diff --git a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
index ae5042a..cdb0eda 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
@@ -9309,8 +9309,7 @@ public static class AgentHarness
                 int rows = LifeSagaRail.LastHoverRowCount;
                 float height = LifeSagaRail.LastHoverHeight;
                 pass = LifeSagaViewController.EffectiveTab == LifeSagaViewController.Tab.Saga
-                       && height >= LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMin - 0.5f
-                       && height <= LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMax + 0.5f;
+                       && Mathf.Abs(height - LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightFixed) < 0.5f;
                 detail =
                     $"snapshot rows={rows} height={height:0.0} tab={LifeSagaViewController.EffectiveTab} min={LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMin} max={LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMax}";
                 break;
@@ -9420,20 +9419,19 @@ public static class AgentHarness
             }
             case "saga_panel_fixed_size":
             {
-                // Locked tabbed chrome width + content-height Saga body (capped).
+                // Locked rail width + exact fixed-height Saga body.
                 Vector2 size = WatchCaption.LastPanelSize;
                 float bodyH = LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeight;
                 float bodyW = LifeSagaPanel.BodyWidthPx;
                 bool onSaga = LifeSagaViewController.EffectiveTab == LifeSagaViewController.Tab.Saga;
                 bool widthOk = Mathf.Abs(bodyW - LifeSagaPanel.BodyWidthFixed) < 0.5f;
-                bool heightOk = bodyH >= LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMin - 0.5f
-                                && bodyH <= LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMax + 0.5f;
+                bool heightOk = Mathf.Abs(bodyH - LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightFixed) < 0.5f;
                 bool compact = widthOk && heightOk;
                 if (onSaga)
                 {
                     compact = compact
                               && LifeSagaPanel.Visible
-                              && size.y <= LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMax + 100f
+                              && Mathf.Abs(size.y - WatchCaption.SagaHoverHeightFixed) < 0.5f
                               && size.x <= 260f
                               && size.x >= bodyW - 0.5f;
                 }
@@ -9444,7 +9442,7 @@ public static class AgentHarness
 
                 pass = compact;
                 detail =
-                    $"size={size} body={bodyW:0.#}x{bodyH:0.#} fixedW={LifeSagaPanel.BodyWidthFixed} maxH={LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightMax} onSaga={onSaga} compact={compact} dbg={LifeSagaPanel.LastLayoutDebug}";
+                    $"size={size} body={bodyW:0.#}x{bodyH:0.#} fixedW={LifeSagaPanel.BodyWidthFixed} outerH={WatchCaption.SagaHoverHeightFixed:0.#} onSaga={onSaga} compact={compact} dbg={LifeSagaPanel.LastLayoutDebug}";
                 break;
             }
             case "caption_mc_identity":
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
index 3d7ac43..156b007 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
@@ -4004,6 +4004,7 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
             Step("ccb22", "saga_show_hover_first"),
             Step("ccb23", "assert", expect: "caption_hover_keeps_beat"),
             Step("ccb23b", "assert", expect: "saga_panel_cast_first"),
+            Step("ccb23c", "assert", expect: "saga_panel_fixed_size"),
             Step("ccb24", "saga_hide_hover"),
             Step("ccb25", "saga_hover_tick_away"),
             Step("ccb26", "spawn", asset: "sheep", count: 1),
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPanel.cs b/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPanel.cs
index 38e26e8..a8483b5 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPanel.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPanel.cs
@@ -12,33 +12,37 @@ namespace IdleSpectator;
 /// Saga character, so no duplicate identity chrome is rendered here.
 /// No portrait / name / title / stake chrome here - that space goes to Cast.
 /// Width fills the stable rail chrome beside the live dossier portrait.
-/// Height sizes to content (capped); Legacy admits complete prioritized lines and
-/// uses a final ellipsis when lower-priority entries do not fit.
+/// The body has fixed geometry: compact 3x2 Cast cells above a two-line Legacy.
+/// Content changes never move the rail, nametag, portrait, or card edge.
 /// </summary>
 public static class LifeSagaPanel
 {
-    /// <summary>Remaining hover width beside the 40px live portrait.</summary>
-    public const float BodyWidthFixed = 188f;
-    /// <summary>Hard cap so Saga never eats the screen.</summary>
-    public const float BodyHeightMax = 172f;
+    /// <summary>Full inner hover width; Cast starts beside the portrait, Legacy spans below it.</summary>
+    public const float BodyWidthFixed = 232f;
+    /// <summary>Fixed hover depth; never derived from Cast or Legacy content.</summary>
+    public const float BodyHeightFixed = 74f;
+    public const float BodyHeightMax = BodyHeightFixed;
 
     public const float BodyWidthMin = BodyWidthFixed;
     public const float BodyWidthMax = BodyWidthFixed;
-    public const float BodyHeightMin = 12f;
-    public const float BodyHeightFixed = BodyHeightMax;
+    public const float BodyHeightMin = BodyHeightFixed;
 
