diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.as
index 676fbcec4..56bb3dea1 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.as
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ package com.threerings.crowd.chat.client {
 import mx.collections.ArrayCollection;
 
 import com.threerings.util.ArrayUtil;
+import com.threerings.util.ResultListener;
 import com.threerings.util.SimpleMap;
 
 import com.threerings.presents.client.BasicDirector;
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/SpeakMarshaller.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/SpeakMarshaller.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d1fa3a4bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/chat/data/SpeakMarshaller.as
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+//
+// $Id$
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2005 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://www.threerings.net/code/narya/
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.crowd.chat.data {
+
+import com.threerings.util.Byte;
+
+import com.threerings.crowd.chat.client.SpeakService;
+import com.threerings.presents.client.Client;
+import com.threerings.presents.data.InvocationMarshaller;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.InvocationResponseEvent;
+
+/**
+ * Provides the implementation of the {@link SpeakService} interface
+ * that marshalls the arguments and delivers the request to the provider
+ * on the server. Also provides an implementation of the response listener
+ * interfaces that marshall the response arguments and deliver them back
+ * to the requesting client.
+ */
+public class SpeakMarshaller extends InvocationMarshaller
+    implements SpeakService
+{
+    /** The method id used to dispatch {@link #speak} requests. */
+    public static const SPEAK :int = 1;
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface
+    public function speak (arg1 :Client, arg2 :String, arg3 :int) :void
+    {
+        sendRequest(arg1, SPEAK, [ arg2, new Byte(arg3) ]);
+    }
+}
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5d00dac4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/LocationDirector.as
@@ -0,0 +1,642 @@
+//
+// $Id: LocationDirector.java 3638 2005-06-30 00:02:13Z mdb $
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://www.threerings.net/code/narya/
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.crowd.client {
+
+//  TODO: class is in progress of conversion
+
+import com.threerings.util.ObserverList;
+import com.threerings.util.ResultListener;
+
+import com.threerings.presents.client.BasicDirector;
+import com.threerings.presents.client.Client;
+
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.DObject;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.ObjectAccessError;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.Subscriber;
+
+import com.threerings.crowd.Log;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyObject;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.LocationCodes;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.PlaceConfig;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.PlaceObject;
+import com.threerings.crowd.util.CrowdContext;
+
+/**
+ * The location director provides a means by which entities on the client
+ * can request to move from place to place and can be notified if other
+ * entities have caused the client to move to a new place. It also
+ * provides a mechanism for ratifying a request to move to a new place
+ * before actually issuing the request.
+ */
+public class LocationDirector extends BasicDirector
+    implements LocationCodes, Subscriber, LocationReceiver,
+               LocationService.MoveListener
+{
+    /**
+     * Used to recover from a moveTo request that was accepted but
+     * resulted in a failed attempt to fetch the place object to which we
+     * were moving.
+     */
+//    public static interface FailureHandler
+//    {
+//        /**
+//         * Should instruct the client to move to the last known working
+//         * location (as well as clean up after the failed moveTo request).
+//         */
+//        public void recoverFailedMove (int placeId);
+//    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs a location director which will configure itself for
+     * operation using the supplied context.
+     */
+    public function LocationDirector (ctx :CrowdContext)
+    {
+        super(ctx);
+
+        // keep this around for later
+        _cctx = ctx;
+
+        // register for location notifications
+        _cctx.getClient().getInvocationDirector().registerReceiver(
+            new LocationDecoder(this));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Adds a location observer to the list. This observer will
+     * subsequently be notified of potential, effected and failed location
+     * changes.
+     */
+    public function addLocationObserver (observer :LocationObserver) :void
+    {
+        _observers.add(observer);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Removes a location observer from the list.
+     */
+    public function removeLocationObserver (observer :LocationObserver) :void
+    {
+        _observers.remove(observer);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the place object for the location we currently occupy or
+     * null if we're not currently occupying any location.
+     */
+    public function getPlaceObject () :PlaceObject
+    {
+        return _plobj;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if there is a pending move request.
