diff --git a/src/lib/components/EventMenu.svelte b/src/lib/components/EventMenu.svelte
index fe18b7e..c659faa 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/EventMenu.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/EventMenu.svelte
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@
   {/if}
 </div>
 
-<EventJsonModal bind:open={jsonModalOpen} bind:event />
+<EventJsonModal bind:open={jsonModalOpen} event={event} />
 <PublicationStatusModal bind:open={publicationModalOpen} bind:results={publicationResults} />
 
 <style>
diff --git a/src/lib/components/content/MarkdownRenderer.svelte b/src/lib/components/content/MarkdownRenderer.svelte
index 60c5aed..78f2ac5 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/content/MarkdownRenderer.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/content/MarkdownRenderer.svelte
@@ -6,13 +6,17 @@
   import ProfileBadge from '../layout/ProfileBadge.svelte';
   import EmbeddedEvent from './EmbeddedEvent.svelte';
   import { mountComponent } from './mount-component-action.js';
+  import { fetchEmojiSet, resolveEmojiShortcode } from '../../services/nostr/nip30-emoji.js';
+  import type { NostrEvent } from '../../types/nostr.js';
 
   interface Props {
     content: string;
+    event?: NostrEvent; // Optional event for emoji resolution
   }
 
-  let { content }: Props = $props();
+  let { content, event }: Props = $props();
   let containerRef = $state<HTMLElement | null>(null);
+  let emojiUrls = $state<Map<string, string>>(new Map());
 
   // Extract pubkey from npub or nprofile
   function getPubkeyFromNIP21(parsed: ReturnType<typeof parseNIP21>): string | null {
@@ -120,10 +124,81 @@
     return result;
   }
 
+  // Resolve custom emojis in content
+  async function resolveContentEmojis(text: string): Promise<void> {
+    if (!event) return; // Need event to resolve emojis
+    
+    // Find all :shortcode: patterns
+    const emojiPattern = /:([a-zA-Z0-9_+-]+):/g;
+    const matches: Array<{ shortcode: string; fullMatch: string }> = [];
+    let match;
+    while ((match = emojiPattern.exec(text)) !== null) {
+      const shortcode = match[1];
+      const fullMatch = match[0];
+      if (!matches.find(m => m.fullMatch === fullMatch)) {
+        matches.push({ shortcode, fullMatch });
+      }
+    }
+    
+    if (matches.length === 0) return;
+    
+    // Collect all pubkeys to check: event author and p tags
+    const pubkeysToCheck = new Set<string>();
+    pubkeysToCheck.add(event.pubkey);
+    for (const tag of event.tags) {
+      if (tag[0] === 'p' && tag[1]) {
+        pubkeysToCheck.add(tag[1]);
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // Resolve emojis - first try specific pubkeys, then search broadly
+    const resolvedUrls = new Map<string, string>();
+    for (const { shortcode, fullMatch } of matches) {
+      // First try specific pubkeys (event author, p tags)
+      let url = await resolveEmojiShortcode(shortcode, Array.from(pubkeysToCheck), false);
+      
+      // If not found, search broadly across all emoji packs
+      if (!url) {
+        url = await resolveEmojiShortcode(shortcode, [], true);
+      }
+      
+      if (url) {
+        resolvedUrls.set(fullMatch, url);
+      }
+    }
+    
+    emojiUrls = resolvedUrls;
+  }
+
+  // Replace emoji shortcodes with images in text
+  function replaceEmojis(text: string): string {
+    let processed = text;
+    
+    // Replace from end to start to preserve indices
+    const sortedEntries = Array.from(emojiUrls.entries()).sort((a, b) => {
+      const indexA = processed.lastIndexOf(a[0]);
+      const indexB = processed.lastIndexOf(b[0]);
+      return indexB - indexA; // Sort by last index descending
+    });
+    
+    for (const [shortcode, url] of sortedEntries) {
+      const escapedUrl = escapeHtml(url);
+      const escapedShortcode = escapeHtml(shortcode);
+      // Replace with img tag, preserving the shortcode as alt text
+      const imgTag = `<img src="${escapedUrl}" alt="${escapedShortcode}" class="emoji-inline" style="display: inline-block; width: 1.2em; height: 1.2em; vertical-align: middle;" />`;
+      processed = processed.replaceAll(shortcode, imgTag);
+    }
+    
+    return processed;
+  }
+
   // Process content: replace nostr URIs with HTML span elements and convert media URLs
   function processContent(text: string): string {
-    // First, convert plain media URLs (images, videos, audio) to HTML tags
-    let processed = convertMediaUrls(text);
+    // First, replace emoji shortcodes with images if resolved
+    let processed = replaceEmojis(text);
+    
+    // Then, convert plain media URLs (images, videos, audio) to HTML tags
+    processed = convertMediaUrls(processed);
     
     // Find all NIP-21 links (nostr:npub, nostr:nprofile, nostr:nevent, etc.)
     const links = findNIP21Links(processed);
@@ -183,6 +258,18 @@
     // HTML tags (like <img>) pass through by default in marked
   });
 
+  // Resolve emojis when content or event changes
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (content && event) {
+      // Run async resolution without blocking
+      resolveContentEmojis(content).catch(err => {
+        console.warn('Error resolving content emojis:', err);
+      });
+    } else {
+      emojiUrls = new Map();
+    }
+  });
+
   // Render markdown to HTML
   function renderMarkdown(text: string): string {
     if (!content) return '';
@@ -350,6 +437,18 @@
     filter: none !important;
   }
 
