diff --git a/engine/match.go b/engine/match.go
index a69255c..487a748 100644
--- a/engine/match.go
+++ b/engine/match.go
@@ -255,10 +255,11 @@ func (mr *MatchRunner) generateMap(gs *GameState, numPlayers int) {
 	}
 
 	// Place cores for each player using rotational symmetry.
-	// Primary core at radius ~70% from center, additional cores at ~40% radius
-	// offset angularly from the primary.
-	primaryRadius := 0.7
-	secondaryRadius := 0.4
+	// Very tight spawn radius (25% from center) forces immediate bot contact.
+	// At 25% radius on 54x54 grid: ~7 tiles from center, ~12 tiles between 3 players.
+	// Attack radius is 3 tiles, so bots need to close ~9 tiles to engage.
+	primaryRadius := 0.25
+	secondaryRadius := 0.15
 	halfRows := float64(centerRow)
 	halfCols := float64(centerCol)
 
diff --git a/engine/types.go b/engine/types.go
index 582d608..da2c277 100644
--- a/engine/types.go
+++ b/engine/types.go
@@ -238,11 +238,12 @@ func ConfigForPlayers(numPlayers, coresPerPlayer int) Config {
 	// Scale zone parameters for 3+ players to force combat contact
 	// 2-player matches naturally converge at center; 3+ need aggressive zone
 	// Zone must compress bots into contact range while preserving enough population for combat
+	// Tight spawn radius (0.25) means bots start very close; zone finishes the job
 	if numPlayers >= 3 {
-		cfg.ZoneStartTurn = 20     // Start shrinking early (vs default 50)
+		cfg.ZoneStartTurn = 15     // Start zone early (bots already close at spawn)
 		cfg.ZoneShrinkInterval = 3 // Shrink every 3 turns (vs default 5)
 		cfg.ZoneShrinkStep = 3     // Shrink 3 tiles per interval (1 tile/turn)
-		cfg.ZoneMinRadius = 12     // Balance proximity and population (50% combat_death observed)
+		cfg.ZoneMinRadius = 5      // Tight final zone forces final contact
 	}
 
 	return cfg