diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a3b4c85..3c1e62e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 All notable changes to **History** are listed here, newest first.
 
+## v0.31.0 — 2026-10-15 10:22
+- **#52: dynamic scenario generation — the "Create scenario" path.** An additive second way to start a game alongside the 5 static presets: the user picks one of **3 light era templates** (`ww2` 1939, `present` 2026, `near-future` 2035) and writes a free-text **description** (plus an editable start year), and the LLM **generates** a draft world + an advisor **checkpoint list** (step 1). The player reviews the checkpoints (approve/remove) and picks a nation to lead, and a second LLM call **finalizes** the world — constrained to the *approved* checkpoints — into a saved, playable `GameState` (step 2): a normal game at `#/game/<id>` that plays with the existing turn engine, map, and panels untouched. The 5 static presets and the turn stub (`server/stub.ts`) are 100% unchanged; a new deterministic **scenario stub** (a distinct transport discriminating the two calls by marker) makes the whole path reproducible under `LLM_STUB=1`.
+  - **Era templates (`presets/templates/`).** Three small JSON seeds + an `index.json` manifest — each `{ id, name, year, eraDescription, suggestedPowers: [{ name, region (ISO_A3), note }], tensions: [] }` (e.g. near-future suggests a North American Union/USA, a Chinese Federation/CHN, a European Confederation/FRA, a Russian Union/RUS, with tensions like "autonomous weapons and the new arms race"). `server/templates.ts` is a tiny store mirroring `createPresetStore` (manifest + per-file load; a missing/broken file degrades to absent).
+  - **Shared contract (`shared/scenario.ts`, dependency-free).** `EraTemplate` / `TemplateMeta` / `SuggestedPower`; `WorldDraft = { nations: WorldNation[]; events? }` where `WorldNation.territory` holds **ISO_A3 country codes** (not region keys) and `relations` are numeric sentiments (−100..100); `Checkpoint = string`; the four message shapes (`ScenarioDraftRequest/Response`, `ScenarioCommitRequest/Response`). Pure transforms: `validateWorldDraft(raw, { validCountryCodes })` — defensive parse/clamp/normalize that never throws (name-required, id kept-or-slug fallback, duplicate ids suffixed, territory upper-cased/deduped and filtered to known ISO_A3 codes when a valid set is given, relations re-keyed to assigned ids via id or case-insensitive name match with self/unknown refs dropped, optional backstory events kept only when they name a known nation; returns `null` when the result is unusable — no nations, or no valid territory to render); `relationFromScore` (≥60 ally · 0..59 neutral · −40..−1 rival · −80..−41 hostile · ≤−81 war); `worldDraftToGameState(draft, expand, playerNationId, opts)` — expands ISO_A3 territory to region keys via the injected `expand` (`expandCountriesToKeys` in production), seeds `regionStats` (so each owned region starts with its owner's stats and the derived aggregate equals them on turn 1), a clean turn-1 state (`version:1`, `turn:1`, empty `unowned`/`markers`/`pendingNationOps`/`pending`), `presetId: 'dynamic'`, and a guard that re-points a dangling `playerNationId` to the first nation so the game is always playable.
+  - **Scenario LLM steps (`server/scenario.ts`).** Two plain `chat()` calls (no tools, no separate advisor endpoint — the advisor is embodied in step 1's checkpoint list): `generateDraft({ template, description, year })` → `{ world, checkpoints }` (the prompt carries the era description, suggested powers, tensions, the user's description, the year, and the valid ISO_A3 reference), and `finalizeWorld({ …, approvedCheckpoints, draft, playerNationId })` → final `GameState` (re-asked to produce the final world constrained to the approved checkpoints, based on the step-1 draft the client re-sends so the chosen nation survives; falls back to the draft itself when the model returns nothing usable). Same defensive parsing as the engine (strip fences → first balanced object → `JSON.parse` → `validateWorldDraft`), one nudge-retry when the answer is unusable; a transport failure (model down) throws → HTTP 502, a bad *answer* degrades to the fallback and never crashes.
+  - **Scenario stub (`server/stubScenario.ts`).** Deterministic transport for the two scenario calls only (discriminated by `SCENARIO_GENERATE_MARKER` / `SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER` in the system message, mirroring how the turn stub keys off `ADVISOR_MARKER`): a fixed 3-nation world (Alba/FRA 70·60·65·55, Boreas/RUS 55·70·50·60, Gamma/ESP 30·45·70·40) + one backstory event ("The new order takes shape") + a fixed 3-checkpoint list; the finalize step refines the world deterministically from the approved checkpoints (each naming a nation by its 4-letter name prefix raises that nation's stability +5, clamped) — so "finalize respects the approved checkpoints" is observable end-to-end. The turn stub stays 100% unchanged.
+  - **Routes (`server/index.ts`).** `GET /api/scenarios/templates` (the 3 manifest entries), `POST /api/scenarios/draft` (`{ templateId, description, year? }` → `{ world, checkpoints }`), `POST /api/scenarios/commit` (`{ templateId, description, year?, draft?, approvedCheckpoints, playerNationId }` → `{ id }` — the finalized world is saved to SQLite with `startDate = <year>-01-01` and title = the template name). A separate `scenarioLlm` client (the scenario stub under `LLM_STUB=1`, the same live `qwen3.8-27b` client otherwise) — the turn `llm` is untouched. `POST /api/games/:id/jump` synthesizes a minimal `Preset` (`dynamicPresetFromGame`) for a saved dynamic game (`presetId: 'dynamic'` has no static file on disk — `runTurn` only consumes title/startDate/worldBackground/rules) so a created scenario plays with the normal turn engine; a genuinely-missing static preset still 404s.
+  - **Client.** New `ScenarioForm` (3 template cards, a pre-filled editable year, a description textarea, Generate → `/draft`; a 502 toasts and stays on the form) and `CheckpointReview` (the draft world as nation cards with stats, the checkpoint checklist with per-item approve/remove, a pick-a-nation-to-lead step, Finalize → `/commit` → navigates to `#/game/<id>`; a 502 toasts and stays on review). `PresetPicker` gains a "Create scenario" card, and `App.tsx` wires the `home → form → review → navigate` flow (a distinct `scenarioBusy` flag that never gates "Jump forward" or the turn flow).
+  - **Tests.** Unit: the template store (manifest + all 3 files' shape); `validateWorldDraft` / `relationFromScore` / `worldDraftToGameState` (valid → clean, stat/score clamping, bad country codes dropped, garbage → null without throwing, id dedup, territory expansion, `regionStats` seeding, player fallback, turn-1 invariants); `generateDraft` / `finalizeWorld` against the scenario stub (deterministic output, finalize respecting the approved checkpoints, a saved playable game). E2E: a new `e2e/scenario.spec.ts` (2 tests — the templates manifest over the API, and the full deterministic flow under `LLM_STUB=1`: near-future (2035) + description → draft → remove one checkpoint → lead Boreas → finalize (checkpoints shift stats) → a playable game at the `#/game/<id>` deep link with turn 1, correct date, dossier stats, map legend, and the backstory event; plus an empty jump proving the dynamic game runs the normal turn loop). The existing `e2e/sim.spec.ts` is unchanged. Totals: **307 unit tests (14 files)**, **16 e2e tests (2 scenario + 14 sim)**; typecheck, lint, and build green.
+
 ## v0.30.0 — 2026-10-15 08:22
 - **#50: make the four 0–100 stats consequential — a hard military conquest gate, soft stability takeovers, and economy growth/decay.** The four stats now actually drive outcomes instead of being decorative. **Military is a hard gate:** a contested invasion (a region's sole owner changing hands) is repelled whenever the attacker's military is **more than `CONQUEST_MILITARY_MARGIN = 15`** below the defender's — equal or within 15 still wins. The engine enforces this in `applyTurnResult` and emits a new `repelled` event when it fires; **re-claims of unowned (no man's land) regions are not gated** (there is no defender). **Stability is a soft lever:** the system prompt documents that a nation whose stability is below 30 *and* that hosts a `gathering` marker can suffer a **non-military takeover** (coup / revolution / faction seizure) — narrated by the LLM with a political/social success event, a gathering marker, and a downward stability/economy shock. **Economy is a soft lever:** a strong (rising) economy trends the other stats up (growth) and a collapsing economy drags them down (decay), reflected via `stateChanges` / `regionChanges`. A **frontier military-balance hint** and a **takeover-risks** hint are emitted in the user payload (each only when present) so the model — and the player, via the same data — sees the levers before acting. The stub stays 100% deterministic and untouched; e2e is unaffected (the UK/wwii-1939 e2e has an empty frontier, so the gate is vacuous there).
   - **Protocol (`shared/protocol.ts`).** New `CONQUEST_MILITARY_MARGIN = 15` and a pure `canConquer(attackerMil, defenderMil, margin = CONQUEST_MILITARY_MARGIN)` — `!(attackerMil < defenderMil - margin)` (proceeds unless the attacker is strictly more than the margin below the defender).
diff --git a/e2e/scenario.spec.ts b/e2e/scenario.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5d726b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/scenario.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from '@playwright/test';
+
+/**
+ * Dynamic scenario generation — end to end (v0.31, #52). Fully deterministic
+ * under the SCENARIO stub (the Playwright webServer boots with LLM_STUB=1, so
+ * the two generation calls ride the deterministic transport in
+ * server/stubScenario.ts — the turn stub in server/stub.ts is untouched).
+ *
+ * The stub returns a FIXED 3-nation world and a FIXED 3-checkpoint list for
+ * the generate step, and — on the finalize step — refines that world in a
+ * deterministic way that depends on which checkpoints the player approved
+ * (each approved checkpoint naming one of the fixed nations, by its first 4
+ * letters, raises that nation's stability by 5). So the whole two-step
+ * "Create scenario" path plus the resulting game is reproducible:
+ *
+ *   home → "Create scenario" → pick the Near Future era (2035) + a description
+ *   → generate (draft: alba/boreas/gamma + 3 checkpoints) → review (remove the
+ *   3rd checkpoint, keep the first two) → lead Boreas → finalize → a saved,
+ *   playable game (turn 1, date 2035-01-01, player Boreas) → one empty jump
+ *   (turn 2, date 2035-01-03, Boreas military 55→60, allied with Alba, and no
+ *   territory change — Russia shares no land border with France or Spain).
+ *
+ * The e2e webServer shares one SQLite (data/e2e) across tests, so the test
+ * captures the *specific* id of the game it creates (from the POST
+ * /api/scenarios/commit response) rather than assuming "the only game".
+ */
+
+/** The saved-game shape the assertions read back from GET /api/games/<id>. */
+interface SavedGame {
+  id: string;
+  presetId: string;
+  presetTitle: string;
+  playerNationId: string;
+  turn: number;
+  date: string;
+  version: number;
+  pending: unknown[];
+  unowned: string[];
+  pendingNationOps: unknown[];
+  markers: unknown[];
+  events: Array<{ type: string; outcome: string; title: string }>;
+  nations: Record<
+    string,
+    {
+      name: string;
+      stats: { military: number; economy: number; stability: number; population: number };
+      territory: string[];
+      relations: Record<string, string>;
+    }
+  >;
+  regionStats: Record<
+    string,
+    { military: number; economy: number; stability: number; population: number }
+  >;
+}
+
+/** Poll until `location.hash` equals `expected` (hash writes happen in effects). */
+async function waitHash(page: Page, expected: string): Promise<void> {
+  await page.waitForFunction(
+    (exp) => window.location.hash === exp,
+    expected,
+    { timeout: 15000 },
+  );
+}
+
+/** Open the "Create scenario" form from the home screen. */
+async function openScenarioForm(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+  await page.goto('/');
+  // Home: the create-scenario card is additive (first in the grid); the five
+  // static presets are still all present alongside it.