+     */
+    public function movePending () :Boolean
+    {
+        return (_pendingPlaceId > 0);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Requests that this client be moved to the specified place. A
+     * request will be made and when the response is received, the
+     * location observers will be notified of success or failure.
+     *
+     * @return true if the move to request was issued, false if it was
+     * rejected by a location observer or because we have another request
+     * outstanding.
+     */
+    public function moveTo (placeId :int) :Boolean
+    {
+        // make sure the placeId is valid
+        if (placeId < 0) {
+            Log.warning("Refusing moveTo(): invalid placeId " + placeId + ".");
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // first check to see if our observers are happy with this move
+        // request
+        if (!mayMoveTo(placeId, null)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // we need to call this both to mark that we're issuing a move
+        // request and to check to see if the last issued request should
+        // be considered stale
+        var refuse :Boolean = checkRepeatMove();
+
+        // complain if we're over-writing a pending request
+        if (_pendingPlaceId != -1) {
+            // if the pending request has been outstanding more than a
+            // minute, go ahead and let this new one through in an attempt
+            // to recover from dropped moveTo requests
+            if (refuse) {
+                Log.warning("Refusing moveTo; We have a request outstanding " +
+                            "[ppid=" + _pendingPlaceId +
+                            ", npid=" + placeId + "].");
+                return false;
+
+            } else {
+                Log.warning("Overriding stale moveTo request " +
+                            "[ppid=" + _pendingPlaceId +
+                            ", npid=" + placeId + "].");
+            }
+        }
+
+        // make a note of our pending place id
+        _pendingPlaceId = placeId;
+
+        // issue a moveTo request
+        Log.info("Issuing moveTo(" + placeId + ").");
+        _lservice.moveTo(_cctx.getClient(), placeId, this);
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Requests to move to the room that we last occupied, if such a room
+     * exists.
+     *
+     * @return true if we had a previous room and we requested to move to
+     * it, false if we had no previous room.
+     */
+    public function moveBack () :Boolean
+    {
+        if (_previousPlaceId == -1) {
+            return false;
+
+        } else {
+            moveTo(_previousPlaceId);
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Issues a request to leave our current location.
+     *
+     * @return true if we were able to leave, false if we are in the
+     * middle of moving somewhere and can't yet leave.
+     */
+    public function leavePlace () :Boolean
+    {
+        if (_pendingPlaceId != -1) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        _lservice.leavePlace(_cctx.getClient());
+        didLeavePlace();
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * This can be called by cooperating directors that need to coopt the
+     * moving process to extend it in some way or other. In such
+     * situations, they should call this method before moving to a new
+     * location to check to be sure that all of the registered location
+     * observers are amenable to a location change.
+     *
+     * @param placeId the place oid of our tentative new location.
+     *
+     * @return true if everyone is happy with the move, false if it was
+     * vetoed by one of the location observers.
+     */
+    public function mayMoveTo (placeId :int, rl :ResultListener) :Boolean
+    {
+        var vetoed :Boolean = false;
+        _observers.apply(function (obs :Object) :Boolean {
+            var lobs :LocationObserver = (obs as LocationObserver);
+            vetoed = vetoed || !lobs.locationMayChange(placeId);
+            return true;
+        });
+
+        // if we're actually going somewhere, let the controller know that
+        // we might be leaving
+        mayLeavePlace();
+
+        // if we have a result listener, let it know if we failed
+        // or keep it for later if we're still going
+        if (rl != null) {
+            if (vetoed) {
+                rl.requestFailed(new MoveVetoedException());
+            } else {
+                _moveListener = rl;
+            }
+        }
+        // and return the result
+        return !vetoed;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called to inform our controller that we may be leaving the current
+     * place.
