diff --git a/IdleSpectator/ActivityLog.cs b/IdleSpectator/ActivityLog.cs
index b894288..9e92441 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/ActivityLog.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/ActivityLog.cs
@@ -35,12 +35,20 @@ public static class ActivityLog
     public const int MaxLinesPerSubject = 32;
     public const int MaxSubjects = 4000;
     private const float ActionBeatCooldown = 2.5f;
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Suppress repeat Task/Beat lines that resolve to the same verb (e.g. play/child_* churn).
+    /// Status and milestones are exempt.
+    /// </summary>
+    private const float SameVerbCooldown = 10f;
 
     private static readonly Dictionary<long, List<ActivityEntry>> BySubject =
         new Dictionary<long, List<ActivityEntry>>();
     private static readonly Dictionary<long, string> LastTaskId = new Dictionary<long, string>();
     private static readonly Dictionary<long, float> LastBeatAt = new Dictionary<long, float>();
+    private static readonly Dictionary<long, string> LastLoggedVerb = new Dictionary<long, string>();
+    private static readonly Dictionary<long, float> LastLoggedVerbAt = new Dictionary<long, float>();
     private static readonly Dictionary<long, int> LineIndex = new Dictionary<long, int>();
+    private static int _verbSuppressedSinceClear;
 
     private static int _notesSinceClear;
     private static int _tasksSinceClear;
@@ -65,12 +73,15 @@ public static class ActivityLog
     public static int StatusRefreshesSinceClear => _statusRefreshesSinceClear;
     public static string LastStatusGainId => _lastStatusGainId ?? "";
     public static string LastStatusLossId => _lastStatusLossId ?? "";
+    public static int VerbSuppressedSinceClear => _verbSuppressedSinceClear;
 
     public static void ClearSession()
     {
         BySubject.Clear();
         LastTaskId.Clear();
         LastBeatAt.Clear();
+        LastLoggedVerb.Clear();
+        LastLoggedVerbAt.Clear();
         LineIndex.Clear();
         ResetSampleCounters();
     }
@@ -84,6 +95,7 @@ public static class ActivityLog
         _statusGainsSinceClear = 0;
         _statusLossesSinceClear = 0;
         _statusRefreshesSinceClear = 0;
+        _verbSuppressedSinceClear = 0;
         _lastStatusGainId = "";
         _lastStatusLossId = "";
         _clearedAt = Time.unscaledTime;
@@ -150,7 +162,7 @@ public static class ActivityLog
         return
             $"elapsed={elapsed:0.0}s notes={_notesSinceClear} tasks={_tasksSinceClear} beats={_beatsSinceClear} "
             + $"status_gains={_statusGainsSinceClear} status_losses={_statusLossesSinceClear} "
-            + $"status_refreshes={_statusRefreshesSinceClear} "
+            + $"status_refreshes={_statusRefreshesSinceClear} verb_suppressed={_verbSuppressedSinceClear} "
             + $"per_sec={perSec:0.00} per_min={perMin:0.0} per_subject_per_min={perSubjectPerMin:0.00} "
             + $"subjects={BySubject.Count} ring_lines={lines} top=[{top}]";
     }
@@ -215,7 +227,13 @@ public static class ActivityLog
             return;
         }
 
+        if (ShouldSuppressSameVerb(id, taskId))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
         LastTaskId[id] = taskId;
+        RememberLoggedVerb(id, taskId);
         ActivityContext ctx = ActivityInterestTable.BuildContext(actor, taskId);
         string jobId = ctx.JobId;
         string actorName = ctx.ActorName;
@@ -323,7 +341,13 @@ public static class ActivityLog
             return;
         }
 
+        if (ShouldSuppressSameVerb(id, actionKey))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
         LastBeatAt[id] = now;
+        RememberLoggedVerb(id, actionKey);
         ActivityContext ctx = ActivityInterestTable.BuildContext(actor, actionKey);
         string jobId = ctx.JobId;
 
@@ -811,6 +835,101 @@ public static class ActivityLog
         return idx;
     }
 
