diff --git a/presets/templates/index.json b/presets/templates/index.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56ad988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/presets/templates/index.json
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[
+  {
+    "id": "ww2",
+    "name": "World War II",
+    "year": 1939,
+    "eraDescription": "Europe teeters on the brink of total war. Fascist powers press their advantage across the continent while the democracies marshal their strength."
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "present",
+    "name": "Present Day",
+    "year": 2026,
+    "eraDescription": "A multipolar world of blocs, sanctions, and tech supremacy. Climate strain, AI, and great-power rivalry shape every decision."
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "near-future",
+    "name": "Near Future",
+    "year": 2035,
+    "eraDescription": "Autonomous fleets, orbital assets, and climate-hamstrung coastlines. Old alliances strain under new technologies and old grievances."
+  }
+]
diff --git a/presets/templates/near-future.json b/presets/templates/near-future.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23e7492
--- /dev/null
+++ b/presets/templates/near-future.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "id": "near-future",
+  "name": "Near Future",
+  "year": 2035,
+  "eraDescription": "A near-future world: autonomous fleets, orbital assets, and climate-hamstrung coastlines. Old alliances strain under new technologies and old grievances as the great powers reach for the next horizon.",
+  "suggestedPowers": [
+    { "name": "North American Union", "region": "USA", "note": "The industrial-technological core of the West." },
+    { "name": "Chinese Federation", "region": "CHN", "note": "The integrated superpower of the Pacific." },
+    { "name": "European Confederation", "region": "FRA", "note": "The united European bloc." },
+    { "name": "Russian Union", "region": "RUS", "note": "The resource frontier state." }
+  ],
+  "tensions": [
+    "Autonomous weapons and the new arms race",
+    "Climate migration and resource wars",
+    "The contest for space and orbital dominance"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/presets/templates/present.json b/presets/templates/present.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..116fa30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/presets/templates/present.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "id": "present",
+  "name": "Present Day",
+  "year": 2026,
+  "eraDescription": "A multipolar world of blocs, sanctions, and tech supremacy. Climate strain, artificial intelligence, and great-power rivalry shape every decision the leaders of the age must make.",
+  "suggestedPowers": [
+    { "name": "United States", "region": "USA", "note": "The military-technological leader of the Western bloc." },
+    { "name": "People's Republic of China", "region": "CHN", "note": "The industrial giant pressing on the Western Pacific." },
+    { "name": "Russian Federation", "region": "RUS", "note": "A resource-rich power testing its neighbors' resolve." },
+    { "name": "European Union", "region": "FRA", "note": "A large, internally divided economic bloc." }
+  ],
+  "tensions": [
+    "US–China tech and trade rivalry",
+    "The war in Europe and the eastern flank",
+    "AI and cyber dominance"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/presets/templates/ww2.json b/presets/templates/ww2.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf085df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/presets/templates/ww2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "id": "ww2",
+  "name": "World War II",
+  "year": 1939,
+  "eraDescription": "Europe teeters on the brink of total war. Fascist powers press their advantage across the continent while the democracies marshal their strength, and the great powers watch — and arm — from across the oceans.",
+  "suggestedPowers": [
+    { "name": "German Reich", "region": "DEU", "note": "A militarized Reich at the heart of the continent, its army the most battle-hardened in Europe." },
+    { "name": "United Kingdom", "region": "GBR", "note": "An island power that commands the seas but is cut off from the continent." },
+    { "name": "Soviet Union", "region": "RUS", "note": "A vast, fragile industrial giant on the eastern frontier." },
+    { "name": "United States", "region": "USA", "note": "An industrial colossus, still politically divided over entry into the war." }
+  ],
+  "tensions": [
+    "The Axis versus the Allies",
+    "The race for continental resources and sea lanes",
+    "The uneasy balance before the bomb"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/server/scenario-shared.test.ts b/server/scenario-shared.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d88edc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/scenario-shared.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  relationFromScore,
+  validateWorldDraft,
+  worldDraftToGameState,
+  type WorldDraft,
+} from '../shared/scenario';
+import type { NationStats } from '../shared/types';
+
+// A deterministic fake ISO_A3 -> region-key expander (two sub-regions per
+// country), standing in for server/regions.expandCountriesToKeys in these
+// pure-function tests.