+  :global(.markdown-content img.emoji-inline) {
+    display: inline-block;
+    margin: 0;
+    vertical-align: middle;
+    /* Inline emojis should have grayscale filter like other emojis */
+    filter: grayscale(100%) sepia(15%) hue-rotate(200deg) saturate(60%) brightness(0.95);
+  }
+
+  :global(.dark .markdown-content img.emoji-inline) {
+    filter: grayscale(100%) sepia(20%) hue-rotate(200deg) saturate(70%) brightness(0.9);
+  }
+
   :global(.markdown-content video) {
     max-width: 100%;
     height: auto;
diff --git a/src/lib/modules/comments/Comment.svelte b/src/lib/modules/comments/Comment.svelte
index 4a484eb..2b6a2c5 100644
--- a/src/lib/modules/comments/Comment.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/modules/comments/Comment.svelte
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
     </div>
 
     <div class="comment-content mb-2">
-      <MarkdownRenderer content={comment.content} />
+      <MarkdownRenderer content={comment.content} event={comment} />
     </div>
 
     <div class="comment-actions flex gap-2 items-center">
diff --git a/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPage.svelte b/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPage.svelte
index 0781c41..f2dcd8a 100644
--- a/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPage.svelte
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@
 
   // Debounced update handler to prevent rapid re-renders
   function handleUpdate(updated: NostrEvent[]) {
+    console.log(`[FeedPage] handleUpdate called with ${updated.length} events, current posts: ${posts.length}`);
     pendingUpdates.push(...updated);
     
     if (updateTimeout) {
@@ -198,10 +199,13 @@
       const existingIds = new Set(posts.map(p => p.id));
       const newEvents = pendingUpdates.filter(e => !existingIds.has(e.id));
       
+      console.log(`[FeedPage] Processing ${newEvents.length} new events, existing: ${posts.length}`);
+      
       if (newEvents.length > 0) {
         // Merge and sort
         const merged = [...posts, ...newEvents];
         const sorted = merged.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
+        console.log(`[FeedPage] Setting posts to ${sorted.length} events`);
         posts = sorted;
       }
       
diff --git a/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPost.svelte b/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPost.svelte
index c05e8e2..68323e1 100644
--- a/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPost.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/modules/feed/FeedPost.svelte
@@ -448,36 +448,7 @@
 
     <div class="post-content mb-2">
         <MediaAttachments event={post} />
-      <MarkdownRenderer content={post.content} />
-    </div>
-
-    <div class="post-actions flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 sm:gap-4">
-      {#if post.kind === 11}
-        <!-- Show vote counts for threads -->
-        {#if upvotes > 0 || downvotes > 0}
-          <span class="vote-counts text-xs text-fog-text-light dark:text-fog-dark-text-light">
-            <span class="upvotes">⬆️ {upvotes}</span>
-            {#if downvotes > 0}
-              <span class="downvotes ml-2">⬇️ {downvotes}</span>
-            {/if}
-          </span>
-        {/if}
-      {/if}
-      {#if zapCount > 0}
-        <span class="zap-count-display">
-          <span class="zap-emoji">⚡</span>
-          <span class="zap-count-number">{zapCount}</span>
-        </span>
-      {/if}
-      <FeedReactionButtons event={post} />
-      {#if onReply}
-        <button
-          onclick={() => onReply(post)}
-          class="text-xs text-fog-accent dark:text-fog-dark-accent hover:underline"
-        >
-          Reply
-        </button>
-      {/if}
+      <MarkdownRenderer content={post.content} event={post} />
     </div>
   </div>
   
@@ -489,6 +460,35 @@
       {expanded ? 'Show less' : 'Show more'}
     </button>
   {/if}
+
+  <div class="post-actions flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 sm:gap-4">
+    {#if post.kind === 11}
+      <!-- Show vote counts for threads -->
+      {#if upvotes > 0 || downvotes > 0}
+        <span class="vote-counts text-xs text-fog-text-light dark:text-fog-dark-text-light">
+          <span class="upvotes">⬆️ {upvotes}</span>
+          {#if downvotes > 0}
+            <span class="downvotes ml-2">⬇️ {downvotes}</span>
+          {/if}
+        </span>
+      {/if}
+    {/if}
+    {#if zapCount > 0}
+      <span class="zap-count-display">
+        <span class="zap-emoji">⚡</span>
+        <span class="zap-count-number">{zapCount}</span>
+      </span>
+    {/if}
+    <FeedReactionButtons event={post} />
+    {#if onReply}
+      <button
+        onclick={() => onReply(post)}
+        class="text-xs text-fog-accent dark:text-fog-dark-accent hover:underline"
+      >
+        Reply
+      </button>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
   
   <div class="kind-badge">
     <span class="kind-number">{getKindInfo(post.kind).number}</span>
diff --git a/src/lib/modules/feed/Reply.svelte b/src/lib/modules/feed/Reply.svelte
index 7ff2c41..afbe21d 100644
--- a/src/lib/modules/feed/Reply.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/modules/feed/Reply.svelte
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
     </div>
 
     <div class="reply-content mb-2">
-      <MarkdownRenderer content={reply.content} />
+      <MarkdownRenderer content={reply.content} event={reply} />
     </div>
 
