diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
index 3f5fbfd63..abf65edb8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public class ChatProvider
         }
 
         // deliver a tell notification to the target player
-        sendTellMessage(tobj, source.username, null, message);
+        sendTellMessage(tobj, source.getVisibleName(), null, message);
 
         // let the teller know it went ok
         long idle = 0L;
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public class ChatProvider
             throw new InvocationException(errmsg);
         }
 
-        broadcast(body.username, null, message, false);
+        broadcast(body.getVisibleName(), null, message, false);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakProvider.java
index f1b2fa2a4..011927741 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/SpeakProvider.java
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ public class SpeakProvider
 
         } else {
             // issue the speak message on our speak object
-            sendSpeak(_speakObj, source.username, null, message, mode);
+            sendSpeak(_speakObj, source.getVisibleName(), null, message, mode);
         }
     }
 
@@ -312,9 +312,8 @@ public class SpeakProvider
     }
 
     /**
-     * Notes that the specified user was privy to the specified
-     * message. If {@link ChatMessage#timestamp} is not already filled in,
-     * it will be.
+     * Notes that the specified user was privy to the specified message. If
+     * {@link ChatMessage#timestamp} is not already filled in, it will be.
      */
     protected static void noteMessage (Name username, UserMessage msg)
     {
@@ -375,7 +374,7 @@ public class SpeakProvider
         public void apply (int bodyOid) {
             DObject dobj = CrowdServer.omgr.getObject(bodyOid);
             if (dobj != null && dobj instanceof BodyObject) {
-                noteMessage(((BodyObject)dobj).username, message);
+                noteMessage(((BodyObject)dobj).getVisibleName(), message);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java
index bd3144f13..4d5eb2dd4 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/data/BodyObject.java
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ public class BodyObject extends ClientObject
     // AUTO-GENERATED: FIELDS END
 
     /**
-     * The username associated with this body object.
+     * The username associated with this body object. This should not be used
+     * directly; in general {@link #getVisibleName} should be used unless you
+     * specifically know that you want the username.
      */
     public Name username;
 
@@ -109,6 +111,15 @@ public class BodyObject extends ClientObject
         return EMPTY_TOKENS;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the name that should be displayed to other users and used for
+     * the chat system. The default is to use {@link #username}.
+     */
+    public Name getVisibleName ()
+    {
+        return username;
+    }
+
     // documentation inherited
     public void applyToListeners (ListenerOp op)
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdClient.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdClient.java
index 2c4668269..30cd0a4b8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdClient.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdClient.java
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public class CrowdClient extends PresentsClient
 
         // clear our chat history
         if (body != null) {
-            SpeakProvider.clearHistory(body.username);
+            SpeakProvider.clearHistory(body.getVisibleName());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdServer.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdServer.java
index 876255c89..d3963bfea 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdServer.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdServer.java
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ public class CrowdServer extends PresentsServer
         // configure the dobject manager with our access controller
         omgr.setDefaultAccessController(CrowdObjectAccess.DEFAULT);
 
+        // create our body locator
+        _lookup = createBodyLocator();
+
         // create our place registry
         plreg = createPlaceRegistry(invmgr, omgr);
 
@@ -81,6 +84,21 @@ public class CrowdServer extends PresentsServer
         return new PlaceRegistry(invmgr, omgr);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Allow derived instances to create a custom {@link BodyLocator}. If the
+     * system opts not to use {@link BodyObject#username} as a user's visible
+     * name, it will need to provide a custom {@link BodyLocator}.
+     */
+    protected BodyLocator createBodyLocator ()
+    {
+        return new BodyLocator() {
+            public BodyObject get (Name visibleName) {
+                // by default visibleName is username
+                return (BodyObject)clmgr.getClientObject(visibleName);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
     /**
      * Enumerates the body objects for all active users on the server.
      * This should only be called from the dobjmgr thread.  The caller had
@@ -93,13 +111,13 @@ public class CrowdServer extends PresentsServer
     }
 
     /**
-     * The server maintains a mapping of username to body object for all
-     * active users on the server. This should only be called from the
-     * dobjmgr thread.
+     * Looks up the {@link BodyObject} for the user with the specified visible
+     * name, returns null if they are not online. This should only be called
+     * from the dobjmgr thread.
      */
-    public static BodyObject lookupBody (Name username)
+    public static BodyObject lookupBody (Name visibleName)
     {
-        return (BodyObject)clmgr.getClientObject(username);
+        return _lookup.get(visibleName);
     }
 
     public static void main (String[] args)
@@ -114,6 +132,20 @@ public class CrowdServer extends PresentsServer
         }
     }
 
