diff --git a/lan-client/index.html b/lan-client/index.html
index 82a0345..6460f15 100644
--- a/lan-client/index.html
+++ b/lan-client/index.html
@@ -67,15 +67,6 @@
   <div class="corner-accent bl"></div>
   <div class="corner-accent br"></div>
 
-  <!-- CENTER EMBLEM -->
-  <div class="center-emblem">
-    <svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none">
-      <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="42" stroke="rgba(255,255,255,0.2)" stroke-width="1.5"/>
-      <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="28" stroke="rgba(255,255,255,0.1)" stroke-width="1"/>
-      <polygon points="50,15 58.5,37 82,37 63,51 69,74 50,60 31,74 37,51 18,37 41.5,37"
-               fill="rgba(255,255,255,0.1)" stroke="rgba(255,255,255,0.2)" stroke-width="0.8"/>
-    </svg>
-  </div>
 
   <!-- ================================================
        4-QUADRANT BATTLEFIELD
@@ -85,12 +76,6 @@
     <!-- PLAYER 1: Top-Left (Crimson) -->
     <div class="player-area p1" id="player-area-1">
       <span class="player-label" id="player-label-1">Player 1</span>
-      <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-1">
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(0,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P1 life">&#x2212;</button>
-        <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-0" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(0)">40</span>
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(0,1)" aria-label="Increase P1 life">+</button>
-      </div>
-      <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-0" style="display:none;" onclick="adjustPoison(0,1)" title="Poison counters (click +1, right-click -1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(0,-1)">0 poison</div>
 
       <!-- Zone Row: Library, Exile, Graveyard, Hand -->
       <div class="zone-row" id="zone-row-1">
@@ -139,12 +124,6 @@
     <!-- PLAYER 2: Top-Right (Sapphire) -->
     <div class="player-area p2" id="player-area-2">
       <span class="player-label" id="player-label-2">Player 2</span>
-      <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-2">
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(1,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P2 life">&#x2212;</button>
-        <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-1" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(1)">40</span>
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(1,1)" aria-label="Increase P2 life">+</button>
-      </div>
-      <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-1" style="display:none;" onclick="adjustPoison(1,1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(1,-1)">0 poison</div>
 
       <div class="zone-row" id="zone-row-2">
         <div class="zone library" id="lib-zone-2" data-player="2" data-zone="library"
@@ -229,12 +208,6 @@
       </div>
 
       <span class="player-label" id="player-label-3">Player 3</span>
-      <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-3">
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(2,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P3 life">&#x2212;</button>
-        <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-2" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(2)">40</span>
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(2,1)" aria-label="Increase P3 life">+</button>
-      </div>
-      <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-2" style="display:none;" onclick="adjustPoison(2,1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(2,-1)">0 poison</div>
     </div>
 
     <!-- PLAYER 4: Bottom-Right (Gold) -->
@@ -279,16 +252,89 @@
       </div>
 
       <span class="player-label" id="player-label-4">Player 4</span>
-      <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-4">
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(3,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P4 life">&#x2212;</button>
-        <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-3" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(3)">40</span>
-        <button onclick="adjustLife(3,1)" aria-label="Increase P4 life">+</button>
-      </div>
-      <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-3" style="display:none;" onclick="adjustPoison(3,1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(3,-1)">0 poison</div>
     </div>
 
