diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 22e9089..e960edc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ source ~/.bashrc  # or source ~/.zshrc
 ## Usage
 
 ```
-tmux-ws create <name> [--detach|-d] [--force|-f]  Create and attach to a workspace
+tmux-ws add <name> [dir] [--template <name>]  Scaffold workspace config
+tmux-ws launch <name> [--detach|-d]           Create and attach to a workspace
 tmux-ws attach <name>                 Attach to a running workspace
 tmux-ws list                          List available and running workspaces
 tmux-ws kill <name>                   Kill a workspace session
@@ -34,11 +35,17 @@ tmux-ws help                          Show help
 ### Examples
 
 ```bash
-# Create a workspace and attach
-tmux-ws create project
+# Scaffold a new workspace config from template
+tmux-ws add myproject
+
+# Scaffold with a custom project directory
+tmux-ws add myproject ~/projects/myapp
+
+# Create workspace and attach
+tmux-ws launch project
 
 # Create in background, stay in current shell
-tmux-ws create project --detach
+tmux-ws launch project --detach
 
 # Attach to a running workspace
 tmux-ws attach project
@@ -145,20 +152,21 @@ Hooks run in a subshell, so they cannot modify the script's state (WINDOWS, DEFA
 
 ## Creating a New Workspace
 
-Copy an existing workspace or the example:
+Use `add` to scaffold a workspace config from a template:
 
-```bash
-# From the example
-cp -r ~/.config/tmux-ws/_examples ~/.config/tmux-ws/myproject
+    # Scaffold with defaults
+    tmux-ws add myproject
 
-# From an existing workspace
-cp -r ~/.config/tmux-ws/project ~/.config/tmux-ws/myproject
+    # Scaffold with a specific project directory
+    tmux-ws add myproject ~/projects/myapp
 
-# Edit it
-tmux-ws edit myproject
-```
+    # Edit the config
+    tmux-ws edit myproject
+
+Or copy an existing workspace manually:
 
-Directories starting with `_` (like `_templates`, `_examples`) are hidden from `tmux-ws list` but still usable with `tmux-ws create`.
+    cp -r ~/.config/tmux-ws/project ~/.config/tmux-ws/myproject
+    tmux-ws edit myproject
 
