diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsController.cs b/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsController.cs
index 07b5cea..84ca2ab 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsController.cs
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsController.cs
@@ -293,14 +293,30 @@ public class RoomsController(
         => Ok((await rooms.HotAsync(null)).Select(RoomService.ToWireRoom).ToList());
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// `Rooms.GetBaseRooms` — list of "base" rooms used by Rec Room Originals
-    /// to seed the room creation UI. Returns the same set as #recroomoriginal.
+    /// `Rooms.GetBaseRooms` — the room-creation "base room" picker. A fixed,
+    /// admin-curated list of room NAMES (server setting
+    /// <c>BaseRoomNamesJson</c>, default <see
+    /// cref="ServerSettingsService.DefaultBaseRoomNames"/>), resolved to rooms
+    /// in the configured order. Names are looked up via
+    /// <see cref="RoomService.GetByNameAsync"/>, which also finds
+    /// HiddenFromBrowse rooms like MakerRoom. Edit the list from the admin SPA
+    /// (<c>api/admin/v1/settings/base-rooms</c>).
     /// </summary>
     [HttpGet("api/rooms/v2/baserooms")]
     [HttpGet("api/rooms/v3/baserooms")]
     [HttpGet("rooms/base")]
     public async Task<IActionResult> BaseRooms()
-        => Ok((await rooms.HotAsync("#recroomoriginal")).Select(RoomService.ToWireRoom).ToList());
+    {
+        var names = await serverSettings.GetBaseRoomNamesAsync();
+        var result = new List<object>();
+        foreach (var name in names)
+        {
+            var room = await rooms.GetByNameAsync(name);
+            if (room is not null)
+                result.Add(RoomService.ToWireRoom(room));
+        }
+        return Ok(result);
+    }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// `Rooms.GetFilters` — pinned/popular tag chips shown above the room
diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsModerationController.cs b/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsModerationController.cs
index 081839a..b996b03 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsModerationController.cs
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/API/Rooms/V2/RoomsModerationController.cs
@@ -984,8 +984,20 @@ public class RoomsModerationController(DorkNetDbContext db) : ControllerBase
             newName = $"{baseName}{suffix}";
         }
 
+        // Assign an explicit user-room id (> 1000), the same way
+        // RoomService.CloneAsync does. Relying on DB auto-increment is unsafe:
+        // seeded rooms were inserted with manual ids (100..1000) without
+        // advancing the Postgres identity sequence, so auto-increment collides
+        // with a seeded id → PK violation → the clone POST 500s → the client
+        // reports "Failed to clone room" and boots the player to their dorm.
+        // (SQLite in tests tracks max(id), which is why the probe passed.)
+        var nextId = await db.Rooms
+            .Where(r => r.Id > 1000)
+            .MaxAsync(r => (long?)r.Id) ?? 1000L;
+
         var clone = new RoomEntity
         {
+            Id = nextId + 1,
             Name = newName,
             Description = source.Description,
             CreatorPlayerId = Me,
@@ -1015,7 +1027,12 @@ public class RoomsModerationController(DorkNetDbContext db) : ControllerBase
             IsStudioRoom = source.IsStudioRoom,
             IsRoomLinkedToRecRoomStudio = source.IsRoomLinkedToRecRoomStudio,
             StudioSessionId = source.StudioSessionId,
-            TagsCsv = source.TagsCsv,
+            // A user clone is community content — NOT an RRO. Copying the
+            // source's tags verbatim would keep "recroomoriginal,quest,…" on
+            // the clone, making the client treat it as a quest room (wrong
+            // badge, and quest-instance logic can boot the player). Match
+            // RoomService.CloneAsync and tag it "community".
+            TagsCsv = "community",
             CurrentDataBlobName = source.CurrentDataBlobName,
         };
         db.Rooms.Add(clone);
diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/Admin/AdminController.cs b/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/Admin/AdminController.cs
index d1a3cbd..f5fc2fa 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/Admin/AdminController.cs
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/Controllers/Admin/AdminController.cs
@@ -1810,6 +1810,32 @@ public class AdminController(
         return Ok(doors);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>GET <c>api/admin/v1/settings/base-rooms</c> — the curated
+    /// room-creation base-room list (ordered room names) plus the catalogue of
+    /// Rec Room Original rooms the SPA can offer as pickable candidates.</summary>
+    [HttpGet("settings/base-rooms")]
+    public async Task<ActionResult> GetBaseRooms()
+    {
+        var names = await serverSettings.GetBaseRoomNamesAsync();
+        var available = await db.Rooms
+            .Where(r => EF.Functions.Like(r.TagsCsv, "%recroomoriginal%"))
+            .OrderBy(r => r.Name)
+            .Select(r => new { r.Name, r.ImageName, r.TagsCsv })
+            .ToListAsync();
+        return Ok(new { Names = names, Available = available });
+    }
+
+    public sealed record BaseRoomsRequest(List<string>? Names);
+
+    [HttpPost("settings/base-rooms")]
+    public async Task<ActionResult> SetBaseRooms([FromBody] BaseRoomsRequest body)
+    {
+        var names = await serverSettings.SetBaseRoomNamesAsync(body.Names ?? []);
+        await LogAsync("base_rooms_updated", "system", 0, string.Join(",", names));
+        await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+        return Ok(new { Names = names });
+    }
+
     [HttpGet("settings/gameconfigs")]
     public async Task<ActionResult> GetDiscoveredGameConfigs()
         => Ok(await serverSettings.GetDiscoveredGameConfigsAsync());
diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/Data/Entities/ServerSettingsEntity.cs b/DorkNet.Server/Data/Entities/ServerSettingsEntity.cs
index 2415396..173b8b7 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/Data/Entities/ServerSettingsEntity.cs
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/Data/Entities/ServerSettingsEntity.cs
@@ -92,5 +92,11 @@ public class ServerSettingsEntity
     /// redeploy.</summary>
     public string CharadesSlotBindingsJson { get; set; } = string.Empty;
 
