diff --git a/electron/cqrs/queries/handlers/getMessages.ts b/electron/cqrs/queries/handlers/getMessages.ts
index 27b0bac..b5a3286 100644
--- a/electron/cqrs/queries/handlers/getMessages.ts
+++ b/electron/cqrs/queries/handlers/getMessages.ts
@@ -16,11 +16,12 @@ export async function handleGetMessages(query: GetMessagesQuery, dataSource: Dat
 
   const rows = await repo.find({
     where: { roomId, ownerUserId: currentUserId },
-    order: { timestamp: 'ASC' },
+    order: { timestamp: 'DESC' },
     take: limit,
     skip: offset
   });
-  const reactionsByMessageId = await loadMessageReactionsMap(dataSource, rows.map((row) => row.id));
+  const chronologicalRows = [...rows].reverse();
+  const reactionsByMessageId = await loadMessageReactionsMap(dataSource, chronologicalRows.map((row) => row.id));
 
-  return rows.map((row) => rowToMessage(row, reactionsByMessageId.get(row.id) ?? []));
+  return chronologicalRows.map((row) => rowToMessage(row, reactionsByMessageId.get(row.id) ?? []));
 }
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/domains/attachment/application/services/attachment-manager.service.ts b/toju-app/src/app/domains/attachment/application/services/attachment-manager.service.ts
index e3534f3..4480a53 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/domains/attachment/application/services/attachment-manager.service.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/domains/attachment/application/services/attachment-manager.service.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export class AttachmentManagerService {
 
   private watchedRoomId: string | null = this.extractWatchedRoomId(this.router.url);
   private isDatabaseInitialised = false;
+  private autoDownloadRequestsByRoom = new Map<string, Promise<void>>();
 
   constructor() {
     effect(() => {
@@ -79,27 +80,23 @@ export class AttachmentManagerService {
   }
 
   async requestAutoDownloadsForRoom(roomId: string): Promise<void> {
-    if (!roomId || !this.isRoomWatched(roomId))
+    if (!roomId || !this.isRoomWatched(roomId) || this.webrtc.getConnectedPeers().length === 0)
       return;
 
-    if (this.database.isReady()) {
-      const messages = await this.database.getMessages(roomId, 500, 0);
+    const activeRequest = this.autoDownloadRequestsByRoom.get(roomId);
 
-      for (const message of messages) {
-        this.runtimeStore.rememberMessageRoom(message.id, message.roomId);
-        await this.requestAutoDownloadsForMessage(message.id);
-      }
-
-      return;
+    if (activeRequest) {
+      return activeRequest;
     }
 
-    for (const [messageId] of this.runtimeStore.getAttachmentEntries()) {
-      const attachmentRoomId = await this.persistence.resolveMessageRoomId(messageId);
-
-      if (attachmentRoomId === roomId) {
-        await this.requestAutoDownloadsForMessage(messageId);
+    const request = this.runAutoDownloadsForRoom(roomId).finally(() => {
+      if (this.autoDownloadRequestsByRoom.get(roomId) === request) {
+        this.autoDownloadRequestsByRoom.delete(roomId);
       }
-    }
+    });
+
+    this.autoDownloadRequestsByRoom.set(roomId, request);
+    return request;
   }
 
   async deleteForMessage(messageId: string): Promise<void> {
@@ -180,6 +177,31 @@ export class AttachmentManagerService {
     await this.transfer.fulfillRequestWithFile(messageId, fileId, targetPeerId, file);
   }
 
+  private async runAutoDownloadsForRoom(roomId: string): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.isRoomWatched(roomId)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (this.database.isReady()) {
+      const messages = await this.database.getMessages(roomId, 500, 0);
+
+      for (const message of messages) {
+        this.runtimeStore.rememberMessageRoom(message.id, message.roomId);
+        await this.requestAutoDownloadsForMessage(message.id);
+      }
+
+      return;
+    }
+
+    for (const [messageId] of this.runtimeStore.getAttachmentEntries()) {
+      const attachmentRoomId = await this.persistence.resolveMessageRoomId(messageId);
+
+      if (attachmentRoomId === roomId) {
+        await this.requestAutoDownloadsForMessage(messageId);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   private async requestAutoDownloadsForMessage(messageId: string, attachmentId?: string): Promise<void> {
     if (!messageId)
       return;
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/features/servers/servers-rail/servers-rail.component.ts b/toju-app/src/app/features/servers/servers-rail/servers-rail.component.ts
index 80548d8..84bff04 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/features/servers/servers-rail/servers-rail.component.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/features/servers/servers-rail/servers-rail.component.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
   menuX = signal(72);
   menuY = signal(100);
   contextRoom = signal<Room | null>(null);
+  optimisticSelectedRoomId = signal<string | null>(null);
   showLeaveConfirm = signal(false);
   currentUser = this.store.selectSignal(selectCurrentUser);
   onlineUsers = this.store.selectSignal(selectOnlineUsers);
@@ -192,6 +193,18 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
       void this.refreshBannedLookup(rooms, currentUser ?? null);
     });
 
