diff --git a/frontend/src/App.jsx b/frontend/src/App.jsx
index e6bd7c0..23d25b7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.jsx
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ export default function App() {
   const [chipOpen, setChipOpen] = useState(false);
   const [chipEntry, setChipEntry] = useState(null);
 
-  // Live refresh (optional)
   const aliveRef = useRef(true);
 
   const load = async () => {
@@ -229,7 +228,7 @@ export default function App() {
       ]
     : [];
 
-  const PlaceholderCard = ({ title, hint }) => (
+  const PlaceholderCard = ({ title, hint, compact = false }) => (
     <div
       style={{
         borderRadius: 18,
@@ -237,20 +236,23 @@ export default function App() {
         background: stylesTokens.panelBg,
         boxShadow: "0 12px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)",
         backdropFilter: "blur(8px)",
-        padding: 12,
+        padding: compact ? 10 : 12,
         overflow: "hidden",
+        minWidth: 0,
       }}
     >
       <div style={{ fontWeight: 900, color: stylesTokens.textMain, fontSize: 13 }}>
         {title}
       </div>
-      <div style={{ marginTop: 6, color: stylesTokens.textDim, fontSize: 12, opacity: 0.95 }}>
-        {hint}
-      </div>
+      {hint ? (
+        <div style={{ marginTop: 6, color: stylesTokens.textDim, fontSize: 12, opacity: 0.95 }}>
+          {hint}
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
       <div
         style={{
-          marginTop: 10,
-          height: 64,
+          marginTop: compact ? 8 : 10,
+          height: compact ? 46 : 64,
           borderRadius: 14,
           border: `1px dashed ${stylesTokens.panelBorder}`,
           opacity: 0.8,
@@ -259,79 +261,130 @@ export default function App() {
     </div>
   );
 
+  // Player rail placeholder (rechts vom Board, vor Notizen)
+  const players = [
+    { id: "p1", label: "A", active: true },
+    { id: "p2", label: "B" },
+    { id: "p3", label: "C" },
+    { id: "p4", label: "D" },
+    { id: "p5", label: "E" },
+  ];
+
+  const PlayerIcon = ({ label, active }) => (
+    <div
+      style={{
+        width: active ? 46 : 36,
+        height: active ? 46 : 36,
+        borderRadius: 999,
+        border: `1px solid ${stylesTokens.panelBorder}`,
+        background: stylesTokens.panelBg,
+        boxShadow: active ? "0 16px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.55)" : "0 10px 28px rgba(0,0,0,0.35)",
+        display: "grid",
+        placeItems: "center",
+        color: active ? stylesTokens.textGold : stylesTokens.textMain,
+        fontWeight: 900,
+        fontSize: active ? 14 : 12,
+        transition: "transform 120ms ease, width 120ms ease, height 120ms ease",
+      }}
+      title={active ? "Aktiver Spieler" : "Spieler"}
+    >
+      {label}
+    </div>
+  );
+
   return (
     <div style={styles.page}>
       <div style={styles.bgFixed} aria-hidden="true">
         <div style={styles.bgMap} />
       </div>
 
-      {/* Layout: Links Game/Board (fix), Rechts Notizen (scroll) */}
       <div className="appRoot">
         {/* LEFT: Game Area */}
         <section className="leftPane">
-          {/* Top bar placeholders (User + Settings) */}
+          {/* Top: User + Settings adjacent */}
           <div className="topBarRow">
-            <PlaceholderCard title="User Dropdown" hint="(placeholder)" />
-            <PlaceholderCard title="Einstellungen" hint="(placeholder)" />
+            <PlaceholderCard title="User Dropdown" hint="(placeholder)" compact />
+            <PlaceholderCard title="Einstellungen" hint="(placeholder)" compact />
           </div>
 