     <div class="reply-actions flex items-center gap-4">
diff --git a/src/lib/modules/reactions/FeedReactionButtons.svelte b/src/lib/modules/reactions/FeedReactionButtons.svelte
index f3f3650..65bd1e7 100644
--- a/src/lib/modules/reactions/FeedReactionButtons.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/modules/reactions/FeedReactionButtons.svelte
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   import type { NostrEvent } from '../../types/nostr.js';
   import emojiData from 'unicode-emoji-json/data-ordered-emoji.json';
   import emojiNames from 'unicode-emoji-json/data-by-emoji.json';
-  import { resolveCustomEmojis } from '../../services/nostr/nip30-emoji.js';
+  import { resolveCustomEmojis, fetchEmojiSet, resolveEmojiShortcode } from '../../services/nostr/nip30-emoji.js';
 
   interface Props {
     event: NostrEvent;
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
   let menuButton: HTMLButtonElement | null = $state(null);
   let customEmojiUrls = $state<Map<string, string>>(new Map());
   let emojiSearchQuery = $state('');
+  let emojiSearchInput: HTMLInputElement | null = $state(null);
   let allReactionsMap = $state<Map<string, NostrEvent>>(new Map()); // Persist reactions map for real-time updates
   
   let heartCount = $derived(getReactionCount('+'));
@@ -314,8 +315,67 @@
     });
 
     reactions = reactionMap;
+    
+    // Resolve custom emojis - include event author's pubkey as they may have defined emojis
+    // First resolve with original function (reactors' emojis), then enhance with event author
     const emojiUrls = await resolveCustomEmojis(reactionMap);
-    customEmojiUrls = emojiUrls;
+    
+    // Collect all pubkeys to check: event author, reactors, and p tags from the event
+    const pubkeysToCheck = new Set<string>();
+    pubkeysToCheck.add(event.pubkey); // Event author
+    for (const { pubkeys } of reactionMap.values()) {
+      for (const pubkey of pubkeys) {
+        pubkeysToCheck.add(pubkey);
+      }
+    }
+    // Also check p tags from the event (mentioned users might have emoji sets)
+    for (const tag of event.tags) {
+      if (tag[0] === 'p' && tag[1]) {
+        pubkeysToCheck.add(tag[1]);
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // Check all collected pubkeys for unresolved text emojis
+    const unresolvedTextEmojis = Array.from(reactionMap.keys()).filter(
+      c => c.startsWith(':') && c.endsWith(':') && !emojiUrls.has(c)
+    );
+    
+    if (unresolvedTextEmojis.length > 0) {
+      // Fetch emoji sets for all pubkeys in parallel
+      const emojiSetPromises = Array.from(pubkeysToCheck).map(pubkey => 
+        fetchEmojiSet(pubkey).catch(() => null)
+      );
+      const emojiSets = await Promise.all(emojiSetPromises);
+      
+      // Try to resolve each unresolved emoji
+      for (const content of unresolvedTextEmojis) {
+        if (emojiUrls.has(content)) continue; // Already resolved
+        
+        const shortcode = content.slice(1, -1); // Remove colons
+        
+        // First check each emoji set from collected pubkeys
+        let found = false;
+        for (const emojiSet of emojiSets) {
+          if (emojiSet?.emojis.has(shortcode)) {
+            const emojiDef = emojiSet.emojis.get(shortcode)!;
+            emojiUrls.set(content, emojiDef.url);
+            found = true;
+            break; // Found it, move to next emoji
+          }
+        }
+        
+        // If not found in specific pubkeys, search broadly
+        if (!found) {
+          const url = await resolveEmojiShortcode(shortcode, [], true);
+          if (url) {
+            emojiUrls.set(content, url);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // Update state - create new Map to ensure reactivity
+    customEmojiUrls = new Map(emojiUrls);
   }
 
   async function toggleReaction(content: string) {
@@ -466,12 +526,35 @@
     if (content.startsWith(':') && content.endsWith(':')) {
       const url = customEmojiUrls.get(content);
       if (url) {
-        return content;
+        return content; // Custom emoji with URL - will be rendered as image
       }
+      // Text emoji without URL - return the shortcode for display
+      return content;
     }
     return content;
   }
   
+  function formatTextEmoji(content: string): string {
+    // Format text emojis like ":clap:" to "Clap" for display (fallback when no image URL)
+    if (content.startsWith(':') && content.endsWith(':')) {
+      const shortcode = content.slice(1, -1); // Remove colons
+      // Capitalize first letter
+      return shortcode.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + shortcode.slice(1);
+    }
+    return content;
+  }
+  
+  // Make this reactive so it updates when customEmojiUrls changes
+  function hasEmojiUrl(content: string): boolean {
+    // Check if this text emoji has a resolved URL
+    // Access customEmojiUrls to make this reactive
+    const urls = customEmojiUrls;
+    if (content.startsWith(':') && content.endsWith(':')) {
+      return urls.has(content);
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+  
   function isCustomEmoji(content: string): boolean {
     return content.startsWith(':') && content.endsWith(':') && customEmojiUrls.has(content);
   }
@@ -536,6 +619,12 @@
     } else {
       showMenu = true;
       emojiSearchQuery = '';
+      // Focus the search input after menu opens
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        if (emojiSearchInput) {
+          emojiSearchInput.focus();
+        }
+      });
     }
   }
   
@@ -549,6 +638,13 @@
       // Prevent body scroll when drawer is open
       document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
       
