diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index 0ea5132f1..083e0714f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -2370,6 +2370,29 @@ _THEME_OVERRIDE_KEYS = {
     "border", "input", "ring",
 }
 
+# Well-known named asset slots themes can populate.  Any other keys under
+# ``assets.custom`` are exposed as ``--theme-asset-custom-<key>`` CSS vars
+# for plugin/shell use.
+_THEME_NAMED_ASSET_KEYS = {"bg", "hero", "logo", "crest", "sidebar", "header"}
+
+# Component-style buckets themes can override.  The value under each bucket
+# is a mapping from camelCase property name to CSS string; each pair emits
+# ``--component-<bucket>-<kebab-property>`` on :root.  The frontend's shell
+# components (Card, App header, Backdrop, etc.) consume these vars so themes
+# can restyle chrome (clip-path, border-image, segmented progress, etc.)
+# without shipping their own CSS.
+_THEME_COMPONENT_BUCKETS = {
+    "card", "header", "footer", "sidebar", "tab",
+    "progress", "badge", "backdrop", "page",
+}
+
+_THEME_LAYOUT_VARIANTS = {"standard", "cockpit", "tiled"}
+
+# Cap on customCSS length so a malformed/oversized theme YAML can't blow up
+# the response payload or the <style> tag.  32 KiB is plenty for every
+# practical reskin (the Strike Freedom demo is ~2 KiB).
+_THEME_CUSTOM_CSS_MAX = 32 * 1024
+
 
 def _normalise_theme_definition(data: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
     """Normalise a user theme YAML into the wire format `ThemeProvider`
@@ -2433,6 +2456,69 @@ def _normalise_theme_definition(data: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]
             if key in _THEME_OVERRIDE_KEYS and isinstance(val, str) and val.strip():
                 color_overrides[key] = val
 
+    # Assets — named slots + arbitrary user-defined keys.  Values must be
+    # strings (URLs or CSS ``url(...)``/``linear-gradient(...)`` expressions).
+    # We don't fetch remote assets here; the frontend just injects them as
+    # CSS vars.  Empty values are dropped so a theme can explicitly clear a
+    # slot by setting ``hero: ""``.
+    assets_out: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    assets_src = data.get("assets", {}) if isinstance(data.get("assets"), dict) else {}
+    for key in _THEME_NAMED_ASSET_KEYS:
+        val = assets_src.get(key)
+        if isinstance(val, str) and val.strip():
+            assets_out[key] = val
+    custom_assets_src = assets_src.get("custom")
+    if isinstance(custom_assets_src, dict):
+        custom_assets: Dict[str, str] = {}
+        for key, val in custom_assets_src.items():
+            if (
+                isinstance(key, str)
+                and key.replace("-", "").replace("_", "").isalnum()
+                and isinstance(val, str)
+                and val.strip()
+            ):
+                custom_assets[key] = val
+        if custom_assets:
+            assets_out["custom"] = custom_assets
+
+    # Custom CSS — raw CSS text the frontend injects as a scoped <style>
+    # tag on theme apply.  Clipped to _THEME_CUSTOM_CSS_MAX to keep the
+    # payload bounded.  We intentionally do NOT parse/sanitise the CSS
+    # here — the dashboard is localhost-only and themes are user-authored
+    # YAML in ~/.hermes/, same trust level as the config file itself.
+    custom_css_val = data.get("customCSS")
+    custom_css: Optional[str] = None
+    if isinstance(custom_css_val, str) and custom_css_val.strip():
+        custom_css = custom_css_val[:_THEME_CUSTOM_CSS_MAX]
+
+    # Component style overrides — per-bucket dicts of camelCase CSS
+    # property -> CSS string.  The frontend converts these into CSS vars
+    # that shell components (Card, App header, Backdrop) consume.
+    component_styles_src = data.get("componentStyles", {})
+    component_styles: Dict[str, Dict[str, str]] = {}
+    if isinstance(component_styles_src, dict):
+        for bucket, props in component_styles_src.items():
+            if bucket not in _THEME_COMPONENT_BUCKETS or not isinstance(props, dict):
+                continue
+            clean: Dict[str, str] = {}
+            for prop, value in props.items():
+                if (
+                    isinstance(prop, str)
+                    and prop.replace("-", "").replace("_", "").isalnum()
+                    and isinstance(value, (str, int, float))
+                    and str(value).strip()
+                ):
+                    clean[prop] = str(value)
+            if clean:
+                component_styles[bucket] = clean
+
+    layout_variant_src = data.get("layoutVariant")
+    layout_variant = (
+        layout_variant_src
+        if isinstance(layout_variant_src, str) and layout_variant_src in _THEME_LAYOUT_VARIANTS
+        else "standard"
+    )
+
     result: Dict[str, Any] = {
         "name": name,
         "label": data.get("label") or name,
@@ -2440,9 +2526,16 @@ def _normalise_theme_definition(data: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]
         "palette": palette,
         "typography": typography,
         "layout": layout,
+        "layoutVariant": layout_variant,
     }
     if color_overrides:
         result["colorOverrides"] = color_overrides
+    if assets_out:
+        result["assets"] = assets_out
+    if custom_css is not None:
+        result["customCSS"] = custom_css
+    if component_styles:
+        result["componentStyles"] = component_styles
     return result
 