+    /// <summary>Ordered list of room NAMES shown in the room-creation "base
+    /// room" picker (<c>rooms/base</c> / <c>api/rooms/v*/baserooms</c>), as a
+    /// JSON string array. Empty falls back to the built-in default set. Lets
+    /// admins curate the base-room list from the SPA without a redeploy.</summary>
+    public string BaseRoomNamesJson { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+
     public DateTime UpdatedAt { get; set; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 }
diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/Services/ServerSettingsService.cs b/DorkNet.Server/Services/ServerSettingsService.cs
index b6094fd..cc75c0b 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/Services/ServerSettingsService.cs
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/Services/ServerSettingsService.cs
@@ -106,6 +106,64 @@ public class ServerSettingsService(DorkNetDbContext db)
         return ToRecCenterDoors(row);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Built-in default base-room picker (used when an admin hasn't
+    /// customised the list). RRO originals minus #quest rooms, MakerRoom
+    /// first as the canonical blank canvas.</summary>
+    public static readonly IReadOnlyList<string> DefaultBaseRoomNames = new[]
+    {
+        "MakerRoom", "RecCenter", "3DCharades", "Dodgeball",
+        "DiscGolfLake", "DiscGolfPropulsion", "Paddleball",
+        "Paintball", "Soccer", "LaserTag", "RecRoyaleSquads",
+        "RecRoyaleSolos", "Park", "BowlingAlley", "RecRally",
+    };
+
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<string>> GetBaseRoomNamesAsync()
+    {
+        var row = await GetAsync();
+        return ToBaseRoomNames(row);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<string>> SetBaseRoomNamesAsync(IReadOnlyList<string> names)
+    {
+        var normalized = NormalizeBaseRoomNames(names);
+        var existing = await GetTrackedRowAsync();
+        existing.BaseRoomNamesJson = JsonSerializer.Serialize(normalized, JsonOptions);
+        existing.UpdatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow;
+        await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+        return normalized;
+    }
+
+    private static IReadOnlyList<string> ToBaseRoomNames(ServerSettingsEntity row)
+    {
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(row.BaseRoomNamesJson))
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var parsed = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<string>>(row.BaseRoomNamesJson, JsonOptions);
+                if (parsed is { Count: > 0 })
+                    return NormalizeBaseRoomNames(parsed);
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // Bad settings must not break room creation; admins can
+                // overwrite from the SPA.
+            }
+        }
+        return DefaultBaseRoomNames.ToList();
+    }
+
+    private static IReadOnlyList<string> NormalizeBaseRoomNames(IReadOnlyList<string> names)
+    {
+        var seen = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        var result = new List<string>();
+        foreach (var n in names)
+        {
+            var t = (n ?? string.Empty).Trim();
+            if (t.Length > 0 && seen.Add(t)) result.Add(t);
+        }
+        return result.Count > 0 ? result : DefaultBaseRoomNames.ToList();
+    }
+
     public async Task<DiscoveredGameConfigSettings> GetDiscoveredGameConfigsAsync()
     {
         var row = await GetAsync();
diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/Startup/DatabaseBootstrap.cs b/DorkNet.Server/Startup/DatabaseBootstrap.cs
index f3665b6..73e473c 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/Startup/DatabaseBootstrap.cs
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/Startup/DatabaseBootstrap.cs
@@ -531,6 +531,8 @@ public static class DatabaseBootstrap
                 @"ALTER TABLE ""ServerSettings"" ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS ""CharadesSlotBindingsJson"" text NOT NULL DEFAULT '';");
             await db.Database.ExecuteSqlRawAsync(
                 @"ALTER TABLE ""ServerSettings"" ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS ""AllAvatarItemsOwned"" boolean NOT NULL DEFAULT false;");
+            await db.Database.ExecuteSqlRawAsync(
+                @"ALTER TABLE ""ServerSettings"" ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS ""BaseRoomNamesJson"" text NOT NULL DEFAULT '';");
             return;
         }
 