+     */
+    protected void mayLeavePlace ()
+    {
+        if (_controller != null) {
+            try {
+                _controller.mayLeavePlace(_plobj);
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                Log.warning("Place controller choked in " +
+                            "mayLeavePlace [plobj=" + _plobj + "].");
+                Log.logStackTrace(e);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * This can be called by cooperating directors that need to coopt the
+     * moving process to extend it in some way or other. In such
+     * situations, they will be responsible for receiving the successful
+     * move response and they should let the location director know that
+     * the move has been effected.
+     *
+     * @param placeId the place oid of our new location.
+     * @param config the configuration information for the new place.
+     */
+    public void didMoveTo (int placeId, PlaceConfig config)
+    {
+        if (_moveListener != null) {
+            _moveListener.requestCompleted(config);
+            _moveListener = null;
+        }
+
+        // keep track of our previous place id
+        _previousPlaceId = _placeId;
+
+        // clear out our last request time
+        _lastRequestTime = 0;
+
+        // do some cleaning up in case we were previously in a place
+        didLeavePlace();
+
+        // make a note that we're now mostly in the new location
+        _placeId = placeId;
+
+        // check whether we should use a custom class loader
+        ClassLoader loader = getClassLoader(config);
+        if (loader != null) {
+            config.setClassLoader(loader);
+        }
+
+        Class cclass = config.getControllerClass();
+        try {
+            // start up a new place controller to manage the new place
+            _controller = (PlaceController)cclass.newInstance();
+            _controller.init(_cctx, config);
+
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            Log.warning("Error creating or initializing place controller " +
+                        "[cclass=" + cclass.getName() +
+                        ", config=" + config + "].");
+            Log.logStackTrace(e);
+        }
+
+        // subscribe to our new place object to complete the move
+        _cctx.getDObjectManager().subscribeToObject(_placeId, this);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called when we're leaving our current location. Informs the
+     * location's controller that we're departing, unsubscribes from the
+     * location's place object, and clears out our internal place
+     * information.
+     */
+    public void didLeavePlace ()
+    {
+        if (_plobj != null) {
+            // let the old controller know that things are going away
+            if (_controller != null) {
+                try {
+                    _controller.didLeavePlace(_plobj);
+                } catch (Exception e) {
+                    Log.warning("Place controller choked in " +
+                                "didLeavePlace [plobj=" + _plobj + "].");
+                    Log.logStackTrace(e);
+                }
+                _controller = null;
+            }
+
+            // unsubscribe from our old place object
+            _cctx.getDObjectManager().unsubscribeFromObject(
+                _plobj.getOid(), this);
+            _plobj = null;
+
+            // and clear out the associated place id
+            _placeId = -1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * This can be called by cooperating directors that need to coopt the
+     * moving process to extend it in some way or other. If the coopted
+     * move request fails, this failure can be propagated to the location
+     * observers if appropriate.
+     *
+     * @param placeId the place oid to which we failed to move.
+     * @param reason the reason code given for failure.
+     */
+    public void failedToMoveTo (int placeId, String reason)
+    {
+        if (_moveListener != null) {
+            _moveListener.requestFailed(new MoveFailedException(reason));
+            _moveListener = null;
+        }
+
+        // clear out our last request time
+        _lastRequestTime = 0;
+
+        // let our observers know what's up
+        notifyFailure(placeId, reason);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called to test and set a time stamp that we use to determine if a
+     * pending moveTo request is stale.
