diff --git a/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/role-select.js b/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/role-select.js
index 011a704..401a439 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/role-select.js
+++ b/src/apps/epic/static/apps/epic/role-select.js
@@ -41,6 +41,29 @@ var RoleSelect = (function () {
         if (backdrop) backdrop.remove();
     }
 
+    function _showNoDeckWarning(stack) {
+        if (document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")) return;
+        var el = document.createElement("div");
+        el.className = "role-no-deck-warning";
+        el.innerHTML =
+            "<p>Equip card deck before Role select</p>" +
+            "<div class=\"guard-actions\">" +
+            "<a class=\"btn btn-caution\" href=\"/gameboard/\">FYI</a>" +
+            "<button class=\"btn btn-cancel\">NVM</button>" +
+            "</div>";
+        el.querySelector(".btn-cancel").addEventListener("click", function () {
+            el.remove();
+        });
+        if (stack) {
+            var rect = stack.getBoundingClientRect();
+            el.style.position = "fixed";
+            el.style.left = Math.round(rect.left + rect.width  / 2) + "px";
+            el.style.top  = Math.round(rect.top  + rect.height / 2) + "px";
+            el.style.transform = "translate(-50%, -50%)";
+        }
+        document.body.appendChild(el);
+    }
+
     function selectRole(roleCode) {
         _turnChangedBeforeFetch = false;  // fresh selection, reset the race flag
         closeFan();
@@ -138,6 +161,12 @@ var RoleSelect = (function () {
     function openFan() {
         if (document.querySelector(".role-select-backdrop")) return;
 
+        var stack = document.querySelector(".card-stack[data-starter-roles]");
+        if (stack && stack.dataset.equippedDeck === "") {
+            _showNoDeckWarning(stack);
+            return;
+        }
+
         var taken = getStarterRoles();
         var available = ROLES.filter(function (r) { return taken.indexOf(r.code) === -1; });
 
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/views.py b/src/apps/epic/views.py
index b654a94..a8c238b 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/views.py
+++ b/src/apps/epic/views.py
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ def _role_select_context(room, user):
     _my_role = assigned_seats[0].role if assigned_seats else None
     ctx = {
         "card_stack_state": card_stack_state,
+        "equipped_deck_id": user.equipped_deck_id if user.is_authenticated else None,
         "starter_roles": starter_roles,
         "assigned_seats": assigned_seats,
         "my_tray_role": _my_role,
diff --git a/src/static/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js b/src/static/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js
index eae2db3..3e39fff 100644
--- a/src/static/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js
+++ b/src/static/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ describe("RoleSelect", () => {
     afterEach(() => {
         RoleSelect.closeFan();
         testDiv.remove();
+        const warning = document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning");
+        if (warning) warning.remove();
         delete window.showGuard;
     });
 