@@ -617,6 +619,18 @@ public static class DatabaseBootstrap
             // ignore the duplicate-column error; any other schema problem
             // will surface when EF reads ServerSettings.
         }
+
+        try
+        {
+            await db.Database.ExecuteSqlRawAsync(
+                @"ALTER TABLE ""ServerSettings"" ADD COLUMN ""BaseRoomNamesJson"" TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '';");
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // SQLite has no ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS. If it already exists,
+            // ignore the duplicate-column error; any other schema problem
+            // will surface when EF reads ServerSettings.
+        }
     }
 
     private static async Task EnsureInventorySchemaAsync(DorkNetDbContext db)
diff --git a/DorkNet.Server/admin-ui/src/pages/Rooms.tsx b/DorkNet.Server/admin-ui/src/pages/Rooms.tsx
index 9387b43..98e414f 100644
--- a/DorkNet.Server/admin-ui/src/pages/Rooms.tsx
+++ b/DorkNet.Server/admin-ui/src/pages/Rooms.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@ interface RecCenterDoorSettings {
   updatedAt: string;
 }
 
+interface BaseRoomOption {
+  name: string;
+  imageName: string;
+  tagsCsv: string;
+}
+
+interface BaseRoomsResponse {
+  names: string[];
+  available: BaseRoomOption[];
+}
+
 export function Rooms() {
   const { data, loading, error, refresh } = useApi<Room[]>('/rooms');
   const {
@@ -42,6 +53,12 @@ export function Rooms() {
     error: doorsError,
     refresh: refreshRecCenterDoors,
   } = useApi<RecCenterDoorSettings>('/settings/rec-center-doors');
+  const {
+    data: baseRooms,
+    loading: baseRoomsLoading,
+    error: baseRoomsError,
+    refresh: refreshBaseRooms,
+  } = useApi<BaseRoomsResponse>('/settings/base-rooms');
   const [filter, setFilter] = useState('');
   const [filterKind, setFilterKind] = useState<'all' | 'original' | 'custom' | 'dorm'>('all');
   const [pendingDelete, setPendingDelete] = useState<Room | null>(null);
@@ -118,6 +135,13 @@ export function Rooms() {
         onSaved={refreshRecCenterDoors}
       />
 
+      <BaseRoomsPanel
+        data={baseRooms}
+        loading={baseRoomsLoading}
+        error={baseRoomsError}
+        onSaved={refreshBaseRooms}
+      />
+
       <div className="card overflow-hidden">
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 border-b border-ink-800 px-3 py-2.5">
           <input value={filter} onChange={e => setFilter(e.target.value)} placeholder="Filter by name…" className="input max-w-xs" />
@@ -485,6 +509,132 @@ function RecCenterDoorsPanel({
   );
 }
 
