diff --git a/RolemasterDB.slnx b/RolemasterDB.slnx
index 6b0b200..17ff5d5 100644
--- a/RolemasterDB.slnx
+++ b/RolemasterDB.slnx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Solution>
   <Folder Name="/src/">
     <Project Path="src/RolemasterDb.App/RolemasterDb.App.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RolemasterDb.ImportTool.csproj" />
   </Folder>
 </Solution>
diff --git a/sources/critical-import-manifest.json b/sources/critical-import-manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..696030f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sources/critical-import-manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "tables": [
+    {
+      "slug": "slash",
+      "displayName": "Slash Critical Strike Table",
+      "family": "standard",
+      "extractionMethod": "text",
+      "pdfPath": "sources/Slash.pdf",
+      "enabled": true
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterDbInitializer.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterDbInitializer.cs
index 573fa5c..63eb0d5 100644
--- a/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterDbInitializer.cs
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterDbInitializer.cs
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ public static class RolemasterDbInitializer
 
         await dbContext.Database.EnsureCreatedAsync(cancellationToken);
 
-        if (await dbContext.AttackTables.AnyAsync(cancellationToken) || await dbContext.CriticalTables.AnyAsync(cancellationToken))
+        if (await dbContext.AttackTables.AnyAsync(cancellationToken))
         {
             return;
         }
 
-        RolemasterSeedData.Seed(dbContext);
+        RolemasterSeedData.SeedAttackStarterData(dbContext);
         await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterSeedData.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterSeedData.cs
index edf677b..487f573 100644
--- a/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterSeedData.cs
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.App/Data/RolemasterSeedData.cs
@@ -4,17 +4,28 @@ namespace RolemasterDb.App.Data;
 
 public static class RolemasterSeedData
 {
-    public static void Seed(RolemasterDbContext dbContext)
+    public static void SeedAttackStarterData(RolemasterDbContext dbContext)
     {
-        var armorTypes = CreateArmorTypes();
-        dbContext.ArmorTypes.AddRange(armorTypes);
+        List<ArmorType> armorTypes;
+
+        if (dbContext.ArmorTypes.Any())
+        {
+            armorTypes = dbContext.ArmorTypes.ToList();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            armorTypes = CreateArmorTypes();
+            dbContext.ArmorTypes.AddRange(armorTypes);
+        }
+
+        if (dbContext.AttackTables.Any())
+        {
+            return;
+        }
 
         var armorLookup = armorTypes.ToDictionary(item => item.Code, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
         var attackTables = CreateAttackTables(armorLookup);
         dbContext.AttackTables.AddRange(attackTables);
-
-        var criticalTables = CreateCriticalTables();
-        dbContext.CriticalTables.AddRange(criticalTables);
     }
 
     private static List<ArmorType> CreateArmorTypes() =>
@@ -131,164 +142,6 @@ public static class RolemasterSeedData
         }
     }
 
-    private static List<CriticalTable> CreateCriticalTables()
-    {
-        return
-        [
-            CreateCriticalTable(
-                slug: "slash",
-                displayName: "Slash Critical",
-                notes: "Starter subset derived from the critical-table schema design notes.",
-                matrix: new Dictionary<string, (string Description, string Affix)[]>
-                {
-                    ["A"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Glancing slash across the forearm.", "+2 hits, 1 bleed"),
-                        ("Rib-level cut knocks the foe back a step.", "+4 hits, 1 stun, 2 bleed"),
-                        ("Deep cut to the thigh unbalances the target.", "+6 hits, 2 stun, 3 bleed"),
-                        ("Shoulder opened; guard collapses.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 4 bleed"),
-                        ("Neck line opened. The fight is over.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["B"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Slash cuts through the hand and weapon grip wavers.", "+4 hits, 1 stun, 2 bleed"),
-                        ("Diagonal cut across the chest steals breath.", "+6 hits, 2 stun, 3 bleed"),
-                        ("Hip strike drives the foe to one knee.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 4 bleed"),
-                        ("Sword arm carved deeply; weapon drops.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 5 bleed"),
-                        ("Throat opened in a full red arc.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["C"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Forearm split to the bone; parry ruined.", "+6 hits, 2 stun, 3 bleed"),
-                        ("Wide cut over the ribs spins the foe.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 4 bleed"),
-                        ("Hamstring sliced; prone unless magically supported.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 6 bleed"),
-                        ("Slash rips across face and collar. Vision swims.", "+12 hits, 5 stun, 7 bleed"),
-                        ("Head nearly severed.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["D"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Deep abdominal slice spills momentum and blood together.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 5 bleed"),
-                        ("Sword tracks from shoulder to sternum. Collapse likely.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 6 bleed"),
-                        ("Leg cut through muscle; foe falls hard.", "+12 hits, 5 stun, 8 bleed"),
-                        ("Upper arm nearly removed; weapon arm useless.", "+14 hits, 6 stun, 10 bleed"),
-                        ("Killing cut through the neck.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["E"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Massive slash opens chest and the foe staggers blindly.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 6 bleed"),
-                        ("Spine-grazing cut destroys posture and control.", "+12 hits, 5 stun, 8 bleed"),
