diff --git a/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts b/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts
index e283e9f79..e7d99cc1f 100644
--- a/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts
+++ b/src/client/WebGLFrameBuilder.ts
@@ -134,10 +134,11 @@ export class WebGLFrameBuilder {
       const spawnTile = p.state.spawnTile;
       if (spawnTile === undefined) continue;
       const isSelf = me !== null && p.smallID() === me.smallID();
-      // myPlayer reads as plain white so the local-player ring is visually
-      // distinct from any team color; everyone else uses their territory tint.
+      // myPlayer reads as a near-white with a faint gold/silver tint so the
+      // local-player ring is visually distinct from any team color; everyone
+      // else uses their territory tint.
       const c = isSelf
-        ? { r: 255, g: 255, b: 255 }
+        ? { r: 248, g: 218, b: 140 }
         : p.territoryColor().toRgb();
       centers.push({
         // spawnTile tracks the player's currently-selected spawn directly —
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json b/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
index 6a50b7087..ecf9852af 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/render-settings.json
@@ -286,11 +286,11 @@
   "spawnOverlay": {
     "highlightRadius": 9,
     "highlightAlpha": 1.0,
-    "selfMinRad": 8,
-    "selfMaxRad": 24,
+    "selfMinRad": 10,
+    "selfMaxRad": 30,
     "mateMinRad": 5,
     "mateMaxRad": 14,
-    "animSpeed": 0.0035,
+    "animSpeed": 0.005,
     "gradientInnerEdge": 0.01,
     "gradientSolidEnd": 0.1
   },
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/spawn-overlay/spawn-overlay.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/spawn-overlay/spawn-overlay.frag.glsl
index 8e116ebd2..0fc7cba8a 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/spawn-overlay/spawn-overlay.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/spawn-overlay/spawn-overlay.frag.glsl
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ void main() {
     float solidEnd = uGradientStops.y;
     float alpha = 0.0;
     if (dist < bMinR) {
-      // Inner glow: linear ramp from 0 at center to 1 at the ring's inner edge.
+      // Inner glow: transparent at the center (so your territory shows through)
+      // ramping up to fully solid at the ring's inner edge.
       alpha = dist / max(bMinR, 0.001);
     } else if (t < solidEnd) {
       alpha = 1.0;
@@ -88,8 +89,8 @@ void main() {
       alpha = 1.0 - (t - solidEnd) / (1.0 - solidEnd);
     }
     if (alpha > 0.0) {
-      // Opacity pulses 35% → 100% in phase with the radius.
-      alpha *= 0.35 + 0.65 * uBreathRadius;
+      // Opacity pulses 65% → 100% in phase with the radius.
+      alpha *= 0.65 + 0.35 * uBreathRadius;
       result.rgb = mix(result.rgb, color, alpha * (1.0 - result.a));
       result.a = result.a + alpha * (1.0 - result.a);
     }