+     */
+    public boolean checkRepeatMove ()
+    {
+        long now = System.currentTimeMillis();
+        if (now - _lastRequestTime < STALE_REQUEST_DURATION) {
+            return true;
+
+        } else {
+            _lastRequestTime = now;
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface
+    public void clientDidLogon (Client client)
+    {
+        super.clientDidLogon(client);
+
+        // subscribe to our body object
+        Subscriber sub = new Subscriber() {
+            public void objectAvailable (DObject object)
+            {
+                gotBodyObject((BodyObject)object);
+            }
+
+            public void requestFailed (int oid, ObjectAccessException cause)
+            {
+                Log.warning("Location director unable to fetch body " +
+                            "object; all has gone horribly wrong" +
+                            "[cause=" + cause + "].");
+            }
+        };
+        int cloid = client.getClientOid();
+        client.getDObjectManager().subscribeToObject(cloid, sub);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface
+    public void clientDidLogoff (Client client)
+    {
+        super.clientDidLogoff(client);
+
+        // clear ourselves out and inform observers of our departure
+        mayLeavePlace();
+        didLeavePlace();
+
+        // let our observers know that we're no longer in a location
+        _observers.apply(_didChangeOp);
+
+        // clear out everything else (it's possible that we were logged
+        // off in the middle of a change location request)
+        _pendingPlaceId = -1;
+        _previousPlaceId = -1;
+        _lastRequestTime = 0L;
+        _lservice = null;
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void fetchServices (Client client)
+    {
+        // obtain our service handle
+        _lservice = (LocationService)
+            client.requireService(LocationService.class);
+    }
+
+    protected void gotBodyObject (BodyObject clobj)
+    {
+        // check to see if we are already in a location, in which case
+        // we'll want to be going there straight away
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface
+    public void moveSucceeded (PlaceConfig config)
+    {
+        // handle the successful move
+        didMoveTo(_pendingPlaceId, config);
+
+        // and clear out the tracked pending oid
+        _pendingPlaceId = -1;
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface
+    public void requestFailed (String reason)
+    {
+        // clear out our pending request oid
+        int placeId = _pendingPlaceId;
+        _pendingPlaceId = -1;
+
+        Log.info("moveTo failed [pid=" + placeId +
+                 ", reason=" + reason + "].");
+
+        // let our observers know that something has gone horribly awry
+        notifyFailure(placeId, reason);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface
+    public void forcedMove (final int placeId)
+    {
+        Log.info("Moving at request of server [placeId=" + placeId + "].");
+
+        if (movePending()) {
+            // clear out our old place information
+            mayLeavePlace();
+            didLeavePlace();
+
+            // move to the new place
+            moveTo(placeId);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called when we receive the place object to which we subscribed
+     * after a successful moveTo request.
+     */
+    public void objectAvailable (DObject object)
+    {
+        // yay, we have our new place object
+        _plobj = (PlaceObject)object;
+
+        // let the place controller know that we're ready to roll
+        if (_controller != null) {
+            try {
+                _controller.willEnterPlace(_plobj);
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                Log.warning("Controller choked in willEnterPlace " +
+                            "[place=" + _plobj + "].");
+                Log.logStackTrace(e);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // let our observers know that all is well on the western front
+        _observers.apply(_didChangeOp);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called if we are unable to subscribe to the place object that was
+     * provided to us with our successful moveTo request. This is
+     * generally a bad scene and we do our best to recover by going back
+     * to the previously known location.
+     */
+    public void requestFailed (int oid, ObjectAccessException cause)
+    {
+        // aiya! we were unable to fetch our new place object; something
+        // is badly wrong
+        Log.warning("Aiya! Unable to fetch place object for new location " +
+                    "[plid=" + oid + ", reason=" + cause + "].");
+
+        // clear out our half initialized place info
+        int placeId = _placeId;
+        _placeId = -1;
+
+        // let the kids know shit be fucked
+        notifyFailure(placeId, "m.unable_to_fetch_place_object");
+
+        // we need to sort out what to do about the half-initialized place
+        // controller. presently we punt and hope that calling
+        // didLeavePlace() without ever having called willEnterPlace()
+        // does whatever's necessary
+
+        // try to return to our previous location
+        if (_failureHandler != null) {
+            _failureHandler.recoverFailedMove(placeId);
+
+        } else {
+            // if we were previously somewhere (and that somewhere isn't
+            // where we just tried to go), try going back to that happy
+            // place
+            if (_previousPlaceId != -1 && _previousPlaceId != placeId) {
+                moveTo(_previousPlaceId);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the failure handler which will recover from place object
+     * fetching failures. In the event that we are unable to fetch our
+     * place object after making a successful moveTo request, we attempt
+     * to rectify the failure by moving back to the last known working
+     * location. Because entites that cooperate with the location director
+     * may need to become involved in this failure recovery, we provide
+     * this interface whereby they can interject themseves into the
+     * failure recovery process and do their own failure recovery.
