diff --git a/.cursor/skills/idle-spectator-e2e/SKILL.md b/.cursor/skills/idle-spectator-e2e/SKILL.md
index afb9eb1..76db354 100644
--- a/.cursor/skills/idle-spectator-e2e/SKILL.md
+++ b/.cursor/skills/idle-spectator-e2e/SKILL.md
@@ -17,10 +17,19 @@ Do not call `Application.Quit()` (can hang Steam on Linux).
 
 **Never start, relaunch, or kill WorldBox / Steam from the Cursor sandbox.**
 
-- `scripts/harness-run.sh` may launch the game when it is not already running.
-- `pkill`, Steam, and game process control also fail or misbehave under sandbox.
-- Always run harness commands (and any WorldBox process control) with **unrestricted / `all` permissions** so they execute outside the sandbox.
-- Prefer `--no-launch` only when WorldBox is already running *and* you still use unrestricted permissions for the runner itself (log tail, `.harness` I/O under the live mod path).
+- Always run harness commands and WorldBox process control with **unrestricted / `all` permissions**.
+- Canonical process control (do not invent ad-hoc kill/launch loops):
+
+```bash
+./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh status
+./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh start
+./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh stop
+./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh restart   # after mod.json bump / NML recompile
+```
+
+- `scripts/harness-run.sh` may launch the game when it is not already running (same Steam app id).
+- Prefer `--no-launch` only when `./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh status` shows WorldBox is already up.
+- **Never** `pkill -f` with a `worldbox` path in the agent shell command - it can match and kill the agent process itself. Use `worldbox-ctl.sh stop` (`killall worldbox`).
 
 ## WorldBox wiki (mechanics source of truth)
 
@@ -38,18 +47,22 @@ Vanilla `Tooltip` / `TooltipLibrary` (`tooltips/tooltip_actor`, etc.) may be reu
 After any feature or bug fix in `IdleSpectator/`:
 
 1. Bump `IdleSpectator/mod.json` version (NML recompiles on game load).
-2. Extend or add a scenario in `IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs` when the change is new behavior.
-3. Day-to-day / PR gate:
+2. If the game was already running, recompile with:
+   ```bash
+   ./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh restart
+   ```
+3. Extend or add a scenario in `IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs` when the change is new behavior.
+4. Day-to-day / PR gate:
    ```bash
    ./scripts/harness-run.sh --repeat 3 critical_smoke
    ```
-4. After larger changes (director, discovery, settings, input, tips, chronicle), also run:
+5. After larger changes (director, discovery, settings, input, tips, chronicle), also run:
    ```bash
    ./scripts/harness-run.sh regression
    ```
-5. If you added a focused scenario, run it directly too.
-6. Iterate until **all repeats PASS**. Do not stop after one flaky pass.
-7. Report: scenario name(s), PASS/FAIL counts, and any new asserts.
+6. If you added a focused scenario, run it directly too.
+7. Iterate until **all repeats PASS**. Do not stop after one flaky pass.
+8. Report: scenario name(s), PASS/FAIL counts, and any new asserts.
 
 ### HUD / visual changes - screenshot gate (required)
 
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
index 3d45a63..2fd64f4 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
@@ -500,6 +500,17 @@ public static class AgentHarness
                 break;
             }
 
+            case "dossier_force_headline":
+            {
+                string headline = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(cmd.value)
+                    ? cmd.value
+                    : (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(cmd.label) ? cmd.label : "Zezqzo Tikzkek Tak (scorpion)");
+                WatchCaption.ForceNametagHeadline(headline);
+                _cmdOk++;
+                Emit(cmd, true, detail: $"headline='{WatchCaption.LastHeadline}' shown='{WatchCaption.ShownNameChipText}'");
+                break;
+            }
+
             case "dossier_clear_job":
             {
                 WatchCaption.ClearHarnessJobOverrides();
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
index ff6cd9c..4693546 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
             case "critical":
             case "critical_smoke":
                 return CriticalSmoke();
+            case "dossier_nametag":
+            case "nametag_layout":
+                return DossierNametagLayout();
             case "settings_full":
                 return SettingsFull();
             case "ghost_guard":
@@ -442,6 +445,13 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
             Step("c47", "assert", expect: "no_bad"),
             Step("c48", "assert", expect: "power_bar", value: "false"),
 
