diff --git a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/coder.ts b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/coder.ts
index 27ddca3..42650f2 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/coder.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/coder.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ The thread ID (26-char Crockford Base32) appears in the first message. If unsure
 
 ## Completing a phase
 
-Report which phase you completed using the phase **hash** (not the title). If you legitimately finish every remaining phase in this single turn, set completedPhase to the **last** phase hash in the plan (the workflow treats that as full completion). List the files you changed and summarize what you did.`;
+Report which phase you completed using the phase **hash** (not the title). If you legitimately finish every remaining phase in this single turn, set completedPhase to the **last** phase hash in the plan (the workflow treats that as full completion). List the files you changed and summarize what you did.
+
+## Output rules
+
+Keep your final response **short** — a brief summary paragraph plus the structured meta output. Do NOT paste diffs, file contents, or code blocks in your response. The actual changes are already on disk; repeating them wastes tokens. Just say what you did and why.`;
 
 export const coderRole: RoleDefinition<CoderMeta> = {
   description:
diff --git a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/planner.ts b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/planner.ts
index 1abdacf..635d68a 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/planner.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/planner.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ Fewer phases is always better. Each phase must justify its existence — if two
 After storing all phases via the CLI, output compact JSON only:
   { "phases": [{ "hash": "<hash-from-cas-put>", "title": "<one-line-summary>" }] }
 
-Order phases so earlier steps unblock later ones. Cover root cause, edge cases, and verification across the phases.`;
+Order phases so earlier steps unblock later ones. Cover root cause, edge cases, and verification across the phases.
+
+## Output rules
+
+Keep your final response **short** — just the JSON with phases. Do NOT paste code snippets, diffs, or implementation details in your response. Phase details are already stored in CAS; your response should only contain the compact phases JSON.`;
 
 export const plannerRole: RoleDefinition<PlannerMeta> = {
   description: "Breaks the task into sequential phases for the coder.",
diff --git a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/reviewer.ts b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/reviewer.ts
index dcb4709..05a5a73 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/reviewer.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/reviewer.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ const REVIEWER_SYSTEM = `You are a code reviewer. Review the git diff for correc
 - **Approve** only if there are zero issues
 - **Reject** with specific issues that must be fixed — every issue you find is blocking
 
-Be thorough. A false approve costs more than a false reject.`;
+Be thorough. A false approve costs more than a false reject.
+
+## Output rules
+
+Keep your final response **short**. Summarize findings in a few bullet points, then output the structured verdict. Do NOT paste the full diff or large code blocks in your response.`;
 
 export const reviewerRole: RoleDefinition<ReviewerMeta> = {
   description: "Runs git diff checks and sets approved when the change is ready.",
diff --git a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/tester.ts b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/tester.ts
index 296d091..2eb9292 100644
--- a/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/tester.ts
+++ b/packages/workflow-template-develop/src/roles/tester.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ export const testerMetaSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("status", [
 
 export type TesterMeta = z.infer<typeof testerMetaSchema>;
 
-const TESTER_SYSTEM = `You are a tester. Run the project's test suite, build, and lint commands. Check what commands are available from the preparer's output in the thread. Report pass/fail with details of what failed.`;
+const TESTER_SYSTEM = `You are a tester. Run the project's test suite, build, and lint commands. Check what commands are available from the preparer's output in the thread. Report pass/fail with details of what failed.
+
+## Output rules
+
+Keep your final response **short**. Report pass/fail with a brief summary of failures (if any). Do NOT paste full test output or build logs — just the key error lines.`;
 
 export const testerRole: RoleDefinition<TesterMeta> = {
   description: "Runs test, build, and lint commands and reports pass or fail with details.",