+      // Focus the search input when menu opens
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        if (emojiSearchInput) {
+          emojiSearchInput.focus();
+        }
+      });
+      
       const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
         document.addEventListener('click', closeMenuOnOutsideClick, true);
       }, 0);
@@ -625,6 +721,7 @@
         </div>
         <div class="emoji-search-container">
           <input
+            bind:this={emojiSearchInput}
             type="text"
             placeholder="Search emojis..."
             value={emojiSearchQuery}
@@ -646,12 +743,17 @@
                 class="reaction-menu-item {userReaction === reaction ? 'active' : ''}"
                 title={reaction === '+' ? 'Like' : `React with ${getReactionDisplay(reaction)}`}
               >
-                {#if isCustomEmoji(reaction)}
-                  {@const url = getCustomEmojiUrl(reaction)}
-                  {#if url}
-                    <img src={url} alt={reaction} class="custom-emoji-img" />
+                {#if reaction.startsWith(':') && reaction.endsWith(':')}
+                  <!-- Text emoji - try to display as image if URL available -->
+                  {#if hasEmojiUrl(reaction)}
+                    {@const url = getCustomEmojiUrl(reaction)}
+                    {#if url}
+                      <img src={url} alt={reaction} class="custom-emoji-img" />
+                    {:else}
+                      <span class="text-emoji">{formatTextEmoji(reaction)}</span>
+                    {/if}
                   {:else}
-                    {reaction}
+                    <span class="text-emoji">{formatTextEmoji(reaction)}</span>
                   {/if}
                 {:else}
                   {getReactionDisplay(reaction)}
@@ -677,15 +779,15 @@
                     class="reaction-menu-item {userReaction === emoji ? 'active' : ''}"
                     title={`React with ${emoji}`}
                   >
-                    {#if isCustomEmoji(emoji)}
+                    {#if hasEmojiUrl(emoji)}
                       {@const url = getCustomEmojiUrl(emoji)}
                       {#if url}
                         <img src={url} alt={emoji} class="custom-emoji-img" />
                       {:else}
-                        {emoji}
+                        <span class="text-emoji">{formatTextEmoji(emoji)}</span>
                       {/if}
                     {:else}
-                      {emoji}
+                      <span class="text-emoji">{formatTextEmoji(emoji)}</span>
                     {/if}
                     {#if count > 0}
                       <span class="reaction-count">{count}</span>
@@ -708,12 +810,17 @@
         >
           {#if content === '+'}
             ❤️
-          {:else if isCustomEmoji(content)}
-            {@const url = getCustomEmojiUrl(content)}
-            {#if url}
-              <img src={url} alt={content} class="custom-emoji-img" />
+          {:else if content.startsWith(':') && content.endsWith(':')}
+            <!-- Text emoji - try to display as image if URL available -->
+            {#if hasEmojiUrl(content)}
+              {@const url = getCustomEmojiUrl(content)}
+              {#if url}
+                <img src={url} alt={content} class="custom-emoji-img" />
+              {:else}
+                <span class="text-emoji">{formatTextEmoji(content)}</span>
+              {/if}
             {:else}
-              {content}
+              <span class="text-emoji">{formatTextEmoji(content)}</span>
             {/if}
           {:else}
             {content}
@@ -1050,6 +1157,17 @@
     color: var(--fog-dark-text-light, #9ca3af);
   }
 
+  .text-emoji {
+    font-size: 0.875rem;
+    font-weight: 500;
+    color: var(--fog-text, #1f2937);
+    text-transform: capitalize;
+  }
+  
+  :global(.dark) .text-emoji {
+    color: var(--fog-dark-text, #f9fafb);
+  }
+
   .vote-btn {
     display: inline-flex;
     align-items: center;
diff --git a/src/lib/services/nostr/nip30-emoji.ts b/src/lib/services/nostr/nip30-emoji.ts
index 897e742..f66e32c 100644
--- a/src/lib/services/nostr/nip30-emoji.ts
+++ b/src/lib/services/nostr/nip30-emoji.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ export interface EmojiSet {
 // Cache of emoji sets by pubkey
 const emojiSetCache = new Map<string, EmojiSet>();
 
+// Global shortcode -> URL cache (built from all emoji packs)
+const shortcodeCache = new Map<string, string>();
+
+// Track if we've loaded all emoji packs
+let allEmojiPacksLoaded = false;
+let loadingEmojiPacks = false;
+
 /**
  * Parse a kind 10030 emoji set event or kind 30030 emoji pack
  */
@@ -55,6 +62,7 @@ export function parseEmojiSet(event: NostrEvent): EmojiSet | null {
 
 /**
  * Fetch emoji set for a pubkey
+ * Merges all emoji sets (kind 10030) and emoji packs (kind 30030) together
  */
 export async function fetchEmojiSet(pubkey: string): Promise<EmojiSet | null> {
   // Check cache first
@@ -65,22 +73,53 @@ export async function fetchEmojiSet(pubkey: string): Promise<EmojiSet | null> {
   try {
     const relays = relayManager.getFeedReadRelays();
     // Fetch both emoji sets (10030) and emoji packs (30030)
+    // Get more events to capture all packs (30030 can have multiple with different d tags)
     const events = await nostrClient.fetchEvents(
-      [{ kinds: [10030, 30030], authors: [pubkey], limit: 10 }], // Get multiple in case of packs
+      [{ kinds: [10030, 30030], authors: [pubkey], limit: 50 }], // Get more to capture all packs
       relays,
       { useCache: true, cacheResults: true, timeout: 5000 }
     );
     
     if (events.length === 0) return null;
     
