diff --git a/client/src/routes/admin/ServerSettings.jsx b/client/src/routes/admin/ServerSettings.jsx
index adaf4aa..8ee4264 100644
--- a/client/src/routes/admin/ServerSettings.jsx
+++ b/client/src/routes/admin/ServerSettings.jsx
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ const ZONES = (() => {
 })()
 
 /** An ISO instant as the value a `datetime-local` input takes, in the browser's clock. */
+/**
+ * Why the server's RunicNPC will not do (runicnpc stage 9, D310), or null when it
+ * does. RunicNPC is required, so a server without it is shown as incomplete.
+ */
+export function runicNpcNote(npc) {
+  if (!npc || npc.ready) return null
+  return `Incomplete: ${npc.absence || 'RunicNPC is not loaded on it'}. RunicNPC is required — without it every Place NPCs step is refused, Rust’s own scientists included. Runic Gateway’s installer and egg put it in place.`
+}
+
 /**
  * What the missing ZoneManager helper costs this server (PLAN_FIXES F12, D182), or
  * null when there is nothing to say — the helper patched, or a plugin that
@@ -252,6 +261,9 @@ export default function ServerSettings() {
                 : 'No wipe schedule set.'}
             </div>
             <div className="dim" style={{ fontSize: '0.76rem', marginTop: 2 }}>{titlesSummary(s.titles, s.titlePush, categories)}</div>
+            {runicNpcNote(s.runicNpc) && (
+              <div style={{ fontSize: '0.76rem', marginTop: 2, color: 'var(--warn, #d9c184)' }}>{runicNpcNote(s.runicNpc)}</div>
+            )}
             {zoneHelperNote(s.zoneHelper) && (
               <div style={{ fontSize: '0.76rem', marginTop: 2, color: 'var(--warn, #d9c184)' }}>{zoneHelperNote(s.zoneHelper)}</div>
             )}
diff --git a/server/eventWorld.js b/server/eventWorld.js
index a2439d4..276629e 100644
--- a/server/eventWorld.js
+++ b/server/eventWorld.js
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ const PERMANENT = new Set([
   // and a dome asked of a server without ZoneDomes or the domes helper.
   'bad-option',
   'dome-unavailable',
-  // runicnpc stage 4 (D243): a profile the server does not have, or no RunicNPC.
+  // runicnpc stage 4 (D243): a profile the server does not have, or no RunicNPC
+  // (since stage 9, D310, for every NPC step, Rust's own scientists included).
   'unknown-profile',
   'runicnpc-missing',
   // runicnpc stage 5 (D272): no zone of the run holds the point; a RunicNPC
@@ -538,8 +539,9 @@ function placeVerb({ id, kind, budget, max, label, description, source, example
       const found = await serverFor(where.serverId)
       if (!found.ok) return found
 
-      if (profile !== null) {
-        const missing = await profileMissing(found.server, profile)
+      // D310: every NPC needs RunicNPC on the server, Rust's own scientists included.
+      if (kind === 'npc') {
+        const missing = await npcMissing(found.server, profile)
         if (missing) return { ok: false, retry: false, error: missing }
       }
 