-          {/* Center Board */}
-          <div
-            className="boardWrap"
-            style={{
-              border: `1px solid ${stylesTokens.panelBorder}`,
-              background: stylesTokens.panelBg,
-              boxShadow: "0 20px 70px rgba(0,0,0,0.45)",
-              backdropFilter: "blur(10px)",
-              padding: 12,
-              position: "relative",
-            }}
-          >
-            <div
-              style={{
-                position: "absolute",
-                inset: 0,
-                background: `linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, ${stylesTokens.goldLine}, transparent)`,
-                opacity: 0.25,
-                pointerEvents: "none",
-              }}
-            />
-            <div style={{ position: "relative", height: "100%", display: "flex", flexDirection: "column" }}>
-              <div style={{ fontWeight: 900, color: stylesTokens.textMain, fontSize: 14 }}>
-                3D Board / Game View
-              </div>
-              <div style={{ marginTop: 6, color: stylesTokens.textDim, fontSize: 12 }}>
-                Platzhalter – hier kommt später das Board + Figuren rein.
+          {/* Main: Tools | Board | Player Rail */}
+          <div className="mainRow">
+            {/* Left of board: Hilfskarten + Dunkles Deck side-by-side */}
+            <div className="leftTools">
+              <div className="leftToolsRow">
+                <PlaceholderCard title="Hilfskarten" hint="(placeholder)" />
+                <PlaceholderCard title="Dunkles Deck" hint="(placeholder)" />
               </div>
+            </div>
 
+            {/* Board: big */}
+            <div
+              className="boardWrap"
+              style={{
+                border: `1px solid ${stylesTokens.panelBorder}`,
+                background: stylesTokens.panelBg,
+                boxShadow: "0 20px 70px rgba(0,0,0,0.45)",
+                backdropFilter: "blur(10px)",
+                padding: 12,
+                position: "relative",
+              }}
+            >
               <div
                 style={{
-                  marginTop: 10,
-                  flex: 1,
-                  borderRadius: 18,
-                  border: `1px dashed ${stylesTokens.panelBorder}`,
-                  opacity: 0.85,
-                  minHeight: 0,
+                  position: "absolute",
+                  inset: 0,
+                  background: `linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, ${stylesTokens.goldLine}, transparent)`,
+                  opacity: 0.22,
+                  pointerEvents: "none",
                 }}
               />
+
+              <div style={{ position: "relative", height: "100%", display: "flex", flexDirection: "column" }}>
+                <div style={{ fontWeight: 900, color: stylesTokens.textMain, fontSize: 14 }}>
+                  3D Board / Game View
+                </div>
+                <div style={{ marginTop: 6, color: stylesTokens.textDim, fontSize: 12 }}>
+                  Platzhalter – hier kommt später das Board + Figuren rein.
+                </div>
+
+                <div
+                  style={{
+                    marginTop: 10,
+                    flex: 1,
+                    borderRadius: 18,
+                    border: `1px dashed ${stylesTokens.panelBorder}`,
+                    opacity: 0.85,
+                    minHeight: 0,
+                  }}
+                />
+              </div>
+
+              {/* Dice: under the board slightly right (overlay) */}
+              <div className="diceOverlay">
+                <PlaceholderCard title="Würfel" hint="(placeholder)" compact />
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Right of board: player rail, directly before notes */}
+            <div className="playerRail">
+              <div className="playerRailTitle">Spieler</div>
+              <div className="playerRailList">
+                {players.map((p) => (
+                  <PlayerIcon key={p.id} label={p.label} active={!!p.active} />
+                ))}
+              </div>
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          {/* Bottom HUD */}
-          <div className="bottomHud">
+          {/* Bottom: Player HUD (left user card, mid secret, right points) */}
+          <div className="playerHud">
+            <PlaceholderCard title="Spielerkarte (User)" hint="(placeholder)" />
             <PlaceholderCard title="Meine Geheimkarten" hint="(placeholder)" />
-            <PlaceholderCard title="Würfel + Hogwarts Points" hint="(placeholder)" />
-            <PlaceholderCard title="Spielerkarte / Turn" hint="(placeholder)" />
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Extra: Hilfskarten / Deck */}
-          <div className="extraRow">
-            <PlaceholderCard title="Dunkles Deck" hint="(placeholder)" />
-            <PlaceholderCard title="Hilfskarten" hint="(placeholder)" />
+            <PlaceholderCard title="Hogwarts Points" hint="(placeholder)" />
           </div>
         </section>
 
