diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic
index 4479bcf9..7d4ed7c8 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/env.ludic
@@ -848,6 +848,35 @@ export state Render3dState {
   tt_reads: int = 0                 # tiles read from the file, over the run and this frame
   tt_frame_reads: int = 0
   tt_warned: bool = false
+  tp_on: bool = false               # the GPU pages the fine tiles round the camera (terrain_pages.ludic)
+  tp_page_tex: int = 0              # R32F tt_n a side: slot + 1 of each resident tile, 0 = the coarse level
+  tp_h_tex: int = 0                 # the pool: heights, normals and photograph, a layer a slot
+  tp_n_tex: int = 0
+  tp_o_tex: int = 0
+  tp_dummy_page: int = 0            # bound while paging is off: an array sampler needs an array
+  tp_dummy_h: int = 0
+  tp_dummy_n: int = 0
+  tp_dummy_o: int = 0
+  tp_slots: int = 0
+  tp_reach: float = 0.0             # metres the pool was sized for
+  tp_page: floats = null            # the page table's CPU mirror, uploaded whole when it changes
+  tp_tile_of: words = null          # per slot: its tile, or -1
+  tp_free: words = null             # the free slots, a stack
+  tp_nfree: int = 0
+  tp_dirty: bool = false
+  tp_cam_t: int = -1                # the camera's tile when residency last ran
+  tp_short: bool = false            # a wanted tile was left for the next frame
+  tp_cand: words = null             # this frame's loads, nearest first: their tiles, distances, slots
+  tp_cand_d: floats = null
+  tp_cand_s: words = null
+  tp_zero: words = null             # the one layer a 2-D texture has, for gpu_layers_copy
+  tp_st_buf: long = 0               # the staging buffer the loads are written into, two halves
+  tp_st_mem: long = 0
+  tp_st_ptr: pointer = null
+  tp_st_bytes: int = 0
+  tp_loads: int = 0                 # tiles loaded over the run, and this frame
+  tp_frame_loads: int = 0
+  tp_bytes: int = 0                 # the pool's and the page table's GPU bytes
   ter_shadow_prog_aux: int = 0      # the bake of the aux target (TS_AUX)
   ter_shadow_aux: int = 0           # beside it, RG16F: the occluder distance and the cloud mask
   ter_shadow_yaw: float = 1000000000.0  # the sky yaw it was baked for
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk.ludic
index ac0008e1..4de95209 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk.ludic
@@ -815,7 +815,7 @@ function gvk_startup_state(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
   render3d_st.gvk_pc_last = words(4096)
   for i in 0 .. 4096 { render3d_st.gvk_pc_last[i] = -1 }
   render3d_st.gg_rb = words(4);  render3d_st.gg_cb = words(1);  render3d_st.gg_bufs = words(3)
-  render3d_st.gg_texs = words(3);  render3d_st.gg_pr = words(48)
+  render3d_st.gg_texs = words(7);  render3d_st.gg_pr = words(52)
   if render3d_st.gpu_unit_2d == null {
     render3d_st.gpu_unit_2d = words(32)
     for i in 0 .. 32 { render3d_st.gpu_unit_2d[i] = -1 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_layers.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_layers.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78e8e7a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/gpu_vk_layers.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# gpu_vk_layers.ludic — what the terrain's page pool asks of Vulkan (terrain_pages.ludic): a staging
+# buffer kept for the process, regions of it copied into chosen layers of an array texture inside the
+# frame's own command buffer (no submit of their own), and a one-off linear blit for a coarse level.
+
+# a host-visible staging buffer of n bytes kept for good (the pool's uploads reuse it every frame)
+@alloc_ok("made once per resource and kept for its life: the page pool's staging buffer")
+function gpu_staging_keep(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, n: int) -> pointer {
+  gvk_flush(render3d_st)
+  let p = gvk_staging(render3d_st, n, VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_SRC_BIT)
+  if p == null { return null }
+  render3d_st.tp_st_buf = render3d_st.gvk_st_buf
+  render3d_st.tp_st_mem = render3d_st.gvk_st_mem
+  render3d_st.tp_st_bytes = n
+  return p
+}
+# ... and let go (a map whose tiles need a larger one)
+function gpu_staging_drop(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  if render3d_st.tp_st_buf == 0 { return }
+  gvk_flush(render3d_st)
+  let buf = render3d_st.gvk_st_buf
+  let mem = render3d_st.gvk_st_mem
+  render3d_st.gvk_st_buf = render3d_st.tp_st_buf
+  render3d_st.gvk_st_mem = render3d_st.tp_st_mem
+  gvk_staging_free(render3d_st)
+  render3d_st.gvk_st_buf = buf
+  render3d_st.gvk_st_mem = mem
+  let zero: long = 0
+  render3d_st.tp_st_buf = zero;  render3d_st.tp_st_mem = zero;  render3d_st.tp_st_ptr = null;  render3d_st.tp_st_bytes = 0
+}
+
+# the frame's command buffer, outside any pass, for copies recorded before the frame's draws
+function gpu_upload_cb(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> pointer {
+  gvk_pass_end(render3d_st)
+  return gvk_frame_cb(render3d_st)
+}
+
+# n regions of the kept staging buffer, each w x h texels starting at base + k * stride, into layer
+# layers[k] of tex's level 0: one barrier each way around them all, recorded into cb
+function gpu_layers_copy(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, cb: pointer, tex: int, w: int, h: int, base: int, stride: int, layers: words, n: int) -> void {
+  if n <= 0 or tex <= 0 or cb == null { return }
+  let image = render3d_st.gvk_tex_image[tex]
+  let all = render3d_st.gvk_tex_layers[tex]
+  let levels = render3d_st.gvk_tex_levels[tex]
+  gvk_barrier(render3d_st, cb, image, false, 0, levels, all, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_SHADER_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL)
+  let sz = VkBufferImageCopy_sizeof
+  let bic = gvk_tmp(render3d_st, sz * n)
