diff --git a/docs/REVIEW_LOG.md b/docs/REVIEW_LOG.md
index 357c248..91b6b7f 100644
--- a/docs/REVIEW_LOG.md
+++ b/docs/REVIEW_LOG.md
@@ -3717,3 +3717,49 @@ players did. This is a design decision rather than a defect — a case is meant
 survived rather than won — but if phases are supposed to be passable, the ramp
 (−5 per phase, on top of `difficult`) is the dial, not `DEFENCE_STEP` and not the
 skill ratings.
+
+## The case ramp, retuned
+
+The old ramp made every phase after the first Difficult — which HALVES the lead's
+skill — and then stacked a cumulative −5% on top of that. The two pressures were
+never the same idea, and they are now separated in `phaseRampFor(index, kindId)` in
+`rules.mjs`, with six spot-checks:
+
+- **Difficulty is about the phase.** Only Containment is Difficult — the step the case
+  is actually about — and it does not also take the ramp. It is hard because it is
+  containment, not because you are tired.
+- **The modifier is attrition.** −5 per phase, capped at −15, because a fifth phase is
+  not four times worse than a second.
+
+```
+              was                              now
+lead 40%   40 → 15 → 10 →  5 →  1        40 → 35 → 30 → 20 → 25
+lead 55%   55 → 22 → 17 → 12 →  7        55 → 50 → 45 → 27 → 40
+lead 70%   70 → 30 → 25 → 20 → 15        70 → 65 → 60 → 35 → 55
+```
+
+Simulated over 20,000 full five-phase cases per row, WITH the destitution rule
+modelled (a spent track upgrades every remaining phase to Difficult):
+
+```
+lead 40%   passed 0.72 → 1.37 of 5    hit destitution 87% → 63% of cases
+lead 55%   passed 1.14 → 2.06 of 5    hit destitution 72% → 40%
+lead 70%   passed 1.60 → 2.78 of 5    hit destitution 54% → 20%
+```
+
+Destitution almost always lands on the final phase rather than compounding, so it
+stings rather than spirals — my first description of it as a death spiral was
+overstated.
+
+Played two cases on the new numbers. SHORT ORCHARD passed 2 of 5 and ended scraped
+clean at Resources 0 but Containment 7. PALE VERGE passed 4 of 5 including two
+specials, failed the Containment step, and came home at Containment 9, Resources 4.
+Both read as cases rather than as arithmetic.
+
+**R-222 · leading a phase earned no experience.** `resolveLegDialog` called
+`skillRoll` with an actor and a rating but **no skill family**, so the choke point
+could not resolve the skill item and the tick never fired. This is the same fault the
+internal-callers fix addressed — that fix resolves the item FROM the family, and this
+caller supplied none — so Tradecraft, the skill the job most uses, was still the one
+that could never improve. Fixed and verified: PALE VERGE's lead ticked Tradecraft and
+took it 62% → 66% at close.
diff --git a/packs/armour/LOG b/packs/armour/LOG
index 8d7d7fe..81db68d 100644
--- a/packs/armour/LOG
+++ b/packs/armour/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.141023 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.141046 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.141166 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 1902 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.141467 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.141512 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.033759 175517000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.033780 175517000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.033929 175517000 Level-0 table #5: 1902 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.034226 175517000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.034283 175517000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/armour/LOG.old b/packs/armour/LOG.old
index ba254b7..f71abab 100644
--- a/packs/armour/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/armour/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.871312 16fbcb000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.742472 172977000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/expedition/LOG b/packs/expedition/LOG
index 61a4c1e..a89a9bd 100644
--- a/packs/expedition/LOG
+++ b/packs/expedition/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.147740 175e6b000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.147761 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.147869 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: 4129 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.148109 175e6b000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.148134 175e6b000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.042390 175d23000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.042410 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.042554 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: 4129 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.042821 175d23000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.042870 175d23000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/expedition/LOG.old b/packs/expedition/LOG.old
index 882dabc..9a8d6b7 100644
--- a/packs/expedition/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/expedition/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.894989 16ebb3000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.766828 173183000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/gear/LOG b/packs/gear/LOG
index f09e80b..4fc69e1 100644
--- a/packs/gear/LOG
+++ b/packs/gear/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.142024 175e6b000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.142110 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.142362 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: 27954 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.142565 175e6b000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.142606 175e6b000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.034917 175d23000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.035011 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.035308 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: 27954 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.035591 175d23000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.035641 175d23000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/gear/LOG.old b/packs/gear/LOG.old
index 868370a..f00b55c 100644
--- a/packs/gear/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/gear/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.873111 1703d7000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.744343 17419b000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/npcs/LOG b/packs/npcs/LOG
index 31a58c8..837a43b 100644
--- a/packs/npcs/LOG
