diff --git a/overlay.toml b/overlay.toml
index 18c7490..570b602 100644
--- a/overlay.toml
+++ b/overlay.toml
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ requires_plugins = ["Kits", "ZoneManager"]
 
 # ── The RunicNPC API the bridge needs ───────────────────────────────────────
 #
-# RunicNPC (docs/runicnpc/PLAN.md stages 4 to 6): the bridge's npc.* commands call
+# RunicNPC (docs/runicnpc/PLAN.md stages 4 to 7): the bridge's npc.* commands call
 # RunicNPC's API and need at least this version of it. It MUST equal
 # `RunicNpcApiNeeded` in RunicGateway.cs; `node scripts/checkPlugin.js` holds the
 # two equal. The release copies it into manifest.json, and the installer's
@@ -88,4 +88,4 @@ requires_plugins = ["Kits", "ZoneManager"]
 #
 # 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_api = 5
+runicnpc_api = 6
diff --git a/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs b/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
index 870a237..e83d082 100644
--- a/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
+++ b/overlay/oxide/plugins/RunicGateway.cs
@@ -10371,9 +10371,10 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
         /// <summary>
         ///     The RunicNPC API these commands call: 3 added placements from a website (D249), 4 the
         ///     faction table and an event's escort, ally and tether (runicnpc stage 5), 5 bosses and
-        ///     passive NPCs (runicnpc stage 6): a profile's `boss` and `use`, and the boss hooks.
+        ///     passive NPCs (runicnpc stage 6): a profile's `boss` and `use`, and the boss hooks, 6 loot (runicnpc
+        ///     stage 7): a profile's `loot`, and the `dropTable` override a Place NPCs step's switch sends.
         /// </summary>
-        private const int RunicNpcApiNeeded = 5;
+        private const int RunicNpcApiNeeded = 6;
 
         private Plugin RunicNpcPlugin()
         {
@@ -10980,6 +10981,12 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
             string owner = "run:" + runId;
             var made = new List<WorldEntry>();
 
+            // Runicnpc stage 7 (D296): the step's "drop loot" switch. Off, the NPCs keep their corpse's start
+            // but roll no loot table; on (or absent, a step older than the switch) they drop it as anywhere.
+            object dropLootValue;
+            bool dropLoot = !(cmd.TryGetValue("dropLoot", out dropLootValue) && dropLootValue is bool && !(bool)dropLootValue);
+            Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject spawnOverrides = dropLoot ? null : Newtonsoft.Json.Linq.JObject.Parse("{\"loot\":{\"dropTable\":false}}");
+
             for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
             {
                 BasePlayer spawned = null;
@@ -10997,7 +11004,7 @@ namespace Oxide.Plugins
                         at.y = TerrainMeta.HeightMap.GetHeight(at);
                     }
 
-                    spawned = npc.Call("RunicNpc_Spawn", at, profile, owner, null) as BasePlayer;
+                    spawned = npc.Call("RunicNpc_Spawn", at, profile, owner, spawnOverrides) as BasePlayer;
                 }
 
                 if (spawned == null)