+    effect(() => {
+      const optimisticRoomId = this.optimisticSelectedRoomId();
+
+      if (!optimisticRoomId) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (this.currentRoom()?.id === optimisticRoomId && !this.isOnDirectMessage() && !this.isOnCall()) {
+        this.optimisticSelectedRoomId.set(null);
+      }
+    });
+
     this.savedRoomJoinRequests
       .pipe(
         switchMap(({ room, password }) => this.requestJoinInBackground(room, password)),
@@ -214,6 +227,8 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
   createServer(): void {
     const voiceServerId = this.voiceSession.getVoiceServerId();
 
+    this.optimisticSelectedRoomId.set(null);
+
     if (voiceServerId) {
       this.voiceSession.setViewingVoiceServer(false);
     }
@@ -235,11 +250,13 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
       return;
     }
 
+    this.optimisticSelectedRoomId.set(room.id);
     this.activateSavedRoom(room);
     this.savedRoomJoinRequests.next({ room });
   }
 
   openCall(callId: string): void {
+    this.optimisticSelectedRoomId.set(null);
     void this.router.navigate(['/call', callId]);
   }
 
@@ -335,6 +352,7 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
     );
 
     if (isCurrentRoom) {
+      this.optimisticSelectedRoomId.set(null);
       this.router.navigate(['/search']);
     }
 
@@ -374,6 +392,12 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
   }
 
   isSelectedRoom(room: Room): boolean {
+    const optimisticRoomId = this.optimisticSelectedRoomId();
+
+    if (optimisticRoomId) {
+      return optimisticRoomId === room.id;
+    }
+
     if (this.isOnDirectMessage() || this.isOnCall()) {
       return false;
     }
@@ -492,6 +516,7 @@ export class ServersRailComponent {
 
     if (errorCode === 'BANNED') {
       this.closePasswordDialog();
+      this.optimisticSelectedRoomId.set(null);
       this.bannedRoomLookup.update((lookup) => ({
         ...lookup,
         [room.id]: true
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/browser-database.service.ts b/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/browser-database.service.ts
index 1d177d0..93b7993 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/browser-database.service.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/browser-database.service.ts
@@ -66,31 +66,32 @@ export class BrowserDatabaseService {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Retrieve messages for a room, sorted oldest-first.
+    * Retrieve the latest messages for a room, sorted oldest-first for display.
    * @param roomId - Target room.
    * @param limit  - Maximum number of messages to return.
-   * @param offset - Number of messages to skip (for pagination).
+    * @param offset - Number of newer messages to skip (for pagination).
    */
   async getMessages(roomId: string, limit = 100, offset = 0): Promise<Message[]> {
     const allRoomMessages = await this.getAllFromIndex<Message>(
       STORE_MESSAGES, 'roomId', roomId
     );
+    const sortedMessages = allRoomMessages.sort((first, second) => first.timestamp - second.timestamp);
+    const endIndex = Math.max(sortedMessages.length - offset, 0);
+    const startIndex = Math.max(endIndex - limit, 0);
+    const messages = sortedMessages.slice(startIndex, endIndex);
 
-    return allRoomMessages
-      .sort((first, second) => first.timestamp - second.timestamp)
-      .slice(offset, offset + limit)
-      .map((message) => this.normaliseMessage(message));
+    return this.hydrateMessages(messages);
   }
 
   async getMessagesSince(roomId: string, sinceTimestamp: number): Promise<Message[]> {
     const allRoomMessages = await this.getAllFromIndex<Message>(
       STORE_MESSAGES, 'roomId', roomId
     );
-
-    return allRoomMessages
+    const messages = allRoomMessages
       .filter((message) => message.timestamp > sinceTimestamp)
-      .sort((first, second) => first.timestamp - second.timestamp)
-      .map((message) => this.normaliseMessage(message));
+      .sort((first, second) => first.timestamp - second.timestamp);
+
+    return this.hydrateMessages(messages);
   }
 