+++ b/packs/npcs/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.134409 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.134636 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.135086 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 60660 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.135295 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.135327 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.025087 175517000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.025512 175517000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.026438 175517000 Level-0 table #5: 60660 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.026776 175517000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.026817 175517000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/npcs/LOG.old b/packs/npcs/LOG.old
index a646b26..9942779 100644
--- a/packs/npcs/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/npcs/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.883213 16f3bf000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.754647 172977000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/powers/LOG b/packs/powers/LOG
index 747e711..2045096 100644
--- a/packs/powers/LOG
+++ b/packs/powers/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.138725 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.138746 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.138865 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 3295 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.139133 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.139175 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.031149 1744ff000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.031171 1744ff000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.031288 1744ff000 Level-0 table #5: 3295 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.031521 1744ff000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.031553 1744ff000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/powers/LOG.old b/packs/powers/LOG.old
index 6b46830..080d557 100644
--- a/packs/powers/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/powers/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.889425 16f3bf000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.760755 17419b000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/pregens/LOG b/packs/pregens/LOG
index 0071685..09c7b2a 100644
--- a/packs/pregens/LOG
+++ b/packs/pregens/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.132366 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.132578 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.133060 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 54921 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.133331 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.133365 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.021326 175517000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.021545 175517000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.022420 175517000 Level-0 table #5: 54921 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.022844 175517000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.022893 175517000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/pregens/LOG.old b/packs/pregens/LOG.old
index 68549ea..a8fde99 100644
--- a/packs/pregens/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/pregens/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.878370 16fbcb000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.750048 17419b000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/rules/LOG b/packs/rules/LOG
index 4e814ba..7b84bc8 100644
--- a/packs/rules/LOG
+++ b/packs/rules/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.144398 175e6b000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.144451 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.144690 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: 23316 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.144892 175e6b000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.144919 175e6b000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.037687 175d23000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.037745 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.038003 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: 23316 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.038279 175d23000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.038312 175d23000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/rules/LOG.old b/packs/rules/LOG.old
index 316e315..a682cbf 100644
--- a/packs/rules/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/rules/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.893484 16ebb3000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.765165 173183000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/skills/LOG b/packs/skills/LOG
index e0e4384..aab4d6d 100644
--- a/packs/skills/LOG
+++ b/packs/skills/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.136311 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.136348 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.136491 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 6679 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.136799 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.136837 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.028347 175517000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.028398 175517000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.028587 175517000 Level-0 table #5: 6679 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.028935 175517000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.029009 175517000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/skills/LOG.old b/packs/skills/LOG.old
index 944ef88..265661d 100644
--- a/packs/skills/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/skills/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.865001 16fbcb000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.736502 172977000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/slice/LOG b/packs/slice/LOG
index 226334b..b7366cc 100644
--- a/packs/slice/LOG
+++ b/packs/slice/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.145560 174e53000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.145600 174e53000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.145824 174e53000 Level-0 table #5: 16892 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.146032 174e53000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.146059 174e53000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.039746 1744ff000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.039788 1744ff000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.040037 1744ff000 Level-0 table #5: 16892 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.040363 1744ff000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.040421 1744ff000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/slice/LOG.old b/packs/slice/LOG.old
index c99e09a..207dcd4 100644
