diff --git a/gamebase.py b/gamebase.py
index b30ef64..98dfcda 100644
--- a/gamebase.py
+++ b/gamebase.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class GameBase(object):
         self.eventQueue = []
         self.gameTime = 0.0
         self.skipLoop = True
-        self.nextThing = 0
+        self.nextThing = 1
         
         # player info
         self.playerName = 'You'
@@ -363,9 +363,9 @@ Object can be the name of the object, or its coordinates."""
         
         # load the new level
         if len(args) == 2:
-            self.level, self.nextThing = _gm.GameMap.read(args[0], int(args[1]), preLoaded, self.nextThing)
+            self.level, self.nextThing = _gm.GameMap.read(args[0], int(args[1]), self.singletons, preLoaded, self.nextThing)
         else:
-            self.level, self.nextThing = _gm.GameMap.read(args[0], None, preLoaded, self.nextThing)
+            self.level, self.nextThing = _gm.GameMap.read(args[0], None, self.singletons, preLoaded, self.nextThing)
         
         if self.level == None:
             raise GameError("Map could not be loaded.")
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ Object can be the name of the object, or its coordinates."""
                                                 inventory = {}, customValues = {}, name = self.playerName)
             #print("Player created.")
         else:
-            self.player.x, self.player.y = x, y
+            self.player.x, self.player.y = mx, my
             #print("Player moved.")
         self.player.prevx, self.player.prevy = self.player.x, self.player.y
         self.nextThing = self.level.addThing(self.player, self.nextThing) # The player needs to be added to the new level.
@@ -559,6 +559,7 @@ Object can be the name of the object, or its coordinates."""
         # any map. This is useful for when you have major characters who will
         # show up in many scenes, and their inventory must stay the same, for
         # example.
+        self.singletons = {}
         if 'singletons' in data:
             for thing in data['singletons']:
                 #thing = data['singletons'][datum]
@@ -576,7 +577,7 @@ Object can be the name of the object, or its coordinates."""
                         self.nextThing = _gm.GameMap.addThingRecursive(i.customValues, self.nextThing + 1)
                         thing.addThing(i)
                     del thing.tempInventory
-            self.singletons = list(data['singletons'])
+                self.singletons[thing.name] = thing
         return data
         
     def gameEventLoop(self):
diff --git a/gamemap.py b/gamemap.py
index cb099cc..9da2f47 100644
--- a/gamemap.py
+++ b/gamemap.py
@@ -5,6 +5,38 @@ import ruamel.yaml
 import math as _mt
 import gamethings as _gt
 import gamelocus as _gl
+from ruamel.yaml.comments import CommentedMap
+
+class Singleton(object):
+    """This is a super basic class (would be a struct in other languages)
+that represents where a singleton Thing should be in a map."""
+    yaml_flag = u'!Singleton'
+    
+    def __init__(self, name: str, x: int, y: int):
+        self.name = name
+        self.x = x
+        self.y = y
+    
+    @classmethod
+    def to_yaml(cls, representer, node):
+        representer.represent_mapping({
+            'name': self.name,
+            'location': (self.x, self.y)
+        })
+        
+    @classmethod
+    def from_yaml(cls, constructor, node):
+        parts = CommentedMap()
+        constructor.construct_mapping(node, parts, True)
+        # since all parts are necessary, I won't bother with if statements
+        # and let it crash.
+        if not isinstance(parts['name'], str):
+            raise RuntimeError("Name must be a string.")
+        if not isinstance(parts['location'], list):
+            raise RuntimeError("Location must be a list.")
+        if not (isinstance(parts['location'][0], int) and isinstance(parts['location'][1], int)):
+            raise RuntimeError("Coordinates must be integers.")
+        return cls(parts['name'], parts['location'][0], parts['location'][1])
             
 class MapError(RuntimeError):
     pass
@@ -24,6 +56,7 @@ class GameMap(object):
     yaml.register_class(_gt.Door)
     yaml.register_class(_gt.MapExit)
     yaml.register_class(_gt.MapEntrance)
+    yaml.register_class(Singleton)
     
     def __init__(self, name, graph, matrix, dimensions):
         self.name = name
@@ -63,7 +96,7 @@ class GameMap(object):
         return text.replace('\n', end)
     
     @staticmethod
-    def read(infile = None, prevMap = None, preLoaded = False, nextThing = 0):
+    def read(infile = None, prevMap = None, singletons = None, preLoaded = False, nextThing = 0):
         """Read map data and return a Map object. If infile is not provided, then
 it will read from stdin. Otherwise, it should be a valid file name.
 Entering a map through stdin will be obsolete once testing is over."""
@@ -106,7 +139,7 @@ Entering a map through stdin will be obsolete once testing is over."""
         level = GameMap(infile, mapGraph, mapMatrix, dimensions)
                     
