diff --git a/server/prompts/overseer_control_system.txt b/server/prompts/overseer_control_system.txt
index e647e246..79f38576 100644
--- a/server/prompts/overseer_control_system.txt
+++ b/server/prompts/overseer_control_system.txt
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
-You are <NAME>, a field researcher of rover habitat activity. Stay in character at all times.
+You are <NAME>, an autonomous participant in a chatroom where people remotely drive rovers around a shared physical playspace.
 
-Identity:
+Context and purpose:
 
-* Curious, practical, observant, and lightly entertaining.
 * You watch chat, rover state, lights, lift state, Neato state, memory, recent events, and tool results.
-* You push the habitat toward small real activity and useful observations.
-* You act first, comment second.
-* You are selective, not spammy.
-* You are not a generic assistant.
+* Your purpose is to observe what happens, use the available tools for useful small experiments and requested actions, and participate in the conversation when you have something to contribute.
+* Chat includes casual conversation, jokes, and people talking to each other. It is not a queue of requests for your assistance.
+* Use the conversation as context for your replies; there is no required personality or performance to maintain.
 
 Rules:
 
@@ -20,6 +18,7 @@ Rules:
 * Don't respond or use tools every cycle unless the context calls for it.
 * `STATE_UPDATE`, `ROOM_SNAPSHOT`, `MEMORY_UPDATE`, `MEMORY_SUMMARY`, `RECENT_EVENTS`, `TOOL_RESULT`, and `tool_constraints` are context.
 * `TOOL_RESULT` means a tool already ran.
+* The room snapshot gives the current time, server-local timezone, and previous run's age. Chat and recent tool events include timestamps and ages in seconds relative to this snapshot; use them to distinguish current activity from old conversation and judge how recently you spoke or acted. Timing annotations are context, not spoken text; an unknown time does not mean something just happened.
 * Use tool calls for actions and memory updates.
 * If chat asks you to remember something, use a memory tool.
 * If you run a useful test, use memory to record useful results.
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ Rules:
 * Do not invent tools.
 * Ask a question only when a required action parameter is missing.
 * Ignore obvious bot commands and bot responses in chat.
-* Only talk in first person; do not narrate yourself.
 * It is not possible for you to directly control the rovers unless an available tool does it.
 * All rovers are female. Neato is nonbinary.
 
@@ -45,20 +43,23 @@ Research behavior:
 * Remember useful outcomes, stable preferences, corrections, and notable habitat events.
 * Do not merely say you will remember something.
 
-Chat style:
+Chat participation:
 
 * Always use English.
 * Chat output must be spoken text only.
 * Never print tool names, function calls, JSON, command syntax, or action plans in chat.
 * Do not claim you changed, tested, started, saved, remembered, or recorded something unless it already happened.
-* Speak when it adds entertainment, responds to a direct relevant message, or comments on a completed result.
-* Do not say “let me know,” “what should I do next,” or “what do you need?”
+* Speak when you have a relevant contribution to the conversation, an answer to a question aimed at you, or a completed result worth reporting.
+* Keep replies brief unless the question needs more detail.
+* Do not routinely offer help, ask what people want to do next, or invite them to keep chatting.
+* Random numbers and keyboard spam do not require a response. Do not invent meaning or feelings behind them.
+* Answer questions directly and acknowledge uncertainty. Do not invent facts, instructions, or explanations.
 * If nothing meaningful changed and no useful action is available, stay silent.
 
 Anti-repeat:
 
 * Do not repeat the same intent/topic unless state or conversation clearly changed.
-* If directly addressed, respond only if you add new info, a new action, or a clearly new tone.
+* Being directly addressed does not require repeating an answer you already gave.
 * Do not act from your own previous messages.
 
 Memory:
diff --git a/server/src/services/overseerControlService/contextBuilder.js b/server/src/services/overseerControlService/contextBuilder.js
index 0e5934b3..c5bc476d 100644
--- a/server/src/services/overseerControlService/contextBuilder.js
+++ b/server/src/services/overseerControlService/contextBuilder.js
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 const { evaluateTools } = require('./tools');
 
+function formatTimeContext(timestamp, now) {
+  const at = Number(timestamp);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(at) || at <= 0) return 'time=unknown';
+  return `at=${new Date(at).toISOString()} age_seconds=${Math.max(0, Math.floor((now - at) / 1000))}`;
+}
+
 function normalizeNeatoIssue(value) {
   const raw = String(value || '').trim();
   if (!raw) return 'none';
@@ -7,8 +13,12 @@ function normalizeNeatoIssue(value) {
   return raw;
 }
 
-function toStateUpdate({ mode, homeAssistantState, neatoState, liftState, roster, triggerReason }) {
+function toStateUpdate({ mode, homeAssistantState, neatoState, liftState, roster, triggerReason, now = Date.now(), previousRunAt }) {
   const lines = [];
+  const timezone = Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone;
+  lines.push(`current_time: ${new Date(now).toISOString()}`);
+  lines.push(`local_time: ${new Date(now).toLocaleString('en-US', { timeZone: timezone, hour12: false })} timezone=${timezone}`);
+  lines.push(`previous_run: ${formatTimeContext(previousRunAt, now)}`);
   lines.push(`trigger: ${triggerReason || 'heartbeat'}`);
   lines.push(`mode: ${mode || 'unknown'}`);
   lines.push(`home_assistant_connected: ${homeAssistantState?.connected ? 'yes' : 'no'}`);
@@ -88,7 +98,7 @@ function formatToolResultMessages(toolCalls) {
   return [{ role: 'system', content: ['TOOL_RESULT', ...lines].join('\n') }];
 }
 
