diff --git a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiBoard.java b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiBoard.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cf0b5c40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiBoard.java
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+//
+// $Id: AtlantiBoard.java,v 1.1 2001/10/10 03:35:02 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.venison;
+
+import java.awt.*;
+import javax.swing.*;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+
+import com.samskivert.swing.util.SwingUtil;
+
+import com.threerings.cocktail.cher.dobj.DSet;
+
+/**
+ * Displays the tiles that make up the Venison board.
+ */
+public class VenisonBoard
+    extends JPanel implements VenisonTileCodes
+{
+    /**
+     * Sets the tiles that are displayed by this board. Causes the board
+     * to recompute its size based on the new tile layout.
+     *
+     * @param tiles the set of {@link VenisonTile} objects to be displayed
+     * by this board.
+     */
+    public void setTiles (DSet tiles)
+    {
+        _tiles = tiles;
+
+        // we need to recompute our desired dimensions and then have our
+        // parent adjust to our changed size
+        computeDimensions();
+        revalidate();
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void paintComponent (Graphics g)
+    {
+        super.paintComponent(g);
+
+        // center the tile display if we are bigger than we need to be
+        int tx = (getWidth() - TILE_WIDTH * _width)/2;
+        int ty = (getHeight() - TILE_HEIGHT * _height)/2;
+        g.translate(tx, ty);
+
+        // iterate over our tiles, painting each of them
+        Iterator iter = _tiles.elements();
+        while (iter.hasNext()) {
+            VenisonTile tile = (VenisonTile)iter.next();
+            tile.paint(g, _origX, _origY);
+        }
+
+        // undo our translations
+        g.translate(-tx, -ty);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public Dimension getPreferredSize ()
+    {
+        if (_tiles == null) {
+            return new Dimension(100, 100);
+
+        } else {
+            return new Dimension(TILE_WIDTH * _width, TILE_HEIGHT * _height);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Determines how big we want to be based on where the tiles have been
+     * laid out.
+     */
+    protected void computeDimensions ()
+    {
+        int maxX = 0, maxY = 0;
+        int minX = 0, minY = 0;
+
+        // figure out what our boundaries are
+        Iterator iter = _tiles.elements();
+        while (iter.hasNext()) {
+            VenisonTile tile = (VenisonTile)iter.next();
+            if (tile.x > maxX) {
+                maxX = tile.x;
+            } else if (tile.x < minX) {
+                minX = tile.x;
+            }
+            if (tile.y > maxY) {
+                maxY = tile.y;
+            } else if (tile.y < minY) {
+                minY = tile.y;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // now we can compute our width and the origin offset
+        _origX = -minX;
+        _origY = -minY;
+        _width = maxX - minX + 1;
+        _height = maxY - minY + 1;
+    }
+
+    /** Test code. */
+    public static void main (String[] args)
+    {
+        JFrame frame = new JFrame("Board test");
+        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
+        VenisonBoard board = new VenisonBoard();
+
+        TestDSet set = new TestDSet();
+        set.addTile(new VenisonTile(CITY_FOUR, false, NORTH, 0, 1));
+        set.addTile(new VenisonTile(CITY_THREE, false, NORTH, 1, 1));
+        set.addTile(new VenisonTile(CITY_THREE_ROAD, false, NORTH, 1, 2));
+        set.addTile(new VenisonTile(CITY_THREE, false, NORTH, -1, 0));
+        set.addTile(new VenisonTile(CITY_FOUR, false, NORTH, -2, 0));
+        board.setTiles(set);
+
+        frame.getContentPane().add(board, BorderLayout.CENTER);
+        frame.pack();
+        SwingUtil.centerWindow(frame);
+        frame.show();
+    }
+
+    protected static class TestDSet extends DSet
+    {
+        public TestDSet ()
+        {
+            super(VenisonTile.class);
+        }
+
+        public void addTile (VenisonTile tile)
+        {
+            add(tile);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** A reference to our tile set. */
+    protected DSet _tiles;
+
+    /** The offset in tile coordinates of the origin. */
+    protected int _origX, _origY;
+
+    /** The width and height of the board in tile coordinates. */
+    protected int _width, _height;
+}
diff --git a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiController.java b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiController.java
index f2d3eaee..3a634c95 100644
--- a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiController.java
+++ b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/client/AtlantiController.java
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ public class VenisonController extends GameController
 
     protected void gameDidStart ()
     {
+        super.gameDidStart();
+
         Log.info("Venison game did start.");
     }
 }
diff --git a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiObject.java b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiObject.java
index 5ab6bb70..19fcbc1b 100644
--- a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiObject.java
+++ b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiObject.java
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 //
-// $Id: AtlantiObject.java,v 1.1 2001/10/09 20:27:35 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: AtlantiObject.java,v 1.2 2001/10/10 03:35:02 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.venison;
 
