Define server-authoritative symbol semantics (#29)

README.md

@@ -189,6 +189,10 @@ known upstream limits are documented in
 ```
 
 The built mod is written to `build/libs/`.
+The default dedicated-server GameTest run is deliberately small. Use
+`./gradlew runGameTestServer -PwithArchivedGameTests=true` for the complete
+regression suite before a release or when investigating a related issue. See
+[docs/GAMETESTS.md](docs/GAMETESTS.md).
 
 ## Versioning
 

build.gradle

@@ -17,6 +17,18 @@ tasks.named('wrapper', Wrapper).configure {
 version = mod_version
 group = mod_group_id
 
+List<String> archivedGameTestSuites = ['linking', 'writing', 'desk', 'binder', 'mixer', 'recipe']
+List<String> selectedArchivedGameTestSuites = providers.gradleProperty('withArchivedGameTests')
+        .map { it.toBoolean() }.orElse(false).get() ? archivedGameTestSuites
+        : providers.gradleProperty('archivedGameTestSuites').orElse('').get()
+                .split(',').collect { it.trim() }.findAll { !it.isEmpty() }
+if (!archivedGameTestSuites.containsAll(selectedArchivedGameTestSuites)) {
+    throw new GradleException("Unknown archived GameTest suite. Choose from: ${archivedGameTestSuites.join(', ')}")
+}
+String enabledGameTestNamespaces = ([mod_id] + selectedArchivedGameTestSuites.collect {
+    "rivencraft_archive_${it}"
+}).join(',')
+
 sourceSets.main.resources {
     // Include resources generated by data generators.
     srcDir('src/generated/resources')
@@ -26,6 +38,15 @@ sourceSets.main.resources {
     exclude("src/generated/**/.cache") // datagen cache files
 }
 
+// Archived suites use separate namespaces but share the same empty structure.
+tasks.named('processResources', ProcessResources).configure {
+    archivedGameTestSuites.each { suite ->
+        from('src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/structure/empty.nbt') {
+            into "data/rivencraft_archive_${suite}/structure"
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 repositories {
     maven {
         name = 'JaredsMaven'
@@ -89,7 +110,7 @@ neoForge {
             // Keep generated test Ages separate from worlds used by the dev client/server.
             gameDirectory = project.file(project.findProperty('gameTestRunDir')
                     ?: layout.buildDirectory.dir('gametest-run').get().asFile)
-            systemProperty 'neoforge.enabledGameTestNamespaces', project.mod_id
+            systemProperty 'neoforge.enabledGameTestNamespaces', enabledGameTestNamespaces
         }
 
         data {

docs/GAMETESTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# GameTest suites
+
+The default dedicated-server run is a small smoke suite: 17 Rivencraft tests
+cover core linking, deterministic Age definition, writing persistence, legacy
+data migration, workstation transactions, and forged/replayed menu actions.
+NeoForge currently adds two of its own tests, so the runner reports 19.
+
+```shell
+./gradlew runGameTestServer
+```
+
+The remaining 47 Rivencraft tests are archived, not deleted. They cover
+completed milestone details such as every Age terrain profile, Notebook and
+Desk surface interactions, refill edge cases, book assembly controls, and
+workstation break/drop behavior. Run only the relevant archive alongside the
+core tests when investigating an issue:
+
+```shell
+./gradlew runGameTestServer -ParchivedGameTestSuites=desk
+./gradlew runGameTestServer -ParchivedGameTestSuites=linking,binder
+```
+
+Available suite names are `linking`, `writing`, `desk`, `binder`, `mixer`, and
+`recipe`. Run all 64 Rivencraft tests (66 including NeoForge's two) before a
+release or after broad cross-system changes:
+
+```shell
+./gradlew runGameTestServer -PwithArchivedGameTests=true
+```
+
+Each archive is selected by its `rivencraft_archive_<suite>` GameTest namespace.
+The suites share the normal empty test structure and do not need Create, Ponder, or
+Immersive Portals. The core suite delegates to the original regression methods
+for its selected cases, so the two suites do not maintain duplicate test logic.
+
+GameTest Ages are created in `build/gametest-run/world`, not in a development
+client save. The Gradle task removes that **dedicated** world automatically if
+it exceeds 512 MiB; override the threshold with `-PgameTestMaxWorldMiB=128`,
+for example. Cleanup never targets a custom `-PgameTestRunDir` or a player
+world. A fresh test world can also help diagnose a slow or stalled worldgen
+run. The full suite should still be run before shipping changes in the
+archived systems.

docs/LEGACY_AGE_GRAMMAR_AUDIT.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Mystcraft Legacy Age grammar audit (milestone 5, issue #28)
+
+Reference: [Mystcraft-Legacy commit `9bc8ddc`](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/tree/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae), whose [build properties](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/build.properties) identify version 0.13.7.06. The user-provided local Minecraft 1.12.2 extraction (`mystcraft-1.12.2-0.13.7.06`) has the same version in `mcmod.info`; its `assets/mystcraft/textures/symbolcomponents.png` is byte-identical to the source checkout. That extraction contains compiled classes and assets, but no shipped `.cfg` or `.java` files. Source-linked behavioral claims below use the corresponding GitHub Java source. This is a behavior specification, not a code port. Any later adapted code needs its own copyright/provenance record under [PORTING.md](PORTING.md).
+
+## What Legacy actually does
+
+Legacy's [root rule](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/GrammarRules.java#L62) produces, in order: terrain, biome controller, weather, lighting, optional spawning, suns, moons, starfields, doodads, visuals, small/medium/large features, and effects. Each symbol declares the rule it can satisfy and any preceding modifier tokens it needs in [SymbolRules](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/SymbolRules.java). The written page order therefore matters: modifiers appear before their consumer, while missing grammar branches can be generated. The [grammar tree](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/grammar/GrammarTree.java#L158-L222) connects authored terminals and inserts missing branches; [AgeData](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/world/agedata/AgeData.java#L230-L258) does this on first link with an Age-seeded RNG. Weighted rule *ranks* choose generated symbols; a `null` rank is not randomly generated, though such a rule can connect authored pages ([GrammarGenerator](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/grammar/GrammarGenerator.java#L28-L112)).
+
+Legacy does **not** reject a book just because it omits terrain, biome, weather, or lighting. It fills the gaps. It also has separate instability accounting for dangling/excess symbols; this audit records those as diagnostics, not as milestone 5 generation effects ([AgeController](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/world/AgeController.java#L196-L247)).
+
+## Symbol-to-Rivencraft mapping
+
+| Legacy category and symbols | Existing Rivencraft path | Milestone 5 disposition |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `TerrainNormal`, `TerrainAmplified`, `TerrainFlat`, `TerrainVoid`, `TerrainNether`, `TerrainEnd`; terrain and sea block modifiers | `AgeProfile` selects noise/flat/void and registered noise settings; random profiles already persist per Age | Compile supported terrain shapes into profile/resources. Nether/End and material modifiers require explicit compatible data-pack resources; do not claim exact 1.12 terrain parity. |
+| `BioConNative`, `Single`, `Tiled`, `Grid`, `Tiny`, `Small`, `Medium`, `Large`, `Huge`, plus biome pages | `AgeTraits.BiomeDistribution` has all nine modes; `AgeDimensionService` has sources for these modes | Map modes, consume authored biome IDs in order, then deterministically fill required minimums. Native uses the profile's modern biome preset, not the old `BiomeProvider`. |
+| `LightingNormal`, `Dark`, `Bright` | `AgeTraits.Lighting`, dimension type construction | Compile the choice to a stable dimension type/light behavior. Exact Legacy 1.12 brightness-table rendering is not guaranteed by NeoForge's dimension-type fields. |
+| `WeatherNorm`, `Fast`, `Slow`, `Off`, `On`, `Cloudy`, `Rain`, `Snow`, `Storm` | `AgeTraits.Weather` has matching names except Legacy `On` maps to `ALWAYS` | Compile weather semantics separately from biome selection. `Snow` must remain deferred until optional season integration; do not silently substitute another weather mode. |
+| Suns, moons, starfields; angle, phase, period, color/gradient/sunset modifiers | One `celestialPeriod`, `celestialAngle`, `celestialPhase` on `AgeTraits` | Compile only the representable single-cycle subset first. Multiple celestial bodies, independent periods, custom stars, gradients and sunsets need a richer definition and renderer, not flattening into one value. |
+| Sky/fog/cloud/grass/foliage/water colors, natural variants, horizon, rainbow | Existing sky/dimension visuals and preview | Require an explicit modern client/biome-color design; metadata-only symbol pages must not pretend to change rendering. |
+| Caves, ores, huge trees, lakes, floating islands, tendrils, skylands, spheres, spikes, crystals; vanilla villages, strongholds, mineshafts, dungeons, fortresses, obelisks, fissures | Current cave profile and vanilla data-pack generation | Compile only features for which registered 1.21.1 placed features/structures exist. Defer bespoke structures and polish to milestone 7. |
+| `EnvAccel`, explosions, lightning, meteors, scorching; PvP and dummy suppression pages | No equivalent Age-definition effect | Defer environmental hazards/instability effects to milestone 6, PvP rule to a separately scoped server policy; retain authored IDs without fake behavior. |
+
+The Legacy symbol list and page names come from [ModSymbols](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/ModSymbols.java#L129-L240) and [SymbolRules](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/SymbolRules.java#L19-L137). Rivencraft's [catalog](../src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/SymbolCatalog.java) currently holds display metadata only; its built-in set is just standard terrain, native biomes, normal weather, normal lighting, normal time, and caves. [OrderedWriting](../src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/OrderedWriting.java) preserves page order, but no compiler yet connects it to [AgeTraits](../src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/book/AgeTraits.java) or [Age profiles](AGE_PROFILES.md).
