diff --git a/multiplayer-next.md b/multiplayer-next.md
index d40f4cf1..31c2f14f 100644
--- a/multiplayer-next.md
+++ b/multiplayer-next.md
@@ -1410,3 +1410,5 @@ Allocated boot now also validates the complete signed roster shape before openin
 The control plane now mirrors that topology fence at roster publication: signed entries with duplicate players, duplicate slots, or a team inconsistent with the canonical global slot are rejected before durable assignment rows are written. Focused store tests cover forged topology and duplicate entries; normal/race Go suites and vet pass.
 
 The backend roster persistence boundary now enforces the same duplicate-player, duplicate-slot, and team/global-slot invariants as Godot startup. This closes the remaining local consistency gap in task 8.31; production signer/client-ticket publication and live Agones verification remain external gates.
+
+The no-show policy now has an explicit domain translation layer (`PlanInitialConnect`): `WAIT` remains non-mutating, ranked no-shows produce a `CANCELLED` match plan with innocent-player IDs, and eligible casual play produces a `LIVE` plan plus the complete bot-filled six-slot lineup. Normal/race domain tests cover both branches; applying the plan transactionally to durable tickets/matches and wiring it into the allocated server lifecycle remain task 8.35 work.
diff --git a/server/domain/noshow.go b/server/domain/noshow.go
index dfa0a3b5..afdbf934 100644
--- a/server/domain/noshow.go
+++ b/server/domain/noshow.go
@@ -32,6 +32,53 @@ type InitialConnectDecision struct {
 	Innocent []string
 }
 
+// InitialConnectPlan translates the policy decision into the authoritative
+// lifecycle result a store/orchestrator must apply. Keeping this translation
+// in domain prevents one caller from requeueing innocents while another leaves
+// them stuck in an accepted ticket, and makes the bot branch explicit.
+type InitialConnectPlan struct {
+	Action       InitialConnectAction
+	MatchState   State
+	Connected    []string
+	NoShows      []Abandonment
+	CasualLineup []CasualSlot
+}
+
+func PlanInitialConnect(playlist Playlist, readyAt, now time.Time, participants []ConnectParticipant, priorAbandons map[string][]time.Time) (InitialConnectPlan, error) {
+	decision, err := EvaluateInitialConnect(playlist, readyAt, now, participants, priorAbandons)
+	if err != nil {
+		return InitialConnectPlan{}, err
+	}
+	plan := InitialConnectPlan{
+		Action:    decision.Action,
+		Connected: append([]string(nil), decision.Innocent...),
+		NoShows:   append([]Abandonment(nil), decision.NoShows...),
+	}
+	switch decision.Action {
+	case InitialConnectWait:
+		return plan, nil
+	case InitialConnectCancel:
+		plan.MatchState = Cancelled
+		return plan, nil
+	case InitialConnectStartWithBot:
+		connected := make([]ConnectParticipant, 0, len(decision.Innocent))
+		for _, participant := range participants {
+			if participant.Connected {
+				connected = append(connected, participant)
+			}
+		}
+		lineup, err := BuildCasualLineup(connected)
+		if err != nil {
+			return InitialConnectPlan{}, err
+		}
+		plan.MatchState = Live
+		plan.CasualLineup = lineup
+		return plan, nil
+	default:
+		return InitialConnectPlan{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported initial-connect action")
+	}
+}
+
 // EvaluateInitialConnect only decides pre-live admission. It never computes a
 // game result or rating update; those remain unavailable until a match is
 // genuinely live and produces an authoritative result.
diff --git a/server/domain/noshow_test.go b/server/domain/noshow_test.go
index f740df8d..92c019f7 100644
--- a/server/domain/noshow_test.go
+++ b/server/domain/noshow_test.go
@@ -41,3 +41,26 @@ func TestCasualWaitsThenStartsWithBotsOnlyWithHumanOnEachTeam(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("empty-team decision = %+v err=%v", decision, err)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestPlanInitialConnectMakesLifecycleActionExplicit(t *testing.T) {
+	readyAt := time.Unix(1000, 0)
+	participants := sixConnectParticipants(0, 1)
+	plan, err := PlanInitialConnect(Casual, readyAt, readyAt.Add(CasualBotStartAfter), participants, nil)
+	if err != nil || plan.Action != InitialConnectStartWithBot || plan.MatchState != Live || len(plan.CasualLineup) != 6 || len(plan.NoShows) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("casual initial-connect plan = %+v err=%v", plan, err)
+	}
+	botCount := 0
+	for _, slot := range plan.CasualLineup {
+		if slot.IsBot {
+			botCount++
+		}
+	}
+	if botCount != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("casual plan bot count = %d, want 4", botCount)
+	}
+
+	ranked, err := PlanInitialConnect(Ranked, readyAt, readyAt.Add(InitialConnectWindow), sixConnectParticipants(0, 1, 2, 3, 4), nil)
+	if err != nil || ranked.Action != InitialConnectCancel || ranked.MatchState != Cancelled || len(ranked.CasualLineup) != 0 || len(ranked.Connected) != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("ranked initial-connect plan = %+v err=%v", ranked, err)
+	}
+}