 
@@ -2552,13 +2645,35 @@ def _discover_dashboard_plugins() -> list:
                 if name in seen_names:
                     continue
                 seen_names.add(name)
+                # Tab options: ``path`` + ``position`` for a new tab, optional
+                # ``override`` to replace a built-in route, and ``hidden`` to
+                # register the plugin component/slots without adding a tab
+                # (useful for slot-only plugins like a header-crest injector).
+                raw_tab = data.get("tab", {}) if isinstance(data.get("tab"), dict) else {}
+                tab_info = {
+                    "path": raw_tab.get("path", f"/{name}"),
+                    "position": raw_tab.get("position", "end"),
+                }
+                override_path = raw_tab.get("override")
+                if isinstance(override_path, str) and override_path.startswith("/"):
+                    tab_info["override"] = override_path
+                if bool(raw_tab.get("hidden")):
+                    tab_info["hidden"] = True
+                # Slots: list of named slot locations this plugin populates.
+                # The frontend exposes ``registerSlot(pluginName, slotName, Component)``
+                # on window; plugins with non-empty slots call it from their JS bundle.
+                slots_src = data.get("slots")
+                slots: List[str] = []
+                if isinstance(slots_src, list):
+                    slots = [s for s in slots_src if isinstance(s, str) and s]
                 plugins.append({
                     "name": name,
                     "label": data.get("label", name),
                     "description": data.get("description", ""),
                     "icon": data.get("icon", "Puzzle"),
                     "version": data.get("version", "0.0.0"),
-                    "tab": data.get("tab", {"path": f"/{name}", "position": "end"}),
+                    "tab": tab_info,
+                    "slots": slots,
                     "entry": data.get("entry", "dist/index.js"),
                     "css": data.get("css"),
                     "has_api": bool(data.get("api")),
diff --git a/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/README.md b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c24c5e388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# Strike Freedom Cockpit — dashboard skin demo
+
+Demonstrates how the dashboard skin+plugin system can be used to build a
+fully custom cockpit-style reskin without touching the core dashboard.
+
+Two pieces:
+
+- `theme/strike-freedom.yaml` — a dashboard theme YAML that paints the
+  palette, typography, layout variant (`cockpit`), component chrome
+  (notched card corners, scanlines, accent colors), and declares asset
+  slots (`hero`, `crest`, `bg`).
+- `dashboard/` — a plugin that populates the `sidebar`, `header-left`,
+  and `footer-right` slots reserved by the cockpit layout. The sidebar
+  renders an MS-STATUS panel with segmented telemetry bars driven by
+  real agent status; the header-left injects a COMPASS crest; the
+  footer-right replaces the default org tagline.
+
+## Install
+
+1. **Theme** — copy the theme YAML into your Hermes home:
+
+   ```
+   cp theme/strike-freedom.yaml ~/.hermes/dashboard-themes/
+   ```
+
+2. **Plugin** — the `dashboard/` directory gets auto-discovered because
+   it lives under `plugins/` in the repo. On a user install, copy the
+   whole plugin directory into `~/.hermes/plugins/`:
+
+   ```
+   cp -r . ~/.hermes/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit
+   ```
+
+3. Restart the web UI (or `GET /api/dashboard/plugins/rescan`), open it,
+   pick **Strike Freedom** from the theme switcher.
+
+## Customising the artwork
+
+The sidebar plugin reads `--theme-asset-hero` and `--theme-asset-crest`
+from the active theme. Drop your own URLs into the theme YAML:
+
+```yaml
+assets:
+  hero: "/my-images/strike-freedom.png"
+  crest: "/my-images/compass-crest.svg"
+  bg: "/my-images/cosmic-era-bg.jpg"
+```
+
+The plugin reads those at render time — no plugin code changes needed
+to swap artwork across themes.
+
+## What this demo proves
+
+The dashboard skin+plugin system supports (ref: `web/src/themes/types.ts`,
+`web/src/plugins/slots.ts`):
+
+- Palette, typography, font URLs, density, radius — already present
+- **Asset URLs exposed as CSS vars** (bg / hero / crest / logo /
+  sidebar / header + arbitrary `custom.*`)
+- **Raw `customCSS` blocks** injected as scoped `<style>` tags
+- **Per-component style overrides** (card / header / sidebar / backdrop /
+  tab / progress / footer / badge / page) via CSS vars
+- **`layoutVariant`** — `standard`, `cockpit`, or `tiled`
+- **Plugin slots** — 10 named shell slots plugins can inject into
+  (`backdrop`, `header-left/right/banner`, `sidebar`, `pre-main`,
+  `post-main`, `footer-left/right`, `overlay`)
+- **Route overrides** — plugins can replace a built-in page entirely
+  (`tab.override: "/"`) instead of just adding a tab
+- **Hidden plugins** — slot-only plugins that never show in the nav
+  (`tab.hidden: true`) — as used here
diff --git a/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/dashboard/dist/index.js b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/dashboard/dist/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7506c8099
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/dashboard/dist/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+/**
+ * Strike Freedom Cockpit — dashboard plugin demo.
+ *
+ * A slot-only plugin (manifest sets tab.hidden: true) that populates
+ * three shell slots when the user has the ``strike-freedom`` theme
+ * selected (or any theme that picks layoutVariant: cockpit):
+ *
+ *   - sidebar       → MS-STATUS panel: ENERGY / SHIELD / POWER bars,
+ *                     ZGMF-X20A identity line, pilot block, hero
+ *                     render (from --theme-asset-hero when the theme
+ *                     provides one).
+ *   - header-left   → COMPASS faction crest (uses --theme-asset-crest
+ *                     if provided, falls back to a geometric SVG).
+ *   - footer-right  → COSMIC ERA tagline that replaces the default
+ *                     footer org line.
+ *
+ * The plugin demonstrates every extension point added alongside the
+ * slot system: registerSlot, tab.hidden, reading theme asset CSS vars
+ * from plugin code, and rendering above the built-in route content.
+ */
+(function () {
+  "use strict";
+
+  const SDK = window.__HERMES_PLUGIN_SDK__;
+  const PLUGINS = window.__HERMES_PLUGINS__;
+  if (!SDK || !PLUGINS || !PLUGINS.registerSlot) {
+    // Old dashboard bundle without slot support — bail silently rather
+    // than breaking the page.
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const { React } = SDK;
+  const { useState, useEffect } = SDK.hooks;
+  const { api } = SDK;
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Helpers
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** Read a CSS custom property from :root. Empty string when unset. */
+  function cssVar(name) {
+    if (typeof document === "undefined") return "";
+    return getComputedStyle(document.documentElement).getPropertyValue(name).trim();
+  }
+
+  /** Segmented chip progress bar — 10 cells filled proportionally to value. */
+  function TelemetryBar(props) {
+    const { label, value, color } = props;
+    const cells = [];
+    for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
+      const filled = Math.round(value / 10) > i;
+      cells.push(
+        React.createElement("span", {
+          key: i,
+          style: {
+            flex: 1,
+            height: 8,
+            background: filled ? color : "rgba(255,255,255,0.06)",
+            transition: "background 200ms",
+            clipPath: "polygon(2px 0, 100% 0, calc(100% - 2px) 100%, 0 100%)",
+          },
+        }),
+      );
+    }
+    return React.createElement(
+      "div",
+      { style: { display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 4 } },
+      React.createElement(
+        "div",
+        {
+          style: {
+            display: "flex",
+            justifyContent: "space-between",
+            fontSize: "0.65rem",
+            letterSpacing: "0.12em",
+            opacity: 0.75,
+          },
+        },
+        React.createElement("span", null, label),
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { color, fontWeight: 700 } }, value + "%"),
+      ),
+      React.createElement(
+        "div",
+        { style: { display: "flex", gap: 2 } },
+        cells,
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Sidebar: MS-STATUS panel
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  function SidebarSlot() {
+    // Pull live-ish numbers from the status API so the plugin isn't just
+    // a static decoration. Fall back to full bars if the API is slow /
+    // unavailable.
+    const [status, setStatus] = useState(null);
+    useEffect(function () {
+      let cancel = false;
+      api.getStatus()
+        .then(function (s) { if (!cancel) setStatus(s); })
+        .catch(function () {});
+      return function () { cancel = true; };
+    }, []);
+
+    // Map real status signals to HUD telemetry. Energy/shield/power
+    // aren't literal concepts on a software agent, so we read them from
+    // adjacent signals: active sessions, gateway connected-platforms,
+    // and agent-online health.
+    const energy = status && status.gateway_online ? 92 : 18;
+    const shield = status && status.connected_platforms
+      ? Math.min(100, 40 + (status.connected_platforms.length * 15))
+      : 70;
+    const power = status && status.active_sessions
+      ? Math.min(100, 55 + (status.active_sessions.length * 10))
+      : 87;
+
+    const hero = cssVar("--theme-asset-hero");
+
+    return React.createElement(
+      "div",
+      {
+        style: {
+          padding: "1rem 0.75rem",
+          display: "flex",
+          flexDirection: "column",
+          gap: "1rem",
+          fontFamily: "var(--theme-font-display, sans-serif)",
+          letterSpacing: "0.08em",
+          textTransform: "uppercase",
+          fontSize: "0.65rem",
+        },
+      },
+      // Header line
+      React.createElement(
+        "div",
+        {
+          style: {
+            borderBottom: "1px solid rgba(64,200,255,0.3)",
+            paddingBottom: 8,
+            display: "flex",
+            flexDirection: "column",
+            gap: 2,
+          },
+        },
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { opacity: 0.6 } }, "ms status"),
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { fontWeight: 700, fontSize: "0.85rem" } }, "zgmf-x20a"),
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { opacity: 0.6, fontSize: "0.6rem" } }, "strike freedom"),
+      ),
+      // Hero slot — only renders when the theme provides one.
+      hero
+        ? React.createElement("div", {
+            style: {
+              width: "100%",
+              aspectRatio: "3 / 4",
+              backgroundImage: hero,
+              backgroundSize: "contain",
+              backgroundPosition: "center",
+              backgroundRepeat: "no-repeat",
+              opacity: 0.85,
+            },
+            "aria-hidden": true,
+          })
+        : React.createElement("div", {
+            style: {
+              width: "100%",
+              aspectRatio: "3 / 4",
+              border: "1px dashed rgba(64,200,255,0.25)",
+              display: "flex",
+              alignItems: "center",
+              justifyContent: "center",
+              fontSize: "0.55rem",
+              opacity: 0.4,
+            },
+          }, "hero slot — set assets.hero in theme"),
+      // Pilot block
+      React.createElement(
+        "div",
+        {
+          style: {
+            borderTop: "1px solid rgba(64,200,255,0.18)",
+            borderBottom: "1px solid rgba(64,200,255,0.18)",
+            padding: "8px 0",
+            display: "flex",
+            flexDirection: "column",
+            gap: 2,
+          },
+        },
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { opacity: 0.5, fontSize: "0.55rem" } }, "pilot"),
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { fontWeight: 700 } }, "hermes agent"),
+        React.createElement("span", { style: { opacity: 0.5, fontSize: "0.55rem" } }, "compass"),
+      ),
+      // Telemetry bars
+      React.createElement(TelemetryBar, { label: "energy",  value: energy, color: "#ffce3a" }),
+      React.createElement(TelemetryBar, { label: "shield",  value: shield, color: "#3fd3ff" }),
+      React.createElement(TelemetryBar, { label: "power",   value: power,  color: "#ff3a5e" }),
+      // System online
+      React.createElement(
+        "div",
+        {
+          style: {
+            marginTop: 4,
+            padding: "6px 8px",
+            border: "1px solid rgba(74,222,128,0.4)",
+            color: "#4ade80",
+            textAlign: "center",
+            fontWeight: 700,
+            fontSize: "0.6rem",
+          },
+        },
+        status && status.gateway_online ? "system online" : "system offline",
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Header-left: COMPASS crest
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  function HeaderCrestSlot() {
+    const crest = cssVar("--theme-asset-crest");
+    const inner = crest
+      ? React.createElement("div", {
+          style: {
+            width: 28,
+            height: 28,
+            backgroundImage: crest,
+            backgroundSize: "contain",
+            backgroundPosition: "center",
+            backgroundRepeat: "no-repeat",
+          },
+          "aria-hidden": true,
+        })
+      : React.createElement(
+          "svg",
+          {
+            width: 28,
+            height: 28,
+            viewBox: "0 0 28 28",
+            fill: "none",
+            stroke: "currentColor",
+            strokeWidth: 1.5,
+            "aria-hidden": true,
+          },
+          React.createElement("path", { d: "M14 2 L26 14 L14 26 L2 14 Z" }),
+          React.createElement("path", { d: "M14 8 L20 14 L14 20 L8 14 Z" }),
+          React.createElement("circle", { cx: 14, cy: 14, r: 2, fill: "currentColor" }),
+        );
+    return React.createElement(
+      "div",
+      {
+        style: {
+          display: "flex",
+          alignItems: "center",
+          paddingLeft: 12,
+          paddingRight: 8,
+          color: "var(--color-accent, #3fd3ff)",
+        },
+      },
+      inner,
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Footer-right: COSMIC ERA tagline
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  function FooterTaglineSlot() {
+    return React.createElement(
+      "span",
+      {
+        style: {
+          fontFamily: "var(--theme-font-display, sans-serif)",
+          fontSize: "0.6rem",
+          letterSpacing: "0.18em",
+          textTransform: "uppercase",
+          opacity: 0.75,
+          mixBlendMode: "plus-lighter",
+        },
+      },
+      "compass hermes systems / cosmic era 71",
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Hidden tab placeholder — tab.hidden=true means this never renders in
+  // the nav, but we still register something sensible in case someone
+  // manually navigates to /strike-freedom-cockpit (e.g. via a bookmark).
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  function HiddenPage() {
+    return React.createElement(
+      "div",
+      { style: { padding: "2rem", opacity: 0.6, fontSize: "0.8rem" } },
+      "Strike Freedom cockpit is a slot-only plugin — it populates the sidebar, header, and footer instead of showing a tab page.",
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Registration
+  // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  const NAME = "strike-freedom-cockpit";
+  PLUGINS.register(NAME, HiddenPage);
+  PLUGINS.registerSlot(NAME, "sidebar", SidebarSlot);
+  PLUGINS.registerSlot(NAME, "header-left", HeaderCrestSlot);
+  PLUGINS.registerSlot(NAME, "footer-right", FooterTaglineSlot);
+})();