@@ -651,16 +653,19 @@ function npcOrders(params, server) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Why a profile cannot be placed on this server, from what the site knows, or
- * null (D243). A server without RunicNPC offers only Rust's own until stage 9;
- * a profile the site does not push there is not on it. What the server itself
- * holds is the plugin's to answer (`unknown-profile`).
+ * Why NPCs cannot be placed on this server, from what the site knows, or null.
+ * Since runicnpc stage 9 (D310) that is every Place NPCs step on a server
+ * without RunicNPC, or with one older than the bridge needs, Rust's own
+ * scientists included: the bridge refuses them the same way. `profile` is null
+ * for one of Rust's own; a profile the site does not push there is not on it.
+ * What the server itself holds is the plugin's to answer (`unknown-profile`).
  */
-async function profileMissing(server, profile) {
-  const [list, profiles] = await Promise.all([npcsDb.listNpcServers(), npcsDb.listProfiles()])
+async function npcMissing(server, profile) {
+  const [list, profiles] = await Promise.all([npcsDb.listNpcServers(), profile === null ? [] : npcsDb.listProfiles()])
   const here = list.find((s) => s.id === server.id)
   const name = server.name || server.id
-  if (!npcs.npcReady(here)) return `${name} cannot place the profile "${profile}": ${npcs.npcAbsence(here)}. Pick one of the server's own scientists.`
+  if (!npcs.npcReady(here)) return `${name} needs RunicNPC to place NPCs, Rust's own scientists included: ${npcs.npcAbsence(here)}`
+  if (profile === null) return null
   if (!profiles.some((p) => !p.replaced && p.name === profile && npcs.covers(p, server.id))) {
     return `the site has no NPC profile "${profile}" for ${name} (Admin → Rust NPC profiles)`
   }
diff --git a/server/model/npcs/npcs.model.js b/server/model/npcs/npcs.model.js
index 673c5b1..0ef4202 100644
--- a/server/model/npcs/npcs.model.js
+++ b/server/model/npcs/npcs.model.js
@@ -18,8 +18,13 @@ const serversDb = require('../servers/servers.db')
 const db = require('./npcs.db')
 const shape = require('./npcProfile')
 
-/** The RunicNPC API the bridge's `npc.*` commands need: 3 for placements (D249), 4 for the faction table and an event's orders (stage 5). */
-const API_NEEDED = 4
+/**
+ * The RunicNPC API the bridge needs (its `RunicNpcApiNeeded`): 3 for placements
+ * (D249), 4 the faction table and an event's orders (stage 5), 5 bosses (stage 6),
+ * 6 loot (stage 7). Stage 9 (D310) makes the site's floor the bridge's, so a
+ * server the site calls ready is one the bridge will not refuse as `runicnpc-old`.
+ */
+const API_NEEDED = 6
 
 class NpcError extends Error {
   constructor(message, status = 400) {
@@ -51,6 +56,24 @@ function npcAbsence(server) {
   return null
 }
 
+/**
+ * Each server's RunicNPC as Admin → Rust shows it (stage 9, D310): a server
+ * without one that will do is incomplete, because events cannot place NPCs there.
+ */
+async function serverStatus() {
+  const out = new Map()
+  for (const s of await db.listNpcServers()) {
+    const ready = npcReady(s)
+    out.set(s.id, {
+      ready,
+      ...(ready ? {} : { absence: npcAbsence(s) }),
+      version: (s.runicNpc && s.runicNpc.version) || null,
+      api: (s.runicNpc && s.runicNpc.api) || 0,
+    })
+  }
+  return out
+}
+
 // ── What a server is sent ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
@@ -431,7 +454,9 @@ const PROFILE_PREFIX = 'profile:'
 
 /**
  * The site's profiles, first, grouped, for any server that has RunicNPC. A site
- * with no such server offers none (D243: Rust's own only until stage 9).
+ * with no such server offers none, and the picker lists Rust's own as before: since
+ * stage 9 those are refused on save there too, with the reason (D310; the org lead
+ * kept the list rather than change core's option sources, 2026-10-06).
  */
 async function optionRows() {
   const [profiles, list] = await Promise.all([db.listProfiles(), db.listNpcServers()])
@@ -514,6 +539,7 @@ module.exports = {
   covers,
   npcReady,
   npcAbsence,
+  serverStatus,
   desiredFor,
   adopt,
   describe,
diff --git a/server/router/admin/rust.controller.js b/server/router/admin/rust.controller.js
index 88fd1c8..43882b6 100644
--- a/server/router/admin/rust.controller.js
+++ b/server/router/admin/rust.controller.js
@@ -27,10 +27,11 @@ const log = core.logger('admin')
 
 async function listServers(req, res) {
   try {
-    const [rows, settings, categories] = await Promise.all([
+    const [rows, settings, categories, npcStatus] = await Promise.all([
       servers.listForAdmin(),
       titlesModel.settingsByServer(),
       titlesModel.categories(),
+      npcs.serverStatus(),
     ])
 
