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+# Persistent State System - Testing Guide
+
+## Quick Start Testing
+
+### Test 1: Fresh Game (No Persistent State)
+
+1. **Load the game without persistent state:**
+   ```
+   index.html?scenario=ceo_exfil
+   ```
+
+2. **Check console for initialization:**
+   ```
+   📋 Extracted 7 variable definitions:
+      Carry-over: 6
+      Session-only: 1
+   ```
+
+3. **View persistent state variables:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.viewPersistentState()
+   ```
+
+   Expected output:
+   ```
+   ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+   📊 PERSISTENT STATE VIEWER
+   ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+   🔍 Carry-Over Variables:
+      npc_trust_helper: 50 (default: 50)
+      npc_trust_gossip_girl: 30 (default: 30)
+      topics_discussed_security: [] (default: [])
+      topics_discussed_lore: [] (default: [])
+      narrative_joined_org: false (default: false)
+      mission_ceo_completed: false (default: false)
+   ```
+
+4. **Modify some variables (simulate gameplay):**
+   ```javascript
+   // Change trust level
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.npc_trust_helper = 85;
+
+   // Add discussed topics
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.topics_discussed_security.push("encryption");
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.topics_discussed_security.push("zero_days");
+
+   // Mark narrative decision
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.narrative_joined_org = true;
+   ```
+
+5. **Export persistent state:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.downloadPersistentState('my-test-progress.json');
+   ```
+
+6. **Verify downloaded file:**
+   - Check Downloads folder for `my-test-progress.json`
+   - Open and verify structure:
+   ```json
+   {
+     "version": 1,
+     "timestamp": "2024-11-15T...",
+     "lastScenario": "ceo_exfil",
+     "variables": {
+       "npc_trust_helper": 85,
+       "npc_trust_gossip_girl": 30,
+       "topics_discussed_security": ["encryption", "zero_days"],
+       "topics_discussed_lore": [],
+       "narrative_joined_org": true,
+       "mission_ceo_completed": false
+     },
+     "metadata": {
+       "exportedCount": 6,
+       "sessionOnlyCount": 1
+     }
+   }
+   ```
+
+### Test 2: Load with Persistent State
+
+1. **Move downloaded file to persistent-states/ directory:**
+   ```bash
+   mv ~/Downloads/my-test-progress.json persistent-states/
+   ```
+
+2. **Reload game with persistent state:**
+   ```
+   index.html?scenario=ceo_exfil&persistentState=my-test-progress
+   ```
+
+3. **Check console for loading messages:**
+   ```
+   🔄 Persistent state parameter detected: my-test-progress
+   🔄 Loading persistent state from: persistent-states/my-test-progress.json
+   ✅ Persistent state loaded successfully
+      Version: 1
+      Last Scenario: ceo_exfil
+      Timestamp: 2024-11-15T...
+      Variables: 6
+
+   ✅ Loaded npc_trust_helper from persistent state
+   ✅ Loaded topics_discussed_security from persistent state
+   ✅ Loaded narrative_joined_org from persistent state
+
+   📊 Merge Summary:
+      Loaded from persistent state: 6
+      Using scenario defaults: 0
+   ```
+
+4. **Verify values were loaded:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.npc_trust_helper
+   // Expected: 85 (not 50!)
+
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.topics_discussed_security
+   // Expected: ["encryption", "zero_days"]
+
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.narrative_joined_org
+   // Expected: true
+   ```
+
+5. **View diff table:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.viewPersistentState()
+   ```
+
+   Expected output shows 📝 markers for changed variables:
+   ```
+   📝 npc_trust_helper: 85 (default: 50)
+   📝 topics_discussed_security: ["encryption","zero_days"] (default: [])
+   📝 narrative_joined_org: true (default: false)
+      npc_trust_gossip_girl: 30 (default: 30)
+   ```
+
+### Test 3: Example Persistent State
+
+1. **Load with provided example:**
+   ```
+   index.html?scenario=ceo_exfil&persistentState=example-continued-game
+   ```
+
+2. **Check console:**
+   ```
+   ✅ Persistent state loaded successfully
+      Version: 1
+      Last Scenario: ceo_exfil
+      Variables: 5
+   ```
+
+3. **Verify values:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.npc_trust_helper
+   // Expected: 85
+
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.topics_discussed_security
+   // Expected: ["encryption", "zero_days", "social_engineering"]
+
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.mission_ceo_completed
+   // Expected: true
+   ```
+
+### Test 4: Missing File Error Handling
+
+1. **Try to load non-existent file:**
+   ```
+   index.html?scenario=ceo_exfil&persistentState=does-not-exist
+   ```
+
+2. **Check for error handling:**
+   - Red notification should appear at top of screen:
+     ```
+     ⚠️ Persistent state file failed to load
+     ```
+   - Console should show:
+     ```
+     ❌ [PSM_004] Persistent state file failed to load
+        File may be missing, malformed, or network error occurred
+        Proceeding with scenario defaults
+     ```
+   - Game should continue normally with default values
+
+3. **Verify defaults are used:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.npc_trust_helper
+   // Expected: 50 (default)
+   ```
+
+### Test 5: Type Mismatch Handling
+
+1. **Create malformed persistent state:**
+
+   Create `persistent-states/bad-types.json`:
+   ```json
+   {
+     "version": 1,
+     "timestamp": "2024-11-15T00:00:00.000Z",
+     "lastScenario": "test",
+     "variables": {
+       "npc_trust_helper": "not-a-number",
+       "topics_discussed_security": "not-an-array",
+       "narrative_joined_org": 123
+     }
+   }
+   ```
+
+2. **Load with bad types:**
+   ```
+   index.html?scenario=ceo_exfil&persistentState=bad-types