   /** Delete a message by its ID. */
@@ -112,7 +113,11 @@ export class BrowserDatabaseService {
   async getMessageById(messageId: string): Promise<Message | null> {
     const message = await this.get<Message>(STORE_MESSAGES, messageId);
 
-    return message ? this.normaliseMessage(message) : null;
+    if (!message) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    return (await this.hydrateMessages([message]))[0] ?? null;
   }
 
   /** Remove every message belonging to a room. */
@@ -520,6 +525,47 @@ export class BrowserDatabaseService {
     await this.awaitTransaction(transaction);
   }
 
+  private async hydrateMessages(messages: Message[]): Promise<Message[]> {
+    if (messages.length === 0) {
+      return [];
+    }
+
+    const reactionsByMessageId = await this.loadReactionsForMessages(messages.map((message) => message.id));
+
+    return messages.map((message) => this.normaliseMessage({
+      ...message,
+      reactions: reactionsByMessageId.get(message.id) ?? message.reactions ?? []
+    }));
+  }
+
+  private async loadReactionsForMessages(messageIds: readonly string[]): Promise<Map<string, Reaction[]>> {
+    const messageIdSet = new Set(messageIds.filter((messageId) => messageId.trim().length > 0));
+    const reactionsByMessageId = new Map<string, Reaction[]>();
+
+    if (messageIdSet.size === 0) {
+      return reactionsByMessageId;
+    }
+
+    const allReactions = await this.getAll<Reaction>(STORE_REACTIONS);
+
+    for (const reaction of allReactions) {
+      if (!messageIdSet.has(reaction.messageId)) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      const reactions = reactionsByMessageId.get(reaction.messageId) ?? [];
+
+      reactions.push(reaction);
+      reactionsByMessageId.set(reaction.messageId, reactions);
+    }
+
+    for (const reactions of reactionsByMessageId.values()) {
+      reactions.sort((first, second) => first.timestamp - second.timestamp);
+    }
+
+    return reactionsByMessageId;
+  }
+
   private normaliseMessage(message: Message): Message {
     if (message.content === DELETED_MESSAGE_CONTENT) {
       return { ...message,
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/database.service.ts b/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/database.service.ts
index 07fd8cf..10f5498 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/database.service.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/database.service.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export class DatabaseService {
   /** Persist a single chat message. */
   saveMessage(message: Message) { return this.backend.saveMessage(message); }
 
-  /** Retrieve messages for a room with optional pagination. */
+  /** Retrieve the latest messages for a room with optional pagination. */
   getMessages(roomId: string, limit = 100, offset = 0) { return this.backend.getMessages(roomId, limit, offset); }
 
   /** Retrieve messages newer than a given timestamp for a room. */
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/electron-database.service.ts b/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/electron-database.service.ts
index 4eb5aab..7949e16 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/electron-database.service.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/infrastructure/persistence/electron-database.service.ts
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ export class ElectronDatabaseService {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Retrieve messages for a room, sorted oldest-first.
+    * Retrieve the latest messages for a room, sorted oldest-first for display.
    *
    * @param roomId - Target room.
    * @param limit  - Maximum number of messages to return.
-   * @param offset - Number of messages to skip (for pagination).
+    * @param offset - Number of newer messages to skip (for pagination).
    */
   getMessages(roomId: string, limit = 100, offset = 0): Promise<Message[]> {
     return this.api.query<Message[]>({ type: 'get-messages', payload: { roomId, limit, offset } });
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages-sync.effects.ts b/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages-sync.effects.ts
index 9137782..018fe87 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages-sync.effects.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages-sync.effects.ts
@@ -111,40 +111,47 @@ export class MessagesSyncEffects {
       this.actions$.pipe(
         ofType(RoomsActions.joinRoomSuccess, RoomsActions.viewServerSuccess),
         withLatestFrom(this.store.select(selectCurrentRoom)),
-        mergeMap(([{ room }, currentRoom]) => {
-          const activeRoom = currentRoom || room;
+        switchMap(([{ room }, currentRoom]) => {
+          const requestedRoomId = room.id;
 
-          if (!activeRoom)
-            return EMPTY;
+          return timer(75).pipe(
+            withLatestFrom(this.store.select(selectCurrentRoom)),
+            switchMap(([, latestCurrentRoom]) => {
+              const activeRoom = latestCurrentRoom ?? currentRoom ?? room;
+              const peers = this.webrtc.getConnectedPeers();
 
