:root {
            --accent: #A6824A;
            --accent-soft: rgba(166,130,74,0.13);
            --mint: #A6824A;
            --mint-soft: rgba(166,130,74,0.13);
            --mint-dim: rgba(166,130,74,0.38);
            --bg: #154230;
            --card: #D4BF96;
            --dark: #154230;
            --dark-card: #D4BF96;
            --dark-card-2: #123B2C;
            --border: #2A5C48;
            --dark-border: #2A5C48;
            --gray: #22543D;
            --gray-light: #3A6B5A;
            --white: #F5EDE0;
            --light-text: #F5EDE0;
            --cream: #1C2541;
            --text: #1C2541;
            --accent-warm: #A6824A;
            --accent-red: #EF4444;
            --accent-blue: #5B8FA8;
        }


        * {
            margin: 0;
            padding: 0;
            box-sizing: border-box;
        }

        body {
            font-family: 'DM Sans', sans-serif;
            background: var(--dark);
            color: var(--white);
            overflow-x: hidden;
        }

        h1, h2, h3, h4 {
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
        }

        /* ---- NAV ---- */
        nav {
            position: fixed;
            top: 0;
            width: 100%;
            z-index: 100;
            padding: 1.25rem 2rem;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            justify-content: space-between;
            background: rgba(10, 14, 23, 0.8);
            backdrop-filter: blur(20px);
            border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
        }

        .logo {
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-weight: 700;
            font-size: 1.4rem;
            color: var(--white);
            letter-spacing: -0.5px;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.5rem;
        }

        .logo-icon {
            width: 32px;
            height: 32px;
            border-radius: 8px;
            display: block;
            flex-shrink: 0;
        }

        .nav-links {
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 1.5rem;
        }

        .nav-link {
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 0.875rem;
            font-weight: 500;
            color: var(--gray);
            text-decoration: none;
            transition: color 0.15s;
        }

        .nav-link:hover { color: var(--white); }

        .nav-cta {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            padding: 0.5rem 1.1rem;
            background: var(--mint);
            color: var(--dark);
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-weight: 700;
            font-size: 0.875rem;
            border-radius: 8px;
            text-decoration: none;
            transition: opacity 0.15s;
        }

        .nav-cta:hover { opacity: 0.9; }

        .nav-tag {
            font-size: 0.75rem;
            color: var(--mint);
            background: var(--mint-soft);
            padding: 0.3rem 0.75rem;
            border-radius: 20px;
            font-weight: 500;
        }

        /* ---- VETERAN BADGE ---- */
        .vet-badge {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.45rem;
            padding: 0.35rem 0.8rem 0.35rem 0.55rem;
            background: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.08);
            border: 1px solid rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.3);
            border-radius: 99px;
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 0.75rem;
            font-weight: 600;
            color: var(--accent-warm);
            letter-spacing: 0.3px;
            white-space: nowrap;
        }

        .vet-badge .flag {
            font-size: 0.9rem;
            line-height: 1;
        }

        .vet-badge-footer {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.35rem;
            font-size: 0.75rem;
            color: var(--gray-light);
            font-weight: 500;
            letter-spacing: 0.2px;
        }

        .vet-badge-footer .flag { font-size: 0.85rem; }

        /* ---- HERO ---- */
        .hero {
            min-height: 100vh;
            display: flex;
            flex-direction: column;
            justify-content: center;
            padding: 8rem 2rem 6rem;
            max-width: 900px;
            margin: 0 auto;
            position: relative;
        }

        .hero::before {
            content: '';
            position: absolute;
            top: -20%;
            right: -40%;
            width: 700px;
            height: 700px;
            background: radial-gradient(circle, var(--mint-soft) 0%, transparent 70%);
            pointer-events: none;
            z-index: 0;
        }

        .hero-overline {
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 0.85rem;
            font-weight: 600;
            text-transform: uppercase;
            letter-spacing: 3px;
            color: var(--mint);
            margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
        }

        .hero h1 {
            font-size: clamp(2.5rem, 6vw, 4.2rem);
            font-weight: 700;
            line-height: 1.1;
            letter-spacing: -1.5px;
            margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
        }

        .hero h1 .highlight {
            color: var(--mint);
        }

        .hero-sub {
            font-size: 1.2rem;
            color: var(--gray);
            line-height: 1.7;
            max-width: 600px;
            margin-bottom: 3rem;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
        }

        /* ---- CTA BUTTONS ---- */
        .cta-row {
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 1rem;
            margin-bottom: 3rem;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
            flex-wrap: wrap;
        }

        .btn-primary {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.5rem;
            padding: 0.9rem 1.75rem;
            background: var(--mint);
            color: var(--dark);
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-weight: 700;
            font-size: 1rem;
            border-radius: 12px;
            text-decoration: none;
            transition: opacity 0.15s, transform 0.1s;
        }
        .btn-primary:hover { opacity: 0.9; transform: translateY(-1px); }

