diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/AdminManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/AdminManager.java
index aabc4a55b..3f332965a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/AdminManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/AdminManager.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationManager;
 
 import com.threerings.admin.client.AdminService;
 import com.threerings.admin.data.AdminCodes;
+import com.threerings.admin.data.AdminMarshaller;
 
 /**
  * Handles admin stuffs.
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class AdminManager
 {
     @Inject public AdminManager (InvocationManager invmgr)
     {
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new AdminDispatcher(this), AdminCodes.ADMIN_GROUP);
+        invmgr.registerProvider(this, AdminMarshaller.class, AdminCodes.ADMIN_GROUP);
     }
 
     // from interface AdminProvider
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java
index b58024e27..2fe947b7f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ import com.threerings.bureau.data.AgentObject;
 import com.threerings.bureau.data.BureauAuthName;
 import com.threerings.bureau.data.BureauCodes;
 import com.threerings.bureau.data.BureauCredentials;
+import com.threerings.bureau.data.BureauMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.bureau.util.BureauLogRedirector;
 
 import static com.threerings.bureau.Log.log;
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ public class BureauRegistry
     @Inject public BureauRegistry (
         InvocationManager invmgr, PresentsConnectionManager conmgr, ClientManager clmgr)
     {
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new BureauDispatcher(new BureauProvider() {
+        invmgr.registerProvider(new BureauProvider() {
             public void bureauInitialized (ClientObject client, String bureauId) {
                 BureauRegistry.this.bureauInitialized(client, bureauId);
             }
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ public class BureauRegistry
             public void agentDestroyed (ClientObject client, int agentId) {
                 BureauRegistry.this.agentDestroyed(client, agentId);
             }
-        }), BureauCodes.BUREAU_GROUP);
+        }, BureauMarshaller.class, BureauCodes.BUREAU_GROUP);
         conmgr.addChainedAuthenticator(new ServiceAuthenticator<BureauCredentials>(
                                            BureauCredentials.class, BureauAuthName.class) {
             @Override protected boolean areValid (BureauCredentials creds) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java
index a9860d4fb..14442f8d4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatChannelManager.java
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import com.threerings.presents.peer.server.PeerManager;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.server.PeerManager.NodeRequest;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.server.NodeRequestsListener;
 
+import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.ChannelSpeakMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.ChatChannel;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.ChatCodes;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.UserMessage;
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ public abstract class ChatChannelManager
      */
     @Inject protected ChatChannelManager (PresentsDObjectMgr omgr, InvocationManager invmgr)
     {
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new ChannelSpeakDispatcher(this), CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
+        invmgr.registerProvider(this, ChannelSpeakMarshaller.class, CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
 
         // create and start our idle channel closer; this will run as long as omgr is alive
         omgr.newInterval(new Runnable() {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
index 6cdc4ca30..472667625 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/server/ChatProvider.java
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationException;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationManager;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationProvider;
 
-import com.threerings.crowd.chat.client.ChatService;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.client.ChatService.TellListener;
+import com.threerings.crowd.chat.client.ChatService;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.ChatCodes;
+import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.ChatMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.SystemMessage;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.UserMessage;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyObject;
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ public class ChatProvider
     @Inject public ChatProvider (InvocationManager invmgr)
     {
         // register a chat provider with the invocation manager
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new ChatDispatcher(this), CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
+        invmgr.registerProvider(this, ChatMarshaller.class, CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/peer/server/CrowdPeerManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/peer/server/CrowdPeerManager.java
index b33aa5d84..80d82cffc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/peer/server/CrowdPeerManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/peer/server/CrowdPeerManager.java
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import com.threerings.crowd.chat.server.ChatProvider;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyObject;
 import com.threerings.crowd.peer.data.CrowdClientInfo;
 import com.threerings.crowd.peer.data.CrowdNodeObject;
+import com.threerings.crowd.peer.data.CrowdPeerMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.crowd.server.BodyLocator;
 
 /**
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ public abstract class CrowdPeerManager extends PeerManager
 
         // register and initialize our invocation service
         CrowdNodeObject cnobj = (CrowdNodeObject)_nodeobj;
-        cnobj.setCrowdPeerService(_invmgr.registerDispatcher(new CrowdPeerDispatcher(this)));
+        cnobj.setCrowdPeerService(_invmgr.registerProvider(this, CrowdPeerMarshaller.class));
 
         // register ourselves as a chat forwarder
         _chatprov.setChatForwarder(this);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/BodyManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/BodyManager.java
index e55e7a07c..7380c391a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/BodyManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/BodyManager.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.google.inject.Singleton;
 import com.threerings.presents.data.ClientObject;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationManager;
 
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyObject;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.CrowdCodes;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.OccupantInfo;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ public class BodyManager
      */
     @Inject public BodyManager (InvocationManager invmgr)
     {
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new BodyDispatcher(this), CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
+        invmgr.registerProvider(this, BodyMarshaller.class, CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationManager.java
index 115556606..72ff133aa 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/LocationManager.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import com.threerings.crowd.client.LocationService;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyObject;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.CrowdCodes;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.LocationCodes;
+import com.threerings.crowd.data.LocationMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.Place;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.PlaceConfig;
 
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ public class LocationManager
 {
     @Inject public LocationManager (InvocationManager invmgr)
     {
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new LocationDispatcher(this), CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
+        invmgr.registerProvider(this, LocationMarshaller.class, CrowdCodes.CROWD_GROUP);
     }
 
     // from interface LocationProvider
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java
index a3d1802ad..50de7187a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManager.java
@@ -51,8 +51,10 @@ import com.threerings.presents.dobj.RootDObjectManager;
 import com.threerings.presents.dobj.SetAdapter;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationDispatcher;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationManager;
+import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationProvider;
 