     // Phase 17: each server's chat titles, and what the last push of them found.
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ async function listServers(req, res) {
         ...row,
         titles: settings.get(row.id) || { mode: 'first', max: 2, rules: [] },
         titlePush: titleSync.lastPush(row.id),
+        // Runicnpc stage 9 (D310): RunicNPC is required, so a server without it is incomplete.
+        runicNpc: npcStatus.get(row.id) || { ready: false, absence: 'no such server', version: null, api: 0 },
       })),
       titleCategories: categories,
     })
diff --git a/server/swagger/doc.js b/server/swagger/doc.js
index 1f1ffc1..877ace8 100644
--- a/server/swagger/doc.js
+++ b/server/swagger/doc.js
@@ -149,6 +149,16 @@ module.exports = {
               reason: { type: 'string', example: 'this ZoneManager (3.2.0) has no Zone.InitializeZone' },
             },
           },
+          runicNpc: {
+            type: 'object',
+            description: "The server's RunicNPC from its last hello (runicnpc stage 9, D310). RunicNPC is required: `ready: false` means every Place NPCs step on it is refused, Rust's own scientists included, and `absence` says why.",
+            properties: {
+              ready: { type: 'boolean', example: true },
+              absence: { type: 'string', example: 'RunicNPC is not loaded on it' },
+              version: { type: 'string', nullable: true, example: '1.0.0' },
+              api: { type: 'integer', example: 6 },
+            },
+          },
           online: { type: 'boolean', example: true },
           players: { type: 'integer', example: 42 },
           stale: { type: 'boolean', example: false },
diff --git a/server/test/npcs.test.js b/server/test/npcs.test.js
index cd8012d..1f62b9f 100644
--- a/server/test/npcs.test.js
+++ b/server/test/npcs.test.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 //   the first push adopts a server's own profiles and changes nothing on it (D244)
 //   a site profile of the same name wins, and the server's is kept as replaced (D251)
 //   a replaced profile is restored only when nothing of its name covers its server
-//   a server without RunicNPC (or with API < 3) is recorded absent, never pushed
+//   a server without RunicNPC (or one older than the bridge needs) is recorded absent, never pushed
 //   a push happens on a change, a restart, a failure and the audit, and not otherwise
 //   the event picker lists the site's profiles first, then Rust's own (D243)
 //   the Place NPCs step sends a profile, and refuses one a server cannot place
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const npcSync = require('../npcSync')
 const world = require('../eventWorld')
 const titles = require('../model/titles/titles')
 
-const READY = { loaded: true, version: '0.3.0', api: 4 }
+const READY = { loaded: true, version: '0.7.0', api: 6 }
 
 function body(extra = {}) {
   return { ...shape.defaults(), names: ['Warden'], kits: ['warden_rifle'], ...extra }
@@ -293,12 +293,12 @@ test('a server a site already manages is not adopted from', async (t) => {
   assert.strictEqual(store.length, 0)
 })
 