+    private static string ResolveVerbKey(string key)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(key))
+        {
+            return "";
+        }
+
+        string verb = ActivityVerbMap.Resolve(key);
+        return string.IsNullOrEmpty(verb) ? key.Trim().ToLowerInvariant() : verb;
+    }
+
+    private static bool ShouldSuppressSameVerb(long subjectId, string key)
+    {
+        string verb = ResolveVerbKey(key);
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(verb))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        float now = Time.unscaledTime;
+        if (LastLoggedVerb.TryGetValue(subjectId, out string prev)
+            && prev == verb
+            && LastLoggedVerbAt.TryGetValue(subjectId, out float at)
+            && now - at < SameVerbCooldown)
+        {
+            _verbSuppressedSinceClear++;
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private static void RememberLoggedVerb(long subjectId, string key)
+    {
+        string verb = ResolveVerbKey(key);
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(verb))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        LastLoggedVerb[subjectId] = verb;
+        LastLoggedVerbAt[subjectId] = Time.unscaledTime;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Harness: attempt several same-verb task keys on a live actor; returns how many lines were added.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static int HarnessSpamSameVerb(Actor actor, string[] taskKeys)
+    {
+        if (actor == null || taskKeys == null || taskKeys.Length == 0)
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        long id;
+        try
+        {
+            if (!actor.isAlive())
+            {
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            id = actor.getID();
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        if (id == 0)
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        int before = CountFor(id);
+        // Fresh window: allow the first key through regardless of prior task/verb state.
+        LastTaskId.Remove(id);
+        LastLoggedVerb.Remove(id);
+        LastLoggedVerbAt.Remove(id);
+        for (int i = 0; i < taskKeys.Length; i++)
+        {
+            string key = taskKeys[i];
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(key))
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Drop exact-id gate so each distinct play-like key can attempt a line.
+            LastTaskId.Remove(id);
+            NoteTask(actor, key);
+        }
+
+        return Mathf.Max(0, CountFor(id) - before);
+    }
+
     private static void Append(long id, ActivityEntry entry)
     {
         if (!BySubject.TryGetValue(id, out List<ActivityEntry> list))
@@ -873,6 +992,8 @@ public static class ActivityLog
             BySubject.Remove(id);
             LastTaskId.Remove(id);
             LastBeatAt.Remove(id);
+            LastLoggedVerb.Remove(id);
+            LastLoggedVerbAt.Remove(id);
             LineIndex.Remove(id);
             need--;
         }
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
index 8724993..a678391 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/AgentHarness.cs
@@ -2004,6 +2004,20 @@ public static class AgentHarness
                 detail = $"needle='{needle}' caption='{caption.Replace("\n", " | ")}' dossier={(dossier != null)}";
                 break;
             }
+            case "dossier_task_refresh":
+            {
+                // Stale focus snapshot must recover: blank chip, then sync from live AI.
+                Actor focus = MoveCamera.hasFocusUnit() ? MoveCamera._focus_unit : null;
+                string live = UnitDossier.ReadLiveTask(focus);
+                string after = WatchCaption.HarnessBlankAndRefreshTask();
+                string chip = WatchCaption.ShownTaskChipText;
+                bool chipMatches = string.IsNullOrEmpty(live)
+                    ? string.IsNullOrEmpty(chip)
+                    : !string.IsNullOrEmpty(chip);
+                pass = after == live && chipMatches;
+                detail = $"live='{live}' dossier='{after}' chip='{chip}'";
+                break;
+            }
             case "chronicle_count":
             {
                 int want = ParseCountExpect(cmd, defaultValue: 1);
@@ -2251,6 +2265,33 @@ public static class AgentHarness
                 detail = $"absent={!hit} needle='{needle}' sample='{sample}' count={entries.Count}";
                 break;
             }
+            case "activity_verb_dedupe":
+            {
+                // Distinct play-like task ids should collapse to one Activity line within the cooldown.
+                Actor focus = MoveCamera.hasFocusUnit() ? MoveCamera._focus_unit : null;
+                if (focus == null || !focus.isAlive())
+                {
+                    pass = false;
+                    detail = "no_live_focus";
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                ActivityLog.ResetSampleCounters();
+                string[] keys =
+                {
+                    "task_unit_play",
+                    "child_play",
+                    "fun_move",
+                    "child_run_around",
+                    "frolic"
+                };
+                int added = ActivityLog.HarnessSpamSameVerb(focus, keys);
+                int suppressed = ActivityLog.VerbSuppressedSinceClear;
+                pass = added == 1 && suppressed >= keys.Length - 1;
+                detail =
+                    $"added={added} want_added=1 suppressed={suppressed} want_suppressed>={keys.Length - 1} keys={keys.Length}";
+                break;
+            }
             case "activity_prose_sentence":
             {
                 // Ensure mood/task labels become sentences, not "{name} laughing".
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
index d2a3392..1d0a726 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/HarnessScenarios.cs
@@ -613,6 +613,8 @@ internal static class HarnessScenarios
             Step("act13e", "assert", expect: "activity_prose_library"),
             Step("act13f", "assert", expect: "activity_taxonomy_audit"),
             Step("act13g", "assert", expect: "activity_status_audit"),
+            Step("act13h", "assert", expect: "activity_verb_dedupe"),
+            Step("act13i", "assert", expect: "dossier_task_refresh"),
             Step("act14", "activity_force", asset: "laughing", label: "Laughing", count: 1, value: "angle"),
             Step("act14b", "assert", expect: "activity_log_contains", value: "celestial"),
             Step("act14c", "activity_force", asset: "eating", label: "Taking a meal", count: 1),
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs b/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs
index 9cbb508..3947946 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/UnitDossier.cs
@@ -671,11 +671,17 @@ public sealed class UnitDossier
         return Humanize(trait.id);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Live AI task label for the nametag chip (localized, else humanized id).</summary>
+    public static string ReadLiveTask(Actor actor)
+    {
+        return SafeTask(actor);
+    }
+
     private static string SafeTask(Actor actor)
     {
         try
         {
-            if (!actor.hasTask() || actor.ai == null || actor.ai.task == null)
+            if (actor == null || !actor.hasTask() || actor.ai == null || actor.ai.task == null)
             {
                 return "";
             }
@@ -692,7 +698,7 @@ public sealed class UnitDossier
         {
             try
             {
-                if (actor.hasTask() && actor.ai?.task != null)
+                if (actor != null && actor.hasTask() && actor.ai?.task != null)
                 {
                     return Humanize(actor.ai.task.id);
                 }
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
index 5d25898..4bd7397 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
+++ b/IdleSpectator/WatchCaption.cs
@@ -502,6 +502,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
                 }
 