diff --git a/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/dashboard/manifest.json b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/dashboard/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fec3c79ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/dashboard/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "name": "strike-freedom-cockpit",
+  "label": "Strike Freedom Cockpit",
+  "description": "MS-STATUS sidebar + header crest for the Strike Freedom theme",
+  "icon": "Shield",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "tab": {
+    "path": "/strike-freedom-cockpit",
+    "position": "end",
+    "hidden": true
+  },
+  "slots": ["sidebar", "header-left", "footer-right"],
+  "entry": "dist/index.js"
+}
diff --git a/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/theme/strike-freedom.yaml b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/theme/strike-freedom.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ebbcf1184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/theme/strike-freedom.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+# Strike Freedom — Hermes dashboard theme demo
+#
+# Copy this file to ~/.hermes/dashboard-themes/strike-freedom.yaml and
+# restart the web UI (or hit `/api/dashboard/plugins/rescan`). Pair with
+# the `strike-freedom-cockpit` plugin (plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/)
+# for the full cockpit experience — this theme paints the palette,
+# chrome, and layout; the plugin supplies the MS-STATUS sidebar + header
+# crest that the cockpit layout variant reserves space for.
+#
+# Demonstrates every theme extension point added alongside the plugin
+# slot system: palette, typography, layoutVariant, assets, customCSS,
+# componentStyles, colorOverrides.
+name: strike-freedom
+label: "Strike Freedom"
+description: "Cockpit HUD — deep navy + cyan + gold accents"
+
+# ------- palette (3-layer) -------
+palette:
+  background: "#05091a"
+  midground: "#d8f0ff"
+  foreground:
+    hex: "#ffffff"
+    alpha: 0
+  warmGlow: "rgba(255, 199, 55, 0.24)"
+  noiseOpacity: 0.7
+
+# ------- typography -------
+typography:
+  fontSans: '"Orbitron", "Eurostile", "Bank Gothic", "Impact", sans-serif'
+  fontMono: '"Share Tech Mono", "JetBrains Mono", ui-monospace, monospace'
+  fontDisplay: '"Orbitron", "Eurostile", "Impact", sans-serif'
+  fontUrl: "https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Orbitron:wght@400;500;600;700;800&family=Share+Tech+Mono&display=swap"
+  baseSize: "14px"
+  lineHeight: "1.5"
+  letterSpacing: "0.04em"
+
+# ------- layout -------
+layout:
+  radius: "0"
+  density: "compact"
+
+# ``cockpit`` reserves a 260px left rail that the shell renders when the
+# user is on this theme. A paired plugin populates the rail via the
+# ``sidebar`` slot; with no plugin the rail shows a placeholder.
+layoutVariant: cockpit
+
+# ------- assets -------
+# Use any URL (https, data:, /dashboard-plugins/...) or a pre-wrapped
+# ``url(...)``/``linear-gradient(...)`` expression. The shell exposes
+# each as a CSS var so plugins can read the same imagery.
+assets:
+  bg: "linear-gradient(140deg, #05091a 0%, #0a1530 55%, #102048 100%)"
+  # Plugin reads --theme-asset-hero / --theme-asset-crest to populate
+  # its sidebar hero render + header crest. Replace these URLs with your
+  # own artwork (copy files into ~/.hermes/dashboard-themes/assets/ and
+  # reference them as /dashboard-themes-assets/strike-freedom/hero.png
+  # once that static route is wired up — for now use inline data URLs or
+  # remote URLs).
+  hero: ""
+  crest: ""
+
+# ------- component chrome -------
+# Each bucket's props become CSS vars (--component-<bucket>-<kebab>) that
+# built-in shell components (Card, header, sidebar, backdrop) consume.
+componentStyles:
+  card:
+    # Notched corners on the top-left + bottom-right — classic mecha UI.
+    clipPath: "polygon(12px 0, 100% 0, 100% calc(100% - 12px), calc(100% - 12px) 100%, 0 100%, 0 12px)"
+    background: "linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(10, 22, 52, 0.85) 0%, rgba(5, 9, 26, 0.92) 100%)"
+    boxShadow: "inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.28), 0 0 18px -6px rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.4)"
+  header:
+    background: "linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(16, 32, 72, 0.95) 0%, rgba(5, 9, 26, 0.9) 100%)"
+  sidebar:
+    background: "linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(8, 18, 42, 0.88) 0%, rgba(5, 9, 26, 0.85) 100%)"
+  tab:
+    clipPath: "polygon(6px 0, 100% 0, calc(100% - 6px) 100%, 0 100%)"
+  backdrop:
+    backgroundSize: "cover"
+    backgroundPosition: "center"
+    fillerOpacity: "1"
+    fillerBlendMode: "normal"
+
+# ------- color overrides -------
+colorOverrides:
+  primary: "#ffce3a"
+  primaryForeground: "#05091a"
+  accent: "#3fd3ff"
+  accentForeground: "#05091a"
+  ring: "#3fd3ff"
+  success: "#4ade80"
+  warning: "#ffce3a"
+  destructive: "#ff3a5e"
+  border: "rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.28)"
+
+# ------- customCSS -------
+# Raw CSS injected as a scoped <style> tag on theme apply. Use this for
+# selector-level tweaks componentStyles can't express (pseudo-elements,
+# animations, media queries). Bounded to 32 KiB per theme.
+customCSS: |
+  /* Scanline overlay — subtle, only when theme is active. */
+  :root[data-layout-variant="cockpit"] body::before {
+    content: "";
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    pointer-events: none;
+    z-index: 100;
+    background: repeating-linear-gradient(
+      to bottom,
+      transparent 0px,
+      transparent 2px,
+      rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.035) 3px,
+      rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.035) 4px
+    );
+    mix-blend-mode: screen;
+  }
+
+  /* Chevron pips on card corners. */
+  [data-layout-variant="cockpit"] .border-border::before,
+  [data-layout-variant="cockpit"] .border-border::after {
+    content: "";
+    position: absolute;
+    width: 8px;
+    height: 8px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.55);
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
index 1f3a78b99..a92f0c8d1 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
@@ -1473,3 +1473,207 @@ class TestDiscoverUserThemes:
         assert "ok" in names
         assert "bad" not in names  # malformed YAML
         assert len(results) == 1  # only the valid one
+
+
+class TestNormaliseThemeExtensions:
+    """Tests for the extended normaliser fields (assets, customCSS,
+    componentStyles, layoutVariant) — the surfaces themes use to reskin
+    the dashboard without shipping code."""
+
+    def test_layout_variant_defaults_to_standard(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        result = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t"})
+        assert result["layoutVariant"] == "standard"
+
+    def test_layout_variant_accepts_known_values(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        for variant in ("standard", "cockpit", "tiled"):
+            r = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t", "layoutVariant": variant})
+            assert r["layoutVariant"] == variant
+
+    def test_layout_variant_rejects_unknown(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t", "layoutVariant": "warship"})
+        assert r["layoutVariant"] == "standard"
+        r2 = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t", "layoutVariant": 12})
+        assert r2["layoutVariant"] == "standard"
+
+    def test_assets_named_slots_passthrough(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({
+            "name": "t",
+            "assets": {
+                "bg": "https://example.com/bg.jpg",
+                "hero": "linear-gradient(180deg, red, blue)",
+                "crest": "/ds-assets/crest.svg",
+                "logo": "  ",  # whitespace-only — dropped
+                "notAKnownKey": "ignored",
+            },
+        })
+        assert r["assets"]["bg"] == "https://example.com/bg.jpg"
+        assert r["assets"]["hero"].startswith("linear-gradient")
+        assert r["assets"]["crest"] == "/ds-assets/crest.svg"
+        assert "logo" not in r["assets"]  # whitespace-only rejected
+        assert "notAKnownKey" not in r["assets"]  # unknown slot ignored
+
+    def test_assets_custom_block(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({
+            "name": "t",
+            "assets": {
+                "custom": {
+                    "scan-lines": "/img/scan.png",
+                    "my_overlay": "/img/ov.png",
+                    "bad key!": "x",  # non-alnum key — rejected
+                    "empty": "",        # empty value — rejected
+                },
+            },
+        })
+        assert r["assets"]["custom"] == {
+            "scan-lines": "/img/scan.png",
+            "my_overlay": "/img/ov.png",
+        }
+
+    def test_assets_absent_means_no_field(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t"})
+        assert "assets" not in r
+
+    def test_custom_css_passthrough_and_capped(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        # Small CSS passes through verbatim.
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({
+            "name": "t",
+            "customCSS": "body { color: red; }",
+        })
+        assert r["customCSS"] == "body { color: red; }"
+
+        # 40 KiB of CSS gets clipped to the 32 KiB cap.
+        huge = "/* x */ " * (40 * 1024 // 8 + 10)
+        r2 = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t", "customCSS": huge})
+        assert len(r2["customCSS"]) <= 32 * 1024
+
+    def test_custom_css_empty_dropped(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        for val in ("", "   \n\t", None):
+            r = _normalise_theme_definition({"name": "t", "customCSS": val})
+            assert "customCSS" not in r
+
+    def test_component_styles_per_bucket(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({
+            "name": "t",
+            "componentStyles": {
+                "card": {
+                    "clipPath": "polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%)",
+                    "boxShadow": "inset 0 0 0 1px red",
+                    "bad prop!": "ignored",  # non-alnum prop rejected
+                },
+                "header": {"background": "linear-gradient(red, blue)"},
+                "rogueBucket": {"foo": "bar"},  # not a known bucket — rejected
+            },
+        })
+        assert r["componentStyles"]["card"] == {
+            "clipPath": "polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%)",
+            "boxShadow": "inset 0 0 0 1px red",
+        }
+        assert r["componentStyles"]["header"]["background"].startswith("linear-gradient")
+        assert "rogueBucket" not in r["componentStyles"]
+
+    def test_component_styles_empty_buckets_dropped(self):
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({
+            "name": "t",
+            "componentStyles": {
+                "card": {},        # empty — dropped entirely
+                "header": {"bad prop!": "ignored"},  # all props rejected — bucket dropped
+                "footer": {"background": "black"},
+            },
+        })
+        assert "card" not in r.get("componentStyles", {})
+        assert "header" not in r.get("componentStyles", {})
+        assert r["componentStyles"]["footer"]["background"] == "black"
+
+    def test_component_styles_accepts_numeric_values(self):
+        """Numeric values (e.g. opacity: 0.8) are coerced to strings."""
+        from hermes_cli.web_server import _normalise_theme_definition
+        r = _normalise_theme_definition({
+            "name": "t",
+            "componentStyles": {"card": {"opacity": 0.8, "zIndex": 5}},
+        })
+        assert r["componentStyles"]["card"] == {"opacity": "0.8", "zIndex": "5"}
+
+
+class TestDashboardPluginManifestExtensions:
+    """Tests for the extended plugin manifest fields (tab.override,
+    tab.hidden, slots) read by _discover_dashboard_plugins()."""
+
+    def _write_plugin(self, tmp_path, name, manifest):
+        import json
+        plug_dir = tmp_path / "plugins" / name / "dashboard"
+        plug_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (plug_dir / "manifest.json").write_text(json.dumps(manifest))
+        return plug_dir
+
+    def test_override_and_hidden_carried_through(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        self._write_plugin(tmp_path, "skin-home", {
+            "name": "skin-home",
+            "label": "Skin Home",
+            "tab": {"path": "/skin-home", "override": "/", "hidden": True},
+            "slots": ["sidebar", "header-left"],
+            "entry": "dist/index.js",
+        })
+        from hermes_cli import web_server
+        # Bust the process-level cache so the test plugin is picked up.
+        web_server._dashboard_plugins_cache = None
+        plugins = web_server._get_dashboard_plugins(force_rescan=True)
+        entry = next(p for p in plugins if p["name"] == "skin-home")
+        assert entry["tab"]["override"] == "/"
+        assert entry["tab"]["hidden"] is True
+        assert entry["slots"] == ["sidebar", "header-left"]
+
+    def test_override_requires_leading_slash(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        self._write_plugin(tmp_path, "bad-override", {
+            "name": "bad-override",
+            "label": "Bad",
+            "tab": {"path": "/bad", "override": "no-leading-slash"},
+            "entry": "dist/index.js",
+        })
+        from hermes_cli import web_server
+        web_server._dashboard_plugins_cache = None
+        plugins = web_server._get_dashboard_plugins(force_rescan=True)
+        entry = next(p for p in plugins if p["name"] == "bad-override")
+        assert "override" not in entry["tab"]
+
+    def test_slots_default_empty(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        self._write_plugin(tmp_path, "no-slots", {
+            "name": "no-slots",
+            "label": "No Slots",
+            "tab": {"path": "/no-slots"},
+            "entry": "dist/index.js",
+        })
+        from hermes_cli import web_server
+        web_server._dashboard_plugins_cache = None
+        plugins = web_server._get_dashboard_plugins(force_rescan=True)
+        entry = next(p for p in plugins if p["name"] == "no-slots")
+        assert entry["slots"] == []
+        assert "hidden" not in entry["tab"]
+        assert "override" not in entry["tab"]
+
+    def test_slots_filters_non_string_entries(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+        self._write_plugin(tmp_path, "mixed-slots", {
+            "name": "mixed-slots",
+            "label": "Mixed",
+            "tab": {"path": "/mixed-slots"},
+            "slots": ["sidebar", "", 42, None, "header-right"],
+            "entry": "dist/index.js",
+        })
+        from hermes_cli import web_server
+        web_server._dashboard_plugins_cache = None
+        plugins = web_server._get_dashboard_plugins(force_rescan=True)
+        entry = next(p for p in plugins if p["name"] == "mixed-slots")
+        assert entry["slots"] == ["sidebar", "header-right"]
diff --git a/web/src/App.tsx b/web/src/App.tsx
index c2dc409b3..9c6e3c337 100644
--- a/web/src/App.tsx
+++ b/web/src/App.tsx
@@ -36,8 +36,23 @@ import SkillsPage from "@/pages/SkillsPage";
 import { LanguageSwitcher } from "@/components/LanguageSwitcher";
 import { ThemeSwitcher } from "@/components/ThemeSwitcher";
 import { useI18n } from "@/i18n";
-import { usePlugins } from "@/plugins";
+import { PluginSlot, usePlugins } from "@/plugins";
 import type { RegisteredPlugin } from "@/plugins";
+import { useTheme } from "@/themes";
+
+/** Built-in route → default page component. Used both for standard routing
+ *  and for resolving plugin `tab.override` values. Keys must match the
+ *  `path` in `BUILTIN_NAV` so `/path` lookups stay consistent. */
+const BUILTIN_ROUTES: Record<string, React.ComponentType> = {
+  "/": StatusPage,
+  "/sessions": SessionsPage,
+  "/analytics": AnalyticsPage,
+  "/logs": LogsPage,
+  "/cron": CronPage,
+  "/skills": SkillsPage,
+  "/config": ConfigPage,
+  "/env": EnvPage,
+};
 