+const fakeExpand = (countries: string[]): string[] =>
+  countries.flatMap((c) => [`${c}-a`, `${c}-b`]);
+
+const S = (m: number, e: number, s: number, p: number): NationStats => ({
+  military: m,
+  economy: e,
+  stability: s,
+  population: p,
+});
+
+describe('relationFromScore (v0.31.0, #52)', () => {
+  it('maps the five sentiment bands to RelationStatus', () => {
+    expect(relationFromScore(100)).toBe('ally');
+    expect(relationFromScore(60)).toBe('ally');
+    expect(relationFromScore(0)).toBe('neutral');
+    expect(relationFromScore(30)).toBe('neutral');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-1)).toBe('rival');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-40)).toBe('rival');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-41)).toBe('hostile');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-80)).toBe('hostile');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-81)).toBe('war');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-100)).toBe('war');
+  });
+
+  it('clamps out-of-range scores before banding', () => {
+    expect(relationFromScore(250)).toBe('ally');
+    expect(relationFromScore(-250)).toBe('war');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('validateWorldDraft (v0.31.0, #52)', () => {
+  it('returns a clean draft from a valid payload', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        { id: 'de', name: 'German Reich', type: 'major', stats: S(95, 70, 75, 90), territory: ['DEU'], relations: { uk: 80 } },
+        { id: 'uk', name: 'United Kingdom', type: 'major', stats: S(80, 75, 60, 48), territory: ['GBR', 'IRL'], relations: { de: 80 } },
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw);
+    expect(d).not.toBeNull();
+    const draft = d as WorldDraft;
+    expect(draft.nations).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(draft.nations[0]).toMatchObject({ id: 'de', name: 'German Reich', type: 'major' });
+    expect(draft.nations[0].stats).toEqual(S(95, 70, 75, 90));
+    expect(draft.nations[0].territory).toEqual(['DEU']);
+    expect(draft.nations[0].relations).toEqual({ uk: 80 });
+    expect(draft.events).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('clamps out-of-range stat values to 0-100 and defaults missing to 50', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        { name: 'Over', stats: { military: 150, economy: -20, stability: 7 }, territory: ['DEU'] },
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw) as WorldDraft;
+    expect(d.nations[0].stats).toEqual(S(100, 0, 7, 50)); // population missing -> 50
+  });
+
+  it('upper-cases, de-dupes, and (given valid codes) filters territory to known ISO_A3', () => {
+    const codes = new Set(['DEU', 'GBR', 'FRA']);
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        {
+          name: 'Mixed',
+          // lower-case, duplicated, and one unknown code (USA) to be dropped.
+          territory: ['deu', 'DEU', 'usa', 'gbr'],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw, { validCountryCodes: codes }) as WorldDraft;
+    expect(d.nations[0].territory).toEqual(['DEU', 'GBR']);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps unknown codes when no validCountryCodes set is supplied', () => {
+    const raw = { nations: [{ name: 'X', territory: ['AAA', 'BBB'] }] };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw) as WorldDraft;
+    expect(d.nations[0].territory).toEqual(['AAA', 'BBB']);
+  });
+
+  it('resolves relation keys by id or (case-insensitive) name and drops self/unknown refs', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        { id: 'de', name: 'Germany', territory: ['DEU'], relations: { 'United Kingdom': 55, de: 99, ghost: 10 } },
+        { id: 'uk', name: 'United Kingdom', territory: ['GBR'], relations: { de: -70 } },
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw) as WorldDraft;
+    // de: the name-keyed ref resolves to uk, self (de) and unknown (ghost) dropped.
+    expect(d.nations[0].relations).toEqual({ uk: 55 });
+    // uk: the id-keyed ref to de is kept, clamped (already in range).