+
+## Symbol-page artwork: `symbolcomponents.png`
+
+Legacy does not allocate one image tile to each complete Age symbol. The [default word image source](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/api/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/api/word/DrawableWord.java#L24-L75) is `mystcraft:textures/symbolcomponents.png`, a 512×512 RGBA sheet. It has an 8×8 grid of 64×64 component cells. For zero-based component index `n`, source pixels begin at `x = (n % 8) * 64`, `y = (n / 8) * 64`. [GuiUtils.drawComponent](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/client/gui/GuiUtils.java#L131-L152) uses that mapping for GUI drawing; [PageBuilder.PageSprite.stitchWord](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/client/render/PageBuilder.java#L287-L331) uses it when composing an item sprite. Cell `0` is the missing-word/question-mark fallback. Each component may be tinted and its alpha layered with the other components of a word.
+
+The complete lookup chain for a unique page is:
+
+1. [WordData.init](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/api/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/api/word/WordData.java#L96-L166) registers a list of component indices for each named word (for example, `Nature` uses `5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 22`). [DrawableWord](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/api/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/api/word/DrawableWord.java#L26-L75) also permits per-component colors and an alternate image source. Unregistered words get a deterministic component list from their lowercase name hash ([DrawableWordManager](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/words/DrawableWordManager.java#L34-L56)).
+2. [ModSymbols.registerSymbol](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/ModSymbols.java#L105-L116) assigns four poem words to each Age symbol. For example, `LightingNormal` is `Ethereal, Dynamic, Cycle, Balance` ([registration](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/ModSymbols.java#L184-L186)). The poem, not the symbol ID, selects the component layers.
+3. [PageBuilder.PageSprite](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/client/render/PageBuilder.java#L232-L279) draws those words above, right, below, and left of the page center, respectively. Their target rectangles on its 160×160 working image are `(48,0)`, `(96,48)`, `(48,96)`, `(0,48)`, each 64×64 ([getPageTarget](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/client/render/PageBuilder.java#L360-L378)). It scales the composed image to a 128×128 item sprite. [GuiUtils.drawSymbol](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/client/gui/GuiUtils.java#L74-L96) renders the same four-word arrangement directly in book/workstation GUIs.
+
+For Rivencraft, keep **symbol semantics** (`SymbolReference`/catalog ID) separate from **page artwork** (four ordered word names, their component indices/colors, and the shared sheet). Existing built-in page images are static renditions of this process ([asset provenance](ASSET_PROVENANCE.md)); future symbol pages can compose it at build time or in a client-only renderer. Unknown words and missing symbols need distinct fallbacks, and data-pack-only symbols must remain usable without silently borrowing another symbol's image. Do not copy the Legacy renderer wholesale: its texture-atlas and GUI APIs target 1.12.2.
+
+## Verified numeric defaults and bounds
+
+These values are from code, **not** a supposed shipped `.cfg`: the inspected Legacy repository contains no default configuration file with numeric min/max fields for age grammar. [MystConfig](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/config/MystConfig.java) supplies typed config helpers, while symbol enablement uses a Boolean `<symbol>.enabled` option ([SymbolManager](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/SymbolManager.java#L91-L107)). Do not label Rivencraft's present numeric range as a Legacy config range.
+
+| Parameter | Legacy source value/rule | Implementation consequence |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Period pages | `Zero=0`, `Half=0.5`, `Full=1`, `Double=2` ([ModSymbols](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/ModSymbols.java#L194-L201)); repeated period modifiers average pairwise ([SymbolLength](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/modifiers/SymbolLength.java#L25-L37)) | Authored basic values have min 0 and max 2; no arbitrary continuous written range is established. A sun without a period uses `0.8 + 0.4 * nextDouble()`—`[0.8, 1.2)`—before conversion to ticks ([SymbolSunNormal](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolSunNormal.java#L47-L73)). Rivencraft's random nonzero `[0.2, 2.0)` is its own existing policy. |
+| Angle pages | North/East/South/West = `0/90/180/270` degrees ([ModSymbols](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/ModSymbols.java#L187-L190)); repeated values use shortest-arc averaging ([ModifierUtils](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/api/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/api/symbol/ModifierUtils.java#L54-L73)) | Canonical angle is `[0, 360)`; consumers may seed a random angle if omitted. |
+| Phase pages | Nadir/Rising/Zenith/Setting = `0/90/180/270` degrees ([ModSymbols](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/ModSymbols.java#L198-L201)); the sun divides by 360 ([SymbolSunNormal](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolSunNormal.java#L65-L73)) | Written phase is `[0, 360)` degrees, represented by Rivencraft as `[0, 1)` turns. |
+| Biome count | Grammar requires one page for `Single`, `Tiled`, `Grid`; `Tiny`–`Huge` have two explicit biome slots plus a biome-list branch ([SymbolRules](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/data/SymbolRules.java#L91-L99)). `Single` fills to 1 ([source](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolBiomeControllerSingle.java#L22-L37)), `Tiled`/`Grid` to 2 ([source](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolBiomeControllerTiled.java#L25-L38)), and `Tiny`–`Huge` to 3 ([source](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolBiomeControllerLarge.java#L61-L84)) | These are **minimums**, not maximums. `Native` uses vanilla's provider and has no authored biome-list requirement ([source](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolBiomeControllerNative.java#L34-L44)). Preserve additional authored biomes where the chosen controller can accept them. |
+| Weather normal | Rain duration/base `12000/12000`, cooldown/base `168000/12000`; thunder duration/base `12000/3600`, cooldown/base `168000/12000` ticks ([SymbolWeatherNormal](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/symbol/symbols/SymbolWeatherNormal.java#L25-L36)) | These are source constants, not configurable min/max bounds. Other weather controllers need individual review before parity claims. |
+
+## Compilation and fallback contract for the next issues
+
+1. A Link-Panel-only book, a legacy page-free book, and any book with no effective supported Age symbols retain the current seed-derived random Age path. Preserve the saved writing untouched.
+2. A supported partial sequence is **not** invalid: complete missing required branches deterministically from the Age seed, then compile the result. Authored symbols take precedence over generated fillers. This follows Legacy's grammar tree, rather than requiring a full hand-written list.
+3. Unknown/unresolved IDs, unsupported-but-known effects, misplaced modifiers, duplicates, and conflicts must be reported distinctly. Do not silently apply a different effect or discard an authored page. A first compiler may use the existing random Age path for combinations it cannot represent, with an explicit diagnostic; it must never claim such a book was successfully compiled.
