Cassiur · Cassiur · Sep 16, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026 · Sep 17, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 All notable changes are documented here. The project follows Semantic Versioning after `1.0.0`.
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Changed
+
+- New visual style modeled on OmniTavern's classic light/dark themes: neutral cool-gray backgrounds, slate text, a `#199AFF` accent, and a GitHub-dark-style night palette in place of the Material default purple.
+- Home lists characters as flat rows with hairline dividers and 48dp rounded-square avatars instead of floating cards; initial-letter avatars use a saturated palette.
+- Chat bubbles use a light shadow instead of an outline, the back button is a vector chevron, and the search and message inputs are bordered pills.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- The create-character button no longer renders in Material's default teal; the theme now sets `colorSecondary` to the app accent.
+
 ## 0.4.1 - 2026-09-12
 
 ### Added

diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/zcz/javatavern/ui/CharacterAdapter.java b/app/src/main/java/com/zcz/javatavern/ui/CharacterAdapter.java
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ public interface OnCharacterEditListener {
     }
 
     private static final String RESOURCE_PREFIX = "res:";
+    // Stored accent colors are muted hash-derived RGB; map them onto a saturated palette at render time.
+    private static final int[] AVATAR_PALETTE = {
+            0xFF3B82F6, 0xFF6366F1, 0xFF8B5CF6, 0xFFEC4899, 0xFFF43F5E,
+            0xFFF97316, 0xFFF59E0B, 0xFF10B981, 0xFF14B8A6, 0xFF0EA5E9
+    };
     private final List<HomeFeedItem> items;
     private final OnCharacterClickListener listener;
     private final OnCharacterEditListener editListener;
@@ -150,8 +155,9 @@ private void renderInitialFallback(CharacterViewHolder holder, CharacterProfile
         holder.portrait.setVisibility(View.GONE);
         holder.initialAvatar.setText(character.getName().substring(0, 1));
         GradientDrawable background = new GradientDrawable();
-        background.setShape(GradientDrawable.OVAL);
-        background.setColor(character.getAccentColor());
+        background.setShape(GradientDrawable.RECTANGLE);
+        background.setCornerRadius(12f * holder.itemView.getResources().getDisplayMetrics().density);
+        background.setColor(AVATAR_PALETTE[Math.floorMod(character.getAccentColor(), AVATAR_PALETTE.length)]);
         holder.initialAvatar.setBackground(background);
         holder.initialAvatar.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
     }

diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_agent_badge.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_agent_badge.xml
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:shape="rectangle">
     <solid android:color="@color/primary_soft" />
-    <corners android:radius="20dp" />
+    <corners android:radius="8dp" />
 </shape>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_agent_card.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_agent_card.xml
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:shape="rectangle">
-    <gradient
-        android:angle="0"
-        android:endColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:startColor="#F0EAF8" />
+    <solid android:color="@color/surface" />
     <corners android:radius="18dp" />
     <stroke
         android:width="1dp"
-        android:color="@color/primary_soft" />
+        android:color="@color/border" />
 </shape>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_character_card.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_character_card.xml
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
-    android:shape="rectangle">
-    <solid android:color="@color/surface" />
-    <corners android:radius="22dp" />
-    <stroke
-        android:width="1dp"
-        android:color="@color/border" />
-</shape>
+<!-- Flat list row: hairline divider inset past the 48dp avatar (10dp padding + 48dp + 12dp gap). -->
+<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
+    <item
+        android:height="1dp"
+        android:gravity="bottom"
+        android:left="70dp">
+        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
+            <solid android:color="@color/divider" />
+        </shape>
+    </item>
+</layer-list>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_character_tag.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_character_tag.xml
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:shape="rectangle">
     <solid android:color="@color/primary_soft" />
-    <corners android:radius="10dp" />
+    <corners android:radius="8dp" />
 </shape>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_input.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_input.xml
@@ -2,5 +2,8 @@
 <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     android:shape="rectangle">
     <solid android:color="@color/input_background" />
-    <corners android:radius="18dp" />
+    <corners android:radius="22dp" />
+    <stroke
+        android:width="1dp"
+        android:color="@color/border" />
 </shape>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_message_assistant.xml b/app/src/main/res/drawable/bg_message_assistant.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,4 @@
     android:shape="rectangle">
     <solid android:color="@color/surface" />
     <corners android:radius="18dp" />
-    <stroke
-        android:width="1dp"
-        android:color="@color/border" />
 </shape>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_chat.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_chat.xml
@@ -1,39 +1,39 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
     android:fitsSystemWindows="true"
     android:orientation="vertical">
 