+            // Long nametag must not paint under the level badge.
+            Step("c49a", "dossier_force_headline", value: "Zezqzo Tikzkek Tak (scorpion)"),
+            Step("c49b", "assert", expect: "caption_layout_ok"),
+            Step("c49c", "assert", expect: "dossier_contains", value: "Zezqzo"),
+            Step("c49d", "screenshot", value: "hud-dossier-long-name.png"),
+            Step("c49e", "wait", wait: 0.35f),
+
             Step("c50", "simulate_input"),
             Step("c51", "wait", wait: 0.25f),
             Step("c52", "assert", expect: "idle", value: "false"),
@@ -452,6 +462,37 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
         };
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Long "Name (species)" must leave room for the level chip (no overlap).</summary>
+    private static List<HarnessCommand> DossierNametagLayout()
+    {
+        return new List<HarnessCommand>
+        {
+            Step("dn0", "dismiss_windows"),
+            Step("dn1", "wait_world"),
+            Step("dn2", "set_setting", expect: "enabled", value: "true"),
+            Step("dn3", "set_setting", expect: "show_dossier_caption", value: "true"),
+            Step("dn4", "pick_unit", asset: "auto"),
+            Step("dn5", "spectator", value: "off"),
+            Step("dn6", "spectator", value: "on"),
+            Step("dn7", "focus", asset: "auto"),
+            Step("dn8", "wait", wait: 0.3f),
+            Step("dn10", "dossier_force_headline", value: "Zezqzo Tikzkek Tak (scorpion)"),
+            Step("dn11", "assert", expect: "dossier_contains", value: "Zezqzo"),
+            Step("dn12", "assert", expect: "caption_layout_ok"),
+            Step("dn13", "screenshot", value: "hud-dossier-long-name.png"),
+            Step("dn14", "wait", wait: 0.4f),
+            // Extremely long: must ellipsis rather than paint under level.
+            Step("dn20", "dossier_force_headline",
+                value: "Zezqzo Tikzkek Tak the Unbelievably Long-Named Elder (scorpion)"),
+            Step("dn21", "assert", expect: "caption_layout_ok"),
+            Step("dn22", "assert", expect: "dossier_contains", value: "Zezqzo"),
+            Step("dn23", "screenshot", value: "hud-dossier-long-name-ellipsis.png"),
+            Step("dn24", "wait", wait: 0.4f),
+            Step("dn90", "assert", expect: "no_bad"),
+            Step("dn99", "snapshot"),
+        };
+    }
+
     private static List<HarnessCommand> SettingsFull()
     {
         return new List<HarnessCommand>
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
index a726ce0..46c5125 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ public static class WatchCaption
     private const float TraitIcon = 12f;
     private const float HistoryIcon = 10f;
     private const float HistoryColMinW = 118f;
+    private const float NameMinW = 28f;
+    /// <summary>Hard cap so long "Name (species)" lines cannot paint under the level chip.</summary>
+    private const float NameMaxW = 210f;
     private const float PadX = 4f;
     /// <summary>Inset from the canvas top-right corner (grows left via pivot).</summary>
     private const float ScreenInset = 12f;
@@ -759,10 +762,36 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         return _current != null ? (_current.TaskText ?? "") : "";
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Harness: text currently shown on the nametag (may be ellipsis-truncated).</summary>
+    public static string ShownNameChipText =>
+        _nameText != null && _nameText.gameObject.activeSelf ? (_nameText.text ?? "") : "";
+
     /// <summary>Harness: text currently shown on the nametag task chip.</summary>
     public static string ShownTaskChipText =>
         _taskText != null && _taskText.gameObject.activeSelf ? (_taskText.text ?? "") : "";
 
+    /// <summary>Harness: force a long nametag headline and relayout (layout overlap tests).</summary>
+    public static void ForceNametagHeadline(string headline)
+    {
+        EnsureBuilt();
+        string text = string.IsNullOrEmpty(headline) ? "Nobody" : headline.Trim();
+        LastHeadline = text;
+        if (_nameText != null)
+        {
+            _nameText.text = text;
+        }
+
+        if (_current != null)
+        {
+            _current.Headline = text;
+        }
+
+        bool hasBody = _current != null && _current.UnitId != 0;
+        bool hasTask = _taskText != null && _taskText.gameObject.activeSelf;
+        bool hasReason = _reasonText != null && _reasonText.gameObject.activeSelf;
+        Relayout(hasBody, CountActiveTraitSlots(), hasTask, hasReason, CountActiveHistorySlots());
+    }
+
     private static void BringHeaderFront()
     {
         // Draw nametag above vanilla avatar chrome (which can paint outside its host).
@@ -1520,7 +1549,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
 
