diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/ParlorCodes.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/ParlorCodes.java
index c040f30e2..10b6dd416 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/ParlorCodes.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/client/ParlorCodes.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ParlorCodes.java,v 1.5 2001/10/11 04:07:51 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ParlorCodes.java,v 1.6 2001/10/19 02:04:29 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.parlor.client;
 
@@ -58,4 +58,30 @@ public interface ParlorCodes extends InvocationCodes
      * the invited user was not online at the time the invitation was
      * received. */
     public static final String INVITEE_NOT_ONLINE = "m.invitee_not_online";
+
+    /** The message identifier for a create table request. */
+    public static final String CREATE_TABLE_REQUEST = "CreateTable";
+
+    /** The response identifier for a table created response. This is
+     * mapped by the invocation services to a call to {@link
+     * ParlorDirector#handleTableCreated}. */
+    public static final String TABLE_CREATED_RESPONSE = "TableCreated";
+
+    /** The response identifier for a create failed response. This is
+     * mapped by the invocation services to a call to {@link
+     * ParlorDirector#handleCreateFailed}. */
+    public static final String CREATE_FAILED_RESPONSE = "CreateFailed";
+
+    /** The message identifier for a join table request. */
+    public static final String JOIN_TABLE_REQUEST = "JoinTable";
+
+    /** The response identifier for a table joined response. This is
+     * mapped by the invocation services to a call to {@link
+     * ParlorDirector#handleTableJoined}. */
+    public static final String TABLE_JOINED_RESPONSE = "TableJoined";
+
+    /** The response identifier for a join failed response. This is mapped
+     * by the invocation services to a call to {@link
+     * ParlorDirector#handleJoinFailed}. */
+    public static final String JOIN_FAILED_RESPONSE = "JoinFailed";
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/Table.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/Table.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..73f5e2c26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/Table.java
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+//
+// $Id: Table.java,v 1.1 2001/10/19 02:04:29 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.parlor.data;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.DataOutputStream;
+
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.DSet;
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.io.ValueMarshaller;
+
+import com.threerings.parlor.game.GameConfig;
+
+/**
+ * This class represents a table that is being used to matchmake a game by
+ * the Parlor services.
+ */
+public class Table implements DSet.Element
+{
+    /** The unique identifier for this table. */
+    public Integer tableId;
+
+    /** An array of the usernames of the occupants of this table (some
+     * slots may not be filled. */
+    public String[] occupants;
+
+    /** The game config for the game that is being matchmade. This config
+     * instance will also implement {@link TableConfig}. */
+    public GameConfig config;
+
+    /**
+     * A convenience function for accessing the table id as an int.
+     */
+    public int getTableId ()
+    {
+        return tableId.intValue();
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public Object getKey ()
+    {
+        return tableId;
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void writeTo (DataOutputStream out)
+        throws IOException
+    {
+        out.writeInt(getTableId());
+        ValueMarshaller.writeTo(out, occupants);
+        ValueMarshaller.writeTo(out, config);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void readFrom (DataInputStream in)
+        throws IOException
+    {
+        tableId = new Integer(in.readInt());
+        occupants = (String[])ValueMarshaller.readFrom(in);
+        config = (GameConfig)ValueMarshaller.readFrom(in);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Generates a string representation of this table instance.
+     */
+    public String toString ()
+    {
+        return "[tableId=" + tableId +
+            ", occupants=" + StringUtil.toString(occupants) +
+            ", config=" + config + "]";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/TableConfig.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/TableConfig.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3bf5f8a7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/TableConfig.java
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+//
+// $Id: TableConfig.java,v 1.1 2001/10/19 02:04:29 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.parlor.data;
+
+/**
+ * A game config object that is to be matchmade using the table services
+ * should implement this interface so that the table services can extract
+ * the necessary table-generic information.
+ */
+public interface TableConfig
+{
+    /**
+     * Returns the minimum number of players needed to start the game.
+     */
+    public int getMinimumPlayers ();
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the maximum number of players that can play in the game.
+     */
+    public int getMaximumPlayers ();
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the number of players desired for this game, or -1 if the
+     * table services should allow up to the maximum number of players to
+     * join the table, but also allow the game to be started by the table
+     * creator any time after the minimum number of players has arrived.
+     */
+    public int getDesiredPlayers ();
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/TableLobbyObject.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/TableLobbyObject.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..830ea7651
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/data/TableLobbyObject.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+//
+// $Id: TableLobbyObject.java,v 1.1 2001/10/19 02:04:29 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.parlor.data;
+
+import com.threerings.presents.dobj.DSet;
+
+/**
+ * This interface must be implemented by the place object used by a lobby
+ * that wishes to make use of the table services.
+ */
+public interface TableLobbyObject
+{
+    /**
+     * Returns a reference to the distributed set instance that will be
+     * holding the tables.
+     */
+    public DSet getTables ();
+
+    /**
+     * Adds the supplied table instance to the tables set (using the
+     * appropriate distributed object mechanisms).
+     */
+    public void addToTables (Table table);
+
+    /**
+     * Updates the value of the specified table instance in the tables
+     * distributed set (using the appropriate distributed object
+     * mechanisms).
+     */
+    public void updateTables (Table table);
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the table instance that matches the specified key from the
+     * tables set (using the appropriate distributed object mechanisms).
+     */
+    public void removeFromTables (Object key);
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java
index 7e0d21145..ccb9cff4d 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ParlorManager.java,v 1.10 2001/10/17 02:49:17 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ParlorManager.java,v 1.11 2001/10/19 02:04:29 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.parlor.server;
 