@@ -693,4 +695,87 @@ describe("RoleSelect", () => {
             });
         });
     });
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------ //
+    // No-deck guard                                                        //
+    // data-equipped-deck="" → openFan() blocked; warning shown over stack //
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------ //
+
+    describe("openFan() — no deck equipped (data-equipped-deck='')", () => {
+        let stack;
+
+        beforeEach(() => {
+            stack = document.createElement("div");
+            stack.className = "card-stack";
+            stack.dataset.state = "eligible";
+            stack.dataset.starterRoles = "";
+            stack.dataset.userSlots = "1";
+            stack.dataset.activeSlot = "1";
+            stack.dataset.equippedDeck = "";   // explicitly empty = no deck
+            testDiv.appendChild(stack);
+
+            RoleSelect.openFan();  // intercepted — fan must NOT open
+        });
+
+        it("does not open the fan backdrop", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-select-backdrop")).toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("shows .role-no-deck-warning in the DOM", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")).not.toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("warning contains the deck prompt text", () => {
+            const w = document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning");
+            expect(w.textContent).toContain("Equip card deck before Role select");
+        });
+
+        it("warning has a .btn-caution FYI link to gameboard", () => {
+            const btn = document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning .guard-actions .btn-caution");
+            expect(btn).not.toBeNull();
+            expect(btn.tagName).toBe("A");
+            expect(btn.href).toContain("/gameboard/");
+        });
+
+        it("warning has a .btn-cancel NVM button", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning .guard-actions .btn-cancel")).not.toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("NVM click removes the warning", () => {
+            document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning .guard-actions .btn-cancel").click();
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")).toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("second openFan() call does not duplicate the warning", () => {
+            RoleSelect.openFan();
+            expect(document.querySelectorAll(".role-no-deck-warning").length).toBe(1);
+        });
+
+        it("does not POST to select_role", () => {
+            expect(window.fetch).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe("openFan() — deck is equipped (data-equipped-deck non-empty)", () => {
+        beforeEach(() => {
+            const stack = document.createElement("div");
+            stack.className = "card-stack";
+            stack.dataset.state = "eligible";
+            stack.dataset.starterRoles = "";
+            stack.dataset.userSlots = "1";
+            stack.dataset.activeSlot = "1";
+            stack.dataset.equippedDeck = "42";   // non-empty = deck present
+            testDiv.appendChild(stack);
+
+            RoleSelect.openFan();
+        });
+
+        it("opens the fan backdrop normally", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-select-backdrop")).not.toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("does not show .role-no-deck-warning", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")).toBeNull();
+        });
+    });
 });
diff --git a/src/static/tests/SigSelectSpec.js b/src/static/tests/SigSelectSpec.js
index 3859d1b..33065c8 100644
--- a/src/static/tests/SigSelectSpec.js
+++ b/src/static/tests/SigSelectSpec.js
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ describe("SigSelect", () => {
                              data-correspondence=""
                              data-keywords-upright="action,impulsiveness,ambition"
                              data-keywords-reversed="no direction,disregard for consequences"
-                             data-cautions="${cardCautions.replace(/"/g, '&quot;')}">
+                             data-cautions="${cardCautions.replace(/"/g, '&quot;')}"
+                             data-levity-qualifier="Elevated"
+                             data-gravity-qualifier="Graven">
                             <div class="fan-card-corner fan-card-corner--tl">
                                 <span class="fan-corner-rank">K</span>
                             </div>
@@ -540,25 +542,25 @@ describe("SigSelect", () => {
 
     // ── Polarity theming — stage qualifier text ────────────────────────────── //
     //
-    // On mouseenter, updateStage() injects "Leavened" or "Graven" into the
+    // On mouseenter, updateStage() injects "Elevated" or "Graven" into the
     // sig-qualifier-above (non-major) or sig-qualifier-below (major arcana) slot.
     // Correspondence field is never populated in sig-select context.
 
     describe("polarity theming — stage qualifier", () => {
-        it("levity non-major card puts 'Leavened' in qualifier-above, qualifier-below empty", () => {
+        it("levity non-major card puts 'Elevated' in qualifier-above, qualifier-below empty", () => {
             makeFixture({ polarity: 'levity', userRole: 'PC' });
             // data-arcana defaults to "Minor Arcana" in fixture → non-major
             card.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("mouseenter", { bubbles: true }));
-            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("Leavened");
+            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("Elevated");
             expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("");
         });
 
-        it("levity major arcana card puts 'Leavened' in qualifier-below, qualifier-above empty", () => {
+        it("levity major arcana card puts 'Elevated' in qualifier-below, qualifier-above empty", () => {
             makeFixture({ polarity: 'levity', userRole: 'PC' });
             card.dataset.arcana = "Major Arcana";
             card.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("mouseenter", { bubbles: true }));
             expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("");
-            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Leavened");
+            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Elevated");
         });
 
         it("major arcana title gets a trailing comma (qualifier reads as subtitle)", () => {
@@ -597,7 +599,7 @@ describe("SigSelect", () => {
             card.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("mouseenter", { bubbles: true }));
             // Now major — above should be empty, below filled
             expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("");
-            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Leavened");
+            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Elevated");
         });
 
