diff --git a/.project/objectives/p0-20-gpu-mcts-rollouts.md b/.project/objectives/p0-20-gpu-mcts-rollouts.md
index c405bfab..ce1d4bec 100644
--- a/.project/objectives/p0-20-gpu-mcts-rollouts.md
+++ b/.project/objectives/p0-20-gpu-mcts-rollouts.md
@@ -139,20 +139,35 @@ successful A5/B5 evidence in the repo.
   (100% agreement, max_drift=0.000000) across 209 inputs (16 + 65 + 128) on
   lavapipe software Vulkan. Exceeded the ≥98% tolerance bullet.
 - ✗ `AI_GPU_ROLLOUT=true ./tools/autoplay-batch.sh 10 300` wall-time drops
-  ≥20% vs `AI_GPU_ROLLOUT=false` — **NOT YET VERIFIED**. apricot (the only
-  available RUN host) SIGTERMs any Godot flatpak cluster at 3–10s wall-clock
-  (apparently host-infrastructure issue: `apricot-rail-watchdog` + user-scope
-  cgroup pressure; systemd-oomd failed; reproduces under `nohup`, `setsid`,
-  `systemd-run --user --scope`, and `systemd-run --user --property=KillMode=none`).
-  Four failed relaunch attempts 2026-04-17 12:17 → 12:24 PDT; none of the
-  games ran past T52 before external SIGTERM. Journal shows
-  `warcouncil-a5.service: Unit process N (timeout) remains running after unit
-  stopped` — SIGTERM came from outside the service. Needs host-side
-  investigation of apricot's scope-kill daemon OR a different RUN host.
-- ✗ Victory rate on a 10-seed batch ≥60% — blocked on the same SIGTERM issue
-  for fresh validation against the current binary. p0-01's evidence shows
-  prior batches (pre-action-order-fix) at 80–90% victory rate; post-fix may
-  differ but can't measure until SIGTERM issue resolved.
+  ≥20% vs `AI_GPU_ROLLOUT=false` — **NOT YET VERIFIED**. Two sequential
+  blockers, first now resolved:
+  - (resolved) apricot SIGTERM root-caused to cleanup cycles triggered by
+    chronically-failing user services (`tor-manager`, `nightcrawler-crawl`,
+    `nightcrawler-controlpanel`, `lilith-host-agent`, each with NRestarts in
+    the hundreds). Off-scope handoff
+    `~/.claude/handoffs/apricot-flaky-user-services-cleanup.md` executed by
+    yellow session 2026-04-17 ~15:25 PDT: four services `systemctl --user
+    disable --now`, plus `vpn-socks5-tunnel` re-pointed to a live endpoint.
+    Sign-off batch `.local/iter/sigterm-fix-verify2-1518/` on apricot: 10/10
+    `turn_stats.jsonl` + `meta.json`, zero exit-143. Response at
+    `~/.claude/handoffs/apricot-flaky-user-services-cleanup-RESPONSE.md`.
+  - (open) `AI_GPU_ROLLOUT` env var is not wired into runtime. Grep of
+    `src/simulator/crates/mc-ai/src/`, `src/simulator/api-gdext/src/`, and
+    `src/game/engine/src/modules/ai/` returns no hits; the var is referenced
+    only in `tools/determinism-audit.sh`. `mc-ai/src/mcts_tree.rs::TreeState::rollout`
+    is still the sole per-leaf rollout hook (serial CPU), and
+    `mc-ai/src/gpu/inner.rs::batch_simulate_gpu` is a standalone function
+    not called from `Tree::run_iteration`. Running the env-var comparison
+    now would produce identical wall-times. **Integration work remaining:**
+    thread `Option<GpuContext>` into `Tree`, dispatch leaf batches through
+    `batch_simulate_gpu` when context present, plumb the flag through
+    `api-gdext::ai::GdMcTreeController`, read env in `ai_turn_bridge.gd`.
+- ✗ Victory rate on a 10-seed batch ≥60% — apricot sign-off batch
+  `.local/iter/sigterm-fix-verify2-1518/` on the current binary produced
+  turn counts across {76, 102, 126, 143, 152, 193, 201, 204, 213, 242} but
+  outcomes not yet tallied (needs `autoplay-report.py` run on the dir).
+  CPU-path victory-rate gate can close as soon as that report is generated;
+  GPU-path gate must wait on the integration work above.
 - ✓ wgpu version reconciled at v24 workspace-wide (`mc-turn`, `mc-compute`,
   `mc-ai --features gpu` all compile + test clean).
 - ✓ Graceful CPU fallback when no GPU adapter is detected — `GpuContext::shared()`
@@ -161,10 +176,23 @@ successful A5/B5 evidence in the repo.
 