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('create-scenario-card')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 });
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('preset-card')).toHaveCount(5);
+  await page.getByTestId('create-scenario').click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-form')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 });
+}
+
+test.describe('History — dynamic scenario generation (LLM_STUB=1)', () => {
+  test('the era template manifest renders three light templates', async ({ page }) => {
+    test.setTimeout(60000);
+    await openScenarioForm(page);
+
+    // Exactly three era-template cards, each carrying its id and default year.
+    const cards = page.getByTestId('template-card');
+    await expect(cards).toHaveCount(3, { timeout: 15000 });
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-template-id="ww2"]')).toContainText('1939');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-template-id="present"]')).toContainText('2026');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-template-id="near-future"]')).toContainText('2035');
+  });
+
+  test('full create → review → finalize → play flow is deterministic', async ({ page }) => {
+    test.setTimeout(120000);
+    await openScenarioForm(page);
+
+    // --- 1 · Pick the Near Future era (its default year pre-fills the field).
+    const nf = page.locator('[data-template-id="near-future"]');
+    await nf.click();
+    await expect(nf).toHaveAttribute('data-selected', 'true');
+    // The year field is pre-filled from the era (editable, a real value).
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-year')).toHaveValue('2035');
+
+    // --- 2 · Describe the world.
+    const description =
+      'A cold space race decides the new cold war: two orbital blocs hold the arctic shipping lanes at knife-edge.';
+    await page.getByTestId('scenario-description').fill(description);
+
+    // --- Step 1 · Generate the draft world + the advisor's checkpoint list.
+    const generate = page.getByTestId('generate-scenario');
+    await expect(generate).toBeEnabled();
+    const [draftResp] = await Promise.all([
+      page.waitForResponse(
+        (r) => r.request().method() === 'POST' && new URL(r.url()).pathname === '/api/scenarios/draft',
+      ),
+      generate.click(),
+    ]);
+    expect(draftResp.status()).toBe(200);
+    const draft = (await draftResp.json()) as {
+      world: {
+        nations: Array<{ id: string; name: string; territory: string[] }>;
+      };
+      checkpoints: string[];
+    };
+    // The stub's fixed 3-nation world (FRA / RUS / ESP) and 3 checkpoints.
+    expect(draft.world.nations.map((n) => n.id).sort()).toEqual(['alba', 'boreas', 'gamma']);
+    expect(draft.world.nations.find((n) => n.id === 'boreas')?.territory).toEqual(['RUS']);
+    expect(draft.checkpoints).toHaveLength(3);
+
+    // --- Review screen: the generated world + the checkpoint checklist.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-review')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 });
+    // Header shows the era's name + year and the description.
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Near Future' })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-review')).toContainText('2035');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-review')).toContainText(description);
+    // The three draft nations (with their ISO_A3 territory) and the backstory.
+    // Scope to the draft-nation cards (the nation-pick cards share the
+    // data-nation-id attribute but carry a different testid).
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('draft-nation')).toHaveCount(3);
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-testid="draft-nation"][data-nation-id="alba"]')).toContainText('FRA');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-testid="draft-nation"][data-nation-id="boreas"]')).toContainText('RUS');
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-testid="draft-nation"][data-nation-id="gamma"]')).toContainText('ESP');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('draft-event')).toHaveCount(1);
+    // Three checkpoints, all approved by default, in the stub's fixed order.
+    const cps = page.getByTestId('checkpoint-item');
+    await expect(cps).toHaveCount(3);
+    await expect(cps.nth(0)).toHaveAttribute('data-approved', 'true');
+    await expect(cps.nth(1)).toHaveAttribute('data-approved', 'true');
+    await expect(cps.nth(2)).toHaveAttribute('data-approved', 'true');
+    await expect(cps.nth(0)).toContainText('Alba dominates');
+    await expect(cps.nth(1)).toContainText('Boreas fortifies');
+    await expect(cps.nth(2)).toContainText('Gamma brokers');
+    // Three nation-pick cards; finalize is disabled until a nation is chosen.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-nation-card')).toHaveCount(3);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('finalize-scenario')).toBeDisabled();
+
+    // --- Review: remove checkpoint 3, keep 1 + 2.
+    await cps.nth(2).getByTestId('checkpoint-toggle').click();
+    await expect(cps.nth(2)).toHaveAttribute('data-approved', 'false');
+    await expect(cps.nth(0)).toHaveAttribute('data-approved', 'true');
+    await expect(cps.nth(1)).toHaveAttribute('data-approved', 'true');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('scenario-review')).toContainText('2 of 3 approved');
+
+    // --- Review: choose Boreas (Russia) to lead.
+    const boreasCard = page.locator('[data-testid="scenario-nation-card"][data-nation-id="boreas"]');
+    await boreasCard.getByTestId('scenario-lead-nation').click();
+    await expect(boreasCard).toHaveAttribute('data-selected', 'true');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('finalize-scenario')).toBeEnabled();
+
+    // --- Step 2 · Finalize: commit the approved draft into a saved game.
+    const [commitResp] = await Promise.all([
+      page.waitForResponse(
+        (r) => r.request().method() === 'POST' && new URL(r.url()).pathname === '/api/scenarios/commit',
+      ),
+      page.getByTestId('finalize-scenario').click(),
+    ]);
+    expect(commitResp.status()).toBe(200);
+    const { id } = (await commitResp.json()) as { id: string };
+    expect(id).toBeTruthy();
+
+    // --- The new game mounts at turn 1, leading Boreas, dated 2035-01-01.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('world-map')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20000 });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('turn-count')).toHaveText('1');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('game-date')).toHaveText('2035-01-01');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('player-nation')).toHaveText('Boreas');
+    // The scenario title (the era name) is shown in the top bar.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('top-bar')).toContainText('Near Future');
+    // Boreas's stats: the finalized world (its approved checkpoint raised
+    // stability 50→55); per-region stats are seeded to equal the derived.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('stat-military')).toHaveText('55');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('stat-economy')).toHaveText('70');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('stat-stability')).toHaveText('55');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('stat-population')).toHaveText('60');
+    // One backstory event; three nations on the legend.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('event-item')).toHaveCount(1);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('map-legend-item')).toHaveCount(3, { timeout: 15000 });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('map-legend-item').filter({ hasText: 'Boreas' })).toBeVisible();
+    // The deep link lands on this exact game.
+    await waitHash(page, `#/game/${id}`);
+
+    // --- One empty jump: the world advances on its own (the turn stub).
+    // The button sits at the bottom of a scrollable window body and may be
+    // outside the viewport; a native DOM click bypasses the viewport check.
+    await page.getByTestId('jump-forward').evaluate((el) => (el as HTMLElement).click());
+
+    // Turn 2, date +2 days, Boreas military 55→60.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('turn-count')).toHaveText('2', { timeout: 20000 });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('stat-military')).toHaveText('60', { timeout: 20000 });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('game-date')).toHaveText('2035-01-03', { timeout: 20000 });
+    // Two events now (the empty-round "world moves on" on top, then the
+    // backstory); both political/neutral.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('event-item')).toHaveCount(2);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('event-item').first()).toContainText('The world moves on');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('event-item').first().getByTestId('event-type')).toHaveText('political');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('event-item').first().getByTestId('event-outcome')).toHaveText('neutral');
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('event-item').nth(1)).toContainText('The new order takes shape');
+    // No territory change: Russia shares no land border with France or Spain,
+    // so the frontier is empty and no conquest is emitted.
+    await expect(page.getByTestId('map-legend-item')).toHaveCount(3, { timeout: 15000 });
+
+    // --- The saved game is a coherent dynamic GameState on the server.
+    const saved = await page.evaluate(async (gid) => {
+      const r = await fetch(`/api/games/${gid}`);
+      return { status: r.status, body: (await r.json()) as { game: SavedGame } };
+    }, id);
+    expect(saved.status).toBe(200);
+    const g = saved.body.game;
+    expect(g.presetId).toBe('dynamic');
+    expect(g.presetTitle).toBe('Near Future');
+    expect(g.playerNationId).toBe('boreas');
+    expect(g.turn).toBe(2);
+    expect(g.date).toBe('2035-01-03');
+    expect(g.version).toBe(2); // created at 1, bumped to 2 by the jump
+    expect(g.pending).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.unowned).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.pendingNationOps).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.markers).toEqual([]);
+    expect(g.events).toHaveLength(2);
+    // Boreas after the jump: military bumped to 60, the rest untouched.
+    expect(g.nations.boreas.stats).toEqual({
+      military: 60,
+      economy: 70,
+      stability: 55,
+      population: 60,
+    });
+    // The stub allies the player with the first other nation (Alba).
+    expect(g.nations.boreas.relations.alba).toBe('ally');
+    // Every owned region key carries a seeded per-region stats entry.
+    const allKeys = new Set<string>();
+    for (const n of Object.values(g.nations)) for (const k of n.territory) allKeys.add(k);
+    expect(allKeys.size).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    for (const k of allKeys) {
+      expect(g.regionStats[k]).toBeDefined();
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e3445fe..57046a5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "history",
-  "version": "0.30.0",
+  "version": "0.31.0",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "description": "AI-driven alternate-history simulator — the LLM is the world engine (Pax Historia style).",
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/index.ts b/server/index.ts
index bda31c9..c755721 100644
--- a/server/index.ts
+++ b/server/index.ts
@@ -17,13 +17,17 @@ import type {
   RejectNationOpRequest,
   RemoveQueueItemRequest,
 } from '../shared/protocol';
-import type { GameState } from '../shared/types';
+import type { GameState, Preset } from '../shared/types';
+import type { WorldDraft } from '../shared/scenario';
 import { createLlmClient } from './llm';
 import { makeStubLlmClient } from './stub';
+import { makeScenarioStubLlmClient } from './stubScenario';
+import { finalizeWorld, generateDraft } from './scenario';
 import { askAdvisor, confirmNationOp, queueRoundItem, rejectNationOp, removeRoundItem, resolveRegionKey, runTurn } from './engine';
 import { buildRegionMap } from './map';
-import { allTerritoryKeys, centroidOf, expandCountriesToKeys, geoOf, hasAdjacency, hasCentroids, hasGeo, loadRegions, neighboursOf, referenceForKeys, regionName, validKeys } from './regions';
+import { allTerritoryKeys, centroidOf, expandCountriesToKeys, geoOf, hasAdjacency, hasCentroids, hasGeo, loadRegions, neighboursOf, referenceForKeys, regionName, validCountryCodes, validKeys } from './regions';
 import { createPresetStore } from './presets';
+import { createTemplateStore } from './templates';
 import { openDb, type Db } from './db';
 
 const here = fileURLToPath(new URL('.', import.meta.url));
@@ -52,6 +56,8 @@ const dataDir = process.env.DATA_DIR ?? path.join(root, 'data');
 // the e2e config, so honor it as a fallback to keep all three in agreement.
 const PORT = parseInt(process.env.PORT ?? process.env.HISTORY_API_PORT ?? '4321', 10);
 const presetStore = createPresetStore(presetsDir);
+// (v0.31, #52) Era templates for the "Create scenario" path (presets/templates/).