-    /// <summary>Shared cast budget for panel slots and presentation model.</summary>
-    public const int MaxCast = 8;
-    private const int MaxLegacy = 6;
+    /// <summary>Visible Cast cells. The sixth cell becomes +N when candidates overflow.</summary>
+    public const int MaxCast = 6;
+    /// <summary>Relationships retained by the model before the visible grid is allocated.</summary>
+    public const int MaxCastCandidates = 10;
+    private const int MaxLegacy = 2;
     private const int CastPerRow = 3;
 
     private const float Pad = 3f;
-    private const float CastFace = 16f;
-    private const float CastSlotW = 54f;
-    private const float SecLabelH = 10f;
-    private const float LineH = 10f;
+    private const float CastFace = 14f;
+    private const float CastSlotW = 59f;
+    private const float CastSlotH = 15f;
+    private const float SecLabelH = 9f;
+    private const float LineH = 9f;
+    private const float PortraitReserveW = 44f;
     private const int BodyFont = 7;
-    private const int BuildVersion = 12;
+    private const int BuildVersion = 14;
 
     private static GameObject _root;
     private static RectTransform _rootRt;
@@ -51,7 +55,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
     private static string _speciesId = "";
     private static string _fingerprint = "";
     private static int _builtVersion;
-    private static float _laidOutHeight = BodyHeightMin;
+    private static float _laidOutHeight = BodyHeightFixed;
 
     private sealed class CastSlot
     {
@@ -99,7 +103,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         _rootRt.pivot = new Vector2(0f, 1f);
         _rootRt.anchorMin = new Vector2(0f, 1f);
         _rootRt.anchorMax = new Vector2(0f, 1f);
-        _rootRt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(BodyWidthFixed, BodyHeightMin);
+        _rootRt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(BodyWidthFixed, BodyHeightFixed);
 
         _castHead = MakeLabel(_root.transform, "CastHead", BodyFont, HudTheme.Muted, FontStyle.Bold);
         _castHead.text = "Cast";
@@ -124,7 +128,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         _speciesId = "";
         _fingerprint = "";
         LegacyParts.Clear();
-        _laidOutHeight = BodyHeightMin;
+        _laidOutHeight = BodyHeightFixed;
         if (_root != null)
         {
             _root.SetActive(false);
@@ -161,8 +165,8 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         _speciesId = model.SpeciesId ?? "";
         if (!same)
         {
-            int shownCast = 0;
-            for (int i = 0; i < model.Cast.Count && shownCast < CastSlots.Length; i++)
+            var eligibleCast = new List<LifeSagaCastMember>(model.Cast.Count);
+            for (int i = 0; i < model.Cast.Count; i++)
             {
                 LifeSagaCastMember member = model.Cast[i];
                 if (member == null || CastDuplicatesCurrentBeat(model.UnitId, member.UnitId))
@@ -170,7 +174,25 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                BindCast(CastSlots[shownCast], member);
+                eligibleCast.Add(member);
+            }
+
+            int visiblePeople = Mathf.Min(eligibleCast.Count, CastSlots.Length);
+            bool hasOverflow = eligibleCast.Count > CastSlots.Length;
+            if (hasOverflow)
+            {
+                visiblePeople = CastSlots.Length - 1;
+            }
+
+            int shownCast = 0;
+            for (; shownCast < visiblePeople; shownCast++)
+            {
+                BindCast(CastSlots[shownCast], eligibleCast[shownCast]);
+            }
+
+            if (hasOverflow)
+            {
+                BindCastOverflow(CastSlots[shownCast], eligibleCast.Count - visiblePeople);
                 shownCast++;
             }
 
@@ -206,7 +228,9 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
                 LegacyParts.Add(line);
             }
 
