diff --git a/scenes/game_scene/levels/3dlevel.tscn b/scenes/game_scene/levels/3dlevel.tscn
index 9e4b197..1c1f3ea 100644
--- a/scenes/game_scene/levels/3dlevel.tscn
+++ b/scenes/game_scene/levels/3dlevel.tscn
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [gd_scene format=3 uid="uid://4ajccsn6o10n"]
 
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cbual4qbgv2fc" path="res://scenes/player.tscn" id="1_e2xum"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://x4xnc85khpl5" path="res://scenes/path_3d_rope.tscn" id="2_jetiq"]
 
 [sub_resource type="BoxShape3D" id="BoxShape3D_xcqlg"]
 size = Vector3(40, 2, 5)
@@ -8,6 +9,15 @@ size = Vector3(40, 2, 5)
 [sub_resource type="BoxMesh" id="BoxMesh_xcqlg"]
 size = Vector3(40, 2, 5)
 
+[sub_resource type="Curve3D" id="Curve3D_jetiq"]
+resource_local_to_scene = true
+bake_interval = 512.0
+_data = {
+"points": PackedVector3Array(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5),
+"tilts": PackedFloat32Array(0, 0)
+}
+point_count = 2
+
 [node name="3Dlevel" type="Node3D" unique_id=1570360592]
 
 [node name="StaticBody3D" type="StaticBody3D" parent="." unique_id=362192398]
@@ -34,3 +44,11 @@ transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, -8, 1, 0)
 [node name="Player2" parent="." unique_id=432105976 instance=ExtResource("1_e2xum")]
 transform = Transform3D(1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 9, 1, 0)
 player_id = 2
+
+[node name="Path3DRope" parent="." unique_id=301387047 instance=ExtResource("2_jetiq")]
+curve = SubResource("Curve3D_jetiq")
+attach_start_path = NodePath("../Player1")
+attach_end_path = NodePath("../Player2")
+number_of_segments = 32
+cable_thickness = 0.05
+fixed_start_point = false
diff --git a/scripts/rope_tether.gd b/scripts/rope_tether.gd
index 51f5280..2d3910f 100644
--- a/scripts/rope_tether.gd
+++ b/scripts/rope_tether.gd
@@ -20,9 +20,23 @@ var attach_start : PhysicsBody3D
 var attach_end : PhysicsBody3D
 
 ## Extra rope length as a fraction of the gap between the two endpoints.
-## 0.0 spawns the rope taut (pin joints will fight); ~0.15 gives a natural sag.
+## 0.0 is dead taut (pin joints will fight); ~0.15 gives a natural sag.
 @export_range(0.0, 1.0, 0.01) var slack := 0.15
 
+## Reel the rope in and out so its length keeps tracking the endpoint gap,
+## instead of staying fixed at whatever it was when the level loaded.
+@export var dynamic_length := true
+
+## Bounds on total rope length, in metres. min_length stops the rope collapsing
+## into a stub when the players stand on top of each other; max_length is the
+## leash that eventually drags them back together.
+@export var min_length := 2.0
+@export var max_length := 20.0
+
+## How fast total length changes, in metres per second. Low values feel like a
+## winch, high values like the rope is weightless.
+@export var reel_speed := 6.0
+
 ## Constrain segments to the X-Y plane (linear Z, angular X and Y).
 @export var plane_lock_z := true
 
@@ -33,6 +47,9 @@ var attach_end : PhysicsBody3D
 # our own copy to place the end joint we add.
 var _origin_offset := Vector3.ZERO
 