+4. Grammar diagnostics are not instability. Milestone 5 decides recognition, ordering, completion, and whether a supported combination can compile. Milestone 6 may use dangling/excess/conflict diagnostics for instability effects. Milestone 7 owns bespoke structures and polish.
+5. Freeze the completed, effective generation definition with the Age identity before creating chunks. Keep page order and original IDs for display/migration, and keep seeded completion deterministic across reloads. New symbol behavior belongs in versioned server data, not the schema-1 display catalog.
+
+The mapping is intentionally narrower than all Legacy symbols. The exact rule and compiler schema are follow-up issues #29–#31; terrain, biome, environment, and feature implementations are #32–#35. No generation behavior or release version changes in this audit.

docs/PORTING.md

@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ acceptance issue and all required implementation issues are complete.
    and [writing-system data and migration](WRITING_DATA.md).
 5. **Age grammar** — translate symbol combinations into modern biome, noise,
    dimension-type, and world-generation configuration. Optional integrations
-   may add composable biome regions and seasonal behavior.
+   may add composable biome regions and seasonal behavior. See the
+   [Legacy grammar audit](LEGACY_AGE_GRAMMAR_AUDIT.md).
 6. **Instability** — deterministic validation and server-safe effects.
 7. **Structures and polish** — libraries, crystals, portals, recipes, models,
    sounds, advancements, compatibility, and migration tests.

docs/PREVIEW_COMPATIBILITY.md

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ unstable in a particular graphics or mod configuration.
 
 For preview-related releases:
 
-1. Run `./gradlew runGameTestServer` to verify the complete selection matrix,
+1. Run `./gradlew runGameTestServer -PwithArchivedGameTests=true` to verify the complete selection matrix,
    core Age creation, persistence, and travel without optional renderers.
 2. Open held Linking and Descriptive Books once with each available backend.
 3. Open both book types from a Book Stand and confirm Explore is disabled.
@@ -75,4 +75,3 @@ For preview-related releases:
    preview loader remains active.
 5. With Ponder, reopen different destinations and confirm the previous
    snapshot does not bleed into the next one.
-

docs/SYMBOL_SEMANTICS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Server-authoritative symbol semantics (schema v2)
+
+Milestone 5 issue #29 adds typed meaning to the existing data-pack symbol catalog. Put definitions at `data/<namespace>/rivencraft/symbols/<path>.json`; the file ID becomes the stable symbol ID. For example, `data/example/rivencraft/symbols/terrain/highlands.json` defines `example:terrain/highlands`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "schema_version": 2,
+  "name": "symbol.example.terrain.highlands",
+  "description": "symbol.example.terrain.highlands.description",
+  "category": "example:terrain",
+  "semantics": {
+    "role": "terrain",
+    "value": "example:highlands"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+`name` and `description` are translation keys. `category` is for display and sorting; it does not determine grammar. `semantics.role` and its typed `value` are server-owned. The terrain value above names an Age runtime profile that a later compiler must resolve and validate. A syntactically valid resource ID alone does not guarantee the profile or feature exists.
+
+| Role | Value type and allowed values |
+| --- | --- |
+| `terrain` | Canonical namespaced Age profile ID. |
+| `biome_controller` | `native`, `single`, `tiled`, `grid`, `tiny`, `small`, `medium`, `large`, or `huge`. |
+| `biome` | Canonical namespaced biome ID. |
+| `lighting` | `normal`, `dark`, or `bright`. |
+| `weather` | `normal`, `fast`, `slow`, `off`, `always`, `cloudy`, `rain`, `snow`, or `storm`. |
+| `celestial` | `normal_time` (the first representable single-cycle behavior). |
+| `period_modifier` | JSON number in `[0, 2]`; zero is stopped time. |
+| `angle_modifier` | JSON number in `[0, 360)` degrees. |
+| `phase_modifier` | JSON number in `[0, 360)` degrees; the compiler will convert to turns. |
+| `feature` | Canonical namespaced feature-effect ID; future generation mapping must recognize it. |
+
+These are schema bounds, not claims that Legacy shipped numeric config ranges. See the [Legacy grammar audit](LEGACY_AGE_GRAMMAR_AUDIT.md) for the source values and biome-count rules. Roles outside this table—including multiple suns, gradients, special structures, and hazards—are intentionally unsupported by schema v2. Their meaning requires a later versioned extension, not an unvalidated free-form field.
+
+The server rejects a v2 definition with an unknown top-level or semantics field, missing/incorrectly typed field, unknown role or choice, malformed/non-canonical resource ID, or out-of-range/non-finite number. An invalid definition is logged with its file ID and excluded from the active catalog. Saved pages and books still retain that ID, allowing the player to recover them if the data pack is corrected. A reload atomically replaces the catalog rather than mutating saved writing.
+
+Schema v1 definitions remain readable as **display-only** symbols; existing packs need not be rewritten merely to show or copy pages. A v1 definition cannot add a `semantics` field. To make one eligible for future Age compilation, publish a v2 definition with the **same file path and ID**, adding a valid role and value. Do not rename the page ID or reorder a book's `OrderedWriting`. The client receives only `SymbolDisplayMetadata` (ID, translation keys, category, resolved flag); semantic definitions are not serialized to it. This slice defines and validates meaning but does **not yet apply** written symbols to Age generation; issues #30 and #31 implement parsing and compilation.
+
+The six built-in definitions demonstrate terrain, biome-controller, lighting, weather, celestial, and feature roles. A third-party pack may add its own definitions under its namespace. Use an explicit semantic role even when the display category has the same name; the two fields serve different purposes.

docs/WRITING_DATA.md

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # Writing and symbol data
 
 Milestone 4 stores what a player wrote without deciding what that writing does
-to an Age. Milestone 5 owns grammar validation, symbol interaction, instability,
+to an Age. Milestone 5 owns grammar validation and symbol interaction,
 and translation into biome, noise, dimension-type, and other world-generation
-configuration.
+configuration. Milestone 6 owns instability effects. See the
+[Legacy grammar audit](LEGACY_AGE_GRAMMAR_AUDIT.md) for the source-backed
+Milestone 5 contract.
 
 ## Symbol catalog
 
@@ -25,13 +27,17 @@ Schema version 1 contains display metadata only:
 
 `name` and `description` are translation keys, not arbitrary formatted text or
 executable behavior. `category` is a namespaced organizational identifier.
+Milestone 5 adds [server-authoritative schema v2 semantics](SYMBOL_SEMANTICS.md)
+with a typed role and bounded value. Existing v1 definitions remain readable
+but display-only; updating an ID to v2 never rewrites saved pages or books.
 Invalid definitions are logged and excluded by the server. Menus and future
 page synchronization must obtain resolved display metadata from the server;
 clients never make a symbol valid by naming it.
 
 Rivencraft ships a small catalog covering terrain, biomes, lighting, weather,
-celestial behavior, and features. It exists to exercise the complete writing
-workflow before Milestone 5 implements the full legacy grammar.
+celestial behavior, and features. Its v2 semantics prepare for the full
+Legacy-inspired grammar; writing still uses random Age fallback until the
+parser and compiler are implemented.
 
 ## Persistent writing
 
@@ -145,7 +151,8 @@ saved inputs are never silently discarded. Missing symbol IDs survive page,
 Notebook, Binder, and assembled-book persistence instead of being substituted
 or erased.
