diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d87c9b5a..53c57ab6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -110,15 +110,16 @@ SET(SOURCES
     # framework otml
     src/framework/otml/otmldocument.cpp
     src/framework/otml/otmlemitter.cpp
-    src/framework/otml/otmlexception.cpp
     src/framework/otml/otmlnode.cpp
     src/framework/otml/otmlparser.cpp
+    src/framework/otml/otmlexception.cpp
 
     # framework luascript
     src/framework/luascript/luainterface.cpp
     src/framework/luascript/luaobject.cpp
     src/framework/luascript/luaexception.cpp
     src/framework/luascript/luafunctions.cpp
+    src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.cpp
 
     # framework ui
     src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
diff --git a/src/framework/core/configs.cpp b/src/framework/core/configs.cpp
index b871055f..2662e810 100644
--- a/src/framework/core/configs.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/core/configs.cpp
@@ -9,27 +9,23 @@ bool Configs::load(const std::string& fileName)
 {
     m_fileName = fileName;
 
-    if(!g_resources.fileExists(fileName))
-        return false;
-
     try {
         OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::parse(fileName);
-        for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : doc->childNodes())
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : doc->children())
             m_confsMap[child->tag()] = child->value();
+        return true;
     } catch(std::exception& e) {
         logError("ERROR: could not load configurations: ", e.what());
         return false;
     }
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 bool Configs::save()
 {
-    if(!m_fileName.empty()) {
-        OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::create();
-        doc->write(m_confsMap);
-        return doc->save(m_fileName);
+    OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::create();
+    for(auto it : m_confsMap) {
+        OTMLNodePtr node = OTMLNode::create(it.first, it.second);
+        doc->addChild(node);
     }
-    return false;
+    return doc->save(m_fileName);
 }
diff --git a/src/framework/core/module.cpp b/src/framework/core/module.cpp
index 43510641..f85d661b 100644
--- a/src/framework/core/module.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/core/module.cpp
@@ -6,61 +6,57 @@
 
 void Module::discover(const OTMLNodePtr& moduleNode)
 {
-    m_description = moduleNode->readAt<std::string>("description");
-    m_author = moduleNode->readAt<std::string>("author");
-    m_website = moduleNode->readAt<std::string>("website");
-    m_version = moduleNode->readAt<std::string>("version");
+    const static std::string none = "none";
+    m_description = moduleNode->valueAt("description", none);
+    m_author = moduleNode->valueAt("author", none);
+    m_website = moduleNode->valueAt("website", none);
+    m_version = moduleNode->valueAt("version", none);
+    m_autoLoad = moduleNode->valueAt<bool>("autoLoad", false);
 
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = moduleNode->get("dependencies")) {
-        for(const OTMLNodePtr& tmp : node->childNodes())
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& tmp : node->children())
             m_dependencies.push_back(tmp->value());
     }
 
     // set onLoad callback
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = moduleNode->get("onLoad")) {
-        g_lua.loadFunction(node->read<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
+        g_lua.loadFunction(node->value<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
         g_lua.useValue();
         m_loadCallback = g_lua.polymorphicPop<BooleanCallback>();
     }
 
     // set onUnload callback
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = moduleNode->get("onUnload")) {
-        g_lua.loadFunction(node->read<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
+        g_lua.loadFunction(node->value<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
         g_lua.useValue();
         m_unloadCallback = g_lua.polymorphicPop<SimpleCallback>();
     }
-
-    // load if autoLoad is set
-    m_autoLoad = moduleNode->readAt<bool>("autoLoad", false);
 }
 
 bool Module::load()
 {
-    for(const std::string& depName : m_dependencies) {
-        ModulePtr dep = g_modules.getModule(depName);
-        if(!dep) {
-            logError("ERROR: failed to load module '",m_name,"': could not find module dependency '",depName,"'");
-            return false;
-        }
+    try {
+        for(const std::string& depName : m_dependencies) {
+            ModulePtr dep = g_modules.getModule(depName);
+            if(!dep)
+                throw std::runtime_error(fw::mkstr("could not find module dependency '", depName ,"'"));
 
-        if(!dep->isLoaded()) {
-            if(!dep->load()) {
-                logError("ERROR: failed to load module '",m_name,"': a dependency has failed to load");
-                return false;
-            }
+            if(!dep->isLoaded() && !dep->load())
+                throw std::runtime_error(fw::mkstr("dependency '", depName, "' has failed to load"));
         }
-    }
 
-    if(m_loadCallback) {
-        m_loaded = m_loadCallback();
-        if(!m_loaded) {
-            logError("ERROR: failed to load module '",m_name, "': onLoad returned false");
-            return false;
+        if(m_loadCallback) {
+            m_loaded = m_loadCallback();
+            if(!m_loaded)
+                throw std::runtime_error("module onLoad event returned false");
         }
-    }
 
-    logInfo("Loaded module '", m_name, "'");
-    return true;
+        logInfo("Loaded module '", m_name, "'");
+        return true;
+    } catch(std::exception& e) {
+        logError("ERROR: failed to load module '", m_name, "': ", e.what());
+        return false;
+    }
 }
 
 void Module::unload()
diff --git a/src/framework/core/modulemanager.cpp b/src/framework/core/modulemanager.cpp
index 7b84ead0..6b8388e6 100644
--- a/src/framework/core/modulemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/core/modulemanager.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ bool ModuleManager::discoverModule(const std::string& file)
         OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::parse(file);
         OTMLNodePtr moduleNode = doc->at("Module");
 