+     */
+//    public void setFailureHandler (FailureHandler handler)
+//    {
+//        if (_failureHandler != null) {
+//            Log.warning("Requested to set failure handler, but we've " +
+//                        "already got one. The conflicting entities will " +
+//                        "likely need to perform more sophisticated " +
+//                        "coordination to deal with failures. " +
+//                        "[old=" + _failureHandler + ", new=" + handler + "].");
+//
+//        } else {
+//            _failureHandler = handler;
+//        }
+//    }
+
+    protected void notifyFailure (final int placeId, final String reason)
+    {
+        _observers.apply(new ObserverOp() {
+            public boolean apply (Object obs) {
+                ((LocationObserver)obs).locationChangeFailed(placeId, reason);
+                return true;
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * By overriding this method, it is possible to customize the location
+     * director to cause it to load the classes associated with a
+     * particular place via a custom class loader. That loader may enforce
+     * restricted privileges or obtain the classes from some special
+     * source.
+     */
+    protected ClassLoader getClassLoader (PlaceConfig config)
+    {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    /** The context through which we access needed services. */
+    protected CrowdContext _cctx;
+
+    /** Provides access to location services. */
+    protected LocationService _lservice;
+
+    /** Our location observer list. */
+    protected ObserverList _observers =
+        new ObserverList(ObserverList.SAFE_IN_ORDER_NOTIFY);
+
+    /** The oid of the place we currently occupy. */
+    protected int _placeId = -1;
+
+    /** The place object that we currently occupy. */
+    protected PlaceObject _plobj;
+
+    /** The place controller in effect for our current place. */
+    protected PlaceController _controller;
+
+    /**
+     * The oid of the place for which we have an outstanding moveTo
+     * request, or -1 if we have no outstanding request.
+     */
+    protected int _pendingPlaceId = -1;
+
+    /** The oid of the place we previously occupied. */
+    protected int _previousPlaceId = -1;
+
+    /** The last time we requested a move to. */
+    protected long _lastRequestTime;
+
+    /** The entity that deals when we fail to subscribe to a place
+     * object. */
+//    protected FailureHandler _failureHandler;
+
+    /** A listener that wants to know if we succeeded or
+     * how we failed to move.  */
+    protected ResultListener _moveListener;
+
+    /** The operation used to inform observers that the location changed. */
+    protected ObserverOp _didChangeOp = new ObserverOp() {
+        public boolean apply (Object obs) {
+            ((LocationObserver)obs).locationDidChange(_plobj);
+            return true;
+        }
+    };
+
+    /** We require that a moveTo request be outstanding for one minute
+     * before it is declared to be stale. */
+    protected static final long STALE_REQUEST_DURATION = 60L * 1000L;
+}
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/OccupantDirector.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/OccupantDirector.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f51eaa555
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/OccupantDirector.as
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+//
+// $Id: OccupantDirector.java 3406 2005-03-15 02:12:03Z mdb $
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://www.threerings.net/code/narya/
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.crowd.client {
+
+import com.threerings.util.Iterator;
+import com.threerings.util.ObserverList;
+import com.threerings.util.Name;
+
+import com.threerings.presents.client.BasicDirector;
+import com.threerings.presents.client.Client;
+import com.threerings.presents.client.ClientEvent;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.EntryAddedEvent;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.EntryRemovedEvent;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.EntryUpdatedEvent;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.SetListener;
+
+import com.threerings.crowd.Log;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.OccupantInfo;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.PlaceObject;
+import com.threerings.crowd.util.CrowdContext;
+
+/**
+ * The occupant director listens for occupants of places to enter and
+ * exit, and dispatches notices to interested parties about these events.
