DOS · JOY (JOY) · May 20, 2026 · May 20, 2026
diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/PrototypeAgentBrain.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/PrototypeAgentBrain.cs
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ private enum BrainPhase
         private float _nextNpcSpeechResponseAt;
         private float _talkVisualUntil;
         private float _dialogHoldUntil;
+        private float _answeringStatusHoldUntil;
         private Vector3 _dialogLookPosition;
         private bool _hasDialogLookPosition;
         private int _heldDecisionSlots;
@@ -384,6 +385,17 @@ private IEnumerator BrainLoop()
                     continue;
                 }
 
+                if (IsDialogFocusActive() && !HasFreshPendingPlayerChat())
+                {
+                    if (!IsAnsweringStatusActive())
+                    {
+                        SetBrainStatus("AI listening", new Color(0.82f, 0.86f, 0.9f), "dialog focus");
+                    }
+
+                    yield return new WaitForSeconds(0.35f);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
                 if (NpcDecisionRequestScheduler.IsPlayerChatFocusActive && !HasFreshPendingPlayerChat())
                 {
                     SetBrainStatus("AI listening", new Color(0.82f, 0.86f, 0.9f), "player dialog nearby");
@@ -401,15 +413,28 @@ private IEnumerator BrainLoop()
                 string decisionError = null;
 
                 var isPlayerChatDecision = HasFreshPendingPlayerChat();
-                if (!isPlayerChatDecision && NpcDecisionRequestScheduler.IsAutonomousQueueFull)
+                if (!isPlayerChatDecision && CanShowAutonomousDecisionStatus() && NpcDecisionRequestScheduler.IsAutonomousQueueFull)
                 {
                     SetBrainStatus("AI queued", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f));
                 }
 
                 yield return NpcDecisionRequestScheduler.WaitForSlot(
                     isPlayerChatDecision,
-                    () => SetBrainStatus(isPlayerChatDecision ? "AI answering" : "AI queued", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f)));
+                    () =>
+                    {
+                        if (isPlayerChatDecision || CanShowAutonomousDecisionStatus())
+                        {
+                            SetBrainStatus(isPlayerChatDecision ? "AI answering" : "AI queued", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f));
+                        }
+                    });
                 _heldDecisionSlots++;
+                if (!isPlayerChatDecision && !CanShowAutonomousDecisionStatus())
+                {
+                    ReleaseHeldDecisionSlot();
+                    yield return new WaitForSeconds(0.1f);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
                 SetBrainStatus("AI DOS.AI request", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f));
                 try
                 {
@@ -958,6 +983,21 @@ private bool HasFreshPendingPlayerChat()
                 Time.time - _pendingPlayerChatAt <= PlayerChatContextLifetimeSeconds;
         }
 
+        private bool IsDialogFocusActive()
+        {
+            return Time.time < _dialogHoldUntil;
+        }
+
+        private bool IsAnsweringStatusActive()
+        {
+            return _playerChatDecisionInFlight || Time.time < _answeringStatusHoldUntil;
+        }
+
+        private bool CanShowAutonomousDecisionStatus()
+        {
+            return !HasFreshPendingPlayerChat() && !IsDialogFocusActive();
+        }
+
         private IEnumerator PlayerChatResponseLoop()
         {
             if (_playerChatDecisionInFlight)
@@ -974,13 +1014,13 @@ private IEnumerator PlayerChatResponseLoop()
                 AgentDecisionDto decision = null;
                 string decisionError = null;
                 var request = BuildDecisionRequest();
-                SetBrainStatus("AI answering", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f), $"player chat attempt {_pendingPlayerChatAttemptCount}");
+                SetAnsweringStatus($"player chat attempt {_pendingPlayerChatAttemptCount}");
                 PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.TryNotifyFocusedNpcResponseStarted(AgentId, DisplayName, _pendingPlayerChatAttemptCount);
                 var stimulus = _pendingMessageFromNpc ? "npc_speech" : "player_chat";
                 Debug.Log($"[PrototypeAgentBrain] Player chat decision request agent={AgentId}, attempt={_pendingPlayerChatAttemptCount}, stimulus={stimulus}, allowed={string.Join(",", request.allowed ?? new string[0])}, message={request.world_snapshot?.last_player_message?.text}");
                 yield return NpcDecisionRequestScheduler.WaitForSlot(
                     true,
-                    () => SetBrainStatus("AI answering", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f)));
+                    () => SetAnsweringStatus("priority slot wait"));
                 _heldDecisionSlots++;
                 try
                 {
@@ -1023,6 +1063,7 @@ private IEnumerator PlayerChatResponseLoop()
             }
 