 
-Dedicated-server GameTests exercise codec and item round-trips, legacy data,
+The core and archived dedicated-server [GameTests](GAMETESTS.md) together
+exercise codec and item round-trips, legacy data,
 workstation NBT reload, break drops, full-inventory refusal, forged menu IDs,
 and replayed output requests. World saves and chunk unloads use the same block
 entity NBT persistence path as those reload tests. This does not replace a

gradle.properties

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ mod_name=Rivencraft
 # The license of the mod. Review your options at https://choosealicense.com/. All Rights Reserved is the default.
 mod_license=LGPL-3.0-or-later
 # The mod version. Rivencraft uses the x.y.z.b policy documented in README.md.
-mod_version=0.4.0.0
+mod_version=0.4.1.0
 immersive_portals_version=6.0.7
 # The group ID for the mod. It is only important when publishing as an artifact to a Maven repository.
 # This should match the base package used for the mod sources.

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/entity/BookBinderBlockEntity.java

@@ -195,26 +195,19 @@ public final class BookBinderBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Containe
         if (pages.isEmpty()) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
         int end = nextPageIndex();
         if (index < 0 || index > end) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
-        boolean link = false;
+        ItemStack linkPanel = ItemStack.EMPTY;
         List<ItemStack> writing = new ArrayList<>();
         for (ItemStack page : pages) {
             if (page.isEmpty()) continue;
             if (!page.is(ModItems.PAGE.get()) || page.getCount() != 1) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
             if (PageItem.content(page).kind() == PageContent.Kind.LINK_PANEL) {
-                if (link || !items.get(LINK_PANEL).isEmpty()) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
-                link = true;
+                if (!linkPanel.isEmpty() || !items.get(LINK_PANEL).isEmpty()) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
+                linkPanel = page;
             } else if (validPage(page)) writing.add(page);
             else return ItemStack.EMPTY;
         }
-        if (end + writing.size() > PAGE_COUNT || writing.isEmpty() && !link) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
-        if (link) {
-            for (ItemStack page : pages) {
-                if (!page.isEmpty() && PageItem.content(page).kind() == PageContent.Kind.LINK_PANEL) {
-                    items.set(LINK_PANEL, page.copy());
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        if (end + writing.size() > PAGE_COUNT || writing.isEmpty() && linkPanel.isEmpty()) return ItemStack.EMPTY;
+        if (!linkPanel.isEmpty()) items.set(LINK_PANEL, linkPanel.copy());
         for (int current = end - 1; current >= index; current--)
             items.set(FIRST_PAGE + current + writing.size(), items.get(FIRST_PAGE + current));
         for (ItemStack page : writing) items.set(FIRST_PAGE + index++, page.copy());

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/entity/InkMixerBlockEntity.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity;
 
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.InkVialItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.InkVialExchange;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModBlockEntities;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModItems;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.WritingInkService;
@@ -64,35 +65,21 @@ public final class InkMixerBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Container
                         worldPosition.getZ() + 0.5) <= 64.0;
     }
 
-    private boolean hasBottleSpace() {
-        ItemStack bottles = items.get(BOTTLES);
-        return bottles.isEmpty() || bottles.is(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE)
-                && bottles.getCount() < bottles.getMaxStackSize();
-    }
-
     /** No server tick: refill only when ink, bottle space, or consumption changes. */
     private void refillEmptyBasin() {
-        if (level == null || level.isClientSide || inkRemaining != 0 || !hasBottleSpace()) return;
-        ItemStack vial = items.get(INK);
-        if (!vial.is(ModItems.INK_VIAL.get())) return;
-        int amount = Math.clamp(InkVialItem.remaining(vial), 0, InkVialItem.CAPACITY);
-        if (amount == 0) return;
-        inkRemaining = amount;
-        vial.shrink(1);
-        if (vial.isEmpty()) items.set(INK, ItemStack.EMPTY);
-        ItemStack bottles = items.get(BOTTLES);
-        if (bottles.isEmpty()) items.set(BOTTLES, new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE));
-        else bottles.grow(1);
-        setChanged();
+        if (level != null && !level.isClientSide && inkRemaining == 0) {
+            int addedInk = InkVialExchange.exchange(items, INK, BOTTLES);
+            if (addedInk > 0) {
+                inkRemaining = addedInk;
+                setChanged();
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     public boolean canCreateLinkPanel() {
         if (!items.get(PAPER).is(Items.PAPER)) return false;
         int cost = WritingInkService.linkPanelCost();
-        if (inkRemaining >= cost) return true;
-        ItemStack vial = items.get(INK);
-        return vial.is(ModItems.INK_VIAL.get()) && hasBottleSpace()
-                && inkRemaining + InkVialItem.remaining(vial) >= cost;
+        return InkVialExchange.canPay(items, INK, BOTTLES, inkRemaining, cost);
     }
 
     /** Commit inputs only when a virtual output is actually taken. */
@@ -100,13 +87,7 @@ public final class InkMixerBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Container
         if (!canCreateLinkPanel()) return false;
         int cost = WritingInkService.linkPanelCost();
         if (inkRemaining < cost) {
-            ItemStack vial = items.get(INK);
-            inkRemaining += Math.clamp(InkVialItem.remaining(vial), 0, InkVialItem.CAPACITY);
-            vial.shrink(1);
-            if (vial.isEmpty()) items.set(INK, ItemStack.EMPTY);
-            ItemStack bottles = items.get(BOTTLES);
-            if (bottles.isEmpty()) items.set(BOTTLES, new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE));
-            else bottles.grow(1);
+            inkRemaining += InkVialExchange.exchange(items, INK, BOTTLES);
         }
         inkRemaining -= cost;
         items.get(PAPER).shrink(1);

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/block/entity/WritingDeskBlockEntity.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity;
 
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.InkVialItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.InkVialExchange;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.WritingInkService;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModBlockEntities;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModItems;
@@ -92,26 +93,15 @@ public final class WritingDeskBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Contain
         };
     }
 
-    private boolean hasBottleSpace() {
-        ItemStack returned = items.get(RETURN);
-        return returned.isEmpty() || returned.is(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE)
-                && returned.getCount() < returned.getMaxStackSize();
-    }
-
     /** Consume one vial only when the empty meter can return its glass bottle. */
     private void refillEmptyInkBar() {
-        if (level == null || level.isClientSide || inkRemaining != 0 || !hasBottleSpace()) return;
-        ItemStack vial = items.get(INK);
-        if (!vial.is(ModItems.INK_VIAL.get())) return;
-        int ink = Math.clamp(InkVialItem.remaining(vial), 0, InkVialItem.CAPACITY);
-        if (ink == 0) return;
-        inkRemaining = ink;
-        vial.shrink(1);
-        if (vial.isEmpty()) items.set(INK, ItemStack.EMPTY);
-        ItemStack returned = items.get(RETURN);
-        if (returned.isEmpty()) items.set(RETURN, new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE));
-        else returned.grow(1);
-        setChanged();
+        if (level != null && !level.isClientSide && inkRemaining == 0) {
+            int addedInk = InkVialExchange.exchange(items, INK, RETURN);
+            if (addedInk > 0) {
+                inkRemaining = addedInk;
+                setChanged();
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /** The output is virtual; inputs are committed only after a result can be given to a player. */
@@ -119,23 +109,14 @@ public final class WritingDeskBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Contain
         ItemStack paper = items.get(PAPER);
         if (!canPlaceItem(PAPER, paper) || paper.isEmpty()) return false;
         int cost = WritingInkService.symbolCopyCost();
-        if (inkRemaining >= cost) return true;
-        ItemStack vial = items.get(INK);
-        return vial.is(ModItems.INK_VIAL.get()) && inkRemaining + InkVialItem.remaining(vial) >= cost
-                && hasBottleSpace();
+        return InkVialExchange.canPay(items, INK, RETURN, inkRemaining, cost);
     }
 
     public boolean consumeCopyMaterials() {
         if (!canConsumeCopyMaterials()) return false;
         int cost = WritingInkService.symbolCopyCost();
         if (inkRemaining < cost) {
-            ItemStack vial = items.get(INK);
-            inkRemaining += Math.clamp(InkVialItem.remaining(vial), 0, InkVialItem.CAPACITY);
-            vial.shrink(1);
-            if (vial.isEmpty()) items.set(INK, ItemStack.EMPTY);
-            ItemStack returned = items.get(RETURN);
-            if (returned.isEmpty()) items.set(RETURN, new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE));
-            else returned.grow(1);
+            inkRemaining += InkVialExchange.exchange(items, INK, RETURN);
         }
         inkRemaining -= cost;
         removeItem(PAPER, 1);
@@ -148,7 +129,6 @@ public final class WritingDeskBlockEntity extends BlockEntity implements Contain
         refillEmptyInkBar();
     }