+function BaseRoomsPanel({
+  data,
+  loading,
+  error,
+  onSaved,
+}: {
+  data: BaseRoomsResponse | null;
+  loading: boolean;
+  error: string | null;
+  onSaved: () => void;
+}) {
+  const [names, setNames] = useState<string[]>([]);
+  const [toAdd, setToAdd] = useState('');
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+  const toast = useToast();
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!data) return;
+    setNames(data.names);
+  }, [data]);
+
+  const available = data?.available ?? [];
+  const notAdded = available.filter(a => !names.some(n => n.toLowerCase() === a.name.toLowerCase()));
+
+  const move = (i: number, dir: -1 | 1) => {
+    setNames(cur => {
+      const j = i + dir;
+      if (j < 0 || j >= cur.length) return cur;
+      const next = [...cur];
+      [next[i], next[j]] = [next[j], next[i]];
+      return next;
+    });
+  };
+  const remove = (i: number) => setNames(cur => cur.filter((_, idx) => idx !== i));
+  const add = (name: string) => {
+    if (!name) return;
+    setNames(cur => (cur.some(n => n.toLowerCase() === name.toLowerCase()) ? cur : [...cur, name]));
+    setToAdd('');
+  };
+
+  const save = async (reset = false) => {
+    setBusy(true);
+    try {
+      await api<{ names: string[] }>('/settings/base-rooms', {
+        method: 'POST',
+        body: reset ? { Names: [] } : { Names: names },
+      });
+      toast.push(reset ? 'Base rooms reset to defaults.' : 'Base rooms saved.', 'success');
+      onSaved();
+    } catch (e) {
+      toast.push((e as Error).message, 'error');
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="card !p-4 mb-4">
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-start justify-between gap-3">
+        <div>
+          <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-ink-50">Base rooms</h2>
+          <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-ink-400">
+            Ordered rooms shown in the room-creation "base room" picker (<code className="font-mono text-[11px]">rooms/base</code>).
+            MakerRoom is the blank canvas; quests are excluded by default.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+        <div className="flex gap-2">
+          <button onClick={() => save(true)} disabled={busy || loading} className="btn-secondary text-xs">
+            Defaults
+          </button>
+          <button onClick={() => save(false)} disabled={busy || loading} className="btn-primary text-xs">
+            {busy ? 'Saving...' : 'Save base rooms'}
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {error && <div className="mt-3 text-sm text-danger">{error}</div>}
+      {loading && !data && <div className="mt-3 text-xs text-ink-400">Loading base rooms...</div>}
+      {data && (
+        <div className="mt-4 space-y-3">
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+            <select
+              value={toAdd}
+              onChange={e => setToAdd(e.target.value)}
+              className="input max-w-xs text-xs"
+            >
+              <option value="">Add a room…</option>
+              {notAdded.map(a => (
+                <option key={a.name} value={a.name}>{a.name}</option>
+              ))}
+            </select>
+            <button onClick={() => add(toAdd)} disabled={!toAdd} className="btn-secondary text-xs">
+              <Plus /> Add
+            </button>
+            <span className="ml-auto text-[11px] text-ink-500">{names.length} rooms</span>
+          </div>
+
+          <ol className="space-y-1">
+            {names.map((name, i) => {
+              const missing = !available.some(a => a.name.toLowerCase() === name.toLowerCase());
+              return (
+                <li
+                  key={`${name}-${i}`}
+                  className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-md border border-ink-800 bg-ink-950/30 px-2 py-1.5"
+                >
+                  <span className="w-6 text-right text-[11px] tabular-nums text-ink-500">{i + 1}</span>
+                  <span className={`font-mono text-xs ${missing ? 'text-danger' : 'text-ink-100'}`}>{name}</span>
+                  {missing && <span className="badge-neutral text-[10px]">not found</span>}
+                  <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-1">
+                    <button onClick={() => move(i, -1)} disabled={i === 0} className="btn-ghost text-xs" title="Move up">↑</button>
+                    <button onClick={() => move(i, 1)} disabled={i === names.length - 1} className="btn-ghost text-xs" title="Move down">↓</button>
+                    <button onClick={() => remove(i)} className="btn-ghost text-xs text-danger" title="Remove"><Trash /></button>
+                  </div>
+                </li>
+              );
+            })}
+            {names.length === 0 && (
+              <li className="text-xs text-ink-500">No base rooms set. Defaults will be used on save.</li>
+            )}
+          </ol>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 function TagListEditor({
   label,
   tags,