diff --git a/IdleSpectator/DeferredEventPatches.cs b/IdleSpectator/DeferredEventPatches.cs
index 8f4b9dc..50c7fee 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/DeferredEventPatches.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/DeferredEventPatches.cs
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ public static class DeferredEventPatches
         }
 
         DiscreteEventEntry entry = DecisionInterestCatalog.GetOrFallback(id);
-        // High-frequency hook: only emit stronger decisions (strength dial, not Signal gate).
-        if (entry.EventStrength < InterestScoringConfig.W.noticeScoreMin)
+        // High-frequency hook: only kingdom-affecting decisions, never idle AI ticks.
+        if (!DecisionInterestCatalog.IsCameraWorthy(id))
         {
             return;
         }
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/DeferredLibraryCatalogs.cs b/IdleSpectator/DeferredLibraryCatalogs.cs
index 6292741..d7a6c78 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/DeferredLibraryCatalogs.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/DeferredLibraryCatalogs.cs
@@ -111,18 +111,33 @@ public static class DecisionInterestCatalog
         }
 
         string s = id.ToLowerInvariant();
+        // Routine AI ticks often include "king" in the name - those are not camera events.
+        if (s.Contains("idle")
+            || s.Contains("walking")
+            || s.Contains("check")
+            || s.Contains("wait")
+            || s.Contains("sleep"))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         return s.Contains("war")
                || s.Contains("rebellion")
                || s.Contains("revolt")
                || s.Contains("alliance")
-               || s.Contains("king")
                || s.Contains("coup")
                || s.Contains("betray")
                || s.Contains("declare")
                || s.Contains("invade")
-               || s.Contains("siege");
+               || s.Contains("siege")
+               || s.Contains("found")
+               || s.Contains("city_foundation")
+               || (s.Contains("king") && (s.Contains("war") || s.Contains("city") || s.Contains("rebellion")));
     }
 
+    /// <summary>True when a decision id should be allowed to own the idle camera.</summary>
+    public static bool IsCameraWorthy(string id) => IsKingdomDecision(id);
+
     private static void Ensure() =>
         LiveLibraryInterest.EnsureSeeded(
             Entries,
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs b/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs
index 3eb5b2e..5b4dacc 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/InterestDirector.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using NeoModLoader.services;
 using UnityEngine;
@@ -486,6 +487,14 @@ public static class InterestDirector
             if (c == null || !CanSwitchTo(c, onCurrent, sinceSwitch))
             {
                 PendingScratch.RemoveAt(i);
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Drop stale birth/hatch shots - by then the unit is already running around.
+            if (IsStaleFreshLifeMoment(c, now))
+            {
+                InterestRegistry.Remove(c.Key);
+                PendingScratch.RemoveAt(i);
             }
         }
 
@@ -498,6 +507,49 @@ public static class InterestDirector
         return InterestVariety.Pick(PendingScratch, _current);
     }
 
+    private static bool IsStaleFreshLifeMoment(InterestCandidate c, float now)
+    {
+        if (c == null || string.IsNullOrEmpty(c.HappinessEffectId))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        string id = c.HappinessEffectId;
+        if (!string.Equals(id, "just_born", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            && !string.Equals(id, "just_got_out_of_egg", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            && !string.Equals(id, "just_hatched", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // Real-time freshness: if the shot waited in queue more than ~5s, skip it.
+        if (now - c.CreatedAt > 5.5f)
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        Actor unit = c.FollowUnit;
+        if (unit == null || !unit.isAlive())
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            // Already past the newborn beat (playing/moving as a grown unit).
+            if (!unit.isBaby() && unit.getAge() > 1)
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // ignore age API mismatches
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// True when a drained New species tip would be allowed to take the camera.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/InterestFeeds.cs b/IdleSpectator/InterestFeeds.cs
index 3a4772d..4662d62 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/InterestFeeds.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/InterestFeeds.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using UnityEngine;
 
@@ -535,6 +536,16 @@ public static class InterestFeeds
                      + ":" + CorrBucket(occ.CorrelationKey);
         bool grief = occ.EffectId != null && occ.EffectId.StartsWith("death_");
         float strength = InterestScoring.EventStrengthForHappiness(occ.EffectId);
+        bool birthMoment = IsFreshLifeMoment(occ.EffectId);
+
+        // Birth/hatch only matter while still fresh - do not queue behind a long drama reel.
+        float ttl = birthMoment ? 7f : 35f;
+        float minWatch = birthMoment ? 2f : 4f;
+        float maxWatch = birthMoment ? 5.5f : 28f;
+        if (birthMoment)
+        {
+            strength = Mathf.Max(strength, 88f);
+        }
 
         var candidate = new InterestCandidate
         {
@@ -559,9 +570,9 @@ public static class InterestFeeds
             CorrelationKey = occ.CorrelationKey,
             CreatedAt = Time.unscaledTime,
             LastSeenAt = Time.unscaledTime,
-            ExpiresAt = Time.unscaledTime + 35f,
-            MinWatch = 4f,
-            MaxWatch = 28f,
+            ExpiresAt = Time.unscaledTime + ttl,
+            MinWatch = minWatch,
+            MaxWatch = maxWatch,
             Completion = grief
                 ? InterestCompletionKind.HappinessGrief
                 : InterestCompletionKind.FixedDwell
@@ -768,6 +779,19 @@ public static class InterestFeeds
         }
     }
 