+# Total rope length right now, eased toward _target_length() at reel_speed.
+var _rope_length := 0.0
+
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	attach_start = get_node_or_null(attach_start_path) as PhysicsBody3D
@@ -42,6 +59,60 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	super()
 	_apply_plane_lock()
 	_wire_endpoints()
+	_rope_length = _target_length()
+
+
+func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
+	if dynamic_length:
+		_reel(delta)
+	# Base script redraws the CSG curve from the segment transforms and capsule
+	# heights, so it has to run after the resize.
+	super(delta)
+
+
+## Length the rope wants to be for the current endpoint gap.
+func _target_length() -> float:
+	if attach_start == null or attach_end == null:
+		return maxf(distance, min_length)
+	var span := attach_start.global_position.distance_to(attach_end.global_position)
+	return clampf(span * (1.0 + slack), min_length, max_length)
+
+
+func _reel(delta: float) -> void:
+	var previous := _rope_length
+	_rope_length = move_toward(_rope_length, _target_length(), reel_speed * delta)
+	if absf(_rope_length - previous) > 0.0001:
+		_set_segment_length(_rope_length / float(number_of_segments))
+
+
+# Resize every capsule and re-anchor the pin joints bracketing it.
+#
+# Joint3D only derives its anchor points from the node transforms when the joint
+# is (re)configured on tree entry, so moving the joint nodes here would do
+# nothing — the anchors go straight to the physics server instead.
+#
+# Capsules run along local Y, and the base script's curve update shows +Y is the
+# end nearer the rope's start, so joint i sits at -Y on segment i-1 and +Y on
+# segment i.
+func _set_segment_length(segment_length: float) -> void:
+	# CapsuleShape3D silently clamps height to its diameter; clamp here too so
+	# the joint anchors match the shape the physics server actually has.
+	var clamped := maxf(segment_length, cable_thickness * 2.0)
+	var half := clamped * 0.5
+	for segment in segments:
+		var shape := segment.get_child(0).shape as CapsuleShape3D
+		shape.height = clamped
+	for i in joints.size():
+		var rid := joints[i].get_rid()
+		if i == 0:
+			# node_b is the attached body, whose anchor must not move.
+			PhysicsServer3D.pin_joint_set_local_a(rid, Vector3(0, half, 0))
+		elif i < segments.size():
+			PhysicsServer3D.pin_joint_set_local_a(rid, Vector3(0, -half, 0))
+			PhysicsServer3D.pin_joint_set_local_b(rid, Vector3(0, half, 0))
+		else:
+			# Tail joint: node_a is the last segment, node_b the attached body.
+			PhysicsServer3D.pin_joint_set_local_a(rid, Vector3(0, -half, 0))
 
 
 # Rebuild the curve as a sagging arc between the two endpoints so the rope
@@ -58,7 +129,14 @@ func _fit_curve_to_endpoints() -> void:
 	# (a rope between two grounded players dips below the floor), and segments
 	# that spawn embedded tunnel straight through it. Starting high is always
 	# clear, and gravity drapes the rope into place within a few frames.
-	var mid := (a + b) * 0.5 + Vector3(0, span * slack, 0)
+	#
+	# Curve points get zero tangents, so the baked path is the straight pair
+	# a->mid->b: bowing by h gives a length of 2*sqrt((span/2)^2 + h^2). Solve
+	# that for the length the reel is going to ask for anyway, so the rope does
+	# not lurch on the first frame.
+	var target := _target_length()
+	var bow := 0.5 * sqrt(maxf(target * target - span * span, 0.0))
+	var mid := (a + b) * 0.5 + Vector3(0, bow, 0)
 
 	var fitted := Curve3D.new()
 	# The scene's curve ships with a huge bake_interval, which would make
@@ -72,7 +150,6 @@ func _fit_curve_to_endpoints() -> void:
 	# the value is correct regardless of when that initializer runs.
 	distance = curve.get_baked_length()
 
-
 func _apply_plane_lock() -> void:
 	for segment in segments:
 		segment.collision_layer = segment_collision_layer
@@ -102,3 +179,6 @@ func _wire_endpoints() -> void:
 		end_joint.set_param(PinJoint3D.PARAM_BIAS, joint_bias_or_stiffness)
 		end_joint.set_param(PinJoint3D.PARAM_IMPULSE_CLAMP, max_impulse)
 		joints.append(end_joint)
+
+#func _physics_process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	#curve.bake_interval += 0.01