diff --git a/src/osrlib/__init__.py b/src/osrlib/__init__.py
index ba27d94..7e422e6 100644
--- a/src/osrlib/__init__.py
+++ b/src/osrlib/__init__.py
@@ -7,61 +7,82 @@
 the same seed and the same commands replay the same game.
 
 Every name has one import home and the package root re-exports nothing, so you import from
-the module that defines the symbol. The modules fall into three layers.
+the module that defines the symbol. The modules fall into three layers, and each table below
+lists one layer's modules in the order you meet them.
+
+## The core kernel
 
 The kernel, under `osrlib.core`, is the rules on their own: no session, no dungeon, no
-adventure. Use it directly to roll a character, resolve an attack, or price a sword with no
-game running.
-
-- [`osrlib.core.rng`][osrlib.core.rng]: a master seed in, one named stream per subsystem out.
-- [`osrlib.core.ruleset`][osrlib.core.ruleset]: the optional rules you switch on, in one model the kernel reads.
-- [`osrlib.core.dice`][osrlib.core.dice]: a dice expression in, a parsed expression or a roll and its own dice out.
-- [`osrlib.core.alignment`][osrlib.core.alignment]: the three alignments, shared by characters and monsters.
-- [`osrlib.core.abilities`][osrlib.core.abilities]: an ability score in, the modifier or chance the tables grant it out.
-- [`osrlib.core.classes`][osrlib.core.classes]: a class definition and a character in, titles, XP, advancement out.
-- [`osrlib.core.character`][osrlib.core.character]: creation choices and a stream in, a character or refusals out.
-- [`osrlib.core.items`][osrlib.core.items]: templates and an inventory in, purchases, equipment, and encumbrance out.
-- [`osrlib.core.spells`][osrlib.core.spells]: a caster and a spell in, memorization, casting, and turning undead out.
-- [`osrlib.core.monsters`][osrlib.core.monsters]: a monster template in, a spawned instance with its own hit points out.
-- [`osrlib.core.combat`][osrlib.core.combat]: combatants and a stream in, initiative, attacks, damage, and saves out.
-- [`osrlib.core.effects`][osrlib.core.effects]: a condition or effect in, a ledger that ticks and expires it out.
-- [`osrlib.core.treasure`][osrlib.core.treasure]: a treasure type and a stream in, coins, valuables, magic items out.
-- [`osrlib.core.tables`][osrlib.core.tables]: hit dice or an armour class in, the printed row for it out.
-- [`osrlib.core.npc`][osrlib.core.npc]: a party level and a stream in, a generated NPC adventuring party out.
-- [`osrlib.core.clock`][osrlib.core.clock]: rounds in, turns and days out, with the boundaries each crossing reports.
-- [`osrlib.core.events`][osrlib.core.events]: the base class every event inherits, and the contract its code follows.
-- [`osrlib.core.validation`][osrlib.core.validation]: the refusal value a rules check hands back instead of raising.
+adventure. You hand a function the inputs a rule needs, plus a seeded stream and a ruleset,
+and it returns the outcome and the events that describe it. Call it directly to roll a
+character, resolve an attack, or price a sword with no game running. Kernel modules never
+import from `osrlib.crawl`, so what you build on the kernel keeps working whatever the crawl
+framework does above it.
+
+| Module | What it's for |
+| --- | --- |
+| [`osrlib.core.rng`][] | A master seed in, one named stream per subsystem out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.ruleset`][] | The optional rules you switch on, in one model the kernel reads. |
+| [`osrlib.core.dice`][] | A dice expression in, a parsed expression or a roll and its own dice out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.alignment`][] | The three alignments, shared by characters and monsters. |
+| [`osrlib.core.abilities`][] | An ability score in, the modifier or chance the tables grant it out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.classes`][] | A class definition and a character in, titles, XP, and advancement out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.character`][] | Creation choices and a stream in, a character or refusals out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.items`][] | Templates and an inventory in, purchases, equipment, and encumbrance out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.spells`][] | A caster and a spell in, memorization, casting, and turning undead out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.monsters`][] | A monster template in, a spawned instance with its own hit points out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.combat`][] | Combatants and a stream in, initiative, attacks, damage, and saves out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.effects`][] | A condition or effect in, a ledger that ticks and expires it out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.treasure`][] | A treasure type and a stream in, coins, valuables, and magic items out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.tables`][] | Hit dice or an armour class in, the printed row for it out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.npc`][] | A party level and a stream in, a generated NPC adventuring party out. |
+| [`osrlib.core.clock`][] | Rounds in, turns and days out, with the boundaries each crossing reports. |
+| [`osrlib.core.events`][] | The base class every event inherits, and the contract its code follows. |
+| [`osrlib.core.validation`][] | The refusal value a rules check returns instead of raising. |
+
+## The crawl framework
 