        .btn-ghost {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.5rem;
            padding: 0.9rem 1.5rem;
            background: transparent;
            color: var(--gray);
            font-family: 'DM Sans', sans-serif;
            font-weight: 500;
            font-size: 0.95rem;
            border-radius: 12px;
            text-decoration: none;
            border: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
            transition: color 0.15s, border-color 0.15s;
        }
        .btn-ghost:hover { color: var(--white); border-color: var(--dark-border-light); }

        .nav-cta {
            display: inline-flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.4rem;
            padding: 0.5rem 1.1rem;
            background: var(--mint);
            color: var(--dark);
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-weight: 700;
            font-size: 0.875rem;
            border-radius: 8px;
            text-decoration: none;
            transition: opacity 0.15s;
        }
        .nav-cta:hover { opacity: 0.9; }

        .hero-stats {
            display: flex;
            gap: 3rem;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
        }

        .stat {
            display: flex;
            flex-direction: column;
        }

        .stat-number {
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 2rem;
            font-weight: 700;
            color: var(--white);
        }

        .stat-label {
            font-size: 0.85rem;
            color: var(--gray);
            margin-top: 0.25rem;
        }

        /* ---- TIERS SECTION ---- */
        .section {
            padding: 6rem 2rem;
            max-width: 1100px;
            margin: 0 auto;
        }

        .section-label {
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            text-transform: uppercase;
            letter-spacing: 3px;
            color: var(--mint);
            font-weight: 600;
            margin-bottom: 1rem;
        }

        .section h2 {
            font-size: clamp(1.8rem, 4vw, 2.8rem);
            font-weight: 700;
            letter-spacing: -1px;
            margin-bottom: 1rem;
            line-height: 1.15;
        }

        .section-desc {
            color: var(--gray);
            font-size: 1.05rem;
            line-height: 1.7;
            max-width: 600px;
            margin-bottom: 3.5rem;
        }

        /* ---- VALUE LADDER ---- */
        .ladder {
            display: grid;
            grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(240px, 1fr));
            gap: 1.5rem;
        }

        .ladder-card {
            background: var(--dark-card);
            border: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
            border-radius: 16px;
            padding: 2rem;
            position: relative;
            transition: border-color 0.3s, transform 0.3s;
        }

        .ladder-card:hover {
            border-color: var(--mint);
            transform: translateY(-4px);
        }

        .ladder-card.featured {
            border-color: var(--accent-warm);
            background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--dark-card) 0%, #D4BF96 100%);
        }

        .ladder-card.featured .tier-badge {
            background: var(--accent-warm);
            color: var(--dark);
        }

        .tier-badge {
            display: inline-block;
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 0.7rem;
            font-weight: 700;
            text-transform: uppercase;
            letter-spacing: 2px;
            padding: 0.3rem 0.7rem;
            border-radius: 6px;
            background: var(--mint-soft);
            color: var(--mint);
            margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
        }

        .ladder-card h3 {
            font-size: 1.3rem;
            font-weight: 700;
            margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
            letter-spacing: -0.5px;
        }

        .ladder-card p {
            font-size: 0.9rem;
            color: var(--gray);
            line-height: 1.6;
        }

        .ladder-features {
            margin-top: 1.25rem;
            list-style: none;
        }

        .ladder-features li {
            font-size: 0.85rem;
            color: var(--cream);
            padding: 0.4rem 0;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.5rem;
        }

        .ladder-features li::before {
            content: '→';
            color: var(--mint);
            font-weight: 700;
        }

        .ladder-card.featured .ladder-features li::before {
            color: var(--accent-warm);
        }

        /* ---- HOW IT WORKS ---- */
        .steps {
            display: grid;
            grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
            gap: 2rem;
            counter-reset: step;
        }

        .step {
            counter-increment: step;
            position: relative;
            padding: 2rem;
        }

        .step::before {
            content: counter(step, decimal-leading-zero);
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 4rem;
            font-weight: 700;
            color: var(--dark-border);
            line-height: 1;
            display: block;
            margin-bottom: 1rem;
        }

        .step h3 {
            font-size: 1.15rem;
            font-weight: 600;
            margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
            letter-spacing: -0.3px;
        }

        .step p {
            font-size: 0.9rem;
            color: var(--gray);
            line-height: 1.6;
        }

        /* ---- CLOSING ---- */
        .closing {
            padding: 8rem 2rem;
            text-align: center;
            max-width: 750px;
            margin: 0 auto;
            position: relative;
        }

        .closing::before {
            content: '';
            position: absolute;
            bottom: -10%;
            left: 50%;
            transform: translateX(-50%);
            width: 500px;
            height: 500px;
            background: radial-gradient(circle, var(--mint-soft) 0%, transparent 70%);
            pointer-events: none;
        }