+const templateStore = createTemplateStore(path.join(root, 'presets', 'templates'));
 // Load the region-key manifest + geo once at boot (v0.19 #16 P1). A missing file
 // just means region expansion/reference degrade to the raw keys (server still boots).
 loadRegions(root);
@@ -59,6 +65,10 @@ const db: Db = openDb(path.join(dataDir, 'history.db'));
 // LLM_STUB=1 → deterministic stub (tests/e2e/dev without a live model).
 const useStub = process.env.LLM_STUB === '1';
 const llm = useStub ? makeStubLlmClient() : createLlmClient();
+// (v0.31, #52) The scenario-generation LLM client: the deterministic scenario
+// stub under LLM_STUB=1 (a distinct transport from the turn stub, which stays
+// untouched), and the live client otherwise.
+const scenarioLlm = useStub ? makeScenarioStubLlmClient() : llm;
 
 const app = express();
 app.use(express.json());
@@ -95,6 +105,34 @@ function broadcast(id: string, event: string, data: unknown): void {
 
 // --- Routes ---
 
+/**
+ * (v0.31, #52) Synthesize the minimal `Preset` the turn engine needs for a
+ * dynamically generated game (`presetId: 'dynamic'` — there is no static preset
+ * file on disk). `runTurn` only consumes `title` / `startDate` /
+ * `worldBackground` / `simulationRules` (never `preset.nations`), so a generic
+ * alternate-history background plus the standard rules is sufficient; `nations`
+ * is carried from the saved world so the type is complete. `startDate` uses the
+ * game's current date (GameState stores no separate start date) — it only feeds
+ * the static "WORLD: <title> — <date>" header of the system prompt.
+ */
+function dynamicPresetFromGame(game: GameState): Preset {
+  return {
+    id: game.presetId,
+    title: game.presetTitle,
+    startDate: game.date,
+    summary: game.presetTitle,
+    worldBackground: `${game.presetTitle} is a dynamically generated alternate-history world. Keep every nation's stats, borders and relations internally consistent as the world evolves.`,
+    simulationRules: [
+      "Advance the shared world for ALL nations, not only the player's.",
+      'Keep every stat value between 0 and 100.',
+      'Only change borders when war or a decisive political shift justifies it.',
+      'Prefer 1-4 events per turn; keep each narrative to 1-3 sentences.',
+      'Use only nation ids and region keys that exist in the provided state.',
+    ],
+    nations: Object.values(game.nations),
+  };
+}
+
 app.get('/api/health', (_req, res) => {
   res.json({ ok: true, stub: useStub, port: PORT });
 });
@@ -278,8 +316,14 @@ app.post('/api/games/:id/jump', async (req, res) => {
   const id = req.params.id;
   const game = db.load(id);
   if (!game) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'game not found' });
-  const preset = presetStore.get(game.presetId);
-  if (!preset) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'preset_missing' });
+  let preset = presetStore.get(game.presetId);
+  if (!preset) {
+    // (v0.31, #52) A dynamically generated game has no static preset file:
+    // synthesize one from the saved world so the turn engine can run. A
+    // genuinely-missing static preset still 404s.
+    if (game.presetId !== 'dynamic') return res.status(404).json({ error: 'preset_missing' });
+    preset = dynamicPresetFromGame(game);
+  }
   try {
     const { state, result } = await runTurn({
       llm,
@@ -347,6 +391,86 @@ app.post('/api/games/:id/advisor', async (req, res) => {
   }
 });
 
+// --- Dynamic scenario generation (v0.31, #52) ---
+//
+// The additive "Create scenario" path. Step 1 (POST /draft) designs a draft
+// world + an advisor checkpoint list; the client shows both, the player
+// approves/removes checkpoints and picks a nation; step 2 (POST /commit)
+// finalizes the world (constrained to the approved checkpoints) into a saved,
+// playable game. Both steps ride the scenario LLM client (the deterministic
+// scenario stub under LLM_STUB=1, the live model otherwise). All existing
+// routes are untouched.
+
+app.get('/api/scenarios/templates', (_req, res) => {
+  res.json({ templates: templateStore.listMeta() });
+});
+
+app.post('/api/scenarios/draft', async (req, res) => {
+  const body = (req.body ?? {}) as { templateId?: string; description?: string; year?: number };
+  const template = templateStore.get(body.templateId ?? '');
+  if (!template) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'unknown template' });
+  const description = typeof body.description === 'string' ? body.description.trim() : '';
+  const year = Number.isFinite(body.year as number) ? (body.year as number) : template.year;
+  const codes = validCountryCodes();
+  try {
+    const { world, checkpoints } = await generateDraft({
+      llm: scenarioLlm,
+      template,
+      description,
+      year,
+      // No region data → no code filtering (the draft keeps whatever codes the
+      // model emitted; expansion degrades to the raw keys, like presets do).
+      validCountryCodes: codes.size > 0 ? codes : undefined,
+    });
+    if (!world) return res.status(502).json({ error: 'generate: the model returned no usable world' });
+    res.json({ world, checkpoints });
+  } catch (e) {
+    const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+    res.status(502).json({ error: `generate failed: ${msg}` });
+  }
+});
+
+app.post('/api/scenarios/commit', async (req, res) => {
+  const body = (req.body ?? {}) as {
+    templateId?: string;
+    description?: string;
+    year?: number;
+    draft?: WorldDraft;
+    approvedCheckpoints?: string[];
+    playerNationId?: string;
+  };
+  const template = templateStore.get(body.templateId ?? '');
+  if (!template) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'unknown template' });
+  const description = typeof body.description === 'string' ? body.description.trim() : '';
+  const year = Number.isFinite(body.year as number) ? (body.year as number) : template.year;
+  const approvedCheckpoints = Array.isArray(body.approvedCheckpoints)
+    ? body.approvedCheckpoints.filter((c): c is string => typeof c === 'string' && c.trim() !== '')
+    : [];
+  const playerNationId = typeof body.playerNationId === 'string' ? body.playerNationId : '';
+  const codes = validCountryCodes();
+  try {
+    const state = await finalizeWorld({
+      llm: scenarioLlm,
+      template,
+      description,
+      year,
+      approvedCheckpoints,
+      draft: body.draft,
+      playerNationId,
+      validCountryCodes: codes.size > 0 ? codes : undefined,
+      expand: (cs) => expandCountriesToKeys(cs),
+      id: randomUUID(),
+      title: template.name,
+      startDate: `${year}-01-01`,
+    });
+    db.save(state);
+    res.json({ id: state.id });
+  } catch (e) {
+    const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+    res.status(502).json({ error: `commit failed: ${msg}` });
+  }
+});
+
 // --- SSE stream ---
 app.get('/sse/:id', (req, res) => {
   const id = req.params.id;
@@ -384,4 +508,4 @@ app.listen(PORT, () => {
 });
 
 // Exported for tests (createApp is implicit via app; here we just expose handles).
-export { app, db, llm };
+export { app, db, llm, scenarioLlm, templateStore };
diff --git a/server/regions.ts b/server/regions.ts
index 4f7a800..27ec3cd 100644
--- a/server/regions.ts
+++ b/server/regions.ts
@@ -259,6 +259,18 @@ export function validKeys(): ReadonlySet<string> {
   return data ? data.validKeys : new Set<string>();
 }
 
+/**
+ * The set of ISO_A3 country codes that own at least one sub-region in the
+ * manifest (the valid `territory` codes for a world draft, v0.31 #52). These
+ * are the keys of `keysByCountry` — i.e. the distinct `properties.parent`
+ * values in regions.geo.json. Empty when no region data is loaded; callers
+ * pass it (or `undefined` to skip filtering) to `validateWorldDraft` so a
+ * draft's territory is checked against real countries.
+ */
+export function validCountryCodes(): ReadonlySet<string> {
+  return data ? new Set(Object.keys(data.keysByCountry)) : new Set<string>();
+}
+
 /**
  * True when the region-adjacency manifest loaded with at least one entry.
  * Callers (the server's jump route) use this to decide whether to hand the
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/scenario.test.ts b/server/scenario.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76507e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/scenario.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,335 @@
+// Unit tests for the dynamic scenario-generation LLM steps (v0.31, #52):
+// the prompt builders, the defensive parsers, generateDraft / finalizeWorld
+// over an injected LlmClient, and the deterministic scenario stub.