 const BUILTIN_NAV: NavItem[] = [
   { path: "/", labelKey: "status", label: "Status", icon: Activity },
@@ -98,6 +113,13 @@ function buildNavItems(
   const items = [...builtIn];
 
   for (const { manifest } of plugins) {
+    // Plugins that replace a built-in route don't add a new tab entry —
+    // they reuse the existing tab. The nav just lights up the original
+    // built-in entry when the user visits `/`.
+    if (manifest.tab.override) continue;
+    // Hidden plugins register their component + slots but skip the nav.
+    if (manifest.tab.hidden) continue;
+
     const pluginItem: NavItem = {
       path: manifest.tab.path,
       label: manifest.label,
@@ -123,19 +145,89 @@ function buildNavItems(
   return items;
 }
 
+/** Build the final route table, letting plugins override built-in pages.
+ *
+ *  Returns (path, Component, key) tuples. Plugins with `tab.override`
+ *  win over both built-ins and other plugins (last registration wins if
+ *  two plugins claim the same override, but we warn in dev). Plugins with
+ *  a regular `tab.path` register alongside built-ins as standalone
+ *  routes. */
+function buildRoutes(
+  plugins: RegisteredPlugin[],
+): Array<{ key: string; path: string; Component: React.ComponentType }> {
+  const overrides = new Map<string, RegisteredPlugin>();
+  const addons: RegisteredPlugin[] = [];
+
+  for (const p of plugins) {
+    if (p.manifest.tab.override) {
+      overrides.set(p.manifest.tab.override, p);
+    } else {
+      addons.push(p);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const routes: Array<{
+    key: string;
+    path: string;
+    Component: React.ComponentType;
+  }> = [];
+
+  for (const [path, Component] of Object.entries(BUILTIN_ROUTES)) {
+    const override = overrides.get(path);
+    if (override) {
+      routes.push({
+        key: `override:${override.manifest.name}`,
+        path,
+        Component: override.component,
+      });
+    } else {
+      routes.push({ key: `builtin:${path}`, path, Component });
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const addon of addons) {
+    // Don't double-register a plugin that shadows a built-in path via
+    // `tab.path` — `override` is the supported mechanism for that.
+    if (BUILTIN_ROUTES[addon.manifest.tab.path]) continue;
+    routes.push({
+      key: `plugin:${addon.manifest.name}`,
+      path: addon.manifest.tab.path,
+      Component: addon.component,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return routes;
+}
+
 export default function App() {
   const { t } = useI18n();
   const { plugins } = usePlugins();
+  const { theme } = useTheme();
 
