Before I spend hours trying to create a test case:

When returning to a url I want to restore to the previous display.
I have multiple tables and process only one and hide the others.
Therefore I have to manually request the draw.
The state data contains the proper 'start' and 'length' but the draw ignores it and goes to page 1.
I tried to force it with
table.page(2).draw('page');
but it ignores the page number and goes to page 1.

Any obvious reason why draw('page') would not go to the requested page?

$(document).ready(function () {
    var table = $('#pr').DataTable({
        "processing": true,
        "serverSide": true,
        "dom": "<'tbh'l<'prwhere'>f>rtip",
        'deferLoading': 0,
        "stateSave": true,
        "stateDuration": -1,
        "ajax": {
            "url": "/shpr.php"
        },
        "pagingType": "input",
        "columns": [
            {
                "className": 'dt-control',
                "orderable": false,
                "data": null,
                "defaultContent": ''
            },
            {"name": 'name'},
            {"name": 'skin'},
            {"name": 'build'},
            {"name": 'eyes'},
            {"name": 'hair'},
            {"name": 'bodyhair'},
            {"name": 'facialhair'},
            {"name": 'tattoo'},
            {"name": 'piercing'}
        ],
        columnDefs: [
            {"targets": COLUMN0, "width": "9px"},
            {"targets": COLUMN1, "className": "dt-body-nowrap"}
        ],
        ordering: true,
        order: [[COLUMN1, 'asc']],
        lengthMenu: [25, 50, 100],
        initComplete: function () {
            // capture key up on column search fields
            this.api().columns().every(function () {
                $('input', this.footer()).on('keypress', function (ev) {
                    if (ev.keyCode === 13) { //only on enter keypress (code 13)
                        prSearchFields();
                    }
                });
            });
        }
    });

    var state = table.state.loaded();
    if (state) {
            table.page(2).draw('page');  <=== just forcing it to see if it works.... it doesn't
    } else {
            table.draw();
    }
});