-                        ("Leg severed below the knee.", "+14 hits, 6 stun, 10 bleed"),
-                        ("Torso opened from clavicle to hip.", "+16 hits, 8 stun, 12 bleed"),
-                        ("Clean decapitation.", "Instant death")
-                    ]
-                }),
-            CreateCriticalTable(
-                slug: "puncture",
-                displayName: "Puncture Critical",
-                notes: "Starter subset seeded for missile and thrust attacks.",
-                matrix: new Dictionary<string, (string Description, string Affix)[]>
-                {
-                    ["A"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Point slips into the shoulder.", "+2 hits, 1 bleed"),
-                        ("Stab bites into the upper arm.", "+4 hits, 1 stun, 2 bleed"),
-                        ("Short thrust catches the ribs.", "+5 hits, 2 stun, 2 bleed"),
-                        ("Point pierces the thigh. Movement slows.", "+7 hits, 2 stun, 3 bleed"),
-                        ("Exact thrust to the throat.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["B"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Puncture through the palm forces a drop check.", "+4 hits, 1 stun, 2 bleed"),
-                        ("Arrow buries in the flank.", "+6 hits, 2 stun, 3 bleed"),
-                        ("Deep thrust into the belly doubles the foe over.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 4 bleed"),
-                        ("Point through the shoulder locks the arm.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 5 bleed"),
-                        ("Eye socket struck cleanly.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["C"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Stab through the bicep ruins the next parry.", "+6 hits, 2 stun, 3 bleed"),
-                        ("Arrow punches through lung tissue.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 5 bleed"),
-                        ("Thrust under the ribs steals breath and footing.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 6 bleed"),
-                        ("Deep puncture pins the foe in place.", "+12 hits, 5 stun, 7 bleed"),
-                        ("Heart strike.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["D"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Weapon point tears through the abdomen.", "+8 hits, 3 stun, 5 bleed"),
-                        ("Arrow lodges near the spine; movement nearly gone.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 6 bleed"),
-                        ("Lance-like thrust through the torso.", "+12 hits, 5 stun, 8 bleed"),
-                        ("Point enters the neck and exits behind the shoulder.", "+14 hits, 6 stun, 10 bleed"),
-                        ("Brain pierced.", "Instant death")
-                    ],
-                    ["E"] =
-                    [
-                        ("Massive puncture opens the chest cavity.", "+10 hits, 4 stun, 6 bleed"),
-                        ("Shaft buries to the fletching; foe drops.", "+12 hits, 5 stun, 8 bleed"),
-                        ("Groin-to-spine thrust destroys the body line.", "+14 hits, 6 stun, 10 bleed"),
-                        ("Perfect impalement through the throat and neck.", "+16 hits, 8 stun, 12 bleed"),
-                        ("Instantly fatal puncture.", "Instant death")
-                    ]
-                })
-        ];
-    }
-
-    private static CriticalTable CreateCriticalTable(
-        string slug,
-        string displayName,
-        string notes,
-        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, (string Description, string Affix)[]> matrix)
-    {
-        var table = new CriticalTable
-        {
-            Slug = slug,
-            DisplayName = displayName,
-            Family = "standard",
-            SourceDocument = "Seeded starter data",
-            Notes = notes
-        };
-
-        table.Columns =
-        [
-            new CriticalColumn { ColumnKey = "A", Label = "A", SortOrder = 1 },
-            new CriticalColumn { ColumnKey = "B", Label = "B", SortOrder = 2 },
-            new CriticalColumn { ColumnKey = "C", Label = "C", SortOrder = 3 },
-            new CriticalColumn { ColumnKey = "D", Label = "D", SortOrder = 4 },
-            new CriticalColumn { ColumnKey = "E", Label = "E", SortOrder = 5 }
-        ];
-
-        table.RollBands =
-        [
-            new CriticalRollBand { Label = "01-20", MinRoll = 1, MaxRoll = 20, SortOrder = 1 },
-            new CriticalRollBand { Label = "21-40", MinRoll = 21, MaxRoll = 40, SortOrder = 2 },
-            new CriticalRollBand { Label = "41-60", MinRoll = 41, MaxRoll = 60, SortOrder = 3 },
-            new CriticalRollBand { Label = "61-80", MinRoll = 61, MaxRoll = 80, SortOrder = 4 },
-            new CriticalRollBand { Label = "81-100", MinRoll = 81, MaxRoll = 100, SortOrder = 5 }
-        ];
-
-        var columnsByKey = table.Columns.ToDictionary(item => item.ColumnKey, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
-        var bandsByOrder = table.RollBands.ToDictionary(item => item.SortOrder);
-
-        foreach (var (columnKey, rows) in matrix)
-        {
-            for (var index = 0; index < rows.Length; index++)
-            {
-                var row = rows[index];
-                table.Results.Add(new CriticalResult
-                {
-                    CriticalColumn = columnsByKey[columnKey],
-                    CriticalRollBand = bandsByOrder[index + 1],
-                    DescriptionText = row.Description,
-                    RawAffixText = row.Affix,
-                    RawCellText = $"{row.Description} {row.Affix}",
-                    ParsedJson = "{}",
-                    ParseStatus = "verified"
-                });
-            }
-        }
-
-        return table;
-    }
-
     private static string BuildAttackNotation(int hits, string? severity, string criticalType)
     {
         return severity is null
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.App/rolemaster.db b/src/RolemasterDb.App/rolemaster.db
index a03bdaf..8b07266 100644
Binary files a/src/RolemasterDb.App/rolemaster.db and b/src/RolemasterDb.App/rolemaster.db differ