     @Override public void clearContent() {
-        items.clear();
         items = NonNullList.withSize(SIZE, ItemStack.EMPTY);
         inkRemaining = 0;
         displayPage = ItemStack.EMPTY;

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/BookBinderGameTests.java

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import net.minecraft.world.phys.AABB;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
 
-@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@GameTestHolder("rivencraft_archive_binder")
 @PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
 public final class BookBinderGameTests {
     private BookBinderGameTests() {}
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ public final class BookBinderGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void missingSymbolPageSurvivesReloadButCannotBeAssembled(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BookBinderBlockEntity binder = place(helper);
         binder.setTitle("Recoverable Writing");
@@ -93,7 +92,6 @@ public final class BookBinderGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void assemblyIsAtomicAndRetainsPageOrder(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BookBinderBlockEntity binder = place(helper);
         binder.setTitle("A New Age");
@@ -256,7 +254,6 @@ public final class BookBinderGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void forgedBinderActionsAndReplayedOutputCannotDuplicateBook(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BookBinderBlockEntity binder = place(helper);
         binder.setTitle("Single Assembly");

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/CoreGameTests.java

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.gametest;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
+import net.minecraft.gametest.framework.GameTest;
+import net.minecraft.gametest.framework.GameTestHelper;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
+import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
+
+/** Small default smoke suite; the detailed milestone regressions are opt-in. */
+@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
+public final class CoreGameTests {
+    private CoreGameTests() {}
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void previewBackendSelection(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        LinkingGameTests.previewBackendSelectionCoversOptionalDependencyMatrix(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void linkTargetPersistence(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        LinkingGameTests.linkTargetSurvivesItemSerialization(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void deterministicAgeDefinition(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        LinkingGameTests.ageDefinitionIsCreatedOnceWithDeterministicData(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void blockedLinkDestination(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        LinkingGameTests.travelRejectsBlockedDestination(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void legacyWritingAndPageFreeBooks(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDataGameTests.oldBareListWritingAndPageFreeBooksRemainReadable(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void pagePersistenceAndUnknownSymbols(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDataGameTests.pageItemPreservesContentAndRejectsForgedUnknownSymbols(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void semanticSymbolSchema(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDataGameTests.semanticSchemaIsServerOnlyBoundedAndV1Compatible(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void notebookPersistence(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDataGameTests.notebookContentsPreserveOrderGapsNamesAndUnknownPages(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void deskCopyTransaction(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDeskGameTests.takingCopySpendsPaperAndOneInkThenReturnsGlassBottle(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void deskRejectsForgedAndStaleActions(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDeskGameTests.forgedDeskSelectionsAndStaleMenuCannotCopy(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void twoBlockDeskDropsOnce(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDeskGameTests.twoBlockDeskSharesOneInventoryAndBreaksTogether(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void oldDeskMigration(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        WritingDeskGameTests.oldDeskInventoryMigratesAndAll88TabsPersist(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void binderKeepsMissingSymbolsRecoverable(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        BookBinderGameTests.missingSymbolPageSurvivesReloadButCannotBeAssembled(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void binderAssemblyTransaction(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        BookBinderGameTests.assemblyIsAtomicAndRetainsPageOrder(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void binderRejectsForgedAndReplayedActions(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        BookBinderGameTests.forgedBinderActionsAndReplayedOutputCannotDuplicateBook(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void mixerOutputTransaction(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        InkMixerGameTests.linkPanelRequiresTakingOutputAndPersistsInk(helper);
+    }
+
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void linkingBookRecipe(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        LinkingBookRecipeGameTests.legacyRecipeRequiresExactlyLeatherAndLinkPanel(helper);
+    }
+}

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/InkMixerGameTests.java

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.gametest;
 
-import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.InkMixerBlockEntity;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.menu.InkMixerMenu;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModBlocks;
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ import net.minecraft.world.phys.AABB;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
 
-@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@GameTestHolder("rivencraft_archive_mixer")
 @PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
 public final class InkMixerGameTests {
     private InkMixerGameTests() {}
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ public final class InkMixerGameTests {
         return (InkMixerBlockEntity) helper.getLevel().getBlockEntity(pos);
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void linkPanelRequiresTakingOutputAndPersistsInk(GameTestHelper helper) {
         InkMixerBlockEntity mixer = place(helper);
         mixer.setItem(InkMixerBlockEntity.PAPER, new ItemStack(Items.PAPER, 2));

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/LinkingBookRecipeGameTests.java

@@ -19,12 +19,11 @@ import net.minecraft.world.item.crafting.RecipeType;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
 
-@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@GameTestHolder("rivencraft_archive_recipe")
 @PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
 public final class LinkingBookRecipeGameTests {
     private LinkingBookRecipeGameTests() {}
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void legacyRecipeRequiresExactlyLeatherAndLinkPanel(GameTestHelper helper) {
         LinkingBookRecipe recipe = new LinkingBookRecipe(CraftingBookCategory.MISC);
         ItemStack panel = PageItem.createLinkPanelPage();

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/LinkingGameTests.java

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
 
 /** Server-side regression coverage for persistent linking-book data and travel safety. */
-@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@GameTestHolder("rivencraft_archive_linking")
 @PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
 public final class LinkingGameTests {
     private static final BlockPos ORIGIN = new BlockPos(0, 1, 0);
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ public final class LinkingGameTests {
     private LinkingGameTests() {
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void previewBackendSelectionCoversOptionalDependencyMatrix(GameTestHelper helper) {
         assertPreviewBackend(helper, RivencraftClientConfig.PreviewMode.AUTO, true, true,
                 PreviewBackendSelector.Backend.IMMERSIVE_PORTALS);
@@ -127,7 +126,6 @@ public final class LinkingGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void linkTargetSurvivesItemSerialization(GameTestHelper helper) {
         LinkTarget expected = new LinkTarget(
                 GlobalPos.of(helper.getLevel().dimension(), helper.absolutePos(ORIGIN)),
@@ -181,7 +179,6 @@ public final class LinkingGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void ageDefinitionIsCreatedOnceWithDeterministicData(GameTestHelper helper) {
         UUID ageId = UUID.randomUUID();
         String requestedName = "Test Age " + ageId;
@@ -666,7 +663,6 @@ public final class LinkingGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void travelRejectsBlockedDestination(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BlockPos absoluteOrigin = helper.absolutePos(ORIGIN);
         for (BlockPos position : BlockPos.betweenClosed(

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/WritingDataGameTests.java

@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.gametest;
 
+import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
 import com.mojang.serialization.JsonOps;
 import io.netty.buffer.Unpooled;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.UUID;
-import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.book.AgeReference;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.OrderedWriting;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.PageContent;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.SymbolCatalog;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.SymbolDefinition;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.SymbolSemantics;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.SymbolReference;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.WritingEntry;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.NotebookContents;