             _playerChatDecisionInFlight = false;
+            _answeringStatusHoldUntil = 0f;
             _playerChatResponseLoop = null;
         }
 
@@ -1242,6 +1283,10 @@ private IEnumerator ApplyDecision(AgentDecisionDto decision, AgentDecisionReques
                     Debug.LogWarning($"[PrototypeAgentBrain] Suppressed non-model speech agent={AgentId}, source={decision.source}, source_reason={decision.source_reason}, action={decision.action}");
                     if (request.world_snapshot?.last_player_message != null)
                     {
+                        PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.TryNotifyFocusedNpcResponseFailed(
+                            AgentId,
+                            DisplayName,
+                            FirstNonEmpty(decision.source_reason, "fallback"));
                         ClearPendingPlayerChat();
                     }
                     yield break;
@@ -1254,6 +1299,7 @@ private IEnumerator ApplyDecision(AgentDecisionDto decision, AgentDecisionReques
                     Debug.LogWarning($"[PrototypeAgentBrain] Suppressed empty model speech agent={AgentId}, source={decision.source}, source_reason={decision.source_reason}");
                     if (request.world_snapshot?.last_player_message != null)
                     {
+                        PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.TryNotifyFocusedNpcResponseFailed(AgentId, DisplayName, "empty_model_speech");
                         ClearPendingPlayerChat();
                     }
                     yield break;
@@ -1325,21 +1371,36 @@ private void BeginTalkVisuals()
             ApplyLocomotion(0f);
         }
 
-        public void BeginDialogFocus(Vector3 lookPosition, float seconds)
+        private void SetAnsweringStatus(string reason)
         {
+            _answeringStatusHoldUntil = Mathf.Max(_answeringStatusHoldUntil, Time.time + 45f);
+            SetBrainStatus("AI answering", new Color(0.72f, 0.82f, 0.95f), reason);
+        }
+
+        public void BeginDialogFocus(Vector3 lookPosition, float seconds, bool updateStatus = true)
+        {
+            var holdSeconds = Mathf.Max(0f, seconds);
             _hasMoveTarget = false;
-            _dialogHoldUntil = Mathf.Max(_dialogHoldUntil, Time.time + Mathf.Max(0f, seconds));
+            _dialogHoldUntil = Mathf.Max(_dialogHoldUntil, Time.time + holdSeconds);
             _dialogLookPosition = lookPosition;
             _hasDialogLookPosition = true;
+            _talkVisualUntil = Mathf.Max(_talkVisualUntil, Time.time + holdSeconds);
             FacePosition(lookPosition);
             ApplyLocomotion(0f);
-            SetBrainStatus("AI dialog", new Color(0.74f, 0.86f, 0.92f), "dialog focus");
+            if (updateStatus)
+            {
+                SetBrainStatus("AI dialog", new Color(0.74f, 0.86f, 0.92f), "dialog focus");
+            }
         }
 
         public void EndDialogFocus()
         {
             _dialogHoldUntil = 0f;
+            _answeringStatusHoldUntil = 0f;
             _hasDialogLookPosition = false;
+            _talkVisualUntil = 0f;
+            RestoreWeaponProps();
+            ApplyLocomotion(0f);
             SetBrainStatus("AI ready", new Color(0.82f, 0.86f, 0.9f), "dialog ended");
         }
 

diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/AI/PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.cs
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ private static void EnterLocalDialogMode(NetworkPlayer player, PrototypeAgentBra
             PrototypeInputFocusGate.LockForDialog(DialogInputLockSeconds);
             player.FaceWorldPosition(brain.transform.position);
             player.BeginDialogVisual(DialogInputLockSeconds);
-            brain.BeginDialogFocus(player.transform.position, DialogInputLockSeconds);
+            brain.BeginDialogFocus(player.transform.position, DialogInputLockSeconds, true);
             Debug.Log($"[PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox] Dialog mode entered player={player.name}, npc={brain.DisplayName}, hold_seconds={DialogInputLockSeconds:0.0}");
         }
 
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ private void MaintainDialogFacing()
             PrototypeInputFocusGate.LockForDialog(0.4f);
             player.FaceWorldPosition(brain.transform.position);
             player.BeginDialogVisual(0.75f);
-            brain.BeginDialogFocus(player.transform.position, 0.25f);
+            brain.BeginDialogFocus(player.transform.position, 0.25f, false);
         }
 
         private List<string> ResolveFocusedNpcRecipient()

diff --git a/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/UI/NearbyNpcChatPanel.cs b/Unity/Assets/_SecondSpawn/Scripts/UI/NearbyNpcChatPanel.cs
@@ -326,7 +326,6 @@ private void RenderDialogueRows()
                 return;
             }
 
-            var firstIsPlayer = _chat.DialogueLines[0].is_player;
             foreach (var line in _chat.DialogueLines)
             {
                 if (line.is_system)
@@ -335,7 +334,7 @@ private void RenderDialogueRows()
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                CreateMessageRow(line, line.is_player == firstIsPlayer);
+                CreateMessageRow(line, line.is_player);
             }
         }
 
@@ -388,7 +387,8 @@ private void CreateMessageRow(PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.DialogueLine line, bool
             }
 
             var bubble = CreateRect("Bubble", row);
-            var bubbleWidth = _chat.IsChatModeActive ? 660f : 380f;
+            var lineText = $"{line.speaker}: {line.text}";
+            var bubbleWidth = EstimateMessageWidth(lineText, _chat.IsChatModeActive);
             SetPreferredWidth(bubble, bubbleWidth);
             var image = bubble.gameObject.AddComponent<Image>();
             image.color = line.is_player
@@ -400,10 +400,10 @@ private void CreateMessageRow(PrototypeNearbyNpcChatBox.DialogueLine line, bool
             label.rectTransform.anchorMax = Vector2.one;
             label.rectTransform.offsetMin = new Vector2(12f, 7f);
             label.rectTransform.offsetMax = new Vector2(-12f, -7f);
-            label.alignment = line.is_player ? TextAnchor.MiddleRight : TextAnchor.MiddleLeft;
+            label.alignment = TextAnchor.MiddleLeft;
             label.horizontalOverflow = HorizontalWrapMode.Wrap;
             label.verticalOverflow = VerticalWrapMode.Truncate;
-            label.text = $"{line.speaker}: {line.text}";
+            label.text = lineText;
 
             if (leftSide)
             {
@@ -425,6 +425,32 @@ private static float EstimateMessageHeight(string text, bool dialogMode)
             return Mathf.Clamp(34f + lineCount * (dialogMode ? 27f : 22f), 54f, dialogMode ? 142f : 104f);
         }
 
+        private static float EstimateMessageWidth(string text, bool dialogMode)
+        {
+            var minWidth = dialogMode ? 180f : 150f;
+            var maxWidth = dialogMode ? 660f : 380f;
+            var averageGlyphWidth = dialogMode ? 10.5f : 8.5f;
+            var longestLine = LongestUnwrappedLineLength(text);
+            return Mathf.Clamp(28f + longestLine * averageGlyphWidth, minWidth, maxWidth);
+        }
+
+        private static int LongestUnwrappedLineLength(string text)
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(text))
+            {
+                return 0;
+            }
+
+            var longest = 0;
+            var lines = text.Split('\n');
+            foreach (var line in lines)
+            {
+                longest = Mathf.Max(longest, line.Trim().Length);
+            }
+
+            return longest;
+        }
+
         private void QueueScrollToBottom()
         {
             _scrollToBottomPending = true;

