diff --git a/tools/autoplay-batch.sh b/tools/autoplay-batch.sh
index 3635f66b..2c5efdfe 100755
--- a/tools/autoplay-batch.sh
+++ b/tools/autoplay-batch.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@
 #                    (default 0). Use for multi-sweep runs that share a parent
 #                    results_dir and need disjoint seed numbers (e.g. Task #10
 #                    AI_PIN_PERSONALITY rotation: 5× batches at offsets 0,10,20,30,40).
+#   REMOTE_BATCH_ROOT — Where remote autoplay batches write their output on the
+#                    AUTOPLAY_HOST. Defaults to /tmp/@magic-civilization/builds
+#                    so artifacts land OUTSIDE the remote host's dev working tree
+#                    (writing into the working tree causes auto-commit divergence
+#                    between hosts). Override to $REMOTE_HOME/... if the remote
+#                    host is a pure build node without active development.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -61,6 +67,7 @@ if ! [[ "$TURN_LIMIT" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || [ "$TURN_LIMIT" -lt 1 ]; then
 fi
 
 AUTOPLAY_HOST="${AUTOPLAY_HOST:-}"
+REMOTE_BATCH_ROOT="${REMOTE_BATCH_ROOT:-/tmp/@magic-civilization/builds}"
 SAFETY_TIMEOUT=$(( TURN_LIMIT * 2 + 300 ))
 PARALLEL="${PARALLEL:-1}"
 
@@ -200,13 +207,14 @@ _run_remote() {
 
     echo "[seed $seed] Running via SSH on $AUTOPLAY_HOST..."
 
-    # Write remote batch artifacts OUTSIDE the dev tree to /tmp so they cannot
-    # trigger auto-commit divergence on the remote host's working copy.
+    # REMOTE_BATCH_ROOT (default /tmp/@magic-civilization/builds) keeps batch
+    # artifacts OUTSIDE the remote host's dev working tree so they cannot
+    # trigger auto-commit divergence between hosts.
     # Derive a unique remote dir from RESULTS_DIR's basename to avoid per-clan
     # path collisions when multiple batches run in parallel with the same STAMP.
     local results_basename
     results_basename="$(basename "$RESULTS_DIR")"
-    local remote_game_dir="/tmp/@magic-civilization/builds/.local/batches/${results_basename}/game_${STAMP}_seed${seed}"
+    local remote_game_dir="$REMOTE_BATCH_ROOT/.local/batches/${results_basename}/game_${STAMP}_seed${seed}"
     local remote_runner="$REMOTE_HOME/bin/run_ap3.sh"
 
     ssh "$AUTOPLAY_HOST" "