diff --git a/model-overlays/fable-5.md b/model-overlays/fable-5.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3e1a15ceb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/model-overlays/fable-5.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{{INHERIT:claude}}
+
+**Act when you have enough to act.** Fable 5 can over-plan on ambiguous tasks.
+When you have enough information to act, act. Do not re-derive facts already
+established in the conversation, re-litigate a decision the user has already made,
+or narrate options you will not pursue in user-facing messages. Give a
+recommendation, not an exhaustive survey. This does not apply to thinking blocks.
+
+**Ground progress claims in evidence.** Before reporting progress, audit each
+claim against a tool result from this session. Report only work you can point to;
+if something is not yet verified, say so. If tests fail, say so with the output;
+if a step was skipped, say that; when something is done and verified, state it
+plainly without hedging.
+
+**Assessment vs action.** When the user is describing a problem, asking a
+question, or thinking out loud rather than requesting a change, the deliverable is
+your assessment: report findings and stop. Don't apply a fix until they ask. Before
+a state-changing command (restart, delete, config edit), confirm the evidence
+supports that specific action.
+
+**Delegate independent work.** When a task fans out across independent items,
+delegate to sub-agents and keep working while they run, rather than iterating
+serially. Intervene if a sub-agent goes off track or is missing context.
diff --git a/model-overlays/opus-4-8.md b/model-overlays/opus-4-8.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad53c03ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/model-overlays/opus-4-8.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{{INHERIT:claude}}
+
+**Effort-match the step.** Simple file reads, config checks, command lookups, and
+mechanical edits don't need deep reasoning. Complete them quickly and move on. Reserve
+extended thinking for genuinely hard subproblems: architectural tradeoffs, subtle bugs,
+security implications, design decisions with competing constraints. Over-thinking
+simple steps wastes tokens and time.
+
+**Pace questions to the skill.** If the current skill's text contains
+`STOP. AskUserQuestion` anywhere, pace one question per turn — emit the question as
+a tool_use, stop, wait for the user's response, then continue. Do not batch. A
+finding with an "obvious fix" is still a finding and still needs user approval
+before it lands in the plan. Only batch clarifying questions upfront when (a) the
+skill has no `STOP. AskUserQuestion` directive AND (b) you need multiple unrelated
+clarifications before you can begin. When in doubt, ask one question per turn.
+
+**Literal interpretation awareness.** Opus 4.8 interprets instructions literally and
+will not silently generalize. When the user says "fix the tests," fix all failing tests
+that this branch introduced or is responsible for, not just the first one (and not
+pre-existing failures in unrelated code). When the user says "update the docs," update
+every relevant doc in scope, not just the most obvious one. Read the full scope of what
+was asked and deliver the full scope. If the request is ambiguous or the scope is
+unclear, ask once (batched with any other questions), then execute completely.
diff --git a/model-overlays/sonnet-5.md b/model-overlays/sonnet-5.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..39bf42311
--- /dev/null
+++ b/model-overlays/sonnet-5.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{{INHERIT:claude}}
+
+**Instructions are read literally.** Sonnet 5 does not silently generalize an
+instruction from one item to the next, and it does not infer requests you didn't
+make. When something should apply broadly, say so ("apply this to every section,
+not just the first"). Re-baseline holdover style directives — they now land at
+face value.
+
+**Scope work to the request.** At lower effort especially, Sonnet 5 scopes to
+exactly what was asked rather than going above and beyond. If reasoning looks
+shallow on a genuinely complex task, that is an effort signal: raise effort rather
+than adding prose guardrails.