+    expect(d.nations[1].relations).toEqual({ de: -70 });
+  });
+
+  it('clamps relation scores to -100..100', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        { id: 'a', name: 'A', territory: ['AAA'], relations: { b: 500 } },
+        { id: 'b', name: 'B', territory: ['BBB'], relations: { a: -500 } },
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw) as WorldDraft;
+    expect(d.nations[0].relations).toEqual({ b: 100 });
+    expect(d.nations[1].relations).toEqual({ a: -100 });
+  });
+
+  it('suffices duplicate ids until unique and derives ids from names', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        { id: 'x', name: 'First', territory: ['AAA'] },
+        { id: 'x', name: 'Second', territory: ['BBB'] },
+        { name: 'United Kingdom', territory: ['GBR'] }, // no id -> slug
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw) as WorldDraft;
+    const ids = d.nations.map((n) => n.id);
+    expect(ids).toEqual(['x', 'x-2', 'united-kingdom']);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps backstory events that name a known nation and drops the rest', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      nations: [
+        { id: 'de', name: 'Germany', territory: ['DEU'] },
+        { id: 'uk', name: 'United Kingdom', territory: ['GBR'] },
+      ],
+      events: [
+        { nation: 'de', type: 'military', title: 'Remilitarization', text: 't', outcome: 'success' },
+        { nation: 'United Kingdom', type: 'political', title: 'By-elections', text: 't', outcome: 'neutral' },
+        { nation: 'ghost', type: 'political', title: 'No owner', text: 't', outcome: 'neutral' },
+        { nation: 'de', type: 'political' }, // no title -> dropped
+      ],
+    };
+    const d = validateWorldDraft(raw) as WorldDraft;
+    expect(d.events).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(d.events?.[0]).toMatchObject({ nation: 'de', type: 'military', title: 'Remilitarization', outcome: 'success' });
+    expect(d.events?.[1]).toMatchObject({ nation: 'uk', type: 'political', title: 'By-elections', outcome: 'neutral' });
+  });
+
+  it('returns null (never throws) for unusable / garbage payloads', () => {
+    expect(validateWorldDraft(null)).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateWorldDraft('nope')).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateWorldDraft([])).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateWorldDraft({})).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateWorldDraft({ nations: [] })).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateWorldDraft({ nations: [{ name: 'No territory' }] })).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateWorldDraft({ nations: [{}] })).toBeNull(); // no name
+    expect(validateWorldDraft({ nations: [42] })).toBeNull(); // not an object
+    // no nation owns a *valid* territory -> unusable.
+    expect(
+      validateWorldDraft(
+        { nations: [{ name: 'X', territory: ['ZZZ'] }] },
+        { validCountryCodes: new Set(['DEU']) },
+      ),
+    ).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('worldDraftToGameState (v0.31.0, #52)', () => {
+  function draft(): WorldDraft {
+    return {
+      nations: [
+        { id: 'de', name: 'Germany', type: 'major', stats: S(90, 70, 75, 90), territory: ['DEU'], relations: { uk: 70 } },
+        { id: 'uk', name: 'United Kingdom', type: 'major', stats: S(80, 75, 60, 48), territory: ['GBR', 'IRL'], relations: { de: -90 } },
+      ],
+      events: [{ nation: 'de', type: 'political', title: 'The new order', text: 'A fresh map is drawn.', outcome: 'neutral' }],
+    };
+  }
+
+  it('expands ISO_A3 territory to region keys and seeds per-region stats', () => {
+    const g = worldDraftToGameState(draft(), fakeExpand, 'uk', {
+      id: 'g1',
+      title: 'Custom World',
+      startDate: '1939-09-01',
+    });
+    expect(g.id).toBe('g1');
+    expect(g.presetTitle).toBe('Custom World');
+    expect(g.date).toBe('1939-09-01');
+    expect(g.turn).toBe(1);
+    expect(g.version).toBe(1);
+    expect(g.playerNationId).toBe('uk');
+    expect(g.unowned).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.markers).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.pendingNationOps).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.pending).toEqual([]);
+
+    // de owns DEU -> two region keys; uk owns GBR+IRL -> four.
+    expect(g.nations.de.territory).toEqual(['DEU-a', 'DEU-b']);
+    expect(g.nations.uk.territory).toEqual(['GBR-a', 'GBR-b', 'IRL-a', 'IRL-b']);
+
+    // Every owned region is seeded with a copy of its owner's stats.