   </div><!-- /.battlefield -->
 
+  <!-- LIFE PANELS OVERLAY (top-most layer) -->
+  <div id="life-panels-overlay">
+    <div class="life-panel lp-p1" id="life-panel-1">
+      <div class="life-panel-box life-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Life</span>
+        <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-1">
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(0,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P1 life">&#x2212;</button>
+          <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-0" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(0)">40</span>
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(0,1)" aria-label="Increase P1 life">+</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box cmd-dmg-box" id="cmd-dmg-inline-0">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Cmd Dmg</span>
+        <div class="cmd-dmg-inline-row">&#8212;</div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box counters-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Counters</span>
+        <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-0" onclick="adjustPoison(0,1)" title="Poison counters (click +1, right-click -1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(0,-1)">0 poison</div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="life-panel lp-p2" id="life-panel-2">
+      <div class="life-panel-box life-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Life</span>
+        <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-2">
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(1,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P2 life">&#x2212;</button>
+          <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-1" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(1)">40</span>
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(1,1)" aria-label="Increase P2 life">+</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box cmd-dmg-box" id="cmd-dmg-inline-1">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Cmd Dmg</span>
+        <div class="cmd-dmg-inline-row">&#8212;</div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box counters-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Counters</span>
+        <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-1" onclick="adjustPoison(1,1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(1,-1)">0 poison</div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="life-panel lp-p3" id="life-panel-3">
+      <div class="life-panel-box life-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Life</span>
+        <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-3">
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(2,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P3 life">&#x2212;</button>
+          <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-2" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(2)">40</span>
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(2,1)" aria-label="Increase P3 life">+</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box cmd-dmg-box" id="cmd-dmg-inline-2">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Cmd Dmg</span>
+        <div class="cmd-dmg-inline-row">&#8212;</div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box counters-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Counters</span>
+        <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-2" onclick="adjustPoison(2,1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(2,-1)">0 poison</div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="life-panel lp-p4" id="life-panel-4">
+      <div class="life-panel-box life-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Life</span>
+        <div class="life-counter" id="life-counter-4">
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(3,-1)" aria-label="Decrease P4 life">&#x2212;</button>
+          <span class="life-counter-value" id="life-3" onclick="showSetLifeDialog(3)">40</span>
+          <button onclick="adjustLife(3,1)" aria-label="Increase P4 life">+</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box cmd-dmg-box" id="cmd-dmg-inline-3">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Cmd Dmg</span>
+        <div class="cmd-dmg-inline-row">&#8212;</div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="life-panel-box counters-box">
+        <span class="life-panel-label">Counters</span>
+        <div class="poison-badge" id="poison-3" onclick="adjustPoison(3,1)" oncontextmenu="event.preventDefault();adjustPoison(3,-1)">0 poison</div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
   <!-- COMBAT SVG OVERLAY (arrows) -->
   <svg id="combat-overlay" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="position:absolute;inset:44px 0 0 0;pointer-events:none;z-index:30;">
     <defs>
diff --git a/lan-client/style.css b/lan-client/style.css
index 7685c36..c0a3378 100644
--- a/lan-client/style.css
+++ b/lan-client/style.css
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@
   /* Card dimensions */
   --card-w: 63px;
   --card-h: 88px;
-  --bf-card-w: 100px;
-  --bf-card-h: 140px;
+  --bf-card-w: 63px;
+  --bf-card-h: 84px;
   --zone-radius: 8px;
 
   /* Game UI colors */
@@ -639,9 +639,79 @@ input { font-family: inherit; }
 .p3 .player-label { bottom: 6px; left: 6px; color: var(--p3-text); background: var(--p3-soft); }
 .p4 .player-label { bottom: 6px; right: 6px; color: var(--p4-text); background: var(--p4-soft); }
 
-/* Life counters */
-.life-counter {
+/* Life Panels Overlay — sits above everything */
+#life-panels-overlay {
   position: absolute;
+  inset: 44px 0 0 0;
+  z-index: 50;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.life-panel {
+  position: absolute;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 2px;
+  width: 130px;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+}
+
+/* Position each panel near the center crossing */
+.lp-p1 { bottom: calc(50% + 4px); right: calc(50% + 4px); }
+.lp-p2 { bottom: calc(50% + 4px); left: calc(50% + 4px); }
+.lp-p3 { top: calc(50% + 4px); right: calc(50% + 4px); }
+.lp-p4 { top: calc(50% + 4px); left: calc(50% + 4px); }
+
+.life-panel-box {
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  padding: 3px 6px;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 4px;
+}
+
+.life-panel-label {
+  font-size: 7px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.5px;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.35);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+/* Top box: Life */
+.life-box {
+  background: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.12);
+}
+
+/* Middle box: Commander Damage */
+.cmd-dmg-box {
+  background: rgba(0,0,0,0.4);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08);
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: stretch;
+  gap: 2px;
+}
+
+.cmd-dmg-inline-row {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 4px;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  font-size: 9px;
+  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
+}
+
+/* Bottom box: Counters (poison, etc.) */
+.counters-box {
+  background: rgba(0,0,0,0.35);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
+}
+
+/* Life counters (now inside life-panel) */
+.life-counter {
+  position: relative;
   z-index: 20;
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
@@ -672,10 +742,10 @@ input { font-family: inherit; }
   color: rgba(255,255,255,0.8);
 }
 
