diff --git a/overlay.toml b/overlay.toml
index 570b602..55d57c2 100644
--- a/overlay.toml
+++ b/overlay.toml
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ requires_plugins = ["Kits", "ZoneManager"]
 # two equal. The release copies it into manifest.json, and the installer's
 # bundle carries the latest RunicNPC release that answers at least it (D224).
 #
-# RunicNPC is optional to the bridge until its stage 9: without it every npc.*
-# command answers `runicnpc-missing`, and events place Rust's own scientists.
+# RunicNPC is required since its stage 9 (D310): without it, or with one older
+# than this, every npc.* command and every NPC an event places, Rust's own
+# scientists included, is refused as `runicnpc-missing` or `runicnpc-old`.
 runicnpc_api = 6
diff --git a/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs b/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
index 2e60acf..32b679c 100644
--- a/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
+++ b/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
@@ -9067,6 +9067,11 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
                 return;
             }
 
+            // RunicNPC stage 9 (D310): Rust's own scientists need RunicNPC too, so a module that
+            // missed the hello cannot place NPCs on a server the site would call incomplete.
+            if (prefab.Kind == WorldKindNpc && !RunicNpcForWorld(reqId))
+                return;
+
             int count = IntField(cmd, "count");
             int max = prefab.Kind == WorldKindNpc
                 ? (_config != null ? _config.EventsMaxNpcs : WorldHardMaxNpcs)
@@ -10365,8 +10370,8 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
         // RunicNPC is Runic Gateway's own NPC plugin. The bridge is its only link to the site
         // (runicnpc PLAN.md §4): it calls RunicNPC's API for the site's commands and turns its hooks
         // into frames. RunicNPC never talks to the sidecar, so "the sidecar is a dumb forwarder"
-        // stays true. It is optional until RunicNPC's stage 9; without it every `npc.*` command
-        // answers `runicnpc-missing`, and events keep Rust's own scientists (D243).
+        // stays true. It is required since RunicNPC's stage 9 (D310): without it every `npc.*` command
+        // answers `runicnpc-missing`, and so does every NPC an event places, Rust's own included.
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     The RunicNPC API these commands call: 3 added placements from a website (D249), 4 the
@@ -10443,6 +10448,33 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
             return npc;
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Main thread. Whether an event may place NPCs here (stage 9, D310): RunicNPC loaded and
+        ///     answering the API this bridge needs, for a profile and for Rust's own scientists alike.
+        ///     Answers <c>world.error</c> with the reason when not.
+        /// </summary>
+        private bool RunicNpcForWorld(string reqId)
+        {
+            Plugin npc = RunicNpcPlugin();
+
+            if (npc == null)
+            {
+                EmitWorldError(reqId, "runicnpc-missing", "this server needs RunicNPC to place NPCs, and it is not loaded");
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            int api = RunicNpcApi();
+
+            if (api < RunicNpcApiNeeded)
+            {
+                EmitWorldError(reqId, "runicnpc-old",
+                    $"this server needs RunicNPC to place NPCs: RunicNPC {npc.Version} answers API {api}, and this bridge needs {RunicNpcApiNeeded}");
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return true;
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         ///     Main thread. <c>npc.profiles</c>: the server's profile set as RunicNPC holds it — whether
         ///     a site manages it, every profile, and those refused and why. The site reads this before
@@ -10919,14 +10951,10 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
         /// </summary>
         private void HandleWorldPlaceProfile(Dictionary<string, object> cmd, string reqId, string key, string runId, string profile)
         {
-            Plugin npc = RunicNpcPlugin();
-
-            if (npc == null)
-            {
-                EmitWorldError(reqId, "runicnpc-missing", $"RunicNPC is not loaded, so there is no profile '{profile}' here");
+            if (!RunicNpcForWorld(reqId))
                 return;
-            }
 
+            Plugin npc = RunicNpcPlugin();
             var profiles = npc.Call("RunicNpc_Profiles") as Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject;
             Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JToken known = profiles != null ? profiles["profiles"]?[profile] : null;
 
@@ -11228,7 +11256,7 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
 
             Plugin npc = RunicNpcPlugin();
             arg.ReplyWith(npc == null
-                ? "RunicNPC: not loaded. npc.* commands answer runicnpc-missing; events place Rust's own scientists."
+                ? "RunicNPC: not loaded. npc.* commands and every NPC an event places answer runicnpc-missing (it is required)."
                 : $"RunicNPC {npc.Version}, API {RunicNpcApi()} (this bridge needs {RunicNpcApiNeeded}). last: {_lastNpcSummary ?? "none yet"}");
         }