Save corruption

[The Hancock]

I had an awesome base with 5 followers and was moving into the late stage of the game when I left to do some trading. While I was gone somehow all of my followers, except me, were turned into red strain zombies. Probably invisible strain, however that destroyed my entire playthrough. So I went to load my previous save and there were none. My only 2 saves were the exact same moment, right as I returned to my doomed camp with everything lost. It was like an autosave from hell. I thought the only way you could save was with the cross pendants? Did my AI followers use them right as I returned? Is that possible?
Also, is there any way to recover the saves I had before; or any way I could edit my save game files to correct what happened?
I realllly do not want to start all the way over after losing everything. That kills a game for me.

[Eric Cartman of Borg]

No, once a save is over written its gone. If you actually have invisible strain on that will happen.
Your best option for now is to back up your saves if you're concerned by this happening again.
Just click the folder option in the save load screen then copy that save some were else.

[Aieonae]

Yup, op your base had caught IS infection.
Once happen it would do a double autosave, unless as mentioned above a copy was backup elsewhere, you might be better off restart a new game.

[ʟoʋɛʀɖosɛ]

Turn off the "Save Tokens" in the game (uncheck the box) before starting a game. But if you don't want to start all over again, and want to restore your number of Settlers without looking for them, you can spawn them through the Debug Menu.

Unfortunately the Debug Menu doesn't have "revive" option. You can loot all your previous settler's inventory and have them placed in your newly spawned ones. At least this will help continue on your journey without struggling to start from 0 settlers.

Here's my Guide on how to spawn characters using Debug Menu:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2129095076

[arcana75]

Well you lost 5 followers. You didn't game over. 5 followers isn't alot. I would keep going see it as part of the SURVIVAL challenge.

As above you can spawn/cheat in new followers if you just want the manpower.

Otherwise sometimes the solo life can be easier to deal with esp if you're all set up and ready for the "late stage of the game" which I assume is winter.

[Bob]

Think I'm going to change it so it will only do that if you're using save tokens.

[The Hancock]

Originally posted by Bob the P.R. Bot:

Think I'm going to change it so it will only do that if you're using save tokens.

My ONLY complaint is that I had no option in stopping it. IMO it was not a fun game mechanic. Its like the game just rolled the dice and said "looks like you lose everything now!" If there was a slight warning where you had time to rush and get the antigens or if it only happened while you were there and controlling them (so you could react) then it would be a more fun/challenging part of the game.

The fact that I lost everything (not just my followers, but all of my stuff now behind an infected horde's walls) is part of the game. The frustrating thing is that i could not have prevented it (to my knowledge) and I could not even load a previous save to try and alter the future.

Note for the DEV: Excellent game! I am not hating at all! I made this post so the game could improve! I loved the original Survivalist and this one is even better! Thanks!