--- a/packs/slice/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/slice/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.887732 16ebb3000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.759088 173183000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/tables/LOG b/packs/tables/LOG
index 9602f01..4e04f5c 100644
--- a/packs/tables/LOG
+++ b/packs/tables/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.146606 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.146628 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.146719 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 3739 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.146990 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.147036 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.041184 175517000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.041207 175517000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.041346 175517000 Level-0 table #5: 3739 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.041618 175517000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.041664 175517000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/tables/LOG.old b/packs/tables/LOG.old
index 3ea6a53..92285dd 100644
--- a/packs/tables/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/tables/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.885357 1703d7000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.757057 173183000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/talents/LOG b/packs/talents/LOG
index 2ef6008..8906fbc 100644
--- a/packs/talents/LOG
+++ b/packs/talents/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.137507 17565f000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.137545 17565f000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.137683 17565f000 Level-0 table #5: 5105 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.137984 17565f000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.138042 17565f000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.029938 174d0b000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.029970 174d0b000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.030128 174d0b000 Level-0 table #5: 5105 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.030410 174d0b000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.030446 174d0b000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/talents/LOG.old b/packs/talents/LOG.old
index f731097..54be61d 100644
--- a/packs/talents/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/talents/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.867714 16fbcb000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.739179 173183000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/vehicles/LOG b/packs/vehicles/LOG
index b9d21ac..953ee0e 100644
--- a/packs/vehicles/LOG
+++ b/packs/vehicles/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.143254 174647000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.143279 174647000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.143426 174647000 Level-0 table #5: 5012 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.143706 174647000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.143760 174647000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.036441 175517000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.036467 175517000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.036615 175517000 Level-0 table #5: 5012 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.036909 175517000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.036961 175517000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/vehicles/LOG.old b/packs/vehicles/LOG.old
index 99ef50a..07a3f70 100644
--- a/packs/vehicles/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/vehicles/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.874846 1703d7000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.746192 173183000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/packs/weapons/LOG b/packs/weapons/LOG
index dca32d1..fd48b42 100644
--- a/packs/weapons/LOG
+++ b/packs/weapons/LOG
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.139842 175e6b000 Recovering log #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.139878 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: started
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.140047 175e6b000 Level-0 table #5: 7240 bytes OK
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.140366 175e6b000 Delete type=0 #3
-2026/08/10-20:41:41.140415 175e6b000 Delete type=3 #2
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.032367 175d23000 Recovering log #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.032410 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: started
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.032599 175d23000 Level-0 table #5: 7240 bytes OK
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.032954 175d23000 Delete type=0 #3
+2026/08/10-21:10:35.033016 175d23000 Delete type=3 #2
diff --git a/packs/weapons/LOG.old b/packs/weapons/LOG.old
index 4cb2c99..0829054 100644
--- a/packs/weapons/LOG.old
+++ b/packs/weapons/LOG.old
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2026/08/10-20:41:32.869495 16ebb3000 Delete type=3 #1
+2026/08/10-21:10:26.740769 17419b000 Delete type=3 #1
diff --git a/ringbrp.mjs b/ringbrp.mjs
index b9ebfad..64dc8fb 100644
--- a/ringbrp.mjs
+++ b/ringbrp.mjs
@@ -5015,6 +5015,13 @@ async function resolveLegDialog(expedition) {
     actor: best.actor,
     label: game.i18n.format("RINGBRP.Expedition.LegRoll", { n: idx + 1, terrain: leg.terrain ?? "" }),
     rating: best.rating,
+    // R-222. The family was never passed, so skillRoll could not resolve the skill
+    // item, and a phase led successfully earned no experience tick. This is the same
+    // fault the internal-callers fix addressed — it resolves the item FROM the
+    // family, and this caller supplied none. The skill the job most uses was still
+    // the one that could never improve.
+    skillFamilyId: best.skill,
+    categoryId: "mental",
     difficulty,
     situational: (cancelled ? 0 : Number(leg.modifier) || 0) + rewardBonus,
     flavourLines: [
diff --git a/rules.mjs b/rules.mjs
index bcd68da..b58766c 100644
--- a/rules.mjs
+++ b/rules.mjs
@@ -368,6 +368,35 @@ export function defencePenaltyFor(defencesUsed = 0) {
   return DEFENCE_STEP * Math.max(0, Number(defencesUsed) || 0);
 }
 
+/**
+ * HOW HARD A CASE PHASE IS.
+ *
+ * The old ramp made every phase after the first Difficult — which HALVES the lead's
+ * skill — and then stacked a cumulative −5% on top. Measured across two played
+ * cases, a realistic lead of 40–55% (Tradecraft is a support skill on most postings
+ * that train it at all) faced 20% → 15% → 10% → 5% → 1%, and both cases were decided
+ * by Resources running out rather than by anything the players did.