+    expect(g.regionStats['DEU-a']).toEqual(g.nations.de.stats);
+    expect(g.regionStats['IRL-b']).toEqual(g.nations.uk.stats);
+    // No entry for unowned regions.
+    expect(g.regionStats['ZZZ-a']).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('maps numeric relations to RelationStatus', () => {
+    const g = worldDraftToGameState(draft(), fakeExpand, 'de');
+    expect(g.nations.de.relations).toEqual({ uk: 'ally' }); // 70 -> ally
+    expect(g.nations.uk.relations).toEqual({ de: 'war' }); // -90 -> war
+  });
+
+  it('seeds the event feed from backstory events at turn 1 / startDate', () => {
+    const g = worldDraftToGameState(draft(), fakeExpand, 'de', { startDate: '2035-01-01' });
+    expect(g.events).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(g.events[0]).toMatchObject({
+      turn: 1,
+      date: '2035-01-01',
+      nation: 'de',
+      type: 'political',
+      title: 'The new order',
+      outcome: 'neutral',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('uses the defaults (empty id, Custom World, 1970-01-01) when options are omitted', () => {
+    const g = worldDraftToGameState(draft(), fakeExpand, 'de');
+    expect(g.id).toBe('');
+    expect(g.presetTitle).toBe('Custom World');
+    expect(g.date).toBe('1970-01-01');
+    expect(g.presetId).toBe('dynamic');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/templates.test.ts b/server/templates.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fc68fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/templates.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { createTemplateStore } from './templates';
+
+// The project root is the parent of server/ (mirrors how server/index.ts and
+// server/regions.test.ts locate it via import.meta.url).
+const root = fileURLToPath(new URL('..', import.meta.url));
+const templatesDir = path.join(root, 'presets', 'templates');
+
+const store = createTemplateStore(templatesDir);
+
+/** A well-formed ISO_A3 country code: exactly three uppercase letters. */
+function isIsoA3(code: string): boolean {
+  return /^[A-Z]{3}$/.test(code);
+}
+
+describe('era templates store (v0.31.0, #52)', () => {
+  it('the manifest lists exactly the three era templates', () => {
+    const meta = store.listMeta();
+    expect(meta).toHaveLength(3);
+    const ids = meta.map((m) => m.id);
+    expect(ids).toEqual(['ww2', 'present', 'near-future']);
+    for (const m of meta) {
+      expect(m.id).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(m.name).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(typeof m.year).toBe('number');
+      expect(m.eraDescription).toBeTruthy();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('each template file loads and is well-formed', () => {
+    for (const m of store.listMeta()) {
+      const t = store.get(m.id);
+      expect(t, `template ${m.id} should load`).not.toBeNull();
+      const tpl = t as NonNullable<typeof t>;
+      expect(tpl.id).toBe(m.id);
+      expect(tpl.name).toBe(m.name);
+      expect(tpl.year).toBe(m.year);
+      expect(tpl.eraDescription).toBeTruthy();
+      // suggested powers: non-empty, each a named power with an ISO_A3 core region + note.
+      expect(tpl.suggestedPowers.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      for (const p of tpl.suggestedPowers) {
+        expect(p.name).toBeTruthy();
+        expect(isIsoA3(p.region)).toBe(true);
+        expect(p.note).toBeTruthy();
+      }
+      // tensions: a non-empty list of non-empty strings.
+      expect(tpl.tensions.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      for (const s of tpl.tensions) expect(typeof s).toBe('string');
+      for (const s of tpl.tensions) expect(s.trim()).not.toBe('');
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('get returns null for an unknown id', () => {
+    expect(store.get('does-not-exist')).toBeNull();
+    expect(store.get('')).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/templates.ts b/server/templates.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbe6cec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/templates.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// Load era templates for the "Create scenario" path from disk (v0.31.0, #52).
+// Mirrors the preset store (server/presets.ts): each template is a JSON file
+// (presets/templates/<id>.json) and index.json is the lightweight manifest used
+// to render the picker cards. The store is created with the resolved templates
+// directory so it works from repo root (dev) and /app (Docker) alike.