+  Vk.zero(bic, sz * n)
+  let sub = VkBufferImageCopy_imageSubresource
+  for k in 0 .. n {
+    let at: long = base + k * stride
+    Vk.put_i64(bic, k * sz + VkBufferImageCopy_bufferOffset, at)
+    Vk.put_i32(bic, k * sz + sub + VkImageSubresourceLayers_aspectMask, VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT)
+    Vk.put_i32(bic, k * sz + sub + VkImageSubresourceLayers_baseArrayLayer, layers[k])
+    Vk.put_i32(bic, k * sz + sub + VkImageSubresourceLayers_layerCount, 1)
+    Vk.put_i32(bic, k * sz + VkBufferImageCopy_imageExtent + VkExtent3D_width, w)
+    Vk.put_i32(bic, k * sz + VkBufferImageCopy_imageExtent + VkExtent3D_height, h)
+    Vk.put_i32(bic, k * sz + VkBufferImageCopy_imageExtent + VkExtent3D_depth, 1)
+  }
+  Vk.cmd_copy_buffer_to_image(cb, render3d_st.tp_st_buf, image, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL, n, bic)
+  gvk_barrier(render3d_st, cb, image, false, 0, levels, all, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_SHADER_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL)
+}
+
+# level 0 of src (sw x sh) filtered into level 0 of dst (dw x dh), once: a coarse level made on the GPU
+function gpu_tex_blit(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, src: int, sw: int, sh: int, dst: int, dw: int, dh: int) -> bool {
+  gvk_flush(render3d_st)
+  let si = render3d_st.gvk_tex_image[src]
+  let di = render3d_st.gvk_tex_image[dst]
+  if si == 0 or di == 0 { return false }
+  let cb = gvk_once_begin(render3d_st)
+  gvk_barrier(render3d_st, cb, si, false, 0, 1, 1, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_SHADER_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_SRC_OPTIMAL)
+  gvk_barrier(render3d_st, cb, di, false, 0, 1, 1, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_SHADER_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL)
+  let blit = gvk_tmp(render3d_st, VkImageBlit_sizeof)
+  Vk.zero(blit, VkImageBlit_sizeof)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_srcSubresource + VkImageSubresourceLayers_aspectMask, VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_srcSubresource + VkImageSubresourceLayers_layerCount, 1)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_srcOffsets + VkOffset3D_sizeof + VkOffset3D_x, sw)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_srcOffsets + VkOffset3D_sizeof + VkOffset3D_y, sh)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_srcOffsets + VkOffset3D_sizeof + VkOffset3D_z, 1)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_dstSubresource + VkImageSubresourceLayers_aspectMask, VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_COLOR_BIT)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_dstSubresource + VkImageSubresourceLayers_layerCount, 1)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_dstOffsets + VkOffset3D_sizeof + VkOffset3D_x, dw)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_dstOffsets + VkOffset3D_sizeof + VkOffset3D_y, dh)
+  Vk.put_i32(blit, VkImageBlit_dstOffsets + VkOffset3D_sizeof + VkOffset3D_z, 1)
+  Vk.cmd_blit_image(cb, si, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_SRC_OPTIMAL, di, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL, 1, blit, VK_FILTER_LINEAR)
+  gvk_barrier(render3d_st, cb, si, false, 0, 1, 1, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_SRC_OPTIMAL, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_SHADER_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL)
+  gvk_barrier(render3d_st, cb, di, false, 0, 1, 1, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_SHADER_READ_ONLY_OPTIMAL)
+  return gvk_once_end(render3d_st, cb)
+}
+
+# pixels into level 0 of a texture made without them (tex_target), laid out as gvk_tex_upload takes them
+function gpu_tex_fill(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, tex: int, ifmt: int, w: int, h: int, fmt: int, ty: int, data: pointer) -> bool {
+  gvk_flush(render3d_st)
+  return gvk_tex_upload(render3d_st, tex, ifmt, w, h, 1, fmt, ty, data)
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/grass_gpu.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/grass_gpu.ludic
index 6849d712..732d0275 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/grass_gpu.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/grass_gpu.ludic
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ function gg_init__t(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
   if not gpu_has_compute(render3d_st) or render3d_st.grass_prog == 0 { return }
   if r3d_env_has(render3d_st, "R3D_GRASS_GPU") and r3d_env(render3d_st, "R3D_GRASS_GPU") == "0" { return }
   render3d_st.gg_reset = gpu_compute(render3d_st, "grass_reset", 1)
-  render3d_st.gg_cull = gpu_compute_tex(render3d_st, "grass_cull", 3, 3)
+  render3d_st.gg_cull = gpu_compute_tex(render3d_st, "grass_cull", 3, 7)
   render3d_st.gg_prog = r3d_program(render3d_st, "grass_inst.vert", "model.frag", "#define FOLIAGE\n#define BLADE\n#define GBLADE\n#define GINST\n")
   if render3d_st.gg_reset == 0 or render3d_st.gg_cull == 0 or render3d_st.gg_prog == 0 { return }
   render3d_st.gg_tiles_buf = new []int
@@ -125,13 +125,21 @@ function gg_cull_frame(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
   bufs[0] = tb;  bufs[1] = render3d_st.gg_out;  bufs[2] = render3d_st.gg_cmds
   let texs = render3d_st.gg_texs
   texs[0] = render3d_st.ter_height_tex;  texs[1] = render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex;  texs[2] = render3d_st.ter_normal_tex
-  gpu_dispatch_tex(render3d_st, render3d_st.gg_cull, data_of(pr), 192, bufs, texs, (render3d_st.gg_max + 63) / 64, render3d_st.gg_n)
+  gg_page_texs(render3d_st, texs)
+  gpu_dispatch_tex(render3d_st, render3d_st.gg_cull, data_of(pr), 208, bufs, texs, (render3d_st.gg_max + 63) / 64, render3d_st.gg_n)
 }
 
-# grass_cull.comp's Params, std140: 12 vec4s, into the block made once in gg_cull_frame
