diff --git a/tools/editor/editor_app.cpp b/tools/editor/editor_app.cpp
index 989199e9..4b765997 100644
--- a/tools/editor/editor_app.cpp
+++ b/tools/editor/editor_app.cpp
@@ -535,8 +535,28 @@ void EditorApp::processEvents() {
             }
         }
 
-        if (event.type == SDL_MOUSEWHEEL && !io.WantCaptureMouse)
-            camera_.processMouseWheel(event.wheel.y, (SDL_GetModState() & KMOD_SHIFT) != 0);
+        if (event.type == SDL_MOUSEWHEEL && !io.WantCaptureMouse) {
+            // Ctrl+wheel rotates the placement preview instead of zooming the camera.
+            // Step 15 deg, Shift makes it 5 deg for finer control.
+            bool ctrl = (SDL_GetModState() & KMOD_CTRL) != 0;
+            bool shift = (SDL_GetModState() & KMOD_SHIFT) != 0;
+            if (ctrl && (mode_ == EditorMode::PlaceObject || mode_ == EditorMode::NPC)) {
+                float step = shift ? 5.0f : 15.0f;
+                if (mode_ == EditorMode::PlaceObject) {
+                    float r = objectPlacer_.getPlacementRotationY() + step * event.wheel.y;
+                    while (r >= 360.0f) r -= 360.0f;
+                    while (r < 0.0f) r += 360.0f;
+                    objectPlacer_.setPlacementRotationY(r);
+                } else {
+                    float r = npcSpawner_.getTemplate().orientation + step * event.wheel.y;
+                    while (r >= 360.0f) r -= 360.0f;
+                    while (r < 0.0f) r += 360.0f;
+                    npcSpawner_.getTemplate().orientation = r;
+                }
+            } else {
+                camera_.processMouseWheel(event.wheel.y, shift);
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -567,7 +587,8 @@ void EditorApp::updateTerrainEditing(float dt) {
             } else if (mode_ == EditorMode::NPC && !npcSpawner_.getTemplate().modelPath.empty()) {
                 viewport_.setGhostPreview(
                     npcSpawner_.getTemplate().modelPath, hitPos,
-                    glm::vec3(0, 0, 0), npcSpawner_.getTemplate().scale);
+                    glm::vec3(0, 0, npcSpawner_.getTemplate().orientation),
+                    npcSpawner_.getTemplate().scale);
             } else if (mode_ != EditorMode::PlaceObject && mode_ != EditorMode::NPC) {
                 viewport_.clearGhostPreview();
             }
diff --git a/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp b/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp
index 9945b47f..ffb9cd23 100644
--- a/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp
+++ b/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "wowee_terrain.hpp"
 #include "pipeline/wowee_terrain_loader.hpp"
 #include <filesystem>
+#include <random>
 #include "asset_browser.hpp"
 #include "transform_gizmo.hpp"
 #include "terrain_biomes.hpp"
@@ -1842,6 +1843,14 @@ void EditorUI::renderNpcPanel(EditorApp& app) {
                 tmpl.name = nameBuf;
 
             ImGui::SliderFloat("Scale", &tmpl.scale, 0.5f, 10.0f, "%.1f");
+            ImGui::SliderFloat("Facing", &tmpl.orientation, 0.0f, 360.0f, "%.0f deg");
+            ImGui::SameLine();
+            if (ImGui::SmallButton("Random##face")) {
+                static std::mt19937 rng(7);
+                std::uniform_real_distribution<float> d(0.0f, 360.0f);
+                tmpl.orientation = d(rng);
+            }
+            ImGui::TextDisabled("Tip: Ctrl+Wheel rotates while placing (Shift = fine)");
 
             // Quick NPC linking for quests
             if (app.getQuestEditor().questCount() > 0) {