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportCommandRunner.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportCommandRunner.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..238775f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportCommandRunner.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+using RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class CriticalImportCommandRunner
+{
+    private readonly CriticalImportManifestLoader manifestLoader = new();
+    private readonly PdfTextExtractor pdfTextExtractor = new();
+    private readonly StandardCriticalTableParser standardParser = new();
+
+    public async Task<int> RunAsync(ResetOptions options)
+    {
+        if (!string.Equals(options.Target, "criticals", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            Console.Error.WriteLine("Only 'criticals' is supported by phase 1.");
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        var loader = new CriticalImportLoader(ResolveDatabasePath(options.DatabasePath));
+        var removedTableCount = await loader.ResetCriticalsAsync();
+        Console.WriteLine($"Removed {removedTableCount} critical table records.");
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<int> RunAsync(ExtractOptions options)
+    {
+        var entry = GetManifestEntry(options.Table);
+        var artifactPaths = CreateArtifactPaths(entry.Slug);
+        await pdfTextExtractor.ExtractAsync(ResolveRepositoryPath(entry.PdfPath), artifactPaths.ExtractedTextPath);
+        Console.WriteLine($"Extracted {entry.Slug} to {artifactPaths.ExtractedTextPath}");
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<int> RunAsync(LoadOptions options)
+    {
+        var entry = GetManifestEntry(options.Table);
+        var artifactPaths = CreateArtifactPaths(entry.Slug);
+
+        if (!File.Exists(artifactPaths.ExtractedTextPath))
+        {
+            Console.Error.WriteLine($"Missing extracted text artifact: {artifactPaths.ExtractedTextPath}");
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        var extractedText = await File.ReadAllTextAsync(artifactPaths.ExtractedTextPath);
+        var parsedTable = Parse(entry, extractedText);
+        var loader = new CriticalImportLoader(ResolveDatabasePath(options.DatabasePath));
+        var result = await loader.LoadAsync(parsedTable);
+
+        Console.WriteLine(
+            $"Loaded {result.TableSlug}: {result.ColumnCount} columns, {result.RollBandCount} roll bands, {result.ResultCount} results.");
+
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<int> RunAsync(ImportOptions options)
+    {
+        var extractExitCode = await RunAsync(new ExtractOptions
+        {
+            DatabasePath = options.DatabasePath,
+            Table = options.Table
+        });
+
+        if (extractExitCode != 0)
+        {
+            return extractExitCode;
+        }
+
+        return await RunAsync(new LoadOptions
+        {
+            DatabasePath = options.DatabasePath,
+            Table = options.Table
+        });
+    }
+
+    private CriticalImportManifestEntry GetManifestEntry(string tableSlug)
+    {
+        var manifest = manifestLoader.Load(RepositoryPaths.Discover().ManifestPath);
+        return manifest.Tables
+            .Where(item => item.Enabled)
+            .SingleOrDefault(item => string.Equals(item.Slug, tableSlug.Trim(), StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            ?? throw new InvalidOperationException($"No enabled manifest entry was found for '{tableSlug}'.");
+    }
+
+    private ParsedCriticalTable Parse(CriticalImportManifestEntry entry, string extractedText)
+    {
+        if (!string.Equals(entry.Family, "standard", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException($"Family '{entry.Family}' is not supported by phase 1.");
+        }
+
+        return standardParser.Parse(entry, extractedText);
+    }
+
+    private static ImportArtifactPaths CreateArtifactPaths(string slug) =>
+        ImportArtifactPaths.Create(RepositoryPaths.Discover().ArtifactsRootPath, slug);
+
+    private static string ResolveDatabasePath(string? databasePath) =>
+        Path.GetFullPath(databasePath ?? RepositoryPaths.Discover().DefaultDatabasePath);
+
+    private static string ResolveRepositoryPath(string path) =>
+        Path.GetFullPath(Path.Combine(RepositoryPaths.Discover().RootPath, path));
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportLoader.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportLoader.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..080e0f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportLoader.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+
+using RolemasterDb.App.Data;
+using RolemasterDb.App.Domain;
+using RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class CriticalImportLoader(string databasePath)
+{
+    public async Task<int> ResetCriticalsAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        await using var dbContext = CreateDbContext();
+        await dbContext.Database.EnsureCreatedAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        var removedTableCount = await dbContext.CriticalTables.CountAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await using var transaction = await dbContext.Database.BeginTransactionAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await dbContext.CriticalResults.ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await dbContext.CriticalGroups.ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await dbContext.CriticalColumns.ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await dbContext.CriticalRollBands.ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await dbContext.CriticalTables.ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await transaction.CommitAsync(cancellationToken);
+        return removedTableCount;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<ImportCommandResult> LoadAsync(ParsedCriticalTable table, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        await using var dbContext = CreateDbContext();
+        await dbContext.Database.EnsureCreatedAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await using var transaction = await dbContext.Database.BeginTransactionAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await DeleteTableAsync(dbContext, table.Slug, cancellationToken);
+
+        var entity = new CriticalTable
+        {
+            Slug = table.Slug,
+            DisplayName = table.DisplayName,
+            Family = table.Family,