+
+**Verbosity tracks task complexity.** Responses calibrate length to how complex
+the task looks — shorter on lookups, longer on open-ended analysis. If you need a
+specific length or format, state it; a positive example of the target beats a
+"don't be verbose" instruction.
diff --git a/scripts/models.ts b/scripts/models.ts
index b6d1d368d..1819ae54d 100644
--- a/scripts/models.ts
+++ b/scripts/models.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 export const ALL_MODEL_NAMES = [
   'claude',
   'opus-4-7',
+  'fable-5',
+  'opus-4-8',
+  'sonnet-5',
   'gpt',
   'gpt-5.4',
   'gemini',
@@ -53,6 +56,9 @@ export function resolveModel(input: string): Model | null {
   if (/^gpt(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'gpt';
   if (/^o[0-9]+(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'o-series';
   if (/^claude-opus-4-7(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'opus-4-7';
+  if (/^claude-fable-5(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'fable-5';
+  if (/^claude-opus-4-8(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'opus-4-8';
+  if (/^claude-sonnet-5(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'sonnet-5';
   if (/^claude(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'claude';
   if (/^gemini(-|$)/.test(s)) return 'gemini';
 
diff --git a/test/model-overlay-fable-5.test.ts b/test/model-overlay-fable-5.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..537a4c03a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/model-overlay-fable-5.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/**
+ * Fable 5 model overlay — gate-tier assertions on the family nudges.
+ *
+ * fable-5 inherits the claude base and adds Fable-family nudges: act when you
+ * have enough context (avoid over-planning), ground progress claims in tool
+ * results, assessment-vs-action boundaries, and delegate independent work.
+ */
+import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import type { TemplateContext } from '../scripts/resolvers/types';
+import { HOST_PATHS } from '../scripts/resolvers/types';
+import { generateModelOverlay } from '../scripts/resolvers/model-overlay';
+
+function makeCtx(model: string): TemplateContext {
+  return {
+    skillName: 'test-skill',
+    tmplPath: 'test.tmpl',
+    host: 'claude',
+    paths: HOST_PATHS.claude,
+    preambleTier: 2,
+    model,
+  };
+}
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
+
+describe('Fable 5 overlay — family nudges', () => {
+  test('raw fable-5.md contains the act-when-ready nudge', () => {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(path.join(ROOT, 'model-overlays/fable-5.md'), 'utf-8');
+    expect(raw).toContain('Act when you have enough to act');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay inherits from claude base (INHERIT:claude)', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('fable-5'));
+    expect(out).toContain('Todo-list discipline');
+    expect(out).toContain('subordinate');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay carries the Fable nudges', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('fable-5'));
+    expect(out).toContain('Act when you have enough to act');
+    expect(out).toContain('Ground progress claims in evidence');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay has no unresolved INHERIT directive', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('fable-5'));
+    expect(out).not.toContain('{{INHERIT:');
+  });
+
+  test('claude overlay (base) does not carry the Fable nudge', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('claude'));
+    expect(out).not.toContain('Act when you have enough to act');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/model-overlay-opus-4-8.test.ts b/test/model-overlay-opus-4-8.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6fdda326
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/model-overlay-opus-4-8.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/**
+ * Opus 4.8 model overlay — gate-tier assertions on the pacing directive.
+ *
+ * opus-4-8 mirrors opus-4-7's Opus-4.x family nudges: it inherits the claude
+ * base and adds effort-matching, skill-paced questions (one-per-turn when the
+ * skill carries STOP directives), and complete-scope literal execution.