         if (_nameText != null)
         {
-            float nameW = Mathf.Clamp(MeasureTextWidth(_nameText, 72f), 28f, 120f);
+            float nameW = FitNameChipWidth();
             PlaceLeftChip(_nameText.rectTransform, x, yFromTop, nameW, HeaderH);
             x += nameW + 5f;
         }
@@ -1583,7 +1612,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         float x = PadX + SpeciesSize + 3f;
         if (_nameText != null)
         {
-            x += Mathf.Clamp(MeasureTextWidth(_nameText, 72f), 28f, 120f) + 5f;
+            x += FitNameChipWidth() + 5f;
         }
 
         if (_levelIcon != null && _levelIcon.gameObject.activeSelf)
@@ -1680,6 +1709,60 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         rt.sizeDelta = new Vector2(width, height);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Size the name chip to the visible text and ellipsis-truncate when over <see cref="NameMaxW"/>.
+    /// Prevents Overflow paint from landing under the level badge (long "Name (species)" lines).
+    /// </summary>
+    private static float FitNameChipWidth()
+    {
+        if (_nameText == null)
+        {
+            return NameMinW;
+        }
+
+        _nameText.resizeTextForBestFit = false;
+        _nameText.horizontalOverflow = HorizontalWrapMode.Overflow;
+        string full = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(LastHeadline) ? LastHeadline : (_nameText.text ?? "");
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(full))
+        {
+            _nameText.text = "";
+            return NameMinW;
+        }
+
+        _nameText.text = full;
+        float natural = MeasureTextWidth(_nameText, 72f);
+        if (natural <= NameMaxW)
+        {
+            return Mathf.Clamp(natural, NameMinW, NameMaxW);
+        }
+
+        const string ellipsis = "...";
+        int lo = 0;
+        int hi = full.Length;
+        string best = ellipsis;
+        while (lo <= hi)
+        {
+            int mid = (lo + hi) / 2;
+            string candidate = mid <= 0
+                ? ellipsis
+                : (mid >= full.Length ? full : full.Substring(0, mid).TrimEnd() + ellipsis);
+            _nameText.text = candidate;
+            float w = MeasureTextWidth(_nameText, NameMaxW);
+            if (w <= NameMaxW)
+            {
+                best = candidate;
+                lo = mid + 1;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                hi = mid - 1;
+            }
+        }
+
+        _nameText.text = best;
+        return Mathf.Clamp(MeasureTextWidth(_nameText, NameMaxW), NameMinW, NameMaxW);
+    }
+
     private static float MeasureTextWidth(Text text, float fallback)
     {
         if (text == null || string.IsNullOrEmpty(text.text))
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/mod.json b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
index 2769992..c45dcce 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/mod.json
+++ b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "IdleSpectator",
   "author": "dazed",
-  "version": "0.16.6",
+  "version": "0.16.8",
   "description": "AFK Idle Spectator (I) + Lore (L). Event-centered scene director + happiness Activity/Life logging.",
   "GUID": "com.dazed.idlespectator"
 }
diff --git a/scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh b/scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..1f3462e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Canonical WorldBox process control for IdleSpectator agents.
+# Always run this script (or harness-run.sh) with unrestricted / `all` permissions.
+# Never invent ad-hoc pkill -f patterns that include the worldbox path in the
+# agent shell command line - that can kill the agent itself.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh status
+#   ./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh start
+#   ./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh stop