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import type { EraTemplate, TemplateMeta } from '../shared/scenario';
+
+export interface TemplateStore {
+  listMeta(): TemplateMeta[];
+  get(id: string): EraTemplate | null;
+}
+
+export function createTemplateStore(dir: string): TemplateStore {
+  const manifest = JSON.parse(readFileSync(`${dir}/index.json`, 'utf8')) as TemplateMeta[];
+  return {
+    listMeta() {
+      return manifest;
+    },
+    get(id: string) {
+      try {
+        return JSON.parse(readFileSync(`${dir}/${id}.json`, 'utf8')) as EraTemplate;
+      } catch {
+        return null;
+      }
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/shared/scenario.ts b/shared/scenario.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b20062c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/scenario.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,412 @@
+// Dynamic scenario generation — the shared (dependency-free) contract.
+//
+// This is the additive "Create scenario" path: instead of picking one of the
+// static presets, the user picks a light **era template**, writes a free-text
+// description, and lets the LLM generate a fresh world (a {@link WorldDraft})
+// plus an advisor **checkpoint** list. The player reviews the checkpoints,
+// approves/removes some, and picks a nation to lead; a second LLM call then
+// finalizes the draft into a playable {@link GameState} (a normal game).
+//
+// Everything here is pure and has no runtime dependencies beyond the other
+// shared modules: it may import types from `./types` and helpers from
+// `./protocol`, but it never imports the engine, the LLM client, or any
+// external package. The two LLM calls (`generateDraft` / `finalizeWorld`)
+// live in `server/scenario.ts`; only the *shapes* and the pure transforms
+// live here.
+
+import type {
+  EventEntry,
+  EventOutcome,
+  EventType,
+  GameState,
+  Nation,
+  NationStats,
+  NationType,
+  RelationStatus,
+} from './types';
+import { clampStat, makeEvent, seedRegionStats, type TurnEventSpec } from './protocol';
+
+// --- Era templates -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * A suggested starting power for an era template: a display `name`, an ISO_A3
+ * core `region` (the country the power is rooted in), and a short `note` the
+ * LLM is shown when it designs the world.
+ */
+export interface SuggestedPower {
+  name: string;
+  /** ISO_A3 country code the power's core territory sits in. */
+  region: string;
+  note: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A light **era template** the user can start from on the "Create scenario"
+ * path (one JSON file per template in `presets/templates/`, plus an
+ * `index.json` manifest). It is deliberately small: a name, a default `year`,
+ * a short `eraDescription`, a few `suggestedPowers`, and a few `tensions` —
+ * a seed the LLM generator expands into a full {@link WorldDraft}.
+ */
+export interface EraTemplate {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  /** Default starting year (the user may override it in the form). */
+  year: number;
+  /** A short description of the era, shown on the card and fed to the LLM. */
+  eraDescription: string;
+  /** A few suggested starting powers (name + ISO_A3 core region + a note). */
+  suggestedPowers: SuggestedPower[];
+  /** A few suggested tensions / conflicts to seed the world. */
+  tensions: string[];
+}
+
+/** The lightweight manifest entry for an era template (the picker card). */
+export interface TemplateMeta {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  year: number;
+  eraDescription: string;
+}
+
+// --- World draft -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * A single nation in a generated world **draft** (before it is committed to a
+ * playable {@link GameState}). Its `territory` holds **ISO_A3 country codes**
+ * (not region keys) — the engine expands them to sub-region keys at commit
+ * time via the injected `expand` resolver. `relations` are the LLM's
+ * numeric sentiment toward other nations (−100..100); the engine maps them to
+ * a {@link RelationStatus} on commit.
+ */
+export interface WorldNation {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  type?: NationType;
+  stats: NationStats;
+  /** ISO_A3 country codes the nation controls. */
+  territory: string[];
+  /** Bilateral sentiment: other nation id -> −100..100. */
+  relations: Record<string, number>;
+}
+
+/** An optional narrative backstory event carried by a world draft (turn 0). */
+export interface ScenarioEvent {
+  nation: string;
+  type: EventType;
+  title: string;
+  text: string;
+  outcome: EventOutcome;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A draft world the LLM generator returns before the player confirms it.