 The crawl framework, under `osrlib.crawl`, is the game around those rules: a party in a
-mapped dungeon, driven by commands. Start at the session and work outwards.
-
-- [`osrlib.crawl.dungeon`][osrlib.crawl.dungeon]: cells, edges, doors, areas, and traps in, a mapped dungeon out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.adventure`][osrlib.crawl.adventure]: dungeons and a town in, one adventure a session can play out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.party`][osrlib.crawl.party]: characters in, marching order, group movement, and combat ranks out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.session`][osrlib.crawl.session]: a party, an adventure, and a seed in, a game taking commands out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.commands`][osrlib.crawl.commands]: every command you can execute, each with the modes it is legal in.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.events`][osrlib.crawl.events]: every event a command can emit, and the parser that reads one back.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.views`][osrlib.crawl.views]: a session in, what a player may see or what a referee may see out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.exploration`][osrlib.crawl.exploration]: movement, doors, searching, light, rest, and wandering checks.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.encounter`][osrlib.crawl.encounter]: a meeting in, surprise, distance, reaction, evasion, pursuit out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.battle`][osrlib.crawl.battle]: an encounter that came to blows in, a round-by-round battle out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.stocking`][osrlib.crawl.stocking]: an empty area and a stream in, its monsters and treasure out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.gates`][osrlib.crawl.gates]: a condition and a session in, whether the way opens out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.triggers`][osrlib.crawl.triggers]: an event pattern in, a match against what just happened out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.quests`][osrlib.crawl.quests]: objectives and the clauses that complete them, as authored content.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.narrative`][osrlib.crawl.narrative]: the authored text on a mechanical object, one block per audience.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.interpreter`][osrlib.crawl.interpreter]: a listener you register in, an adventure playing itself out.
-- [`osrlib.crawl.content_pack`][osrlib.crawl.content_pack]: keyed room content out of one adventure and into another.
-
-The shared services sit at the top level and serve both layers.
-
-- [`osrlib.data`][osrlib.data]: a content id in, the frozen rules entry behind it out.
-- [`osrlib.errors`][osrlib.errors]: the exceptions the library raises, and which failure each one stands for.
-- [`osrlib.messages`][osrlib.messages]: an event in, a line of default English out.
-- [`osrlib.persistence`][osrlib.persistence]: a session in, a save document out, and back again by loading or replaying.
-- [`osrlib.versioning`][osrlib.versioning]: the two version stamps on every document, and the envelope for them.
-
-The quickstart below runs the whole loop: characters, party, adventure, session, commands,
+mapped dungeon, driven by commands. You author the content, start a session, and hand it one
+command per player action. The session runs the exploration, encounter, and battle procedures
+for you and returns the events. Start at the session and work outwards.
+
+| Module | What it's for |
+| --- | --- |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.dungeon`][] | Cells, edges, doors, areas, and traps in, a mapped dungeon out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.adventure`][] | Dungeons and a town in, one adventure a session can play out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.party`][] | Characters in, marching order, group movement, and combat ranks out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.session`][] | A party, an adventure, and a seed in, a game taking commands out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.commands`][] | Every command you can execute, each with the modes it's legal in. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.events`][] | Every event a command can emit, and the parser that reads one back. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.views`][] | A session in, what a player may see or what a referee may see out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.exploration`][] | Movement, doors, searching, light, rest, and wandering checks. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.encounter`][] | A meeting in, surprise, distance, reaction, evasion, and pursuit out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.battle`][] | An encounter that came to blows in, a round-by-round battle out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.stocking`][] | An empty area and a stream in, its monsters and treasure out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.gates`][] | A gate's condition and a session in, whether the gate opens out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.triggers`][] | An event pattern in, a match against what just happened out. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.quests`][] | Objectives and the clauses that complete them, as authored content. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.narrative`][] | The authored text on a mechanical object, one block per audience. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.interpreter`][] | The listener you register on a session to play the adventure's triggers and quests. |
+| [`osrlib.crawl.content_pack`][] | Keyed room content out of one adventure and into another. |
+
+## Shared services
+
+The shared services sit at the top level and serve both layers: the compiled rules content,
+the exceptions, the message formatter, and the save and version documents.
+
+| Module | What it's for |
+| --- | --- |
+| [`osrlib.data`][] | A content id in, the frozen rules entry behind it out. |
+| [`osrlib.errors`][] | The exceptions the library raises, and which failure each one stands for. |
+| [`osrlib.messages`][] | An event in, a line of default English out. |
+| [`osrlib.persistence`][] | A session in, a save document out, and back again by loading or replaying. |
+| [`osrlib.versioning`][] | The two version stamps on every document, and the envelope for them. |
+
+## Quickstart
+
+The quickstart runs the whole loop: characters, party, adventure, session, commands,
 events, save, and load. For the documentation, including a stepwise walk through this
 example, see https://mmacy.github.io/osrlib-python/
 
