diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e93b9f8..d17fae6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ with your own AI model. Create scenarios, play open-ended adventures where an LL
 world, and extend the engine with **JavaScript scripts compatible with real AI Dungeon
 scripting**.
 
+> ### ▶️ Try it live: **[ai-dnd-1gmp.onrender.com](https://ai-dnd-1gmp.onrender.com)**
+> Play a demo scenario as a guest — no sign-up, no API key needed. (Hosted on Render's free
+> tier, so the first load after it's been idle takes ~30–60s to wake up.)
+
 Built with FastAPI + SQLite on the backend and React (Vite) on the frontend. Works with **any
 OpenAI-compatible endpoint**: Ollama and LM Studio locally, or OpenRouter / OpenAI / Groq / vLLM
 in the cloud — endpoint, key, and model are all runtime settings, and OpenRouter's free-tier
diff --git a/backend/app/models.py b/backend/app/models.py
index ab6d7bf..b4ba3f2 100644
--- a/backend/app/models.py
+++ b/backend/app/models.py
@@ -239,7 +239,9 @@ class Settings(Base):
     model: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(200), default="")
     api_mode: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(20), default="chat")  # chat|completion
     temperature: Mapped[float] = mapped_column(Float, default=0.8)
-    max_output_tokens: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=400)
+    # 800 leaves room for a full scene; 400 tended to truncate mid-paragraph
+    # and left reasoning models with nothing after their thinking.
+    max_output_tokens: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=800)
     # Separate thinking budget for reasoning models (OpenRouter-style
     # `reasoning: {max_tokens}`); 0 = param not sent. Added on top of
     # max_output_tokens so story output keeps its full budget.
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/adventures.py b/backend/app/routers/adventures.py
index 71a64da..6a58761 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/adventures.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/adventures.py
@@ -288,7 +288,17 @@ async def generate_turn(
 
     text = "".join(chunks).strip()
     if not text:
-        yield sse({"type": "error", "detail": "The AI returned an empty response."})
+        # If the model streamed reasoning but no story text, it spent its whole
+        # budget thinking — say so instead of a mysterious "empty response".
+        if reasoning_chunks:
+            detail = (
+                "The model used its entire token budget on reasoning and returned no "
+                'story text. Raise "Max output tokens" in Settings, set a "Reasoning '
+                'max tokens" cap, or switch to a non-reasoning model.'
+            )
+        else:
+            detail = "The AI returned an empty response."
+        yield sse({"type": "error", "detail": detail})
         return
 
     # onOutput