+ * `nations` is required and non-empty; `events` is optional backstory that
+ * seeds the new game's event feed on commit.
+ */
+export interface WorldDraft {
+  nations: WorldNation[];
+  events?: ScenarioEvent[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * A single **advisor checkpoint** — a short string the generator proposes for
+ * the player to approve (or remove) before the world is finalized. The
+ * approved checkpoints are handed to the finalize call as constraints.
+ */
+export type Checkpoint = string;
+
+// --- Validation + transforms (pure) ------------------------------------------
+
+/** The 8 known event types (a local copy so this module needs no runtime import). */
+const EVENT_TYPES: readonly string[] = [
+  'military',
+  'diplomatic',
+  'economic',
+  'political',
+  'social',
+  'disaster',
+  'scientific',
+  'cultural',
+];
+
+/** The 5 known nation types. */
+const NATION_TYPES: readonly string[] = ['major', 'minor', 'power', 'alliance', 'faction'];
+
+/** True when `t` is one of the eight known event types. */
+function isEventType(t: unknown): t is EventType {
+  return typeof t === 'string' && (EVENT_TYPES as string[]).includes(t);
+}
+
+/** True when `t` is one of the five known event outcomes. */
+function isEventOutcome(o: unknown): o is EventOutcome {
+  return o === 'success' || o === 'failure' || o === 'partial' || o === 'neutral';
+}
+
+/** True when `t` is one of the five known nation types. */
+function isNationType(t: unknown): t is NationType {
+  return typeof t === 'string' && (NATION_TYPES as string[]).includes(t);
+}
+
+/** Clamp a number to [lo, hi] and round (non-finite → lo). */
+function clampRange(v: number, lo: number, hi: number): number {
+  if (!Number.isFinite(v)) return lo;
+  return Math.max(lo, Math.min(hi, Math.round(v)));
+}
+
+/** Parse a raw (unknown) stats object into a clamped NationStats (missing → 50). */
+function parseStats(raw: unknown): NationStats {
+  const o =
+    raw && typeof raw === 'object' && !Array.isArray(raw)
+      ? (raw as Record<string, unknown>)
+      : {};
+  const get = (k: keyof NationStats): number => {
+    const v = o[k];
+    return typeof v === 'number' && Number.isFinite(v) ? clampStat(v) : 50;
+  };
+  return {
+    military: get('military'),
+    economy: get('economy'),
+    stability: get('stability'),
+    population: get('population'),
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * A short, stable, lowercase slug for a nation name (used as a fallback id):
+ * "United Kingdom" → "united-kingdom". Diacritics stripped, runs of
+ * non-alphanumerics collapsed to a single dash, length capped at 20.
+ */
+function slugFromName(name: string): string {
+  const s = name
+    .toLowerCase()
+    .normalize('NFKD')
+    .replace(/[\u0300-\u036f]/g, '')
+    .replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, '-')
+    .replace(/^-+|-+$/g, '');
+  if (!s) return '';
+  return s.length > 20 ? s.slice(0, 20).replace(/-+$/, '') : s;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Map a numeric sentiment score (−100..100) to a {@link RelationStatus}.
+ * Five bands: ally (≥60), neutral (0..59), rival (−40..−1), hostile (−80..−41),
+ * war (≤−81). Pure.
+ */
+export function relationFromScore(v: number): RelationStatus {
+  const c = clampRange(v, -100, 100);
+  if (c >= 60) return 'ally';
+  if (c >= 0) return 'neutral';
+  if (c >= -40) return 'rival';
+  if (c >= -80) return 'hostile';
+  return 'war';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate + normalize a raw LLM world-draft payload into a clean
+ * {@link WorldDraft} (or `null` when it is unusable). Never throws:
+ *   - the top level must be an object with a non-empty `nations` array;
+ *   - each nation needs a non-empty `name`; its `id` is kept when a valid
+ *     non-empty string, else derived from a name slug (else `n<index>`);
+ *     duplicate ids are suffixed until unique;
+ *   - each nation's `type`/stats are clamped (missing stats → 50);
+ *   - each nation's `territory` is upper-cased, deduped, and (when
+ *     `validCountryCodes` is given) filtered to only known ISO_A3 codes;
+ *   - a nation's `relations` are clamped to −100..100 and re-keyed to the
+ *     assigned ids (a key that is a known id, or a case-insensitive name
+ *     match, is kept; unknown / self references are dropped);
+ *   - optional `events` are kept when they name a known nation (by id or
+ *     name) and have a non-empty title;
+ *   - the result is `null` when there are no nations, or no nation ends up
+ *     owning a valid territory (nothing to render on the map).
