Troubleshooting

My pack does not load

• Check the MelonLoader console/log. Every pack logs a line; a broken one logs a warning naming the file:
  • manifest has no 'npcs' array - the JSON root must contain "npcs": [ ... ].
  • failed to read manifest.json - invalid JSON (trailing comma is the usual suspect).
  • an NPC entry has no 'name' - every NPC needs a name.
• The folder must be UserData/Personnel/Packs/<YourPack>/manifest.json - one folder per pack, manifest at the folder root.

The log shows my NPCs, but nothing appears in the world

That is expected with only Personnel installed - it is a library. Something has to consume the definitions: a mod using API Reference, or any released mod that lists your pack’s ids. See Getting Started (“What Personnel does NOT do”).

My mod’s spawn fails / falls back to defaults

• no definition '<id>' found - the pack is not installed or the id is wrong. Ids are DERIVED (packname_npcname, lowercased, _-collapsed) - check the startup log for the exact strings; a manifest id field is ignored. See Pack Format.
• DefId must be a compile-time constant - it is read from an uninitialized instance, so returning a field set in your constructor yields null.
• Spawn after a save is loaded, on the host.

Custom PNG lands on the wrong limb / shows as a blob

Your PNG is a full UV-space texture, not a centered sticker - see Custom PNG Layers. Also check the layer list: faceLayers files go to the face mesh, bodyLayers files to the body mesh.

Another player does not see the custom art

They need Personnel and the same pack installed - custom layers travel as resource paths, not textures. See Multiplayer and Saves.

Example pack does not appear

LoadExamplePack requires a game restart after enabling, and it never overwrites an existing Packs/Examples folder - delete that folder if you want a fresh copy.

Still stuck?

(…/Schedule I/MelonLoader/Latest.log) and the pack’s manifest.json.