+#   ./scripts/worldbox-ctl.sh restart   # stop + start + wait for IdleSpectator ready
+set -euo pipefail
+
+STEAM_APP_ID="${WORLDBOX_APP_ID:-1206560}"
+LOG="${WORLDBOX_LOG:-$HOME/.config/unity3d/mkarpenko/WorldBox/Player.log}"
+BOOT_TIMEOUT_SEC="${HARNESS_BOOT_TIMEOUT:-180}"
+LAUNCH_LOG="${WORLDBOX_LAUNCH_LOG:-/tmp/idle-spectator-harness-launch.log}"
+
+worldbox_pids() {
+  # Match the real game binary only (process name "worldbox").
+  # Do NOT use pkill -f with a path string that also appears in the calling shell.
+  ps -C worldbox -o pid= 2>/dev/null | tr -s ' ' | sed '/^$/d' || true
+}
+
+worldbox_running() {
+  local pids
+  pids="$(worldbox_pids)"
+  [[ -n "${pids// /}" ]]
+}
+
+mod_ready() {
+  [[ -f "$LOG" ]] || return 1
+  if rg -q "error CS" "$LOG" 2>/dev/null \
+    && rg -q "Compile Mod IdleSpectator|IdleSpectator.*error CS|error CS.*IdleSpectator" "$LOG" 2>/dev/null; then
+    return 2
+  fi
+  rg -q "\[IdleSpectator\]: Harmony patches applied" "$LOG" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+cmd_status() {
+  if worldbox_running; then
+    echo "WorldBox running pids=$(worldbox_pids | tr '\n' ' ')"
+    if mod_ready; then
+      echo "IdleSpectator: ready (Harmony patches applied)"
+    else
+      echo "IdleSpectator: not ready yet (check Player.log)"
+    fi
+    return 0
+  fi
+  echo "WorldBox not running"
+  return 1
+}
+
+cmd_stop() {
+  if ! worldbox_running; then
+    echo "WorldBox already stopped"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  echo "Stopping WorldBox ..."
+  # killall by process name - safe for agent shells (no -f path match).
+  killall -q worldbox 2>/dev/null || true
+  local i
+  for i in $(seq 1 30); do
+    if ! worldbox_running; then
+      echo "WorldBox stopped"
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 0.5
+  done
+  echo "WorldBox still running after killall; sending SIGKILL ..." >&2
+  killall -q -9 worldbox 2>/dev/null || true
+  sleep 1
+  if worldbox_running; then
+    echo "FAILED to stop WorldBox pids=$(worldbox_pids | tr '\n' ' ')" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+  echo "WorldBox stopped"
+}
+
+cmd_start() {
+  if worldbox_running; then
+    echo "WorldBox already running"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  echo "Starting WorldBox (steam app $STEAM_APP_ID) ..."
+  echo "===== WORLDBOX-CTL START $(date -Iseconds) =====" >>"$LAUNCH_LOG" 2>/dev/null || true
+  nohup steam -applaunch "$STEAM_APP_ID" >>"$LAUNCH_LOG" 2>&1 &
+  disown || true
+
+  local deadline=$((SECONDS + BOOT_TIMEOUT_SEC))
+  local saw=0
+  while (( SECONDS < deadline )); do
+    if worldbox_running; then
+      saw=1
+      local ready_rc=0
+      mod_ready || ready_rc=$?
+      if (( ready_rc == 0 )); then
+        echo "WorldBox + IdleSpectator ready"
+        return 0
+      fi
+      if (( ready_rc == 2 )); then
+        echo "IdleSpectator compile failed - see $LOG" >&2
+        rg -n "error CS|Compile Mod IdleSpectator" "$LOG" 2>/dev/null | tail -n 40 >&2 || true
+        return 1
+      fi
+      printf '.'
+    else
+      printf 'o'
+    fi
+    sleep 2
+  done
+  echo >&2
+  if (( saw == 0 )); then
+    echo "Timed out waiting for WorldBox process (${BOOT_TIMEOUT_SEC}s)" >&2
+  else
+    echo "Timed out waiting for IdleSpectator ready (${BOOT_TIMEOUT_SEC}s)" >&2
+  fi
+  tail -n 40 "$LOG" 2>/dev/null >&2 || true
+  return 1
+}
+
+cmd_restart() {
+  cmd_stop
+  sleep 2
+  cmd_start
+}
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<EOF
+Usage: $0 {status|start|stop|restart}
+
+Canonical WorldBox control for IdleSpectator.
+Always invoke with unrestricted / all permissions (never from the Cursor sandbox).
+EOF
+}
+
+main() {
+  local op="${1:-}"
+  case "$op" in
+    status) cmd_status ;;
+    start) cmd_start ;;
+    stop) cmd_stop ;;
+    restart) cmd_restart ;;
+    -h|--help|help|"") usage; exit 2 ;;
+    *)
+      echo "Unknown op: $op" >&2
+      usage
+      exit 2
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+main "$@"