+    /** An interface that allows server extensions to reconfigure the body
+     * lookup process. See {@link #lookupBody}, {@link #createBodyLocator}. */
+    protected static interface BodyLocator
+    {
+        /** Returns the body object for the user with the specified visible
+         * name, or null if they are not online. This will only be called from
+         * the dobjmgr thread. */
+        public BodyObject get (Name visibleName);
+    }
+
+    /** Used to look up {@link BodyObject} instance for online users. See
+     * {@link #lookupBody}. */
+    protected static BodyLocator _lookup;
+
     /** The config key for our list of invocation provider mappings. */
     protected final static String PROVIDERS_KEY = "providers";
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java
index 133a70c74..a9b4009e2 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java
@@ -408,9 +408,9 @@ public class PlaceManager
      */
     protected void populateOccupantInfo (OccupantInfo info, BodyObject body)
     {
-        // the base occupant info is only their username
+        // the base occupant info is only their name and connection status
         info.bodyOid = new Integer(body.getOid());
-        info.username = body.username;
+        info.username = body.getVisibleName();
         info.status = body.status;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/table/TableItem.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/table/TableItem.java
index 95417ad6a..e9d82ecd8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/table/TableItem.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/table/TableItem.java
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public class TableItem
         _tdtr.addSeatednessObserver(this);
 
         // figure out who we are
-        _self = ((BodyObject)ctx.getClient().getClientObject()).username;
+        _self = ((BodyObject)ctx.getClient().getClientObject()).getVisibleName();
 
         // now create our user interface
     	setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black));
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/server/SimulatorManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/server/SimulatorManager.java
index 29f7ab797..193f07139 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/server/SimulatorManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/server/SimulatorManager.java
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public class SimulatorManager
 
                 // configure the game config with the player names
                 config.players = new Name[_playerCount];
-                config.players[0] = _source.username;
+                config.players[0] = _source.getVisibleName();
                 for (int ii = 1; ii < _playerCount; ii++) {
                     config.players[ii] = new Name("simulant" + ii);
                 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/card/trick/server/TrickCardGameManagerDelegate.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/card/trick/server/TrickCardGameManagerDelegate.java
index d398c7550..89cda766b 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/card/trick/server/TrickCardGameManagerDelegate.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/card/trick/server/TrickCardGameManagerDelegate.java
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ public class TrickCardGameManagerDelegate extends TurnGameManagerDelegate
         int fromidx = _cgmgr.getPlayerIndex(client);
         if (fromidx == -1) {
             Log.warning("Send request from non-player [username=" +
-                ((BodyObject)client).username + ", cards=" +
+                ((BodyObject)client).who() + ", cards=" +
                 StringUtil.toString(cards) + "].");
             return;
         }
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ public class TrickCardGameManagerDelegate extends TurnGameManagerDelegate
         // make sure they have the cards
         if (!_hands[fromidx].containsAll(cards)) {
             Log.warning("Tried to send cards not held [username=" +
-                ((BodyObject)client).username + ", cards=" +
+                ((BodyObject)client).who() + ", cards=" +
                 StringUtil.toString(cards) + "].");
             return;
         }
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ public class TrickCardGameManagerDelegate extends TurnGameManagerDelegate
         }
         
         // make sure it's their turn
-        Name username = ((BodyObject)client).username;
+        Name username = ((BodyObject)client).getVisibleName();
         if (!username.equals(_trickCardGame.getTurnHolder())) {
             return;
         }
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ public class TrickCardGameManagerDelegate extends TurnGameManagerDelegate
         // make sure the game is over
         if (_cardGame.state != CardGameObject.GAME_OVER) {
             Log.warning("Tried to request rematch when game wasn't over " +
-                "[username=" + ((BodyObject)client).username + "].");
+                "[username=" + ((BodyObject)client).who() + "].");
             return;
         }
         
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ public class TrickCardGameManagerDelegate extends TurnGameManagerDelegate
         int pidx = _cgmgr.getPlayerIndex(client);
         if (pidx == -1) {
             Log.warning("Rematch request from non-player [username=" +
-                ((BodyObject)client).username + "].");
+                ((BodyObject)client).who() + "].");
             return;
         }
         
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ public class TrickCardGameManagerDelegate extends TurnGameManagerDelegate
         if (_trickCardGame.getRematchRequests()[pidx] !=
             TrickCardGameObject.NO_REQUEST) {
             Log.warning("Repeated rematch request [username=" +
-                ((BodyObject)client).username + "].");
+                ((BodyObject)client).who() + "].");
             return;
         }
         