     <LinearLayout
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
-        android:layout_height="64dp"
+        android:layout_height="56dp"
         android:background="@color/surface"
         android:gravity="center_vertical"
         android:orientation="horizontal"
-        android:paddingStart="12dp"
-        android:paddingEnd="16dp">
+        android:paddingStart="4dp"
+        android:paddingEnd="8dp">
 
-        <TextView
+        <ImageButton
             android:id="@+id/backButton"
             android:layout_width="48dp"
             android:layout_height="48dp"
             android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackgroundBorderless"
-            android:clickable="true"
-            android:focusable="true"
-            android:gravity="center"
-            android:text="@string/back_symbol"
-            android:textColor="@color/text_primary"
-            android:textSize="34sp" />
+            android:contentDescription="@string/navigate_back"
+            android:src="@drawable/ic_chevron_left"
+            app:tint="@color/text_primary" />
 
         <TextView
             android:id="@+id/chatTitle"
             android:layout_width="0dp"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:layout_weight="1"
+            android:ellipsize="end"
+            android:fontFamily="sans-serif-medium"
+            android:maxLines="1"
             android:textColor="@color/text_primary"
-            android:textSize="19sp"
-            android:textStyle="bold" />
+            android:textSize="17sp" />
 
         <com.google.android.material.button.MaterialButton
             android:id="@+id/memoryButton"
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@
             android:text="@string/search" />
     </LinearLayout>
 
+    <View
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="1dp"
+        android:background="@color/divider" />
+
     <LinearLayout
         android:id="@+id/offlineBanner"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
@@ -91,11 +96,16 @@
         android:layout_height="0dp"
         android:layout_weight="1"
         android:clipToPadding="false"
-        android:paddingStart="14dp"
-        android:paddingTop="14dp"
-        android:paddingEnd="14dp"
+        android:paddingStart="12dp"
+        android:paddingTop="12dp"
+        android:paddingEnd="12dp"
         android:paddingBottom="8dp" />
 
+    <View
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="1dp"
+        android:background="@color/divider" />
+
     <LinearLayout
         android:id="@+id/composerArea"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
@@ -204,7 +214,10 @@
                 android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_height="50dp"
                 android:layout_marginStart="8dp"
-                android:text="@string/send" />
+                android:insetTop="3dp"
+                android:insetBottom="3dp"
+                android:text="@string/send"
+                app:cornerRadius="22dp" />
 
         </LinearLayout>
     </LinearLayout>

diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_main.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_main.xml
@@ -28,18 +28,18 @@
                 <TextView
                     android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                    android:fontFamily="sans-serif-medium"
                     android:text="@string/home_title"
                     android:textColor="@color/text_primary"
-                    android:textSize="28sp"
-                    android:textStyle="bold" />
+                    android:textSize="22sp" />
 
                 <TextView
                     android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                    android:layout_marginTop="4dp"
+                    android:layout_marginTop="2dp"
                     android:text="@string/home_subtitle"
                     android:textColor="@color/text_secondary"
-                    android:textSize="14sp" />
+                    android:textSize="13sp" />
             </LinearLayout>
 