+# the page pool's four, after the three whole-map ones (the stand-ins while paging is off)
+function gg_page_texs(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, texs: words) -> void {
+  tp_dummies(render3d_st)
+  texs[3] = render3d_st.tp_dummy_page;  texs[4] = render3d_st.tp_dummy_h;  texs[5] = render3d_st.tp_dummy_n;  texs[6] = render3d_st.tp_dummy_o
+  if render3d_st.tp_on { texs[3] = render3d_st.tp_page_tex;  texs[4] = render3d_st.tp_h_tex;  texs[5] = render3d_st.tp_n_tex;  texs[6] = render3d_st.tp_o_tex }
+}
+
+# grass_cull.comp's Params, std140: 13 vec4s, into the block made once in gg_cull_frame
 function gg_params(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> words {
   let pr = render3d_st.gg_pr
-  for i in 0 .. 48 { pr[i] = 0 }
+  for i in 0 .. 52 { pr[i] = 0 }
   if render3d_st.cam_planes != null { for i in 0 .. 16 { pr[i] = float_bits(render3d_st.cam_planes[i]) } }
   pr[16] = float_bits(render3d_st.cam_pos[0]);  pr[17] = float_bits(render3d_st.cam_pos[1]);  pr[18] = float_bits(render3d_st.cam_pos[2]);  pr[19] = float_bits(grass_reach(render3d_st))
   var ph = render3d_st.post_h
@@ -148,6 +156,9 @@ function gg_params(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> words {
   pr[32] = float_bits(render3d_st.ter_ox);  pr[33] = float_bits(render3d_st.ter_oz);  pr[34] = float_bits(float(render3d_st.TERRAIN_HALF))
   pr[36] = float_bits(GG_NEAR);  pr[37] = float_bits(GG_MID)
   for b in 0 .. GG_BANDS { pr[40 + b] = gg_base(b);  pr[44 + b] = gg_cap(b) }
+  # the page pool (terrain_pages.ludic): on in lev.w, and its dims as the terrain's shaders take them
+  if render3d_st.tp_on { pr[31] = float_bits(1.0) }
+  pr[48] = float_bits(float(render3d_st.tt_n));  pr[49] = float_bits(float(TT_TEX));  pr[50] = float_bits(float(render3d_st.tt_oside));  pr[51] = float_bits(float(TERRAIN_RES))
   return pr
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic
index 69eb70e3..abc6c9ac 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/r3d.ludic
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import "gpu_manifest.ludic"
 import "gpu_vk.ludic"
 import "vkmem_report.ludic"
 import "gpu_vk_res.ludic"
+import "gpu_vk_layers.ludic"
 import "gpu_vk_bc.ludic"
 import "texture_dds.ludic"
 import "prof.ludic"
@@ -27,6 +28,10 @@ import "terrain.ludic"
 import "terrain_chunks.ludic"
 import "terrain_tiles.ludic"
 import "terrain_tiles_cut.ludic"
+import "terrain_pages.ludic"
+import "terrain_pages_coarse.ludic"
+import "terrain_pages_frame.ludic"
+import "terrain_pages_fill.ludic"
 import "overlay.ludic"
 import "shadow.ludic"
 import "post.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic
index acf1e2d7..69aa0fa1 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/render.ludic
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export function r3d_fog_wall(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, dist: float) -> voi
   fog_impostors(render3d_st)
   shadow_fog(render3d_st)
   fog_streams(render3d_st)
+  terrain_pages_fog(render3d_st)
 }
 # how far anything is drawn: the fog wall and a margin, or `far` (0: no limit of its own) without one
 function r3d_reach(render3d_st: Render3dState, far: float) -> float {
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ function r3d_frame__t(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, time: float) -> void {
   render3d_st.r3d_test_frame += 1
   vkmem_tick(render3d_st)
   tt_frame(render3d_st)
+  tp_frame(render3d_st)
   fog_at_tick(render3d_st)
   if render3d_st.r3d_test_resize == 0 and r3d_env_has(render3d_st, "R3D_RESIZE_AT") { render3d_st.r3d_test_resize = Text.to_int(r3d_env(render3d_st, "R3D_RESIZE_AT")) }
   # R3D_RESIZE_AT=<n>: from frame n on, rebuild every screen-sized buffer every few
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/grass_cull.comp b/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/grass_cull.comp
index e8cde392..76d8445f 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/grass_cull.comp
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/grass_cull.comp
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ layout(set = 0, binding = 0) uniform Params {
   vec4 cam;         // xyz the camera, w no blades past this (u_radius)
   vec4 dens;        // x s0, y d0, z one pixel in radians, w the snow line
   vec4 lake;        // the carved lake: centre x/z, half extents (z = 0: none)
-  vec4 lev;         // x the lake's level, y the sea's, z the photograph on (1), w unused
+  vec4 lev;         // x the lake's level, y the sea's, z the photograph on (1), w the page pool on (1)
   vec4 ts;          // the height texture: origin x/z, half extent, unused
   vec4 bands;       // outer distance of bands 0 and 1 (x, y); band 2 is the rest
   uvec4 base;       // each band's first record in Out
   uvec4 cap;        // ... and how many it holds
+  vec4 tp;          // the page pool (u_tp_dims): tiles a side, height texels a tile, photograph texels a tile, height texels a side
 } pr;
 
 layout(set = 0, binding = 1) readonly buffer Tiles { vec4 tiles[]; };   // corner x/z, indices per cell, cells per side
@@ -28,6 +29,12 @@ layout(set = 0, binding = 3) buffer Cmds { uint cmds[]; };              // VkDra
 layout(set = 0, binding = 4) uniform sampler2D u_height;                // the height (terrain's u_ts_height)
 layout(set = 0, binding = 5) uniform sampler2D u_ortho;                 // the photograph
 layout(set = 0, binding = 6) uniform sampler2D u_ter_normal;            // the normal: x and z, y rebuilt
+// the page pool (terrain_pages.ludic): while it is on, the three above are the coarse whole-map level
+// and the tiles round the camera are layers of these, addressed through the page table
+layout(set = 0, binding = 7) uniform sampler2D u_tp_page;               // slot + 1 per tile, 0 = coarse