-    // Get the most recent event (replaceable events)
-    const event = events.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at)[0];
-    const emojiSet = parseEmojiSet(event);
+    // Separate emoji sets (10030) and emoji packs (30030)
+    const emojiSetEvents = events.filter(e => e.kind === 10030);
+    const emojiPackEvents = events.filter(e => e.kind === 30030);
     
-    if (emojiSet) {
-      emojiSetCache.set(pubkey, emojiSet);
+    const allEmojis = new Map<string, EmojiDefinition>();
+    
+    // For kind 10030 (emoji sets): take the most recent (replaceable)
+    if (emojiSetEvents.length > 0) {
+      const mostRecentSet = emojiSetEvents.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at)[0];
+      const parsedSet = parseEmojiSet(mostRecentSet);
+      if (parsedSet) {
+        // Merge emojis from the set
+        for (const [shortcode, def] of parsedSet.emojis.entries()) {
+          allEmojis.set(shortcode, def);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // For kind 30030 (emoji packs): merge ALL packs together
+    // Packs are parameterized with d tags, so a user can have multiple packs
+    for (const packEvent of emojiPackEvents) {
+      const parsedPack = parseEmojiSet(packEvent);
+      if (parsedPack) {
+        // Merge emojis from this pack (later packs override earlier ones for same shortcode)
+        for (const [shortcode, def] of parsedPack.emojis.entries()) {
+          allEmojis.set(shortcode, def);
+        }
+      }
     }
     
+    if (allEmojis.size === 0) return null;
+    
+    const emojiSet: EmojiSet = {
+      pubkey,
+      emojis: allEmojis
+    };
+    
+    emojiSetCache.set(pubkey, emojiSet);
     return emojiSet;
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error fetching emoji set:', error);
@@ -88,18 +127,97 @@ export async function fetchEmojiSet(pubkey: string): Promise<EmojiSet | null> {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Fetch and cache all emoji packs/sets from relays
+ * This builds up a global cache of all available emojis
+ */
+export async function loadAllEmojiPacks(): Promise<void> {
+  // Prevent concurrent loads
+  if (loadingEmojiPacks) {
+    return;
+  }
+  
+  if (allEmojiPacksLoaded) {
+    return;
+  }
+  
+  loadingEmojiPacks = true;
+  
+  try {
+    const relays = relayManager.getFeedReadRelays();
+    console.log('[nip30-emoji] Loading all emoji packs/sets...');
+    
+    // Fetch all emoji sets (10030) and emoji packs (30030)
+    // Use a high limit to get all available packs
+    const events = await nostrClient.fetchEvents(
+      [{ kinds: [10030, 30030], limit: 500 }], // Get all emoji packs/sets
+      relays,
+      { useCache: true, cacheResults: true, timeout: 10000 }
+    );
+    
+    console.log(`[nip30-emoji] Found ${events.length} emoji pack/set events`);
+    
+    // Process and cache all emoji sets/packs
+    // Track shortcode -> (url, created_at) to prefer most recent
+    const shortcodeToUrlAndTime = new Map<string, { url: string; created_at: number }>();
+    const emojiSetsByPubkey = new Map<string, EmojiSet>();
+    
+    // Group events by pubkey and merge packs
+    for (const event of events) {
+      const parsed = parseEmojiSet(event);
+      if (!parsed) continue;
+      
+      if (emojiSetsByPubkey.has(parsed.pubkey)) {
+        // Merge with existing set for this pubkey
+        const existing = emojiSetsByPubkey.get(parsed.pubkey)!;
+        for (const [shortcode, def] of parsed.emojis.entries()) {
+          existing.emojis.set(shortcode, def);
+        }
+      } else {
+        emojiSetsByPubkey.set(parsed.pubkey, parsed);
+      }
+      
+      // Track shortcodes with their creation time to prefer most recent
+      for (const [shortcode, def] of parsed.emojis.entries()) {
+        const existing = shortcodeToUrlAndTime.get(shortcode);
+        if (!existing || event.created_at > existing.created_at) {
+          shortcodeToUrlAndTime.set(shortcode, { url: def.url, created_at: event.created_at });
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    
+    // Cache all found emoji sets by pubkey
+    for (const [pubkey, emojiSet] of emojiSetsByPubkey.entries()) {
+      emojiSetCache.set(pubkey, emojiSet);
+    }
+    
+    // Build shortcode -> URL cache (preferring most recent)
+    for (const [shortcode, { url }] of shortcodeToUrlAndTime.entries()) {
+      shortcodeCache.set(shortcode, url);
+    }
+    
+    console.log(`[nip30-emoji] Cached ${emojiSetsByPubkey.size} emoji sets with ${shortcodeCache.size} unique shortcodes`);
+    allEmojiPacksLoaded = true;
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error loading all emoji packs:', error);
+  } finally {
+    loadingEmojiPacks = false;
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Resolve a shortcode to an image URL
- * Tries to find the emoji in emoji sets from the given pubkeys
+ * First checks specific pubkeys, then checks the global shortcode cache
  */
 export async function resolveEmojiShortcode(
   shortcode: string,
-  pubkeys: string[] = []
+  pubkeys: string[] = [],
+  searchBroadly: boolean = true
 ): Promise<string | null> {
   // Remove colons if present
   const cleanShortcode = shortcode.replace(/^:|:$/g, '');
   