-        std::string name = moduleNode->readAt<std::string>("name");
+        std::string name = moduleNode->valueAt("name");
         if(getModule(name))
             throw OTMLException(moduleNode, "a module with the same name is already discovered, did you duplicate module names?");
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ bool ModuleManager::discoverModule(const std::string& file)
         module->discover(moduleNode);
         m_modules.push_back(module);
     } catch(std::exception& e) {
-        logError("ERROR: failed to load module from '", file, "':\n", e.what());
+        logError("ERROR: failed to load module from '", file, "': ", e.what());
         return false;
     }
     return true;
diff --git a/src/framework/core/resourcemanager.cpp b/src/framework/core/resourcemanager.cpp
index 7e93a990..cfe1f6ef 100644
--- a/src/framework/core/resourcemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/core/resourcemanager.cpp
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ void ResourceManager::init(const char* argv0)
     }
 
     if(!found)
-        throw std::runtime_error("could not find modules directory");
+        logFatal("FATAL ERROR: could not find modules directory");
 
     // setup write directory
     std::string dir = g_platform.getAppUserDir();
     if(g_resources.setWriteDir(dir))
         g_resources.addToSearchPath(dir);
     else
-        throw std::runtime_error("could not setup write directory");
+        logError("ERROR: could not setup write directory");
 }
 
 void ResourceManager::terminate()
@@ -156,12 +156,11 @@ std::string ResourceManager::resolvePath(const std::string& path)
 {
     std::string fullPath;
     if(boost::starts_with(path, "/"))
-        fullPath = path.substr(1);
+        fullPath = path;
     else {
-        std::string scriptPath = g_lua.currentSourcePath();
-        if(!scriptPath.empty()) {
+        std::string scriptPath = "/" + g_lua.currentSourcePath();
+        if(!scriptPath.empty())
             fullPath += scriptPath + "/";
-        }
         fullPath += path;
     }
     return fullPath;
diff --git a/src/framework/graphics/borderimage.cpp b/src/framework/graphics/borderimage.cpp
index c417b146..50132e16 100644
--- a/src/framework/graphics/borderimage.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/graphics/borderimage.cpp
@@ -61,17 +61,17 @@ BorderImagePtr BorderImage::loadFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& borderImageNode)
 
     // load basic border confs
     size = texture->getSize();
-    size = borderImageNode->readAt("size", size);
-    offset = borderImageNode->readAt("offset", offset);
-    border = borderImageNode->readAt("border", 0);
+    size = borderImageNode->valueAt("size", size);
+    offset = borderImageNode->valueAt("offset", offset);
+    border = borderImageNode->valueAt("border", 0);
     subRect = Rect(offset, size);
 
     // load border margins
     top = bottom = left = right = border;
-    top = borderImageNode->readAt("border.top", top);
-    bottom = borderImageNode->readAt("border.bottom", bottom);
-    left = borderImageNode->readAt("border.left", left);
-    right = borderImageNode->readAt("border.right", right);
+    top = borderImageNode->valueAt("border.top", top);
+    bottom = borderImageNode->valueAt("border.bottom", bottom);
+    left = borderImageNode->valueAt("border.left", left);
+    right = borderImageNode->valueAt("border.right", right);
 
     // calculates border coords
     leftBorder = Rect(subRect.left(), subRect.top() + top, left, subRect.height() - top - bottom);
@@ -86,15 +86,15 @@ BorderImagePtr BorderImage::loadFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& borderImageNode)
 
     // load individual border conf if supplied
     /*
-    leftBorder = borderImageNode->readAt("left border", leftBorder);
-    rightBorder = borderImageNode->readAt("right border", rightBorder);
-    topBorder = borderImageNode->readAt("top border", topBorder);
-    bottomBorder = borderImageNode->readAt("bottom border", bottomBorder);
-    topLeftCorner = borderImageNode->readAt("top left corner", topLeftCorner);
-    topRightCorner = borderImageNode->readAt("top right corner", topRightCorner);
-    bottomLeftCorner = borderImageNode->readAt("bottom left corner", bottomLeftCorner);
-    bottomRightCorner = borderImageNode->readAt("bottom right corner", bottomRightCorner);
-    center = borderImageNode->readAt("center", center);
+    leftBorder = borderImageNode->valueAt("left border", leftBorder);
+    rightBorder = borderImageNode->valueAt("right border", rightBorder);
+    topBorder = borderImageNode->valueAt("top border", topBorder);
+    bottomBorder = borderImageNode->valueAt("bottom border", bottomBorder);
+    topLeftCorner = borderImageNode->valueAt("top left corner", topLeftCorner);
+    topRightCorner = borderImageNode->valueAt("top right corner", topRightCorner);
+    bottomLeftCorner = borderImageNode->valueAt("bottom left corner", bottomLeftCorner);
+    bottomRightCorner = borderImageNode->valueAt("bottom right corner", bottomRightCorner);
+    center = borderImageNode->valueAt("center", center);
     */
 
     return BorderImagePtr(new BorderImage(texture,
diff --git a/src/framework/graphics/declarations.h b/src/framework/graphics/declarations.h
index 211fd745..ede66004 100644
--- a/src/framework/graphics/declarations.h
+++ b/src/framework/graphics/declarations.h
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ class Texture;
 class Font;
 class Image;
 class BorderImage;
-class TextArea;
 class FrameBuffer;
 
 typedef std::weak_ptr<Texture> TextureWeakPtr;
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ typedef std::shared_ptr<Texture> TexturePtr;
 typedef std::shared_ptr<Font> FontPtr;
 typedef std::shared_ptr<Image> ImagePtr;
 typedef std::shared_ptr<BorderImage> BorderImagePtr;
-typedef std::shared_ptr<TextArea> TextAreaPtr;
 typedef std::shared_ptr<FrameBuffer> FrameBufferPtr;
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/framework/graphics/font.cpp b/src/framework/graphics/font.cpp
index 9d501dc9..417f4403 100644
--- a/src/framework/graphics/font.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/graphics/font.cpp
@@ -6,25 +6,25 @@
 