-            _legacyText.text = LegacyParts.Count > 0 ? string.Join("\n", LegacyParts) : "";
+            _legacyText.text = LegacyParts.Count > 0
+                ? string.Join("\n", LegacyParts)
+                : "Their story is still unfolding";
         }
 
         Layout();
@@ -230,7 +254,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         float fullX = Pad;
         float fullW = BodyWidthFixed - Pad * 2f;
         float y = Pad;
-        float yMax = BodyHeightMax - Pad;
+        float yMax = BodyHeightFixed - Pad;
 
         // The Beat can update after the model binds in the same frame. Recheck by
         // structured ids; display-name substring matching removed legitimate Cast
@@ -259,68 +283,49 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
             }
         }
 
-        if (castN > 0)
+        float castX0 = PortraitReserveW;
+        float castW = BodyWidthFixed - castX0 - Pad;
+        _castHead.text = castN > 0 ? "Cast" : "Cast · No close ties recorded";
+        PlaceText(_castHead, castX0, y, castW, SecLabelH);
+        y += SecLabelH;
+        float castX = castX0;
+        int col = 0;
+        for (int i = 0; i < CastSlots.Length; i++)
         {
-            PlaceText(_castHead, fullX, y, fullW, SecLabelH);
-            y += SecLabelH;
-            float castRowH = CastFace + 18f;
-            float castX = fullX;
-            int col = 0;
-            for (int i = 0; i < CastSlots.Length; i++)
+            if (!CastSlots[i].Root.activeSelf)
             {
-                if (!CastSlots[i].Root.activeSelf)
-                {
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                if (col >= CastPerRow)
-                {
-                    y += castRowH + 2f;
-                    castX = fullX;
-                    col = 0;
-                }
-
-                RectTransform rt = CastSlots[i].Root.GetComponent<RectTransform>();
-                rt.anchoredPosition = new Vector2(castX, -y);
-                rt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(CastSlotW, castRowH);
-                CastSlots[i].Root.transform.SetAsLastSibling();
-                castX += CastSlotW + 2f;
-                col++;
+                continue;
             }
 
-            y += castRowH + 2f;
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            Hide(_castHead);
+            if (col >= CastPerRow)
+            {
+                y += CastSlotH + 2f;
+                castX = castX0;
+                col = 0;
+            }
+
+            RectTransform rt = CastSlots[i].Root.GetComponent<RectTransform>();
+            rt.anchoredPosition = new Vector2(castX, -y);
+            rt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(CastSlotW, CastSlotH);
+            CastSlots[i].Root.transform.SetAsLastSibling();
+            castX += CastSlotW + 1f;
+            col++;
         }
 
-        float legacyBudget = Mathf.Max(0f, yMax - y - SecLabelH);
+        // Reserve both Cast rows even when sparse so Legacy never moves between characters.
+        y = 44f;
+        float legacyBudget = Mathf.Max(LineH, yMax - y - SecLabelH);
         int omittedLegacy = 0;
         string fittedLegacy = FitLegacyToHeight(fullW, legacyBudget, out omittedLegacy);
         _legacyText.text = fittedLegacy;
-        bool hasLegacy = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(fittedLegacy);
-        if (hasLegacy && legacyBudget >= LineH)
-        {
-            PlaceText(_legacyHead, fullX, y, fullW, SecLabelH);
-            y += SecLabelH;
-            float legacyH = Mathf.Min(
-                MeasureWrapHeight(_legacyText, fittedLegacy, fullW),
-                Mathf.Max(LineH, yMax - y));
-            PlaceText(_legacyText, fullX, y, fullW, legacyH);
-            _legacyText.horizontalOverflow = HorizontalWrapMode.Wrap;
-            _legacyText.verticalOverflow = VerticalWrapMode.Truncate;
-            y += legacyH + 2f;
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            Hide(_legacyHead);
-            Hide(_legacyText);
-            hasLegacy = false;
-        }
+        bool hasLegacy = LegacyParts.Count > 0;
+        PlaceText(_legacyHead, fullX, y, fullW, SecLabelH);
+        y += SecLabelH;
+        PlaceText(_legacyText, fullX, y, fullW, Mathf.Min(2f * LineH, yMax - y));
+        _legacyText.horizontalOverflow = HorizontalWrapMode.Overflow;
+        _legacyText.verticalOverflow = VerticalWrapMode.Truncate;
 