-  // Try each pubkey's emoji set
+  // Try each pubkey's emoji set first (these take priority)
   for (const pubkey of pubkeys) {
     const emojiSet = await fetchEmojiSet(pubkey);
     if (emojiSet?.emojis.has(cleanShortcode)) {
@@ -107,6 +225,16 @@ export async function resolveEmojiShortcode(
     }
   }
   
+  // If not found in specific pubkeys, ensure all packs are loaded
+  if (searchBroadly && !allEmojiPacksLoaded) {
+    await loadAllEmojiPacks();
+  }
+  
+  // Check the global shortcode cache
+  if (shortcodeCache.has(cleanShortcode)) {
+    return shortcodeCache.get(cleanShortcode)!;
+  }
+  
   return null;
 }
 
@@ -136,6 +264,11 @@ export async function resolveCustomEmojis(
   const emojiSetPromises = pubkeys.map(pubkey => fetchEmojiSet(pubkey));
   await Promise.all(emojiSetPromises);
   
+  // Ensure all emoji packs are loaded for broader search
+  if (!allEmojiPacksLoaded) {
+    await loadAllEmojiPacks();
+  }
+  
   // Build map of shortcode -> URL
   const emojiMap = new Map<string, string>();
   
@@ -143,14 +276,21 @@ export async function resolveCustomEmojis(
     if (content.startsWith(':') && content.endsWith(':')) {
       const shortcode = content.slice(1, -1); // Remove colons
       
-      // Try to find in any emoji set
+      // First try to find in specific pubkey emoji sets (priority)
+      let found = false;
       for (const pubkey of pubkeys) {
         const emojiSet = emojiSetCache.get(pubkey);
         if (emojiSet?.emojis.has(shortcode)) {
           emojiMap.set(content, emojiSet.emojis.get(shortcode)!.url);
+          found = true;
           break;
         }
       }
+      
+      // If not found in specific pubkeys, check global cache
+      if (!found && shortcodeCache.has(shortcode)) {
+        emojiMap.set(content, shortcodeCache.get(shortcode)!);
+      }
     }
   }
   
diff --git a/src/lib/services/nostr/nostr-client.ts b/src/lib/services/nostr/nostr-client.ts
index f136776..fc6ddee 100644
--- a/src/lib/services/nostr/nostr-client.ts
+++ b/src/lib/services/nostr/nostr-client.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { Relay, type Filter, matchFilter } from 'nostr-tools';
 import { config } from './config.js';
 import type { NostrEvent } from '../../types/nostr.js';
 import { cacheEvent, cacheEvents, getEvent, getEventsByKind, getEventsByPubkey } from '../cache/event-cache.js';
+import { getDB } from '../cache/indexeddb-store.js';
 import { filterEvents, shouldHideEvent } from '../event-filter.js';
 
 export interface PublishOptions {
@@ -37,6 +38,12 @@ class NostrClient {
   private readonly MAX_CONCURRENT_PER_RELAY = 1; // Only 1 concurrent request per relay
   private readonly MAX_CONCURRENT_TOTAL = 3; // Max 3 total concurrent requests
   private totalActiveRequests = 0;
+  
+  // Failed relay tracking with exponential backoff
+  private failedRelays: Map<string, { lastFailure: number; retryAfter: number; failureCount: number }> = new Map();
+  private readonly INITIAL_RETRY_DELAY = 5000; // 5 seconds
+  private readonly MAX_RETRY_DELAY = 300000; // 5 minutes
+  private readonly MAX_FAILURE_COUNT = 10; // After 10 failures, wait max delay
 
   async initialize(): Promise<void> {
     if (this.initialized) return;
@@ -61,10 +68,40 @@ class NostrClient {
 
   async addRelay(url: string): Promise<void> {
     if (this.relays.has(url)) return;
+    
+    // Check if this relay has failed recently and we should wait
+    const failureInfo = this.failedRelays.get(url);
+    if (failureInfo) {
+      const timeSinceFailure = Date.now() - failureInfo.lastFailure;
+      if (timeSinceFailure < failureInfo.retryAfter) {
+        const waitTime = failureInfo.retryAfter - timeSinceFailure;
+        console.log(`[nostr-client] Relay ${url} failed recently, waiting ${Math.round(waitTime / 1000)}s before retry`);
+        throw new Error(`Relay failed recently, retry after ${Math.round(waitTime / 1000)}s`);
+      }
+    }
+    
     try {
       const relay = await Relay.connect(url);
       this.relays.set(url, relay);
+      // Clear failure tracking on successful connection
+      this.failedRelays.delete(url);
+      console.log(`[nostr-client] Successfully connected to relay: ${url}`);
     } catch (error) {
+      // Track the failure
+      const existingFailure = this.failedRelays.get(url) || { lastFailure: 0, retryAfter: this.INITIAL_RETRY_DELAY, failureCount: 0 };
+      const failureCount = existingFailure.failureCount + 1;
+      const retryAfter = Math.min(
+        this.INITIAL_RETRY_DELAY * Math.pow(2, Math.min(failureCount - 1, 6)), // Exponential backoff, max 2^6 = 64x
+        this.MAX_RETRY_DELAY
+      );
+      
+      this.failedRelays.set(url, {
+        lastFailure: Date.now(),
+        retryAfter,
+        failureCount
+      });
+      
+      console.warn(`[nostr-client] Failed to connect to relay ${url} (failure #${failureCount}), will retry after ${Math.round(retryAfter / 1000)}s`);
       throw error;
     }
   }
@@ -114,33 +151,136 @@ class NostrClient {
 