 ## Testing
 
@@ -166,7 +174,7 @@ Directories starting with `_` (like `_templates`, `_examples`) are hidden from `
 make test
 ```
 
-Requires [bats](https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core). Tests cover: help, version, list, create, inheritance, hooks, validation, kill, attach, edit, and init.
+Requires [bats](https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core). Tests cover: help, version, list, add, launch, inheritance, hooks, validation, kill, attach, edit, and init.
 
 ## tmux Configuration
 
diff --git a/bin/tmux-ws b/bin/tmux-ws
index bebeb54..a3c9961 100755
--- a/bin/tmux-ws
+++ b/bin/tmux-ws
@@ -20,18 +20,19 @@ usage() {
     echo -e "${BOLD}$SCRIPT_NAME${NC} — tmux workspace manager"
     echo -e ""
     echo -e "${BOLD}Usage:${NC}"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME create <name> [--detach|-d]  Create and attach to a workspace"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME attach <name>               Attach to a running workspace"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME list                         List available and running workspaces"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME kill <name>                  Kill a workspace session"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME edit <name>                  Open workspace config in \$EDITOR"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME init                         Create config directory structure"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME version                      Show version"
-    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME help                         Show this help"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME add <name> [dir] [--template <name>]  Scaffold workspace config"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME launch <name> [--detach|-d]         Launch and attach to workspace"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME attach <name>                         Attach to running workspace"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME list                                  List available and running workspaces"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME kill <name>                           Kill workspace session"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME edit <name>                           Open workspace config in \$EDITOR"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME init                                  Create config directory structure"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME version                               Show version"
+    echo -e "  $SCRIPT_NAME help                                  Show this help"
     echo -e ""
     echo -e "${BOLD}Options:${NC}"
-    echo -e "  --detach, -d    Create workspace without attaching"
-    echo -e "  --force, -f     Kill existing session before creating"
+    echo -e "  --detach, -d       Launch workspace without attaching"
+    echo -e "  --template <name>  Use a specific template (default: default)"
     echo -e ""
     echo -e "${BOLD}Config:${NC}"
     echo -e "  $CONFIG_DIR/<name>/workspace.conf"
@@ -99,6 +100,16 @@ validate_dir() {
 }
 
 # --- Config Loading ---
+resolve_template_path() {
+    local template_name="$1"
+    local template_file="$CONFIG_DIR/_templates/${template_name}.conf"
+    if [[ ! -f "$template_file" ]]; then
+        error "Template '$template_name' not found at $template_file"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    echo "$template_file"
+}
+
 load_config() {
     local name="$1"
     local config_dir="$CONFIG_DIR/$name"
@@ -127,7 +138,8 @@ load_config() {
 
     # Inherit from base template if _BASE is set
     if [[ -n "$_BASE" ]]; then
-        local base_file="$CONFIG_DIR/_templates/${_BASE}.conf"
+        local base_file
+        base_file=$(resolve_template_path "$_BASE")
         if [[ -f "$base_file" ]]; then
             # Save workspace values
             local ws_windows=("${WINDOWS[@]+"${WINDOWS[@]}"}")
@@ -153,10 +165,6 @@ load_config() {
             if [[ "$DEFAULT_DIR" == "$HOME" && "$tmpl_default" != "$HOME" ]]; then
                 DEFAULT_DIR="$tmpl_default"
             fi
-        else
-            error "Base template '$_BASE' not found at $base_file"
-            error "  Create it with: $SCRIPT_NAME init"
-            exit 1
         fi
     fi
 
@@ -207,16 +215,14 @@ parse_window_entry() {
 }
 
 # --- Core Commands ---
-cmd_create() {
+cmd_launch() {
     local name=""
     local detach=false
-    local force=false
 
     # Parse args
     while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
         case "$1" in
             --detach|-d) detach=true; shift ;;
-            --force|-f)  force=true; shift ;;
             -*)          error "Unknown option: $1"; usage; exit 1 ;;
             *)           name="$1"; shift ;;
         esac
@@ -233,18 +239,13 @@ cmd_create() {
 
     # Check if session already exists
     if tmux has-session -t "$name" 2>/dev/null; then
-        if [[ "$force" == true ]]; then
-            warn "Killing existing session '$name'"
-            tmux kill-session -t "$name"
+        info "Session '$name' already exists"
+        if [[ "$detach" == true ]]; then
+            echo "  Attach with: tmux attach -t $name"
         else
-            info "Session '$name' already exists"
-            if [[ "$detach" == true ]]; then
-                echo "  Attach with: tmux attach -t $name"
-            else
-                tmux attach -t "$name"
-            fi
-            return
+            tmux attach -t "$name"
         fi
+        return
     fi
 
     # Run pre-create hooks
@@ -287,6 +288,63 @@ cmd_create() {
     fi
 }
 
+cmd_add() {
+    local name=""
+    local dir=""
+    local template="default"
+
+    # Parse args
+    while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+        case "$1" in
+            --template) template="$2"; shift 2 ;;
+            -*)         error "Unknown option: $1"; usage; exit 1 ;;
+            *)          if [[ -z "$name" ]]; then name="$1"; else dir="$1"; fi; shift ;;
+        esac
+    done
+
+    if [[ -z "$name" ]]; then
+        error "Workspace name required"
+        usage
+        exit 1
+    fi
+
+    local config_file="$CONFIG_DIR/$name/workspace.conf"
+    if [[ -f "$config_file" ]]; then
+        error "Workspace '$name' already exists at $config_file"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+
+    # Resolve and validate template
+    local template_file
+    template_file=$(resolve_template_path "$template")
+
+    # Create workspace directory
+    mkdir -p "$CONFIG_DIR/$name/hooks"
+
+    # Copy template and substitute DEFAULT_DIR if dir arg given
+    if [[ -n "$dir" ]]; then
+        sed "s|^DEFAULT_DIR=.*|DEFAULT_DIR=\"$dir\"|" "$template_file" > "$config_file"
+        validate_dir "$dir" "Workspace directory"
+    else
+        cp "$template_file" "$config_file"
+    fi
+
+    # Create hook stubs
+    cat > "$CONFIG_DIR/$name/hooks/pre-create.sh" <<'STUB'
+#!/bin/bash
+# Runs before the tmux session is created.