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
 
 /** Acceptance coverage for Milestone 4's persistent writing contracts. */
-@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@GameTestHolder("rivencraft_archive_writing")
 @PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
 public final class WritingDataGameTests {
     private WritingDataGameTests() {
@@ -62,7 +64,6 @@ public final class WritingDataGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void oldBareListWritingAndPageFreeBooksRemainReadable(GameTestHelper helper) {
         OrderedWriting writing = new OrderedWriting(List.of(
                 WritingEntry.linkPanel(), WritingEntry.symbol(reference("example:removed_symbol"))));
@@ -102,6 +103,62 @@ public final class WritingDataGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
+    @GameTest(template = "empty")
+    public static void semanticSchemaIsServerOnlyBoundedAndV1Compatible(GameTestHelper helper) {
+        var builtIn = SymbolCatalog.find(reference("rivencraft:terrain/standard")).orElseThrow();
+        helper.assertValueEqual(builtIn.schemaVersion(), 2, "Built-in symbol must use semantic schema v2");
+        helper.assertValueEqual(builtIn.semantics().orElseThrow().role(), SymbolSemantics.Role.TERRAIN,
+                "Built-in terrain symbol must declare its grammar role");
+
+        String display = "\"name\":\"symbol.example.test\","
+                + "\"description\":\"symbol.example.test.description\","
+                + "\"category\":\"example:terrain\"";
+        SymbolDefinition legacy = SymbolDefinition.parse(JsonParser.parseString(
+                "{\"schema_version\":1," + display + "}"));
+        helper.assertTrue(legacy.semantics().isEmpty(), "Existing v1 definitions must remain display-only");
+        SymbolDefinition oldCategory = SymbolDefinition.parse(JsonParser.parseString(
+                "{\"schema_version\":1,\"name\":\"symbol.example.test\","
+                        + "\"description\":\"symbol.example.test.description\","
+                        + "\"category\":\"terrain\"}"));
+        helper.assertValueEqual(oldCategory.category().toString(), "minecraft:terrain",
+                "A v1 category without a namespace must retain the old ResourceLocation behavior");
+        helper.assertValueEqual(legacy.display(reference("example:test").id()).id(),
+                reference("example:test").id(), "Display metadata must preserve the symbol ID");
+
+        SymbolDefinition period = SymbolDefinition.parse(JsonParser.parseString(
+                "{\"schema_version\":2," + display
+                        + ",\"semantics\":{\"role\":\"period_modifier\",\"value\":0}}"));
+        helper.assertValueEqual(period.semantics().orElseThrow().role(), SymbolSemantics.Role.PERIOD_MODIFIER,
+                "Zero-length modifier must be accepted");
+        rejectDefinition(helper, "{\"schema_version\":2," + display
+                + ",\"semantics\":{\"role\":\"unknown\",\"value\":\"normal\"}}", "role");
+        rejectDefinition(helper, "{\"schema_version\":2," + display
+                + ",\"semantics\":{\"role\":\"weather\",\"value\":\"blizzard\"}}", "value");
+        rejectDefinition(helper, "{\"schema_version\":2," + display
+                + ",\"semantics\":{\"role\":\"period_modifier\",\"value\":2.01}}", "value");
+        rejectDefinition(helper, "{\"schema_version\":2," + display
+                + ",\"semantics\":{\"role\":\"terrain\",\"value\":\"minecraft:overworld\",\"extra\":1}}", "extra");
+        rejectDefinition(helper, "{\"schema_version\":1," + display
+                + ",\"semantics\":{\"role\":\"weather\",\"value\":\"normal\"}}", "v1");
+
+        var clientJson = builtIn.display(reference("rivencraft:terrain/standard").id());
+        var encoded = net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing.SymbolDisplayMetadata.CODEC
+                .encodeStart(JsonOps.INSTANCE, clientJson).result().orElseThrow();
+        helper.assertFalse(encoded.getAsJsonObject().has("semantics"),
+                "Client display payload must never contain generation semantics");
+        helper.succeed();
+    }
+
+    private static void rejectDefinition(GameTestHelper helper, String json, String diagnostic) {
+        boolean rejected = false;
+        try {
+            SymbolDefinition.parse(JsonParser.parseString(json));
+        } catch (IllegalArgumentException exception) {
+            rejected = exception.getMessage().contains(diagnostic);
+        }
+        helper.assertTrue(rejected, "Invalid symbol must be rejected with diagnostic containing '" + diagnostic + "'");
+    }
+
     @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void pageStatesPersistAndNetworkRoundTrip(GameTestHelper helper) {
         SymbolReference known = reference("rivencraft:terrain/standard");
@@ -126,7 +183,6 @@ public final class WritingDataGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void pageItemPreservesContentAndRejectsForgedUnknownSymbols(GameTestHelper helper) {
         SymbolReference known = reference("rivencraft:terrain/standard");
         SymbolReference unknown = reference("example:forged_symbol");
@@ -156,7 +212,6 @@ public final class WritingDataGameTests {
         }
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void notebookContentsPreserveOrderGapsNamesAndUnknownPages(GameTestHelper helper) {
         ItemStack first = PageItem.createSymbolPage(reference("rivencraft:terrain/standard"));
         first.set(net.minecraft.core.component.DataComponents.CUSTOM_NAME,

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/gametest/WritingDeskGameTests.java

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.gametest;
 
 import java.util.List;
-import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.Rivencraft;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.WritingDeskBlockEntity;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.WritingDeskBlock;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.menu.WritingDeskMenu;
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ import net.minecraft.world.phys.AABB;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.GameTestHolder;
 import net.neoforged.neoforge.gametest.PrefixGameTestTemplate;
 
-@GameTestHolder(Rivencraft.MOD_ID)
+@GameTestHolder("rivencraft_archive_desk")
 @PrefixGameTestTemplate(false)
 public final class WritingDeskGameTests {
     private WritingDeskGameTests() {}
@@ -94,7 +93,6 @@ public final class WritingDeskGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void takingCopySpendsPaperAndOneInkThenReturnsGlassBottle(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BlockPos pos = helper.absolutePos(new BlockPos(1, 1, 1));
         helper.getLevel().setBlock(pos, ModBlocks.WRITING_DESK.get().defaultBlockState(), 3);
@@ -256,7 +254,6 @@ public final class WritingDeskGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void forgedDeskSelectionsAndStaleMenuCannotCopy(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BlockPos pos = helper.absolutePos(new BlockPos(1, 1, 1));
         helper.getLevel().setBlock(pos, ModBlocks.WRITING_DESK.get().defaultBlockState(), 3);
@@ -339,7 +336,6 @@ public final class WritingDeskGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void twoBlockDeskSharesOneInventoryAndBreaksTogether(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BlockPos pos = helper.absolutePos(new BlockPos(1, 1, 1));
         var block = ModBlocks.WRITING_DESK.get();
@@ -462,7 +458,6 @@ public final class WritingDeskGameTests {
         helper.succeed();
     }
 
-    @GameTest(template = "empty")
     public static void oldDeskInventoryMigratesAndAll88TabsPersist(GameTestHelper helper) {
         BlockPos pos = helper.absolutePos(new BlockPos(1, 1, 1));
         var registries = helper.getLevel().registryAccess();

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/menu/WritingDeskMenu.java

@@ -166,15 +166,12 @@ public final class WritingDeskMenu extends AbstractContainerMenu {
             selectedPage = page;
             selectedSymbol = null;
         } else if (id >= CATALOG_BUTTON_BASE && id < CATALOG_BUTTON_BASE + catalog.size()) {
-            if (!catalog.equals(WritingDeskCatalog.available(blockEntity))) {
-                refreshCatalog();
+            List<SymbolDisplayMetadata> available = WritingDeskCatalog.available(blockEntity);
+            if (!catalog.equals(available)) {
+                refreshCatalog(available);
                 return false;
             }
-            ResourceLocation requested = catalog.get(id - CATALOG_BUTTON_BASE).id();
-            if (!WritingDeskCatalog.available(blockEntity).stream().anyMatch(entry -> entry.id().equals(requested))) {
-                return false;
-            }
-            selectedSymbol = requested;
+            selectedSymbol = available.get(id - CATALOG_BUTTON_BASE).id();
         } else return false;
         refreshOutput();
         return true;
@@ -390,7 +387,11 @@ public final class WritingDeskMenu extends AbstractContainerMenu {
 
     private void refreshCatalog() {
         if (clientSide || blockEntity == null) return;
-        List<SymbolDisplayMetadata> current = WritingDeskCatalog.available(blockEntity);
+        refreshCatalog(WritingDeskCatalog.available(blockEntity));
+    }
+
+    private void refreshCatalog(List<SymbolDisplayMetadata> current) {
+        if (clientSide || blockEntity == null) return;
         if (!current.equals(catalog)) {
             catalog = current;
             if (serverViewer != null && serverViewer.containerMenu == this) {

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/InkVialExchange.java

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing;
+
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.InkVialItem;