-          return from(
-            this.db.getMessages(activeRoom.id, FULL_SYNC_LIMIT, 0)
-          ).pipe(
-            tap((messages) => {
-              const count = messages.length;
-              const lastUpdated = getLatestTimestamp(messages);
-
-              for (const pid of this.webrtc.getConnectedPeers()) {
-                try {
-                  this.webrtc.sendToPeer(pid, {
-                    type: 'chat-sync-summary',
-                    roomId: activeRoom.id,
-                    count,
-                    lastUpdated
-                  });
-
-                  this.webrtc.sendToPeer(pid, {
-                    type: 'chat-inventory-request',
-                    roomId: activeRoom.id
-                  });
-                } catch (error) {
-                  this.debugging.warn('messages', 'Failed to kick off room sync for peer', {
-                    error,
-                    peerId: pid,
-                    roomId: activeRoom.id
-                  });
-                }
+              if (!activeRoom || activeRoom.id !== requestedRoomId || peers.length === 0) {
+                return EMPTY;
               }
+
+              return from(this.db.getMessages(activeRoom.id, FULL_SYNC_LIMIT, 0)).pipe(
+                tap((messages) => {
+                  const count = messages.length;
+                  const lastUpdated = getLatestTimestamp(messages);
+
+                  for (const pid of peers) {
+                    try {
+                      this.webrtc.sendToPeer(pid, {
+                        type: 'chat-sync-summary',
+                        roomId: activeRoom.id,
+                        count,
+                        lastUpdated
+                      });
+
+                      this.webrtc.sendToPeer(pid, {
+                        type: 'chat-inventory-request',
+                        roomId: activeRoom.id
+                      });
+                    } catch (error) {
+                      this.debugging.warn('messages', 'Failed to kick off room sync for peer', {
+                        error,
+                        peerId: pid,
+                        roomId: activeRoom.id
+                      });
+                    }
+                  }
+                })
+              );
             })
           );
         })
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.effects.ts b/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.effects.ts
index 49c8038..068c611 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.effects.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.effects.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ import { canEditMessage } from '../../domains/chat/domain/rules/message.rules';
 import { resolveRoomPermission } from '../../domains/access-control';
 import { dispatchIncomingMessage, IncomingMessageContext } from './messages-incoming.handlers';
 
+const INITIAL_ROOM_MESSAGE_LIMIT = 30;
+
 @Injectable()
 export class MessagesEffects {
   private readonly actions$ = inject(Actions);
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ export class MessagesEffects {
     this.actions$.pipe(
       ofType(MessagesActions.loadMessages),
       switchMap(({ roomId }) =>
-        from(this.db.getMessages(roomId)).pipe(
+        from(this.db.getMessages(roomId, INITIAL_ROOM_MESSAGE_LIMIT, 0)).pipe(
           mergeMap(async (messages) => {
             const hydrated = await hydrateMessages(messages, this.db);
 
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.helpers.ts b/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.helpers.ts
index 4a3fc2b..f4ea065 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.helpers.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/store/messages/messages.helpers.ts
@@ -29,23 +29,20 @@ export type { InventoryItem } from '../../domains/chat/domain/rules/message-sync
 /** Hydrates a single message with its reactions from the database. */
 export async function hydrateMessage(
   msg: Message,
-  db: DatabaseService
+  _db: DatabaseService
 ): Promise<Message> {
   if (msg.isDeleted)
     return normaliseDeletedMessage(msg);
 
-  const reactions = await db.getReactionsForMessage(msg.id);
-
-  return reactions.length > 0 ? { ...msg,
-    reactions } : msg;
+  return msg;
 }
 
 /** Hydrates an array of messages with their reactions. */
 export async function hydrateMessages(
   messages: Message[],
-  db: DatabaseService
+  _db: DatabaseService
 ): Promise<Message[]> {
-  return Promise.all(messages.map((msg) => hydrateMessage(msg, db)));
+  return messages.map((msg) => msg.isDeleted ? normaliseDeletedMessage(msg) : msg);
 }
 