-test('a server without RunicNPC, or with API < 4, is recorded absent and never pushed', async (t) => {
-  const { syncRows } = stubStore(t, { servers: [npcServer('main', null), npcServer('arena', { loaded: true, version: '0.2.0', api: 3 })] })
+test('a server without RunicNPC, or with API < 6 (the bridge floor), is recorded absent and never pushed', async (t) => {
+  const { syncRows } = stubStore(t, { servers: [npcServer('main', null), npcServer('arena', { loaded: true, version: '0.6.0', api: 5 })] })
   const calls = stubWire(t)
   const out = await npcSync.tick()
   assert.deepStrictEqual(out.map((o) => o.outcome), ['absent', 'absent'])
-  assert.match(out[1].reason, /API 3, and the site needs 4/)
+  assert.match(out[1].reason, /API 5, and the site needs 6/)
   assert.strictEqual(syncRows.get('main').state, 'absent')
   assert.strictEqual(calls.length, 0)
 })
@@ -367,8 +367,35 @@ test('the Place NPCs step sends a profile, and refuses one a server cannot place
   assert.match(noNpc.error, /RunicNPC is not loaded on it/)
   const unknown = await place.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'k3', params: params('main', 'profile:nobody'), verify: true })
   assert.match(unknown.error, /no NPC profile "nobody"/)
-  const own = await place.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'k4', params: params('arena', 'npc.scientist'), verify: true })
-  assert.strictEqual(own.ok, true, 'Rust\'s own still place anywhere')
+  const own = await place.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'k4', params: params('main', 'npc.scientist'), verify: true })
+  assert.strictEqual(own.ok, true, 'with RunicNPC loaded, Rust\'s own still place')
+})
+
+test('without RunicNPC every Place NPCs step is refused, Rust\'s own included (D310)', async (t) => {
+  stubStore(t, {
+    servers: [npcServer('arena', { loaded: false }), npcServer('old', { loaded: true, version: '0.5.0', api: 5 }), npcServer('quiet', null)],
+    profiles: [],
+  })
+  const calls = stubWire(t)
+  const place = world.ACTIONS.find((a) => a.id === 'rust.npc.place')
+  const at = (server) => ({ prefab: 'npc.scientist', count: 2, server, x: 10, z: 20 })
+
+  const missing = await place.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'a', params: at('arena') })
+  assert.deepStrictEqual([missing.ok, missing.retry], [false, false])
+  assert.match(missing.error, /needs RunicNPC to place NPCs, Rust's own scientists included: RunicNPC is not loaded on it/)
+
+  const old = await place.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'b', params: at('old'), verify: true })
+  assert.match(old.error, /answers API 5, and the site needs 6/)
+
+  const quiet = await place.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'c', params: at('quiet'), verify: true })
+  assert.match(quiet.error, /has not said whether it has RunicNPC/)
+
+  assert.strictEqual(calls.filter((c) => c.cmd === 'world.place').length, 0, 'nothing is sent to a server that would refuse it')
+
+  // Crates are not NPCs: the other verb never asks.
+  const crates = world.ACTIONS.find((a) => a.id === 'rust.crate.place')
+  const crate = await crates.perform({ runId: 9, idempotencyKey: 'd', params: { ...at('arena'), prefab: 'crate.elite' }, verify: true })
+  assert.strictEqual(crate.ok, true, crate.error)
 })
 
 // ── triggers, ingest and titles ──────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/server/test/world.test.js b/server/test/world.test.js
index a66c8dd..5517033 100644
--- a/server/test/world.test.js
+++ b/server/test/world.test.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const core = require('../core')
 const client = require('../sidecarClient')
 const serversDb = require('../model/servers/servers.db')
 const servers = require('../model/servers/servers.model')
+const npcsDb = require('../model/npcs/npcs.db')
 const world = require('../eventWorld')
 
 const action = (id) => world.ACTIONS.find((a) => a.id === id)
@@ -47,9 +48,13 @@ function stub(t, { zone, place, revert, owned, monuments, polling } = {}) {
     worldRevert: client.worldRevert,
     worldOwned: client.worldOwned,
     worldMonuments: client.worldMonuments,
+    listNpcServers: npcsDb.listNpcServers,
   }
 
   serversDb.getServer = async (id) => ROWS[id] || null
+  // Runicnpc stage 9 (D310): an NPC step asks for RunicNPC first; every server here has it.
+  npcsDb.listNpcServers = async () =>
+    Object.keys(ROWS).map((id) => ({ id, name: ROWS[id].name, runicNpc: { loaded: true, version: '1.0.0', api: 6 } }))
   servers.listForPolling = async () =>
     (polling || ['main']).map((id) => ({ id, name: ROWS[id] ? ROWS[id].name : id, baseUrl: `http://${id}:1`, token: 't' }))
   const ok = (data) => ({ ok: true, status: 'ok', data })
@@ -86,6 +91,7 @@ function stub(t, { zone, place, revert, owned, monuments, polling } = {}) {
   t.after(() => {
     serversDb.getServer = saved.getServer
     servers.listForPolling = saved.listForPolling
+    npcsDb.listNpcServers = saved.listNpcServers
   })
 
   return calls