+layout(set = 0, binding = 8) uniform sampler2DArray u_tp_h;             // (T + 2)^2 a layer, a texel of border
+layout(set = 0, binding = 9) uniform sampler2DArray u_tp_nrm;
+layout(set = 0, binding = 10) uniform sampler2DArray u_tp_ortho;        // (S + 2)^2 a layer
 
 const float CELL = 4.0;   // grass.ludic GRASS_CELL
 
@@ -36,8 +43,35 @@ float bladeHash(ivec2 cell, int j, int k) {
   uint h = pcg(uint(cell.x + 32768) * 73856093u ^ uint(cell.y + 32768) * 19349663u ^ uint(j) * 83492791u ^ uint(k) * 2654435761u);
   return float(h) * (1.0 / 4294967295.0);
 }
+// the resident tile's slot under a full-map uv, or -1 (then the coarse level answers)
+float tpSlot(vec2 uv) {
+  if (pr.lev.w < 0.5) return -1.0;
+  ivec2 t = ivec2(floor(clamp(uv, 0.0, 0.999999) * pr.tp.x));
+  return texelFetch(u_tp_page, t, 0).r - 1.0;
+}
+// where a full-map uv falls in its slot's layer of side T (+ a border of one)
+vec3 tpUv(vec2 uv, float side, float slot) {
+  vec2 f = fract(clamp(uv, 0.0, 0.999999) * pr.tp.x);
+  return vec3((1.0 + f * side) / (side + 2.0), slot);
+}
+float groundH(vec2 uv) {
+  float s = tpSlot(uv);
+  if (s >= 0.0) return textureLod(u_tp_h, tpUv(uv, pr.tp.y, s), 0.0).r;
+  return textureLod(u_height, uv, 0.0).r;
+}
+vec2 groundN(vec2 uv) {
+  float s = tpSlot(uv);
+  if (s >= 0.0) return textureLod(u_tp_nrm, tpUv(uv, pr.tp.y, s), 0.0).rg;
+  return textureLod(u_ter_normal, uv, 0.0).rg;
+}
+// the photograph: a resident tile's layer has no mips, so it is read at its own level
+vec3 groundO(vec2 uv) {
+  float s = tpSlot(uv);
+  if (s >= 0.0) return textureLod(u_tp_ortho, tpUv(uv, pr.tp.z, s), 0.0).rgb;
+  return textureLod(u_ortho, uv, 1.5).rgb;
+}
 float heightSmooth(vec2 uv) {
-  vec2 res = vec2(textureSize(u_height, 0));
+  vec2 res = pr.lev.w > 0.5 ? vec2(pr.tp.w) : vec2(textureSize(u_height, 0));
   vec2 t = uv * res - 0.5;
   vec2 f = fract(t);
   vec2 i = floor(t);
@@ -48,8 +82,8 @@ float heightSmooth(vec2 uv) {
   vec2 s0 = w0 + w1, s1 = w2 + w3;
   vec2 o0 = (i - 1.0 + w1 / s0 + 0.5) / res;
   vec2 o1 = (i + 1.0 + w3 / s1 + 0.5) / res;
-  return (textureLod(u_height, vec2(o0.x, o0.y), 0.0).r * s0.x + textureLod(u_height, vec2(o1.x, o0.y), 0.0).r * s1.x) * s0.y
-       + (textureLod(u_height, vec2(o0.x, o1.y), 0.0).r * s0.x + textureLod(u_height, vec2(o1.x, o1.y), 0.0).r * s1.x) * s1.y;
+  return (groundH(vec2(o0.x, o0.y)) * s0.x + groundH(vec2(o1.x, o0.y)) * s1.x) * s0.y
+       + (groundH(vec2(o0.x, o1.y)) * s0.x + groundH(vec2(o1.x, o1.y)) * s1.x) * s1.y;
 }
 // grass.vert's bladeField: the region, the patchiness, the dry patches and the tussocks' shade
 vec3 bladeField(vec2 xz, float y) {
@@ -89,18 +123,18 @@ void main() {
   float life = 1.0 - smoothstep(keep * 0.75, keep, r);
   vec2 huv = (xz - pr.ts.xy) / (2.0 * pr.ts.z) + 0.5;
   if (huv.x < 0.0 || huv.x > 1.0 || huv.y < 0.0 || huv.y > 1.0) return;
-  vec4 ht = textureLod(u_height, huv, 0.0);
+  vec4 ht = vec4(groundH(huv));
   // the frustum, on a sphere round the blade (it stands at most 0.9 m tall)
   vec3 root = vec3(xz.x, ht.r, xz.y);
   for (int k = 0; k < 4; k++) { if (dot(pr.planes[k].xyz, root) + pr.planes[k].w < -1.0) return; }
-  vec2 gxz = textureLod(u_ter_normal, huv, 0.0).rg;
+  vec2 gxz = groundN(huv);
   vec3 gn = vec3(gxz.x, sqrt(max(1.0 - dot(gxz, gxz), 0.0)), gxz.y);
   float h3 = bladeHash(ci, j, 2), h4 = bladeHash(ci, j, 3);
   float wl = pr.lev.y;
   if (pr.lake.z > 0.0) { vec2 q = (xz - pr.lake.xy) / pr.lake.zw;  if (dot(q, q) < 1.0) wl = max(wl, pr.lev.x); }
   float ok = (1.0 - smoothstep(0.30, 0.55, 1.0 - gn.y)) * smoothstep(0.0, 0.6, ht.r - wl - 0.15) * smoothstep(pr.dens.w - 80.0, pr.dens.w - 200.0, ht.r);
   if (pr.lev.z > 0.5) {
-    vec3 oc = textureLod(u_ortho, huv, 1.5).rgb;
+    vec3 oc = groundO(huv);
     ok *= 0.40 + 0.60 * smoothstep(0.0, 0.025, oc.g - oc.b);
   }
   if (h4 > ok) return;
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/grass_cull.comp.spv b/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/grass_cull.comp.spv
index 46bcf895..30f2434f 100644
Binary files a/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/grass_cull.comp.spv and b/packages/ludic.render3d/shaders/spv/grass_cull.comp.spv differ
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain.ludic
index 9217f4d6..dd509379 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain.ludic
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ function terrain_generate__t(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
 
 # The height field for shaders that place things on the ground (model.vert's u_ground)
 function terrain_bind_height(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, p: int) -> void {
+  tp_bind(render3d_st, p)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_ts_height", 5, render3d_st.ter_height_tex)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_ter_normal", 6, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex)
   u_f(render3d_st, gpu_uniform(render3d_st, p, "u_ts_half"), float(render3d_st.TERRAIN_HALF))
@@ -287,6 +288,7 @@ function terrain_bake_pass(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, p: int, target: int)
   gpu_depth_test(render3d_st, false)
   gpu_blend(render3d_st, false)
   gpu_use_program(render3d_st, p)
+  tp_bind(render3d_st, p)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_height", 0, render3d_st.ter_height_tex)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_ter_normal", 7, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex)
   u_f(render3d_st, gpu_uniform(render3d_st, p, "u_half"), float(render3d_st.TERRAIN_HALF))
@@ -400,6 +402,7 @@ function terrain_init(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
   render3d_st.gvk_tag = was
 }
 function terrain_init__t(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  tp_dummies(render3d_st)
   for i in 0 .. TERRAIN_INIT_STEPS { terrain_init_step(render3d_st, i) }
 }
 