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.ChatCodes;
+import com.threerings.crowd.chat.data.SpeakMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.server.SpeakDispatcher;
 import com.threerings.crowd.chat.server.SpeakHandler;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.BodyObject;
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ public class PlaceManager
         // we usually want to create and register a speaker service instance that clients can use
         // to speak in this place
         if (shouldCreateSpeakService()) {
-            plobj.setSpeakService(addDispatcher(new SpeakDispatcher(createSpeakHandler(plobj))));
+            plobj.setSpeakService(addProvider(createSpeakHandler(plobj), SpeakMarshaller.class));
         }
 
         // we'll need to hear about place object events
@@ -562,6 +564,18 @@ public class PlaceManager
         cancelShutdowner();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Registers an invocation provider and notes the registration such that it will be
+     * automatically cleared when this manager shuts down.
+     */
+    protected <T extends InvocationMarshaller> T addProvider (
+        InvocationProvider prov, Class<T> mclass)
+    {
+        T marsh = _invmgr.registerProvider(prov, mclass);
+        _marshallers.add(marsh);
+        return marsh;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Registers an invocation dispatcher and notes the registration such that it will be
      * automatically cleared when this manager shuts down.
@@ -801,7 +815,7 @@ public class PlaceManager
     /** A list of the delegates in use by this manager. */
     protected List<PlaceManagerDelegate> _delegates;
 
-    /** A list of services registered with {@link #addDispatcher} which will be automatically
+    /** A list of services registered with {@link #addProvider} which will be automatically
      * cleared when this manager shuts down. */
     protected List<InvocationMarshaller> _marshallers = Lists.newArrayList();
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManagerDelegate.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManagerDelegate.java
index 7540d13e0..b70dbd764 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManagerDelegate.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/PlaceManagerDelegate.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import com.threerings.presents.data.InvocationMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.presents.dobj.RootDObjectManager;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationDispatcher;
 import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationManager;
+import com.threerings.presents.server.InvocationProvider;
 
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.OccupantInfo;
 import com.threerings.crowd.data.PlaceConfig;
@@ -110,6 +111,16 @@ public class PlaceManagerDelegate
         return _plmgr.where();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Registers an invocation provider and notes the registration such that it will be
+     * automatically cleared when our parent manager shuts down.
+     */
+    protected <T extends InvocationMarshaller> T addProvider (
+        InvocationProvider prov, Class<T> mclass)
+    {
+        return _plmgr.addProvider(prov, mclass);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Registers an invocation dispatcher and notes the registration such that it will be
      * automatically cleared when our parent manager shuts down.
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java
index 041949e24..642812e80 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/peer/server/PeerManager.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ import com.threerings.presents.peer.client.PeerService;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.data.ClientInfo;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.data.NodeObject;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.data.PeerAuthName;
+import com.threerings.presents.peer.data.PeerMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.net.PeerCreds;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.server.persist.NodeRecord;
 import com.threerings.presents.peer.server.persist.NodeRepository;
@@ -319,7 +320,7 @@ public abstract class PeerManager
         });
 
         // set the invocation service
-        _nodeobj.setPeerService(_invmgr.registerDispatcher(new PeerDispatcher(this)));
+        _nodeobj.setPeerService(_invmgr.registerProvider(this, PeerMarshaller.class));
 
         // register ourselves as a client observer
         _clmgr.addClientObserver(this);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TimeBaseProvider.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TimeBaseProvider.java
index 9f34d7f57..42d8ea7c6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TimeBaseProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TimeBaseProvider.java
@@ -25,9 +25,10 @@ import java.util.HashMap;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
 
-import com.threerings.presents.client.TimeBaseService.GotTimeBaseListener;
+import com.threerings.presents.client.TimeBaseService;
 import com.threerings.presents.data.ClientObject;
 import com.threerings.presents.data.TimeBaseCodes;
+import com.threerings.presents.data.TimeBaseMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.presents.data.TimeBaseObject;
 import com.threerings.presents.dobj.RootDObjectManager;
 
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ public class TimeBaseProvider
         _omgr = omgr;
 
         // register a provider instance
-        invmgr.registerDispatcher(new TimeBaseDispatcher(new TimeBaseProvider()), GLOBAL_GROUP);
+        invmgr.registerProvider(new TimeBaseProvider(), TimeBaseMarshaller.class, GLOBAL_GROUP);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -80,7 +81,8 @@ public class TimeBaseProvider
     /**
      * Processes a request from a client to fetch the oid of the specified time object.
      */
-    public void getTimeOid (ClientObject source, String timeBase, GotTimeBaseListener listener)
+    public void getTimeOid (ClientObject source, String timeBase,
+                            TimeBaseService.GotTimeBaseListener listener)
         throws InvocationException
     {
         // look up the time base object in question
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TestServer.java b/src/test/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TestServer.java
index 935f5df84..b42476755 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TestServer.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/threerings/presents/server/TestServer.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ package com.threerings.presents.server;
 
 import com.google.inject.Injector;
 
+import com.threerings.presents.data.TestMarshaller;
 import com.threerings.presents.data.TestObject;
 
 public class TestServer extends PresentsServer
@@ -36,8 +37,8 @@ public class TestServer extends PresentsServer
         super.init(injector);
 
         // register our test provider
-        _invmgr.registerDispatcher(
-            new TestDispatcher(injector.getInstance(TestManager.class)), "test");
+        _invmgr.registerProvider(injector.getInstance(TestManager.class),
+                                 TestMarshaller.class, "test");
 
         // create a test object
         testobj = _omgr.registerObject(new TestObject());