 void Font::load(const OTMLNodePtr& fontNode)
 {
-    std::string textureName = fontNode->readAt<std::string>("texture");
-    Size glyphSize = fontNode->readAt<Size>("glyph size");
-    m_glyphHeight = fontNode->readAt<int>("height");
-    m_topMargin = fontNode->readAt("top margin", 0);
-    m_firstGlyph = fontNode->readAt("first glyph", 32);
-    m_glyphSpacing = fontNode->readAt("spacing", Size(0,0));
+    std::string textureName = fontNode->valueAt("texture");
+    Size glyphSize = fontNode->valueAt<Size>("glyph size");
+    m_glyphHeight = fontNode->valueAt<int>("height");
+    m_topMargin = fontNode->valueAt("top margin", 0);
+    m_firstGlyph = fontNode->valueAt("first glyph", 32);
+    m_glyphSpacing = fontNode->valueAt("spacing", Size(0,0));
 
     // load font texture
     m_texture = g_textures.getTexture(textureName);
     if(!m_texture)
-        throw OTMLException(fontNode, "failed to load texture for font");
+        throw std::runtime_error("failed to load texture for font");
 
     // auto calculate widths
     calculateGlyphsWidthsAutomatically(glyphSize);
 
     // read custom widths
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = fontNode->get("glyph widths")) {
-        for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : node->childNodes())
-            m_glyphsSize[fw::safe_cast<int>(child->tag())].setWidth(child->read<int>());
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : node->children())
+            m_glyphsSize[fw::safe_cast<int>(child->tag())].setWidth(child->value<int>());
     }
 
     // calculate glyphs texture coords
diff --git a/src/framework/graphics/fontmanager.cpp b/src/framework/graphics/fontmanager.cpp
index 43faa349..5179c5be 100644
--- a/src/framework/graphics/fontmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/graphics/fontmanager.cpp
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ bool FontManager::importFont(std::string fontFile)
         OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::parse(fontFile);
         OTMLNodePtr fontNode = doc->at("Font");
 
-        std::string name = fontNode->readAt<std::string>("name");
+        std::string name = fontNode->valueAt("name");
         if(fontExists(name))
-            throw OTMLException(fontNode, "a font with the same name is already imported, did you duplicate font names?");
+            throw std::runtime_error("a font with the same name is already imported, did you duplicate font names?");
 
         FontPtr font(new Font(name));
         font->load(fontNode);
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ bool FontManager::importFont(std::string fontFile)
 
         return true;
     } catch(std::exception& e) {
-        logError("ERROR: could not load font '", fontFile, "': ", e.what());
+        logError("ERROR: could not load font from '", fontFile, "': ", e.what());
         return false;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/framework/graphics/image.cpp b/src/framework/graphics/image.cpp
index 6f394dd3..2c120de6 100644
--- a/src/framework/graphics/image.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/graphics/image.cpp
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ Image::Image(TexturePtr texture, Rect textureCoords)
 ImagePtr Image::loadFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& imageNode)
 {
     // load configs from otml node
-    std::string source = imageNode->hasValue() ? imageNode->read<std::string>() : imageNode->readAt<std::string>("source");
-    bool smooth = imageNode->readAt("smooth", false);
-    Rect textureCoords = imageNode->readAt("coords", Rect());
+    std::string source = imageNode->hasValue() ? imageNode->value() : imageNode->valueAt("source");
+    bool smooth = imageNode->valueAt("smooth", false);
+    Rect textureCoords = imageNode->valueAt("coords", Rect());
 
     // load texture
     TexturePtr texture = g_textures.getTexture(source);
diff --git a/src/framework/graphics/texturemanager.cpp b/src/framework/graphics/texturemanager.cpp
index a9d8ec28..2ddc063c 100644
--- a/src/framework/graphics/texturemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/graphics/texturemanager.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ TexturePtr TextureManager::getTexture(const std::string& textureFile)
         try {
             // currently only png textures are supported
             if(!boost::ends_with(textureFile, ".png"))
-                throw std::logic_error("texture file format no supported");
+                throw std::runtime_error("texture file format no supported");
 