@@ -473,6 +476,7 @@ function terrain_draw_shadow(light_vp: floats) -> void {
 # selection can switch between them per patch without re-binding anything but the node.
 function terrain_bind_prog(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, p: int) -> void {
   gpu_use_program(render3d_st, p)
+  tp_bind(render3d_st, p)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_height", 0, render3d_st.ter_height_tex)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_ter_normal", 7, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_grass_d", 1, render3d_st.ter_tex[0]);  r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_grass_n", 2, render3d_st.ter_tex[1]);  r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_grass_a", 3, render3d_st.ter_tex[2])
@@ -582,6 +586,7 @@ function terrain_sun_pass(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, w: int, h: int, depth:
   gpu_clear(render3d_st, GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT)
   let p = render3d_st.ter_sun_prog
   gpu_use_program(render3d_st, p)
+  tp_bind(render3d_st, p)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_height", 0, render3d_st.ter_height_tex)
   r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_ter_normal", 7, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex)
   u_f(render3d_st, gpu_uniform(render3d_st, p, "u_half"), float(render3d_st.TERRAIN_HALF))
@@ -822,6 +827,7 @@ function terrain_unload(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
   if render3d_st.ter_normal_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex);  render3d_st.ter_normal_tex = 0 }
   if render3d_st.ter_dem_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_dem_tex);  render3d_st.ter_dem_tex = 0 }
   if render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex);  render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex = 0 }
+  tp_pool_free(render3d_st)
   if render3d_st.ter_heights != null { free(render3d_st.ter_heights);  render3d_st.ter_heights = null }
   tt_close(render3d_st)
   if render3d_st.ter_ortho_px != null { free(render3d_st.ter_ortho_px);  render3d_st.ter_ortho_px = null }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a0e76ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+# terrain_pages.ludic — the height field, its normals and the photograph on the GPU while the tiles are
+# on (terrain_tiles.ludic): a coarse whole-map level (TT_COARSE a side) and, round the camera, a pool
+# of fine tiles in three array textures addressed through a page table (u_tp_page: slot + 1 of a
+# resident tile, 0 = read the coarse level). A shader reads a full-map uv as
+#   slot = texelFetch(u_tp_page, floor(uv * n)) - 1;  slot uv = (1 + fract(uv * n) * T) / (T + 2)
+# and each layer carries a one-texel border from its neighbours, so a bilinear tap never leaves it.
+# Tiles off, nothing changes: the whole textures, u_tp_on = 0 and stand-in arrays bound.
+
+const TP_REACH_MAX: float = 900.0   # metres of fine ground round the camera, fog or none
+const TP_LAYERS_MAX: int = 2048     # what a desktop Vulkan device takes in an array (the floor is 256)
+
+# the page pool's samplers and numbers for program p; every program that reads the ground calls it
+function tp_bind(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, p: int) -> void {
+  tp_dummies(render3d_st)
+  var pg = render3d_st.tp_dummy_page
+  var h = render3d_st.tp_dummy_h
+  var nm = render3d_st.tp_dummy_n
+  var o = render3d_st.tp_dummy_o
+  var on = 0.0
+  if render3d_st.tp_on {
+    pg = render3d_st.tp_page_tex;  h = render3d_st.tp_h_tex;  nm = render3d_st.tp_n_tex;  o = render3d_st.tp_o_tex;  on = 1.0
+  }
+  r3d_bind_2d(render3d_st, p, "u_tp_page", 20, pg)
+  r3d_bind_tex(render3d_st, p, "u_tp_h", 21, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, h)
+  r3d_bind_tex(render3d_st, p, "u_tp_nrm", 22, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, nm)
+  r3d_bind_tex(render3d_st, p, "u_tp_ortho", 23, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, o)
+  u_f(render3d_st, gpu_uniform(render3d_st, p, "u_tp_on"), on)
+  u_f4(render3d_st, gpu_uniform(render3d_st, p, "u_tp_dims"), float(render3d_st.tt_n), float(TT_TEX), float(render3d_st.tt_oside), float(TERRAIN_RES))
+}
+
+# the stand-ins, once: an unbound sampler gets a white 2-D texture, which an array binding cannot take
+@alloc_ok("made once: the stand-ins for the page pool's samplers")
+function tp_dummies(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  if render3d_st.tp_dummy_h != 0 { return }
+  let was = render3d_st.gvk_tag
+  render3d_st.gvk_tag = VKM_TERRAIN
+  let z = words(4)
+  for k in 0 .. 4 { z[k] = 0 }
+  render3d_st.tp_dummy_page = tex_target(render3d_st, 1, 1, GL_R32F, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, GL_NEAREST)
+  gpu_tex_fill(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_dummy_page, GL_R32F, 1, 1, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, data_of(z))
+  free(z)
+  render3d_st.tp_dummy_h = tp_array(render3d_st, GL_R32F, 1, 1)
+  render3d_st.tp_dummy_n = tp_array(render3d_st, GL_RG16F, 1, 1)
+  render3d_st.tp_dummy_o = tp_array(render3d_st, GL_SRGB8_ALPHA8, 1, 1)
+  render3d_st.gvk_tag = was
+}
+
+# an array texture of `layers` side x side layers, no mips, read bilinear and clamped
+function tp_array(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, ifmt: int, side: int, layers: int) -> int {
+  let t = gpu_tex_new(render3d_st)
+  gpu_tex_bind(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, t)
+  gpu_tex_image3d(render3d_st, ifmt, side, side, layers, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, null)
+  gpu_tex_param(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR)
+  gpu_tex_param(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL_LINEAR)
+  gpu_tex_param(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S, GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE)
+  gpu_tex_param(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D_ARRAY, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T, GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE)
+  return t
+}
+
+# how far the fine tiles reach: the fog wall's reach when it is nearer than TP_REACH_MAX
+function tp_reach_m(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> float {
+  if render3d_st.r3d_fog_wall > 0.0 { return Math.min(r3d_reach(render3d_st, 0.0), TP_REACH_MAX) }
+  return TP_REACH_MAX
+}
+function tp_tile_m(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> float { return float(TT_TEX) * terrain_texel(render3d_st) }
+# the tiles within r and a one-tile ring, and a few spare
+function tp_slots_for(render3d_st: Render3dState, r: float) -> int {
+  let a = r / tp_tile_m(render3d_st) + 1.5
+  let n = int(PI * a * a) + 9
+  return min(min(n, TP_LAYERS_MAX), render3d_st.tt_n * render3d_st.tt_n)
+}
+# the staging a frame's loads take: the page table, then TP_BUDGET tiles of each of the three
+function tp_half_bytes(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> int {
+  let hs = TT_TEX + 2
+  let os = render3d_st.tt_oside + 2
+  return render3d_st.tt_n * render3d_st.tt_n * 4 + TP_BUDGET * (2 * hs * hs + os * os) * 4
+}
+
