@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ Tick-specific priorities injected into all Felix agents (other harnesses get no
 ### Save Loading + Item Setup
 
 `run_scenario.py` automatically:
-1. Loads the scenario's save file (`rle_crashlanded_v1`, etc.)
+1. Loads the scenario's save file (`rle_crashlanded_v1` seeds a built `SimpleResearchBench` at (128,136) and queues `Smithing`; the other five saves are derived from this base)
 2. Polls until game is ready (colonist_count > 0)
 3. Unforbids all starting items (via `POST /api/v1/things/set-forbidden`)
 4. Runs any `setup_commands` declared in the scenario YAML (spawn_pawn, spawn_item, change_weather, drop_pod)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ You need four things set up:
 1. **RimWorld** (Steam) with **Harmony** and **[RIMAPI](https://github.com/IlyaChichkov/RIMAPI)** mods subscribed and **enabled** in the Mods menu. Load order: Harmony → Core → (DLCs) → RIMAPI.
 2. **LLM provider** — [LM Studio](https://lmstudio.ai/) (local, free) or [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/) (cloud)
 3. **Python 3.14+** with [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-4. **Save file** — `rle_crashlanded_v1` in RimWorld's save folder (the scenario auto-loads it)
+4. **Save file** — `rle_crashlanded_v1` in RimWorld's save folder (the scenario auto-loads it). The Crashlanded seed includes a built `SimpleResearchBench` so research can leave the 7/31 starting floor.
 
 > **RIMAPI note:** The Workshop version may not have our contributed endpoints yet. See [CLAUDE.md](CLAUDE.md) for instructions on building and deploying our fork DLL. AppSprout runs set `RIMAPI_DLL_PATH` and `RIMAPI_FORK_PATH` to the compiled checkout; summaries record that path, the DLL SHA, and the fork commit. Workshop is not source of truth.
 
 
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@
 			<letterQueue />
 		</letterStack>
 		<researchManager>
+			<currentProj>Smithing</currentProj>
 			<progress>
 				<keys>
 					<li>CataphractArmor</li>
@@ -2652,7 +2653,7 @@ AAAAAA==
 			<lastSeason>Spring</lastSeason>
 		</dateNotifier>
 		<uniqueIDsManager>
-			<nextThingID>37771</nextThingID>
+			<nextThingID>37772</nextThingID>
 			<nextFactionID>12</nextFactionID>
 			<nextTaleID>4</nextTaleID>
 			<nextWorldObjectID>93</nextWorldObjectID>
@@ -458687,6 +458688,22 @@ Hw==
 						<duplicate IsNull="True" />
 						<flight />
 					</thing>
+					<thing Class="Building_ResearchBench">
+						<def>SimpleResearchBench</def>
+						<id>SimpleResearchBench37771</id>
+						<map>0</map>
+						<pos>(128, 0, 136)</pos>
+						<health>180</health>
+						<stuff>WoodLog</stuff>
+						<faction>Faction_11</faction>
+						<questTags IsNull="True" />
+						<spawnedTick>0</spawnedTick>
+						<despawnedTick>-1</despawnedTick>
+						<beenRevealed>True</beenRevealed>
+						<billStack>
+							<bills />
+						</billStack>
+					</thing>
 				</things>
 			</li>
 		</maps>
 
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 Compressed RimWorld save files used by the benchmark scenarios.
 
+`rle_crashlanded_v1` seeds a built, player-owned `SimpleResearchBench`
+(wood, `(128, 0, 136)`, no power required) and queues `currentProj=Smithing`.
+Without the bench, scoring 1.2 research floors at **7/31 ≈ 0.2258** — the
+starting finished/available ratio — because colonists cannot finish tech and
+`research_target` is rejected as bench/prereqs missing. That floor is not σ.
+The other five scenario saves are derived from this base; rebuild them via
+`scripts/create_scenario_saves.py` if they need the same bench.
+
 ## Install
 
 Extract to your RimWorld saves folder:
 
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 Prerequisites:
   - RimWorld running with RIMAPI mod loaded
   - Base save `rle_crashlanded_v1` exists and loads cleanly
+    (seeded SimpleResearchBench + currentProj=Smithing)
 
 Usage:
   python scripts/create_scenario_saves.py                    # build all
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ def _default_rimworld_save_dir() -> Path:
 
 # Per-scenario setup recipe. Each scenario is a sequence of API calls.
 # `items` entries are (def_name, amount[, stuff_def]) tuples.
+# The Crashlanded base save seeds a built SimpleResearchBench and queues
+# currentProj=Smithing so research can leave the 7/31 starting floor.
 # NOTE on "day advancement": the plan (and issue #7) originally called for
 # building saves at day 30 / 60 / etc with shelter, food, and research
 # progress. RIMAPI does not currently expose an endpoint to fast-forward
 