+            SourceDocument = table.SourceDocument,
+            Notes = table.Notes
+        };
+
+        entity.Columns = table.Columns
+            .Select(item => new CriticalColumn
+            {
+                ColumnKey = item.ColumnKey,
+                Label = item.Label,
+                Role = item.Role,
+                SortOrder = item.SortOrder
+            })
+            .ToList();
+
+        entity.RollBands = table.RollBands
+            .Select(item => new CriticalRollBand
+            {
+                Label = item.Label,
+                MinRoll = item.MinRoll,
+                MaxRoll = item.MaxRoll,
+                SortOrder = item.SortOrder
+            })
+            .ToList();
+
+        var columnsByKey = entity.Columns.ToDictionary(item => item.ColumnKey, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        var rollBandsByLabel = entity.RollBands.ToDictionary(item => item.Label, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+        entity.Results = table.Results
+            .Select(item => new CriticalResult
+            {
+                CriticalColumn = columnsByKey[item.ColumnKey],
+                CriticalRollBand = rollBandsByLabel[item.RollBandLabel],
+                RawCellText = item.RawCellText,
+                DescriptionText = item.DescriptionText,
+                RawAffixText = item.RawAffixText,
+                ParsedJson = "{}",
+                ParseStatus = "raw"
+            })
+            .ToList();
+
+        dbContext.CriticalTables.Add(entity);
+        await dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellationToken);
+        await transaction.CommitAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        return new ImportCommandResult(entity.Slug, entity.Columns.Count, entity.RollBands.Count, entity.Results.Count);
+    }
+
+    private RolemasterDbContext CreateDbContext()
+    {
+        var options = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<RolemasterDbContext>()
+            .UseSqlite($"Data Source={databasePath}")
+            .Options;
+
+        return new RolemasterDbContext(options);
+    }
+
+    private static async Task DeleteTableAsync(
+        RolemasterDbContext dbContext,
+        string slug,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        var tableId = await dbContext.CriticalTables
+            .Where(item => item.Slug == slug)
+            .Select(item => (int?)item.Id)
+            .SingleOrDefaultAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        if (tableId is null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await dbContext.CriticalResults
+            .Where(item => item.CriticalTableId == tableId.Value)
+            .ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await dbContext.CriticalGroups
+            .Where(item => item.CriticalTableId == tableId.Value)
+            .ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await dbContext.CriticalColumns
+            .Where(item => item.CriticalTableId == tableId.Value)
+            .ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await dbContext.CriticalRollBands
+            .Where(item => item.CriticalTableId == tableId.Value)
+            .ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        await dbContext.CriticalTables
+            .Where(item => item.Id == tableId.Value)
+            .ExecuteDeleteAsync(cancellationToken);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifest.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifest.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf53b76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifest.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class CriticalImportManifest
+{
+    public List<CriticalImportManifestEntry> Tables { get; set; } = [];
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifestEntry.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifestEntry.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b5f3b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifestEntry.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class CriticalImportManifestEntry
+{
+    public string Slug { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+    public string DisplayName { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+    public string Family { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+    public string ExtractionMethod { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+    public string PdfPath { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+    public bool Enabled { get; set; } = true;
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifestLoader.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifestLoader.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f093074
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/CriticalImportManifestLoader.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class CriticalImportManifestLoader
+{
+    public CriticalImportManifest Load(string manifestPath)
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(manifestPath))
+        {
+            throw new FileNotFoundException("The critical import manifest could not be found.", manifestPath);
+        }
+
+        var manifest = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<CriticalImportManifest>(
+            File.ReadAllText(manifestPath),
+            new JsonSerializerOptions
+            {
+                PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true
+            });
+
+        if (manifest is null || manifest.Tables.Count == 0)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("The critical import manifest is empty.");
+        }
+
+        if (manifest.Tables.Any(item => string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(item.Slug)))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Each manifest entry must declare a slug.");
+        }
+
+        return manifest;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ExtractOptions.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ExtractOptions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..481849c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ExtractOptions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+using CommandLine;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+[Verb("extract", HelpText = "Extract a critical table PDF into a text artifact.")]