+ *
+ * <p> It will eventually provide a framework for keeping track of
+ * occupant information in a network efficient manner. The idea being that
+ * we want to store as little information about occupants as possible in
+ * the place object (probably just body oid and username), but upon
+ * entering a place, this will be all we know about the occupants. We then
+ * dispatch a request to get information about all of the occupants in the
+ * room (things like avatar information for a graphical display or perhaps
+ * their ratings in the game that is associated with a place for a gaming
+ * site) which we then pass on to the occupant observers when it becomes
+ * available.
+ *
+ * <p> This information would be cached and we could return cached
+ * information for occupants for which we have cached info. We will
+ * probably want to still make a request for the occupant info so that we
+ * can update non-static occupant data rather than permanently using
+ * what's in the cache.
+ */
+public class OccupantDirector extends BasicDirector
+    implements LocationObserver, SetListener
+{
+    /**
+     * Constructs a new occupant director with the supplied context.
+     */
+    public function OccupantDirector (ctx :CrowdContext)
+    {
+        super(ctx);
+
+        // register ourselves as a location observer
+        ctx.getLocationDirector().addLocationObserver(this);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Adds the specified occupant observer to the list.
+     */
+    public function addOccupantObserver (obs :OccupantObserver) :void
+    {
+        _observers.add(obs);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the specified occupant observer from the list.
+     */
+    public function removeOccupantObserver (obs :OccupantObserver) :void
+    {
+        _observers.remove(obs);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the occupant info for the user in question if it exists in
+     * the currently occupied place. Returns null if no occupant info
+     * exists for the specified body.
+     */
+    public function getOccupantInfo (bodyOid :int) :OccupantInfo
+    {
+        // make sure we're somewhere
+        return (_place == null) ? null :
+            (_place.occupantInfo.get(bodyOid) as OccupantInfo);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the occupant info for the user in question if it exists in
+     * the currently occupied place. Returns null if no occupant info
+     * exists with the specified username.
+     */
+    public function getOccupantInfoByName (username :Name) :OccupantInfo
+    {
+        return (_place == null) ? null : _place.getOccupantInfo(username);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public override function clientDidLogoff (event :ClientEvent) :void
+    {
+        super.clientDidLogoff(event);
+        // clear things out
+        if (_place != null) {
+            _place.removeListener(this);
+            _place = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface LocationObserver
+    public function locationMayChange (placeId :int) :Boolean
+    {
+        // we've got no opinion
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface LocationObserver
+    public function locationDidChange (place :PlaceObject) :void
+    {
+        // unlisten to the old place object if there was one
+        if (_place != null) {
+            _place.removeListener(this);
+        }
+
+        // listen to the new one
+        _place = place;
+        if (_place != null) {
+            _place.addListener(this);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface LocationObserver
+    public function locationChangeFailed (placeId :int, reason :String) :void
+    {
+        // nothing to do here either
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface SetListener
+    public function entryAdded (event :EntryAddedEvent) :void
+    {
+        // bail if this isn't for the OCCUPANT_INFO field
+        if (event.getName() != PlaceObject.OCCUPANT_INFO) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // now let the occupant observers know what's up
+        var info :OccupantInfo = (event.getEntry() as OccupantInfo);
+        _observers.apply(function (obj :Object) :Boolean {
+            (obj as OccupantObserver).occupantEntered(info);
+            return true;
+        });
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface SetListener
+    public function entryUpdated (event :EntryUpdatedEvent) :void
+    {
+        // bail if this isn't for the OCCUPANT_INFO field
+        if (event.getName() != PlaceObject.OCCUPANT_INFO) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // now let the occupant observers know what's up
+        var info :OccupantInfo = (event.getEntry() as OccupantInfo);
+        var oinfo :OccupantInfo = (event.getOldEntry() as OccupantInfo);
+        _observers.apply(function (obj :Object) :Boolean {
+            (obj as OccupantObserver).occupantUpdated(oinfo, info);
+            return true;
+        });
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited from interface SetListener
+    public function entryRemoved (event :EntryRemovedEvent) :void
+    {
+        // bail if this isn't for the OCCUPANT_INFO field
+        if (event.getName() != PlaceObject.OCCUPANT_INFO) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // let the occupant observers know what's up
+        var oinfo :OccupantInfo = (event.getOldEntry() as OccupantInfo);
+        _observers.apply(function (obj :Object) :Boolean {
+            (obj as OccupantObserver).occupantLeft(oinfo);
+            return true;
+        });
+    }
+
+    /** The occupant observers to keep abreast of occupant antics. */
+    protected var _observers :ObserverList =
+        new ObserverList(ObserverList.SAFE_IN_ORDER_NOTIFY);
+
+    /** The user's current location. */
+    protected var _place :PlaceObject;
+}
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/OccupantObserver.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/OccupantObserver.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e7ce17c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/OccupantObserver.as
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+//
+// $Id: OccupantObserver.java 3098 2004-08-27 02:12:55Z mdb $
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://www.threerings.net/code/narya/
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.crowd.client {
+
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.OccupantInfo;
+
+/**
+ * An entity that is interested in hearing about bodies that enter and
+ * leave a location (as well as disconnect and reconnect) can implement
+ * this interface and register itself with the {@link OccupantDirector}.