+# the pool, the page table (all 0) and the staging, (re)made for the reach the fog wall allows
+@alloc_ok("a map made, or the fog wall moved: the page pool, once")
+function tp_pool(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  tp_pool_free(render3d_st)
+  let n = render3d_st.tt_n
+  let r = tp_reach_m(render3d_st)
+  let slots = tp_slots_for(render3d_st, r)
+  let hs = TT_TEX + 2
+  let os = render3d_st.tt_oside + 2
+  render3d_st.tp_h_tex = tp_array(render3d_st, GL_R32F, hs, slots)
+  render3d_st.tp_n_tex = tp_array(render3d_st, GL_RG16F, hs, slots)
+  render3d_st.tp_o_tex = tp_array(render3d_st, GL_SRGB8_ALPHA8, os, slots)
+  if render3d_st.tp_page == null or len(render3d_st.tp_page) != n * n {
+    if render3d_st.tp_page != null { free(render3d_st.tp_page) }
+    render3d_st.tp_page = floats(n * n)
+  }
+  for t in 0 .. n * n { render3d_st.tp_page[t] = 0.0 }
+  render3d_st.tp_page_tex = tex_target(render3d_st, n, n, GL_R32F, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, GL_NEAREST)
+  gpu_tex_fill(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_page_tex, GL_R32F, n, n, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, data_of(render3d_st.tp_page))
+  tp_slot_lists(render3d_st, slots)
+  if render3d_st.tp_st_bytes < 2 * tp_half_bytes(render3d_st) {
+    gpu_staging_drop(render3d_st)
+    render3d_st.tp_st_ptr = gpu_staging_keep(render3d_st, 2 * tp_half_bytes(render3d_st))
+  }
+  render3d_st.tp_slots = slots;  render3d_st.tp_reach = r
+  render3d_st.tp_cam_t = -1;  render3d_st.tp_short = false;  render3d_st.tp_dirty = false
+  render3d_st.tp_bytes = slots * (2 * hs * hs + os * os) * 4 + n * n * 4
+  render3d_st.tp_on = render3d_st.tp_st_ptr != null and gpu_tex_ok(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_h_tex) and gpu_tex_ok(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_o_tex)
+  tp_say_pool(slots, r, render3d_st.tp_bytes, render3d_st.tp_on)
+}
+
+# every slot free, and this frame's candidate lists (made once)
+@alloc_ok("a map made, or the fog wall moved: the page pool's lists, once")
+function tp_slot_lists(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, slots: int) -> void {
+  if render3d_st.tp_tile_of != null { free(render3d_st.tp_tile_of);  free(render3d_st.tp_free) }
+  render3d_st.tp_tile_of = words(slots)
+  render3d_st.tp_free = words(slots)
+  for s in 0 .. slots { render3d_st.tp_tile_of[s] = -1;  render3d_st.tp_free[s] = slots - 1 - s }
+  render3d_st.tp_nfree = slots
+  if render3d_st.tp_cand == null {
+    render3d_st.tp_cand = words(TP_BUDGET);  render3d_st.tp_cand_s = words(TP_BUDGET);  render3d_st.tp_cand_d = floats(TP_BUDGET)
+    render3d_st.tp_zero = words(1);  render3d_st.tp_zero[0] = 0
+  }
+}
+
+# the pool and its page table let go (a world swap, or a remake); the coarse level is terrain_unload's
+function tp_pool_free(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  render3d_st.tp_on = false
+  if render3d_st.tp_page_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_page_tex);  render3d_st.tp_page_tex = 0 }
+  if render3d_st.tp_h_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_h_tex);  render3d_st.tp_h_tex = 0 }
+  if render3d_st.tp_n_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_n_tex);  render3d_st.tp_n_tex = 0 }
+  if render3d_st.tp_o_tex != 0 { gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.tp_o_tex);  render3d_st.tp_o_tex = 0 }
+  render3d_st.tp_slots = 0;  render3d_st.tp_bytes = 0
+}
+
+# r3d_fog_wall moved: a pool sized for another reach is made again (the page table starts empty)
+function terrain_pages_fog(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  if not render3d_st.tp_on { return }
+  let r = tp_reach_m(render3d_st)
+  render3d_st.tp_reach = r
+  render3d_st.tp_cam_t = -1
+  if tp_slots_for(render3d_st, r) == render3d_st.tp_slots { return }
+  let was = render3d_st.gvk_tag
+  render3d_st.gvk_tag = VKM_TERRAIN
+  tp_pool(render3d_st)
+  render3d_st.gvk_tag = was
+}
+
+@alloc_ok("a message, built only when it is said: a map made or the fog wall moved")
+function tp_say_pool(slots: int, r: float, bytes: int, on: bool) -> void { print(`r3d: terrain: {slots} page slots for {int(r)} m round the camera ({bytes / 1024} KB on the GPU), paging {on}`) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_coarse.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_coarse.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4f084272
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_coarse.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# terrain_pages_coarse.ludic — the whole-map level the page pool falls back to (terrain_pages.ludic),
+# made on the GPU from the whole textures at the cut, before they go.
+
+# at the cut (terrain_tiles_cut): the coarse level made from the whole textures, which then go - the
+# patch bounds and the sun's bake have already read them - and the pool made
+function tp_cut(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  let was = render3d_st.gvk_tag
+  render3d_st.gvk_tag = VKM_TERRAIN
+  tp_cut__t(render3d_st)
+  render3d_st.gvk_tag = was
+}
+function tp_cut__t(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  if render3d_st.tt_file == null or render3d_st.tt_coarse == null or render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex == 0 { return }
+  let c = TT_COARSE
+  let h = tex_target(render3d_st, c, c, GL_R32F, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, GL_LINEAR)
+  gpu_tex_fill(render3d_st, h, GL_R32F, c, c, GL_RED, GL_FLOAT, data_of(render3d_st.tt_coarse))
+  let nm = tex_target(render3d_st, c, c, GL_RG16F, GL_RG, GL_FLOAT, GL_LINEAR)
+  gpu_tex_blit(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex, TERRAIN_RES, TERRAIN_RES, nm, c, c)
+  let o = tex_target(render3d_st, c, c, GL_SRGB8_ALPHA8, GL_RGBA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, GL_LINEAR)
+  gpu_tex_blit(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex, render3d_st.ter_ortho_w, render3d_st.ter_ortho_w, o, c, c)
+  gpu_tex_bind(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D, o)
+  gpu_tex_param(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR)
+  gpu_tex_mips(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D)
+  gpu_tex_paramf(render3d_st, GPU_TEX2D, GL_TEXTURE_MAX_ANISOTROPY_EXT, render3d_st.tex_anisotropy)
+  gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_height_tex)
+  gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_normal_tex)
+  gpu_tex_free(render3d_st, render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex)
+  render3d_st.ter_height_tex = h;  render3d_st.ter_normal_tex = nm;  render3d_st.ter_ortho_tex = o
+  tp_pool(render3d_st)
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_fill.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_fill.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e4980b4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_fill.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# terrain_pages_fill.ludic — a tile's three layers written into the staging, border and all, and the
+# frame's copies recorded (terrain_pages_frame.ludic). The staging half is laid out as the page table,
+# then TP_BUDGET heights, TP_BUDGET normals and TP_BUDGET photographs.