-        y = Mathf.Max(y + Pad, BodyHeightMin);
-        _laidOutHeight = Mathf.Clamp(y, BodyHeightMin, BodyHeightMax);
+        _laidOutHeight = BodyHeightFixed;
 
         if (_rootRt != null)
         {
@@ -333,50 +338,35 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
 
     private static string FitLegacyToHeight(float width, float maxHeight, out int omitted)
     {
-        omitted = LegacyParts.Count;
-        if (_legacyText == null || LegacyParts.Count == 0 || maxHeight < LineH)
+        omitted = Mathf.Max(0, LegacyParts.Count - MaxLegacy);
+        if (_legacyText == null || maxHeight < LineH)
         {
             return "";
         }
 
-        string fitted = "";
-        int included = 0;
-        for (int i = 0; i < LegacyParts.Count; i++)
+        if (LegacyParts.Count == 0)
         {
-            string next = string.IsNullOrEmpty(fitted)
-                ? LegacyParts[i]
-                : fitted + "\n" + LegacyParts[i];
-            if (MeasureWrapHeight(_legacyText, next, width) > maxHeight + 0.5f)
-            {
-                break;
-            }
-
-            fitted = next;
-            included++;
+            return "Their story is still unfolding";
         }
 
-        omitted = LegacyParts.Count - included;
-        if (omitted <= 0)
+        int lineCount = Mathf.Min(MaxLegacy, Mathf.FloorToInt(maxHeight / LineH));
+        var lines = new List<string>(lineCount);
+        int maxChars = Mathf.Max(12, Mathf.FloorToInt(width / 4.2f));
+        for (int i = 0; i < LegacyParts.Count && lines.Count < lineCount; i++)
         {
-            return fitted;
+            lines.Add(Ellipsize(LegacyParts[i], maxChars));
         }
 
-        string withEllipsis = string.IsNullOrEmpty(fitted) ? "…" : fitted + "\n…";
-        return MeasureWrapHeight(_legacyText, withEllipsis, width) <= maxHeight + 0.5f
-            ? withEllipsis
-            : fitted;
+        omitted = Mathf.Max(0, LegacyParts.Count - lines.Count);
+        return string.Join("\n", lines);
     }
 
-    private static float MeasureWrapHeight(Text text, string value, float width)
+    private static string Ellipsize(string value, int maxChars)
     {
-        if (text == null || string.IsNullOrEmpty(value))
-        {
-            return LineH;
-        }
-
-        TextGenerationSettings settings = text.GetGenerationSettings(new Vector2(width, 0f));
-        float pixels = text.cachedTextGeneratorForLayout.GetPreferredHeight(value, settings);
-        return Mathf.Max(LineH, pixels / Mathf.Max(0.01f, text.pixelsPerUnit));
+        string clean = (value ?? "").Replace('\n', ' ').Replace('\r', ' ').Trim();
+        return clean.Length <= maxChars
+            ? clean
+            : clean.Substring(0, Mathf.Max(1, maxChars - 1)).TrimEnd() + "…";
     }
 
     private static CastSlot BuildCast(int index)
@@ -415,11 +405,11 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         Text name = MakeLabel(root.transform, "Name", BodyFont, HudTheme.Body, FontStyle.Normal);
         Text relation = MakeLabel(root.transform, "Rel", BodyFont, HudTheme.Muted, FontStyle.Normal);
         RectTransform nameRt = name.rectTransform;
-        nameRt.anchoredPosition = new Vector2(0f, -(CastFace + 1f));
-        nameRt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(CastSlotW, 9f);
+        nameRt.anchoredPosition = new Vector2(CastFace + 2f, 0f);
+        nameRt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(CastSlotW - CastFace - 2f, 8f);
         RectTransform relRt = relation.rectTransform;
-        relRt.anchoredPosition = new Vector2(0f, -(CastFace + 9f));
-        relRt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(CastSlotW, 9f);
+        relRt.anchoredPosition = new Vector2(CastFace + 2f, -8f);
+        relRt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(CastSlotW - CastFace - 2f, 7f);
 
         root.SetActive(false);
         return new CastSlot
@@ -453,6 +443,17 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         slot.Root.SetActive(true);
     }
 