   const navItems = useMemo(
     () => buildNavItems(BUILTIN_NAV, plugins),
     [plugins],
   );
+  const routes = useMemo(() => buildRoutes(plugins), [plugins]);
+
+  const layoutVariant = theme.layoutVariant ?? "standard";
+  const showSidebar = layoutVariant === "cockpit";
+  // Tiled layout drops the 1600px clamp so pages can use the full viewport;
+  // standard + cockpit keep the centered reading width.
+  const mainMaxWidth = layoutVariant === "tiled" ? "max-w-none" : "max-w-[1600px]";
 
   return (
-    <div className="text-midground font-mondwest bg-black min-h-screen flex flex-col uppercase antialiased overflow-x-hidden">
+    <div
+      data-layout-variant={layoutVariant}
+      className="text-midground font-mondwest bg-black min-h-screen flex flex-col uppercase antialiased overflow-x-hidden"
+    >
       <SelectionSwitcher />
       <Backdrop />
+      {/* Themes can style backdrop chrome via `componentStyles.backdrop.*`
+          CSS vars read by <Backdrop />. Plugins can also inject full
+          components into the backdrop layer via the `backdrop` slot —
+          useful for scanlines, parallax stars, hero artwork, etc. */}
+      <PluginSlot name="backdrop" />
 
       <header
         className={cn(
@@ -143,8 +235,17 @@ export default function App() {
           "border-b border-current/20",
           "bg-background-base/90 backdrop-blur-sm",
         )}
+        style={{
+          // Themes can tweak header chrome (background, border-image,
+          // clip-path) via these CSS vars. Unset vars compute to the
+          // property's initial value, so themes opt in per-property.
+          background: "var(--component-header-background)",
+          borderImage: "var(--component-header-border-image)",
+          clipPath: "var(--component-header-clip-path)",
+        }}
       >
-        <div className="mx-auto flex h-12 max-w-[1600px]">
+        <div className={cn("mx-auto flex h-12", mainMaxWidth)}>
+          <PluginSlot name="header-left" />
           <div className="min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-x-auto scrollbar-none">
             <Grid
               className="h-full !border-t-0 !border-b-0"
@@ -180,6 +281,9 @@ export default function App() {
                           : "opacity-60 hover:opacity-100",
                       )
                     }
+                    style={{
+                      clipPath: "var(--component-tab-clip-path)",
+                    }}
                   >
                     {({ isActive }) => (
                       <>
@@ -214,6 +318,7 @@ export default function App() {
 
           <Grid className="h-full shrink-0 !border-t-0 !border-b-0">
             <Cell className="flex items-center gap-2 !p-0 !px-2 sm:!px-4">
+              <PluginSlot name="header-right" />
               <ThemeSwitcher />
               <LanguageSwitcher />
               <Typography
@@ -227,50 +332,92 @@ export default function App() {
         </div>
       </header>
 
-      <main className="relative z-2 mx-auto w-full max-w-[1600px] flex-1 px-3 sm:px-6 pt-16 sm:pt-20 pb-4 sm:pb-8">
-        <Routes>
-          <Route path="/" element={<StatusPage />} />
-          <Route path="/sessions" element={<SessionsPage />} />
-          <Route path="/analytics" element={<AnalyticsPage />} />
-          <Route path="/logs" element={<LogsPage />} />
-          <Route path="/cron" element={<CronPage />} />
-          <Route path="/skills" element={<SkillsPage />} />
-          <Route path="/config" element={<ConfigPage />} />
-          <Route path="/env" element={<EnvPage />} />
+      {/* Full-width banner slot under the nav, outside the main clamp —
+          useful for marquee/alert/status strips themes want to show
+          above page content. */}
+      <PluginSlot name="header-banner" />
 
-          {plugins.map(({ manifest, component: PluginComponent }) => (
-            <Route
-              key={manifest.name}
-              path={manifest.tab.path}
-              element={<PluginComponent />}
+      <div
+        className={cn(
+          "relative z-2 mx-auto w-full flex-1 px-3 sm:px-6 pt-16 sm:pt-20 pb-4 sm:pb-8",
+          mainMaxWidth,
+          showSidebar && "flex gap-4 sm:gap-6",
+        )}
+      >
+        {showSidebar && (
+          <aside
+            className={cn(
+              "w-[260px] shrink-0 border-r border-current/20 pr-3 sm:pr-4",
+              "hidden lg:block",
+            )}
+            style={{
+              background: "var(--component-sidebar-background)",
+              clipPath: "var(--component-sidebar-clip-path)",
+              borderImage: "var(--component-sidebar-border-image)",
+            }}
+          >
+            <PluginSlot
+              name="sidebar"
+              fallback={
+                <div className="p-4 text-xs opacity-60 font-mondwest tracking-wide">
+                  {/* Cockpit layout with no sidebar plugin — rare but valid;
+                      the space still exists so the grid doesn't shift when
+                      a plugin loads asynchronously. */}
+                  sidebar slot empty
+                </div>
+              }
             />
-          ))}
+          </aside>
+        )}
 
-          <Route path="*" element={<Navigate to="/" replace />} />
-        </Routes>
-      </main>
+        <main className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+          <PluginSlot name="pre-main" />
+          <Routes>
+            {routes.map(({ key, path, Component }) => (
+              <Route key={key} path={path} element={<Component />} />
+            ))}
+            <Route path="*" element={<Navigate to="/" replace />} />
+          </Routes>
+          <PluginSlot name="post-main" />
+        </main>
+      </div>
 
       <footer className="relative z-2 border-t border-current/20">
-        <Grid className="mx-auto max-w-[1600px] !border-t-0 !border-b-0">
+        <Grid className={cn("mx-auto !border-t-0 !border-b-0", mainMaxWidth)}>
           <Cell className="flex items-center !px-3 sm:!px-6 !py-3">
-            <Typography
-              mondwest
-              className="text-[0.7rem] sm:text-[0.8rem] tracking-[0.12em] opacity-60"
-            >
-              {t.app.footer.name}
-            </Typography>
+            <PluginSlot
+              name="footer-left"
+              fallback={
+                <Typography
+                  mondwest
+                  className="text-[0.7rem] sm:text-[0.8rem] tracking-[0.12em] opacity-60"
+                >
+                  {t.app.footer.name}
+                </Typography>
+              }
+            />
           </Cell>
           <Cell className="flex items-center justify-end !px-3 sm:!px-6 !py-3">
-            <Typography
-              mondwest
-              className="text-[0.6rem] sm:text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.15em] text-midground"
-              style={{ mixBlendMode: "plus-lighter" }}
-            >
-              {t.app.footer.org}
-            </Typography>
+            <PluginSlot
+              name="footer-right"
+              fallback={
+                <Typography
+                  mondwest
+                  className="text-[0.6rem] sm:text-[0.7rem] tracking-[0.15em] text-midground"
+                  style={{ mixBlendMode: "plus-lighter" }}
+                >
+                  {t.app.footer.org}
+                </Typography>
+              }
+            />
           </Cell>
         </Grid>
       </footer>
+
+      {/* Fixed-position overlay plugins (scanlines, vignettes, etc.) render
+          above everything else. Each plugin is responsible for its own
+          pointer-events and z-index. */}
+      <PluginSlot name="overlay" />
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/web/src/components/Backdrop.tsx b/web/src/components/Backdrop.tsx
index a48ab0f26..7cfd9077b 100644
--- a/web/src/components/Backdrop.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/Backdrop.tsx
@@ -38,11 +38,27 @@ export function Backdrop() {
       <div
         aria-hidden
         className="pointer-events-none fixed inset-0 z-[2]"
-        style={{ mixBlendMode: "difference", opacity: 0.033 }}
+        style={
+          {
+            // Themes can override the filler background by setting
+            // `assets.bg` — the <img> hides itself when a CSS bg is set
+            // so the two don't double-darken. CSS var fallbacks keep the
+            // default behaviour unchanged when no theme customises these.
+            mixBlendMode: "var(--component-backdrop-filler-blend-mode, difference)",
+            opacity: "var(--component-backdrop-filler-opacity, 0.033)",
+            backgroundImage: "var(--theme-asset-bg)",
+            backgroundSize: "var(--component-backdrop-background-size, cover)",
+            backgroundPosition: "var(--component-backdrop-background-position, center)",
+          } as unknown as React.CSSProperties
+        }
       >
+        {/* Default filler image only renders when no theme-asset-bg is
+            set. Themes that provide their own `assets.bg` override the
+            <div>'s backgroundImage above, so hiding the <img> in that
+            case prevents the two from compositing incorrectly. */}
         <img
           alt=""
-          className="h-[150dvh] w-auto min-w-[100dvw] object-cover object-top-left invert"
+          className="h-[150dvh] w-auto min-w-[100dvw] object-cover object-top-left invert theme-default-filler"
           fetchPriority="low"
           src="/ds-assets/filler-bg0.jpg"
         />
diff --git a/web/src/components/ui/card.tsx b/web/src/components/ui/card.tsx
index cebe9e604..e4046adab 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ui/card.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ui/card.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,35 @@
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
-export function Card({ className, ...props }: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement>) {
+/**
+ * Themed card primitive. Themes can restyle every card without touching
+ * call sites by setting CSS vars under the `card` component-style bucket:
+ *
+ *   componentStyles:
+ *     card:
+ *       clipPath: "polygon(10px 0, 100% 0, 100% calc(100% - 10px), calc(100% - 10px) 100%, 0 100%, 0 10px)"
+ *       border: "1px solid var(--color-ring)"
+ *       background: "linear-gradient(180deg, var(--color-card) 0%, transparent 100%)"
+ *       boxShadow: "0 0 0 1px var(--color-ring) inset, 0 0 24px -8px var(--warm-glow)"
+ *
+ * All properties are optional — vars that aren't set compute to their
+ * CSS initial value, so the default shadcn-y card keeps looking normal
+ * for themes that don't override anything.
+ */
+const CARD_STYLE: React.CSSProperties = {
+  clipPath: "var(--component-card-clip-path)",
+  borderImage: "var(--component-card-border-image)",
+  background: "var(--component-card-background)",
+  boxShadow: "var(--component-card-box-shadow)",
+};
+
+export function Card({ className, style, ...props }: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement>) {
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
         "border border-border bg-card/80 text-card-foreground w-full",
         className,
       )}
+      style={{ ...CARD_STYLE, ...style }}
       {...props}
     />
   );
diff --git a/web/src/index.css b/web/src/index.css
index 24260c6b4..491463f6c 100644
--- a/web/src/index.css
+++ b/web/src/index.css
@@ -162,3 +162,14 @@ code { font-size: 0.875rem; }
     2px 2px;
 }
 