         it("correspondence field is never populated", () => {
diff --git a/src/static_src/scss/_base.scss b/src/static_src/scss/_base.scss
index 32802b2..7d206a2 100644
--- a/src/static_src/scss/_base.scss
+++ b/src/static_src/scss/_base.scss
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ body {
     z-index: 10000;
     padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
     border-radius: 0.5rem;
-    background-color: rgba(var(--tooltip-bg), 0.5);
+    background-color: rgba(var(--tooltip-bg), 0.75);
     backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
     border: 0.1rem solid rgba(var(--secUser), 0.4);
     box-shadow: 0 0.25rem 1rem rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
diff --git a/src/static_src/scss/_room.scss b/src/static_src/scss/_room.scss
index d2dcbb8..c449c52 100644
--- a/src/static_src/scss/_room.scss
+++ b/src/static_src/scss/_room.scss
@@ -738,6 +738,37 @@ html:has(.gate-backdrop) .position-strip .gate-slot button { pointer-events: aut
 $card-w: 90px;
 $card-h: 60px;
 
+// ─── No-deck warning overlay ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+.role-no-deck-warning {
+    position: fixed;
+    z-index: 10000;
+    transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.5rem;
+    padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+    max-width: 11rem;
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    background-color: rgba(var(--tooltip-bg), 0.75);
+    backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    border: 0.1rem solid rgba(var(--secUser), 0.4);
+    box-shadow: 0 0.25rem 1rem rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+
+    p {
+        font-size: 0.75rem;
+        color: rgba(var(--secUser), 0.9);
+        text-align: center;
+        margin: 0;
+    }
+
+    .guard-actions {
+        display: flex;
+        gap: 0.5rem;
+    }
+}
+
 // ─── Role select modal ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 .role-select-backdrop {
diff --git a/src/static_src/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js b/src/static_src/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js
index eae2db3..3e39fff 100644
--- a/src/static_src/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js
+++ b/src/static_src/tests/RoleSelectSpec.js
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ describe("RoleSelect", () => {
     afterEach(() => {
         RoleSelect.closeFan();
         testDiv.remove();
+        const warning = document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning");
+        if (warning) warning.remove();
         delete window.showGuard;
     });
 
@@ -693,4 +695,87 @@ describe("RoleSelect", () => {
             });
         });
     });
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------ //
+    // No-deck guard                                                        //
+    // data-equipped-deck="" → openFan() blocked; warning shown over stack //
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------ //
+
+    describe("openFan() — no deck equipped (data-equipped-deck='')", () => {
+        let stack;
+
+        beforeEach(() => {
+            stack = document.createElement("div");
+            stack.className = "card-stack";
+            stack.dataset.state = "eligible";
+            stack.dataset.starterRoles = "";
+            stack.dataset.userSlots = "1";
+            stack.dataset.activeSlot = "1";
+            stack.dataset.equippedDeck = "";   // explicitly empty = no deck
+            testDiv.appendChild(stack);
+
+            RoleSelect.openFan();  // intercepted — fan must NOT open
+        });
+
+        it("does not open the fan backdrop", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-select-backdrop")).toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("shows .role-no-deck-warning in the DOM", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")).not.toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("warning contains the deck prompt text", () => {
+            const w = document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning");
+            expect(w.textContent).toContain("Equip card deck before Role select");
+        });
+
+        it("warning has a .btn-caution FYI link to gameboard", () => {
+            const btn = document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning .guard-actions .btn-caution");
+            expect(btn).not.toBeNull();
+            expect(btn.tagName).toBe("A");
+            expect(btn.href).toContain("/gameboard/");
+        });
+
+        it("warning has a .btn-cancel NVM button", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning .guard-actions .btn-cancel")).not.toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("NVM click removes the warning", () => {
+            document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning .guard-actions .btn-cancel").click();
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")).toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("second openFan() call does not duplicate the warning", () => {
+            RoleSelect.openFan();
+            expect(document.querySelectorAll(".role-no-deck-warning").length).toBe(1);
+        });
+
+        it("does not POST to select_role", () => {
+            expect(window.fetch).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe("openFan() — deck is equipped (data-equipped-deck non-empty)", () => {
+        beforeEach(() => {
+            const stack = document.createElement("div");
+            stack.className = "card-stack";
+            stack.dataset.state = "eligible";
+            stack.dataset.starterRoles = "";
+            stack.dataset.userSlots = "1";
+            stack.dataset.activeSlot = "1";
+            stack.dataset.equippedDeck = "42";   // non-empty = deck present
+            testDiv.appendChild(stack);
+
+            RoleSelect.openFan();
+        });
+
+        it("opens the fan backdrop normally", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-select-backdrop")).not.toBeNull();
+        });
+
+        it("does not show .role-no-deck-warning", () => {
+            expect(document.querySelector(".role-no-deck-warning")).toBeNull();
+        });
+    });
 });
diff --git a/src/static_src/tests/SigSelectSpec.js b/src/static_src/tests/SigSelectSpec.js
index 3859d1b..33065c8 100644
--- a/src/static_src/tests/SigSelectSpec.js
+++ b/src/static_src/tests/SigSelectSpec.js
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ describe("SigSelect", () => {
                              data-correspondence=""
                              data-keywords-upright="action,impulsiveness,ambition"
                              data-keywords-reversed="no direction,disregard for consequences"
-                             data-cautions="${cardCautions.replace(/"/g, '&quot;')}">
+                             data-cautions="${cardCautions.replace(/"/g, '&quot;')}"
+                             data-levity-qualifier="Elevated"
+                             data-gravity-qualifier="Graven">
                             <div class="fan-card-corner fan-card-corner--tl">
                                 <span class="fan-corner-rank">K</span>
                             </div>
@@ -540,25 +542,25 @@ describe("SigSelect", () => {
 