             // load texture file data
             std::stringstream fin;
diff --git a/src/framework/luascript/luabinder.h b/src/framework/luascript/luabinder.h
index c81b7344..89e137fe 100644
--- a/src/framework/luascript/luabinder.h
+++ b/src/framework/luascript/luabinder.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace luabinder
     /// C++ function caller that can push results to lua
     template<typename Ret, typename F, typename... Args>
     typename std::enable_if<!std::is_void<Ret>::value, int>::type
-    call_fun_and_push_result(const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, Args... args) {
+    call_fun_and_push_result(const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, const Args&... args) {
         Ret ret = f(args...);
         lua->polymorphicPush(ret);
         return 1;
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace luabinder
     /// C++ void function caller
     template<typename Ret, typename F, typename... Args>
     typename std::enable_if<std::is_void<Ret>::value, int>::type
-    call_fun_and_push_result(const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, Args... args) {
+    call_fun_and_push_result(const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, const Args&... args) {
         f(args...);
         return 0;
     }
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@ namespace luabinder
     template<int N, typename Ret>
     struct expand_fun_arguments {
         template<typename Tuple, typename F, typename... Args>
-        static int call(const Tuple& tuple, const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, Args... args) {
-            return expand_fun_arguments<N-1,Ret>::call(tuple, f, lua, std::cref(std::get<N-1>(tuple)), args...);
+        static int call(const Tuple& tuple, const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, const Args&... args) {
+            return expand_fun_arguments<N-1,Ret>::call(tuple, f, lua, std::get<N-1>(tuple), args...);
         }
     };
     template<typename Ret>
     struct expand_fun_arguments<0,Ret> {
         template<typename Tuple, typename F, typename... Args>
-        static int call(const Tuple& tuple, const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, Args... args) {
+        static int call(const Tuple& tuple, const F& f, LuaInterface* lua, const Args&... args) {
             return call_fun_and_push_result<Ret>(f, lua, args...);
         }
     };
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ namespace luabinder
     template<typename Ret, typename Obj, typename... Args>
     LuaCppFunction bind_mem_fun(Ret (Obj::*f)(Args...)) {
         auto mf = std::mem_fn(f);
-        typedef typename std::tuple<Obj*, typename remove_const_ref<Args>::type...> Tuple;
+        typedef typename std::tuple<std::shared_ptr<Obj>, typename remove_const_ref<Args>::type...> Tuple;
         return bind_fun_specializer<typename remove_const_ref<Ret>::type,
                                     decltype(mf),
                                     Tuple>(mf);
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ namespace luabinder
     template<typename Ret, typename Obj, typename... Args>
     LuaCppFunction bind_mem_fun(Ret (Obj::*f)(Args...) const) {
         auto mf = std::mem_fn(f);
-        typedef typename std::tuple<Obj*, typename remove_const_ref<Args>::type...> Tuple;
+        typedef typename std::tuple<std::shared_ptr<Obj>, typename remove_const_ref<Args>::type...> Tuple;
         return bind_fun_specializer<typename remove_const_ref<Ret>::type,
                                     decltype(mf),
                                     Tuple>(mf);
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ namespace luabinder
     LuaCppFunction bind_mem_fun(int (Obj::*f)(LuaInterface*)) {
         auto mf = std::mem_fn(f);
         return [=](LuaInterface* lua) {
-            auto obj = lua->castValue<Obj*>(1);
+            auto obj = lua->castValue<std::shared_ptr<Obj>>(1);
             lua->remove(1);
             return mf(obj, lua);
         };
diff --git a/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.cpp b/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..140db9ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+#include "luavaluecasts.h"
+#include "luainterface.h"
+#include <framework/otml/otmlnode.h>
+
+// bool
+void push_luavalue(bool b)
+{
+    g_lua.pushBoolean(b);
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, bool& b)
+{
+    b = g_lua.toBoolean(index);
+    return true;
+}
+
+// int
+void push_luavalue(int i)
+{
+    g_lua.pushInteger(i);
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, int& i)
+{
+    i = g_lua.toInteger(index);
+    if(i == 0 && !g_lua.isNumber(index))
+        return false;
+    return true;
+}
+
+// double
+void push_luavalue(double d)
+{
+    g_lua.pushNumber(d);
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, double& d)
+{
+    d = g_lua.toNumber(index);
+    if(d == 0 && !g_lua.isNumber(index))
+        return false;
+    return true;
+}
+
+// string
+void push_luavalue(const char* cstr)
+{
+    g_lua.pushCString(cstr);
+}
+
+void push_luavalue(const std::string& str)
+{
+    g_lua.pushString(str);
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::string& str)
+{
+    str = g_lua.toString(index);
+    if(str.empty() && !g_lua.isString(index))
+        return false;
+    return true;
+}
+
+// lua cpp function
+void push_luavalue(const LuaCppFunction& func)
+{
+    g_lua.pushCppFunction(func);
+}
+
+// color
+void push_luavalue(const Color& color)
+{
+    g_lua.newTable();
+    g_lua.pushInteger(color.r());
+    g_lua.setField("r");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(color.g());
+    g_lua.setField("g");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(color.b());
+    g_lua.setField("b");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(color.a());
+    g_lua.setField("a");
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Color& color)
+{
+    if(g_lua.isTable(index)) {
+        g_lua.getField("r", index);
+        color.setRed(g_lua.popInteger());
+        g_lua.getField("g", index);
+        color.setGreen(g_lua.popInteger());
+        g_lua.getField("b", index);
+        color.setBlue(g_lua.popInteger());
+        g_lua.getField("a", index);
+        color.setAlpha(g_lua.popInteger());
+        return true;
+    } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
+        return fw::cast(g_lua.toString(index), color);
+    } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
+        color = Color::white;
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+// rect
+void push_luavalue(const Rect& rect)
+{
+    g_lua.newTable();
+    g_lua.pushInteger(rect.x());
+    g_lua.setField("x");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(rect.y());
+    g_lua.setField("y");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(rect.width());
+    g_lua.setField("width");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(rect.height());
+    g_lua.setField("height");
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Rect& rect)
+{
+    if(g_lua.isTable(index)) {
+        g_lua.getField("x", index);
+        rect.setX(g_lua.popInteger());
+        g_lua.getField("y", index);
+        rect.setY(g_lua.popInteger());
+        g_lua.getField("width", index);
+        rect.setWidth(g_lua.popInteger());
+        g_lua.getField("height", index);
+        rect.setHeight(g_lua.popInteger());
+    } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
+        return fw::cast(g_lua.toString(index), rect);
+    } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
+        rect = Rect();
+        return true;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+// point
+void push_luavalue(const Point& point)
+{
+    g_lua.newTable();
+    g_lua.pushInteger(point.x);
+    g_lua.setField("x");
+    g_lua.pushInteger(point.y);
+    g_lua.setField("y");
+}
+
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Point& point)
+{
+    if(g_lua.isTable(index)) {
+        g_lua.getField("x", index);
+        point.x = g_lua.popInteger();
+        g_lua.getField("y", index);
+        point.y = g_lua.popInteger();
+        return true;
+    } else if(g_lua.isString()) {
+        return fw::cast(g_lua.toString(index), point);
+    } else if(g_lua.isNil()) {
+        point = Point();
+        return true;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+// otml nodes
+void push_luavalue(const OTMLNodePtr& node)
+{
+    if(node->hasValue()) {
+        g_lua.pushString(node->value());
+    } else if(node->hasChildren()) {
+        g_lua.newTable();
+        bool pushedChild = false;
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& cnode : node->children()) {
+            if(cnode->isUnique()) {
+                push_luavalue(cnode);
+                if(!g_lua.isNil()) {
+                    g_lua.setField(cnode->tag());
+                    pushedChild = true;
+                } else
+                    g_lua.pop();
+            }
+        }
+        if(!pushedChild) {
+            g_lua.pop();
+            g_lua.pushNil();
+        }
+    } else
+        g_lua.pushNil();
+}
+
+// object ptr
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, LuaObjectPtr& obj) {
+    if(g_lua.isUserdata(index)) {
+        obj = g_lua.toObject(index);
+        return true;
+    } else if(g_lua.isNil(index)) {
+        obj = nullptr;
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.h b/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.h
index b94096d8..0cbd06d0 100644
--- a/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.h
+++ b/src/framework/luascript/luavaluecasts.h
@@ -2,137 +2,123 @@
 #define LUAVALUECASTS_H
 