+/* When a theme provides `assets.bg`, the backdrop's <div> renders it as
+   a CSS background; the default filler <img> is hidden to prevent
+   double-compositing. Unset → initial → empty, so the :not() selector
+   matches and the default image stays visible. */
+:root:not([style*="--theme-asset-bg:"]) .theme-default-filler {
+  display: block;
+}
+:root[style*="--theme-asset-bg:"] .theme-default-filler {
+  display: none;
+}
+
diff --git a/web/src/plugins/index.ts b/web/src/plugins/index.ts
index 6300e8ca0..27902fc93 100644
--- a/web/src/plugins/index.ts
+++ b/web/src/plugins/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 export { exposePluginSDK, getPluginComponent, onPluginRegistered, getRegisteredCount } from "./registry";
 export { usePlugins } from "./usePlugins";
+export { PluginSlot, KNOWN_SLOT_NAMES, registerSlot, getSlotEntries, onSlotRegistered, unregisterPluginSlots } from "./slots";
+export type { KnownSlotName } from "./slots";
 export type { PluginManifest, RegisteredPlugin } from "./types";
diff --git a/web/src/plugins/registry.ts b/web/src/plugins/registry.ts
index eb4ea58e8..fec230c2e 100644
--- a/web/src/plugins/registry.ts
+++ b/web/src/plugins/registry.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { Select, SelectOption } from "@/components/ui/select";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/ui/separator";
 import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tabs";
 import { useI18n } from "@/i18n";
+import { registerSlot, PluginSlot } from "./slots";
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Plugin registry — plugins call register() to add their component.
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ declare global {
     __HERMES_PLUGIN_SDK__: unknown;
     __HERMES_PLUGINS__: {
       register: typeof registerPlugin;
+      registerSlot: typeof registerSlot;
     };
   }
 }
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ declare global {
 export function exposePluginSDK() {
   window.__HERMES_PLUGINS__ = {
     register: registerPlugin,
+    registerSlot,
   };
 
   window.__HERMES_PLUGIN_SDK__ = {
@@ -118,6 +121,7 @@ export function exposePluginSDK() {
       Tabs,
       TabsList,
       TabsTrigger,
+      PluginSlot,
     },
 