-function buildConversation({ recentMessages, name }) {
+function buildConversation({ recentMessages, name, now = Date.now() }) {
   const messages = [];
   (recentMessages || []).forEach((entry) => {
     const text = String(entry?.text || '').trim();
@@ -97,12 +107,13 @@ function buildConversation({ recentMessages, name }) {
 
     const isAssistant = Boolean(entry?.bot);
     const nickname = String(entry?.nickname || (isAssistant ? name || 'Overseer' : 'user')).trim();
+    const timing = `[${formatTimeContext(entry?.ts, now)}]`;
     if (isAssistant) {
-      if (text) messages.push({ role: 'assistant', content: text });
-      messages.push(...toolResultMessages);
+      if (text) messages.push({ role: 'assistant', content: `${timing} ${text}` });
+      messages.push(...toolResultMessages.map((message) => ({ ...message, content: `${message.content}\nmessage_time: ${timing}` })));
       return;
     }
-    if (text) messages.push({ role: 'user', content: `${nickname}: ${text}` });
+    if (text) messages.push({ role: 'user', content: `${timing} ${nickname}: ${text}` });
   });
   return messages;
 }
@@ -143,6 +154,7 @@ function buildModelMessages({
 }
 
 module.exports = {
+  formatTimeContext,
   toStateUpdate,
   buildToolState,
   buildConversation,
diff --git a/server/src/services/overseerControlService/index.js b/server/src/services/overseerControlService/index.js
index 34d88d3e..0f6ed971 100644
--- a/server/src/services/overseerControlService/index.js
+++ b/server/src/services/overseerControlService/index.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const {
   normalizeMs,
 } = require('./constants');
 const { isAdminRole, buildAdminState, buildFailureInfo } = require('./runtimeHelpers');
-const { toStateUpdate, buildToolState, buildConversation, buildModelMessages } = require('./contextBuilder');
+const { toStateUpdate, buildToolState, buildConversation, buildModelMessages, formatTimeContext } = require('./contextBuilder');
 const { buildOllamaTools, executeToolAction } = require('./tools');
 const { loadMemory, saveMemory, createDefaultMemory, summarizeMemory } = require('./memoryStore');
 
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ const runtime = {
   runHistory: [],
   liveToolCalls: [],
   pendingDirectAddressRun: false,
+  lastDecisionAt: null,
   memoryStore: loadMemory(),
   contextResetAt: Date.now(),
 };
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ function buildToolCallFeedEntries(requestedActions = [], actionResults = []) {
   });
 }
 
-function buildRecentEventsSummary() {
+function buildRecentEventsSummary(now) {
   const events = (runtime.liveToolCalls || [])
     .filter((entry) => entry && (entry.phase === 'ok' || entry.phase === 'error' || entry.phase === 'blocked'))
     .slice(-3)
@@ -373,13 +374,17 @@ function buildRecentEventsSummary() {
       const tool = String(entry.tool || 'unknown');
       const phase = String(entry.phase || 'unknown');
       const err = entry.error ? ` error=${String(entry.error).slice(0, 60)}` : '';
-      return `- tool=${tool} phase=${phase}${err}`;
+      return `- ${formatTimeContext(entry.at, now)} tool=${tool} phase=${phase}${err}`;
     });
   if (!events.length) return '- none';
   return events.join('\n');
 }
 
 async function runDecision(triggerReason) {
+  // Use one reference time so all ages in this model request agree.
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const previousRunAt = runtime.lastDecisionAt;
+  runtime.lastDecisionAt = now;
   const runId = runtime.tickCount;
   updateStatus({ phase: 'context_build', currentRunId: runId, lastTriggerReason: triggerReason, lastError: null, lastErrorDetails: null });
 
@@ -389,7 +394,7 @@ async function runDecision(triggerReason) {
   const liftState = getLiftState();
   const roster = buildRosterSummary();
 
-  const stateUpdate = toStateUpdate({ mode, homeAssistantState, neatoState, liftState, roster, triggerReason });
+  const stateUpdate = toStateUpdate({ mode, homeAssistantState, neatoState, liftState, roster, triggerReason, now, previousRunAt });
   const toolState = buildToolState({ mode, homeAssistantState, neatoState, liftState });
 
   const recentConversation = getRecentMessages(MAX_CHAT_CONTEXT + MAX_BOT_CONTEXT + 20, { includeSystem: true })
@@ -399,14 +404,14 @@ async function runDecision(triggerReason) {
       return isPublicChatTargetId(entry.roverId);
     })
     .slice(-(MAX_CHAT_CONTEXT + MAX_BOT_CONTEXT));
-  const conversationMessages = buildConversation({ recentMessages: recentConversation, name });
+  const conversationMessages = buildConversation({ recentMessages: recentConversation, name, now });
 
   const systemPrompt = await readPrompt();
   const modelMessages = buildModelMessages({
     systemPrompt,
     stateUpdate,
     memorySummary: summarizeMemory(runtime.memoryStore),
-    recentEvents: buildRecentEventsSummary(),
+    recentEvents: buildRecentEventsSummary(now),
     conversationMessages,
     availableTools: toolState.available,
     blockedTools: toolState.blocked,
@@ -680,6 +685,7 @@ function clearHistory(reason = 'admin requested clear history', options = {}) {
   runtime.contextResetAt = Date.now();
   runtime.runHistory = [];
   runtime.liveToolCalls = [];
+  runtime.lastDecisionAt = null;
   runtime.generationCount = 0;
   runtime.generationTotalMs = 0;
   if (resetPersistentMemory) {