+import com.threerings.cocktail.cher.dobj.DSet;
+
 import com.threerings.parlor.data.GameObject;
 
 /**
@@ -10,4 +12,53 @@ import com.threerings.parlor.data.GameObject;
  */
 public class VenisonObject extends GameObject
 {
+    /** The field name of the <code>tiles</code> field. */
+    public static final String TILES = "tiles";
+
+    /** A set containing all of the tiles that are in play in this
+     * game. */
+    public DSet tiles = new DSet(VenisonTile.class);
+
+    /**
+     * Requests that the <code>tiles</code> field be set to the specified
+     * value.
+     */
+    public void setTiles (DSet value)
+    {
+        requestAttributeChange(TILES, value);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Requests that the specified element be added to the
+     * <code>tiles</code> set.
+     */
+    public void addToTiles (DSet.Element elem)
+    {
+        requestElementAdd(TILES, elem);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Requests that the element matching the supplied key be removed from
+     * the <code>tiles</code> set.
+     */
+    public void removeFromTiles (Object key)
+    {
+        requestElementRemove(TILES, key);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Requests that the specified element be updated in the
+     * <code>tiles</code> set.
+     */
+    public void updateTiles (DSet.Element elem)
+    {
+        requestElementUpdate(TILES, elem);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void toString (StringBuffer buf)
+    {
+        super.toString(buf);
+        buf.append(", tiles=").append(tiles);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiTile.java b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiTile.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..42e982c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/AtlantiTile.java
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+//
+// $Id: AtlantiTile.java,v 1.1 2001/10/10 03:35:02 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.venison;
+
+import java.awt.Graphics;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.DataInputStream;
+import java.io.DataOutputStream;
+
+import com.threerings.cocktail.cher.dobj.DSet;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a single tile in play on the Venison game board.
+ */
+public class VenisonTile
+    implements DSet.Element, VenisonTileCodes
+{
+    /** The starting tile. */
+    public static final VenisonTile STARTING_TILE =
+        new VenisonTile(CITY_ONE_ROAD_STRAIGHT, false, NORTH, 0, 0);
+
+    /** The tile type. */
+    public int type;
+
+    /** Whether this tile has a shield on it. */
+    public boolean hasShield;
+
+    /** The tile's orientation. */
+    public int orientation;
+
+    /** The tile's x and y coordinates. */
+    public int x,  y;
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs a tile with all of the supplied tile information.
+     */
+    public VenisonTile (int type, boolean hasShield, int orientation,
+                        int x, int y)
+    {
+        this.type = type;
+        this.hasShield = hasShield;
+        this.orientation = orientation;
+        this.x = x;
+        this.y = y;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs a blank tile, suitable for unserialization.
+     */
+    public VenisonTile ()
+    {
+        // nothing doing
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Paints this tile to the specified graphics context at its assigned
+     * location, accounting for the supplied x and y offsets of the
+     * origin.
+     *
+     * @param g the graphics context to use when painting the tile.
+     * @param xoff the offset (in tile units) of the origin in the x
+     * direction.
+     * @param yoff the offset (in tile units) of the origin in the y
+     * direction.
+     */
+    public void paint (Graphics g, int xoff, int yoff)
+    {
+        // compute our screen coordinates
+        int sx = (x + xoff) * TILE_WIDTH;
+        int sy = (y + yoff) * TILE_HEIGHT;
+
+        // draw a rectangle
+        g.drawRect(sx, sy, TILE_WIDTH, TILE_HEIGHT);
+
+        // and draw our tile id in the middle for now (we'll eventually
+        // draw tile images)
+        g.drawString(type + "/" + x + "/" + y, sx + 20, sy + 20);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public Object getKey ()
+    {
+        // our key is our coordinates conflated into one integer
+        return new Integer((x + 128) * 256 + y + 128);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void writeTo (DataOutputStream out)
+        throws IOException
+    {
+        out.writeInt(type);
+        out.writeBoolean(hasShield);
+        out.writeInt(orientation);
+        out.writeInt(x);
+        out.writeInt(y);
+    }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void readFrom (DataInputStream in)
+        throws IOException
+    {
+        type = in.readInt();
+        hasShield = in.readBoolean();
+        orientation = in.readInt();
+        x = in.readInt();
+        y = in.readInt();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/TileCodes.java b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/TileCodes.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6bab75a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/data/TileCodes.java