     // Utilities
diff --git a/web/src/plugins/slots.ts b/web/src/plugins/slots.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4481287bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/plugins/slots.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+/**
+ * Plugin slot registry.
+ *
+ * Plugins can inject components into named locations in the app shell
+ * (header-left, sidebar, backdrop, etc.) by calling
+ * `window.__HERMES_PLUGINS__.registerSlot(pluginName, slotName, Component)`
+ * from their JS bundle. Multiple plugins can populate the same slot — they
+ * render stacked in registration order.
+ *
+ * The canonical slot names are documented in `KNOWN_SLOT_NAMES` below. The
+ * registry accepts any string so plugin ecosystems can define their own
+ * slots; the shell only renders `<PluginSlot name="..." />` for the slots
+ * it knows about.
+ */
+
+import React, { Fragment, useEffect, useState } from "react";
+
+/** Slot locations the built-in shell renders. Plugins declaring any of
+ *  these in their manifest's `slots` field get wired in automatically.
+ *
+ *  - `backdrop`         — rendered inside `<Backdrop />`, above the noise layer
+ *  - `header-left`      — injected before the Hermes brand in the top bar
+ *  - `header-right`     — injected before the theme/language switchers
+ *  - `header-banner`    — injected below the top nav bar, full-width
+ *  - `sidebar`          — the cockpit sidebar rail (only rendered when
+ *                         `layoutVariant === "cockpit"`)
+ *  - `pre-main`         — rendered above the route outlet (inside `<main>`)
+ *  - `post-main`        — rendered below the route outlet (inside `<main>`)
+ *  - `footer-left`      — replaces the left footer cell content
+ *  - `footer-right`     — replaces the right footer cell content
+ *  - `overlay`          — fixed-position layer above everything else;
+ *                         useful for chrome (scanlines, vignettes) the
+ *                         theme's customCSS can't achieve alone
+ */
+export const KNOWN_SLOT_NAMES = [
+  "backdrop",
+  "header-left",
+  "header-right",
+  "header-banner",
+  "sidebar",
+  "pre-main",
+  "post-main",
+  "footer-left",
+  "footer-right",
+  "overlay",
+] as const;
+
+export type KnownSlotName = (typeof KNOWN_SLOT_NAMES)[number];
+
+type SlotListener = () => void;
+
+interface SlotEntry {
+  plugin: string;
+  component: React.ComponentType;
+}
+
+/** Map<slotName, SlotEntry[]>. Entries are appended in registration order. */
+const _slotRegistry: Map<string, SlotEntry[]> = new Map();
+const _slotListeners: Set<SlotListener> = new Set();
+
+function _notifySlots() {
+  for (const fn of _slotListeners) {
+    try {
+      fn();
+    } catch {
+      /* ignore */
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/** Register a component for a slot. Called by plugin bundles via
+ *  `window.__HERMES_PLUGINS__.registerSlot(...)`.
+ *
+ *  If the same (plugin, slot) pair is registered twice, the later call
+ *  replaces the earlier one — this matches how React HMR expects plugin
+ *  re-mounts to behave. */
+export function registerSlot(
+  plugin: string,
+  slot: string,
+  component: React.ComponentType,
+): void {
+  const existing = _slotRegistry.get(slot) ?? [];
+  const filtered = existing.filter((e) => e.plugin !== plugin);
+  filtered.push({ plugin, component });
+  _slotRegistry.set(slot, filtered);
+  _notifySlots();
+}
+
+/** Read current entries for a slot. Returns a copy so callers can't mutate
+ *  registry state. */
+export function getSlotEntries(slot: string): SlotEntry[] {
+  return (_slotRegistry.get(slot) ?? []).slice();
+}
+
+/** Subscribe to registry changes. Returns an unsubscribe function. */
+export function onSlotRegistered(fn: SlotListener): () => void {
+  _slotListeners.add(fn);
+  return () => {
+    _slotListeners.delete(fn);
+  };
+}
+
+/** Clear a specific plugin's slot registrations. Useful for HMR /
+ *  plugin reload flows — not wired in by default. */
+export function unregisterPluginSlots(plugin: string): void {
+  let changed = false;
+  for (const [slot, entries] of _slotRegistry.entries()) {
+    const kept = entries.filter((e) => e.plugin !== plugin);
+    if (kept.length !== entries.length) {
+      changed = true;
+      if (kept.length === 0) _slotRegistry.delete(slot);
+      else _slotRegistry.set(slot, kept);
+    }
+  }
+  if (changed) _notifySlots();
+}
+
+interface PluginSlotProps {
+  /** Slot identifier (e.g. `"sidebar"`, `"header-left"`). */
+  name: string;
+  /** Optional content rendered when no plugins have claimed the slot.
+   *  Useful for built-in defaults the plugin would replace. */
+  fallback?: React.ReactNode;
+}
+
+/** Render all components registered for a given slot, stacked in order.
+ *
+ *  Component re-renders when the slot registry changes so plugins that
+ *  arrive after initial mount show up without a manual refresh. */
+export function PluginSlot({ name, fallback }: PluginSlotProps) {
+  const [entries, setEntries] = useState<SlotEntry[]>(() => getSlotEntries(name));
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Pick up anything registered between the initial `useState` call
+    // and the first effect tick, then subscribe for future changes.
+    setEntries(getSlotEntries(name));
+    const unsub = onSlotRegistered(() => setEntries(getSlotEntries(name)));
+    return unsub;
+  }, [name]);
+
+  if (entries.length === 0) {
+    return fallback ? React.createElement(Fragment, null, fallback) : null;
+  }
+
+  return React.createElement(
+    Fragment,
+    null,
+    ...entries.map((entry) =>
+      React.createElement(entry.component, { key: entry.plugin }),
+    ),
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/plugins/types.ts b/web/src/plugins/types.ts
index 4e10bb54d..6b56d3279 100644
--- a/web/src/plugins/types.ts
+++ b/web/src/plugins/types.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,21 @@ export interface PluginManifest {
   tab: {
     path: string;
     position: string;  // "end", "after:<tab>", "before:<tab>"
+    /** When set to a built-in route path (e.g. `"/"`, `"/sessions"`), this
+     *  plugin's component replaces the built-in page at that route rather
+     *  than adding a new tab. Useful for themes that want a custom home
+     *  page without losing the rest of the dashboard. */
+    override?: string;
+    /** When true, the plugin registers its component and slot contributors
+     *  without adding a tab to the nav. Used by slot-only plugins (e.g. a
+     *  plugin that just injects a header crest). */
+    hidden?: boolean;
   };
+  /** Named shell slots this plugin populates. Mirrored by the backend's
+   *  manifest discovery; used purely as a documentation/discovery aid —
+   *  actual slot registration happens when the plugin's JS bundle calls
+   *  `window.__HERMES_PLUGINS__.registerSlot(name, slot, Component)`. */
+  slots?: string[];
   entry: string;
   css?: string | null;
   has_api: boolean;
diff --git a/web/src/themes/context.tsx b/web/src/themes/context.tsx
index 1fa1c1632..efc99b631 100644
--- a/web/src/themes/context.tsx
+++ b/web/src/themes/context.tsx
@@ -10,10 +10,13 @@ import {
 import { BUILTIN_THEMES, defaultTheme } from "./presets";
 import type {
   DashboardTheme,
+  ThemeAssets,
   ThemeColorOverrides,
+  ThemeComponentStyles,
   ThemeDensity,
   ThemeLayer,
   ThemeLayout,
+  ThemeLayoutVariant,
   ThemePalette,
   ThemeTypography,
 } from "./types";
@@ -122,6 +125,113 @@ function overrideVars(
   return out;
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Asset + component-style + layout variant vars
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/** Well-known named asset slots a theme may populate. Kept in sync with
+ *  `_THEME_NAMED_ASSET_KEYS` in `hermes_cli/web_server.py`. */
+const NAMED_ASSET_KEYS = ["bg", "hero", "logo", "crest", "sidebar", "header"] as const;
+
+/** Component buckets mirrored from the backend's `_THEME_COMPONENT_BUCKETS`.
+ *  Each bucket emits `--component-<bucket>-<kebab-prop>` CSS vars. */
+const COMPONENT_BUCKETS = [
+  "card", "header", "footer", "sidebar", "tab",
+  "progress", "badge", "backdrop", "page",
+] as const;
+
+/** Camel → kebab (`clipPath` → `clip-path`). */
+function toKebab(s: string): string {
+  return s.replace(/[A-Z]/g, (m) => `-${m.toLowerCase()}`);
+}
+
+/** Build `--theme-asset-*` CSS vars from the assets block. Values are wrapped
+ *  in `url(...)` when they look like a bare path/URL; raw CSS expressions
+ *  (`linear-gradient(...)`, pre-wrapped `url(...)`, `none`) pass through. */
+function assetVars(assets: ThemeAssets | undefined): Record<string, string> {
+  if (!assets) return {};
+  const out: Record<string, string> = {};
+  const wrap = (v: string): string => {
+    const trimmed = v.trim();
+    if (!trimmed) return "";
+    // Already a CSS image/gradient/url/none — don't re-wrap.
+    if (/^(url\(|linear-gradient|radial-gradient|conic-gradient|none$)/i.test(trimmed)) {
+      return trimmed;
+    }
+    // Bare path / http(s) URL / data: URL → wrap in url().
+    return `url("${trimmed.replace(/"/g, '\\"')}")`;
+  };
+  for (const key of NAMED_ASSET_KEYS) {
+    const val = assets[key];
+    if (typeof val === "string" && val.trim()) {
+      out[`--theme-asset-${key}`] = wrap(val);
+      out[`--theme-asset-${key}-raw`] = val;
+    }
+  }
+  if (assets.custom) {
+    for (const [key, val] of Object.entries(assets.custom)) {
+      if (typeof val !== "string" || !val.trim()) continue;
+      if (!/^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/.test(key)) continue;
+      out[`--theme-asset-custom-${key}`] = wrap(val);
+      out[`--theme-asset-custom-${key}-raw`] = val;
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+/** Build `--component-<bucket>-<prop>` CSS vars from the componentStyles
+ *  block. Values pass through untouched so themes can use any CSS expression. */
+function componentStyleVars(
+  styles: ThemeComponentStyles | undefined,
+): Record<string, string> {
+  if (!styles) return {};
+  const out: Record<string, string> = {};
+  for (const bucket of COMPONENT_BUCKETS) {
+    const props = (styles as Record<string, Record<string, string> | undefined>)[bucket];
+    if (!props) continue;
+    for (const [prop, value] of Object.entries(props)) {
+      if (typeof value !== "string" || !value.trim()) continue;
+      // Same guardrail as backend — camelCase or kebab-case alnum only.
+      if (!/^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/.test(prop)) continue;
+      out[`--component-${bucket}-${toKebab(prop)}`] = value;
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+// Tracks keys we set on the previous theme so we can clear them when the
+// next theme has fewer assets / component vars. Without this, switching
+// from a richly-decorated theme to a plain one would leave stale vars.
+let _PREV_DYNAMIC_VAR_KEYS: Set<string> = new Set();
+
+/** ID for the injected <style> tag that carries a theme's customCSS.
+ *  A single tag is reused + replaced on every theme switch. */
+const CUSTOM_CSS_STYLE_ID = "hermes-theme-custom-css";
+
+function applyCustomCSS(css: string | undefined) {
+  if (typeof document === "undefined") return;
+  let el = document.getElementById(CUSTOM_CSS_STYLE_ID) as HTMLStyleElement | null;
+  if (!css || !css.trim()) {
+    if (el) el.remove();
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!el) {
+    el = document.createElement("style");
+    el.id = CUSTOM_CSS_STYLE_ID;
+    el.setAttribute("data-hermes-theme-css", "true");
+    document.head.appendChild(el);
+  }
+  el.textContent = css;
+}
+
+function applyLayoutVariant(variant: ThemeLayoutVariant | undefined) {
+  if (typeof document === "undefined") return;
+  const root = document.documentElement;
+  const final: ThemeLayoutVariant = variant ?? "standard";
+  root.dataset.layoutVariant = final;
+  root.style.setProperty("--theme-layout-variant", final);
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Font stylesheet injection
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -157,18 +267,35 @@ function applyTheme(theme: DashboardTheme) {
   for (const cssVar of ALL_OVERRIDE_VARS) {
     root.style.removeProperty(cssVar);
   }
+  // Clear dynamic (asset/component) vars from the previous theme so the
+  // new one starts clean — otherwise stale notched clip-paths, hero URLs,
+  // etc. would bleed across theme switches.
+  for (const prevKey of _PREV_DYNAMIC_VAR_KEYS) {
+    root.style.removeProperty(prevKey);
+  }
+
+  const assetMap = assetVars(theme.assets);
+  const componentMap = componentStyleVars(theme.componentStyles);
+  _PREV_DYNAMIC_VAR_KEYS = new Set([
+    ...Object.keys(assetMap),
+    ...Object.keys(componentMap),
+  ]);
 
   const vars = {
     ...paletteVars(theme.palette),
     ...typographyVars(theme.typography),
     ...layoutVars(theme.layout),
     ...overrideVars(theme.colorOverrides),
+    ...assetMap,
+    ...componentMap,
   };
   for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(vars)) {
     root.style.setProperty(k, v);
   }
 
   injectFontStylesheet(theme.typography.fontUrl);
+  applyCustomCSS(theme.customCSS);
+  applyLayoutVariant(theme.layoutVariant);
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/web/src/themes/types.ts b/web/src/themes/types.ts
index c83c6464d..2f0dd2983 100644
--- a/web/src/themes/types.ts
+++ b/web/src/themes/types.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,55 @@ export interface ThemeLayout {
   density: ThemeDensity;
 }
 
