new migrations in apps.epic for .models additions, incl. Significator select order (= Start Role seat order), which cards of whom go into which deck, which are brought into Sig select; new select-sig urlpattern in .views; room.html supports this stage of game now

src/apps/epic/migrations/0017_tableseat_significator_fk.py

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Generated by Django 6.0 on 2026-03-25 05:46
+
+import django.db.models.deletion
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('epic', '0016_reorder_earthman_popes'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='tableseat',
+            name='significator',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, related_name='significator_seats', to='epic.tarotcard'),
+        ),
+    ]

src/apps/epic/models.py

@@ -148,6 +148,9 @@ def debit_token(user, slot, token):
         room.save()
 
 
+SIG_SEAT_ORDER = ["PC", "NC", "EC", "SC", "AC", "BC"]
+
+
 class TableSeat(models.Model):
     PC = "PC"
     BC = "BC"
@@ -174,6 +177,10 @@ class TableSeat(models.Model):
     role = models.CharField(max_length=2, choices=ROLE_CHOICES, null=True, blank=True)
     role_revealed = models.BooleanField(default=False)
     seat_position = models.IntegerField(null=True, blank=True)
+    significator = models.ForeignKey(
+        "TarotCard", null=True, blank=True,
+        on_delete=models.SET_NULL, related_name="significator_seats",
+    )
 
 
 class DeckVariant(models.Model):
@@ -318,3 +325,52 @@ class TarotDeck(models.Model):
         """Reset the deck so all variant cards are available again."""
         self.drawn_card_ids = []
         self.save(update_fields=["drawn_card_ids"])
+
+
+# ── Significator deck helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def sig_deck_cards(room):
+    """Return 36 TarotCard objects forming the Significator deck (18 unique × 2).
+
+    PC/BC pair → WANDS + PENTACLES court cards (numbers 11–14): 8 unique
+    SC/AC pair → SWORDS + CUPS court cards (numbers 11–14):     8 unique
+    NC/EC pair → MAJOR arcana numbers 0 and 1:                  2 unique
+    Total: 18 unique × 2 (levity + gravity piles) = 36 cards.
+    """
+    deck_variant = room.owner.equipped_deck
+    if deck_variant is None:
+        return []
+    wands_pentacles = list(TarotCard.objects.filter(
+        deck_variant=deck_variant,
+        arcana=TarotCard.MINOR,
+        suit__in=[TarotCard.WANDS, TarotCard.PENTACLES],
+        number__in=[11, 12, 13, 14],
+    ))
+    swords_cups = list(TarotCard.objects.filter(
+        deck_variant=deck_variant,
+        arcana=TarotCard.MINOR,
+        suit__in=[TarotCard.SWORDS, TarotCard.CUPS],
+        number__in=[11, 12, 13, 14],
+    ))
+    major = list(TarotCard.objects.filter(
+        deck_variant=deck_variant,
+        arcana=TarotCard.MAJOR,
+        number__in=[0, 1],
+    ))
+    unique_cards = wands_pentacles + swords_cups + major  # 18 unique
+    return unique_cards + unique_cards  # × 2 = 36
+
+
+def sig_seat_order(room):
+    """Return TableSeats in canonical PC→NC→EC→SC→AC→BC order."""
+    _order = {r: i for i, r in enumerate(SIG_SEAT_ORDER)}
+    seats = list(room.table_seats.all())
+    return sorted(seats, key=lambda s: _order.get(s.role, 99))
+
+
+def active_sig_seat(room):
+    """Return the first seat without a significator in canonical order, or None."""
+    for seat in sig_seat_order(room):
+        if seat.significator_id is None:
+            return seat
+    return None

src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_models.py

@@ -224,37 +224,16 @@ class RoomInviteTest(TestCase):
 SIG_SEAT_ORDER = ["PC", "NC", "EC", "SC", "AC", "BC"]
 