+    private static void BindCastOverflow(CastSlot slot, int omitted)
+    {
+        slot.UnitId = 0;
+        slot.Face.sprite = null;
+        slot.Face.enabled = false;
+        slot.FaceBg.color = new Color(0.12f, 0.13f, 0.16f, 0.95f);
+        FitCastText(slot.Name, "+" + Mathf.Max(1, omitted));
+        FitCastText(slot.Relation, "more ties");
+        slot.Root.SetActive(true);
+    }
+
     /// <summary>The camera Beat already explains this exact member for this exact subject.</summary>
     private static bool CastDuplicatesCurrentBeat(long panelSubjectId, long castMemberId)
     {
@@ -502,7 +503,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         }
 
         string fitted = value ?? "";
-        const int maxReadableChars = 16;
+        const int maxReadableChars = 11;
         if (fitted.Length > maxReadableChars)
         {
             fitted = fitted.Substring(0, maxReadableChars - 1).TrimEnd() + "…";
@@ -512,7 +513,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         text.resizeTextForBestFit = true;
         text.resizeTextMinSize = 6;
         text.resizeTextMaxSize = BodyFont;
-        text.horizontalOverflow = HorizontalWrapMode.Wrap;
+        text.horizontalOverflow = HorizontalWrapMode.Overflow;
         text.verticalOverflow = VerticalWrapMode.Truncate;
     }
 
@@ -555,14 +556,6 @@ public static class LifeSagaPanel
         text.gameObject.SetActive(!string.IsNullOrEmpty(text.text));
     }
 
-    private static void Hide(Text text)
-    {
-        if (text != null)
-        {
-            text.gameObject.SetActive(false);
-        }
-    }
-
     private static string Fingerprint(LifeSagaViewModel model)
     {
         var sb = new StringBuilder(192);
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPresentation.cs b/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPresentation.cs
index a7a4cd7..6e531f6 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPresentation.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaPresentation.cs
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
 
         void AddLive(Actor other, string label, string truth)
         {
-            if (other == null || model.Cast.Count >= LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast)
+            if (other == null || model.Cast.Count >= LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates)
             {
                 return;
             }
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
 
         void AddObserved(LifeSagaIdentity identity, string label, string truth)
         {
-            if (identity.Id == 0 || model.Cast.Count >= LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast || !seen.Add(identity.Id))
+            if (identity.Id == 0 || model.Cast.Count >= LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates || !seen.Add(identity.Id))
             {
                 return;
             }
@@ -518,9 +518,9 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
         }
 
         // Former bonds from memory when live cast still has room.
-        if (memory != null && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast)
+        if (memory != null && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates)
         {
-            for (int i = 0; i < memory.Facts.Count && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast; i++)
+            for (int i = 0; i < memory.Facts.Count && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates; i++)
             {
                 LifeSagaFact f = memory.Facts[i];
                 if (f == null || f.OtherId == 0 || seen.Contains(f.OtherId))
@@ -540,9 +540,9 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
         }
 
         // Living Others from unresolved war/plot joins.
-        if (memory != null && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast)
+        if (memory != null && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates)
         {
-            for (int i = 0; i < memory.Facts.Count && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast; i++)
+            for (int i = 0; i < memory.Facts.Count && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates; i++)
             {
                 LifeSagaFact f = memory.Facts[i];
                 if (f == null || f.Resolved || f.OtherId == 0 || seen.Contains(f.OtherId))
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
 
         // Family peers fill remaining slots for crown/combat/plot/pack/bond lenses.
         if (actor != null
-            && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast
+            && model.Cast.Count < LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates
             && (primary == LifeSagaLens.PackAlpha
                 || primary == LifeSagaLens.LoveGrief
                 || primary == LifeSagaLens.CrownClan
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
             string peerLabel = primary == LifeSagaLens.PackAlpha
                 ? SagaProse.CastLabelLive("packmate")
                 : SagaProse.CastLabelLive("kin");
-            foreach (Actor peer in ActorRelation.EnumerateFamilyMembers(actor, max: LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast + 2))
+            foreach (Actor peer in ActorRelation.EnumerateFamilyMembers(actor, max: LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates + 2))
             {
                 if (peer == null || peer == actor)
                 {
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ public static class LifeSagaPresentation
                 }
 