+public sealed class ExtractOptions
+{
+    [Value(0, MetaName = "table", Required = true, HelpText = "The manifest slug of the critical table to extract.")]
+    public string Table { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+
+    [Option('d', "db", HelpText = "Optional SQLite database path. Accepted for command consistency.")]
+    public string? DatabasePath { get; set; }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportArtifactPaths.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportArtifactPaths.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7965855
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportArtifactPaths.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class ImportArtifactPaths
+{
+    private ImportArtifactPaths(string directoryPath, string extractedTextPath)
+    {
+        DirectoryPath = directoryPath;
+        ExtractedTextPath = extractedTextPath;
+    }
+
+    public string DirectoryPath { get; }
+    public string ExtractedTextPath { get; }
+
+    public static ImportArtifactPaths Create(string artifactsRootPath, string tableSlug)
+    {
+        var directoryPath = Path.Combine(artifactsRootPath, tableSlug);
+        return new ImportArtifactPaths(directoryPath, Path.Combine(directoryPath, "extracted.txt"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportCommandResult.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportCommandResult.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41610a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportCommandResult.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class ImportCommandResult(string tableSlug, int columnCount, int rollBandCount, int resultCount)
+{
+    public string TableSlug { get; } = tableSlug;
+    public int ColumnCount { get; } = columnCount;
+    public int RollBandCount { get; } = rollBandCount;
+    public int ResultCount { get; } = resultCount;
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportOptions.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportOptions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d48043
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ImportOptions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+using CommandLine;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+[Verb("import", HelpText = "Extract and load a critical table in one step.")]
+public sealed class ImportOptions
+{
+    [Value(0, MetaName = "table", Required = true, HelpText = "The manifest slug of the critical table to import.")]
+    public string Table { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+
+    [Option('d', "db", HelpText = "Optional SQLite database path.")]
+    public string? DatabasePath { get; set; }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/LoadOptions.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/LoadOptions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64a0f17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/LoadOptions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+using CommandLine;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+[Verb("load", HelpText = "Load a parsed critical table from its extracted text artifact.")]
+public sealed class LoadOptions
+{
+    [Value(0, MetaName = "table", Required = true, HelpText = "The manifest slug of the critical table to load.")]
+    public string Table { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+
+    [Option('d', "db", HelpText = "Optional SQLite database path.")]