+   ```
+
+3. **Check console warnings:**
+   ```
+   ⚠️ [PSM_002] Type mismatch for npc_trust_helper:
+      Expected: number, Got: string
+      Using default value instead
+
+   ⚠️ [PSM_002] Type mismatch for topics_discussed_security:
+      Expected: array, Got: string
+      Using default value instead
+
+   ⚠️ [PSM_002] Type mismatch for narrative_joined_org:
+      Expected: boolean, Got: number
+      Using default value instead
+
+   📊 Merge Summary:
+      Loaded from persistent state: 0
+      Using scenario defaults: 3
+      Type mismatches: 3
+   ```
+
+4. **Verify defaults are used for mismatched types:**
+   ```javascript
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.npc_trust_helper
+   // Expected: 50 (default, not "not-a-number")
+   ```
+
+### Test 6: Session-Only Variables
+
+1. **Modify both carry-over and session-only variables:**
+   ```javascript
+   // Carry-over variable
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.npc_trust_helper = 100;
+
+   // Session-only variable
+   window.gameState.globalVariables.temp_current_mission_phase = 5;
+   ```
+
+2. **Export state:**
+   ```javascript
+   const state = window.exportPersistentState();
+   console.log(state);
+   ```
+
+3. **Verify session-only variable is NOT exported:**
+   ```json
+   {
+     "variables": {
+       "npc_trust_helper": 100,
+       // temp_current_mission_phase should NOT be here
+     },
+     "metadata": {
+       "exportedCount": 6,
+       "sessionOnlyCount": 1
+     }
+   }
+   ```
+
+### Test 7: Ink Tag Export (Future Test)
+
+This will work once we add the tag to an Ink story:
+
+1. **Add to helper-npc.ink:**
+   ```ink
+   === mission_success ===
+   Congratulations! You've completed the mission!
+   ~ mission_ceo_completed = true
+   ~ npc_trust_helper = npc_trust_helper + 25
+   #export_persistent_state
+   -> END
+   ```
+
+2. **Trigger the knot in conversation**
+
+3. **Check console:**
+   ```
+   📤 Export persistent state triggered from Ink
+   ✅ Persistent state exported: {...}
+   💡 Use window.downloadPersistentState() to save as file
+   ```
+
+## Console Commands Reference
+
+```javascript
+// View current persistent state (formatted)
+window.viewPersistentState()
+
+// Export as JSON object (for inspection)
+const state = window.exportPersistentState()
+console.log(state)
+
+// Download as file
+window.downloadPersistentState()
+window.downloadPersistentState('custom-filename.json')
+
+// Access raw global variables
+window.gameState.globalVariables
+
+// Access persistent state manager
+window.persistentStateManager.debugMode = true  // Enable debug logging
+window.persistentStateManager.logStateDiff(window.gameState.globalVariables)
+```
+
+## Common Issues & Solutions
+
+### Issue: Persistent state not loading
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- No "Persistent state loaded successfully" message
+- Variables have default values instead of loaded values
+
+**Solutions:**
+1. Check URL parameter is correct: `?persistentState=filename` (no .json needed)
+2. Verify file exists in `persistent-states/` directory
+3. Check browser console for error messages
+4. Verify JSON is valid (use JSONLint.com)
+
+### Issue: Type mismatch warnings
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- Console shows `[PSM_002] Type mismatch` warnings
+- Variables fall back to defaults
+
+**Solutions:**
+1. Check persistent state JSON for correct types:
+   - Numbers: `42`, not `"42"`
+   - Booleans: `true`, not `"true"`
+   - Arrays: `[]`, not `"[]"`
+2. Use `window.exportPersistentState()` to generate correct format
+
+### Issue: Variables not persisting
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- Export shows variables with default values
+- Changes made in-game are not saved
+
+**Solutions:**
+1. Verify variable is marked `carryOver: true` in scenario.json
+2. Check that you're modifying `window.gameState.globalVariables.varName`
+3. Ensure variable exists in scenario's globalVariables definition
+
+### Issue: "Persistent state manager not initialized"
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- Console commands return error
+- Export doesn't work
+
+**Solutions:**
+1. Wait for game to fully load (manager initializes in create())
+2. Check browser console for initialization errors
+3. Verify game loaded successfully
+
+## Next Steps
+
+After basic testing:
+
+1. **Create cross-scenario test:**
+   - Complete ceo_exfil scenario
+   - Export state
+   - Create a second scenario that uses same variables
+   - Load second scenario with exported state
+   - Verify variables carry over
+
+2. **Test with Ink integration:**
+   - Add carry-over variables to Ink stories
+   - Test variable checks in Ink (e.g., `{npc_trust_helper >= 75}`)
+   - Test array checks (e.g., `{topics_discussed_security ? encryption}`)
+   - Test export tag in victory condition
+
+3. **Performance testing:**
+   - Test with 100+ variables
+   - Test with large arrays (1000+ items)
+   - Test with deeply nested objects
+
+4. **Edge cases:**
+   - Empty persistent state file
+   - Persistent state with unknown variables
+   - Partial persistent state (only some variables)
+   - Multiple scenario transitions
+
+## Success Criteria
+
+✅ Fresh game initializes with defaults
+✅ Export creates valid JSON file
+✅ Load applies persistent state correctly
+✅ Type validation catches mismatches
+✅ Session-only variables not exported
+✅ Missing file handled gracefully
+✅ Console commands work as expected
+✅ Variables sync to/from Ink stories
+✅ Diff viewer shows changes clearly
+✅ Cross-scenario persistence works
+
+## Reporting Issues
+
+If you find bugs or unexpected behavior:
+
+1. Note the exact steps to reproduce
+2. Include console output (especially error messages)
+3. Include persistent state JSON if relevant
+4. Note expected vs actual behavior
+5. Check error code (PSM_001-005) for context