     // ── Polarity theming — stage qualifier text ────────────────────────────── //
     //
-    // On mouseenter, updateStage() injects "Leavened" or "Graven" into the
+    // On mouseenter, updateStage() injects "Elevated" or "Graven" into the
     // sig-qualifier-above (non-major) or sig-qualifier-below (major arcana) slot.
     // Correspondence field is never populated in sig-select context.
 
     describe("polarity theming — stage qualifier", () => {
-        it("levity non-major card puts 'Leavened' in qualifier-above, qualifier-below empty", () => {
+        it("levity non-major card puts 'Elevated' in qualifier-above, qualifier-below empty", () => {
             makeFixture({ polarity: 'levity', userRole: 'PC' });
             // data-arcana defaults to "Minor Arcana" in fixture → non-major
             card.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("mouseenter", { bubbles: true }));
-            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("Leavened");
+            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("Elevated");
             expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("");
         });
 
-        it("levity major arcana card puts 'Leavened' in qualifier-below, qualifier-above empty", () => {
+        it("levity major arcana card puts 'Elevated' in qualifier-below, qualifier-above empty", () => {
             makeFixture({ polarity: 'levity', userRole: 'PC' });
             card.dataset.arcana = "Major Arcana";
             card.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("mouseenter", { bubbles: true }));
             expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("");
-            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Leavened");
+            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Elevated");
         });
 
         it("major arcana title gets a trailing comma (qualifier reads as subtitle)", () => {
@@ -597,7 +599,7 @@ describe("SigSelect", () => {
             card.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent("mouseenter", { bubbles: true }));
             // Now major — above should be empty, below filled
             expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-above").textContent).toBe("");
-            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Leavened");
+            expect(testDiv.querySelector(".sig-qualifier-below").textContent).toBe("Elevated");
         });
 
         it("correspondence field is never populated", () => {
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html
index 0c70677..7808c1d 100644
--- a/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html
+++ b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@
                                         <div class="card-stack" data-state="{{ card_stack_state }}"
                                             data-starter-roles="{{ starter_roles|join:',' }}"
                                             data-user-slots="{{ user_slots|join:',' }}"
-                                            data-active-slot="{{ active_slot }}">
+                                            data-active-slot="{{ active_slot }}"
+                                            data-equipped-deck="{{ equipped_deck_id|default:'' }}">
                                             {% if card_stack_state == "ineligible" %}
                                                 <i class="fa-solid fa-ban"></i>
                                             {% endif %}