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
 
 from rle.rimapi.api_catalog import visible_write_catalog
-from rle.rimapi.schemas import GameState
+from rle.rimapi.schemas import GameState, is_research_bench_def
 from rle.rimapi.sse_client import RimAPIEvent
 from rle.scenarios.schema import ScenarioConfig
 
@@ -25,6 +25,17 @@
 )
 _MAX_EVENTS = 12
 
+_MISSING_BENCH_CUE = (
+    "RESEARCH: no research bench on the map — colonists cannot finish tech "
+    "(research score stays at the seed floor). Blueprint SimpleResearchBench "
+    "before research_target, or the write fails with bench/prereqs missing."
+)
+
+
+def research_bench_present(state: GameState) -> bool:
+    """True when GameState.structures includes a research bench."""
+    return any(is_research_bench_def(s.def_name) for s in state.map.structures)
+
 
 def build_map_summary(state: GameState) -> str | None:
     """Compact (~500 token) spatial summary from terrain + zone + room data.
@@ -102,6 +113,9 @@ def build_map_summary(state: GameState) -> str | None:
             f"{fs.harvestable_cells} harvestable."
         )
 
+    if not research_bench_present(state):
+        lines.append(_MISSING_BENCH_CUE)
+
     return "\n".join(lines)
 
 
@@ -143,6 +157,7 @@ def state_snapshot(state: GameState) -> dict[str, Any]:
         ],
         "resources": state.resources.model_dump(),
         "research": state.research.model_dump(),
+        "research_bench_present": research_bench_present(state),
         "threats": [t.model_dump() for t in state.threats],
         "weather": state.weather.model_dump(),
         "map": {
 
@@ -362,6 +362,9 @@ async def _h_research_target(self, cid: str, params: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         research = None if self._tick_state is None else self._tick_state.research
         if research is not None and not force:
             status = research_target_status(project, research)
+            if status == "current":
+                # Already queued — same success-by-state as a covered growing zone.
+                return
             if status == "finished":
                 raise ValueError(
                     f"Research project '{project}' is already finished."
 
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 
 * growing-zone cells already covered → success-by-state
 * work_priority payloads aligned with WorkTypeDef / ``/api/v1/work-list``
-* research_target only when the project is available (prereqs / bench)
+* research_target only when the project is available (prereqs / bench);
+  current project is already-satisfied (no rewrite)
 * tend requires a living doctor + patient pair
 * stockpile_delete is quarantined when the endpoint is missing
 """
 
@@ -30,10 +30,36 @@
     ThreatData,
     WeatherData,
     ZoneData,
+    is_research_bench_def,
 )
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# GameState.structures is a prompt-sized sample. Research benches must stay
+# in that sample even when the map has 400+ ruin walls, or the brief flag
+# research_bench_present is a false negative.
+_STRUCTURE_SAMPLE_LIMIT = 50
+
+
+def _building_def_name(building: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    return str(building.get("def_name", building.get("label", "Unknown")))
+
+
+def _select_buildings_for_state(buildings: Any) -> list[Any]:
+    """Research benches first, then other buildings, capped for the snapshot."""
+    if not isinstance(buildings, list):
+        return []
+    benches: list[Any] = []
+    rest: list[Any] = []
+    for raw in buildings:
+        if not isinstance(raw, dict):
+            continue
+        if is_research_bench_def(_building_def_name(raw)):
+            benches.append(raw)
+        else:
+            rest.append(raw)
+    return benches + rest
+
 
 class RimAPIError(Exception):
     """Base exception for RIMAPI errors."""
@@ -586,7 +612,7 @@ async def get_map(self) -> MapData:
         except (RimAPIResponseError, RimAPIConnectionError):
             temperature = 15.0
         structures = []
-        for b in buildings[:50]:
+        for b in _select_buildings_for_state(buildings)[:_STRUCTURE_SAMPLE_LIMIT]:
             pos = b.get("position", [0, 0])
             if isinstance(pos, dict):
                 pos = (pos.get("x", 0), pos.get("z", 0))
@@ -596,7 +622,7 @@ async def get_map(self) -> MapData:
                 pos = (0, 0)
             structures.append(StructureData(
                 structure_id=str(b.get("id", b.get("thing_id", ""))),
-                def_name=b.get("def_name", b.get("label", "Unknown")),
+                def_name=_building_def_name(b),
                 position=pos,
                 hit_points=float(b.get("hit_points", 100)),
                 max_hit_points=float(b.get("max_hit_points", 100)),