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  buildGeneratePrompt,
+  buildRegeneratePrompt,
+  finalizeWorld,
+  generateDraft,
+  parseGenerate,
+  parseRegenerate,
+  SCENARIO_GENERATE_MARKER,
+  SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER,
+} from './scenario';
+import { makeScenarioStubLlmClient, stubWorldFor } from './stubScenario';
+import type { EraTemplate, WorldDraft } from '../shared/scenario';
+import type { ChatMessage, LlmClient } from './llm';
+
+const TEMPLATE: EraTemplate = {
+  id: 'near-future',
+  name: 'Near Future',
+  year: 2035,
+  eraDescription: 'A fractured, multipolar 2035.',
+  suggestedPowers: [
+    { name: 'United States', region: 'USA', note: 'declining hegemon' },
+    { name: 'China', region: 'CHN', note: 'rising industrial power' },
+  ],
+  tensions: ['Indo-Pacific standoff', 'Climate migration'],
+};
+
+const VALID_CODES = new Set(['FRA', 'RUS', 'ESP', 'USA', 'CHN']);
+
+/** A minimal LlmClient double whose chat() returns a canned string (or calls a handler). */
+function fakeClient(canned?: string | ((messages: ChatMessage[]) => string)): LlmClient {
+  return {
+    async chat(messages) {
+      if (typeof canned === 'function') return canned(messages);
+      return canned ?? '{"world":{"nations":[]},"checkpoints":[]}';
+    },
+    async listModels() {
+      return [];
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+const GOOD_GENERATE = JSON.stringify({
+  world: {
+    nations: [
+      {
+        id: 'alba',
+        name: 'Alba',
+        type: 'major',
+        stats: { military: 70, economy: 60, stability: 65, population: 55 },
+        territory: ['FRA'],
+        relations: { boreas: -60 },
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'boreas',
+        name: 'Boreas',
+        type: 'major',
+        stats: { military: 55, economy: 70, stability: 50, population: 60 },
+        territory: ['RUS'],
+        relations: { alba: -60 },
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+  checkpoints: ['Alba presses its advantage.', 'Boreas fortifies the north.'],
+});
+
+const GOOD_REGENERATE = JSON.stringify({
+  world: {
+    nations: [
+      {
+        id: 'alba',
+        name: 'Alba',
+        type: 'major',
+        stats: { military: 70, economy: 60, stability: 70, population: 55 },
+        territory: ['FRA'],
+        relations: { boreas: -70 },
+      },
+      {
+        id: 'boreas',
+        name: 'Boreas',
+        type: 'major',
+        stats: { military: 55, economy: 70, stability: 55, population: 60 },
+        territory: ['RUS'],
+        relations: { alba: -70 },
+      },
+    ],
+  },
+});
+
+describe('buildGeneratePrompt', () => {
+  it('embeds the era, description, year and the valid country codes', () => {
+    const { system, user } = buildGeneratePrompt(TEMPLATE, 'a cold war in space', 2041, VALID_CODES);
+    expect(system).toContain(SCENARIO_GENERATE_MARKER);
+    expect(system).toContain('"checkpoints"');
+    expect(user).toContain('near-future');
+    expect(user).toContain('a cold war in space');
+    expect(user).toContain('2041');
+    expect(user).toContain('CHN');
+    expect(user).toContain('validCountryCodes');
+  });
+
+  it('omits the code list when no valid codes are supplied', () => {
+    const { system, user } = buildGeneratePrompt(TEMPLATE, 'desc', 2035, undefined);
+    expect(system).toContain('standard ISO 3166-1 alpha-3');
+    expect(user).not.toContain('validCountryCodes');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('buildRegeneratePrompt', () => {
+  it('embeds the approved checkpoints and the draft when present', () => {
+    const draft: WorldDraft = {
+      nations: [
+        {
+          id: 'alba',
+          name: 'Alba',
+          stats: { military: 70, economy: 60, stability: 65, population: 55 },
+          territory: ['FRA'],
+          relations: {},
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+    const { system, user } = buildRegeneratePrompt(
+      TEMPLATE,
+      'desc',
+      2035,
+      ['Alba presses its advantage.'],
+      VALID_CODES,
+      draft,
+    );
+    expect(system).toContain(SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER);
+    expect(user).toContain('approvedCheckpoints');
+    expect(user).toContain('Alba presses its advantage.');
+    expect(user).toContain('draft');
+    expect(user).toContain('alba');
+  });
+
+  it('omits the draft field when none is supplied', () => {
+    const { user } = buildRegeneratePrompt(TEMPLATE, 'desc', 2035, [], VALID_CODES, undefined);
+    expect(user).not.toContain('draft');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('parseGenerate / parseRegenerate (defensive)', () => {
+  it('parses a valid generate answer into a world + checkpoints', () => {
+    const { world, checkpoints } = parseGenerate(GOOD_GENERATE, VALID_CODES);
+    expect(world).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(world!.nations).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(world!.nations[0].id).toBe('alba');
+    expect(world!.nations[0].territory).toEqual(['FRA']);
+    expect(checkpoints).toEqual(['Alba presses its advantage.', 'Boreas fortifies the north.']);
+  });
+
+  it('strips code fences and drops unknown country codes', () => {
+    const raw = '```json\n' + GOOD_GENERATE + '\n```';
+    const { world } = parseGenerate(raw, new Set(['FRA'])); // RUS not in the set
+    expect(world).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(world!.nations.find((n) => n.id === 'boreas')?.territory).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('returns null world + empty checkpoints for garbage', () => {
+    const { world, checkpoints } = parseGenerate('not json at all', VALID_CODES);
+    expect(world).toBeNull();
+    expect(checkpoints).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('parses a valid regenerate answer (no checkpoints echoed)', () => {
+    const world = parseRegenerate(GOOD_REGENERATE, VALID_CODES);
+    expect(world).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(world!.nations[0].stats.stability).toBe(70);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('generateDraft (injected client)', () => {
+  it('returns a validated world + checkpoints from the model', async () => {
+    const { world, checkpoints } = await generateDraft({
+      llm: fakeClient(GOOD_GENERATE),
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'a cold war in space',
+      year: 2041,
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+    });
+    expect(world).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(world!.nations).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(checkpoints).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  it('nudges once when the first answer is unusable', async () => {
+    let call = 0;
+    const client: LlmClient = {
+      async chat() {
+        call += 1;
+        return call === 1 ? 'total garbage' : GOOD_GENERATE;
+      },
+      async listModels() {
+        return [];
+      },
+    };
+    const { world, checkpoints } = await generateDraft({
+      llm: client,
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'x',
+      year: 2035,
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+    });
+    expect(call).toBe(2);
+    expect(world).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(checkpoints).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  it('returns null world when even the nudge fails', async () => {
+    const { world } = await generateDraft({
+      llm: fakeClient('still no json'),
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'x',
+      year: 2035,
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+    });
+    expect(world).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('finalizeWorld (injected client)', () => {
+  const expand = (countries: string[]) => countries.flatMap((c) => [`${c}-a`, `${c}-b`]);
+
+  it('converts the finalized world to a playable GameState', async () => {
+    const state = await finalizeWorld({
+      llm: fakeClient(GOOD_REGENERATE),
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'x',
+      year: 2035,
+      approvedCheckpoints: ['Alba presses its advantage.'],
+      playerNationId: 'alba',
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+      expand,
+      id: 'g-1',
+      title: 'Custom World',
+      startDate: '2035-01-01',
+    });
+    expect(state.id).toBe('g-1');
+    expect(state.presetId).toBe('dynamic');
+    expect(state.playerNationId).toBe('alba');
+    expect(state.turn).toBe(1);
+    expect(state.date).toBe('2035-01-01');
+    // FRA expands to two region keys; the per-region stats are seeded.
+    expect(state.nations.alba.territory).toEqual(['FRA-a', 'FRA-b']);
+    expect(state.regionStats['FRA-a']).toEqual(state.nations.alba.stats);
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to the first nation when the model drops the player nation', async () => {
+    // The regenerated world has no 'alba' — only 'boreas'.
+    const dropped = JSON.stringify({
+      world: {
+        nations: [
+          {
+            id: 'boreas',
+            name: 'Boreas',
+            stats: { military: 55, economy: 70, stability: 55, population: 60 },
+            territory: ['RUS'],
+            relations: {},
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    const state = await finalizeWorld({
+      llm: fakeClient(dropped),
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'x',
+      year: 2035,
+      approvedCheckpoints: [],
+      playerNationId: 'alba', // not in the world
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+      expand,
+    });
+    expect(state.playerNationId).toBe('boreas');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('scenario stub (deterministic, LLM_STUB=1)', () => {
+  it('is deterministic: same input → same generate output', async () => {
+    const llm = makeScenarioStubLlmClient();
+    const a = await generateDraft({
+      llm,
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'd',
+      year: 2035,
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+    });
+    const b = await generateDraft({
+      llm,
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'completely different description',
+      year: 1999,
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+    });
+    expect(a.world).toEqual(b.world);
+    expect(a.checkpoints).toEqual(b.checkpoints);
+    expect(a.world!.nations).toHaveLength(3);
+    expect(a.checkpoints).toHaveLength(3);
+  });
+
+  it('finalize respects the approved checkpoints (deterministically)', async () => {
+    const baseline = stubWorldFor([]);
+    const withAlba = stubWorldFor(['Alba dominates the western sea lanes.']);
+    const albaBase = baseline.nations.find((n) => n.id === 'alba')?.stats.stability ?? 0;
+    const boreasBase = baseline.nations.find((n) => n.id === 'boreas')?.stats.stability ?? 0;
+    const albaWith = withAlba.nations.find((n) => n.id === 'alba')?.stats.stability ?? 0;
+    const boreasWith = withAlba.nations.find((n) => n.id === 'boreas')?.stats.stability ?? 0;
+    // Approving a checkpoint that names Alba raises Alba's stability only.
+    expect(albaWith).toBe(albaBase + 5);
+    expect(boreasWith).toBe(boreasBase);
+  });
+
+  it('finalizeWorld over the stub returns a playable game honoring approvals', async () => {
+    const llm = makeScenarioStubLlmClient();
+    const state = await finalizeWorld({
+      llm,
+      template: TEMPLATE,
+      description: 'd',
+      year: 2035,
+      approvedCheckpoints: ['Boreas fortifies its northern frontier.'],
+      playerNationId: 'boreas',
+      validCountryCodes: VALID_CODES,
+      expand: (cs) => cs.flatMap((c) => [`${c}-a`]),
+      id: 'stub-1',
+    });
+    expect(state.id).toBe('stub-1');
+    expect(state.playerNationId).toBe('boreas');
+    expect(state.nations.boreas.territory).toEqual(['RUS-a']);
+    // The approved Boreas checkpoint raised its stability by 5 (50 → 55).
+    expect(state.nations.boreas.stats.stability).toBe(55);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/scenario.ts b/server/scenario.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16f64cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/scenario.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,390 @@
+// Dynamic scenario generation — the two LLM steps (v0.31, #52).
+//
+// This is the additive "Create scenario" path. Two plain `chat()` calls (no
+// tools, no separate advisor endpoint — the advisor is embodied in step 1's
+// checkpoint list):
+//
+//   1. `generateDraft` — from an era template + a free-text description + a
+//      year, the model designs a draft {@link WorldDraft} (nations with ISO_A3
+//      territory, stats, relations, optional backstory) AND an opening
+//      checkpoint list (the advisor's briefing of the world's live tensions).
+//
+//   2. `finalizeWorld` — on commit, the model is re-asked to produce the
+//      final world, constrained to the player's APPROVED checkpoints (and,
+//      when the client re-sends the step-1 draft, based on it so the player's
+//      chosen nation survives). The result is converted to a playable
+//      {@link GameState} (region-key territory via the injected `expand`
+//      resolver, per-region stats seeded) and returned for the caller to
+//      persist — a normal game at `#/game/<id>`.
+//
+// Both steps are defensive like the rest of the engine: raw model output is
+// fence-stripped, the first balanced object is extracted, JSON.parsed, and
+// validated via the pure `validateWorldDraft` (which never throws and returns
+// `null` for unusable input). A transport-level failure (the model being down)
+// throws and is mapped to an HTTP 502 by the route; a bad *answer* degrades to
+// a null world, never a crash. The `LlmClient` is injected so unit tests and
+// the deterministic scenario stub (server/stubScenario.ts) can replace the
+// network call exactly like the turn path does.
+import type { LlmClient } from './llm';
+import { DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS } from './llm';
+import type { EraTemplate, WorldDraft } from '../shared/scenario';
+import { validateWorldDraft } from '../shared/scenario';
+import type { GameState } from '../shared/types';
+import { worldDraftToGameState } from '../shared/scenario';
+
+// --- Defensive parsing (shared with the engine's approach) --------------------
+
+/** The system-prompt markers the deterministic scenario stub keys off. */
+export const SCENARIO_GENERATE_MARKER = '<<SCENARIO_GENERATE>>';
+export const SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER = '<<SCENARIO_REGENERATE>>';
+
+/** Strip a leading/trailing ``` code fence (mirrors engine.stripFence). */
+function stripFence(text: string): string {
+  let t = text.trim();
+  const lead = t.match(/^```[a-zA-Z]*\s*\n?/);
+  if (lead) t = t.slice(lead[0].length);
+  const tail = t.match(/\n?\s*```\s*$/);
+  if (tail) t = t.slice(0, t.length - tail[0].length);
+  return t.trim();
+}
+
+/** Extract the first balanced `{ ... }` substring (string-aware). */
+function extractBalancedObject(text: string): string | null {
+  const start = text.indexOf('{');
+  if (start === -1) return null;
+  let depth = 0;
+  let inStr = false;
+  let esc = false;
+  for (let i = start; i < text.length; i++) {
+    const c = text[i];
+    if (inStr) {
+      if (esc) esc = false;
+      else if (c === '\\') esc = true;
+      else if (c === '"') inStr = false;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (c === '"') inStr = true;
+    else if (c === '{') depth++;
+    else if (c === '}' && --depth === 0) return text.slice(start, i + 1);
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+/** Parse a raw top-level JSON object, or `null` when none is recoverable. */
+function parseObject(raw: string): Record<string, unknown> | null {
+  const jsonText = extractBalancedObject(stripFence(raw));
+  if (!jsonText) return null;
+  try {
+    const obj: unknown = JSON.parse(jsonText);
+    return obj && typeof obj === 'object' && !Array.isArray(obj)
+      ? (obj as Record<string, unknown>)
+      : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+// --- Prompt building ------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * The shared nation JSON contract text, embedded in both system prompts so the
+ * model sees the exact shape it must emit. Mirrors the engine's strict "ONLY a
+ * valid JSON object" style.