+    private static bool IsFreshLifeMoment(string effectId)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(effectId))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        string id = effectId.Trim();
+        return string.Equals(id, "just_born", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+               || string.Equals(id, "just_got_out_of_egg", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+               || string.Equals(id, "just_hatched", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
     private static string MapHappinessCategory(string cat)
     {
         switch ((cat ?? "").ToLowerInvariant())
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/StatusInterestCatalog.cs b/IdleSpectator/StatusInterestCatalog.cs
index 8be9c34..e832255 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/StatusInterestCatalog.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/StatusInterestCatalog.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public static class StatusInterestCatalog
         Add("possessed_follower", 60f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("frozen", 65f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("poisoned", 58f, "StatusTransformation", true);
-        Add("drowning", 68f, "StatusTransformation", true);
+        Add("drowning", 40f, "StatusTransformation", false);
         Add("stunned", 50f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("rage", 62f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("angry", 48f, "StatusTransformation", true);
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public static class StatusInterestCatalog
         Add("soul_harvested", 75f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("voices_in_my_head", 55f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("tantrum", 52f, "StatusTransformation", true);
-        Add("egg", 58f, "StatusTransformation", true);
+        Add("egg", 40f, "StatusTransformation", false);
         Add("magnetized", 55f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("invincible", 56f, "StatusTransformation", true);
         Add("powerup", 54f, "StatusTransformation", true);
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ public static class StatusInterestCatalog
         Add("pregnant_parthenogenesis", 58f, "LifeChapter", true);
         Add("crying", 50f, "Grief", true, InterestOwnership.Signal, extendsGrief: true);
 
-        // Authored Ambient interest (tracked, fill-only)
-        Add("festive_spirit", 28f, "StatusAmbient", true, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
-        Add("laughing", 26f, "StatusAmbient", true, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
-        Add("singing", 26f, "StatusAmbient", true, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
-        Add("sleeping", 22f, "StatusAmbient", true, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
-        Add("handsome_migrant", 30f, "StatusAmbient", true, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
+        // Authored Ambient - never owns camera (task chip / enrichment only).
+        Add("festive_spirit", 28f, "StatusAmbient", false, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
+        Add("laughing", 26f, "StatusAmbient", false, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
+        Add("singing", 26f, "StatusAmbient", false, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
+        Add("sleeping", 22f, "StatusAmbient", false, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
+        Add("handsome_migrant", 30f, "StatusAmbient", false, InterestOwnership.Ambient);
 
         // Authored but do not create interest candidates (cooldowns / ambient / brief FX)
         AddNoInterest("afterglow");
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/TraitEventPatches.cs b/IdleSpectator/TraitEventPatches.cs
index 77d2a93..0326dce 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/TraitEventPatches.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/TraitEventPatches.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using HarmonyLib;
 using UnityEngine;
 
@@ -8,6 +9,24 @@ namespace IdleSpectator;
 [HarmonyPatch]
 public static class TraitEventPatches
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Birth/spawn endowment traits that are still worth a camera beat.
+    /// Routine species defaults (poisonous frog, bloodlust beetle, …) are not.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static readonly HashSet<string> LegendaryBirthTraits = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+    {
+        "immortal",
+        "chosen_one",
+        "miracle_born",
+        "miracle_bearer",
+        "scar_of_divinity",
+        "giant",
+        "whirlwind",
+        "death_nuke",
+        "death_bomb",
+        "bomberman"
+    };
+
     [HarmonyPatch(typeof(Actor), nameof(Actor.addTrait), new Type[] { typeof(string), typeof(bool) })]
     [HarmonyPostfix]
     public static void PostfixAddTraitString(Actor __instance, string pTraitID, bool __result)
@@ -99,10 +118,27 @@ public static class TraitEventPatches
             return;
         }
 
+        // Quiet-world Ambient traits must not steal the camera.
+        if (entry.EventStrength < InterestScoringConfig.W.noticeScoreMin)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Spawn/birth endowment: only legendary rarities.
+        if (gained && IsSpawnTraitWindow(actor) && !LegendaryBirthTraits.Contains(entry.Id))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
         float strength = entry.EventStrength;
         if (!gained)
         {
             strength = Mathf.Min(strength, 45f);
+            // Trait loss is quieter unless it was dramatic.
+            if (entry.EventStrength < InterestScoringConfig.W.hotScoreMin)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
         }
 
         string label = EventReason.Trait(actor, entry.Id, gained);
@@ -119,4 +155,51 @@ public static class TraitEventPatches
             actor.current_position,
             actor);
     }
+
+    /// <summary>True while traits are still being stamped onto a brand-new unit.</summary>
+    private static bool IsSpawnTraitWindow(Actor actor)
+    {
+        if (actor == null)
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            if (actor.isBaby())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // ignore
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            double created = actor.data != null ? actor.data.created_time : 0;
+            if (created <= 0)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            double now = 0;
+            if (World.world != null)
+            {
+                now = World.world.getCurWorldTime();
+            }
+            else if (MapBox.instance != null)
+            {
+                now = MapBox.instance.getCurWorldTime();
+            }
+
+            // Within ~2 world-years of creation = spawn endowment, not a mid-life gain.
+            return now > 0 && (now - created) < 2.0;
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/mod.json b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
index d9e022b..6e81e74 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/mod.json
+++ b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "IdleSpectator",
   "author": "dazed",
-  "version": "0.19.2",
+  "version": "0.19.3",
   "description": "AFK Idle Spectator (I) + Lore (L). Event-centered scene director + happiness Activity/Life logging.",
   "GUID": "com.dazed.idlespectator"
 }