 // this file is and must be included only from luainterface.h
-#include "luainterface.h"
-#include "luaexception.h"
 
-/// Pushes bool
-inline void push_luavalue(bool v) {
-    g_lua.pushBoolean(v);
-}
+#include "declarations.h"
+#include <framework/otml/declarations.h>
 
-/// Pushes int
-inline void push_luavalue(int v) {
-    g_lua.pushInteger(v);
-}
+// bool
+void push_luavalue(bool b);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, bool& b);
 
-/// Pushes double
-inline void push_luavalue(double v) {
-    g_lua.pushNumber(v);
-}
+// int
+void push_luavalue(int i);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, int& i);
 
-/// Pushes std::string
-inline void push_luavalue(const std::string& v) {
-    g_lua.pushString(v);
-}
+// double
+void push_luavalue(double d);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, double& d);
 
-/// Pushes const char*
-inline void push_luavalue(const char* v) {
-    g_lua.pushCString(v);
-}
+// string
+void push_luavalue(const char* cstr);
+void push_luavalue(const std::string& str);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::string& str);
 
-/// Pushes LuaCppFunction
-inline void push_luavalue(const LuaCppFunction& v) {
-    g_lua.pushCppFunction(v);
-}
+// lua cpp function
+void push_luavalue(const LuaCppFunction& func);
+
+// color
+void push_luavalue(const Color& color);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Color& color);
 
-/// Pushes LuaObjectPtr
+// rect
+void push_luavalue(const Rect& rect);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Rect& rect);
+
+// point
+void push_luavalue(const Point& point);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Point& point);
+
+// size
+void push_luavalue(const Size& size);
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, Size& size);
+
+// otml nodes
+void push_luavalue(const OTMLNodePtr& node);
+
+// enum
+template<class T>
+typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<T>::value, bool>::type
+luavalue_cast(int index, T& myenum);
+
+// LuaObject pointers
 template<class T>
 typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<LuaObject, typename T::element_type>::value, void>::type
-push_luavalue(const T& v) {
-    if(v)
-        return g_lua.pushObject(v);
-    return g_lua.pushNil();
-}
+push_luavalue(const T& obj);
 
-/// Push std::function types
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, LuaObjectPtr& obj);
+
+template<class T>
+typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<LuaObject, T>::value, bool>::type
+luavalue_cast(int index, std::shared_ptr<T>& ptr);
+
+// std::function
 template<typename Ret, typename... Args>
-void push_luavalue(const std::function<Ret(Args...)>& v) {
-    if(v) {
-        LuaCppFunction f = luabinder::bind_fun(v);
-        g_lua.pushCppFunction(f);
-    } else
-        g_lua.pushNil();
-}
+void push_luavalue(const std::function<Ret(Args...)>& func);
 
-/// Casts lua value to bool
-inline bool luavalue_cast(int index, bool& o) {
-    o = g_lua.toBoolean(index);
-    return true;
-}
+template<typename... Args>
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<void(Args...)>& func);
 
-/// Casts lua value to int
-inline bool luavalue_cast(int index, int& o) {
-    o = g_lua.toInteger(index);
-    if(o == 0 && !g_lua.isNumber(index))
-        return false;
-    return true;
-}
+template<typename Ret, typename... Args>
+typename std::enable_if<!std::is_void<Ret>::value, bool>::type
+luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<Ret(Args...)>& func);
 
-/// Casts lua value to double
-inline bool luavalue_cast(int index, double& o) {
-    o = g_lua.toNumber(index);
-    if(o == 0 && !g_lua.isNumber(index))
-        return false;
-    return true;
-}
 
-/// Casts lua value to std::string
-inline bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::string& o) {
-    o = g_lua.toString(index);
-    if(o.empty() && !g_lua.isString(index))
-        return false;
-    return true;
-}
+// start definitions
 
-/// Casts lua value to LuaObjectPtr
-inline bool luavalue_cast(int index, LuaObjectPtr& o) {
-    if(g_lua.isUserdata(index)) {
-        o = g_lua.toObject(index);
-        return true;
-    } else if(g_lua.isNil(index)) {
-        o = nullptr;
-        return true;
-    }
-    return false;
-}
+#include "luaexception.h"
+#include "luainterface.h"
 