                 RefreshLivePortrait();
+                RefreshLiveTask();
                 RefreshHistoryIfChanged();
                 return;
             }
@@ -551,6 +552,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         }
 
         RefreshLivePortrait();
+        RefreshLiveTask();
         RefreshHistoryIfChanged();
     }
 
@@ -609,6 +611,51 @@ public static class WatchCaption
             return;
         }
 
+        Actor actor = ResolveBoundLiveActor();
+        if (actor == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        DossierAvatar.Show(actor);
+        BringHeaderFront();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Keep the nametag task chip in sync with live AI (focus snapshot can miss brief no-task gaps).
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void RefreshLiveTask()
+    {
+        if (!_visible || _current == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Actor actor = ResolveBoundLiveActor();
+        if (actor == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        string live = UnitDossier.ReadLiveTask(actor);
+        string prev = _current.TaskText ?? "";
+        if (live == prev)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _current.TaskText = live;
+        ApplyTaskChip(live);
+
+        bool hasBody = _current.UnitId != 0;
+        bool hasTask = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(live);
+        bool hasReason = _reasonText != null && _reasonText.gameObject.activeSelf;
+        Relayout(hasBody, CountActiveTraitSlots(), hasTask, hasReason, CountActiveHistorySlots());
+        BringHeaderFront();
+    }
+
+    private static Actor ResolveBoundLiveActor()
+    {
         Actor actor = _boundActor;
         if (actor == null || !actor.isAlive())
         {
@@ -620,18 +667,56 @@ public static class WatchCaption
 
         if (actor == null || !actor.isAlive())
         {
-            return;
+            return null;
         }
 
         if (_current != null && actor.getID() != _current.UnitId)
         {
-            return;
+            return null;
         }
 
-        DossierAvatar.Show(actor);
-        BringHeaderFront();
+        return actor;
     }
 
+    private static void ApplyTaskChip(string taskText)
+    {
+        bool hasTask = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(taskText);
+        if (_taskIcon != null)
+        {
+            HudIcons.Apply(_taskIcon, hasTask ? HudIcons.Task() : null);
+            _taskIcon.gameObject.SetActive(hasTask);
+        }
+
+        if (_taskText != null)
+        {
+            string task = hasTask ? taskText : "";
+            if (task.Length > 14)
+            {
+                task = task.Substring(0, 13) + "...";
+            }
+
+            _taskText.text = task;
+            _taskText.gameObject.SetActive(hasTask);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Harness: blank the nametag task, then sync from live AI.</summary>
+    public static string HarnessBlankAndRefreshTask()
+    {
+        if (_current != null)
+        {
+            _current.TaskText = "";
+        }
+
+        ApplyTaskChip("");
+        RefreshLiveTask();
+        return _current != null ? (_current.TaskText ?? "") : "";
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Harness: text currently shown on the nametag task chip.</summary>
+    public static string ShownTaskChipText =>
+        _taskText != null && _taskText.gameObject.activeSelf ? (_taskText.text ?? "") : "";
+
     private static void BringHeaderFront()
     {
         // Draw nametag above vanilla avatar chrome (which can paint outside its host).
@@ -811,23 +896,7 @@ public static class WatchCaption
         }
 
         bool hasTask = dossier != null && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(dossier.TaskText);
-        if (_taskIcon != null)
-        {
-            HudIcons.Apply(_taskIcon, hasTask ? HudIcons.Task() : null);
-            _taskIcon.gameObject.SetActive(hasTask);
-        }
-
-        if (_taskText != null)
-        {
-            string task = hasTask ? dossier.TaskText : "";
-            if (task.Length > 14)
-            {
-                task = task.Substring(0, 13) + "...";
-            }
-
-            _taskText.text = task;
-            _taskText.gameObject.SetActive(hasTask);
-        }
+        ApplyTaskChip(hasTask ? dossier.TaskText : "");
 
         int traitCount = 0;
         LastTraitsPreview = "";
diff --git a/IdleSpectator/mod.json b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
index aba7969..b274dd8 100644
--- a/IdleSpectator/mod.json
+++ b/IdleSpectator/mod.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "IdleSpectator",
   "author": "dazed",
-  "version": "0.12.98",
+  "version": "0.12.100",
   "description": "AFK Idle Spectator (I) + Lore (L). Detailed living activity prose by default.",
   "GUID": "com.dazed.idlespectator"
 }