+import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModItems;
+import net.minecraft.core.NonNullList;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
+import net.minecraft.world.item.Items;
+
+/** Shared, server-side vial-to-meter exchange for the Desk and Ink Mixer. */
+public final class InkVialExchange {
+    private InkVialExchange() {}
+
+    public static boolean canPay(NonNullList<ItemStack> items, int inkSlot, int bottleSlot,
+                                 int storedInk, int cost) {
+        return storedInk >= cost || canExchange(items, inkSlot, bottleSlot)
+                && storedInk + vialInk(items.get(inkSlot)) >= cost;
+    }
+
+    /** Returns added ink; zero means no inputs were changed. */
+    public static int exchange(NonNullList<ItemStack> items, int inkSlot, int bottleSlot) {
+        if (!canExchange(items, inkSlot, bottleSlot)) return 0;
+        ItemStack vial = items.get(inkSlot);
+        int addedInk = vialInk(vial);
+        vial.shrink(1);
+        if (vial.isEmpty()) items.set(inkSlot, ItemStack.EMPTY);
+        ItemStack bottles = items.get(bottleSlot);
+        if (bottles.isEmpty()) items.set(bottleSlot, new ItemStack(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE));
+        else bottles.grow(1);
+        return addedInk;
+    }
+
+    private static boolean canExchange(NonNullList<ItemStack> items, int inkSlot, int bottleSlot) {
+        ItemStack vial = items.get(inkSlot);
+        ItemStack bottles = items.get(bottleSlot);
+        return vial.is(ModItems.INK_VIAL.get()) && vialInk(vial) > 0
+                && (bottles.isEmpty() || bottles.is(Items.GLASS_BOTTLE)
+                && bottles.getCount() < bottles.getMaxStackSize());
+    }
+
+    private static int vialInk(ItemStack vial) {
+        return Math.clamp(InkVialItem.remaining(vial), 0, InkVialItem.CAPACITY);
+    }
+}

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/SymbolCatalog.java

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing;
 import com.google.gson.Gson;
 import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
 import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
-import com.mojang.serialization.JsonOps;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Optional;
@@ -56,10 +55,13 @@ public final class SymbolCatalog {
                              ResourceManager resourceManager,
                              ProfilerFiller profiler) {
             Map<ResourceLocation, SymbolDefinition> loaded = new HashMap<>();
-            resources.forEach((id, json) -> SymbolDefinition.CODEC.parse(JsonOps.INSTANCE, json)
-                    .resultOrPartial(error -> Rivencraft.LOGGER.error(
-                            "Ignoring invalid writing symbol {}: {}", id, error))
-                    .ifPresent(definition -> loaded.put(id, definition)));
+            resources.forEach((id, json) -> {
+                try {
+                    loaded.put(id, SymbolDefinition.parse(json));
+                } catch (IllegalArgumentException exception) {
+                    Rivencraft.LOGGER.error("Ignoring invalid writing symbol {}: {}", id, exception.getMessage());
+                }
+            });
             symbols = Map.copyOf(loaded);
             Rivencraft.LOGGER.info("Loaded {} writing symbols", loaded.size());
         }

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/SymbolDefinition.java

@@ -1,47 +1,120 @@
 package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing;
 
-import com.mojang.serialization.Codec;
-import com.mojang.serialization.DataResult;
-import com.mojang.serialization.codecs.RecordCodecBuilder;
+import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
+import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
+import com.google.gson.JsonPrimitive;
 import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.Optional;
+import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceLocation;
 
-/** Server-loaded, non-executable display metadata for a writing symbol. */
+/** Server-only symbol definition. Only display metadata crosses to clients. */
 public record SymbolDefinition(
         int schemaVersion,
         String nameTranslationKey,
         String descriptionTranslationKey,
-        ResourceLocation category
+        ResourceLocation category,
+        Optional<SymbolSemantics> semantics
 ) {
-    public static final int CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION = 1;
+    public static final int CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION = 2;
     private static final Pattern TRANSLATION_KEY = Pattern.compile("[a-z0-9_.-]+");
-    private static final Codec<String> TRANSLATION_KEY_CODEC = Codec.STRING.comapFlatMap(
-            value -> TRANSLATION_KEY.matcher(value).matches()
-                    ? DataResult.success(value)
-                    : DataResult.error(() -> "Invalid translation key: " + value),
-            value -> value
-    );
-    public static final Codec<SymbolDefinition> CODEC = RecordCodecBuilder.<SymbolDefinition>create(instance -> instance.group(
-            Codec.INT.fieldOf("schema_version").forGetter(SymbolDefinition::schemaVersion),
-            TRANSLATION_KEY_CODEC.fieldOf("name").forGetter(SymbolDefinition::nameTranslationKey),
-            TRANSLATION_KEY_CODEC.fieldOf("description").forGetter(SymbolDefinition::descriptionTranslationKey),
-            ResourceLocation.CODEC.fieldOf("category").forGetter(SymbolDefinition::category)
-    ).apply(instance, SymbolDefinition::new)).flatXmap(SymbolDefinition::validate, SymbolDefinition::validate);
+    private static final Set<String> V2_FIELDS = Set.of(
+            "schema_version", "name", "description", "category", "semantics");
 
     public SymbolDefinition {
         Objects.requireNonNull(nameTranslationKey, "nameTranslationKey");
         Objects.requireNonNull(descriptionTranslationKey, "descriptionTranslationKey");
         Objects.requireNonNull(category, "category");
+        semantics = Objects.requireNonNull(semantics, "semantics");
+        if (schemaVersion != 1 && schemaVersion != CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported schema_version " + schemaVersion);
+        }
+        if (schemaVersion == 1 && semantics.isPresent()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Schema v1 symbols cannot have semantics");
+        }
+        if (schemaVersion == CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION && semantics.isEmpty()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Schema v2 symbols require semantics");
+        }
+        validateTranslationKey(nameTranslationKey, "name");
+        validateTranslationKey(descriptionTranslationKey, "description");
+    }
+
+    /** v1 remains display-only; v2 has an exact field set and typed semantics. */
+    public static SymbolDefinition parse(JsonElement json) {
+        if (json == null || !json.isJsonObject()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Symbol definition must be a JSON object");
+        }
+        JsonObject object = json.getAsJsonObject();
+        int version = requiredInteger(object, "schema_version");
+        if (version != 1 && version != CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported schema_version " + version);
+        }
+        if (version == CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION) {
+            for (String field : object.keySet()) {
+                if (!V2_FIELDS.contains(field)) {
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown symbol field '" + field + "'");
+                }
+            }
+        } else if (object.has("semantics")) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Schema v1 cannot declare semantics; use schema_version 2");
+        }
+        String name = requiredString(object, "name");
+        String description = requiredString(object, "description");
+        ResourceLocation category = requiredResourceLocation(object, "category",
+                version == CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION);
+        Optional<SymbolSemantics> semantics = version == CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION
+                ? Optional.of(SymbolSemantics.parse(object.get("semantics")))
+                : Optional.empty();
+        return new SymbolDefinition(version, name, description, category, semantics);
     }
 
     public SymbolDisplayMetadata display(ResourceLocation id) {
         return new SymbolDisplayMetadata(id, nameTranslationKey, descriptionTranslationKey, category, true);
     }
 
-    private static DataResult<SymbolDefinition> validate(SymbolDefinition definition) {
-        return definition.schemaVersion == CURRENT_SCHEMA_VERSION
-                ? DataResult.success(definition)
-                : DataResult.error(() -> "Unsupported symbol schema_version " + definition.schemaVersion);
+    static String requiredString(JsonObject object, String field) {
+        JsonElement element = object.get(field);
+        if (element == null || !element.isJsonPrimitive()
+                || !element.getAsJsonPrimitive().isString()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'" + field + "' must be a string");
+        }
+        return element.getAsString();
+    }
+
+    static ResourceLocation requiredResourceLocation(JsonObject object, String field) {
+        return requiredResourceLocation(object, field, true);
+    }
+
+    private static ResourceLocation requiredResourceLocation(JsonObject object, String field, boolean canonical) {
+        String value = requiredString(object, field);
+        ResourceLocation id = ResourceLocation.tryParse(value);
+        if (id == null || (canonical && !id.toString().equals(value))) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'" + field + "' must be "
+                    + (canonical ? "a canonical namespaced ID" : "a resource location") + ": " + value);
+        }
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    private static int requiredInteger(JsonObject object, String field) {
+        JsonElement element = object.get(field);
