diff --git a/docs/DESIGN.md b/docs/DESIGN.md
index 4fd79ed..69972ef 100644
--- a/docs/DESIGN.md
+++ b/docs/DESIGN.md
@@ -237,6 +237,8 @@ above, including:
 - **Fog of war also reveals the ground around the bot (t17, 2026-10-24).** About 20 grains in every
   direction, through rock, fully clear with a soft edge. Line of sight alone hid everything inside
   the ground, so the owner couldn't see what was around them or where to dig.
+  As tuned: clear to 12 grains, fading out by 24, with a grainy edge; the owner found the first
+  version's narrow fade too sharp.
 
 ## Ideas not built yet
 
diff --git a/docs/PROJECT_MAP.md b/docs/PROJECT_MAP.md
index e504ce7..a9f21b4 100644
--- a/docs/PROJECT_MAP.md
+++ b/docs/PROJECT_MAP.md
@@ -221,10 +221,10 @@ World state: the per-cell typed arrays, alloc(), ambient temperature by depth, w
 - functions: emit, bagCap, discover, alloc, depthU, depthY, computeAmbient, fillNoise, wakeXY, wakeHeatXY, wakeIdx, wakeHeatIdx
 - variables: W, H, N, CW, CH, NCH, mat, temp, life, flags, stamp, part, mach, digp, noiseB, airS, netId, isPow, occ, surfY, dirtY, graniteY, basaltY, magmaY, roofY, AMB, worldSeed, surfBase, underD, shallowD, lapse, BW, BH, NB, blockP, blockV, ents, bgm, flyers, ghostBlocks, ghostMolds, awake, hot, hotLvl, tick, tickStamp, machines, molds, nets, pcells, powerDirty, beltL, beltR, tubeLists, brokenMachines, ghostMachines, ghostBlocked, EV, bot, bag, bagTotal, player, seen, ledger, stats
 
-### src/sim/fog.js (46 lines)
+### src/sim/fog.js (51 lines)
 Exploration only: never changes grains or the random stream.
 - functions: fogAlloc, fogMark, fogSeen, fogInit, fogLook, fogRevealAround, fogRevealAll
-- variables: FOG, FOG_SENSE, fog, FW, FH
+- variables: FOG, FOG_SENSE, FOG_SENSE_FADE, fog, FW, FH
 
 ### src/sim/cells.js (176 lines)
 Cell helpers (setCell, move, enter) and the falling-sand movement of powders, liquids and gases (simMove).
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ Drawing (src/render/): browser only. This file: the renderer state R, colour tab
 Propagated coloured light from glowing and burning cells.
 - functions: computeLight
 
-### src/render/world.js (297 lines)
+### src/render/world.js (299 lines)
 Scale colour without changing the smooth-look class.
 - functions: fogColor, drawWorld
 - variables: TUBE_CLASS
diff --git a/docs/agent-log.md b/docs/agent-log.md
index cd5feb7..8591342 100644
--- a/docs/agent-log.md
+++ b/docs/agent-log.md
@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@ What agents have done, newest first. Add an entry for every piece of work: the d
 note or request it was for, what changed, the files touched, the tests run, and anything left
 open or not verified. Keep each entry short; the git history has the details.
 
+## 2026-10-24: t17 follow-up: softer fog edges (Claude Code, Codex)
+
+- The owner found the edges sharp and stepped. `src/sim/fog.js`: sense ring 24 grains with a
+  12-grain fade (`FOG_SENSE_FADE`), rays fade 8 grains into rock and over the last 16 of range,
+  surface fade 16, `fogRevealAround` gets a 6-grain soft edge. `src/render/world.js`: partly seen
+  grains get ±40 of per-grain noise (`noiseB`), so edges look grainy, not stepped.
+- `test/t_fog.js`: a point in the fade band is between 0 and 128. `docs/systems/fog.md` updated.
+  Screenshots `shots/fog-edge-{before,after}{,-nolight}.png` compared.
+- Tests: all pass except `t_smooth` half-resolution, which failed 1 of 3 runs with the change and
+  passed 2 of 2 without, at load 6–12; that check runs with fog off, so the drawing change does
+  not run there. Fog drawing 0.43 → 0.45 ms.
+
 ## 2026-10-24: t17 Fog of war reveals the ground around the bot (Claude Code, Codex)
 
 - `src/sim/fog.js`: `FOG_SENSE = 20`; `fogLook` also reveals every fog cell within 20 grains,
diff --git a/docs/systems/fog.md b/docs/systems/fog.md
index bb90261..f1065ad 100644
--- a/docs/systems/fog.md
+++ b/docs/systems/fog.md
@@ -7,26 +7,30 @@ surface start seen. Exploration never changes the simulation.
 