-/// Casts lua value to enum
 template<class T>
 typename std::enable_if<std::is_enum<T>::value, bool>::type
-luavalue_cast(int index, T& o) {
-    return luavalue_cast(index, (int&)o);
+luavalue_cast(int index, T& myenum) {
+    return luavalue_cast(index, (int&)myenum);
 }
 
-/// Cast lua userdata to a class pointer
 template<class T>
-typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<LuaObject, T>::value, bool>::type
-luavalue_cast(int index, T*& o) {
-    LuaObjectPtr obj;
-    if(!luavalue_cast(index, obj))
-        return false;
-    o = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<T>(obj).get();
-    return !!o;
+typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<LuaObject, typename T::element_type>::value, void>::type
+push_luavalue(const T& obj) {
+    if(obj)
+        return g_lua.pushObject(obj);
+    return g_lua.pushNil();
 }
 
-/// Cast lua userdata to a class shared pointer
 template<class T>
-bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::shared_ptr<T>& o) {
+typename std::enable_if<std::is_base_of<LuaObject, T>::value, bool>::type
+luavalue_cast(int index, std::shared_ptr<T>& ptr) {
     LuaObjectPtr obj;
     if(!luavalue_cast(index, obj))
         return false;
-    o = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<T>(obj);
-    return !!o;
+    ptr = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<T>(obj);
+    return true;
+}
+
+template<typename Ret, typename... Args>
+void push_luavalue(const std::function<Ret(Args...)>& func) {
+    if(func) {
+        LuaCppFunction f = luabinder::bind_fun(func);
+        g_lua.pushCppFunction(f);
+    } else
+        g_lua.pushNil();
 }
 
-/// Cast a lua function to a std::function
 template<typename... Args>
-bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<void(Args...)>& o) {
+bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<void(Args...)>& func) {
     if(g_lua.isFunction(index)) {
         g_lua.pushValue(index);
         // weak references are used here, this means that the script must hold another reference
         // to this function, otherwise it will expire
         int funcWeakRef = g_lua.weakRef();
-        o = [=](Args... args...) {
+        func = [=](Args... args...) {
             // note that we must catch exceptions, because this lambda can be called from anywhere
             // and most of them won't catch exceptions (e.g. dispatcher)
             g_lua.getWeakRef(funcWeakRef);
@@ -150,22 +136,21 @@ bool luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<void(Args...)>& o) {
         };
         return true;
     } else if(g_lua.isNil(index)) {
-        o = std::function<void(Args...)>();
+        func = std::function<void(Args...)>();
         return true;
     }
     return false;
 }
 
-/// Cast a lua function to a std::function that can return
 template<typename Ret, typename... Args>
 typename std::enable_if<!std::is_void<Ret>::value, bool>::type
-luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<Ret(Args...)>& o) {
+luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<Ret(Args...)>& func) {
     if(g_lua.isFunction(index)) {
         g_lua.pushValue(index);
         // weak references are used here, this means that the script must hold another reference
         // to this function, otherwise it will expire
         int funcWeakRef = g_lua.weakRef();
-        o = [=](Args... args...) -> Ret {
+        func = [=](Args... args...) -> Ret {
             // note that we must catch exceptions, because this lambda can be called from anywhere
             // and most of them won't catch exceptions (e.g. dispatcher)
             try {
@@ -186,40 +171,10 @@ luavalue_cast(int index, std::function<Ret(Args...)>& o) {
         };
         return true;
     } else if(g_lua.isNil(index)) {
-        o = std::function<Ret(Args...)>();
+        func = std::function<Ret(Args...)>();
         return true;
     }
     return false;
 }
 
-// additional casts
-
-
-inline void push_luavalue(const Color& v) {
-    g_lua.newTable();
-    g_lua.pushInteger(v.r());
-    g_lua.setField("r");
-    g_lua.pushInteger(v.g());
-    g_lua.setField("g");
-    g_lua.pushInteger(v.b());
-    g_lua.setField("b");
-    g_lua.pushInteger(v.a());
-    g_lua.setField("a");
-}
-
-inline bool luavalue_cast(int index, Color& o) {
-    if(!g_lua.isTable(index))
-        return false;
-
-    g_lua.getField("r", index);
-    o.setRed(g_lua.popInteger());
-    g_lua.getField("g", index);
-    o.setGreen(g_lua.popInteger());
-    g_lua.getField("b", index);
-    o.setBlue(g_lua.popInteger());
-    g_lua.getField("a", index);
-    o.setAlpha(g_lua.popInteger());
-    return true;
-}
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otml.h b/src/framework/otml/otml.h
index c856aa98..df0904c3 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otml.h
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otml.h
@@ -3,6 +3,5 @@
 
 #include "otmldocument.h"
 #include "otmlnode.h"
-#include "otmlnodeext.h"
 
-#endif
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmldocument.cpp b/src/framework/otml/otmldocument.cpp
index da5a1682..e4bec887 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmldocument.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmldocument.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ OTMLDocumentPtr OTMLDocument::parse(const std::string& fileName)
 {
     std::stringstream fin;
     g_resources.loadFile(fileName, fin);
-    return parse(fin, fileName);
+    return parse(fin, g_resources.resolvePath(fileName));
 }
 
 OTMLDocumentPtr OTMLDocument::parse(std::istream& in, const std::string& source)
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ std::string OTMLDocument::emit()
 
 bool OTMLDocument::save(const std::string& fileName)
 {
-    setSource(fileName);
-
+    m_source = fileName;
     return g_resources.saveFile(fileName, emit());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlemitter.cpp b/src/framework/otml/otmlemitter.cpp
index 884b09c1..0099733d 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmlemitter.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmlemitter.cpp
@@ -16,13 +16,15 @@ std::string OTMLEmitter::emitNode(const OTMLNodePtr& node, int currentDepth)
             ss << node->tag();
 