                 AddLive(peer, peerLabel, "is");
-                if (model.Cast.Count >= LifeSagaPanel.MaxCast)
+                if (model.Cast.Count >= LifeSagaPanel.MaxCastCandidates)
                 {
                     break;
                 }
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
index f6b75cc..864fa5c 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
@@ -206,6 +206,11 @@ public static class WatchCaption
 
     public static Vector2 LastPanelSize { get; private set; }
 
+    /// <summary>Exact outer height of rail + nametag + fixed Saga body.</summary>
+    public static float SagaHoverHeightFixed =>
+        PadTop + LifeSagaRail.SlotSize + 2f + HeaderH + Gap
+        + LifeSagaPanel.BodyHeightFixed + 2f + PadTop - Gap;
+
     public static bool LastLayoutOk { get; private set; }
 
     /// <summary>True when the dossier card GameObject is active.</summary>
@@ -1062,10 +1067,10 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         if (panelMode)
         {
             // Hover depth prioritizes the full Identity. The live task is already represented
-            // by the Beat and returns with the dossier rows as soon as hover ends.
+            // by the camera dossier and returns with its rows as soon as hover ends. Beat and
+            // Context are hidden, so neither may reserve phantom vertical space here.
             hasTask = false;
-            hasReason = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(LastBeatLine)
-                        || (_reasonText != null && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(_reasonText.text));
+            hasReason = false;
         }
 
         bool hasBody = !panelMode
@@ -2824,6 +2829,13 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         bool panelMode = LifeSagaViewController.IsHoverPreview && !HasStatusBanner();
         bool railChrome = LifeSagaRail.Visible;
 
+        // Defensive ownership boundary: Saga preview never lays out camera Beat space even
+        // if a caller still has a composed LastBeatLine from immediately before hover.
+        if (panelMode)
+        {
+            hasReason = false;
+        }
+
         // Rail chrome keeps a constant width so hover preview cannot reflow the glyphs.
         if (railChrome || panelMode)
         {
@@ -2941,7 +2953,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
             LifeSagaPanel.EnsureBuilt(_root.transform);
             DossierAvatar.Place(PadX, y, LiveMax);
             DossierAvatar.SetHostVisible(true);
-            y = LifeSagaPanel.Place(y, PadX + LiveMax + 4f);
+            y = LifeSagaPanel.Place(y, PadX);
             if (railChrome)
             {
                 _panelWidth = PanelWidthMax;
diff --git a/docs/life-saga.md b/docs/life-saga.md
index 9da6af8..bc8709c 100644
--- a/docs/life-saga.md
+++ b/docs/life-saga.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Dynamic top-10 cast of interesting lives (MCs). Owns the dossier rail and soft c
 Chronicle stays a history book and never drives the camera.
 Short combat/love/war arcs stay in [`StoryPlanner`](../IdleSpectator/Story/StoryPlanner.cs) as chapter beats.
 Durable observed facts live in [`LifeSagaMemory`](../IdleSpectator/Story/LifeSagaMemory.cs) and survive roster churn.
+The fixed-layout hover redesign is specified in the [Saga UX redesign plan](saga-ux-redesign-plan.md).
 
