diff --git a/afk_parent.js b/afk_parent.js
index be367f5..449986a 100644
--- a/afk_parent.js
+++ b/afk_parent.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const fs = require("fs");
 const path = require("path");
 
 // Add all bot usernames here.
-const USERNAMES = ["ZareMate", "Tomek"];
+const USERNAMES = ["ZareMate", "Tomek", "Cytrus"];
 
 const AFK_SCRIPT = path.join(__dirname, "afk.js");
 const OUTPUT_MODE = (
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ const OUTPUT_MODE = (
 const SPLIT_LOGS_ENABLED = process.env.PARENT_SPLIT_LOGS === "1";
 const RESTART_MIN_MS = 2 * 60 * 1000;
 const RESTART_MAX_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000;
+const STARTUP_GAP_MIN_MS = 30 * 1000;
+const STARTUP_GAP_MAX_MS = 60 * 1000;
 
 const ALREADY_ONLINE_TEXT = "You are already online, try restarting your game.";
 const TIMEOUT_REGEX = /timeout|timed out|ETIMEDOUT|ECONNRESET|socket hang up/i;
@@ -41,6 +43,13 @@ function randomRestartDelayMs() {
   );
 }
 
+function randomStartupGapMs() {
+  return (
+    STARTUP_GAP_MIN_MS +
+    Math.floor(Math.random() * (STARTUP_GAP_MAX_MS - STARTUP_GAP_MIN_MS + 1))
+  );
+}
+
 function shouldRestartFromState(state) {
   if (state.sawKick) return true;
   if (state.sawTimeout) return true;
@@ -157,19 +166,37 @@ const botStates = USERNAMES.map((username) => ({
   username,
   child: null,
   restartTimer: null,
+  startupTimer: null,
   sawKick: false,
   sawTimeout: false,
   sawAlreadyOnline: false,
 }));
 
+let startupOffset = 0;
 for (const state of botStates) {
-  startBot(state);
+  const delay = startupOffset;
+  state.startupTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    state.startupTimer = null;
+    if (isShuttingDown) return;
+    startBot(state);
+  }, delay);
+
+  if (delay > 0) {
+    const seconds = Math.round(delay / 1000);
+    console.log(`[parent] startup delay for ${state.username}: ${seconds}s`);
+  }
+
+  startupOffset += randomStartupGapMs();
 }
 
 function shutdownAll() {
   isShuttingDown = true;
   console.log("[parent] shutdown requested");
   for (const state of botStates) {
+    if (state.startupTimer) {
+      clearTimeout(state.startupTimer);
+      state.startupTimer = null;
+    }
     if (state.restartTimer) {
       clearTimeout(state.restartTimer);
       state.restartTimer = null;