+
+# the k-th load of the frame: tile t's heights and normals, (TT_TEX + 2) a side, each texel the one
+# the whole copy held at that place, clamped at the map's edge
+function tp_fill(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, t: int, base: int, k: int) -> void {
+  let n = render3d_st.tt_n
+  let hs = TT_TEX + 2
+  let hb = hs * hs * 4
+  let ho = base + n * n * 4 + k * hb
+  let no = base + n * n * 4 + TP_BUDGET * hb + k * hb
+  let i0 = (t % n) * TT_TEX - 1
+  let j0 = (t / n) * TT_TEX - 1
+  let p = render3d_st.tp_st_ptr
+  for b in 0 .. hs {
+    let tz = min(max(j0 + b, 0), TERRAIN_RES - 1)
+    for a in 0 .. hs {
+      let tx = min(max(i0 + a, 0), TERRAIN_RES - 1)
+      let o = (b * hs + a) * 4
+      Vk.put_i32(p, ho + o, float_bits(ter_h(render3d_st, tx, tz)))
+      Vk.put_i32(p, no + o, ter_n(render3d_st, tx, tz))
+    }
+  }
+  tp_fill_ortho(render3d_st, t, base + n * n * 4 + 2 * TP_BUDGET * hb, k)
+}
+
+# ... and its photograph, (tt_oside + 2) a side, as sRGB RGBA8 bytes with alpha 255
+function tp_fill_ortho(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, t: int, at: int, k: int) -> void {
+  let n = render3d_st.tt_n
+  let side = render3d_st.tt_oside
+  let os = side + 2
+  let top = n * side - 1
+  let o0 = at + k * os * os * 4
+  let i0 = (t % n) * side - 1
+  let j0 = (t / n) * side - 1
+  let p: pointer = render3d_st.tp_st_ptr
+  for b in 0 .. os {
+    let pz = min(max(j0 + b, 0), top)
+    for a in 0 .. os {
+      let v = ter_o(render3d_st, min(max(i0 + a, 0), top), pz)
+      let o = o0 + (b * os + a) * 4
+      p[o] = (v >> 16) & 255
+      p[o + 1] = (v >> 8) & 255
+      p[o + 2] = v & 255
+      p[o + 3] = 255
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+# the frame's k loads into their slots, then the page table if it changed: all in cb, no submit
+function tp_upload(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, cb: pointer, base: int, k: int) -> void {
+  let n = render3d_st.tt_n
+  let hs = TT_TEX + 2
+  let hb = hs * hs * 4
+  let os = render3d_st.tt_oside + 2
+  let p0 = base + n * n * 4
+  let slots = render3d_st.tp_cand_s
+  gpu_layers_copy(render3d_st, cb, render3d_st.tp_h_tex, hs, hs, p0, hb, slots, k)
+  gpu_layers_copy(render3d_st, cb, render3d_st.tp_n_tex, hs, hs, p0 + TP_BUDGET * hb, hb, slots, k)
+  gpu_layers_copy(render3d_st, cb, render3d_st.tp_o_tex, os, os, p0 + 2 * TP_BUDGET * hb, os * os * 4, slots, k)
+  if not render3d_st.tp_dirty { return }
+  mem_copy(mem_off(render3d_st.tp_st_ptr, base), data_of(render3d_st.tp_page), n * n * 4)
+  gpu_layers_copy(render3d_st, cb, render3d_st.tp_page_tex, n, n, base, 0, render3d_st.tp_zero, 1)
+  render3d_st.tp_dirty = false
+}
+
+# R3D_VKMEM: one line on the pool, next to the rest of the report
+function tp_report(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> void {
+  if not render3d_st.tp_on { return }
+  tp_say_report(render3d_st.tp_slots - render3d_st.tp_nfree, render3d_st.tp_slots, render3d_st.tp_frame_loads, render3d_st.tp_loads, render3d_st.tp_bytes, render3d_st.tp_reach)
+}
+@alloc_ok("a report printed once, under R3D_VKMEM")
+function tp_say_report(res: int, slots: int, now: int, all: int, bytes: int, r: float) -> void { print(`vkmem: terrain pages: {res} of {slots} slots resident, {now} loaded this frame, {all} over the run, {bytes / 1024} KB on the GPU, {int(r)} m round the camera`) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_frame.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_frame.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d39f1854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_pages_frame.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+# terrain_pages_frame.ludic — which fine tiles the GPU holds, once a frame (terrain_pages.ludic). Tiles
+# within the reach and a tile of the camera are wanted, nearest first, at most TP_BUDGET loaded a frame;
+# a resident tile goes only past the reach and two tiles, so walking a tile edge back and forth loads
+# nothing. A load is written into the kept staging (the half the frame in flight is not reading) and
+# copied into its slot inside the frame's own command buffer. Nothing here allocates.