+ */
+const WORLD_SHAPE = [
+  '{',
+  '  "world": {',
+  '    "nations": [',
+  '      {',
+  '        "id": "short-stable-id",',
+  '        "name": "Human readable name",',
+  '        "type": "major|minor|power|alliance|faction",',
+  '        "stats": {"military":0-100,"economy":0-100,"stability":0-100,"population":0-100},',
+  '        "territory": ["ISO_A3","ISO_A3"],',
+  '        "relations": {"<other nation id or name>": -100..100}',
+  '      }',
+  '    ],',
+  '    "events": [',
+  '      {"nation":"<id or name>","type":"<military|diplomatic|economic|political|social|disaster|scientific|cultural>","title":"short headline","text":"1-3 sentences","outcome":"<success|failure|partial|neutral>"}',
+  '    ]',
+  '  },',
+  '  "checkpoints": ["short advisor checkpoint", "..."]',
+  '}',
+].join('\n');
+
+/**
+ * The system prompt for step 1 (generate). Tells the model to design a fresh
+ * world for the era AND to emit an opening advisor checkpoint list.
+ */
+export function buildGeneratePrompt(
+  template: EraTemplate,
+  description: string,
+  year: number,
+  validCountryCodes: ReadonlySet<string> | undefined,
+): { system: string; user: string } {
+  const codes = validCountryCodes ? [...validCountryCodes].sort() : null;
+  const system = [
+    `${SCENARIO_GENERATE_MARKER} You are a world-builder for an alternate-history strategy game.`,
+    'Given an era, a starting year, and the designer\'s description, create a plausible, self-consistent world of 3 to 8 nations for that moment in (or diverged from) history.',
+    'Respond with ONLY a valid JSON object of exactly this shape. No prose, no commentary, no markdown fences, no trailing commas:',
+    WORLD_SHAPE,
+    '',
+    'RULES',
+    '- "nations": 3 to 8 nations, each with a short stable id, a human name, a type, and four 0-100 stats (military, economy, stability, population).',
+    codes
+      ? '- Each nation\'s "territory" MUST use ONLY ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country codes from this list: ' +
+        codes.join(', ') +
+        '. A nation may control several codes; together the nations should cover a plausible portion of the world.'
+      : '- Each nation\'s "territory" uses standard ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country codes (e.g. FRA, RUS, USA).',
+    '- "relations": a nation\'s sentiment toward each other nation, an integer from -100 (warring) to +100 (allied). Omit or set 0 for neutrality.',
+    '- "events" (optional): 1 to 4 short backstory events that already happened and set up the current tensions; each names one of the nations above.',
+    '- "checkpoints": 3 to 6 short strings — the advisor\'s opening briefing of the world\'s live strategic questions (the pressures, rivalries, and opportunities the player should know before leading a nation). Keep each under 20 words.',
+    '- Keep every stat value between 0 and 100. Do not invent nations outside the "nations" array.',
+  ].join('\n');
+  const user = JSON.stringify(
+    {
+      era: {
+        id: template.id,
+        name: template.name,
+        year,
+        description: template.eraDescription,
+      },
+      suggestedPowers: template.suggestedPowers,
+      tensions: template.tensions,
+      description,
+      year,
+      ...(codes ? { validCountryCodes: codes } : {}),
+    },
+    null,
+    2,
+  );
+  return { system, user };
+}
+
+/**
+ * The system prompt for step 2 (regenerate/finalize). Same world contract, but
+ * the model must now respect the player's APPROVED checkpoints (and, when a
+ * draft is supplied, stay close to it so the player's chosen nation survives).
+ */
+export function buildRegeneratePrompt(
+  template: EraTemplate,
+  description: string,
+  year: number,
+  approvedCheckpoints: string[],
+  validCountryCodes: ReadonlySet<string> | undefined,
+  draft?: WorldDraft,
+): { system: string; user: string } {
+  const codes = validCountryCodes ? [...validCountryCodes].sort() : null;
+  const system = [
+    `${SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER} You are finalizing a world for an alternate-history strategy game.`,
+    'A draft world was generated and the player has APPROVED a set of checkpoints that the final world MUST respect. Produce the final, playable world.',
+    'Respond with ONLY a valid JSON object of exactly this shape (same as the draft, but the "checkpoints" field is NOT repeated — omit it). No prose, no commentary, no markdown fences, no trailing commas:',
+    [
+      '{',
+      '  "world": {',
+      '    "nations": [',
+      '      {',
+      '        "id": "short-stable-id",',
+      '        "name": "Human readable name",',
+      '        "type": "major|minor|power|alliance|faction",',
+      '        "stats": {"military":0-100,"economy":0-100,"stability":0-100,"population":0-100},',
+      '        "territory": ["ISO_A3","ISO_A3"],',
+      '        "relations": {"<other nation id or name>": -100..100}',
+      '      }',
+      '    ],',
+      '    "events": [',
+      '      {"nation":"<id or name>","type":"<military|diplomatic|economic|political|social|disaster|scientific|cultural>","title":"short headline","text":"1-3 sentences","outcome":"<success|failure|partial|neutral>"}',
+      '    ]',
+      '  }',
+      '}',
+    ].join('\n'),
+    '',
+    'RULES',
+    '- Base the final world on the provided draft (the "draft" field of the user message) and keep the same nations — do not rename, drop, or invent nations beyond what the draft established, UNLESS an approved checkpoint demands it.',
+    '- You MUST respect EVERY approved checkpoint (the "approvedCheckpoints" field of the user message): reflect each one in the nations\' stats, borders, relations, or backstory events.',
+    codes
+      ? '- Each nation\'s "territory" MUST use ONLY ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country codes from this list: ' +
+        codes.join(', ') +
+        '.'
+      : '- Each nation\'s "territory" uses standard ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country codes (e.g. FRA, RUS, USA).',
+    '- Keep every stat value between 0 and 100.',
+  ].join('\n');
+  const user = JSON.stringify(
+    {
+      era: {
+        id: template.id,
+        name: template.name,
+        year,
+        description: template.eraDescription,
+      },
+      description,
+      year,
+      approvedCheckpoints,
+      ...(draft ? { draft } : {}),
+      ...(codes ? { validCountryCodes: codes } : {}),
+    },
+    null,
+    2,
+  );
+  return { system, user };
+}
+
+// --- Parsing the model's answers ----------------------------------------------
+
+/** Parse the step-1 (generate) answer into a validated world + checkpoint list. */
+export function parseGenerate(
+  raw: string,
+  validCountryCodes?: ReadonlySet<string>,
+): { world: WorldDraft | null; checkpoints: string[] } {
+  const obj = parseObject(raw);
+  if (!obj) return { world: null, checkpoints: [] };
+  const world = validateWorldDraft(obj.world, { validCountryCodes });
+  const checkpoints: string[] = [];
+  if (Array.isArray(obj.checkpoints)) {
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+    for (const c of obj.checkpoints) {
+      if (typeof c !== 'string') continue;
+      const t = c.trim();
+      if (t.length > 2 && !seen.has(t)) {
+        seen.add(t);
+        checkpoints.push(t);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return { world, checkpoints: checkpoints.slice(0, 12) };
+}
+
+/** Parse the step-2 (finalize) answer into a validated world (or null). */
+export function parseRegenerate(
+  raw: string,
+  validCountryCodes?: ReadonlySet<string>,
+): WorldDraft | null {
+  const obj = parseObject(raw);
+  if (!obj) return null;
+  return validateWorldDraft(obj.world, { validCountryCodes });
+}
+
+// --- Orchestration -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+export interface GenerateDraftOptions {
+  llm: LlmClient;
+  template: EraTemplate;
+  description: string;
+  year: number;
+  /** ISO_A3 codes to accept (undefined = no filtering). */
+  validCountryCodes?: ReadonlySet<string>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Step 1: ask the model to design a draft world + an advisor checkpoint list.
+ * Throws only on a transport-level failure (the model is down) — a bad answer
+ * yields `{ world: null, checkpoints: [] }` and is the caller's to surface as
+ * an error, never a crash.
+ */
+export async function generateDraft(
+  opts: GenerateDraftOptions,
+): Promise<{ world: WorldDraft | null; checkpoints: string[] }> {
+  const { llm, template, description, year, validCountryCodes } = opts;
+  const { system, user } = buildGeneratePrompt(template, description, year, validCountryCodes);
+  const nudge =
+    'Your previous output was invalid. Respond with ONLY the JSON object described above — no prose, no fences.';
+  const out = await llm.chat(
+    [{ role: 'system', content: system }, { role: 'user', content: user }],
+    { temperature: 0.7, maxTokens: DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS },
+  );
+  const parsed = parseGenerate(out, validCountryCodes);
+  if (parsed.world) return parsed;
+  // One nudge re-send with a fresh history, mirroring the engine's retry.
+  const retry = await llm.chat(
+    [
+      { role: 'system', content: system },
+      { role: 'user', content: user },
+      { role: 'assistant', content: '' },
+      { role: 'user', content: nudge },
+    ],
+    { temperature: 0.7, maxTokens: DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS },
+  );
+  return parseGenerate(retry, validCountryCodes);
+}
+
+export interface FinalizeWorldOptions {
+  llm: LlmClient;
+  template: EraTemplate;
+  description: string;
+  year: number;
+  approvedCheckpoints: string[];
+  /** The step-1 draft (re-sent by the client) — the base the final world refines. */
+  draft?: WorldDraft;
+  /** The nation id the player will lead (kept in the final world when present). */
+  playerNationId: string;
+  /** ISO_A3 codes to accept (undefined = no filtering). */
+  validCountryCodes?: ReadonlySet<string>;
+  /** Expand ISO_A3 territory to sub-region keys (injected from server/regions). */
+  expand: (countries: string[]) => string[];
+  /** The new game's id (the route sets randomUUID()). */
+  id?: string;
+  /** The scenario title (becomes presetTitle; default 'Custom World'). */
+  title?: string;
+  /** The game's start date (YYYY-MM-DD, from the chosen year). */
+  startDate?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Step 2: ask the model to produce the final world constrained to the approved
+ * checkpoints, convert it to a playable {@link GameState}, and return it for the
+ * caller to persist. Throws only on a transport-level failure; a bad answer
+ * that still yields a usable world is committed, and if the final world drops
+ * the player's chosen nation the conversion falls back to the first nation so
+ * the game is always playable.
+ */
+export async function finalizeWorld(opts: FinalizeWorldOptions): Promise<GameState> {
+  const {
+    llm,
+    template,
+    description,
+    year,
+    approvedCheckpoints,
+    draft,
+    playerNationId,
+    validCountryCodes,
+    expand,
+    id,
+    title,
+    startDate,
+  } = opts;
+  const { system, user } = buildRegeneratePrompt(
+    template,
+    description,
+    year,
+    approvedCheckpoints,
+    validCountryCodes,
+    draft,
+  );
+  const nudge =
+    'Your previous output was invalid. Respond with ONLY the JSON object described above — no prose, no fences.';
+  const out = await llm.chat(
+    [{ role: 'system', content: system }, { role: 'user', content: user }],
+    { temperature: 0.4, maxTokens: DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS },
+  );
+  let world = parseRegenerate(out, validCountryCodes);
+  if (!world) {
+    const retry = await llm.chat(
+      [
+        { role: 'system', content: system },
+        { role: 'user', content: user },
+        { role: 'assistant', content: '' },
+        { role: 'user', content: nudge },
+      ],
+      { temperature: 0.4, maxTokens: DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS },
+    );
+    world = parseRegenerate(retry, validCountryCodes);
+  }
+  if (!world) {
+    // The model could not produce a usable final world. Rather than fail the
+    // whole commit, fall back to the draft the player already approved (if any)
+    // so the commit still yields a playable game.
