diff --git a/src/services/deepseek.ts b/src/services/deepseek.ts
index a178ff0..e5027cb 100644
--- a/src/services/deepseek.ts
+++ b/src/services/deepseek.ts
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ ${story.plot}`;
 export function buildDynamicContext(
   session: GameSession,
   messageCount?: number,
+  hasCustomRules?: boolean,
 ): string {
   const state = session.currentState;
   const summary = session.storySummary || "The story just began.";
@@ -275,8 +276,9 @@ export function buildDynamicContext(
     : "No significant events yet.";
 
   // Add rule reminders after 10+ messages to prevent drift
+  // Skip if story has custom rules - they take priority
   const ruleReminder =
-    messageCount && messageCount >= 10
+    messageCount && messageCount >= 10 && !hasCustomRules
       ? `
 
 === REMINDER ===
@@ -326,8 +328,9 @@ export async function generateStoryResponse(
   const worldContext = buildWorldContext(story);
 
   // 3. Dynamic context (state + summary + rule reminders after 10+ messages)
+  const hasCustomRules = Boolean(story.narrativeRules?.trim());
   const dynamicContext = session
-    ? buildDynamicContext(session, chatHistory.length)
+    ? buildDynamicContext(session, chatHistory.length, hasCustomRules)
     : "";
 
   // 4. Last N messages (not the full history!)
@@ -363,8 +366,9 @@ export async function generateStoryResponseStream(
 ): Promise<string> {
   const styleRules = buildStyleRules(story, player);
   const worldContext = buildWorldContext(story);
+  const hasCustomRules = Boolean(story.narrativeRules?.trim());
   const dynamicContext = session
-    ? buildDynamicContext(session, chatHistory.length)
+    ? buildDynamicContext(session, chatHistory.length, hasCustomRules)
     : "";
   const recentMessages = chatHistory.slice(-RECENT_MESSAGES_COUNT);
   const systemPrompt = styleRules + "\n" + worldContext + "\n" + dynamicContext;