 AFK caption is a **character beat**: Identity (who) + Beat (live tip) + Context (spine or stake).
 [`CaptionComposer`](../IdleSpectator/Story/CaptionComposer.cs) merges saga identity into the live caption without baking titles into `InterestCandidate.Label`.
diff --git a/docs/saga-ux-redesign-plan.md b/docs/saga-ux-redesign-plan.md
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+# Saga UX redesign plan
+
+Goal: make the Saga surface a stable character browser for following the world's main
+characters. Moving between glyphs must change the character, never the geometry.
+
+Status: **Design approved in principle; implementation pending.**
+
+Related documents:
+
+- [Life Saga](life-saga.md)
+- [Story system coherence](story-system-coherence-plan.md)
+- [Story Planner](story-planner.md)
+
+## Problem
+
+The current hover dossier has the right information but its layout is still derived from
+its contents. Cast width, legacy length, and portrait state can alter the panel height. Since
+the card is bottom anchored, that makes the rail and nametag shift while the pointer moves
+between glyphs. The result feels unstable even when every individual field is correct.
+
+The surface also risks presenting two identities at once: the camera subject and the hovered
+Saga character. During Saga preview, every identity-bearing element must belong to the Saga
+character and camera-specific Beat and Context must disappear.
+
+## Product contract
+
+At a glance, Saga answers:
+
+1. **Who is this main character?** — live name, role/species, sex, favorite state, and unique appearance.
+2. **Who matters to them?** — a compact, prioritized Cast.
+3. **What has defined their life?** — a short Legacy.
+4. **What will interaction do?** — hover previews; the existing click action toggles Prefer.
+
+Saga is a character browser. It does not restate the camera Beat or Story Planner Context.
+
+## Fixed geometry
+
+Use one fixed logical envelope for every Saga state:
+
+| Region | Size | Contract |
+|---|---:|---|
+| Whole surface | `240 × 117` | Never content-sized |
+| Glyph rail | `232 × 18` | Fixed position and hit targets |
+| Gap | `232 × 2` | Reserved |
+| Nametag | `232 × 15` | One line; fixed controls at right |
+| Gap | `232 × 1` | Reserved |
+| Body | `232 × 74` | Portrait, Cast, and Legacy stay inside |
+| Outer padding | `4` horizontal, `3` vertical | Constant |
+
+The body must never report a content-derived preferred height. Empty and full characters use
+the same bounds. Supported UI scaling may scale the entire envelope uniformly but must not
+reflow its internal regions.
+
+```text
+┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│ [glyph] [glyph] [glyph] [glyph] ...                      │ rail
+├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│ sprite  Name · Role                         sex  favorite │ nametag
+├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│ ┌──────────────┐  Cast                                   │
+│ │              │  [face Name] [face Name] [face Name]    │
+│ │ live unique  │  [face Name] [face Name] [face +N]      │
+│ │   portrait   │                                         │
+│ └──────────────┘  Legacy                                 │
+│                   • complete, bounded legacy line         │
+│                   • complete, bounded legacy line         │
+│                   • complete, bounded legacy line         │
+└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+## Portrait
+
+- Reserve a fixed `40 × 40` vanilla stone frame at the upper-left of the body.
+- A living character uses their current animated sprite so unique equipment and appearance remain visible.
+- A fallen or unavailable character uses the last captured character sprite, then species art only as a fallback.
+- The frame and surrounding regions never move when the sprite source changes.
+- Vanity/decorative framing is disabled; the portrait identifies the character rather than decorating the card.
+
+## Cast
+
+Cast owns a fixed region to the right of the portrait.
+
+- Maximum six visible entries in a `3 × 2` grid.
+- Priority: partner, child/parent, close friend, rival, then other known relationships.
+- Each entry has a fixed icon cell and a single text line.
+- If more than six entries qualify, the sixth cell becomes `+N` rather than creating a third row.
+- Long labels ellipsize inside their cell; they never shrink the panel or overlap adjacent cells.
+- Empty state: `No close ties recorded` in the same region.
+
+## Legacy
+
+Legacy owns the full-width region below the portrait and Cast.
+
+- Maximum two rendered lines, allocated by durable narrative importance.
+- Prefer complete short statements. If a statement cannot fit its assigned line, ellipsize it.
+- Never add another row or increase the body height.
+- Do not repeat identity, species, role, relationship labels already visible in the nametag or Cast.
+- Empty state: `Their story is still unfolding`.
+
+## Rail portraits
+
+The rail is a visual index of individuals, not species.
+
+- Cache by `UnitId`, using the latest successfully captured inspect sprite.
+- Capture on roster admission and refresh while watched or previewed at a bounded cadence.
+- Retain the last valid unique sprite after focus changes or death.
+- Never replace a valid character sprite with generic species art.
+- Use species art only until no unique capture has ever succeeded.
+- Remove cached entries only when the character leaves the roster permanently.
