Missing NPC troubleshooting
NPCs disappeared? Reload first, then match the exact case.
If every NPC in Magdal's Rest vanishes after co-op travel, leave to the menu and relaunch the save first. That workaround is player-reported, not a confirmed universal fix. A single missing character may instead have moved, wandered or kept an older-save location.
A co-op player reported that this restored the town's NPCs.
Older saves can keep his earlier spawn instead of moving him.
Update 8 moved the invisible merchant again.
Use this order before changing the save
- Make a separate manual save before trying any workaround.
- Return to the main menu and relaunch the affected save. In the September 4 Steam thread, one co-op player said the full Magdal disappearance corrected itself only after relaunching.
- Install Update 16 or later. The developer asked affected players to retest on the newer build, but did not state that the Magdal bug was fully fixed.
- If this happened in co-op, let the host reload the world before guests rejoin. Quests and quest items remain with the host.
- If only one character is absent, use the named exceptions below before rolling back or using console commands.
Do not overwrite your only save or assume every missing NPC has the same cause. The current public reports describe a co-op town disappearance, while official updates also contain intentional moves and character-specific persistence changes.
All NPCs disappear after co-op fast travel
Two players reported that leaving or fast travelling back to Magdal's Rest in co-op could make every NPC vanish. One said a save relaunch restored them. A NerveLabs developer replied within minutes, asked whether the problem came from the previous update and requested a retest on the new version.
That makes relaunching the lowest-risk first step, but it is not a promise that every missing-town case is solved. Keep the affected save separate and note whether the host or guest triggered travel if the problem returns.
Bartolomaeus may still use his old-save location
Bartolomaeus uses the new tower only in saves where the player had not already met him. If a newer guide sends you to the large tower but you already met him before the move, returning to the tower repeatedly will not correct that save history.
Demjen moved; the invisible merchant is not necessarily gone
Demjen now overlooks the crimson forest. Search the overlook above the crimson forest before treating Demjen as a broken spawn. The official note gives the region, but not a map coordinate or daily schedule.
Companions have different persistence rules in Update 16
Dismissed companions remain marked on the map and compass, and Zan should remember where he was sent.
A dismissed companion should therefore leave a map or compass trail. If the marker is present, follow it before reloading. If a companion was defeated, remember that permadeath is now optional and disabled by default; defeated companions normally get back up after combat.
What to record if the NPC stays missing
- ScopeOne named NPC, all of Magdal's Rest, or companions only.
- SessionSolo, host, guest or split-screen.
- TriggerFast travel, area entry, waiting, sleep, dismissal, combat or loading.
- BuildThe update shown on the main menu and whether both co-op players match.
This separates a reproducible spawn failure from an intentional move or old-save exception and gives the developer a useful report if the safe reload does not help.