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import com.threerings.crowd.server.CrowdServer;
 
 import com.threerings.parlor.Log;
 import com.threerings.parlor.client.ParlorCodes;
+import com.threerings.parlor.data.TableConfig;
+import com.threerings.parlor.data.TableLobbyObject;
 import com.threerings.parlor.game.GameConfig;
 import com.threerings.parlor.game.GameManager;
 
@@ -191,6 +193,58 @@ public class ParlorManager
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Requests that a new table be created to matchmake the game
+     * described by the supplied game config instance. The config instance
+     * provided must implement the {@link TableConfig} interface so that
+     * the parlor services can determine how to configure the table that
+     * will be created.
+     *
+     * @param creator the body object that will own the new table.
+     * @param placeOid the place object id of the place (lobby) in which
+     * this table should be created. The place object specified must
+     * implement the {@link TableLobbyObject} interface.
+     * @param config the configuration of the game to be created.
+     *
+     * @return the id of the newly created table.
+     *
+     * @exception ServiceFailedException thrown if the table creation was
+     * not able processed for some reason. The explanation will be
+     * provided in the message data of the exception.
+     */
+    public int createTable (BodyObject creator, int placeOid,
+                            GameConfig config)
+        throws ServiceFailedException
+    {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Requests that the specified user be added to the specified table at
+     * the specified position. If the user successfully joins the table,
+     * the function will return normally. If they are not able to join for
+     * some reason (the slot is already full, etc.), a {@link
+     * ServiceFailedException} will be thrown with a message code that
+     * describes the reason for failure. If the user does successfully
+     * join, they will be added to the table entry in the tables set in
+     * the place object that is hosting the table.
+     *
+     * @param joiner the body object of the user that wishes to join the
+     * table.
+     * @param tableId the id of the table to be joined.
+     * @param position the position at which to join the table.
+     *
+     * @return the id of the newly created table.
+     *
+     * @exception ServiceFailedException thrown if the table creation was
+     * not able processed for some reason. The explanation will be
+     * provided in the message data of the exception.
+     */
+    public void joinTable (BodyObject joiner, int tableId, int position)
+        throws ServiceFailedException
+    {
+    }
+
     /**
      * The invitation record is used by the parlor manager to keep track
      * of pending invitations.
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java
index add941678..69f503a2b 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/server/ParlorProvider.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ParlorProvider.java,v 1.7 2001/10/11 21:08:22 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ParlorProvider.java,v 1.8 2001/10/19 02:04:29 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.parlor.server;
 
@@ -89,6 +89,58 @@ public class ParlorProvider
         _pmgr.cancelInvite(source, inviteId);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Processes a request from the client to create a new table.
+     */
+    public void handleCreateTableRequest (
+        BodyObject source, int invid, int placeOid, GameConfig config)
+    {
+        Log.info("Handling create table request [source=" + source +
+                 ", invid=" + invid + ", placeOid=" + placeOid +
+                 ", config=" + config + "].");
+
+        String rsp = null;
+
+        try {
+            // pass the creation request on to the table manager
+            int tableId = _pmgr.createTable(source, placeOid, config);
+            sendResponse(source, invid, TABLE_CREATED_RESPONSE,
+                         new Integer(tableId));
+
+        } catch (ServiceFailedException sfe) {
+            // the exception message is the code indicating the reason for
+            // the creation rejection
+            sendResponse(source, invid, CREATE_FAILED_RESPONSE,
+                         sfe.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Processes a request from the client to join an existing table.
+     */
+    public void handleJoinTableRequest (
+        BodyObject source, int invid, int tableId, int position)
+    {
+        Log.info("Handling join table request [source=" + source +
+                 ", invid=" + invid + ", tableId=" + tableId +
+                 ", position=" + position + "].");
+
+        String rsp = null;
+
+        try {
+            // pass the creation request on to the table manager
+            _pmgr.joinTable(source, tableId, position);
+            // there is normally no response. the client will see
+            // themselves show up in the table that they joined
+
+        } catch (ServiceFailedException sfe) {
+            // the exception message is the code indicating the reason for
+            // the creation rejection
+            sendResponse(source, invid, JOIN_FAILED_RESPONSE,
+                         sfe.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
     /** A reference to the parlor manager we're working with. */
     protected ParlorManager _pmgr;
 }