 `src/sim/fog.js` keeps a `Uint8Array` at half the grain resolution (`FOG = 2`).
 Values run from 0 (unseen) to 255 (seen) and only increase. `alloc` allocates it with
-the other world arrays. `fogInit` reveals above `surfY` and fades eight grains below it.
+the other world arrays. `fogInit` reveals above `surfY` and fades 16 grains below it.
 
-Every four ticks, 256 rays from the bot's centre reveal up to 48 grains. The last eight
-grains fade out. Solid and powder stop sight after a four-grain fade into their face;
+Every four ticks, 256 rays from the bot's centre reveal up to 48 grains. The last 16
+grains fade out. Solid and powder stop sight after an eight-grain fade into their face;
 air, gas and liquid pass sight. Bars and machine voids do not block it.
 
 Each look also senses the ground around the bot through rock: every fog cell within
-`FOG_SENSE` (20 grains) of the bot is revealed, fully clear out to 16 grains and fading to
-nothing at 20, so the player can see ore and caves next to their tunnel and choose where to dig.
+`FOG_SENSE` (24 grains) of the bot is revealed, fully clear out to 12 grains and fading over
+the outer 12 grains to nothing at 24, so the player can see ore and caves next to their tunnel
+and choose where to dig.
 
 ## Saving
 
 The fog buffer is saved and exported with the other typed arrays, without a save version
 change. Older saves rebuild the surface, reveal a radius of 12 grains around built blocks,
-machine footprints and molds, then look from the bot. Loading and generating also look
+machine footprints and molds, fully clear inside six grains with a six-grain fade to the
+radius edge, then look from the bot. Loading and generating also look
 immediately from the bot.
 