+    public string? DatabasePath { get; set; }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalColumn.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalColumn.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c351c3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalColumn.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+public sealed class ParsedCriticalColumn(string columnKey, string label, string role, int sortOrder)
+{
+    public string ColumnKey { get; } = columnKey;
+    public string Label { get; } = label;
+    public string Role { get; } = role;
+    public int SortOrder { get; } = sortOrder;
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalResult.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalResult.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8dbb09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalResult.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+public sealed class ParsedCriticalResult(
+    string columnKey,
+    string rollBandLabel,
+    string rawCellText,
+    string descriptionText,
+    string? rawAffixText)
+{
+    public string ColumnKey { get; } = columnKey;
+    public string RollBandLabel { get; } = rollBandLabel;
+    public string RawCellText { get; } = rawCellText;
+    public string DescriptionText { get; } = descriptionText;
+    public string? RawAffixText { get; } = rawAffixText;
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalRollBand.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalRollBand.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db26453
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalRollBand.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+public sealed class ParsedCriticalRollBand(string label, int minRoll, int? maxRoll, int sortOrder)
+{
+    public string Label { get; } = label;
+    public int MinRoll { get; } = minRoll;
+    public int? MaxRoll { get; } = maxRoll;
+    public int SortOrder { get; } = sortOrder;
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalTable.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalTable.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf9d7f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/ParsedCriticalTable.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+public sealed class ParsedCriticalTable(
+    string slug,
+    string displayName,
+    string family,
+    string sourceDocument,
+    string? notes,
+    IReadOnlyList<ParsedCriticalColumn> columns,
+    IReadOnlyList<ParsedCriticalRollBand> rollBands,
+    IReadOnlyList<ParsedCriticalResult> results)
+{
+    public string Slug { get; } = slug;
+    public string DisplayName { get; } = displayName;
+    public string Family { get; } = family;
+    public string SourceDocument { get; } = sourceDocument;
+    public string? Notes { get; } = notes;
+    public IReadOnlyList<ParsedCriticalColumn> Columns { get; } = columns;
+    public IReadOnlyList<ParsedCriticalRollBand> RollBands { get; } = rollBands;
+    public IReadOnlyList<ParsedCriticalResult> Results { get; } = results;
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/StandardCriticalTableParser.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/StandardCriticalTableParser.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e52e80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Parsing/StandardCriticalTableParser.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool.Parsing;
+
+public sealed class StandardCriticalTableParser
+{
+    private static readonly Regex ColumnRegex = new(@"\b([A-E])\b", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Compiled);
+    private static readonly Regex RollBandRegex = new(@"^\s*(?<label>\d{2,3}(?:-\d{2,3})?|\d{2,3}\+)\s*$", RegexOptions.Compiled);
+    private static readonly Regex RollBandLineRegex = new(@"^\s*(?<label>\d{2,3}(?:-\d{2,3})?|\d{2,3}\+)(?<rest>\s+.*)?$", RegexOptions.Compiled);
+
+    public ParsedCriticalTable Parse(CriticalImportManifestEntry entry, string extractedText)
+    {
+        var lines = extractedText.Replace("\r\n", "\n", StringComparison.Ordinal)
+            .Replace('\f', '\n')
+            .Split('\n');
+
+        var headerIndex = Array.FindIndex(lines, IsColumnHeaderLine);
+        if (headerIndex < 0)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("The standard table header could not be found in the extracted text.");
+        }
+
+        var columnStarts = GetColumnStarts(lines[headerIndex]);
+        var boundaries = GetColumnBoundaries(columnStarts);
+        var columns = columnStarts
+            .Select((item, index) => new ParsedCriticalColumn(item.Label, item.Label, "severity", index + 1))
+            .ToList();
+
+        var firstRollBandIndex = FindNextRollBandIndex(lines, headerIndex + 1);
+        if (firstRollBandIndex < 0)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("No roll bands were found in the extracted text.");
+        }
+
+        var keyLineIndex = Array.FindIndex(lines, firstRollBandIndex, item => item.TrimStart().StartsWith("Key:", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
+        if (keyLineIndex < 0)
+        {
+            keyLineIndex = lines.Length;
+        }
+
+        var leadingLines = lines[(headerIndex + 1)..firstRollBandIndex]
+            .Where(item => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(item))
+            .ToList();
+
+        var rollBands = new List<ParsedCriticalRollBand>();
+        var results = new List<ParsedCriticalResult>();
+        var currentLabel = string.Empty;
+        var currentRowLines = new List<string>();
+        var rowIndex = 0;
+
+        void FlushCurrentRow()
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(currentLabel))
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            rowIndex++;
+            var rollBand = CreateRollBand(currentLabel, rowIndex);
+            rollBands.Add(rollBand);
+
+            var cellLines = SplitRowLines(currentRowLines, boundaries, columns.Count);
+            for (var columnIndex = 0; columnIndex < columns.Count; columnIndex++)
+            {
+                var rawCellLines = cellLines[columnIndex]
+                    .Where(item => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(item))
+                    .ToList();
+
+                var rawAffixLines = rawCellLines
+                    .Where(IsAffixLikeLine)
+                    .ToList();
+