        .closing h2 {
            font-size: clamp(2rem, 5vw, 3rem);
            font-weight: 700;
            letter-spacing: -1px;
            margin-bottom: 1.25rem;
            line-height: 1.15;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
        }

        .closing p {
            font-size: 1.1rem;
            color: var(--gray);
            line-height: 1.7;
            position: relative;
            z-index: 1;
        }

        /* ---- FOOTER ---- */
        footer {
            border-top: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
            padding: 2.5rem 2rem;
            text-align: center;
        }

        footer p {
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            color: #6A8A7D;
        }

        footer a {
            color: var(--gray);
            text-decoration: none;
        }

        /* ---- RESPONSIVE ---- */
        /* ---- COMPARE TABLE ---- */
        .compare-wrap {
            overflow-x: auto;
            -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
            border-radius: 16px;
            border: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
        }

        .compare-table {
            width: 100%;
            border-collapse: collapse;
            min-width: 680px;
            font-family: 'DM Sans', sans-serif;
        }

        .compare-table thead th {
            padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem;
            font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
            font-size: 0.8rem;
            font-weight: 700;
            text-transform: uppercase;
            letter-spacing: 1.5px;
            color: var(--gray);
            text-align: center;
            background: #154230;
            border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
        }

        .compare-table thead th:first-child {
            text-align: left;
            min-width: 200px;
        }

        .compare-table thead th.col-pw {
            background: linear-gradient(180deg, #154230 0%, #D4BF96 100%);
            color: var(--mint);
            position: relative;
        }

        .compare-table thead th.col-pw::after {
            content: '';
            position: absolute;
            bottom: -1px;
            left: 0;
            right: 0;
            height: 2px;
            background: var(--mint);
        }

        .compare-table tbody tr {
            border-bottom: 1px solid var(--dark-border);
            transition: background 0.15s;
        }

        .compare-table tbody tr:last-child {
            border-bottom: none;
        }

        .compare-table tbody tr:hover {
            background: rgba(255,255,255,0.02);
        }

        .compare-table tbody td {
            padding: 1rem 1.5rem;
            font-size: 0.9rem;
            color: var(--cream);
            text-align: center;
            vertical-align: middle;
        }

        .compare-table tbody td:first-child {
            text-align: left;
            color: var(--gray);
            font-size: 0.875rem;
        }

        .compare-table tbody td.col-pw {
            background: rgba(13, 219, 111, 0.04);
            font-weight: 600;
            color: var(--white);
        }

        .compare-table tbody td.col-pw .check {
            color: var(--mint);
            font-size: 1.1rem;
        }

        .check { color: var(--mint); font-size: 1.1rem; }
        .cross { color: #6A8A7D; font-size: 1.1rem; }
        .price-highlight { color: var(--mint); font-weight: 700; }
        .price-muted { color: var(--gray); }

        .compare-footnote {
            font-size: 0.78rem;
            color: #6A8A7D;
            margin-top: 1.25rem;
            line-height: 1.6;
        }

        .compare-footnote span {
            color: var(--gray);
        }

        /* pw column header badge */
        .pw-col-inner {
            display: flex;
            flex-direction: column;
            align-items: center;
            gap: 0.35rem;
        }

        .pw-best-badge {
            display: inline-block;
            background: var(--mint);
            color: var(--dark);
            font-size: 0.6rem;
            font-weight: 700;
            text-transform: uppercase;
            letter-spacing: 1px;
            padding: 0.2rem 0.5rem;
            border-radius: 4px;
        }

        @media (max-width: 768px) {
            nav { padding: 1rem; }
            .hero { padding: 7rem 1.25rem 4rem; }
            .hero-stats { flex-direction: column; gap: 1.5rem; }
            .section { padding: 4rem 1.25rem; }
            .ladder { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
            .steps { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 1rem; }
            .step { padding: 1.5rem 0; }
            .closing { padding: 5rem 1.25rem; }
            .compare-table { min-width: 600px; }
            .compare-table thead th,
            .compare-table tbody td { padding: 0.85rem 1rem; font-size: 0.82rem; }
        }


/* === index.html - utility classes === */
.util-f875 { font-size:0.875rem; }
.util-mb125-z1 { margin-bottom:1.25rem;position:relative;z-index:1; }
.util-f90-muted-italic { font-size:0.9rem;color:var(--gray-light);margin-bottom:2rem;position:relative;z-index:1;font-style:italic; }
.util-footer-links { margin-top:2.5rem;display:flex;gap:1rem;justify-content:center;flex-wrap:wrap }
.util-social-links { display:flex; justify-content:center; gap:1.5rem; flex-wrap:wrap; margin-bottom:0.75rem; }
.util-mt-60 { margin-top:0.6rem; }