+# Use this to start services, check prerequisites, etc.
+STUB
+
+    cat > "$CONFIG_DIR/$name/hooks/post-create.sh" <<'STUB'
+#!/bin/bash
+# Runs after the tmux session is created.
+# Use this to wait for services, open URLs, send notifications, etc.
+STUB
+
+    info "Workspace '$name' scaffolded at $CONFIG_DIR/$name/"
+}
+
 cmd_list() {
     header "Available workspaces"
     local count=0
@@ -354,7 +412,7 @@ cmd_attach() {
 
     if ! tmux has-session -t "$name" 2>/dev/null; then
         error "Session '$name' is not running"
-        echo "  Create it with: $SCRIPT_NAME create $name"
+        echo "  Create it with: $SCRIPT_NAME launch $name"
         exit 1
     fi
 
@@ -431,7 +489,8 @@ main() {
     shift
 
     case "$command" in
-        create)  cmd_create "$@" ;;
+        add)     cmd_add "$@" ;;
+        launch)  cmd_launch "$@" ;;
         attach)  cmd_attach "$@" ;;
         list)    cmd_list ;;
         kill)    cmd_kill "$@" ;;
diff --git a/tests/test_tmux_ws.bats b/tests/test_tmux_ws.bats
index 5030f6b..146174f 100644
--- a/tests/test_tmux_ws.bats
+++ b/tests/test_tmux_ws.bats
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ setup() {
     mkdir -p "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/bad-format"
     mkdir -p "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/no-template/hooks"
     mkdir -p "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/fail-hook/hooks"
+    cat > "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/_templates/node.conf" <<EOF
+DEFAULT_DIR="$BATS_TEST_TMPDIR/node-default"
+WINDOWS=(
+    "editor::vim"
+    "server::npm start"
+    "shell::"
+)
+EOF
 
     # Default template
     cat > "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/_templates/default.conf" <<EOF
@@ -166,22 +174,22 @@ teardown() {
     [[ "${output}" == *"Running sessions"* ]]
 }
 
-# --- Create ---
+# --- Launch ---
 
-@test "create requires a name" {
-    run tmux-ws create
+@test "launch requires a name" {
+    run tmux-ws launch
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"Workspace name required"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create fails for nonexistent workspace" {
-    run tmux-ws create nonexistent --detach
+@test "launch fails for nonexistent workspace" {
+    run tmux-ws launch nonexistent --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"not found"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create builds workspace from config" {
-    run tmux-ws create test-workspace --detach
+@test "launch builds workspace from config" {
+    run tmux-ws launch test-workspace --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"created with 3 windows"* ]]
 
@@ -194,20 +202,20 @@ teardown() {
     [[ "${output}" == *"shell"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create runs pre-create hook" {
-    run tmux-ws create test-workspace --detach
+@test "launch runs pre-create hook" {
+    run tmux-ws launch test-workspace --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     [ -f "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/_hook_ran" ]
 }
 
-@test "create runs post-create hook" {
-    run tmux-ws create test-workspace --detach
+@test "launch runs post-create hook" {
+    run tmux-ws launch test-workspace --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     [ -f "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/_hook_ran_post" ]
 }
 
-@test "create with inheritance" {
-    run tmux-ws create myapp --detach
+@test "launch with inheritance" {
+    run tmux-ws launch myapp --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"created with 2 windows"* ]]
 
@@ -216,36 +224,81 @@ teardown() {
     [[ "${output}" == *"terminal"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create --force kills existing session" {
+@test "launch reattaches to existing session" {
     tmux new-session -d -s test-workspace
-    run tmux-ws create test-workspace --detach --force
+    run tmux-ws launch test-workspace --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
-    [[ "${output}" == *"Killing existing session"* ]]
+    [[ "${output}" == *"already exists"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create reattaches to existing session without --force" {
-    tmux new-session -d -s test-workspace
-    run tmux-ws create test-workspace --detach
+# --- Add ---
+
+@test "add requires a name" {
+    run tmux-ws add
+    [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
+    [[ "${output}" == *"Workspace name required"* ]]
+}
+
+@test "add scaffolds config from default template" {
+    run tmux-ws add new-project
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "${output}" == *"scaffolded"* ]]
+
+    [ -f "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/new-project/workspace.conf" ]
+    [ -d "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/new-project/hooks" ]
+    [ -f "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/new-project/hooks/pre-create.sh" ]
+    [ -f "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/new-project/hooks/post-create.sh" ]
+}
+
+@test "add substitutes DEFAULT_DIR when dir arg given" {
+    run tmux-ws add new-project /tmp/custom-dir
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    grep -qF 'DEFAULT_DIR="/tmp/custom-dir"' "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/new-project/workspace.conf"
+}
+
+@test "add with --template uses specified template" {
+    run tmux-ws add node-project --template node
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    [ -f "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/node-project/workspace.conf" ]
+    grep -qF 'npm start' "$TEST_CONFIG_DIR/node-project/workspace.conf"
+}
+
+@test "add fails if config already exists" {
+    run tmux-ws add test-workspace
+    [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"already exists"* ]]
 }
 
+@test "add fails for nonexistent template" {
+    run tmux-ws add new-project --template bogus
+    [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
+    [[ "${output}" == *"not found"* ]]
+}
+
+@test "add warns if dir arg does not exist" {
+    run tmux-ws add new-project /nonexistent/path
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "${output}" == *"does not exist"* ]]
+}
+
 # --- Validation ---
 
-@test "create fails for malformed window entry" {
-    run tmux-ws create bad-format --detach
+@test "launch fails for malformed window entry" {
+    run tmux-ws launch bad-format --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"invalid format"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create fails for missing _BASE template" {
-    run tmux-ws create no-template --detach
+@test "launch fails for missing _BASE template" {
+    run tmux-ws launch no-template --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"not found"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "create fails when hook fails" {
-    run tmux-ws create fail-hook --detach
+@test "launch fails when hook fails" {
+    run tmux-ws launch fail-hook --detach
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
     [[ "${output}" == *"hook failed"* ]]
 }