+
+const TP_BUDGET: int = 8
+
+function tp_frame(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
+  render3d_st.tp_frame_loads = 0
+  if not render3d_st.tp_on or render3d_st.cam_pos == null { return }
+  let tile_m = tp_tile_m(render3d_st)
+  let fx = (render3d_st.cam_pos[0] - render3d_st.ter_ox + float(render3d_st.TERRAIN_HALF)) / tile_m
+  let fz = (render3d_st.cam_pos[2] - render3d_st.ter_oz + float(render3d_st.TERRAIN_HALF)) / tile_m
+  let n = render3d_st.tt_n
+  let ct = min(max(int(Math.floor(fz)), 0), n - 1) * n + min(max(int(Math.floor(fx)), 0), n - 1)
+  # the same tile as last time with nothing left over: every wanted tile is in already
+  if ct == render3d_st.tp_cam_t and not render3d_st.tp_short { return }
+  render3d_st.tp_cam_t = ct
+  let rt = render3d_st.tp_reach / tile_m
+  tp_evict(render3d_st, fx, fz, rt + 2.0)
+  let m = tp_pick(render3d_st, fx, fz, rt + 1.0)
+  if m > 0 or render3d_st.tp_dirty { tp_load(render3d_st, m, fx, fz, rt + 1.0) }
+}
+
+# tile t's centre from (fx, fz), in tiles
+function tp_dist(t: int, n: int, fx: float, fz: float) -> float {
+  let dx = float(t % n) + 0.5 - fx
+  let dz = float(t / n) + 0.5 - fz
+  return Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dz * dz)
+}
+
+# every resident tile farther than `out` let go
+function tp_evict(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, fx: float, fz: float, out: float) -> void {
+  for s in 0 .. render3d_st.tp_slots {
+    let t = render3d_st.tp_tile_of[s]
+    if t >= 0 and tp_dist(t, render3d_st.tt_n, fx, fz) > out { tp_drop(render3d_st, s) }
+  }
+}
+function tp_drop(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, s: int) -> void {
+  render3d_st.tp_page[render3d_st.tp_tile_of[s]] = 0.0
+  render3d_st.tp_tile_of[s] = -1
+  render3d_st.tp_free[render3d_st.tp_nfree] = s
+  render3d_st.tp_nfree += 1
+  render3d_st.tp_dirty = true
+}
+
+# the nearest TP_BUDGET wanted tiles not in, into tp_cand; whether more were left is tp_short
+function tp_pick(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, fx: float, fz: float, want: float) -> int {
+  let n = render3d_st.tt_n
+  var m = 0
+  var missing = 0
+  for j in max(int(Math.floor(fz - want)), 0) .. min(int(fz + want) + 1, n) {
+    for i in max(int(Math.floor(fx - want)), 0) .. min(int(fx + want) + 1, n) {
+      let t = j * n + i
+      if render3d_st.tp_page[t] != 0.0 { continue }
+      let d = tp_dist(t, n, fx, fz)
+      if d > want { continue }
+      missing += 1
+      m = tp_cand_put(render3d_st, m, t, d)
+    }
+  }
+  render3d_st.tp_short = missing > m
+  return m
+}
+# tile t at distance d into the sorted candidates, the farthest falling off the end
+function tp_cand_put(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, m: int, t: int, d: float) -> int {
+  var k = m
+  if k == TP_BUDGET {
+    if d >= render3d_st.tp_cand_d[k - 1] { return m }
+    k = TP_BUDGET - 1
+  }
+  while k > 0 and render3d_st.tp_cand_d[k - 1] > d {
+    render3d_st.tp_cand[k] = render3d_st.tp_cand[k - 1]
+    render3d_st.tp_cand_d[k] = render3d_st.tp_cand_d[k - 1]
+    k -= 1
+  }
+  render3d_st.tp_cand[k] = t
+  render3d_st.tp_cand_d[k] = d
+  return min(m + 1, TP_BUDGET)
+}
+
+# a free slot, or the farthest resident tile past `keep` given up for one; -1 when every slot is wanted
+function tp_take(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, fx: float, fz: float, keep: float) -> int {
+  if render3d_st.tp_nfree == 0 {
+    var far = -1
+    var fd = keep
+    for s in 0 .. render3d_st.tp_slots {
+      let t = render3d_st.tp_tile_of[s]
+      if t < 0 { continue }
+      let d = tp_dist(t, render3d_st.tt_n, fx, fz)
+      if d > fd { fd = d;  far = s }
+    }
+    if far < 0 { return -1 }
+    tp_drop(render3d_st, far)
+  }
+  render3d_st.tp_nfree -= 1
+  return render3d_st.tp_free[render3d_st.tp_nfree]
+}
+
+# the frame's loads written and copied, and the page table after them when it changed
+function tp_load(render3d_st: mut Render3dState, m: int, fx: float, fz: float, keep: float) -> void {
+  # the frame's command buffer first: opening it waits for the frame that read this half last
+  let cb = gpu_upload_cb(render3d_st)
+  let base = (render3d_st.gvk_frame_no & 1) * tp_half_bytes(render3d_st)
+  # the tiles' reads from the file are the pool's own, not a frame asking too much (tt_frame)
+  let reads = render3d_st.tt_frame_reads
+  var k = 0
+  for c in 0 .. m {
+    let s = tp_take(render3d_st, fx, fz, keep)
+    if s < 0 { render3d_st.tp_short = true;  break }
+    let t = render3d_st.tp_cand[c]
+    tp_fill(render3d_st, t, base, k)
+    render3d_st.tp_cand_s[k] = s
+    render3d_st.tp_tile_of[s] = t
+    render3d_st.tp_page[t] = float(s + 1)
+    render3d_st.tp_dirty = true
+    k += 1
+  }
+  render3d_st.tt_frame_reads = reads
+  render3d_st.tp_frame_loads = k
+  render3d_st.tp_loads += k
+  tp_upload(render3d_st, cb, base, k)
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_tiles_cut.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_tiles_cut.ludic
index 8b4e9f08..f2d51f7a 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_tiles_cut.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/terrain_tiles_cut.ludic
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ function terrain_tiles_cut(render3d_st: mut Render3dState) -> void {
   if r3d_env_has(render3d_st, "R3D_TT_CHECK") { tt_check(render3d_st) }
   free(render3d_st.ter_heights);  render3d_st.ter_heights = null
   free(render3d_st.ter_ortho_px);  render3d_st.ter_ortho_px = null
+  tp_cut(render3d_st)
   tt_say_cut(path, TT_HEAD + n * n * (TT_TEX * TT_TEX * 2 + side * side) * 4, (gl_now_us() - t0) / 1000)
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.render3d/vkmem_report.ludic b/packages/ludic.render3d/vkmem_report.ludic
index b34696de..173d0569 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.render3d/vkmem_report.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.render3d/vkmem_report.ludic
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ function vkmem_report(render3d_st: Render3dState) -> void {
   vkmem_layers(render3d_st)
   vkmem_big_bufs(render3d_st)
   vkmem_say_ring(render3d_st.gvk_ring_peak, gvk_ring_bytes(render3d_st))
+  tp_report(render3d_st)
 }
 
 # the largest images, with their owner, size and format