Follow settlement activity and visiting-trader routes while keeping simulation, discovery and travel markers distinct.
Reviewed build: 0.1.190.146 FULL FIXED R4 · October 26, 2026. Built against RimWorld 1.6.4871. DLC requirements are listed below.
Three separate controls
| System | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Living Factions | Tracks NPC settlement resources, conflict and succession |
| Faction discovery | Controls which unknown factions are shown until contact or discovery |
| Visiting-trader journeys | Shows eligible inbound and returning trader itineraries |
Open Living factions from Mod options or a selected NPC settlement for its simulation view. The settings are related but are not interchangeable. Visiting journeys can be controlled independently of the broader Living Factions simulation.
Incoming and returning traders
An eligible trader can have a departure from its home settlement, an incoming map itinerary, a visit to the player colony and a return journey. Incoming timing is in the documented 0.25-3-day range. A return reflects the group that actually left, including survivors and remaining goods.
The marker represents an itinerary, not an interceptable caravan. It does not create bonus trade stock. Do not plan to attack or reroute it as though it were a player caravan.
Radio and ground routes
Ground Radio follows Microelectronics and its own Radio research. It does not call orbital traders. Current surface routes reject orbital or invalid endpoints. Showing all factions reveals map information without granting technology or bypassing quest restrictions.
Report a world-map issue
Record the faction, home settlement, destination, visit stage and active visibility/simulation settings. Distinguish a hidden marker from a trader that never spawned and a returning group from its earlier incoming state. Include the exact build when comparing succession or visiting-trader repairs.
Related references
- Radio and discovery
- Player caravan travel
- Full development update
- Individual build notes
- Release and compatibility notes
Source builds: .128, .134-.135, .141 and .145. These references describe packaged beta behavior; focused tests do not establish complete live-game validation.
These references describe the reviewed beta build. Check the installed package and later release notes for changed recipes, values, dependencies and compatibility. A documented fix is not a substitute for live colony testing.