 
-def _make_sig_cards(deck):
-    """Create the 18 unique TarotCard types used in the Significator deck."""
-    for suit in ["WANDS", "CUPS", "SWORDS", "PENTACLES"]:
-        for number, court in [(11, "Maid"), (12, "Jack"), (13, "Queen"), (14, "King")]:
-            TarotCard.objects.create(
-                deck_variant=deck, arcana="MINOR", suit=suit, number=number,
-                name=f"{court} of {suit.capitalize()}",
-                slug=f"{court.lower()}-of-{suit.lower()}-em",
-                keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
-            )
-    TarotCard.objects.create(
-        deck_variant=deck, arcana="MAJOR", number=0,
-        name="The Schiz", slug="the-schiz",
-        keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
-    )
-    TarotCard.objects.create(
-        deck_variant=deck, arcana="MAJOR", number=1,
-        name="Pope 1: Chancellor", slug="pope-1-chancellor",
-        keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
-    )
-
-
 def _full_sig_room(name="Sig Room", role_order=None):
     """Return (room, gamers, earthman) with all 6 seats filled, roles assigned,
-    table_status=SIG_SELECT, and every gamer's equipped_deck set to Earthman."""
+    table_status=SIG_SELECT, and every gamer's equipped_deck set to Earthman.
+    Uses get_or_create for DeckVariant — migration data persists in TestCase."""
     if role_order is None:
         role_order = SIG_SEAT_ORDER[:]
-    earthman = DeckVariant.objects.create(
+    earthman, _ = DeckVariant.objects.get_or_create(
-        slug="earthman", name="Earthman Deck", card_count=108, is_default=True
+        slug="earthman",
+        defaults={"name": "Earthman Deck", "card_count": 108, "is_default": True},
     )
-    _make_sig_cards(earthman)
     owner = User.objects.create(email="founder@sig.io")
     gamers = [owner]
     for i in range(2, 7):
@@ -355,13 +334,12 @@ class SigCardFieldTest(TestCase):
     """TableSeat.significator FK to TarotCard — default null, assignable."""
 
     def setUp(self):
-        earthman = DeckVariant.objects.create(
+        earthman, _ = DeckVariant.objects.get_or_create(
-            slug="earthman", name="Earthman Deck", card_count=108, is_default=True
+            slug="earthman",
+            defaults={"name": "Earthman Deck", "card_count": 108, "is_default": True},
         )
-        self.card = TarotCard.objects.create(
+        self.card = TarotCard.objects.get(
             deck_variant=earthman, arcana="MINOR", suit="WANDS", number=11,
-            name="Maid of Wands", slug="maid-of-wands-em",
-            keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
         )
         owner = User.objects.create(email="owner@test.io")
         room = Room.objects.create(name="Field Test", owner=owner)

src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py

@@ -775,35 +775,15 @@ class ReleaseSlotViewTest(TestCase):
 SIG_SEAT_ORDER = ["PC", "NC", "EC", "SC", "AC", "BC"]
 
 
-def _make_sig_cards(deck):
-    for suit in ["WANDS", "CUPS", "SWORDS", "PENTACLES"]:
-        for number, court in [(11, "Maid"), (12, "Jack"), (13, "Queen"), (14, "King")]:
-            TarotCard.objects.create(
-                deck_variant=deck, arcana="MINOR", suit=suit, number=number,
-                name=f"{court} of {suit.capitalize()}",
-                slug=f"{court.lower()}-of-{suit.lower()}-em",
-                keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
-            )
-    TarotCard.objects.create(
-        deck_variant=deck, arcana="MAJOR", number=0,
-        name="The Schiz", slug="the-schiz",
-        keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
-    )
-    TarotCard.objects.create(
-        deck_variant=deck, arcana="MAJOR", number=1,
-        name="Pope 1: Chancellor", slug="pope-1-chancellor",
-        keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
-    )
-
-
 def _full_sig_setUp(test_case, role_order=None):
-    """Populate test_case with a SIG_SELECT room; return (room, gamers, earthman, card_in_deck)."""
+    """Populate test_case with a SIG_SELECT room; return (room, gamers, earthman, card_in_deck).
+    Uses get_or_create for DeckVariant — migration data persists in TestCase."""
     if role_order is None:
         role_order = SIG_SEAT_ORDER[:]
-    earthman = DeckVariant.objects.create(
+    earthman, _ = DeckVariant.objects.get_or_create(
-        slug="earthman", name="Earthman Deck", card_count=108, is_default=True
+        slug="earthman",
+        defaults={"name": "Earthman Deck", "card_count": 108, "is_default": True},
     )
-    _make_sig_cards(earthman)
     founder = User.objects.create(email="founder@test.io")
     gamers = [founder]
     for i in range(2, 7):
@@ -896,10 +876,10 @@ class SelectSigCardViewTest(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
 
     def test_select_sig_card_not_in_deck_returns_400(self):
-        # Create a card that is not in the sig deck (e.g. a pip card)
+        # Create a pip card (number=5) — not in the sig deck (only court 11–14 + major 0–1)
         other = TarotCard.objects.create(
             deck_variant=self.earthman, arcana="MINOR", suit="WANDS", number=5,
-            name="Five of Wands", slug="five-of-wands-em",
+            name="Five of Wands Test", slug="five-of-wands-test",
             keywords_upright=[], keywords_reversed=[],
         )
         response = self._post(card_id=other.id)