+/** Overall layout variant the shell renders. `standard` = default single-
+ *  column page layout. `cockpit` = reserves a left sidebar rail for a
+ *  plugin slot (intended for HUD-style themes with persistent status panels).
+ *  `tiled` = relaxes the main content max-width so pages can use the full
+ *  viewport width. Themes set this; plugins react via CSS vars /
+ *  `[data-layout-variant="..."]` selectors. */
+export type ThemeLayoutVariant = "standard" | "cockpit" | "tiled";
+
+/** Named hero/background assets a theme can populate. Each value is
+ *  emitted as a CSS var (`--theme-asset-<name>`). The default shell
+ *  consumes `bg` in `<Backdrop />` when present; other slots are
+ *  plugin-facing — a cockpit sidebar plugin reads `--theme-asset-hero`
+ *  to render its hero render without coupling to the theme name. */
+export interface ThemeAssets {
+  /** Full-viewport background image URL, injected under the noise layer. */
+  bg?: string;
+  /** Hero render (Gundam, mascot, wallpaper) — for plugin sidebars/overlays. */
+  hero?: string;
+  /** Logo mark — header slot consumers use this. */
+  logo?: string;
+  /** Faction/brand crest — header-left decoration. */
+  crest?: string;
+  /** Secondary sidebar illustration. */
+  sidebar?: string;
+  /** Alternate header artwork. */
+  header?: string;
+  /** User-defined named assets. Keyed by [a-zA-Z0-9_-] only.
+   *  Emitted as `--theme-asset-custom-<key>`. */
+  custom?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+/** Component-style override buckets. Each bucket's entries become CSS
+ *  vars (`--component-<bucket>-<kebab-property>`) that shell components
+ *  (Card, Backdrop, App header/footer, etc.) read. Values are plain CSS
+ *  strings — we don't parse them, so themes can use `clip-path`,
+ *  `border-image`, `background`, `box-shadow`, and anything else CSS
+ *  accepts. */
+export interface ThemeComponentStyles {
+  card?: Record<string, string>;
+  header?: Record<string, string>;
+  footer?: Record<string, string>;
+  sidebar?: Record<string, string>;
+  tab?: Record<string, string>;
+  progress?: Record<string, string>;
+  badge?: Record<string, string>;
+  backdrop?: Record<string, string>;
+  page?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
 /** Optional hex overrides keyed by shadcn-compat token name (without the
  *  `--color-` prefix). Any key set here wins over the DS cascade. */
 export interface ThemeColorOverrides {
@@ -101,6 +150,17 @@ export interface DashboardTheme {
   palette: ThemePalette;
   typography: ThemeTypography;
   layout: ThemeLayout;
+  /** Overall shell layout. Defaults to `"standard"` when absent. */
+  layoutVariant?: ThemeLayoutVariant;
+  /** Named + custom asset URLs exposed as CSS vars on theme apply. */
+  assets?: ThemeAssets;
+  /** Raw CSS injected as a scoped `<style>` tag on theme apply, cleaned up
+   *  on theme switch. Intended for selector-level chrome that's too
+   *  expressive for componentStyles alone (e.g. `::before` pseudo-elements,
+   *  complex animations, media queries). */
+  customCSS?: string;
+  /** Per-component CSS-var overrides. See `ThemeComponentStyles`. */
+  componentStyles?: ThemeComponentStyles;
   colorOverrides?: ThemeColorOverrides;
 }
 
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md b/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md
index ebcfe3698..b31f4a96f 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md
@@ -422,6 +422,148 @@ Supported keys: `card`, `cardForeground`, `popover`, `popoverForeground`, `prima
 
 Any key set here overrides the derived value for the active theme only — switching to another theme clears the overrides.
 
+### Layout variants
+
+`layoutVariant` selects the overall shell layout. Defaults to `standard`.
+
+| Variant | Behaviour |
+|---------|-----------|
+| `standard` | Single column, 1600px max-width (default) |
+| `cockpit` | Left sidebar rail (260px) + main content. Populated by plugins via the `sidebar` slot |
+| `tiled` | Drops the max-width clamp so pages can use the full viewport |
+
+```yaml
+layoutVariant: cockpit
+```
+
+The current variant is exposed as `document.documentElement.dataset.layoutVariant` so custom CSS can target it via `:root[data-layout-variant="cockpit"]`.
+
+### Theme assets
+
+Ship artwork URLs with a theme. Each named slot becomes a CSS var (`--theme-asset-<name>`) that plugins and the built-in shell read; the `bg` slot is automatically wired into the backdrop.
+
+```yaml
+assets:
+  bg: "https://example.com/hero-bg.jpg"       # full-viewport background
+  hero: "/my-images/strike-freedom.png"       # for plugin sidebars
+  crest: "/my-images/crest.svg"               # for header slot plugins
+  logo: "/my-images/logo.png"
+  sidebar: "/my-images/rail.png"
+  header: "/my-images/header-art.png"
+  custom:
+    scanLines: "/my-images/scanlines.png"     # → --theme-asset-custom-scanLines
+```
+
+Values accept bare URLs (wrapped in `url(...)` automatically), pre-wrapped `url(...)`/`linear-gradient(...)`/`radial-gradient(...)` expressions, and `none`.
+
+### Component chrome overrides
+
+Themes can restyle individual shell components without writing CSS selectors via the `componentStyles` block. Each bucket's entries become CSS vars (`--component-<bucket>-<kebab-property>`) that the shell's shared components read — so `card:` overrides apply to every `<Card>`, `header:` to the app bar, etc.
+
+```yaml
+componentStyles:
+  card:
+    clipPath: "polygon(12px 0, 100% 0, 100% calc(100% - 12px), calc(100% - 12px) 100%, 0 100%, 0 12px)"
+    background: "linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(10, 22, 52, 0.85), rgba(5, 9, 26, 0.92))"
+    boxShadow: "inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.28)"
+  header:
+    background: "linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(16, 32, 72, 0.95), rgba(5, 9, 26, 0.9))"
+  tab:
+    clipPath: "polygon(6px 0, 100% 0, calc(100% - 6px) 100%, 0 100%)"
+  sidebar: {...}
+  backdrop: {...}
+  footer: {...}
+  progress: {...}
+  badge: {...}
+  page: {...}
+```
+
+Supported buckets: `card`, `header`, `footer`, `sidebar`, `tab`, `progress`, `badge`, `backdrop`, `page`. Property names use camelCase (`clipPath`) and are emitted as kebab (`clip-path`). Values are plain CSS strings — anything CSS accepts (`clip-path`, `border-image`, `background`, `box-shadow`, animations, etc.).
+
+### Custom CSS
+
+For selector-level chrome that doesn't fit `componentStyles` — pseudo-elements, animations, media queries, theme-scoped overrides — drop raw CSS into the `customCSS` field:
+
+```yaml
+customCSS: |
+  :root[data-layout-variant="cockpit"] body::before {
+    content: "";
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    pointer-events: none;
+    z-index: 100;
+    background: repeating-linear-gradient(to bottom,
+      transparent 0px, transparent 2px,
+      rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.035) 3px, rgba(64, 200, 255, 0.035) 4px);
+    mix-blend-mode: screen;
+  }
+```
+
+The CSS is injected as a single scoped `<style data-hermes-theme-css>` tag on theme apply and cleaned up on theme switch. Capped at 32 KiB per theme.
+
+## Dashboard plugins
+
+Plugins live in `~/.hermes/plugins/<name>/dashboard/` (user) or repo `plugins/<name>/dashboard/` (bundled). Each ships a `manifest.json` plus a plain JS bundle that uses the plugin SDK exposed on `window.__HERMES_PLUGIN_SDK__`.
+
+### Manifest
+
+```json
+{
+  "name": "my-plugin",
+  "label": "My Plugin",
+  "icon": "Sparkles",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "tab": {
+    "path": "/my-plugin",
+    "position": "after:skills",
+    "override": "/",
+    "hidden": false
+  },
+  "slots": ["sidebar", "header-left"],
+  "entry": "dist/index.js",
+  "css": "dist/index.css",
+  "api": "api.py"
+}
+```
+
+| Field | Description |
+|-------|-------------|
+| `tab.path` | Route path the plugin component renders at |
+| `tab.position` | `end`, `after:<tab>`, or `before:<tab>` |
+| `tab.override` | When set to a built-in path (`/`, `/sessions`, etc.), this plugin replaces that page instead of adding a new tab |
+| `tab.hidden` | When true, register component + slots but skip the nav entry. Used by slot-only plugins |
+| `slots` | Shell slots this plugin populates (documentation aid; actual registration happens from the JS bundle) |
+
+### Shell slots
+
+Plugins inject components into named shell locations by calling `window.__HERMES_PLUGINS__.registerSlot(pluginName, slotName, Component)`. Multiple plugins can populate the same slot — they render stacked in registration order.
+
+| Slot | Location |
+|------|----------|
+| `backdrop` | Inside the backdrop layer stack |
+| `header-left` | Before the Hermes brand in the top bar |
+| `header-right` | Before the theme/language switchers |
+| `header-banner` | Full-width strip below the nav |
+| `sidebar` | Cockpit sidebar rail (only rendered when `layoutVariant === "cockpit"`) |
+| `pre-main` | Above the route outlet |
+| `post-main` | Below the route outlet |
+| `footer-left` / `footer-right` | Footer cell content (replaces default) |
+| `overlay` | Fixed-position layer above everything else |
+
+### Plugin SDK
+
+Exposed on `window.__HERMES_PLUGIN_SDK__`:
+
+- `React` + `hooks` (useState, useEffect, useCallback, useMemo, useRef, useContext, createContext)
+- `components` — Card, Badge, Button, Input, Label, Select, Separator, Tabs, **PluginSlot**
+- `api` — Hermes API client, plus raw `fetchJSON`
+- `utils` — `cn()`, `timeAgo()`, `isoTimeAgo()`
+- `useI18n` — i18n hook for multi-language plugins
+
+### Demo: Strike Freedom Cockpit
+
+`plugins/strike-freedom-cockpit/` ships a complete skin demo showing every extension point — cockpit layout variant, theme-supplied hero/crest assets, notched card corners via `componentStyles`, scanlines via `customCSS`, and a slot-only plugin that populates the sidebar, header, and footer. Copy the theme YAML into `~/.hermes/dashboard-themes/` and the plugin directory into `~/.hermes/plugins/` to try it.
+
 ### Theme API
 
 | Endpoint | Method | Description |