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/TableDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/TableDirector.java
index 1031f5df3..2363c5c4c 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/TableDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/TableDirector.java
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public class TableDirector extends BasicDirector
         // look for our username in the occupants array
         BodyObject self = (BodyObject)_ctx.getClient().getClientObject();
         for (int i = 0; i < table.occupants.length; i++) {
-            if (self.username.equals(table.occupants[i])) {
+            if (self.getVisibleName().equals(table.occupants[i])) {
                 _ourTable = table;
                 break;
             }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/client/GameController.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/client/GameController.java
index 388c4e15f..712f373ff 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/client/GameController.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/client/GameController.java
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public abstract class GameController extends PlaceController
         // runnable here that will let the game manager know that we're
         // ready on the next pass through the distributed event loop
         Log.info("Entering game " + _gobj.which() + ".");
-        if (_gobj.getPlayerIndex(bobj.username) != -1) {
+        if (_gobj.getPlayerIndex(bobj.getVisibleName()) != -1) {
             _ctx.getClient().getRunQueue().postRunnable(new Runnable() {
                 public void run () {
                     // finally let the game manager know that we're ready
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java
index e2e126d36..a72eca7eb 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ public class GameManager extends PlaceManager
         BodyObject plobj = (BodyObject)caller;
 
         // get the user's player index
-        int pidx = _gameobj.getPlayerIndex(plobj.username);
+        int pidx = _gameobj.getPlayerIndex(plobj.getVisibleName());
         if (pidx == -1) {
             // only complain if this is not a party game, since it's
             // perfectly normal to receive a player ready notification
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java
index aa4b0f219..6c8a083d1 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@ public class ParlorManager
         _invites.put(invite.inviteId, invite);
 
         // deliver an invite notification to the invitee
-        ParlorSender.sendInvite(invitee, invite.inviteId,
-                                inviter.username, config);
+        ParlorSender.sendInvite(
+            invitee, invite.inviteId, inviter.getVisibleName(), config);
 
         // and let the caller know the invite id we assigned
         return invite.inviteId;
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java
index 6bc13dac9..2c8514743 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java
@@ -177,7 +177,9 @@ public class ParlorProvider
 
         try {
             // just this fellow will be playing
-            config.players = new Name[] { user.username };
+            if (config.players == null || config.players.length == 0) {
+                config.players = new Name[] { user.getVisibleName() };
+            }
 
             // create the game manager and begin its initialization
             // process
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/TableManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/TableManager.java
index f53a6312b..beeaf9432 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/TableManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/TableManager.java
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ public class TableManager
         // stick the creator into the first non-AI position
         int cpos = (config.ais == null) ? 0 : config.ais.length;
         String error =
-            table.setOccupant(cpos, creator.username, creator.getOid());
+            table.setOccupant(cpos, creator.getVisibleName(), creator.getOid());
         if (error != null) {
             Log.warning("Unable to add creator to position zero of " +
                         "table!? [table=" + table + ", creator=" + creator +
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ public class TableManager
         }
 
         // request that the user be added to the table at that position
-        String error =
-            table.setOccupant(position, joiner.username, joiner.getOid());
+        String error = table.setOccupant(
+            position, joiner.getVisibleName(), joiner.getOid());
         // if that failed, report the error
         if (error != null) {
             throw new InvocationException(error);
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ public class TableManager
         }
 
         // request that the user be removed from the table
-        if (!table.clearOccupant(leaver.username)) {
+        if (!table.clearOccupant(leaver.getVisibleName())) {
             throw new InvocationException(NOT_AT_TABLE);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/turn/client/TurnGameControllerDelegate.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/turn/client/TurnGameControllerDelegate.java
index f5b7fcac5..10096b46f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/turn/client/TurnGameControllerDelegate.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/turn/client/TurnGameControllerDelegate.java
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public class TurnGameControllerDelegate extends GameControllerDelegate
     {
         BodyObject self = (BodyObject)_ctx.getClient().getClientObject();
         return (_gameObj.state == GameObject.IN_PLAY &&
-                self.username.equals(_turnGame.getTurnHolder()));
+                self.getVisibleName().equals(_turnGame.getTurnHolder()));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotProvider.java
index f865e5518..dee16d21c 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotProvider.java
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ public class SpotProvider
         }
 
         sendClusterChatMessage(getCallerSceneId(caller), source.getOid(),
-                               source.username, null, message, mode);
+                               source.getVisibleName(), null, message, mode);
     }
 
     /**