+                var descriptionLines = rawCellLines
+                    .Where(item => !IsAffixLikeLine(item))
+                    .ToList();
+
+                results.Add(new ParsedCriticalResult(
+                    columns[columnIndex].ColumnKey,
+                    rollBand.Label,
+                    string.Join(Environment.NewLine, rawCellLines),
+                    CollapseWhitespace(string.Join(' ', descriptionLines)),
+                    rawAffixLines.Count == 0 ? null : string.Join(Environment.NewLine, rawAffixLines)));
+            }
+
+            currentLabel = string.Empty;
+            currentRowLines = new List<string>();
+        }
+
+        for (var lineIndex = firstRollBandIndex; lineIndex < keyLineIndex; lineIndex++)
+        {
+            if (TryParseRollBandLine(lines[lineIndex], out var label, out var trailingText))
+            {
+                var trailingTextBelongsToCurrentRow = IsAffixLikeLine(trailingText);
+
+                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(trailingText) &&
+                    !string.IsNullOrEmpty(currentLabel) &&
+                    !trailingTextBelongsToCurrentRow)
+                {
+                    currentRowLines.Add(trailingText);
+                }
+
+                FlushCurrentRow();
+                currentLabel = label;
+                if (rowIndex == 0)
+                {
+                    currentRowLines.AddRange(leadingLines);
+                }
+
+                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(trailingText) && trailingTextBelongsToCurrentRow)
+                {
+                    currentRowLines.Add(trailingText);
+                }
+
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(lines[lineIndex]))
+            {
+                currentRowLines.Add(lines[lineIndex]);
+            }
+        }
+
+        FlushCurrentRow();
+
+        return new ParsedCriticalTable(
+            entry.Slug,
+            entry.DisplayName,
+            entry.Family,
+            Path.GetFileName(entry.PdfPath),
+            "Imported from PDF text extraction.",
+            columns,
+            rollBands,
+            results);
+    }
+
+    private static bool IsColumnHeaderLine(string line)
+    {
+        var matches = ColumnRegex.Matches(line);
+        return matches.Count == 5;
+    }
+
+    private static List<(string Label, int Start)> GetColumnStarts(string headerLine)
+    {
+        var matches = ColumnRegex.Matches(headerLine);
+        return matches
+            .Select(match => (match.Groups[1].Value.ToUpperInvariant(), match.Index))
+            .ToList();
+    }
+
+    private static int[] GetColumnBoundaries(IReadOnlyList<(string Label, int Start)> columns)
+    {
+        var boundaries = new int[columns.Count - 1];
+        for (var index = 0; index < boundaries.Length; index++)
+        {
+            boundaries[index] = (columns[index].Start + columns[index + 1].Start) / 2;
+        }
+
+        return boundaries;
+    }
+
+    private static int FindNextRollBandIndex(IReadOnlyList<string> lines, int startIndex)
+    {
+        for (var index = startIndex; index < lines.Count; index++)
+        {
+            if (TryParseRollBandLine(lines[index], out _, out _))
+            {
+                return index;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    private static bool TryParseRollBandLabel(string line, out string label)
+    {
+        var match = RollBandRegex.Match(line);
+        if (!match.Success)
+        {
+            label = string.Empty;
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        label = match.Groups[1].Value.Replace(" ", string.Empty, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    private static bool TryParseRollBandLine(string line, out string label, out string trailingText)
+    {
+        var match = RollBandLineRegex.Match(line);
+        if (!match.Success)
+        {
+            label = string.Empty;
+            trailingText = string.Empty;
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        label = match.Groups["label"].Value.Replace(" ", string.Empty, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+
+        var restGroup = match.Groups["rest"];
+        trailingText = restGroup.Success
+            ? string.Concat(new string(' ', restGroup.Index), restGroup.Value.TrimEnd())
+            : string.Empty;
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    private static ParsedCriticalRollBand CreateRollBand(string label, int sortOrder)
+    {
+        if (label.EndsWith('+'))
+        {
+            return new ParsedCriticalRollBand(label, int.Parse(label[..^1]), null, sortOrder);
+        }
+
+        var parts = label.Split('-', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries | StringSplitOptions.TrimEntries);
+        return parts.Length == 1
+            ? new ParsedCriticalRollBand(label, int.Parse(parts[0]), int.Parse(parts[0]), sortOrder)
+            : new ParsedCriticalRollBand(label, int.Parse(parts[0]), int.Parse(parts[1]), sortOrder);
+    }
+
+    private static List<string>[] SplitRowLines(IReadOnlyList<string> rowLines, int[] boundaries, int columnCount)
+    {
+        var result = Enumerable.Range(0, columnCount)
+            .Select(_ => new List<string>())
+            .ToArray();
+
+        foreach (var line in rowLines)
+        {
+            for (var columnIndex = 0; columnIndex < columnCount; columnIndex++)
+            {
+                var start = columnIndex == 0 ? 0 : boundaries[columnIndex - 1];
+                var end = columnIndex == columnCount - 1
+                    ? line.Length
+                    : Math.Min(boundaries[columnIndex], line.Length);
+
+                if (start >= line.Length || end <= start)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                var segment = line[start..end].Trim();
+                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(segment))
+                {
+                    result[columnIndex].Add(segment);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    private static bool IsAffixLikeLine(string line)
+    {
+        var value = line.Trim();
+        if (value.Length == 0)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if (value == "—")
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        if (value.StartsWith("with ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) ||