+        if (element == null || !element.isJsonPrimitive()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'" + field + "' must be an integer");
+        }
+        JsonPrimitive primitive = element.getAsJsonPrimitive();
+        if (!primitive.isNumber() || !primitive.getAsString().matches("-?\\d+")) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'" + field + "' must be an integer");
+        }
+        try {
+            return Integer.parseInt(primitive.getAsString());
+        } catch (NumberFormatException exception) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'" + field + "' is outside the integer range", exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void validateTranslationKey(String value, String field) {
+        if (!TRANSLATION_KEY.matcher(value).matches()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid '" + field + "' translation key: " + value);
+        }
     }
 }

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/SymbolSemantics.java

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing;
+
+import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
+import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
+import com.google.gson.JsonPrimitive;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.Set;
+import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceLocation;
+
+/** Bounded grammar role and value, retained by the server catalog only. */
+public record SymbolSemantics(Role role, Value value) {
+    public SymbolSemantics {
+        Objects.requireNonNull(role, "role");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(value, "value");
+        if (!role.accepts(value)) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid semantics.value for role '" + role.id
+                    + "': " + value + "; expected " + role.expected());
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static SymbolSemantics parse(JsonElement json) {
+        if (json == null || !json.isJsonObject()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'semantics' must be an object");
+        }
+        JsonObject object = json.getAsJsonObject();
+        for (String field : object.keySet()) {
+            if (!field.equals("role") && !field.equals("value")) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown semantics field '" + field + "'");
+            }
+        }
+        String roleId = SymbolDefinition.requiredString(object, "role");
+        Role role = Arrays.stream(Role.values()).filter(candidate -> candidate.id.equals(roleId))
+                .findFirst().orElseThrow(() -> new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown semantic role '" + roleId + "'"));
+        JsonElement raw = object.get("value");
+        if (raw == null || !raw.isJsonPrimitive()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("'semantics.value' is required");
+        }
+        JsonPrimitive primitive = raw.getAsJsonPrimitive();
+        Value value;
+        if (role.kind == Kind.RESOURCE) {
+            value = new ResourceValue(SymbolDefinition.requiredResourceLocation(object, "value"));
+        } else if (role.kind == Kind.NUMBER) {
+            if (!primitive.isNumber()) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("'semantics.value' for " + role.id + " must be a number");
+            }
+            value = new NumberValue(primitive.getAsDouble());
+        } else {
+            value = new ChoiceValue(SymbolDefinition.requiredString(object, "value"));
+        }
+        return new SymbolSemantics(role, value);
+    }
+
+    public sealed interface Value permits ResourceValue, ChoiceValue, NumberValue {}
+
+    public record ResourceValue(ResourceLocation id) implements Value {
+        public ResourceValue { Objects.requireNonNull(id, "id"); }
+    }
+
+    public record ChoiceValue(String id) implements Value {
+        public ChoiceValue { Objects.requireNonNull(id, "id"); }
+    }
+
+    public record NumberValue(double amount) implements Value {
+        public NumberValue {
+            if (!Double.isFinite(amount)) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Semantic numeric value must be finite");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private enum Kind { RESOURCE, CHOICE, NUMBER }
+
+    public enum Role {
+        TERRAIN("terrain", Kind.RESOURCE),
+        BIOME_CONTROLLER("biome_controller", Kind.CHOICE,
+                "native", "single", "tiled", "grid", "tiny", "small", "medium", "large", "huge"),
+        BIOME("biome", Kind.RESOURCE),
+        LIGHTING("lighting", Kind.CHOICE, "normal", "dark", "bright"),
+        WEATHER("weather", Kind.CHOICE,
+                "normal", "fast", "slow", "off", "always", "cloudy", "rain", "snow", "storm"),
+        CELESTIAL("celestial", Kind.CHOICE, "normal_time"),
+        PERIOD_MODIFIER("period_modifier", Kind.NUMBER),
+        ANGLE_MODIFIER("angle_modifier", Kind.NUMBER),
+        PHASE_MODIFIER("phase_modifier", Kind.NUMBER),
+        FEATURE("feature", Kind.RESOURCE);
+
+        private final String id;
+        private final Kind kind;
+        private final Set<String> choices;
+
+        Role(String id, Kind kind, String... choices) {
+            this.id = id;
+            this.kind = kind;
+            this.choices = Set.of(choices);
+        }
+
+        public String id() { return id; }
+
+        private boolean accepts(Value value) {
+            if (kind == Kind.RESOURCE) return value instanceof ResourceValue;
+            if (kind == Kind.CHOICE) return value instanceof ChoiceValue choice && choices.contains(choice.id());
+            if (!(value instanceof NumberValue number)) return false;
+            return switch (this) {
+                case PERIOD_MODIFIER -> number.amount() >= 0.0 && number.amount() <= 2.0;
+                case ANGLE_MODIFIER, PHASE_MODIFIER -> number.amount() >= 0.0 && number.amount() < 360.0;
+                default -> false;
+            };
+        }
+
+        private String expected() {
+            return switch (kind) {
+                case RESOURCE -> "a canonical namespaced ID";
+                case CHOICE -> "one of " + choices.stream().sorted().toList();
+                case NUMBER -> this == PERIOD_MODIFIER ? "a finite number in [0, 2]"
+                        : "a finite number in [0, 360) degrees";
+            };
+        }
+    }
+}

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/writing/WritingDeskCatalog.java

@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ package net.dnorberg.rivencraft.writing;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Comparator;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
-import java.util.TreeMap;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.block.entity.WritingDeskBlockEntity;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.item.PageItem;
 import net.dnorberg.rivencraft.registry.ModDataComponents;
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ public final class WritingDeskCatalog {
     private WritingDeskCatalog() {}
 
     public static List<SymbolDisplayMetadata> available(WritingDeskBlockEntity desk) {
-        Map<ResourceLocation, SymbolDisplayMetadata> unique = new TreeMap<>();
+        Map<ResourceLocation, SymbolDisplayMetadata> unique = new HashMap<>();
         for (int slot = 0; slot < WritingDeskBlockEntity.COLLECTIONS; slot++) {
             ItemStack collection = desk.getItem(slot);
             if (collection.is(ModItems.PAGE.get())) add(unique, collection);

src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/rivencraft/symbols/biome/native.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "schema_version": 1,
+  "schema_version": 2,
   "name": "symbol.rivencraft.biome.native",
   "description": "symbol.rivencraft.biome.native.description",
-  "category": "rivencraft:biome"
+  "category": "rivencraft:biome",
+  "semantics": { "role": "biome_controller", "value": "native" }
 }

src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/rivencraft/symbols/celestial/normal_time.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "schema_version": 1,
+  "schema_version": 2,
   "name": "symbol.rivencraft.celestial.normal_time",
   "description": "symbol.rivencraft.celestial.normal_time.description",
-  "category": "rivencraft:celestial"
+  "category": "rivencraft:celestial",
+  "semantics": { "role": "celestial", "value": "normal_time" }
 }

src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/rivencraft/symbols/feature/caves.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "schema_version": 1,
+  "schema_version": 2,
   "name": "symbol.rivencraft.feature.caves",
   "description": "symbol.rivencraft.feature.caves.description",
-  "category": "rivencraft:feature"
+  "category": "rivencraft:feature",
+  "semantics": { "role": "feature", "value": "rivencraft:caves" }
 }

src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/rivencraft/symbols/lighting/normal.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "schema_version": 1,
+  "schema_version": 2,
   "name": "symbol.rivencraft.lighting.normal",
   "description": "symbol.rivencraft.lighting.normal.description",
-  "category": "rivencraft:lighting"
+  "category": "rivencraft:lighting",
+  "semantics": { "role": "lighting", "value": "normal" }
 }

src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/rivencraft/symbols/terrain/standard.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "schema_version": 1,
+  "schema_version": 2,
   "name": "symbol.rivencraft.terrain.standard",
   "description": "symbol.rivencraft.terrain.standard.description",
-  "category": "rivencraft:terrain"
+  "category": "rivencraft:terrain",
+  "semantics": { "role": "terrain", "value": "rivencraft:standard" }
 }

src/main/resources/data/rivencraft/rivencraft/symbols/weather/normal.json

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "schema_version": 1,
+  "schema_version": 2,
   "name": "symbol.rivencraft.weather.normal",
   "description": "symbol.rivencraft.weather.normal.description",
-  "category": "rivencraft:weather"
+  "category": "rivencraft:weather",
+  "semantics": { "role": "weather", "value": "normal" }
 }