+    if (draft) world = draft;
+    else throw new Error('finalize: the model returned no usable world');
+  }
+  return worldDraftToGameState(world, expand, playerNationId, { id, title, startDate });
+}
diff --git a/server/stubScenario.ts b/server/stubScenario.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ff36d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/stubScenario.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+// Deterministic SCENARIO-generation stub (v0.31, #52).
+//
+// Distinct from the turn stub (server/stub.ts, which stays untouched): this one
+// answers the two scenario-generation LLM calls (see server/scenario.ts) so the
+// whole "Create scenario" path is reproducible under LLM_STUB=1 (unit tests and
+// the Playwright e2e). It speaks the OpenAI chat-completions wire shape, so it
+// plugs in as a Transport, and it discriminates the two calls by the markers
+// scenario.ts embeds in each system message (SCENARIO_GENERATE_MARKER for the
+// draft step, SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER for the finalize step) — mirroring how
+// the turn stub discriminates the advisor call via ADVISOR_MARKER.
+//
+// The stub returns a fixed 3-nation world and a fixed checkpoint list for the
+// generate step, and — for the finalize step — the same world refined in a
+// simple, deterministic way that depends on the approved checkpoints, so the
+// "finalize respects approved checkpoints" behavior is observable end to end.
+import { createLlmClient, type ChatMessage, type LlmClient, type Transport } from './llm';
+import { SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER } from './scenario';
+import type { WorldDraft } from '../shared/scenario';
+
+/** A small fixed 3-nation world (ISO_A3 territory — FRA / RUS / ESP). */
+const WORLD: WorldDraft = {
+  nations: [
+    {
+      id: 'alba',
+      name: 'Alba',
+      type: 'major',
+      stats: { military: 70, economy: 60, stability: 65, population: 55 },
+      territory: ['FRA'],
+      relations: { boreas: -60, gamma: 20 },
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'boreas',
+      name: 'Boreas',
+      type: 'major',
+      stats: { military: 55, economy: 70, stability: 50, population: 60 },
+      territory: ['RUS'],
+      relations: { alba: -60, gamma: 10 },
+    },
+    {
+      id: 'gamma',
+      name: 'Gamma',
+      type: 'minor',
+      stats: { military: 30, economy: 45, stability: 70, population: 40 },
+      territory: ['ESP'],
+      relations: { alba: 20, boreas: 10 },
+    },
+  ],
+  events: [
+    {
+      nation: 'alba',
+      type: 'political',
+      title: 'The new order takes shape',
+      text: 'The three powers settle their borders after the great realignment.',
+      outcome: 'neutral',
+    },
+  ],
+};
+
+/** The advisor's opening checkpoint list (fixed, in order). */
+const CHECKPOINTS: string[] = [
+  'Alba dominates the western sea lanes and presses its advantage.',
+  'Boreas fortifies its northern frontier against a long winter.',
+  'Gamma brokers a neutral corridor between the two rivals.',
+];
+
+/**
+ * Deterministically refine the fixed world to "respect" the approved
+ * checkpoints: each approved checkpoint that names one of the fixed nations (by
+ * the first 4 letters of the nation's name, case-insensitive) raises that
+ * nation's stability by 5 (clamped at 100). Same input → same output, and the
+ * result visibly depends on which checkpoints were approved.
+ */
+export function stubWorldFor(approved: string[]): WorldDraft {
+  const nations = WORLD.nations.map((n) => ({
+    ...n,
+    stats: { ...n.stats },
+    relations: { ...n.relations },
+  }));
+  const lower = approved.map((c) => c.toLowerCase());
+  for (const n of nations) {
+    const key = n.name.toLowerCase().slice(0, 4);
+    if (lower.some((c) => c.includes(key))) {
+      n.stats.stability = Math.min(100, n.stats.stability + 5);
+    }
+  }
+  return { nations, events: WORLD.events };
+}
+
+export function makeScenarioStubTransport(): Transport {
+  return async (_url, init) => {
+    let content: string;
+    try {
+      const req = JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? '{}')) as { messages?: ChatMessage[] };
+      const sys = req.messages?.find((m) => m.role === 'system')?.content ?? '';
+      const user = req.messages?.find((m) => m.role === 'user');
+      if (sys.includes(SCENARIO_REGENERATE_MARKER)) {
+        // Finalize step: read the approved checkpoints out of the user payload
+        // and refine the fixed world accordingly (no checkpoints field echoed).
+        const payload = JSON.parse(user?.content ?? '{}') as {
+          approvedCheckpoints?: string[];
+        };
+        content = JSON.stringify({ world: stubWorldFor(payload.approvedCheckpoints ?? []) });
+      } else {
+        // Generate step (and any unrecognized prompt): the fixed world + list.
+        content = JSON.stringify({ world: WORLD, checkpoints: CHECKPOINTS });
+      }
+    } catch {
+      content = JSON.stringify({ world: WORLD, checkpoints: CHECKPOINTS });
+    }
+    return {
+      ok: true,
+      status: 200,
+      json: async () => ({ choices: [{ message: { content } }] }),
+      text: async () => content,
+    } as unknown as Response;
+  };
+}
+
+/** A ready-made LlmClient backed by the deterministic scenario transport. */
+export function makeScenarioStubLlmClient(): LlmClient {
+  return createLlmClient({ transport: makeScenarioStubTransport() });
+}
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..f249515
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shared/scenario.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,458 @@
+// 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;
+
+// --- Client ↔ server message shapes (the two LLM steps) -----------------------
+
+/** The body of `POST /api/scenarios/draft` (step 1: design the world). */
+export interface ScenarioDraftRequest {
+  templateId: string;
+  description: string;
+  /** The chosen start year (the server falls back to the template's year). */
+  year?: number;
+}
+
+/** The response of `POST /api/scenarios/draft` — the draft world + checkpoints. */
+export interface ScenarioDraftResponse {
+  world: WorldDraft;
+  checkpoints: string[];
+}
+
+/** The body of `POST /api/scenarios/commit` (step 2: finalize + save the game). */
+export interface ScenarioCommitRequest {
+  templateId: string;
+  description: string;
+  /** The chosen start year (the server falls back to the template's year). */
+  year?: number;
+  /** The step-1 draft, re-sent so the final world stays close to it. */
+  draft?: WorldDraft;
+  /** The checkpoints the player approved (the finalize step's constraints). */
+  approvedCheckpoints: string[];
+  /** The nation id the player will lead (kept in the final world when present). */
+  playerNationId: string;
+}
+
+/** The response of `POST /api/scenarios/commit` — the saved game's id. */
+export interface ScenarioCommitResponse {
+  id: 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,
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Guard: a finalize step (or a bad model answer) might drop the nation the
+  // player chose to lead. Rather than produce a game with a dangling
+  // playerNationId, fall back to the first nation (deterministic insertion
+  // order) so the resulting game is always playable.
+  const effectivePlayer =
+    nations[playerNationId] !== undefined
+      ? playerNationId
+      : draft.nations.length > 0
+        ? draft.nations[0].id
+        : '';
+
+  // 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: effectivePlayer,
+    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;
+}
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index f779122..cab5da4 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '.
 import { cn } from './lib/utils';
 import PresetPicker from './components/PresetPicker';
 import NationSelect from './components/NationSelect';
+import ScenarioForm from './components/ScenarioForm';
+import CheckpointReview from './components/CheckpointReview';
 import WorldMap from './components/WorldMap';
 import FloatingWindow from './components/FloatingWindow';
 import MapLegend from './components/MapLegend';
@@ -26,9 +28,27 @@ import { api } from './lib/api';
 import { useSse } from './lib/sse';
 import { nationColor, type GameSummary, type RegionMap } from '@shared/protocol';
 import type { GameState, Preset, PresetMeta } from '@shared/types';
+import type { TemplateMeta, WorldDraft } from '@shared/scenario';
 
-/** Which top-level screen the app is showing. */
-type Screen = { name: 'home' } | { name: 'pick'; preset: Preset } | { name: 'game' };
+/**
+ * Which top-level screen the app is showing. The dynamic path (v0.31, #52) adds
+ * two: 'scenario-form' (era + description + year) and 'scenario-review' (the
+ * generated world + checkpoint checklist + nation pick), the latter carrying
+ * the step-1 draft + chosen template so the finalize step can re-send them.
+ */
+type Screen =
+  | { name: 'home' }
+  | { name: 'pick'; preset: Preset }
+  | { name: 'game' }
+  | { name: 'scenario-form' }
+  | {
+      name: 'scenario-review';
+      template: TemplateMeta;
+      description: string;
+      year: number;
+      world: WorldDraft;
+      checkpoints: string[];
+    };
 
 /**
  * Surface a turn failure. A 502 (live model down / timeout) gets a friendly,
@@ -181,6 +201,10 @@ export default function App() {
   // non-LLM) request. It gates only the nation-op dialog controls, never the
   // turn flow — "Jump forward" stays usable while it is in flight.
   const [opBusy, setOpBusy] = useState(false);
+  // (v0.31, #52) A scenario-generation LLM call (generate or finalize) is
+  // in flight. Distinct from `busy`/`advisorBusy` — it only gates the
+  // scenario-form/review screens (those screens never coexist with a game).
+  const [scenarioBusy, setScenarioBusy] = useState(false);
   // The id of the game the user is/was last in (mirrors localStorage) and the
   // list of saved games (newest first) shown on the home screen.
   const [activeGameId, setActiveGameId] = useState<string | null>(() => readActiveGameId());
@@ -359,6 +383,77 @@ export default function App() {
     [screen],
   );
 
+  // --- (v0.31, #52) Dynamic scenario generation: form → generate → review →
+  // finalize → game. Both LLM steps run on the server (the scenario stub under
+  // LLM_STUB=1, the live model otherwise); on failure we toast and stay on the
+  // current screen (the form's / review's local selections are preserved).
+
+  // Home screen's "Create scenario" card → the scenario form.
+  const openScenarioForm = useCallback(() => {
+    setScreen({ name: 'scenario-form' });
+  }, []);
+
+  // Step 1 (generate): design the draft world + checkpoint list. On success
+  // the app moves to the review screen (carrying the draft, template, year,
+  // and description so the finalize step can re-send them).
+  const generateScenarioDraft = useCallback(
+    async (template: TemplateMeta, description: string, year: number) => {
+      setScenarioBusy(true);
+      try {
+        const { world, checkpoints } = await api.draftScenario({
+          templateId: template.id,
+          description,
+          year,
+        });
+        setScreen({ name: 'scenario-review', template, description, year, world, checkpoints });
+      } catch (e) {
+        toastError(e);
+      } finally {
+        setScenarioBusy(false);
+      }
+    },
+    [],
+  );
+
+  // Step 2 (finalize): commit the approved draft into a saved, playable game
+  // and enter it. The step-1 draft is re-sent so the final world stays close
+  // to it (and the chosen nation survives); the new game's id is then fetched
+  // and adopted exactly like a normal created game (active-game persistence,
+  // applyState, screen → game — the URL-sync effect writes the deep link).