+            value.StartsWith("w/o ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) ||
+            value.StartsWith("without ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) ||
+            value.StartsWith("if ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            return value.Contains(':', StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        }
+
+        return value.StartsWith("+", StringComparison.Ordinal) ||
+               value.StartsWith('∑') ||
+               value.StartsWith('∏') ||
+               value.StartsWith('π') ||
+               value.StartsWith('∫') ||
+               char.IsDigit(value[0]) ||
+               value.Contains(" – ", StringComparison.Ordinal) ||
+               value.Contains("(-", StringComparison.Ordinal) ||
+               value.Contains("(+", StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+
+    private static string CollapseWhitespace(string value) =>
+        Regex.Replace(value.Trim(), @"\s+", " ");
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/PdfTextExtractor.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/PdfTextExtractor.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0485479
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/PdfTextExtractor.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class PdfTextExtractor
+{
+    public async Task ExtractAsync(string pdfPath, string outputPath, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.GetDirectoryName(outputPath)!);
+
+        var startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo
+        {
+            FileName = "pdftotext",
+            RedirectStandardError = true,
+            RedirectStandardOutput = true,
+            UseShellExecute = false,
+            CreateNoWindow = true
+        };
+
+        startInfo.ArgumentList.Add("-layout");
+        startInfo.ArgumentList.Add(pdfPath);
+        startInfo.ArgumentList.Add(outputPath);
+
+        using var process = new Process { StartInfo = startInfo };
+        process.Start();
+        await process.WaitForExitAsync(cancellationToken);
+
+        if (process.ExitCode != 0)
+        {
+            var error = await process.StandardError.ReadToEndAsync(cancellationToken);
+            throw new InvalidOperationException($"pdftotext failed for '{pdfPath}': {error}");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Program.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Program.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d2a3ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/Program.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+using CommandLine;
+
+using RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+var runner = new CriticalImportCommandRunner();
+
+var exitCode = await Parser.Default.ParseArguments<ResetOptions, ExtractOptions, LoadOptions, ImportOptions>(args)
+    .MapResult(
+        (ResetOptions options) => ExecuteAsync(() => runner.RunAsync(options)),
+        (ExtractOptions options) => ExecuteAsync(() => runner.RunAsync(options)),
+        (LoadOptions options) => ExecuteAsync(() => runner.RunAsync(options)),
+        (ImportOptions options) => ExecuteAsync(() => runner.RunAsync(options)),
+        _ => Task.FromResult(1));
+
+return exitCode;
+
+static async Task<int> ExecuteAsync(Func<Task<int>> command)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        return await command();
+    }
+    catch (Exception exception)
+    {
+        Console.Error.WriteLine(exception.Message);
+        return 1;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RepositoryPaths.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RepositoryPaths.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a4237d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RepositoryPaths.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+public sealed class RepositoryPaths
+{
+    private RepositoryPaths(string rootPath)
+    {
+        RootPath = rootPath;
+        ManifestPath = Path.Combine(rootPath, "sources", "critical-import-manifest.json");
+        DefaultDatabasePath = Path.Combine(rootPath, "src", "RolemasterDb.App", "rolemaster.db");
+        ArtifactsRootPath = Path.Combine(rootPath, "artifacts", "import", "critical");
+    }
+
+    public string RootPath { get; }
+    public string ManifestPath { get; }
+    public string DefaultDatabasePath { get; }
+    public string ArtifactsRootPath { get; }
+
+    public static RepositoryPaths Discover()
+    {
+        var probe = new DirectoryInfo(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory());
+
+        while (probe is not null)
+        {
+            if (File.Exists(Path.Combine(probe.FullName, "RolemasterDB.slnx")))
+            {
+                return new RepositoryPaths(probe.FullName);
+            }
+
+            probe = probe.Parent;
+        }
+
+        throw new InvalidOperationException("Could not discover the repository root from the current directory.");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ResetOptions.cs b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ResetOptions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea73374
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/ResetOptions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+using CommandLine;
+
+namespace RolemasterDb.ImportTool;
+
+[Verb("reset", HelpText = "Remove importer-managed critical data from SQLite.")]
+public sealed class ResetOptions
+{
+    [Value(0, MetaName = "target", Required = true, HelpText = "The reset target. Phase 1 supports only 'criticals'.")]
+    public string Target { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+
+    [Option('d', "db", HelpText = "Optional SQLite database path.")]
+    public string? DatabasePath { get; set; }
+}
diff --git a/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RolemasterDb.ImportTool.csproj b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RolemasterDb.ImportTool.csproj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4640ad7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/RolemasterDb.ImportTool/RolemasterDb.ImportTool.csproj
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
+    <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="CommandLineParser" Version="2.9.1" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\RolemasterDb.App\RolemasterDb.App.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+</Project>