+ */
+export function validateWorldDraft(
+  raw: unknown,
+  opts: { validCountryCodes?: ReadonlySet<string> } = {},
+): WorldDraft | null {
+  if (!raw || typeof raw !== 'object' || Array.isArray(raw)) return null;
+  const obj = raw as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const rawNations = Array.isArray(obj.nations) ? obj.nations : null;
+  if (!rawNations || rawNations.length === 0) return null;
+
+  const validCodes = opts.validCountryCodes;
+  const usedIds = new Set<string>();
+  const nameToId = new Map<string, string>();
+
+  interface Tmp {
+    id: string;
+    name: string;
+    type: NationType;
+    stats: NationStats;
+    territory: string[];
+    rawRelations: Record<string, number>;
+  }
+  const tmp: Tmp[] = [];
+
+  for (const rn of rawNations) {
+    if (!rn || typeof rn !== 'object') continue;
+    const o = rn as Record<string, unknown>;
+    const name = typeof o.name === 'string' ? o.name.trim() : '';
+    if (name === '') continue; // a nation needs a name
+
+    // id: keep a valid non-empty string, else derive from the name slug, else n<index>.
+    let id = typeof o.id === 'string' && o.id.trim() !== '' ? o.id.trim() : '';
+    if (id === '') id = slugFromName(name) || `n${tmp.length + 1}`;
+    let candidate = id;
+    let k = 2;
+    while (usedIds.has(candidate)) {
+      candidate = `${id}-${k}`;
+      k += 1;
+    }
+    id = candidate;
+    usedIds.add(id);
+    const lowerName = name.toLowerCase();
+    if (!nameToId.has(lowerName)) nameToId.set(lowerName, id);
+
+    const type = isNationType(o.type) ? o.type : 'major';
+    const stats = parseStats(o.stats);
+
+    // territory: upper-case, de-duped, and (optionally) filtered to known codes.
+    const territory: string[] = [];
+    if (Array.isArray(o.territory)) {
+      for (const t of o.territory) {
+        if (typeof t !== 'string') continue;
+        const code = t.trim().toUpperCase();
+        if (code === '') continue;
+        if (validCodes && !validCodes.has(code)) continue; // drop unknown country codes
+        if (!territory.includes(code)) territory.push(code);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // relations: keep only finite numeric values (clamped later on re-key).
+    const rawRelations: Record<string, number> = {};
+    if (o.relations && typeof o.relations === 'object' && !Array.isArray(o.relations)) {
+      for (const [key, v] of Object.entries(o.relations as Record<string, unknown>)) {
+        if (typeof v === 'number' && Number.isFinite(v)) rawRelations[key] = v;
+      }
+    }
+
+    tmp.push({ id, name, type, stats, territory, rawRelations });
+  }
+
+  if (tmp.length === 0) return null;
+  // Unusable when no nation owns a valid territory (there is nothing to render).
+  if (!tmp.some((t) => t.territory.length > 0)) return null;
+
+  const idSet = new Set(tmp.map((t) => t.id));
+  const nations: WorldNation[] = tmp.map((t) => {
+    const relations: Record<string, number> = {};
+    for (const [key, val] of Object.entries(t.rawRelations)) {
+      // Resolve the key: a known id, else a case-insensitive name match.
+      let target = key;
+      if (!idSet.has(target)) {
+        const mapped = nameToId.get(key.toLowerCase());
+        if (mapped) target = mapped;
+      }
+      if (target === t.id) continue; // drop self-references
+      if (!idSet.has(target)) continue; // drop references to unknown nations
+      relations[target] = clampRange(val, -100, 100);
+    }
+    return { id: t.id, name: t.name, type: t.type, stats: t.stats, territory: t.territory, relations };
+  });
+
+  // Optional backstory events (kept when they name a known nation).