diff --git a/backend/nakama/local.example.yml b/backend/nakama/local.example.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ runtime:
     - "SECOND_SPAWN_ENABLE_DEBUG_BODYTIME=false"
     - "DOS_AI_BASE_URL=https://api.dos.ai/v1"
     - "AGENT_DECISION_MODEL=dos-ai"
-    - "DOS_AI_DECISION_TIMEOUT_MS=120000"
+    - "DOS_AI_DECISION_TIMEOUT_MS=30000"
     - "DOS_AI_DECISION_BACKOFF_SECONDS=5"
     - "DOS_AI_DECISION_DAILY_REQUEST_LIMIT=1000"
     - "DOS_AI_DECISION_DAILY_TOKEN_BUDGET=250000"

diff --git a/backend/nakama/modules/index.ts b/backend/nakama/modules/index.ts
@@ -4344,7 +4344,7 @@ function tryDosAiAgentDecision(
       };
     }
 
-    var decision = parseModelDecisionContent(content);
+    var decision = parseModelDecisionContent(content, allowed, world);
     sanitizeModelDecisionIntent(decision, world);
     var validationError = validateAgentDecisionIntent(decision, allowed, world);
     if (validationError) {
@@ -5108,7 +5108,7 @@ function compactPlayerChatContext(message: any): any {
   };
 }
 
-function parseModelDecisionContent(content: string): any {
+function parseModelDecisionContent(content: string, allowed?: string[], world?: any): any {
   var normalized = trimString(content);
   if (normalized.indexOf("```json") === 0) {
     normalized = trimString(normalized.substring(7));
@@ -5125,7 +5125,68 @@ function parseModelDecisionContent(content: string): any {
       normalized = trimString(normalized.substring(firstBrace, lastBrace + 1));
     }
   }
-  return unwrapModelDecision(parseJson(normalized, "model decision"));
+
+  try {
+    return unwrapModelDecision(parseJson(normalized, "model decision"));
+  } catch (err) {
+    var normalizedSpeech = normalizeModelSpeechDecision(normalized, allowed || [], world || {});
+    if (normalizedSpeech) {
+      return normalizedSpeech;
+    }
+
+    throw err;
+  }
+}
+
+function normalizeModelSpeechDecision(content: string, allowed: string[], world: any): any {
+  if (!arrayContains(allowed, "say")) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  var speech = extractModelSpeechText(content);
+  if (!speech) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  var explicitSpeech = isExplicitSpeechText(content);
+  if (!explicitSpeech && !hasPlayerMessage(world)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return {
+    action: "say",
+    target_id: selectFallbackSayTargetId(world),
+    say: truncateForLog(speech, hasPlayerMessage(world) ? 180 : 90),
+    reason: "model_speech_normalized",
+    confidence: 0.45
+  };
+}
+
+function isExplicitSpeechText(content: string): boolean {
+  var value = lowercase(trimString(content));
+  return value.indexOf("say:") === 0 ||
+    value.indexOf("say ") === 0 ||
+    value.indexOf("reply:") === 0 ||
+    value.indexOf("speech:") === 0;
+}
+
+function extractModelSpeechText(content: string): string {
+  var value = trimString(content);
+  if (!value) {
+    return "";
+  }
+
+  value = value.replace(/^(say|reply|speech)\s*:\s*/i, "");
+  value = trimString(value);
+  if (value.length >= 2) {
+    var first = value.charAt(0);
+    var last = value.charAt(value.length - 1);
+    if ((first === "\"" && last === "\"") || (first === "'" && last === "'")) {
+      value = trimString(value.substring(1, value.length - 1));
+    }
+  }
+
+  return value;
 }
 
 function unwrapModelDecision(parsed: any): any {