+ */
+public interface OccupantObserver
+{
+    /**
+     * Called when a body enters the place.
+     */
+    function occupantEntered (info :OccupantInfo) :void;
+
+    /**
+     * Called when a body leaves the place.
+     */
+    function occupantLeft (info :OccupantInfo) :void;
+
+    /**
+     * Called when an occupant is updated.
+     *
+     * @param oldinfo the occupant info prior to the update.
+     * @param newinfo the newly update info record.
+     */
+    function occupantUpdated (
+            oldinfo :OccupantInfo, newinfo :OccupantInfo) :void;
+}
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceView.as b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceView.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b486b815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceView.as
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+//
+// $Id: PlaceView.java 3098 2004-08-27 02:12:55Z mdb $
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://www.threerings.net/code/narya/
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.crowd.client {
+
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.PlaceObject;
+
+/**
+ * This interface provides a convenient means for decoupling user
+ * interface components that interact with a place object and that need to
+ * keep themselves up to date when the client moves from place to place.
+ *
+ * <p> In general, such components need to know when the client is about
+ * to enter a place so that they can subscribe if necessary or at least
+ * extract information about the place. They also need to know when a
+ * client has left a place so that they can unsubscribe and clean up after
+ * themselves. This is the information that the place view interface makes
+ * available to them in a decoupled way.
+ *
+ * <p> The part of the client implementation that is responsible for the
+ * main user interface can act as a location observer, and it can make use
+ * of {@link PlaceViewUtil} to dispatch notification of place changes to
+ * every <code>PlaceView</code> implementing user interface element in the
+ * user interface hierarchy with calls to {@link
+ * PlaceViewUtil#dispatchWillEnterPlace} and {@link
+ * PlaceViewUtil#dispatchDidLeavePlace}. These functions traverse the UI
+ * hierarchy (starting with the element provided which would generally be
+ * the top-level UI element, and dispatch calls to {@link #willEnterPlace}
+ * and {@link #didLeavePlace} respectively on any UI element they find
+ * that implements <code>PlaceView</code>.
+ *
+ * <p> By doing this, the client code can simply create place-sensitive
+ * user interface elements and stick them in the user interface and
+ * essentially forget about them, knowing that they will all be notified
+ * of place entering and exiting by virtue of the single dispatching
+ * calls. It is useful to note that place-sensitive user interface
+ * elements will also generally need a reference to the {@link
+ * com.threerings.crowd.util.CrowdContext} derivative in use by
+ * the client, but those are best supplied at construct time.
+ */
+public interface PlaceView
+{
+    /**
+     * Called when the client has entered a place and is about to display
+     * the user interface for that place.
+     *
+     * @param plobj the place object that was just entered.
+     */
+    function willEnterPlace (plobj :PlaceObject) :void;
+
+    /**
+     * Called after the client has left a place and needs to clean up
+     * after the user interface that was displaying that place.