 ## Remaining to reach done
 
-- Resolve apricot SIGTERM issue (host infra, NOT warcouncil scope) OR stand
-  up a second RUN host without the same kill daemon, then re-run the wall-time
-  comparison batch + 10-seed victory-rate batch. Everything else in the
-  acceptance list has been met or verified.
+1. **Integrate GPU rollouts into the MCTS tree.** `batch_simulate_gpu` exists
+   and is byte-parity-validated, but `Tree::run_iteration` still calls
+   `TreeState::rollout` serially per leaf. Needed:
+   - Add `Option<GpuContext>` to `Tree` (or pass via `run_iteration` config).
+   - Collect a batch of leaf `AbstractRolloutState`s per iteration and
+     dispatch `batch_simulate_gpu` when context is `Some`.
+   - Surface creation of `GpuContext::shared()` through `api-gdext::ai`,
+     gated on env var `AI_GPU_ROLLOUT=true` read in `ai_turn_bridge.gd` and
+     passed down to `GdMcTreeController`.
+   - CPU fallback path (when `GpuContext::shared()` returns `None`) already
+     covered by the parity-test skip path — just exercise it in the runtime.
+2. **Tally CPU-path victory rate** from the sign-off batch
+   `.local/iter/sigterm-fix-verify2-1518/` via `tools/autoplay-report.py`.
+   Cite result in the acceptance bullet.
+3. **Run the wall-time comparison** (AI_GPU_ROLLOUT=true vs false, 10 seeds
+   T=300, PARALLEL=4) after step 1 lands. Record wall-clock delta.
+4. **Run the GPU-path 10-seed victory batch** and cite ≥60% gate.
 
 ## Depends on
 
diff --git a/.project/objectives/p0-22-ultimate-ai-stress-test.md b/.project/objectives/p0-22-ultimate-ai-stress-test.md
index c7c824d9..03cd0335 100644
--- a/.project/objectives/p0-22-ultimate-ai-stress-test.md
+++ b/.project/objectives/p0-22-ultimate-ai-stress-test.md
@@ -67,22 +67,27 @@ a foregone conclusion; the grid is the precondition.
 - ✓ `python3 tools/test_matchup_and_ultimate.py` passes 26/26
   unit tests for matchup_balance and ultimate_stress verdict fns.
 - ✗ **`tools/matchup-grid.sh` → `matchup_balance: PASS`** — NOT yet run.
-  Gated on a stable RUN host (see p0-20 for the apricot SIGTERM situation;
-  batch work is blocked until host infra resolves).
+  RUN host stabilized 2026-04-17 ~15:25 PDT (apricot flaky-services cleanup;
+  10/10 sign-off batch clean — see p0-20 acceptance bullet for evidence
+  path). Sole remaining blocker: `auto_play.gd` hardcodes 1v1 and doesn't
+  honor `MAP_SIZE` / `NUM_PLAYERS` env vars, so the script can't target
+  an asymmetric clan pair.
 - ✗ **`tools/huge-map-5clan.sh` → `ultimate_stress: PASS`** — NOT yet run.
-  Depends on matchup_balance passing first AND the game binary honoring
-  the new `MAP_SIZE=standard` / `NUM_PLAYERS=5` env vars.
+  Same blocker as above — needs `MAP_SIZE=standard` and `NUM_PLAYERS=5`
+  honored by the game binary. matchup_balance does not strictly precede
+  this bullet for mechanical reasons, but the user has stated matchup_balance
+  is the precondition per the "deeper validation" rationale in p0-02.
 
 ## Remaining to reach done
 
-1. **RUN host stable enough for sustained flatpak-Godot batches**
-   — tracked in p0-20's "remaining" section; SIGTERM-at-3-to-10s on
-   apricot blocks every game-binary test, including matchup-grid +
-   ultimate.
-2. **Game binary reads `MAP_SIZE` and `NUM_PLAYERS` env** — currently
-   `auto_play.gd` hardcodes a 1v1 setup. Needs minimal wiring to read
-   the env vars and size the player array / pick the map.
-3. **MAX_PLAYERS POD expansion** — NOT a blocker for p0-22 (the Civ5
+1. **Game binary reads `MAP_SIZE` and `NUM_PLAYERS` env.** `auto_play.gd`
+   currently hardcodes a 1v1 setup. Needs minimal wiring to read the env
+   vars and size the player array / pick the map. This is the sole
+   remaining blocker for both acceptance bullets.
+2. **Run matchup-grid** (C(5,2)=10 pairs × seeds). Cite verdict.
+3. **Run huge-map-5clan** (5 clans on Civ5 `standard` 80×52 map).
+   Cite verdict.
+4. **MAX_PLAYERS POD expansion** — NOT a blocker for p0-22 (the Civ5
    `standard` 80×52 runs 8 players but our 5-clan ultimate only needs
    5). If we later want to run the actual canonical `huge` (128×80,
    12-player) with 8+ AI, the POD's 4-slot-per-entry layout needs
diff --git a/.project/objectives/p2-18-guide-public-deployment.md b/.project/objectives/p2-18-guide-public-deployment.md
index 392e4a62..eae3fcc9 100644
--- a/.project/objectives/p2-18-guide-public-deployment.md
+++ b/.project/objectives/p2-18-guide-public-deployment.md
@@ -14,6 +14,22 @@ evidence:
 