+  const finalizeScenario = useCallback(
+    async (
+      template: TemplateMeta,
+      description: string,
+      year: number,
+      world: WorldDraft,
+      approvedCheckpoints: string[],
+      playerNationId: string,
+    ) => {
+      setScenarioBusy(true);
+      try {
+        const { id } = await api.commitScenario({
+          templateId: template.id,
+          description,
+          year,
+          draft: world,
+          approvedCheckpoints,
+          playerNationId,
+        });
+        const { game } = await api.getGame(id);
+        persistActiveGameId(id);
+        setActiveGameId(id);
+        applyState(game);
+        setAdvisors([]);
+        setScreen({ name: 'game' });
+      } catch (e) {
+        toastError(e);
+      } finally {
+        setScenarioBusy(false);
+      }
+    },
+    [applyState],
+  );
+
   // Add an action to the pending round. Fast, non-LLM — no `busy`; the pending
   // list updates from the response and the SSE `state` event. Both are
   // version-gated via applyState, so the item can never be clobbered by a
@@ -573,6 +668,36 @@ export default function App() {
     );
   }
 
+  if (screen.name === 'scenario-form') {
+    return (
+      <>
+        <Toaster richColors position="top-right" />
+        <ScenarioForm busy={scenarioBusy} onBack={goHome} onGenerate={generateScenarioDraft} />
+      </>
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (screen.name === 'scenario-review') {
+    const { template, description, year, world, checkpoints } = screen;
+    return (
+      <>
+        <Toaster richColors position="top-right" />
+        <CheckpointReview
+          template={template}
+          description={description}
+          year={year}
+          world={world}
+          checkpoints={checkpoints}
+          busy={scenarioBusy}
+          onBack={openScenarioForm}
+          onFinalize={(approved, nationId) =>
+            void finalizeScenario(template, description, year, world, approved, nationId)
+          }
+        />
+      </>
+    );
+  }
+
   return (
     <>
       <Toaster richColors position="top-right" />
@@ -584,6 +709,7 @@ export default function App() {
         activeGameId={activeGameId}
         onResume={resumeGame}
         onDelete={runDeleteGame}
+        onCreateScenario={openScenarioForm}
       />
     </>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/CheckpointReview.tsx b/src/components/CheckpointReview.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55e3331
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/CheckpointReview.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { Check, ListChecks, Loader2, Sparkles } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Badge } from './ui/badge';
+import { Button } from './ui/button';
+import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from './ui/card';
+import StatBar from './StatBar';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { EVENT_COLORS, RELATION_COLORS } from '@/lib/colors';
+import { relationFromScore, type TemplateMeta, type WorldDraft, type WorldNation } from '@shared/scenario';
+
+interface Props {
+  /** The era template the draft was generated from (name/year for the header). */
+  template: TemplateMeta;
+  /** The free-text description the user wrote (shown as the world's context). */
+  description: string;
+  /** The effective start year (template default or the user's override). */
+  year: number;
+  /** The step-1 draft world to review and finalize. */
+  world: WorldDraft;
+  /** The advisor's proposed checkpoints (all approved by default). */
+  checkpoints: string[];
+  /** A finalize (LLM) call is in flight — disables the controls. */
+  busy?: boolean;
+  /** Back to the scenario form (a fresh attempt — the form's state resets). */
+  onBack: () => void;
+  /** Step 2: finalize with the approved checkpoints + the chosen nation to lead. */
+  onFinalize: (approvedCheckpoints: string[], playerNationId: string) => void;
+}
+
+const STAT_BARS: Array<{ key: keyof WorldNation['stats']; label: string }> = [
+  { key: 'military', label: 'Military' },
+  { key: 'economy', label: 'Economy' },
+  { key: 'stability', label: 'Stability' },
+  { key: 'population', label: 'Population' },
+];
+
+/**
+ * "Create scenario" — step 2 of the dynamic path (v0.31, #52). Shows the
+ * generated world (each nation's stats, territory country codes, and
+ * relations; plus any backstory events) and the advisor's proposed
+ * checkpoints as an approve/remove checklist (approved by default — the
+ * approved ones bind the finalize step). The player then picks which nation
+ * to lead (the nation cards mirror NationSelect's pick screen; the draft's
+ * nations are not a static Preset, so they are rendered here directly) and
+ * finalizes. On success the app navigates into the new game; on failure it
+ * toasts and stays here with the current selections intact.
+ */
+export default function CheckpointReview({
+  template,
+  description,
+  year,
+  world,
+  checkpoints,
+  busy = false,
+  onBack,
+  onFinalize,
+}: Props) {
+  // Approve/remove per checkpoint (approved by default — the advisor's list is
+  // a starting point the player prunes, not a form they fill in).
+  const [approved, setApproved] = useState<boolean[]>(() => checkpoints.map(() => true));
+  // The nation the player will lead (none until explicitly picked).
+  const [selectedId, setSelectedId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  const nameOf = (id: string) => world.nations.find((n) => n.id === id)?.name ?? id;
+  const approvedCount = approved.filter(Boolean).length;
+  const selected = selectedId ? world.nations.find((n) => n.id === selectedId) : undefined;
+
+  const toggle = (i: number) =>
+    setApproved((prev) => prev.map((v, j) => (j === i ? !v : v)));
+
+  const finalize = () => {
+    if (!selectedId) return;
+    onFinalize(
+      checkpoints.filter((_, i) => approved[i]),
+      selectedId,
+    );
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-6 py-8" data-testid="scenario-review">
+      <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onClick={onBack} className="mb-4">
+        ← Back to form
+      </Button>
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+        <h1 className="text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight">{template.name}</h1>
+        <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-sm">
+          {year}
+        </Badge>
+      </div>
+      {description && (
+        <p className="mt-2 max-w-3xl whitespace-pre-line text-sm leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+          {description}
+        </p>
+      )}
+
+      {/* --- The generated world --- */}
+      <h2 className="mb-3 mt-8 text-lg font-semibold">The generated world</h2>
+      <div className="space-y-3">
+        {world.nations.map((n) => (
+          <div
+            key={n.id}
+            className="rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card/40 p-3"
+            data-testid="draft-nation"
+            data-nation-id={n.id}
+          >
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+              <span className="font-medium">{n.name}</span>
+              <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs capitalize">
+                {n.type ?? 'major'}
+              </Badge>
+              {n.territory.length > 0 && (
+                <span className="ml-auto text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  {n.territory.join(' · ')}
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </div>
+            <div className="mt-2 grid gap-x-6 gap-y-1 sm:grid-cols-2">
+              {STAT_BARS.map(({ key, label }) => (
+                <StatBar key={key} label={label} value={n.stats[key]} />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+            {Object.keys(n.relations).length > 0 && (
+              <div className="mt-2 flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
+                {Object.entries(n.relations).map(([otherId, score]) => {
+                  const status = relationFromScore(score);
+                  return (
+                    <span
+                      key={otherId}
+                      className="rounded-full border px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-medium"
+                      style={{
+                        color: RELATION_COLORS[status],
+                        borderColor: `${RELATION_COLORS[status]}55`,
+                      }}
+                    >
+                      {nameOf(otherId)} {score > 0 ? `+${score}` : score}
+                    </span>
+                  );
+                })}
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        ))}
+
+        {(world.events ?? []).length > 0 && (
+          <div className="rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card/40 p-3">
+            <div className="mb-2 text-[11px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
+              Backstory
+            </div>
+            <ul className="space-y-2">
+              {(world.events ?? []).map((e, i) => (
+                <li key={i} className="flex items-start gap-2 text-sm" data-testid="draft-event">
+                  <span
+                    className="mt-1.5 inline-block size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full"
+                    style={{ background: EVENT_COLORS[e.type] }}
+                    aria-hidden
+                  />
+                  <span className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                    <span className="font-medium">{nameOf(e.nation)}:</span>{' '}
+                    {e.title} — {e.text}
+                  </span>
+                </li>
+              ))}
+            </ul>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* --- Advisor checkpoints (approve / remove) --- */}
+      <div className="mt-8 flex items-center gap-2">
+        <ListChecks className="size-4 text-primary" />
+        <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">Advisor checkpoints</h2>
+        <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto text-xs tabular-nums">
+          {approvedCount} of {checkpoints.length} approved
+        </Badge>
+      </div>
+      <p className="mb-3 mt-1 text-sm leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+        The advisor’s opening read of this world’s live strategic threads. Keep the ones the final
+        world should respect — removed checkpoints are dropped.
+      </p>
+      <ul className="space-y-1.5">
+        {checkpoints.map((c, i) => (
+          <li
+            key={`${i}-${c}`}
+            className={cn(
+              'flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border p-2.5 text-sm',
+              approved[i]
+                ? 'border-amber-500/30 bg-amber-500/10'
+                : 'border-border/60 bg-card/30 text-muted-foreground',
+            )}
+            data-testid="checkpoint-item"
+            data-approved={approved[i] ? 'true' : 'false'}
+          >
+            <span
+              className={cn(
+                'inline-flex size-4 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full border',
+                approved[i] ? 'border-amber-500/50 bg-amber-500/20' : 'border-border',
+              )}
+              aria-hidden
+            >
+              {approved[i] && <Check className="size-3 text-amber-400" />}
+            </span>
+            <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 leading-snug">{c}</span>
+            <Button
+              variant={approved[i] ? 'ghost' : 'secondary'}
+              size="sm"
+              onClick={() => toggle(i)}
+              disabled={busy}
+              data-testid="checkpoint-toggle"
+            >
+              {approved[i] ? 'Remove' : 'Keep'}
+            </Button>
+          </li>
+        ))}
+      </ul>
+
+      {/* --- Choose your nation (cards mirror NationSelect's pick screen) --- */}
+      <h2 className="mb-3 mt-8 text-lg font-semibold">Choose your nation</h2>
+      <div className="grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
+        {world.nations.map((n) => {
+          const isSel = n.id === selectedId;
+          return (
+            <Card
+              key={n.id}
+              className={cn(
+                'flex flex-col transition',
+                isSel ? 'ring-2 ring-primary/60' : 'hover:ring-1 hover:ring-primary/40',
+              )}
+              data-testid="scenario-nation-card"
+              data-nation-id={n.id}
+              data-selected={isSel ? 'true' : 'false'}
+            >
+              <CardHeader>
+                <CardTitle className="flex items-center gap-2 text-base">
+                  {n.name}
+                  {isSel && <Check className="size-4 shrink-0 text-primary" />}
+                </CardTitle>
+                <CardDescription>
+                  {n.type ?? 'major'} · {n.territory.length} territory unit
+                  {n.territory.length === 1 ? '' : 's'} ({n.territory.join(', ')})
+                </CardDescription>
+              </CardHeader>
+              <CardContent className="mt-auto space-y-1.5">
+                {STAT_BARS.map(({ key, label }) => (
+                  <StatBar key={key} label={label} value={n.stats[key]} />
+                ))}
+                <Button
+                  className="mt-3 w-full"
+                  variant={isSel ? 'default' : 'secondary'}
+                  onClick={() => setSelectedId(n.id)}
+                  disabled={busy}
+                  data-testid="scenario-lead-nation"
+                >
+                  {isSel ? 'Leading' : `Play as ${n.name}`}
+                </Button>
+              </CardContent>
+            </Card>
+          );
+        })}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* --- Finalize --- */}
+      <div
+        className="mt-8 flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-xl border border-primary/30 bg-primary/5 p-3"
+        data-testid="finalize-bar"
+      >
+        <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          {selected
+            ? `Finalizing as ${selected.name} with ${approvedCount} of ${checkpoints.length} checkpoints approved.`
+            : 'Pick the nation you will lead, then finalize the scenario.'}
+        </span>
+        <Button className="shrink-0" onClick={finalize} disabled={busy || !selected} data-testid="finalize-scenario">
+          {busy ? <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" /> : <Sparkles className="size-4" />}
+          {busy ? 'Finalizing…' : 'Finalize scenario'}
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/components/PresetPicker.tsx b/src/components/PresetPicker.tsx
index 24f101d..75fd844 100644
--- a/src/components/PresetPicker.tsx
+++ b/src/components/PresetPicker.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
-import { Play, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Play, Sparkles, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Badge } from './ui/badge';
 import { Button } from './ui/button';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from './ui/card';
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ interface Props {
   onResume?: (id: string) => void;
   /** Delete a saved game by id (confirmed by a dialog in this component). */
   onDelete?: (id: string) => void;
+  /**
+   * (v0.31, #52) Open the "Create scenario" path (era template + description →
+   * AI-generated world → checkpoint review → a normal game). Omitted = the
+   * create-scenario card is hidden.