+     *
+     * @param plobj the place object that was just left.
+     */
+    function didLeavePlace (plobj :PlaceObject) :void;
+}
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.as b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.as
index c0cda5d08..6eaacca27 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/TestClient.as
@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@ public class TestClient extends Client
             ": " + arguments);
     }
 
+    public function crazyArgs (num :int = 0, str :String = "lol") :void
+    {
+        Log.debug("crazyArgs " + num + ", " + str);
+    }
+
     prototype var _foo :String;
 
     protected var _savedFunc :Function;
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/ArrayUtil.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ArrayUtil.as
index f7e84e2aa..6d0a01944 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/util/ArrayUtil.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ArrayUtil.as
@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ package com.threerings.util {
  */
 public class ArrayUtil
 {
+    /**
+     * Return the first index of the specified element, or -1 if not present.
+     */
+    public static function indexOf (arr :Array, element :Object) :int
+    {
+        for (var ii :int = 0; ii < arr.length; ii++) {
+            if (arr[ii] === element) {
+                return ii;
+            }
+        }
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Remove the first instance of the specified element from the array.
      */
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/MessageBundle.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/MessageBundle.as
index 54acc4ec6..867afc055 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/util/MessageBundle.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/MessageBundle.as
@@ -384,3 +384,8 @@ public class MessageBundle
     protected static const QUAL_SEP :String = ":";
 }
 }
+
+// TODO: figure out how this is all actually going to even work
+class ResourceBundle
+{
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f685e507a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ObserverList.as
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+package com.threerings.util {
+
+public class ObserverList
+{
+    /** A notification ordering policy indicating that the observers
+     * should be notified in the order they were added and that the
+     * notification should be done on a snapshot of the array. */
+    public static const SAFE_IN_ORDER_NOTIFY :int = 1;
+
+    /** A notification ordering policy wherein the observers are notified
+     * last to first so that they can be removed during the notification
+     * process and new observers added will not inadvertently be notified
+     * as well, but no copy of the observer list need be made. This will
+     * not work if observers are added or removed from arbitrary positions
+     * in the list during a notification call. */
+    public static const FAST_UNSAFE_NOTIFY :int = 2;
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor
+     */
+    public function ObserverList (notifyPolicy :int = 2)
+    {
+        _notifyPolicy = notifyPolicy;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Add an observer to this list.
+     */
+    public function add (observer :Object) :void
+    {
+        if (ArrayUtil.indexOf(_list, observer) == -1) {
+            _list.push(observer);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Remove an observer from this list.
+     */
+    public function remove (observer :Object) :void
+    {
+        ArrayUtil.removeFirst(_list, observer);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Apply some operation to all observers.
+     * The function to be passed in should expect one argument and return a
+     * Boolean.
+     * function (observer :Object) :Boolean.
+     * The function should return false if the observer should be removed
+     * from the list.
+     */
+    public function apply (func :Function) :void
+    {
+        var list :Array = _list;
+        if (_notifyPolicy == SAFE_IN_ORDER_NOTIFY) {
+            list = list.concat(); // make a duplicate
+            list.reverse(); // reverse it so that we start with earlier obs
+        }
+        for (var ii :int = list.length-1; ii >= 0; ii--) {
+            try {
+                var result :Boolean = func(list[ii]);
+                if (!result) {
+                    // remove it if directed to do so
+                    remove(list[ii]);
+                }
+            } catch (err :Error) {
+                Log.warning("ObserverOp choked during notification.");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Our notification policy. */
+    protected var _notifyPolicy :int;
+
+    /** The actual list of observers. */
+    protected var _list :Array = new Array();
+}
+}
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/ResultListener.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ResultListener.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e561feb3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/ResultListener.as
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package com.threerings.util {
+
+public interface ResultListener
+{
+    function requestCompleted (obj :Object) :void;
+
+    function requestFailed (cause :Error) :void;
+}
+}