diff --git a/tests/test_docs_gates.py b/tests/test_docs_gates.py
index be7ed9a..78f5650 100644
--- a/tests/test_docs_gates.py
+++ b/tests/test_docs_gates.py
@@ -212,3 +212,21 @@ def test_the_stream_page_names_every_stream_constant(self):
                 if name.endswith("_STREAM") and f"`{name}`" not in page:
                     missing.append(f"{info.name}.{name}")
         assert not missing, f"stream constants absent from docs/reference/rng-streams.md: {missing}"
+
+    def test_the_api_overview_tables_every_exporting_module_once(self):
+        import importlib
+        import pkgutil
+
+        import osrlib
+
+        overview = osrlib.__doc__ or ""
+        rows = re.findall(r"^\| \[`(osrlib\.[\w.]+)`\]\[\] \|", overview, re.M)
+        exporting = sorted(
+            info.name
+            for info in pkgutil.walk_packages(osrlib.__path__, "osrlib.")
+            if getattr(importlib.import_module(info.name), "__all__", None)
+        )
+        assert sorted(rows) == exporting, (
+            f"missing from the package docstring tables: {sorted(set(exporting) - set(rows))}; "
+            f"tabled but not exporting or duplicated: {sorted(set(rows) - set(exporting))}"
+        )
diff --git a/tools/docs/gen_api_reference.py b/tools/docs/gen_api_reference.py
index 3b67242..42106cd 100644
--- a/tools/docs/gen_api_reference.py
+++ b/tools/docs/gen_api_reference.py
@@ -52,17 +52,15 @@ def _layer(name: str) -> str:
             for symbol in exported:
                 page.write(f"        - {symbol}\n")
 
+# The overview page is the package docstring: it introduces each layer and tables its
+# modules in the order a reader meets them, with a link to every module page.
 with mkdocs_gen_files.open("reference/api/index.md", "w") as index:
     index.write("# API reference\n\n")
-    index.write("::: osrlib\n    options:\n      members: false\n\n")
-    index.write("One page per module, each rendering that module's public (importable) surface:\n\n")
-    for layer_title, _ in _LAYERS:
-        index.write(f"\n## {layer_title}\n\n")
-        for name, exported in modules:
-            if _layer(name) == layer_title:
-                path = name.replace(".", "/") + ".md"
-                summary = importlib.import_module(name).__doc__.strip().splitlines()[0].rstrip(".")
-                index.write(f"- [`{name}`]({path}) — {summary} ({len(exported)} symbols)\n")
+    index.write("::: osrlib\n")
+    index.write("    options:\n")
+    index.write("      members: false\n")
+    index.write("      heading_level: 1\n")
+    index.write("      show_root_toc_entry: false\n")
 
 with mkdocs_gen_files.open("reference/api/SUMMARY.md", "w") as summary:
     summary.write("\n".join(summary_lines) + "\n")