 ## Drawing and setting
 
-Both looks and the thermal lens sample fog bilinearly. Seen grains use the usual drawing;
+Both looks and the thermal lens sample fog bilinearly. Partial values get stable per-grain
+noise of about ±40, clamped to 1–255, to break up stepped edges. Unseen and fully seen
+grains are unchanged. Seen grains use the usual drawing;
 unseen grains use the out-of-world colour and smooth-look buffers, hiding their shapes.
 Partial values dim foreground, background and trees. Bloom sources need at least 128;
 bars, flyers, rain and particles need at least 64. Hover info and the cursor label say
diff --git a/src/render/world.js b/src/render/world.js
index 1d9a989..e99e7ac 100644
--- a/src/render/world.js
+++ b/src/render/world.js
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ function drawWorld() {
         const a = fog[fr + j], b = fog[fr + j1], c = fog[fn + j], d = fog[fn + j1];
         if ((a & b & c & d) !== 255) fv = (a + (b - a) * t) * (1 - ft) + (c + (d - c) * t) * ft;
         if (!fv) { px[row + bx] = OUT; if (sm) { bpx[row + bx] = 0x000a0a0c; tpx[row + bx] = 0; fpx[row + bx] = 0xff; } continue; }
+        // Stable grain noise breaks up the half-resolution fog's stepped edges.
+        if (fv < 255) fv = Math.max(1, Math.min(255, fv + (noiseB[yw + x] - 128) * (40 / 128)));
       }
       const i = yw + x, m = mat[i], nz = noiseB[i] - 128;
       const T = temp[i];
diff --git a/src/sim/fog.js b/src/sim/fog.js
index a250b35..cd21b38 100644
--- a/src/sim/fog.js
+++ b/src/sim/fog.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Exploration only: never changes grains or the random stream.
 const FOG = 2;
-const FOG_SENSE = 20; // Reveal nearby ground through rock, in grains.
+const FOG_SENSE = 24; // Reveal nearby ground through rock, in grains.
+const FOG_SENSE_FADE = 12;
 let fog, FW, FH;
 function fogAlloc() { FW = Math.ceil(W / FOG); FH = Math.ceil(H / FOG); fog = new Uint8Array(FW * FH); }
 function fogMark(x, y, v) {
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ function fogSeen(x, y) {
   return fog[Math.floor(y / FOG) * FW + Math.floor(x / FOG)];
 }
 function fogInit() {
-  for (let x = 0; x < W; x++) for (let y = 0; y < Math.min(H, surfY[x] + 8); y++) fogMark(x, y, y <= surfY[x] ? 255 : (surfY[x] + 8 - y) * 255 / 8);
+  for (let x = 0; x < W; x++) for (let y = 0; y < Math.min(H, surfY[x] + 16); y++) fogMark(x, y, y <= surfY[x] ? 255 : (surfY[x] + 16 - y) * 255 / 16);
 }
 function fogLook(cx, cy) {
   for (let a = 0; a < 256; a++) {
@@ -24,23 +25,27 @@ function fogLook(cx, cy) {
       if (x < 0 || y < 0 || x >= W || y >= H) break;
       const ph = PH[mat[y * W + x]];
       if (hit < 0 && (ph === PH_SOLID || ph === PH_POWDER)) hit = d;
-      const v = Math.min(255, (48 - d) * 255 / 8, hit < 0 ? 255 : (4 - d + hit) * 255 / 4);
+      const v = Math.min(255, (48 - d) * 255 / 16, hit < 0 ? 255 : (8 - d + hit) * 255 / 8);
       if (v <= 0) break;
       fogMark(x, y, v);
     }
   }
-  // one fog cell at a time, measured from its centre; full inside FOG_SENSE - 4, fading to the edge
-  const R2 = FOG_SENSE * FOG_SENSE, in2 = (FOG_SENSE - 4) ** 2;
+  // one fog cell at a time, measured from its centre; full inside 12 grains, fading over the outer 12 grains
+  const R2 = FOG_SENSE * FOG_SENSE, in2 = (FOG_SENSE - FOG_SENSE_FADE) ** 2;
   const fy0 = Math.max(0, Math.floor((cy - FOG_SENSE) / FOG)), fy1 = Math.min(FH - 1, Math.floor((cy + FOG_SENSE) / FOG));
   const fx0 = Math.max(0, Math.floor((cx - FOG_SENSE) / FOG)), fx1 = Math.min(FW - 1, Math.floor((cx + FOG_SENSE) / FOG));
   for (let fy = fy0; fy <= fy1; fy++) for (let fx = fx0; fx <= fx1; fx++) {
     const dx = (fx + 0.5) * FOG - cx, dy = (fy + 0.5) * FOG - cy, d2 = dx * dx + dy * dy, i = fy * FW + fx;
     if (d2 >= R2) continue;
-    const v = d2 <= in2 ? 255 : (FOG_SENSE - Math.sqrt(d2)) * 255 / 4;
+    const v = d2 <= in2 ? 255 : (FOG_SENSE - Math.sqrt(d2)) * 255 / FOG_SENSE_FADE;
     if (v > fog[i]) fog[i] = v;
   }
 }
 function fogRevealAround(x, y, r) {
-  for (let yy = Math.max(0, Math.floor(y - r)); yy <= Math.min(H - 1, y + r); yy++) for (let xx = Math.max(0, Math.floor(x - r)); xx <= Math.min(W - 1, x + r); xx++) if ((xx - x) ** 2 + (yy - y) ** 2 <= r * r) fogMark(xx, yy, 255);
+  for (let yy = Math.max(0, Math.floor(y - r)); yy <= Math.min(H - 1, y + r); yy++) for (let xx = Math.max(0, Math.floor(x - r)); xx <= Math.min(W - 1, x + r); xx++) {
+    const d2 = (xx - x) ** 2 + (yy - y) ** 2;
+    if (d2 >= r * r) continue;
+    fogMark(xx, yy, r >= 6 && d2 <= (r - 6) ** 2 ? 255 : Math.min(255, (r - Math.sqrt(d2)) * 255 / 6));
+  }
 }
 function fogRevealAll() { fog.fill(255); }
diff --git a/test/t_fog.js b/test/t_fog.js
index bfe60a0..7f255d5 100644
--- a/test/t_fog.js
+++ b/test/t_fog.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ check('open pocket is visible', run('fogSeen(82, 104) >= 200'));
 check('sense test points are rock', run('mat[117 * W + 62] === STONE && mat[122 * W + 62] === STONE'));
 check('nearby rock is clearly seen through the floor', run('fogSeen(62, 117) >= 200'));
 check('rock near the sense edge is seen', run('fogSeen(62, 122) > 0'));
+check('outer sense band softly reveals rock', run('mat[124 * W + 70] === STONE && fogSeen(70, 124) > 0 && fogSeen(70, 124) < 128'));
 check('rock hides separate pocket', run('fogSeen(62, 130) === 0'));
 check('one look has limited range', run('fogSeen(124, 104) === 0'));
 check('fog only increases', run('(()=>{const f = fog.slice(); fogLook(90,104); return f.every((v,i)=>fog[i]>=v)})()'));