+   */
+  onCreateScenario?: () => void;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -41,6 +47,7 @@ export default function PresetPicker({
   activeGameId,
   onResume,
   onDelete,
+  onCreateScenario,
 }: Props) {
   const activeGame = activeGameId ? savedGames.find((g) => g.id === activeGameId) : undefined;
   // The game awaiting a delete confirmation (null = dialog closed).
@@ -83,6 +90,51 @@ export default function PresetPicker({
       )}
 
       <div className="grid gap-5 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
+        {(
+          onCreateScenario
+            ? [
+                {
+                  // (v0.31, #52) The dynamic path, first in the grid: it is the
+                  // "any world you can describe" card, distinct from the static presets.
+                  id: 'create',
+                  title: 'Create scenario',
+                  summary:
+                    'Design your own world — pick an era, describe it, and the AI drafts the world and the advisor’s opening checkpoints for your review before you pick a nation to lead.',
+                  badge: 'custom world',
+                },
+              ]
+            : []
+        ).map((c) => (
+          <Card
+            key={c.id}
+            className="flex flex-col border-primary/40 bg-primary/5 transition hover:ring-1 hover:ring-primary/50"
+            data-testid="create-scenario-card"
+          >
+            <CardHeader>
+              <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
+                <CardTitle className="flex items-center gap-2 text-lg">
+                  <Sparkles className="size-4 shrink-0 text-primary" />
+                  {c.title}
+                </CardTitle>
+                <Badge variant="secondary" className="shrink-0 text-xs">
+                  {c.badge}
+                </Badge>
+              </div>
+              <CardDescription className="text-sm leading-relaxed">{c.summary}</CardDescription>
+            </CardHeader>
+            <CardContent className="mt-auto">
+              <Button
+                variant="secondary"
+                className="w-full"
+                onClick={() => onCreateScenario?.()}
+                disabled={loading}
+                data-testid="create-scenario"
+              >
+                Create scenario
+              </Button>
+            </CardContent>
+          </Card>
+        ))}
         {presets.map((p) => (
           <Card
             key={p.id}
diff --git a/src/components/ScenarioForm.tsx b/src/components/ScenarioForm.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7d3699
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/ScenarioForm.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { Loader2, Sparkles } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Badge } from './ui/badge';
+import { Button } from './ui/button';
+import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from './ui/card';
+import { Input } from './ui/input';
+import { Label } from './ui/label';
+import { Textarea } from './ui/textarea';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { api } from '@/lib/api';
+import type { TemplateMeta } from '@shared/scenario';
+
+interface Props {
+  /** A generate (LLM) call is in flight — disables the form's controls. */
+  busy?: boolean;
+  onBack: () => void;
+  /**
+   * Step 1: design the draft world + checkpoint list. The form hands over the
+   * selected template's full metadata (the review screen shows its name/year)
+   * plus the description and the effective start year.
+   */
+  onGenerate: (template: TemplateMeta, description: string, year: number) => void;
+}
+
+/** The year input is an empty string ("use the template's default") or a number. */
+const YEAR_MIN = 1000;
+const YEAR_MAX = 3000;
+
+/**
+ * "Create scenario" — step 1 of the dynamic path (v0.31, #52). The user picks
+ * one of the light era templates (a card each: name, default year, blurb),
+ * writes a free-text description of the world they want, and may override the
+ * start year (the field is pre-filled from the selected template; leaving it
+ * empty keeps the template's default). "Generate world" posts the draft
+ * request; on success the app moves to the checkpoint review screen, on
+ * failure it toasts and stays here (the form's local state is preserved).
+ */
+export default function ScenarioForm({ busy = false, onBack, onGenerate }: Props) {
+  const [templates, setTemplates] = useState<TemplateMeta[]>([]);
+  const [templatesError, setTemplatesError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [selectedId, setSelectedId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [description, setDescription] = useState('');
+  // Pre-filled from the selected template's default year (the user can edit).
+  const [yearText, setYearText] = useState('');
+
+  // Load the era-template manifest on mount (the form is the only consumer).
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let alive = true;
+    api
+      .listScenarioTemplates()
+      .then((r) => alive && setTemplates(r.templates))
+      .catch((e: unknown) => alive && setTemplatesError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)));
+    return () => {
+      alive = false;
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  const selected = templates.find((t) => t.id === selectedId) ?? null;
+  const effectiveYear =
+    yearText.trim() === '' ? NaN : Number.parseInt(yearText.trim(), 10);
+  const yearValid =
+    Number.isInteger(effectiveYear) && effectiveYear >= YEAR_MIN && effectiveYear <= YEAR_MAX;
+
+  const canGenerate = !busy && selected !== null && description.trim() !== '' && yearValid;
+
+  const selectTemplate = (t: TemplateMeta) => {
+    setSelectedId(t.id);
+    // Selecting an era pre-fills the year with that era's default (the user
+    // can still edit it afterwards).
+    setYearText(String(t.year));
+  };
+
+  const generate = () => {
+    if (!canGenerate || !selected) return;
+    onGenerate(selected, description.trim(), effectiveYear);
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-6 py-8" data-testid="scenario-form">
+      <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onClick={onBack} className="mb-4">
+        ← Back to scenarios
+      </Button>
+      <h1 className="text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight">Create a scenario</h1>
+      <p className="mt-2 max-w-2xl text-sm leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+        Design your own world: pick an era, describe what should be true, and the AI will draft the
+        world and an opening set of advisor checkpoints for your review. Nothing is saved until you
+        finalize.
+      </p>
+
+      {/* 1 — the era template (a card each). */}
+      <h2 className="mb-3 mt-8 text-lg font-semibold">
+        1 · Pick an era <span className="font-normal text-muted-foreground">(required)</span>
+      </h2>
+      {templatesError ? (
+        <p className="rounded-lg border border-destructive/40 bg-destructive/10 p-3 text-sm text-destructive">
+          Could not load the era templates: {templatesError}
+        </p>
+      ) : templates.length === 0 ? (
+        <p className="rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card/40 p-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          Loading era templates…
+        </p>
+      ) : (
+        <div className="grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-3">
+          {templates.map((t) => {
+            const isSel = t.id === selectedId;
+            return (
+              <Card
+                key={t.id}
+                className={cn(
+                  'flex cursor-pointer flex-col transition',
+                  isSel ? 'ring-2 ring-primary/60' : 'hover:ring-1 hover:ring-primary/40',
+                )}
+                data-testid="template-card"
+                data-template-id={t.id}
+                data-selected={isSel ? 'true' : 'false'}
+                onClick={() => selectTemplate(t)}
+              >
+                <CardHeader>
+                  <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
+                    <CardTitle className="text-base">{t.name}</CardTitle>
+                    <Badge variant="secondary" className="shrink-0 text-xs">
+                      {t.year}
+                    </Badge>
+                  </div>
+                  <CardDescription className="text-sm leading-relaxed">
+                    {t.eraDescription}
+                  </CardDescription>
+                </CardHeader>
+                <CardContent className="mt-auto">
+                  <div
+                    className={cn(
+                      'flex items-center gap-2 text-xs',
+                      isSel ? 'font-medium text-primary' : 'text-muted-foreground',
+                    )}
+                  >
+                    <Sparkles className="size-3.5" />
+                    {isSel ? 'Selected' : 'Start from this era'}
+                  </div>
+                </CardContent>
+              </Card>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      {/* 2 — the description (+ optional year override). */}
+      <h2 className="mb-3 mt-8 text-lg font-semibold">
+        2 · Describe your world <span className="font-normal text-muted-foreground">(required)</span>
+      </h2>
+      <div className="space-y-4 rounded-lg border border-border/60 bg-card/40 p-4">
+        <Textarea
+          value={description}
+          onChange={(e) => setDescription(e.target.value)}
+          placeholder="e.g. “A cold-war world where the space race decided the Cold War — two blocs orbit, and the arctic shipping lanes are the new flashpoint.”"
+          rows={4}
+          disabled={busy}
+          data-testid="scenario-description"
+        />
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+          <Label htmlFor="scenario-year-input" className="shrink-0 text-sm">
+            Start year
+          </Label>
+          <Input
+            id="scenario-year-input"
+            type="number"
+            inputMode="numeric"
+            value={yearText}
+            onChange={(e) => setYearText(e.target.value)}
+            placeholder={selected ? `default ${selected.year}` : 'pick an era first'}
+            min={YEAR_MIN}
+            max={YEAR_MAX}
+            disabled={busy || !selected}
+            className="w-32"
+            data-testid="scenario-year"
+          />
+          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            {yearValid ? `The game begins on ${effectiveYear}-01-01.` : 'Leave empty for the era default, or use a year between 1000 and 3000.'}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Generate. */}
+      <div className="mt-8">
+        <Button className="h-11 w-full" onClick={generate} disabled={!canGenerate} data-testid="generate-scenario">
+          {busy ? <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" /> : <Sparkles className="size-4" />}
+          {busy ? 'Generating world…' : 'Generate world'}
+        </Button>
+        {busy && (
+          <p className="mt-2 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            <span className="sim-pulse inline-block size-1.5 rounded-full bg-primary" />
+            The world-builder is thinking — this can take a few seconds.
+          </p>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/api.ts b/src/lib/api.ts
index 9d6bcb0..2d87cc8 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ import type {
   RemoveQueueItemResponse,
   TurnResponse,
 } from '@shared/protocol';
+import type {
+  ScenarioCommitRequest,
+  ScenarioCommitResponse,
+  ScenarioDraftRequest,
+  ScenarioDraftResponse,
+  TemplateMeta,
+} from '@shared/scenario';
 
 async function req<T>(path: string, init?: RequestInit): Promise<T> {
   const res = await fetch(path, {
@@ -95,4 +102,24 @@ export const api = {
     req<{ regions: Record<string, { color: string; owner: string; ownerId: string }> }>(
       `/api/games/${id}/map`,
     ),
+  // --- Dynamic scenario generation (v0.31, #52) ---------------------------
+  // The additive "Create scenario" path: a two-step LLM flow (design a draft
+  // world + checkpoint list, then finalize it into a saved, playable game).
+  // The era-template manifest for the form's cards (id / name / year / blurb).
+  listScenarioTemplates: () => req<{ templates: TemplateMeta[] }>('/api/scenarios/templates'),
+  // Step 1: design a draft world + an advisor checkpoint list from an era
+  // template + a free-text description. An LLM call — can be slow; a 502
+  // means the model is down or returned nothing usable (the caller toasts).
+  draftScenario: (body: ScenarioDraftRequest) =>
+    req<ScenarioDraftResponse>('/api/scenarios/draft', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify(body),
+    }),
+  // Step 2: finalize the approved draft (constrained to the approved
+  // checkpoints) into a new, playable game and save it. Returns the id.
+  commitScenario: (body: ScenarioCommitRequest) =>
+    req<ScenarioCommitResponse>('/api/scenarios/commit', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify(body),
+    }),
 };