diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 48b4aca..85a42b8 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ addon/build/
 # Environment
 .env
 
+# docker-compose override, managed by mc-manager at runtime for per-service state
+# (LEVEL_NAME, etc.) that must survive deploys. Never committed.
+docker-compose.override.yml
+
 # Server data (Docker volumes are external, but just in case)
 server-data/
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a265497..e3a1760 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -4,16 +4,13 @@ services:
     container_name: mc-lobby
     environment:
       EULA: "TRUE"
-      SERVER_NAME: "SilverLABS Hub"
-      GAMEMODE: adventure
-      DIFFICULTY: peaceful
-      ALLOW_CHEATS: "true"
-      ONLINE_MODE: "false"
       SERVER_PORT: "19132"
-      LEVEL_NAME: "Hub World"
-      MAX_PLAYERS: "10"
-      DEFAULT_PLAYER_PERMISSION_LEVEL: operator
       OP_PERMISSION_LEVEL: "4"
+      # Other server.properties-aliased env vars (SERVER_NAME, GAMEMODE, DIFFICULTY,
+      # ALLOW_CHEATS, ONLINE_MODE, MAX_PLAYERS, DEFAULT_PLAYER_PERMISSION_LEVEL) are
+      # intentionally not set here — they're owned by /data/server.properties inside
+      # the named volume and edited via mc-manager's UI. LEVEL_NAME lives in
+      # docker-compose.override.yml on the host (managed by mc-manager, gitignored).
     ports:
       - "${LOBBY_PORT:-19132}:19132/udp"
     volumes:
@@ -44,17 +41,10 @@ services:
     container_name: mc-jamie
     environment:
       EULA: "TRUE"
-      SERVER_NAME: "Jamie's World"
-      GAMEMODE: survival
-      DIFFICULTY: normal
-      ALLOW_CHEATS: "true"
-      ONLINE_MODE: "false"
       SERVER_PORT: "19132"
-      LEVEL_NAME: "Jamie World"
-      LEVEL_SEED: "-6717666844935858147"
-      MAX_PLAYERS: "10"
-      DEFAULT_PLAYER_PERMISSION_LEVEL: operator
       OP_PERMISSION_LEVEL: "4"
+      # See lobby for rationale. LEVEL_SEED is dropped too — the world has long since
+      # been generated and the seed is ignored thereafter.
     ports:
       - "${JAMIE_PORT:-19133}:19132/udp"
     volumes:
@@ -78,15 +68,7 @@ services:
     container_name: mc-lyla
     environment:
       EULA: "TRUE"
-      SERVER_NAME: "Lyla's World"
-      GAMEMODE: survival
-      DIFFICULTY: normal
-      ALLOW_CHEATS: "true"
-      ONLINE_MODE: "false"
       SERVER_PORT: "19132"
-      LEVEL_NAME: "Lyla World"
-      MAX_PLAYERS: "10"
-      DEFAULT_PLAYER_PERMISSION_LEVEL: operator
       OP_PERMISSION_LEVEL: "4"
     ports:
       - "${LYLA_PORT:-19134}:19132/udp"
@@ -119,15 +101,7 @@ services:
     container_name: mc-mya
     environment:
       EULA: "TRUE"
-      SERVER_NAME: "Mya's World"
-      GAMEMODE: survival
-      DIFFICULTY: normal
-      ALLOW_CHEATS: "true"
-      ONLINE_MODE: "false"
       SERVER_PORT: "19132"
-      LEVEL_NAME: "Mya World"
-      MAX_PLAYERS: "10"
-      DEFAULT_PLAYER_PERMISSION_LEVEL: operator
       OP_PERMISSION_LEVEL: "4"
     ports:
       - "${MYA_PORT:-19135}:19132/udp"