-.p1 .life-counter { top: 6px; right: 6px; color: var(--p1-text); }
-.p2 .life-counter { top: 6px; left: 6px; color: var(--p2-text); }
-.p3 .life-counter { bottom: 6px; right: 6px; color: var(--p3-text); }
-.p4 .life-counter { bottom: 6px; left: 6px; color: var(--p4-text); }
+.lp-p1 .life-counter { color: var(--p1-text); }
+.lp-p2 .life-counter { color: var(--p2-text); }
+.lp-p3 .life-counter { color: var(--p3-text); }
+.lp-p4 .life-counter { color: var(--p4-text); }
 
 .life-counter-value {
   cursor: pointer;
@@ -683,39 +753,42 @@ input { font-family: inherit; }
 }
 .life-counter-value:hover { transform: scale(1.1); }
 
-/* Poison counter badge */
+/* Poison counter badge (now inside life-panel) */
 .poison-badge {
-  position: absolute;
-  z-index: 21;
+  position: relative;
   font-size: 10px;
   font-weight: 700;
   padding: 1px 5px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-full);
   cursor: pointer;
+  color: #c45fd6;
+  background: rgba(142,68,173,0.2);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(142,68,173,0.4);
 }
-.p1 .poison-badge { top: 30px; right: 6px; color: #c45fd6; background: rgba(142,68,173,0.2); border: 1px solid rgba(142,68,173,0.4); }
-.p2 .poison-badge { top: 30px; left: 6px; color: #c45fd6; background: rgba(142,68,173,0.2); border: 1px solid rgba(142,68,173,0.4); }
-.p3 .poison-badge { bottom: 30px; right: 6px; color: #c45fd6; background: rgba(142,68,173,0.2); border: 1px solid rgba(142,68,173,0.4); }
-.p4 .poison-badge { bottom: 30px; left: 6px; color: #c45fd6; background: rgba(142,68,173,0.2); border: 1px solid rgba(142,68,173,0.4); }
 
-/* Zone rows */
+/* Zone rows — overlaid on battlefield edge */
 .zone-row {
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 10;
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   gap: 4px;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
 }
-.p1 .zone-row, .p3 .zone-row { flex-direction: row; }
-.p2 .zone-row, .p4 .zone-row { flex-direction: row-reverse; }
+.p1 .zone-row { top: 6px; left: 6px; flex-direction: row; }
+.p2 .zone-row { top: 6px; right: 6px; flex-direction: row-reverse; }
+.p3 .zone-row { bottom: 6px; left: 6px; flex-direction: row; }
+.p4 .zone-row { bottom: 6px; right: 6px; flex-direction: row-reverse; }
 
-/* Commander row */
+/* Commander row — overlaid on battlefield edge */
 .commander-row {
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 10;
   display: flex;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-  margin: 3px 0;
 }
-.p1 .commander-row, .p3 .commander-row { justify-content: flex-start; }
-.p2 .commander-row, .p4 .commander-row { justify-content: flex-end; }
+.p1 .commander-row { top: 6px; left: 6px; margin-top: calc(var(--card-h) + 10px); }
+.p2 .commander-row { top: 6px; right: 6px; margin-top: calc(var(--card-h) + 10px); }
+.p3 .commander-row { bottom: 6px; left: 6px; margin-bottom: calc(var(--card-h) + 10px); }
+.p4 .commander-row { bottom: 6px; right: 6px; margin-bottom: calc(var(--card-h) + 10px); }
 
 /* Battle zone */
 .battle-zone {
@@ -2547,8 +2620,8 @@ kbd {
   :root {
     --card-w: 42px;
     --card-h: 58px;
-    --bf-card-w: 72px;
-    --bf-card-h: 100px;
+    --bf-card-w: 42px;
+    --bf-card-h: 56px;
   }
   .player-label { font-size: 7px; letter-spacing: 1px; padding: 1px 5px; }
   .life-counter { font-size: 14px; }