 /** Builds a sync inventory item from a message and its reaction count. */
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/room-members-sync.effects.ts b/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/room-members-sync.effects.ts
index 279d097..baba652 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/room-members-sync.effects.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/room-members-sync.effects.ts
@@ -340,11 +340,12 @@ export class RoomMembersSyncEffects {
     const role = room.hostId === currentUser.id
       ? 'host'
       : (isCurrentRoom ? currentUser.role : existingMember?.role ?? 'member');
+    const seenAt = existingMember?.lastSeenAt ?? currentUser.joinedAt ?? Date.now();
 
     return {
-      ...roomMemberFromUser(currentUser, Date.now(), role),
+      ...roomMemberFromUser(currentUser, seenAt, role),
       id: existingMember?.id ?? currentUser.id,
-      joinedAt: existingMember?.joinedAt ?? currentUser.joinedAt ?? Date.now(),
+      joinedAt: existingMember?.joinedAt ?? currentUser.joinedAt ?? seenAt,
       avatarUrl: currentUser.avatarUrl ?? existingMember?.avatarUrl,
       role
     };
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.effects.ts b/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.effects.ts
index e8f5d6f..3a79c8f 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.effects.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.effects.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ import {
   of,
   from,
   EMPTY,
-  merge
+  merge,
+  timer
 } from 'rxjs';
 import {
   map,
@@ -60,6 +61,8 @@ type BlockedRoomAccessAction =
   | ReturnType<typeof RoomsActions.forgetRoom>
   | ReturnType<typeof RoomsActions.joinRoomFailure>;
 
+const VIEW_SERVER_LOAD_DELAY_MS = 75;
+
 @Injectable()
 export class RoomsEffects {
   private actions$ = inject(Actions);
@@ -608,7 +611,12 @@ export class RoomsEffects {
             navigationRequestVersion
           });
 
-          this.router.navigate(['/room', room.id]);
+          window.setTimeout(() => {
+            if (this.signalingConnection.isCurrentRoomNavigation(room.id, navigationRequestVersion)) {
+              void this.router.navigate(['/room', room.id]);
+            }
+          }, 0);
+
           return of(RoomsActions.viewServerSuccess({ room }));
         };
 
@@ -634,7 +642,9 @@ export class RoomsEffects {
   onViewServerSuccess$ = createEffect(() =>
     this.actions$.pipe(
       ofType(RoomsActions.viewServerSuccess),
-      mergeMap(({ room }) => [MessagesActions.loadMessages({ roomId: room.id }), UsersActions.loadBans()])
+      switchMap(({ room }) => timer(VIEW_SERVER_LOAD_DELAY_MS).pipe(
+        mergeMap(() => [MessagesActions.loadMessages({ roomId: room.id }), UsersActions.loadBans()])
+      ))
     )
   );
 
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.reducer.ts b/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.reducer.ts
index 63e1b23..abe4002 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.reducer.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/store/rooms/rooms.reducer.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,20 @@ function getDefaultTextChannelId(room: Room): string {
   return resolveActiveTextChannelId(enrichRoom(room).channels, 'general');
 }
 
+function activateRoomView(state: RoomsState, room: Room, isConnecting: boolean): RoomsState {
+  const enriched = enrichRoom(room);
+
+  return {
+    ...state,
+    currentRoom: enriched,
+    savedRooms: upsertRoom(state.savedRooms, enriched),
+    isConnecting,
+    signalServerCompatibilityError: null,
+    isConnected: true,
+    activeChannelId: getDefaultTextChannelId(enriched)
+  };
+}
+
 /** Upsert a room into a saved-rooms list (add or replace by id) */
 function upsertRoom(savedRooms: Room[], room: Room): Room[] {
   const normalizedRoom = enrichRoom(room);
@@ -220,27 +234,24 @@ export const roomsReducer = createReducer(
   })),
 
   // View server - just switch the viewed room, stay connected
-  on(RoomsActions.viewServer, (state) => ({
-    ...state,
-    isConnecting: true,
-    signalServerCompatibilityError: null,
-    error: null
-  })),
-
-  on(RoomsActions.viewServerSuccess, (state, { room }) => {
-    const enriched = enrichRoom(room);
+  on(RoomsActions.viewServer, (state, { room, skipBanCheck }) => {
+    if (skipBanCheck) {
+      return {
+        ...activateRoomView(state, room, true),
+        error: null
+      };
+    }
 
     return {
       ...state,
-      currentRoom: enriched,
-      savedRooms: upsertRoom(state.savedRooms, enriched),
-      isConnecting: false,
+      isConnecting: true,
       signalServerCompatibilityError: null,
-      isConnected: true,
-      activeChannelId: getDefaultTextChannelId(enriched)
+      error: null
     };
   }),
 
+  on(RoomsActions.viewServerSuccess, (state, { room }) => activateRoomView(state, room, false)),
+
   // Update room settings
   on(RoomsActions.updateRoomSettings, (state) => ({
     ...state,