 Split out from p2-09 per user directive. Separate agent owns guide-web going forward; `owner:` is unclaimed for that agent to pick up.
 
+## Deferral note (2026-04-17, user directive)
+
+**Not a current priority.** User scoped the three deploy tiers as:
+
+- **Dev** — `pnpm dev` on the contributor's current machine (plum, apricot,
+  or wherever). Local only, no infra work.
+- **Staging** — `https://mc.next.black.local` via the Tourguide-owned
+  pipeline in p1-15. LAN/VPN-only; this is the "prod-like" deploy for the
+  moment. All production-shaped deploy testing happens here.
+- **Prod (this objective)** — public-internet hosting (GitHub Pages /
+  Cloudflare Pages / S3 / ...). **Deferred until Early Access ship
+  decision.** Don't invest agent time here until the user re-prioritises.
+
+Keep `tools/deploy-guide.sh` intact as authored — it already has `zip`
+mode that produces a handoff artifact for whichever public host wins.
+
 ## Summary
 
 Separate from p2-09 (which covers the build being clean): this objective covers choosing a public host and running the deploy. Currently the deploy script is ready (`tools/deploy-guide.sh` — modes `build` / `serve` / `apricot` / `zip`), but no public host has been committed for Early Access. The `apricot` mode ships dist/ to the LAN for preview; `zip` produces a handoff artifact that any external host can consume.
diff --git a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/.env.development b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/.env.development
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..510c8749
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/.env.development
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Vite dev-mode env (tracked). Loaded automatically by `pnpm dev`.
+#
+# VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1 makes the guide render every <EpisodeGate min={N}> subtree
+# and append Episodes 2-5 to the sidebar. Keeps contributor-facing dev runs
+# in "all episodes" mode so scope drift is visible early. Production builds
+# ignore this file — see .env.production (+ the explicit override
+# `VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1` in `./run deploy:guide:next` for the mc.next.black.local
+# dev-preview deploy).
+VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1
diff --git a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/.env.production b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/.env.production
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5e0ae4c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/.env.production
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Vite prod-mode env (tracked). Loaded automatically by `pnpm build`.
+#
+# Production build = Episode 1 only (Age of Dwarves Early Access). The
+# dev-preview deploy at mc.next.black.local overrides VITE_DEV_GUIDE in the
+# shell env (see `./run deploy:guide:next`).
+VITE_DEV_GUIDE=0
diff --git a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/nav.tsx b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/nav.tsx
index 4717602b..4ceb328e 100644
--- a/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/nav.tsx
+++ b/public/games/age-of-dwarves/guide/src/nav.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,24 @@
 import type { NavGroup } from '@magic-civ/guide-engine'
 import episodes from '@resources/episodes.json'
-import { EPISODE_COLORS } from '@magic-civ/guide-engine'
+import {
+  EPISODE_COLORS,
+  EP2_NAV,
+  EP3_NAV,
+  EP4_NAV,
+  EP5_NAV,
+} from '@magic-civ/guide-engine'
 
 const [ep1] = episodes
 
+// When VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1 (dev server + dev-preview deploy at mc.next.black.local),
+// append Episode 2-5 nav groups from the shared guide-engine so contributors
+// see the full multi-episode structure. Production Game 1 build leaves them
+// out. Routes for Ep2+ pages are provided by their own guide shells
+// (public/games/age-of-kzzkyt, public/games/age-of-elves); clicking them
+// here falls through to the wildcard redirect-to-home — known behavior
+// until a federated-route solution lands (future tourguide work).
+const SHOW_ALL_EPISODES = import.meta.env.VITE_DEV_GUIDE === '1'
+
 export const NAV: NavGroup[] = [
   // ─── Common (cross-episode) ───────────────────────────────────────────────
   {
@@ -111,4 +126,5 @@ export const NAV: NavGroup[] = [
       { to: '/playing/lenses', icon: '🔍', label: 'Lenses' },
     ],
   },
+  ...(SHOW_ALL_EPISODES ? [...EP2_NAV, ...EP3_NAV, ...EP4_NAV, ...EP5_NAV] : []),
 ]