       for (const filter of filters) {
         try {
-          if (filter.kinds && filter.kinds.length === 1) {
-            const events = await getEventsByKind(filter.kinds[0], filter.limit || 50);
-            for (const event of events) {
-              if (seen.has(event.id)) continue;
-              if (matchFilter(filter, event)) {
-                results.push(event);
-                seen.add(event.id);
+          let candidateEvents: NostrEvent[] = [];
+          
+          // Query by kind(s) if specified
+          if (filter.kinds && filter.kinds.length > 0) {
+            // If single kind, use index for efficiency
+            if (filter.kinds.length === 1) {
+              candidateEvents = await getEventsByKind(filter.kinds[0], (filter.limit || 100) * 3);
+            } else {
+              // Multiple kinds - query each and combine
+              const allEvents: NostrEvent[] = [];
+              for (const kind of filter.kinds) {
+                const kindEvents = await getEventsByKind(kind, (filter.limit || 100) * 3);
+                allEvents.push(...kindEvents);
               }
+              candidateEvents = allEvents;
             }
-          }
-          if (filter.authors && filter.authors.length === 1) {
-            const events = await getEventsByPubkey(filter.authors[0], filter.limit || 50);
-            for (const event of events) {
-              if (seen.has(event.id)) continue;
-              if (matchFilter(filter, event)) {
-                results.push(event);
-                seen.add(event.id);
+          } else if (filter.authors && filter.authors.length > 0) {
+            // Query by author(s) if no kinds specified
+            if (filter.authors.length === 1) {
+              candidateEvents = await getEventsByPubkey(filter.authors[0], (filter.limit || 100) * 3);
+            } else {
+              // Multiple authors - query each and combine
+              const allEvents: NostrEvent[] = [];
+              for (const author of filter.authors) {
+                const authorEvents = await getEventsByPubkey(author, (filter.limit || 100) * 3);
+                allEvents.push(...authorEvents);
               }
+              candidateEvents = allEvents;
+            }
+          } else {
+            // No specific kind or author - get recent events by created_at
+            // This is a fallback for broad queries
+            try {
+              const db = await getDB();
+              const tx = db.transaction('events', 'readonly');
+              const index = tx.store.index('created_at');
+              const events: NostrEvent[] = [];
+              let count = 0;
+              const limit = (filter.limit || 100) * 3;
+              
+              // Iterate in reverse (newest first)
+              let cursor = await index.openCursor(null, 'prev');
+              while (cursor && count < limit) {
+                events.push(cursor.value as NostrEvent);
+                count++;
+                cursor = await cursor.continue();
+              }
+              
+              await tx.done;
+              candidateEvents = events;
+            } catch (dbError) {
+              console.error('[nostr-client] Error querying IndexedDB for recent events:', dbError);
+              candidateEvents = [];
+            }
+          }
+          
+          console.log(`[nostr-client] Cache query found ${candidateEvents.length} candidate events for filter:`, filter);
+          
+          // Filter candidates by all filter criteria
+          for (const event of candidateEvents) {
+            if (seen.has(event.id)) continue;
+            
+            // Apply since/until filters
+            if (filter.since && event.created_at < filter.since) continue;
+            if (filter.until && event.created_at > filter.until) continue;
+            
+            // Apply ids filter
+            if (filter.ids && filter.ids.length > 0 && !filter.ids.includes(event.id)) continue;
+            
+            // Apply authors filter (if not already used for query)
+            if (filter.authors && filter.authors.length > 0 && !filter.authors.includes(event.pubkey)) continue;
+            
+            // Apply kinds filter (if not already used for query)
+            if (filter.kinds && filter.kinds.length > 0 && !filter.kinds.includes(event.kind)) continue;
+            
+            // Apply tag filters (#e, #E, #p, #P, #a, #A, #d, etc.)
+            // Handle both uppercase and lowercase tag filters (Nostr spec allows both)
+            // Ignore relays that don't support the tag filter, they need to be corrected by the relay operator.
+            if (filter['#e'] && filter['#e'].length > 0) {
+              const eventTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'e' || t[0] === 'E').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#e'].some(id => eventTags.includes(id))) continue;
+            }
+            if (filter['#E'] && filter['#E'].length > 0) {
+              const eventTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'e' || t[0] === 'E').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#E'].some(id => eventTags.includes(id))) continue;
+            }
+            if (filter['#p'] && filter['#p'].length > 0) {
+              const pubkeyTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'p' || t[0] === 'P').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#p'].some(pk => pubkeyTags.includes(pk))) continue;
+            }
+            if (filter['#P'] && filter['#P'].length > 0) {
+              const pubkeyTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'p' || t[0] === 'P').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#P'].some(pk => pubkeyTags.includes(pk))) continue;
+            }
+            if (filter['#a'] && filter['#a'].length > 0) {
+              const aTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'a' || t[0] === 'A').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#a'].some(a => aTags.includes(a))) continue;
+            }
+            if (filter['#A'] && filter['#A'].length > 0) {
+              const aTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'a' || t[0] === 'A').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#A'].some(a => aTags.includes(a))) continue;
+            }
+            if (filter['#d'] && filter['#d'].length > 0) {
+              const dTags = event.tags.filter(t => t[0] === 'd' || t[0] === 'D').map(t => t[1]);
+              if (!filter['#d'].some(d => dTags.includes(d))) continue;
+            }
+            
+            // Use matchFilter for final validation
+            if (matchFilter(filter, event)) {
+              results.push(event);
+              seen.add(event.id);
             }
           }
         } catch (error) {
           // Continue with other filters
+          console.error('[nostr-client] Error querying cache for filter:', error, filter);
         }
       }
 