-        {/* RIGHT: Notes Panel */}
+        {/* RIGHT: Notes Panel (scroll only here) */}
         <aside
           className="notesPane"
           style={{
diff --git a/frontend/src/AppLayout.css b/frontend/src/AppLayout.css
index 33adf76..ebc8848 100644
--- a/frontend/src/AppLayout.css
+++ b/frontend/src/AppLayout.css
@@ -1,60 +1,129 @@
-/* Desktop-only layout: left fixed (no scroll), right notes scroll only */
+/* Desktop-only layout:
+   - Left: fixed, no scroll
+   - Right: notes scroll only
+*/
 
 html, body, #root {
   height: 100%;
 }
 
 body {
-  overflow: hidden; /* no page scroll, only notes panel scrolls */
+  overflow: hidden; /* prevent global scroll */
 }
 
 .appRoot {
   height: 100vh;
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: minmax(720px, 1fr) clamp(380px, 32vw, 520px);
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(860px, 1fr) clamp(380px, 32vw, 520px);
   gap: 14px;
   padding: 14px;
   box-sizing: border-box;
   overflow: hidden;
 }
 
+/* LEFT COLUMN */
 .leftPane {
   overflow: hidden;
   min-width: 0;
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-rows: 72px minmax(340px, 1fr) 160px 110px; /* top / board / hud / extra */
+  grid-template-rows: 72px minmax(340px, 1fr) 160px; /* top | main | player HUD */
   gap: 14px;
 }
 
 .topBarRow {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; /* User | Settings adjacent */
   gap: 14px;
   min-width: 0;
 }
 
+/* MIDDLE: Tools | Board | Player rail */
+.mainRow {
+  min-height: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(260px, 360px) minmax(520px, 1fr) 92px;
+  gap: 14px;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+/* Left of board: two cards next to each other */
+.leftTools {
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  display: grid;
+  align-content: start;
+}
+
+.leftToolsRow {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; /* Hilfskarten | Dunkles Deck */
+  gap: 14px;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+/* Board */
 .boardWrap {
   min-height: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   border-radius: 22px;
+  min-width: 0;
+  position: relative;
 }
 
-.bottomHud {
+/* Dice overlay: under board slightly right */
+.diceOverlay {
+  position: absolute;
+  bottom: 14px;
+  right: 18px; /* "leicht rechts" */
+  width: 220px;
+  pointer-events: none; /* placeholder only */
+  opacity: 0.95;
+}
+
+/* Player rail: right of board, before notes */
+.playerRail {
+  min-height: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  border-radius: 22px;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08);
+  background: rgba(0,0,0,0.18);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
+  box-shadow: 0 16px 50px rgba(0,0,0,0.35);
+  padding: 10px 8px;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-rows: auto 1fr;
+  justify-items: center;
+  gap: 10px;
+}
+
+.playerRailTitle {
+  font-weight: 900;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  opacity: 0.9;
+}
+
+.playerRailList {
   min-height: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 1.15fr 0.9fr 1.15fr;
-  gap: 14px;
+  gap: 10px;
+  align-content: start;
+  justify-items: center;
+  padding-top: 4px;
 }
 
-.extraRow {
+/* Bottom: Player HUD (User | Secret | Points) */
+.playerHud {
   min-height: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
+  grid-template-columns: 1.1fr 1.4fr 1.1fr;
   gap: 14px;
+  min-width: 0;
 }
 
+/* RIGHT COLUMN */
 .notesPane {
   overflow: hidden;
   min-width: 0;
@@ -69,21 +138,32 @@ body {
   padding-right: 4px;
 }
 
-/* Make it shrink gracefully on smaller viewports */
+/* graceful shrink */
 @media (max-height: 860px) {
   .leftPane {
-    grid-template-rows: 64px minmax(280px, 1fr) 140px 96px;
+    grid-template-rows: 64px minmax(280px, 1fr) 140px;
+  }
+  .diceOverlay {
+    bottom: 10px;
+    right: 12px;
+    width: 200px;
   }
 }
 
-@media (max-width: 1280px) {
+@media (max-width: 1400px) {
   .appRoot {
-    grid-template-columns: minmax(620px, 1fr) clamp(340px, 34vw, 480px);
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(760px, 1fr) clamp(360px, 34vw, 480px);
+  }
+  .mainRow {
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(240px, 320px) minmax(480px, 1fr) 88px;
   }
 }
 
-@media (max-width: 1120px) {
+@media (max-width: 1220px) {
   .appRoot {
-    grid-template-columns: 1fr clamp(320px, 36vw, 440px);
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr clamp(340px, 36vw, 460px);
+  }
+  .mainRow {
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(220px, 300px) minmax(420px, 1fr) 84px;
   }
 }