Quick answer: Unreal Niagara CPU emitter not ticking when far from camera? Significance system pauses low-priority systems - boost the system's significance or set 'never cull'.
Cursed totem emits ambient particles from across the map. Player approaches; particles haven't been emitting; pile of late spawns appears.
Set significance
System->SetEffectsQuality(EEffectsQuality::High);
System->SetNeverCull(true);Force the system to tick regardless of distance.
Use Activate via gameplay
For ambient effects, activate on overlap rather than always-on. Far systems don't tick; the bug class disappears.
Audit Effect Type settings
Niagara System > Effect Type > Significance Handler. Configure per-system; defaults aren't always right.
“Significance is a CPU optimization. It can be wrong for gameplay-relevant effects.”
Tag effects by purpose: gameplay-critical, ambient, decorative. Each gets its own significance policy.