-      return filterEvents(results);
+      // Sort by created_at descending and apply limit
+      const sorted = results.sort((a, b) => b.created_at - a.created_at);
+      const limit = filters[0]?.limit || 100;
+      const limited = sorted.slice(0, limit);
+      
+      const filtered = filterEvents(limited);
+      console.log(`[nostr-client] Cache query: ${limited.length} events before filter, ${filtered.length} after filter`);
+      
+      return filtered;
     } catch (error) {
+      console.error('[nostr-client] Error getting cached events:', error);
       return [];
     }
   }
@@ -424,22 +564,30 @@ class NostrClient {
       try {
         const cachedEvents = await this.getCachedEvents(filters);
         if (cachedEvents.length > 0) {
+          console.log(`[nostr-client] Returning ${cachedEvents.length} cached events for filter:`, filters);
           // Return cached immediately, fetch fresh in background with delay
+          // Don't pass onUpdate to background fetch to avoid interfering with cached results
           if (cacheResults) {
+            // Use a longer delay for background refresh to avoid interfering with initial load
             setTimeout(() => {
               const bgKey = `${fetchKey}_bg_${Date.now()}`;
-              const bgPromise = this.fetchFromRelays(filters, relays, { cacheResults, onUpdate, timeout });
+              // Only update cache, don't call onUpdate for background refresh
+              const bgPromise = this.fetchFromRelays(filters, relays, { cacheResults, onUpdate: undefined, timeout });
               this.activeFetches.set(bgKey, bgPromise);
               bgPromise.finally(() => {
                 this.activeFetches.delete(bgKey);
-              }).catch(() => {
-                // Silently fail
+              }).catch((error) => {
+                // Log but don't throw - background refresh failures shouldn't affect cached results
+                console.debug('[nostr-client] Background refresh failed:', error);
               });
-            }, 2000); // 2 second delay for background refresh
+            }, 5000); // 5 second delay for background refresh to avoid interfering
           }
           return cachedEvents;
+        } else {
+          console.log(`[nostr-client] No cached events found for filter:`, filters);
         }
       } catch (error) {
+        console.error('[nostr-client] Error querying cache:', error);
         // Continue to fetch from relays
       }
     }
@@ -460,20 +608,47 @@ class NostrClient {
   ): Promise<NostrEvent[]> {
     const timeout = options.timeout || config.relayTimeout;
     
-    let availableRelays = relays.filter(url => this.relays.has(url));
-    
-    if (availableRelays.length === 0) {
-      await Promise.allSettled(relays.map(url => this.addRelay(url).catch(() => null)));
-      availableRelays = relays.filter(url => this.relays.has(url));
-      if (availableRelays.length === 0) {
-        return [];
+    // Filter out relays that have failed recently
+    const now = Date.now();
+    const availableRelays = relays.filter(url => {
+      if (this.relays.has(url)) return true; // Already connected
+      
+      const failureInfo = this.failedRelays.get(url);
+      if (failureInfo) {
+        const timeSinceFailure = now - failureInfo.lastFailure;
+        if (timeSinceFailure < failureInfo.retryAfter) {
+          return false; // Skip this relay, it failed recently
+        }
       }
+      return true; // Can try to connect
+    });
+    
+    // Try to connect to relays that aren't already connected
+    const relaysToConnect = availableRelays.filter(url => !this.relays.has(url));
+    if (relaysToConnect.length > 0) {
+      await Promise.allSettled(
+        relaysToConnect.map(url => 
+          this.addRelay(url).catch((error) => {
+            // Error already logged in addRelay
+            return null;
+          })
+        )
+      );
     }
+    
+    // Get list of actually connected relays
+    const connectedRelays = availableRelays.filter(url => this.relays.has(url));
+    if (connectedRelays.length === 0) {
+      console.warn(`[nostr-client] No connected relays available for fetch (${relays.length} requested, all failed or unavailable)`);
+      return [];
+    }
+    
+    console.log(`[nostr-client] Fetching from ${connectedRelays.length} connected relay(s) out of ${relays.length} requested`);
 
     // Process relays sequentially with throttling to avoid overload
     const events: Map<string, NostrEvent> = new Map();
     
-    for (const relayUrl of availableRelays) {
+    for (const relayUrl of connectedRelays) {
       await this.throttledRelayRequest(relayUrl, filters, events, timeout);
       // Small delay between relays
       await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
@@ -489,8 +664,15 @@ class NostrClient {
       });
     }
 
+    // Only call onUpdate if we got new events AND onUpdate is provided
+    // This prevents clearing the UI when background fetch returns fewer results
     if (options.onUpdate && filtered.length > 0) {
+      console.log(`[nostr-client] Fetch returned ${filtered.length} events, calling onUpdate`);
       options.onUpdate(filtered);
+    } else if (options.onUpdate && filtered.length === 0) {
+      console.log(`[nostr-client] Fetch returned 0 events, skipping onUpdate to preserve cached results`);
+    } else if (!options.onUpdate) {
+      console.log(`[nostr-client] Fetch returned ${filtered.length} events (background refresh, no onUpdate)`);
     }
 
     return filtered;