+
+Two characters of the same species must remain visually distinguishable whenever the game has
+provided distinct character sprites.
+
+## Interaction states
+
+### Camera dossier
+
+Outside Saga hover, the normal dossier owns the nametag, Beat, Context, and live camera portrait.
+
+### Saga preview
+
+While a glyph is hovered:
+
+- Acquire the existing camera read-pause lease.
+- Rebind the primary nametag, species/role, sex, favorite, portrait, Cast, and Legacy to the hovered character.
+- Hide camera Beat, Context, and camera-specific dossier rows.
+- Keep the fixed Saga envelope and all controls in exactly the same coordinates.
+- Restore the latest camera dossier atomically on pointer exit.
+
+Rapidly scrubbing across glyphs must not briefly restore the camera identity between two Saga identities.
+
+### Click behavior
+
+Phase one keeps the existing click-to-toggle-Prefer behavior. A persistent pinned preview would
+conflict with that undiscoverable action, so pinning is deferred until Prefer has its own explicit
+control. Status banners cancel preview and retain priority.
+
+## Ownership
+
+| Element | Camera dossier | Saga preview |
+|---|---|---|
+| Glyph rail | `LifeSagaRail` | `LifeSagaRail` |
+| Nametag and controls | Camera subject | Hovered Saga character |
+| Large portrait | Camera subject | Hovered Saga character |
+| Beat / Context | Camera story | Hidden |
+| Cast / Legacy | Hidden | Hovered Saga character |
+| Camera focus | `InterestDirector` | Unchanged and paused for reading |
+
+## Layout invariants
+
+1. The glyph rail has the same screen coordinates for every roster member.
+2. The outer card rectangle has the same screen coordinates and dimensions for empty, short, and full content.
+3. The nametag control cluster never moves with name length.
+4. The large portrait frame never moves or resizes.
+5. Cast never creates a third row.
+6. Legacy never increases body height or exceeds two lines.
+7. Empty states reserve the same geometry as populated states.
+8. Entering or leaving hover does not move the glyph under the pointer.
+9. Pointer exit restores the complete current camera dossier, not a stale snapshot.
+10. Hover never changes camera focus or roster order.
+
+## Implementation plan
+
+### Phase A — Fixed shell
+
+1. Give the Saga root, rail, nametag, and body explicit fixed bounds.
+2. Remove content-driven preferred-height calculations from the hover path.
+3. Reserve portrait, Cast, and Legacy rectangles before binding any content.
+
+### Phase B — Portrait and Cast
+
+1. Place the restored live stone-frame portrait in its fixed rectangle.
+2. Replace flexible Cast layout with the bounded `3 × 2` grid.
+3. Add deterministic relationship priority, overflow, and empty-state behavior.
+
+### Phase C — Legacy allocator
+
+1. Rank durable facts by narrative importance.
+2. Remove facts redundant with the visible identity and Cast.
+3. Allocate at most two complete lines with measured ellipsis.
+
+### Phase D — Interaction hardening
+
+1. Make hover-to-hover swaps atomic.
+2. Make pointer exit restore the latest camera state.
+3. Verify status-banner cancellation and camera pause ownership.
+4. Consider pinned preview only after Prefer has an explicit separate control.
+
+## Verification
+
+Add deterministic scenarios:
+
+- `saga_fixed_shell` — empty, sparse, and full subjects produce identical bounds.
+- `saga_hover_identity_swap` — every identity element follows the hovered glyph.
+- `saga_hover_restore_camera` — exit restores the latest camera dossier.
+- `saga_rail_portrait_cache` — same-species characters retain distinct cached sprites.
+- `saga_cast_fixed_grid` — seven or more ties render five entries plus `+N`, with no third row.
+- `saga_legacy_fixed_budget` — long legacy prose remains inside two lines.
+- `saga_hover_scrub_stability` — rapid glyph changes do not move the rail or flash camera identity.
+
+Capture visual evidence for same-species characters, six Cast entries, a fallen cached portrait,
+empty Cast/Legacy, maximum-length names, and every supported UI scale.
+
+## Definition of done
+
+- All layout invariants pass in deterministic harness coverage.
+- Existing Saga/coherence scenarios remain green.
+- No duplicate camera/Saga information appears during preview.
+- No text clips or paints beyond its assigned region.
+- Same-species characters remain distinguishable after their unique sprite has been observed.
+- A frame-by-frame comparison shows zero rail, nametag, portrait-frame, or card-edge movement while scrubbing glyphs.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Saga does not become a second Chronicle.
+- Saga does not drive or lock camera selection.
+- The card does not show the current camera Beat or Context while previewing another character.
+- Persistent pinning is not added until its interaction no longer conflicts with Prefer.
diff --git a/docs/story-system-coherence-plan.md b/docs/story-system-coherence-plan.md
index 5df1381..e60f551 100644
--- a/docs/story-system-coherence-plan.md
+++ b/docs/story-system-coherence-plan.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ hardening remains before the three-pass release gate can be claimed**.
 Related design documents:
 
 - [Life Saga](life-saga.md)
+- [Saga UX redesign](saga-ux-redesign-plan.md)
 - [Story Planner](story-planner.md)
 - [Camera presentability](camera-presentability-plan.md)
 - [Scoring model](scoring-model.md)