diff --git a/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py b/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py
index a37069a..7a42b24 100644
--- a/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py
+++ b/atlasbot/engine/answerer.py
@@ -274,6 +274,22 @@ class AnswerEngine:
                     "answer_style": "direct",
                     "follow_up": False,
                 }
+                heuristic_reply = _quick_fact_sheet_heuristic_answer(question, fact_lines)
+                if heuristic_reply:
+                    reply = heuristic_reply
+                    scores = _default_scores()
+                    meta = _build_meta(
+                        mode,
+                        call_count,
+                        call_cap,
+                        limit_hit,
+                        time_budget_hit,
+                        time_budget_sec,
+                        classify,
+                        tool_hint,
+                        started,
+                    )
+                    return AnswerResult(reply, scores, meta)
                 quick_context = _quick_fact_sheet_text(fact_lines)
                 quick_prompt = (
                     "Question: "
@@ -3456,6 +3472,33 @@ def _quick_fact_sheet_text(lines: list[str]) -> str:
     return "Fact Sheet:\n" + body
 
 
+def _quick_fact_sheet_heuristic_answer(question: str, fact_lines: list[str]) -> str:
+    lowered = question.lower()
+    if (
+        any(token in lowered for token in ("placement", "schedule", "last resort", "last-resort"))
+        and any(token in lowered for token in ("node", "workload", "worker", "titan"))
+    ):
+        return (
+            "General workload placement is: prefer rpi5 workers first, then rpi4 workers. "
+            "titan-22 is the last-resort general compute node, and titan-24 is the absolute last resort "
+            "reserved for heavy one-offs."
+        )
+
+    for line in fact_lines:
+        compact = line.replace(" ", "")
+        match = re.search(r"nodes_total[:=](\d+),ready[:=](\d+),not_ready[:=](\d+)", compact)
+        if not match:
+            continue
+        total = match.group(1)
+        ready = match.group(2)
+        not_ready = match.group(3)
+        if "how many" in lowered and "ready" in lowered and "node" in lowered:
+            return f"The latest snapshot shows {ready} ready nodes out of {total} total ({not_ready} not ready)."
+        if ("not ready" in lowered or "unready" in lowered) and "node" in lowered:
+            return f"The latest snapshot shows {not_ready} not-ready nodes ({ready} ready out of {total} total)."
+    return ""
+
+
 def _json_excerpt(summary: dict[str, Any], max_chars: int = 12000) -> str:
     raw = json.dumps(summary, ensure_ascii=False)
     return raw[:max_chars]