         # Now, load other info
-        nextThing = GameMap.loadThings(level, info, prevMap, preLoaded, nextThing)
+        nextThing = GameMap.loadThings(level, info, prevMap, singletons, preLoaded, nextThing)
         
         return level, nextThing
     
@@ -171,7 +204,7 @@ list of lists of tuples."""
         return mat, graph, dim
         
     @staticmethod
-    def loadThings(level, info, prevMap = None, preLoaded = False, nextThing = 0):
+    def loadThings(level, info, prevMap = None, singletons = None, preLoaded = False, nextThing = 0):
         """load the things from the xml part of the map file."""
         if 'openingText' in info:
             level.openingText = info['openingText']
@@ -197,37 +230,50 @@ list of lists of tuples."""
         if 'loadOnce' in info and not preLoaded:
             for thing in info['loadOnce']:
                 #print(type(thing))
-                nextThing = level.addThing(thing, nextThing, True)
+                if isinstance(thing, _gt.Thing):
+                    nextThing = level.addThing(thing, nextThing, True)
+                else:
+                    raise MapError("Non-thing loaded as a thing:\n{}".format(thing))
         if 'loadAlways' in info:
             for thing in info['loadAlways']:
                 #print(type(thing))
-                nextThing = level.addThing(thing, nextThing)
-                if ((thing.thingType == 'x' and not hasKnownEntrance) or thing.thingType == 'a') and prevMap == thing.exitid:
-                    level.playerStart = (thing.x, thing.y)
-                    hasKnownEntrance = True
+                if isinstance(thing, _gt.Thing):
+                    nextThing = level.addThing(thing, nextThing)
+                    if ((thing.thingType == 'x' and not hasKnownEntrance) or thing.thingType == 'a') and prevMap == thing.exitid:
+                        level.playerStart = (thing.x, thing.y)
+                        hasKnownEntrance = True
+                elif isinstance(thing, Singleton):
+                    if singletons != None:
+                        single = singletons[thing.name]
+                        single.x, single.y = thing.x, thing.y
+                        single.prevx, single.prevy = thing.x, thing.y
+                        nextThing = level.addThing(single, nextThing)
+                else:
+                    raise MapError("Non-thing loaded as a thing:\n{}".format(thing))
         return nextThing
         
     # stuff the gameshell itself might use
     
     def addThing(self, thing, nextThing = 0, persist = False):
-        if thing == None:
+        if thing == None: # it must be a singleton
             return nextThing
         #if thing.name in self.thingNames: # resolved
         #    raise ValueError("Cannot have two objects named {0}.".format(thing.name))
         if thing.thingID == -1: # This is to ensure that we don't double up IDs.
             thing.thingID = nextThing
             nextThing += 1
-        # Some things, like containers, have other things as custom values,
-        # so they need IDs as well.
-        if thing.thingType in 'iun':
-            nextThing = GameMap.addThingRecursive(thing.customValues, nextThing)
-        if thing.thingType == 'n':
-            for i in thing.tempInventory:
-                if i.thingID == -1:
-                    i.thingID = nextThing
-                nextThing = GameMap.addThingRecursive(i.customValues, nextThing + 1)
-                thing.addThing(i)
-            del thing.tempInventory
+            # Some things, like containers, have other things as custom values,
+            # so they need IDs as well.
+            # Let's only add them if they weren't already loaded.
+            if thing.thingType in 'iun':
+                nextThing = GameMap.addThingRecursive(thing.customValues, nextThing)
+            if thing.thingType == 'n':
+                for i in thing.tempInventory:
+                    if i.thingID == -1:
+                        i.thingID = nextThing
+                    nextThing = GameMap.addThingRecursive(i.customValues, nextThing + 1)
+                    thing.addThing(i)
+                del thing.tempInventory
         pos = self.coordsToInt(thing.x, thing.y)
         if pos not in self.thingPos:
             self.thingPos[pos] = [thing.thingID]
diff --git a/testing/test1.yml b/testing/test1.yml
index 0fa649f..6c8fdaa 100644
--- a/testing/test1.yml
+++ b/testing/test1.yml
@@ -51,15 +51,6 @@ loadAlways:
         none: none # might this work to prevent this character from doing anything?
     customValues:
         dialogs: testing/testDialog.yml
-  - !NPC
+  - !Singleton
     name: follower
-    description: a follower
     location: [6, 26]
-    behaviors:
-        go: [-1, follow]
-        arrive: [-1, follow]
-    customValues:
-        follow:
-            distance: 2
-            isFollowing: True
-            target: You # yes, YOU!