             <TextView
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@
         <EditText
             android:id="@+id/searchInput"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
-            android:layout_height="48dp"
+            android:layout_height="44dp"
             android:layout_marginStart="20dp"
-            android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
+            android:layout_marginTop="14dp"
             android:layout_marginEnd="20dp"
             android:background="@drawable/bg_input"
             android:hint="@string/search_characters"
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@
             android:id="@+id/characterList"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="0dp"
-            android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
+            android:layout_marginTop="6dp"
             android:layout_weight="1"
             android:clipToPadding="false"
-            android:paddingStart="20dp"
-            android:paddingEnd="20dp"
+            android:paddingStart="10dp"
+            android:paddingEnd="10dp"
             android:paddingBottom="88dp" />
     </LinearLayout>
 

diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/item_character.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/item_character.xml
@@ -3,29 +3,30 @@
     xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-    android:layout_marginBottom="12dp"
     android:background="@drawable/bg_character_card"
     android:clickable="true"
-    android:elevation="3dp"
     android:focusable="true"
     android:foreground="?attr/selectableItemBackground"
     android:gravity="center_vertical"
-    android:minHeight="96dp"
+    android:minHeight="72dp"
     android:orientation="horizontal"
-    android:padding="16dp">
+    android:paddingStart="10dp"
+    android:paddingTop="12dp"
+    android:paddingEnd="4dp"
+    android:paddingBottom="12dp">
 
     <FrameLayout
-        android:layout_width="56dp"
-        android:layout_height="56dp">
+        android:layout_width="48dp"
+        android:layout_height="48dp">
 
         <TextView
             android:id="@+id/characterAvatar"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="match_parent"
+            android:fontFamily="sans-serif-medium"
             android:gravity="center"
             android:textColor="@android:color/white"
-            android:textSize="21sp"
-            android:textStyle="bold" />
+            android:textSize="18sp" />
 
         <com.google.android.material.imageview.ShapeableImageView
             android:id="@+id/characterPortrait"
@@ -34,15 +35,13 @@
             android:contentDescription="@string/character_portrait_desc"
             android:scaleType="centerCrop"
             android:visibility="gone"
-            app:shapeAppearanceOverlay="@style/ShapeAppearanceCircular"
-            app:strokeColor="@color/primary_soft"
-            app:strokeWidth="2dp" />
+            app:shapeAppearanceOverlay="@style/ShapeAppearanceAvatar" />
     </FrameLayout>
 
     <LinearLayout
         android:layout_width="0dp"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-        android:layout_marginStart="14dp"
+        android:layout_marginStart="12dp"
         android:layout_weight="1"
         android:orientation="vertical">
 
@@ -58,10 +57,10 @@
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                 android:layout_weight="1"
                 android:ellipsize="end"
+                android:fontFamily="sans-serif-medium"
                 android:maxLines="1"
                 android:textColor="@color/text_primary"
-                android:textSize="17sp"
-                android:textStyle="bold" />
+                android:textSize="16sp" />
 
             <TextView
                 android:id="@+id/characterTag"
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@
             android:id="@+id/characterPreview"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-            android:layout_marginTop="4dp"
+            android:layout_marginTop="3dp"
             android:ellipsize="end"
             android:maxLines="1"
             android:textColor="@color/text_secondary"
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@
         style="@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.Button.TextButton"
         android:layout_width="wrap_content"
         android:layout_height="40dp"
-        android:layout_marginStart="8dp"
+        android:layout_marginStart="4dp"
         android:minWidth="0dp"
         android:text="@string/edit_character"
         android:textSize="13sp" />

diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/item_message.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/item_message.xml
@@ -3,18 +3,20 @@
     android:id="@+id/messageContainer"
     android:layout_width="match_parent"
     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-    android:layout_marginBottom="10dp"
-    android:orientation="horizontal">
+    android:layout_marginBottom="6dp"
+    android:orientation="horizontal"
+    android:padding="2dp">
 
     <LinearLayout
         android:id="@+id/messageBubble"
         android:layout_width="wrap_content"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-        android:maxWidth="300dp"
+        android:elevation="1dp"
         android:orientation="vertical">
 
         <TextView
             android:id="@+id/messageReplyPreview"
+            android:maxWidth="@dimen/message_bubble_max_width"
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:ellipsize="end"
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@
 
         <TextView
             android:id="@+id/messageSpeaker"
+            android:maxWidth="@dimen/message_bubble_max_width"
             android:layout_width="wrap_content"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:paddingStart="14dp"
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@
 
         <TextView
             android:id="@+id/messageContent"
+            android:maxWidth="@dimen/message_bubble_max_width"
             android:layout_width="wrap_content"
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:paddingStart="14dp"