diff --git a/src/app/(frontend)/eod/custom/[id]/page.tsx b/src/app/(frontend)/eod/custom/[id]/page.tsx
index a15caa7..b1dfba6 100644
--- a/src/app/(frontend)/eod/custom/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(frontend)/eod/custom/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ export default async function CustomMinefieldPlayPage({
   const mines = Array.isArray(minefield.mines)
     ? (minefield.mines as { row: number; col: number }[])
     : [];
+  const authorId =
+    typeof minefield.author === "object" && minefield.author !== null
+      ? minefield.author.id
+      : minefield.author;
+  const isAuthor = user !== null && String(authorId) === String(user.id);
 
   return (
     <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-6 p-5">
@@ -58,7 +63,8 @@ export default async function CustomMinefieldPlayPage({
           <h1 className="text-lg font-semibold">{minefield.name}</h1>
         </div>
         <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-          Custom minefields are unranked and do not affect official stats or XP.
+          Custom wins award reduced XP (10% of standard payouts); field authors bank 5% of each
+          payout.
         </p>
       </div>
 
@@ -69,8 +75,10 @@ export default async function CustomMinefieldPlayPage({
           rows: minefield.rows,
           cols: minefield.cols,
           mines,
+          exposeEdgeMines: minefield.exposeEdgeMines ?? true,
         }}
         currentUserId={user?.id ?? 0}
+        isAuthor={isAuthor}
       />
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/eod/CreateMinefieldDialog.tsx b/src/components/frontend/eod/CreateMinefieldDialog.tsx
index 33c59c3..e78edd7 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/eod/CreateMinefieldDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/eod/CreateMinefieldDialog.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useState } from "react";
 import { Bomb, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { Checkbox } from "@/components/ui/checkbox";
 import {
   Dialog,
   DialogContent,
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ export function CreateMinefieldDialog({
   const [rows, setRows] = useState(9);
   const [cols, setCols] = useState(9);
   const [mines, setMines] = useState<Set<number>>(new Set());
+  const [exposeEdgeMines, setExposeEdgeMines] = useState(true);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
 
@@ -78,7 +80,13 @@ export function CreateMinefieldDialog({
       row: Math.floor(key / cols),
       col: key % cols,
     }));
-    const result = await createMinefield({ name: trimmed, rows, cols, mines: positions });
+    const result = await createMinefield({
+      name: trimmed,
+      rows,
+      cols,
+      mines: positions,
+      exposeEdgeMines,
+    });
     setSubmitting(false);
     if (result.success) {
       setOpen(false);
@@ -189,7 +197,7 @@ export function CreateMinefieldDialog({
                     role="gridcell"
                     aria-label={`row ${Math.floor(index / cols) + 1} col ${(index % cols) + 1}${painted ? " mine" : ""}`}
                     className={cn(
-                      "size-5 rounded-sm border transition-colors",
+                      "flex size-5 items-center justify-center rounded-sm border transition-colors",
                       painted
                         ? "border-destructive bg-destructive text-destructive-foreground"
                         : "border-emerald-700/60 bg-emerald-900/40 hover:border-emerald-400 hover:bg-emerald-700",
@@ -208,6 +216,24 @@ export function CreateMinefieldDialog({
             </p>
           )}
 
+          <div className="flex items-start gap-2 rounded-lg border border-border p-3">
+            <Checkbox
+              id="expose-edge-mines"
+              checked={exposeEdgeMines}
+              onCheckedChange={(value) => setExposeEdgeMines(value === true)}
+              className="mt-0.5"
+            />
+            <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
+              <label htmlFor="expose-edge-mines" className="text-sm font-medium leading-none">
+                Reveal bordering charges on failed runs
+              </label>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                Failed runs show mines that touch the swept area. Turn off to reveal none of the
+                remaining charges.
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           {error && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error}</p>}
         </div>
 
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldArena.tsx b/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldArena.tsx
index 65c2ad7..c711532 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldArena.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldArena.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useCallback, useState } from "react";
 import { CustomMinesweeperBoard, type CustomMinefieldData } from "./CustomMinesweeperBoard";
 import { CustomMinefieldLeaderboard } from "./CustomMinefieldLeaderboard";
+import { ExposureRuleToggle } from "./ExposureRuleToggle";
 import { useRealtimePresence } from "@/hooks/useRealtimePresence";
 import { useSidebar } from "@/components/ui/sidebar";
 import { useEffect } from "react";
@@ -10,9 +11,11 @@ import { useEffect } from "react";
 export function CustomMinefieldArena({
   minefield,
   currentUserId,
+  isAuthor,
 }: {
   minefield: CustomMinefieldData;
   currentUserId: number | string;
+  isAuthor: boolean;
 }) {
   const [refreshKey, setRefreshKey] = useState(0);
   const [playing, setPlaying] = useState(false);
@@ -33,6 +36,9 @@ export function CustomMinefieldArena({
         onGameRecorded={() => setRefreshKey((key) => key + 1)}
         onPhaseChange={onPhaseChange}
       />
+      {isAuthor && (
+        <ExposureRuleToggle minefieldId={minefield.id} exposeEdgeMines={minefield.exposeEdgeMines} />
+      )}
       <CustomMinefieldLeaderboard
         minefieldId={minefield.id}
         refreshKey={refreshKey}
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldBrowser.tsx b/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldBrowser.tsx
index ccd66bd..9d41245 100644
--- a/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldBrowser.tsx
+++ b/src/components/frontend/eod/CustomMinefieldBrowser.tsx
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ export function CustomMinefieldBrowser({
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-5xl flex-col gap-4">
       <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3">
         <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-          Community minefields. Playing these does not affect your official stats or XP.
+          Community minefields. Wins award reduced XP (10% of standard payouts); field authors
+          bank 5% of each payout.
         </p>
         <CreateMinefieldDialog unlocked={unlocked} />
       </div>
diff --git a/src/components/frontend/eod/ExposureRuleToggle.tsx b/src/components/frontend/eod/ExposureRuleToggle.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..939b7fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/frontend/eod/ExposureRuleToggle.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useState } from "react";
+import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
+import { Switch } from "@/components/ui/switch";
+import { updateMinefield } from "@/app/(frontend)/eod/custom/actions";
+
+export function ExposureRuleToggle({
+  minefieldId,
+  exposeEdgeMines,
+}: {
+  minefieldId: number;
+  exposeEdgeMines: boolean;
+}) {
+  const router = useRouter();
+  const [checked, setChecked] = useState(exposeEdgeMines);
+  const [pending, setPending] = useState(false);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  const onCheckedChange = async (next: boolean) => {
+    setError(null);
+    setPending(true);
+    const result = await updateMinefield({ id: minefieldId, exposeEdgeMines: next });
+    setPending(false);
+    if (result.success) {
+      setChecked(next);
+      router.refresh();
+    } else {
+      setError(result.error ?? "Could not update the exposure rule.");
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex w-full max-w-5xl flex-col gap-1 rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-3">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
+        <label htmlFor="exposure-rule" className="text-sm font-medium">
+          Reveal bordering charges on failed runs
+        </label>
+        <Switch
+          id="exposure-rule"
+          checked={checked}
+          disabled={pending}
+          onCheckedChange={onCheckedChange}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        {checked
+          ? "Failed runs show mines touching the swept area; everything else stays hidden."
+          : "Failed runs reveal no remaining charges; swept cells turn gray with a question mark."}
+      </p>
+      {error && <p className="text-xs text-destructive">{error}</p>}
+    </div>
+  );
+}