diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/IsoSceneView.java b/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/IsoSceneView.java
index b06355235..d2b34f5cb 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/IsoSceneView.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/IsoSceneView.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: IsoSceneView.java,v 1.79 2001/12/16 05:42:16 shaper Exp $
+// $Id: IsoSceneView.java,v 1.80 2001/12/16 08:31:17 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.miso.scene;
 
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ public class IsoSceneView implements SceneView
     {
         // Log.info("renderScene");
         renderTiles(gfx);
+        renderBaseDecorations(gfx);
         renderDirtyItems(gfx);
     }
 
@@ -244,6 +245,16 @@ public class IsoSceneView implements SceneView
 	}
     }
 
+    /**
+     * A function where derived classes can paint things after the base
+     * tiles have been rendered but before anything else has been rendered
+     * (so that whatever is painted appears to be on the ground).
+     */
+    protected void renderBaseDecorations (Graphics2D gfx)
+    {
+        // nothing for now
+    }
+
     /**
      * Renders the dirty sprites and objects in the scene to the given
      * graphics context.