+ *
+ * This test asserts:
+ * - The "Pace questions to the skill" directive is present
+ * - The old "Batch your questions" directive is absent
+ * - The AUTO_DECIDE-compatible language survives (subordination, skill wins)
+ * - The claude base is inherited (INHERIT:claude)
+ */
+import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import type { TemplateContext } from '../scripts/resolvers/types';
+import { HOST_PATHS } from '../scripts/resolvers/types';
+import { generateModelOverlay } from '../scripts/resolvers/model-overlay';
+
+function makeCtx(model: string): TemplateContext {
+  return {
+    skillName: 'test-skill',
+    tmplPath: 'test.tmpl',
+    host: 'claude',
+    paths: HOST_PATHS.claude,
+    preambleTier: 2,
+    model,
+  };
+}
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
+
+describe('Opus 4.8 overlay — pacing directive', () => {
+  test('raw opus-4-8.md contains "Pace questions to the skill"', () => {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(
+      path.join(ROOT, 'model-overlays/opus-4-8.md'),
+      'utf-8',
+    );
+    expect(raw).toContain('Pace questions to the skill');
+  });
+
+  test('raw opus-4-8.md does NOT contain "Batch your questions" directive', () => {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(
+      path.join(ROOT, 'model-overlays/opus-4-8.md'),
+      'utf-8',
+    );
+    expect(raw).not.toContain('**Batch your questions.**');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay output contains "Pace questions to the skill"', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('opus-4-8'));
+    expect(out).toContain('Pace questions to the skill');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay inherits from claude base (INHERIT:claude)', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('opus-4-8'));
+    // The claude base contributes the subordination wrapper + Todo discipline
+    expect(out).toContain('Todo-list discipline');
+    expect(out).toContain('subordinate');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay says skill STOP directives trigger one-per-turn pacing', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('opus-4-8'));
+    expect(out).toMatch(/STOP\. AskUserQuestion/);
+    expect(out).toMatch(/pace one question per turn|one question per turn/i);
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay requires AskUserQuestion as tool_use', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('opus-4-8'));
+    expect(out).toContain('tool_use');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay flags "obvious fix" findings still need user approval', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('opus-4-8'));
+    expect(out).toMatch(/obvious fix/i);
+    expect(out).toMatch(/user approval/i);
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay keeps Effort-match / Literal interpretation nudges', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('opus-4-8'));
+    expect(out).toContain('Effort-match the step');
+    expect(out).toContain('Literal interpretation awareness');
+  });
+
+  test('claude overlay (no INHERIT chain) does not carry the pacing directive', () => {
+    // Claude is the default overlay; opus-4-8 inherits FROM claude.
+    // The pacing directive belongs to the opus-4-x overlays only.
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('claude'));
+    expect(out).not.toContain('Pace questions to the skill');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/model-overlay-sonnet-5.test.ts b/test/model-overlay-sonnet-5.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4665efc30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/model-overlay-sonnet-5.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/**
+ * Sonnet 5 model overlay — gate-tier assertions on the family nudges.
+ *
+ * sonnet-5 inherits the claude base and adds Sonnet-5 family nudges: literal
+ * instruction following (state scope explicitly), scope work to the request
+ * (raise effort rather than prompting around shallow reasoning), and
+ * verbosity that tracks task complexity.
+ */
+import { describe, test, expect } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import type { TemplateContext } from '../scripts/resolvers/types';
+import { HOST_PATHS } from '../scripts/resolvers/types';
+import { generateModelOverlay } from '../scripts/resolvers/model-overlay';
+
+function makeCtx(model: string): TemplateContext {
+  return {
+    skillName: 'test-skill',
+    tmplPath: 'test.tmpl',
+    host: 'claude',
+    paths: HOST_PATHS.claude,
+    preambleTier: 2,
+    model,
+  };
+}
+
+const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
+
+describe('Sonnet 5 overlay — family nudges', () => {
+  test('raw sonnet-5.md contains the literal-instructions nudge', () => {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(path.join(ROOT, 'model-overlays/sonnet-5.md'), 'utf-8');
+    expect(raw).toContain('Instructions are read literally');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay inherits from claude base (INHERIT:claude)', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('sonnet-5'));
+    expect(out).toContain('Todo-list discipline');
+    expect(out).toContain('subordinate');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay carries the Sonnet 5 nudges', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('sonnet-5'));
+    expect(out).toContain('Instructions are read literally');
+    expect(out).toContain('Scope work to the request');
+  });
+
+  test('resolved overlay has no unresolved INHERIT directive', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('sonnet-5'));
+    expect(out).not.toContain('{{INHERIT:');
+  });
+
+  test('claude overlay (base) does not carry the Sonnet 5 nudge', () => {
+    const out = generateModelOverlay(makeCtx('claude'));
+    expect(out).not.toContain('Instructions are read literally');
+  });
+});