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+//
+// $Id: TileCodes.java,v 1.1 2001/10/10 03:35:02 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.venison;
+
+/**
+ * A repository for constants related to the tiles that are used in the
+ * game of Venison.
+ */
+public interface VenisonTileCodes
+{
+    /** A four-sided city tile. */
+    public static final int CITY_FOUR = 1;
+
+    /** A three-sided city tile. */
+    public static final int CITY_THREE = 2;
+
+    /** A three-sided city tile with a road. */
+    public static final int CITY_THREE_ROAD = 3;
+
+    /** A two-sided city tile with city openings adjacent to one
+     * another. */
+    public static final int CITY_TWO = 4;
+
+    /** A two-sided city tile with city openings adjacent to one another
+     * and a road connecting the other two sides. */
+    public static final int CITY_TWO_ROAD = 5;
+
+    /** A two-sided city tile with city openings on opposite sides of the
+     * tile. */
+    public static final int CITY_TWO_ACROSS = 6;
+
+    /** A two-sided city tile with two separate city arcs adjacent to one
+     * another and not connected to each other. */
+    public static final int DISCONNECTED_CITY_TWO = 7;
+
+    /** A two-sided city tile with two separate city arcs on opposite
+     * sides of the tile. */
+    public static final int DISCONNECTED_CITY_TWO_ACROSS = 8;
+
+    /** A one-sided city tile. */
+    public static final int CITY_ONE = 9;
+
+    /** A one-sided city tile with a city arc on top and a right facing
+     * curved road segment beneath it. */
+    public static final int CITY_ONE_ROAD_RIGHT = 10;
+
+    /** A one-sided city tile with a city arc on top and a left facing
+     * curved road segment beneath it. */
+    public static final int CITY_ONE_ROAD_LEFT = 11;
+
+    /** A one-sided city tile with a city arc on top and a road tee
+     * beneath it. */
+    public static final int CITY_ONE_ROAD_TEE = 12;
+
+    /** A one-sided city tile with a city arc on top and straight road
+     * segment beneath it. */
+    public static final int CITY_ONE_ROAD_STRAIGHT = 13;
+
+    /** A cloister tile. */
+    public static final int CLOISTER = 14;
+
+    /** A cloister tile with a road extending from the cloister. */
+    public static final int CLOISTER_ROAD = 15;
+
+    /** A four-way road intersection. */
+    public static final int FOUR_WAY_ROAD = 16;
+
+    /** A three-way road intersection. */
+    public static final int THREE_WAY_ROAD = 17;
+
+    /** A straight road segment. */
+    public static final int STRAIGHT_ROAD = 18;
+
+    /** A curved road segment. */
+    public static final int CURVED_ROAD = 19;
+
+    /** A tile orientation constant indicating the tile is in its default
+     * orientation. */
+    public static final int NORTH = 0;
+
+    /** A tile orientation constant indicating the tile is rotated 90
+     * degrees clockwise from its default orientation. */
+    public static final int EAST = 1;
+
+    /** A tile orientation constant indicating the tile is rotated 180
+     * degrees clockwise from its default orientation. */
+    public static final int SOUTH = 2;
+
+    /** A tile orientation constant indicating the tile is rotated 270
+     * degrees clockwise from its default orientation. */
+    public static final int WEST = 3;
+
+    /** The tile image width in pixels. */
+    public static int TILE_WIDTH = 90;
+
+    /** The tile image height in pixels. */
+    public static int TILE_HEIGHT = 90;
+}
diff --git a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/server/AtlantiManager.java b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/server/AtlantiManager.java
index 566ba8a8..bce70922 100644
--- a/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/server/AtlantiManager.java
+++ b/projects/atlanti/src/java/com/samskivert/atlanti/server/AtlantiManager.java
@@ -1,18 +1,44 @@
 //
-// $Id: AtlantiManager.java,v 1.1 2001/10/09 20:27:35 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: AtlantiManager.java,v 1.2 2001/10/10 03:35:02 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.venison;
 
+import com.threerings.cocktail.cher.dobj.DSet;
 import com.threerings.parlor.server.GameManager;
 
 /**
  * The main coordinator of the Venison game on the server side.
  */
-public class VenisonManager extends GameManager
+public class VenisonManager
+    extends GameManager
 {
     // documentation inherited
     protected Class getPlaceObjectClass ()
     {
         return VenisonObject.class;
     }
+
+    // documentation inherited
+    protected void didStartup ()
+    {
+        super.didStartup();
+
+        // grab our own casted game object reference
+        _venobj = (VenisonObject)_gameobj;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * In preparation for starting the game, we clear out the tile set and
+     * put the starting tile into place.
+     */
+    protected void gameWillStart ()
+    {
+        super.gameWillStart();
+
+        // clear out the tile set
+        _venobj.setTiles(new DSet(VenisonTile.class));
+        _venobj.addToTiles(VenisonTile.STARTING_TILE);
+    }
+
+    protected VenisonObject _venobj;
 }