.
+- Worktrees left dirty by other lanes.