+ *
+ * The two pressures are now separated, because they were never the same idea:
+ *
+ *   DIFFICULTY is about the phase. Only Containment is Difficult — the step the case
+ *   is actually about — and it does not also take the ramp. It is hard because it is
+ *   containment, not because you are tired.
+ *
+ *   The MODIFIER is about attrition. It accumulates as the case wears on, and it
+ *   stops accumulating, because a fifth phase is not four times worse than a second.
+ */
+export const PHASE_RAMP = { step: -5, cap: -15, hardKinds: ["containment"] };
+
+export function phaseRampFor(index, kindId = "") {
+  const hard = PHASE_RAMP.hardKinds.includes(String(kindId));
+  return {
+    difficulty: hard ? "difficult" : "average",
+    // A hard phase carries its difficulty INSTEAD of the ramp, never both.
+    modifier: hard ? 0 : Math.max(PHASE_RAMP.cap, PHASE_RAMP.step * (Number(index) || 0))
+  };
+}
+
 /* -------------------------------------------- */
 /*  Borrowed Authority                          */
 /* -------------------------------------------- */
diff --git a/tools/check-rules.mjs b/tools/check-rules.mjs
index 7b9a93a..3356f55 100644
--- a/tools/check-rules.mjs
+++ b/tools/check-rules.mjs
@@ -197,6 +197,13 @@ const checks = [
   ["defenceTypeAllowed('','parry')",      RULES.defenceTypeAllowed("","parry"),      "parry"],
   // defences are graded: a defence stops its own quality or worse, and only
   // shaves a better blow by as many steps as it was outclassed by
+  // the case ramp: attrition accumulates and stops; only Containment is Difficult
+  ["phaseRampFor(0) is the way in",       RULES.phaseRampFor(0,"approach").difficulty,  "average"],
+  ["phaseRampFor(0) modifier",            RULES.phaseRampFor(0,"approach").modifier,           0],
+  ["phaseRampFor(2) modifier",            RULES.phaseRampFor(2,"search").modifier,           -10],
+  ["phaseRampFor(9) is capped",           RULES.phaseRampFor(9,"search").modifier,           -15],
+  ["containment is Difficult",            RULES.phaseRampFor(3,"containment").difficulty, "difficult"],
+  ["containment does NOT also ramp",      RULES.phaseRampFor(3,"containment").modifier,        0],
   // access is a record: scope is a hard ceiling, not a difficulty
   ["scopeRank('routine')",                RULES.scopeRank("routine"),                     2],
   ["scopeRank(unknown)",                  RULES.scopeRank("nonesuch"),                    0],
diff --git a/tools/mission.mjs b/tools/mission.mjs
index 38ab451..e88f0e6 100644
--- a/tools/mission.mjs
+++ b/tools/mission.mjs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   NAMES_FIRST, NAMES_LAST, NPC_ROLES, PHASE_KINDS, COMPLICATIONS, CLOCKS,
   COHERENCE_HOOKS, RESOLUTIONS, DEBRIEF_QUESTIONS, FAILURE_STATES, GROUPS
 } from "./mission-tables.mjs";
+import { phaseRampFor } from "../rules.mjs";
 
 /* ---------------- picking ---------------- */
 const pick = (arr, r) => arr[Math.floor(r() * arr.length)];
@@ -111,13 +112,12 @@ function buildPhases(r, { anomaly, gap }) {
     name: k.name,
     terrain: pick(k.terrains, r),
     about: k.verb,
-    difficulty: i === 0 ? "average" : "difficult",
     // The classification modifier belongs to the CROSSING, not to every phase. Both
     // applied, so a Wrong-class extraction came out at -35% on top of Difficult,
     // which floors a 71% Tradecraft to 1% and makes the case unplayable rather than
-    // hard. Phases carry their own gentle ramp; the classification bites on the way
-    // home, where the fiction says it should.
-    modifier: -(i * 5),
+    // hard. Phases carry their own ramp; the classification bites on the way home,
+    // where the fiction says it should. The ramp itself lives in rules.mjs.
+    ...phaseRampFor(i, k.id),
     // Costs must be affordable from the starting budget. They totalled 7 against a
     // starting 6 for every non-Near class, so half of all cases were arithmetically
     // unfinishable before the extraction phase.