src/apps/epic/urls.py

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     path('room/<uuid:room_id>/gate/release_slot', views.release_slot, name='release_slot'),
     path('room/<uuid:room_id>/pick-roles', views.pick_roles, name='pick_roles'),
     path('room/<uuid:room_id>/select-role', views.select_role, name='select_role'),
+    path('room/<uuid:room_id>/select-sig', views.select_sig, name='select_sig'),
     path('room/<uuid:room_id>/gate/invite', views.invite_gamer, name='invite_gamer'),
     path('room/<uuid:room_id>/gate/status', views.gate_status, name='gate_status'),
     path('room/<uuid:room_id>/delete', views.delete_room, name='delete_room'),

src/apps/epic/views.py

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ from django.utils import timezone
 
 from apps.drama.models import GameEvent, record
 from apps.epic.models import (
-    GateSlot, Room, RoomInvite, TableSeat, TarotDeck,
+    GateSlot, Room, RoomInvite, TableSeat, TarotCard, TarotDeck,
-    debit_token, select_token,
+    active_sig_seat, debit_token, select_token, sig_deck_cards, sig_seat_order,
 )
 from apps.lyric.models import Token
 
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ def _notify_role_select_start(room_id):
     )
 
 
+def _notify_sig_selected(room_id):
+    async_to_sync(get_channel_layer().group_send)(
+        f'room_{room_id}',
+        {'type': 'sig_selected'},
+    )
+
+
 def _expire_reserved_slots(room):
     cutoff = timezone.now() - RESERVE_TIMEOUT
     room.gate_slots.filter(
@@ -187,6 +194,8 @@ def _role_select_context(room, user):
         ctx["user_seat"] = user_seat
         ctx["partner_seat"] = partner_seat
         ctx["revealed_seats"] = room.table_seats.filter(role_revealed=True).order_by("slot_number")
+        ctx["sig_cards"] = sig_deck_cards(room)
+        ctx["sig_seats"] = sig_seat_order(room)
     return ctx
 
 
@@ -468,6 +477,32 @@ def gate_status(request, room_id):
     return render(request, "apps/gameboard/_partials/_gatekeeper.html", ctx)
 
 
+@login_required
+def select_sig(request, room_id):
+    if request.method != "POST":
+        return redirect("epic:gatekeeper", room_id=room_id)
+    room = Room.objects.get(id=room_id)
+    if room.table_status != Room.SIG_SELECT:
+        return redirect("epic:gatekeeper", room_id=room_id)
+    active_seat = active_sig_seat(room)
+    if active_seat is None or active_seat.gamer != request.user:
+        return HttpResponse(status=403)
+    card_id = request.POST.get("card_id")
+    try:
+        card = TarotCard.objects.get(pk=card_id)
+    except TarotCard.DoesNotExist:
+        return HttpResponse(status=400)
+    sig_card_ids = {c.pk for c in sig_deck_cards(room)}
+    if card.pk not in sig_card_ids:
+        return HttpResponse(status=400)
+    if room.table_seats.filter(significator=card).exists():
+        return HttpResponse(status=409)
+    active_seat.significator = card
+    active_seat.save()
+    _notify_sig_selected(room_id)
+    return HttpResponse(status=200)
+
+
 @login_required
 def tarot_deck(request, room_id):
     room = Room.objects.get(id=room_id)

src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html

@@ -22,6 +22,17 @@
                         {% endif %}
                     </div>
                 </div>
+                {% if room.table_status == "SIG_SELECT" and sig_seats %}
+                    {% for seat in sig_seats %}
+                        <div class="table-seat" data-role="{{ seat.role }}" data-slot="{{ seat.slot_number }}">
+                            <div class="seat-portrait">{{ seat.slot_number }}</div>
+                            <div class="seat-card-arc"></div>
+                            <span class="seat-label">
+                                {% if seat.gamer %}@{{ seat.gamer.username|default:seat.gamer.email }}{% endif %}
+                            </span>
+                        </div>
+                    {% endfor %}
+                {% else %}
                     {% for slot in room.gate_slots.all %}
                         <div class="table-seat{% if slot.slot_number == active_slot %} active{% endif %}"
                              data-slot="{{ slot.slot_number }}">
@@ -32,6 +43,7 @@
                             </span>
                         </div>
                     {% endfor %}
+                {% endif %}
             </div>
             <div id="id_inventory" class="room-inventory">
                 <div id="id_inv_role_card">
@@ -60,6 +72,14 @@
             </div>
         </div>
 
+        {% if room.table_status == "SIG_SELECT" and sig_cards %}
+            <div id="id_sig_deck">
+                {% for card in sig_cards %}
+                    <div class="sig-card" data-card-id="{{ card.id }}">{{ card.name }}</div>
+                {% endfor %}
+            </div>
+        {% endif %}
+
         {% if not room.table_status and room.gate_status != "RENEWAL_DUE" %}
             {% include "apps/gameboard/_partials/_gatekeeper.html" %}
         {% endif %}