+  let events: ScenarioEvent[] | undefined;
+  if (Array.isArray(obj.events)) {
+    const evs: ScenarioEvent[] = [];
+    for (const re of obj.events) {
+      if (!re || typeof re !== 'object') continue;
+      const e = re as Record<string, unknown>;
+      const title = typeof e.title === 'string' ? e.title.trim() : '';
+      if (title === '') continue;
+      const text = typeof e.text === 'string' ? e.text : '';
+      const type = isEventType(e.type) ? e.type : 'political';
+      const outcome = isEventOutcome(e.outcome) ? e.outcome : 'neutral';
+      let nation = typeof e.nation === 'string' ? e.nation : '';
+      if (nation !== '' && !idSet.has(nation)) {
+        nation = nameToId.get(nation.toLowerCase()) ?? '';
+      }
+      if (nation === '' || !idSet.has(nation)) continue; // drop events with no known owner
+      evs.push({ nation, type, title, text, outcome });
+    }
+    events = evs;
+  }
+
+  return { nations, events };
+}
+
+/** Options for {@link worldDraftToGameState} (all optional, sensible defaults). */
+export interface WorldDraftToGameOptions {
+  /** The new game's id (the server sets `randomUUID()`; default `''`). */
+  id?: string;
+  /** The scenario title (becomes `GameState.presetTitle`; default 'Custom World'). */
+  title?: string;
+  /** The game's start date (`YYYY-MM-DD`, from the chosen year; default '1970-01-01'). */
+  startDate?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Convert a validated {@link WorldDraft} into a fresh, playable {@link
+ * GameState} (a normal game at `#/game/<id>`). Mirrors `POST /api/games`
+ * exactly, except the draft's nations carry **ISO_A3** territory which is
+ * expanded to sub-region keys by the injected `expand` resolver, and
+ * `regionStats` is seeded from the expanded territories via
+ * {@link seedRegionStats} (so every owned region starts with its owner's
+ * stats and the derived aggregate equals them on turn 1).
+ *
+ * The result is a clean turn-1 state: `version: 1`, `turn: 1`, `unowned: []`,
+ * `markers: []`, `pendingNationOps: []`, `pending: []`, the given
+ * `playerNationId`, and a `startDate` from the chosen year. Backstory events
+ * (if any) seed the event feed at turn 1. Pure — no side effects, no I/O.
+ */
+export function worldDraftToGameState(
+  draft: WorldDraft,
+  expand: (countries: string[]) => string[],
+  playerNationId: string,
+  opts: WorldDraftToGameOptions = {},
+): GameState {
+  const id = opts.id ?? '';
+  const title = opts.title ?? 'Custom World';
+  const startDate = opts.startDate ?? '1970-01-01';
+
+  const nations: Record<string, Nation> = {};
+  for (const wn of draft.nations) {
+    const relations: Record<string, RelationStatus> = {};
+    for (const [otherId, score] of Object.entries(wn.relations)) {
+      if (otherId === wn.id) continue; // no self-relations
+      relations[otherId] = relationFromScore(score);
+    }
+    nations[wn.id] = {
+      id: wn.id,
+      name: wn.name,
+      type: wn.type ?? 'major',
+      stats: wn.stats,
+      territory: expand(wn.territory),
+      relations,
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Seed the event feed from the draft's optional backstory (turn 1, startDate).
+  const events: EventEntry[] = (draft.events ?? []).map((e) =>
+    makeEvent(e as unknown as TurnEventSpec, 1, startDate),
+  );
+
+  const state: GameState = {
+    id,
+    presetId: 'dynamic',
+    presetTitle: title,
+    playerNationId,
+    turn: 1,
+    date: startDate,
+    nations,
+    events,
+    pending: [],
+    version: 1,
+    unowned: [],
+    pendingNationOps: [],
+    markers: [],
+    // Seed AFTER the territories hold real region keys: each owned region gets
+    // a copy of its owner's stats, so the derived aggregate equals them.
+    regionStats: seedRegionStats(nations),
+  };
+  return state;
+}