             // add ':' to if the node is unique or has value
-            if(node->hasValue() || node->isUnique())
+            if(node->hasValue() || node->isUnique() || node->isNull())
                 ss << ":";
         } else
             ss << "-";
 
         // emit node value
-        if(node->hasValue()) {
+        if(node->isNull())
+            ss << " ~";
+        else if(node->hasValue()) {
             ss << " ";
 
             std::string value = node->value();
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ std::string OTMLEmitter::emitNode(const OTMLNodePtr& node, int currentDepth)
     for(int i=0;i<node->size();++i) {
         if(currentDepth >= 0 || i != 0)
             ss << "\n";
-        ss << emitNode(node->at(i), currentDepth+1);
+        ss << emitNode(node->atIndex(i), currentDepth+1);
     }
 
     return ss.str();
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlexception.h b/src/framework/otml/otmlexception.h
index bfbe1c43..4db75b1b 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmlexception.h
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmlexception.h
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ public:
     virtual const char* what() const throw() { return m_what.c_str(); }
 
 protected:
-    OTMLException() { }
-    void generateErrorMessage(const OTMLDocumentPtr& doc, const std::string& error, int line);
-    void generateErrorMessage(const OTMLNodePtr& node, const std::string& error);
     std::string m_what;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.cpp b/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.cpp
index 8cf06054..28a2d935 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.cpp
@@ -2,157 +2,86 @@
 #include "otmlemitter.h"
 #include "otmldocument.h"
 
-OTMLNode::OTMLNode()
+OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::create(std::string tag, bool unique)
 {
-    m_unique = false;
+    OTMLNodePtr node(new OTMLNode);
+    node->setTag(tag);
+    node->setUnique(unique);
+    return node;
 }
 
-std::string OTMLNode::tag() const
+OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::create(std::string tag, std::string value)
 {
-    return m_tag;
+    OTMLNodePtr node(new OTMLNode);
+    node->setTag(tag);
+    node->setValue(value);
+    node->setUnique(true);
+    return node;
 }
 
-std::string OTMLNode::value() const
+bool OTMLNode::hasChildren() const
 {
-    // ~ is an alias for no value
-    if(m_value == "~")
-        return fw::empty_string;
-    return m_value;
-}
-
-int OTMLNode::size() const
-{
-    return m_childNodes.size();
-}
-
-OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::parent() const
-{
-    return m_parent.lock();
-}
-
-const OTMLNodeList& OTMLNode::childNodes() const
-{
-    return m_childNodes;
-}
-
-std::string OTMLNode::source() const
-{
-    return m_source;
-}
-
-bool OTMLNode::hasTag() const
-{
-    return !m_tag.empty();
-}
-
-bool OTMLNode::hasValue() const
-{
-    return (!m_value.empty() && m_value != "~");
-}
-
-bool OTMLNode::hasChildNodes() const
-{
-    return size() > 0;
-}
-
-bool OTMLNode::hasChild(const std::string& childTag) const
-{
-    return !!get(childTag);
-}
-
-bool OTMLNode::hasChild(int index) const
-{
-    return !!get(index);
-}
-
-bool OTMLNode::isUnique() const
-{
-    return m_unique;
-}
-
-void OTMLNode::setTag(std::string tag)
-{
-    m_tag = tag;
-
-    // valued nodes that has tags are always unique
-    if(!m_value.empty() && hasTag())
-        setUnique();
-}
-
-void OTMLNode::setValue(const std::string& value)
-{
-    m_value = value;
-
-    // valued nodes that has tags are always unique
-    if(!m_value.empty() && hasTag())
-        setUnique();
-}
-
-void OTMLNode::setParent(const OTMLNodePtr& parent)
-{
-    m_parent = parent;
-}
-
-void OTMLNode::setUnique(bool unique)
-{
-    m_unique = unique;
-}
-
-void OTMLNode::setSource(const std::string& source)
-{
-    m_source = source;
+    int count = 0;
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_children) {
+        if(!child->isNull())
+            count++;
+    }
+    return count > 0;
 }
 
-OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::at(const std::string& childTag)
+OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::get(const std::string& childTag) const
 {
-    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_childNodes) {
-        if(child->tag() == childTag)
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_children) {
+        if(child->tag() == childTag && !child->isNull())
             return child;
     }
-    throw OTMLException(shared_from_this(), fw::mkstr("child node with tag '", childTag, "' not found"));
     return nullptr;
 }
 
-OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::at(int childIndex)
+OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::getIndex(int childIndex) const
 {
     if(childIndex < size() && childIndex >= 0)
-        return m_childNodes[childIndex];
-    throw OTMLException(shared_from_this(), fw::mkstr("child node at index '", childIndex, "' not found"));
+        return m_children[childIndex];
     return nullptr;
 }
 
-OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::get(const std::string& childTag) const
+OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::at(const std::string& childTag)
 {
-    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_childNodes) {
-        if(child->tag() == childTag)
-            return child;
+    OTMLNodePtr res;
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_children) {
+        if(child->tag() == childTag && !child->isNull()) {
+            res = child;
+            break;
+        }
     }
-    return nullptr;
+    if(!res)
+        throw OTMLException(shared_from_this(), fw::mkstr("child node with tag '", childTag, "' not found"));
+    return res;
 }
 
-OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::get(int childIndex) const
+OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::atIndex(int childIndex)
 {
-    if(childIndex < size() && childIndex >= 0)
-        return m_childNodes[childIndex];
-    return nullptr;
+    if(childIndex >= size() || childIndex < 0)
+        throw OTMLException(shared_from_this(), fw::mkstr("child node with index '", childIndex, "' not found"));
+    return m_children[childIndex];
 }
 
 void OTMLNode::addChild(const OTMLNodePtr& newChild)
 {
     // replace is needed when the tag is marked as unique
     if(newChild->hasTag()) {
-        for(OTMLNodePtr node : m_childNodes) {
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& node : m_children) {
             if(node->tag() == newChild->tag() && (node->isUnique() || newChild->isUnique())) {
-                newChild->setUnique();
+                newChild->setUnique(true);
                 replaceChild(node, newChild);
 
                 // remove any other child with the same tag
-                auto it = m_childNodes.begin();
-                while(it != m_childNodes.end()) {
+                auto it = m_children.begin();
+                while(it != m_children.end()) {
                     OTMLNodePtr node = (*it);
                     if(node != newChild && node->tag() == newChild->tag()) {
                         node->setParent(nullptr);
-                        it = m_childNodes.erase(it);
+                        it = m_children.erase(it);
                     } else
                         ++it;
                 }
@@ -161,60 +90,67 @@ void OTMLNode::addChild(const OTMLNodePtr& newChild)
         }
     }
 
-    m_childNodes.push_back(newChild);
+    m_children.push_back(newChild);
     newChild->setParent(shared_from_this());
 }
 
 bool OTMLNode::removeChild(const OTMLNodePtr& oldChild)
 {
-    for(auto it = m_childNodes.begin(); it != m_childNodes.end(); ++it) {
-        if((*it) == oldChild) {
-            m_childNodes.erase(it);
-            oldChild->setParent(nullptr);
-            return true;
-        }
+    auto it = std::find(m_children.begin(), m_children.end(), oldChild);
+    if(it != m_children.end()) {
+        m_children.erase(it);
+        oldChild->setParent(nullptr);
+        return true;
     }
     return false;
 }
 
 bool OTMLNode::replaceChild(const OTMLNodePtr& oldChild, const OTMLNodePtr& newChild)
 {
-    for(auto it = m_childNodes.begin(); it != m_childNodes.end(); ++it) {
-        if((*it) == oldChild) {
-            oldChild->setParent(nullptr);
-            newChild->setParent(shared_from_this());
-            it = m_childNodes.erase(it);
-            m_childNodes.insert(it, newChild);
-            return true;
-        }
+    auto it = std::find(m_children.begin(), m_children.end(), oldChild);
+    if(it != m_children.end()) {
+        oldChild->setParent(nullptr);
+        newChild->setParent(shared_from_this());
+        it = m_children.erase(it);
+        m_children.insert(it, newChild);
+        return true;
     }
     return false;
 }
 
+void OTMLNode::merge(const OTMLNodePtr& node)
+{
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : node->m_children)
+        addChild(child->clone());
+    setTag(node->tag());
+    setSource(node->source());
+}
+
 void OTMLNode::clear()
 {
-    m_childNodes.clear();
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_children)
+        child->setParent(nullptr);
+    m_children.clear();
 }
 
-void OTMLNode::merge(const OTMLNodePtr& node)
+OTMLNodeList OTMLNode::children() const
 {
-    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : node->childNodes()) {
-        OTMLNodePtr newNode(new OTMLNode);
-        newNode->setUnique(child->isUnique());
-        newNode->setTag(child->tag());
-        newNode->setValue(child->value());
-        addChild(newNode);
-        newNode->merge(child);
-    }
+    OTMLNodeList children;
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_children)
+        if(!child->isNull())
+            children.push_back(child);
+    return children;
 }
 
 OTMLNodePtr OTMLNode::clone() const
 {
     OTMLNodePtr myClone(new OTMLNode);
-    myClone->setTag(tag());
-    myClone->setValue(value());
-    myClone->setUnique(isUnique());
-    for(OTMLNodePtr child : childNodes())
+    myClone->setTag(m_tag);
+    myClone->setValue(m_value);
+    myClone->setUnique(m_unique);
+    myClone->setNull(m_null);
+    myClone->setSource(m_source);
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& child : m_children)
         myClone->addChild(child->clone());
     return myClone;
 }
@@ -223,3 +159,4 @@ std::string OTMLNode::emit()
 {
     return OTMLEmitter::emitNode(shared_from_this(), 0);
 }
+
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h b/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h
index e827dafc..8f742585 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmlnode.h
@@ -2,214 +2,138 @@
 #define OTMLNODE_H
 
 #include "declarations.h"
-#include "otmlexception.h"
 
 class OTMLNode : public std::enable_shared_from_this<OTMLNode>
 {
 public:
-    OTMLNode();
     virtual ~OTMLNode() { }
 
-    std::string value() const;
-    std::string tag() const;
-    int size() const;
-    OTMLNodePtr parent() const;
-    const OTMLNodeList& childNodes() const;
-    std::string source() const;
-
-    bool hasTag() const;
-    bool hasValue() const;
-    bool hasChildNodes() const;
-    bool hasChild(const std::string& childTag) const;
-    bool hasChild(int index) const;
-    bool isUnique() const;
-
-    void setTag(std::string tag);
-    void setValue(const std::string& value);
-    void setParent(const OTMLNodePtr& parent);
-    void setUnique(bool unique = true);
-    void setSource(const std::string& source);
-
-    /// Same as get but if the child node doesn't exist throws an OTMLException
-    OTMLNodePtr at(const std::string& childTag);
-    OTMLNodePtr at(int childIndex);
+    static OTMLNodePtr create(std::string tag = fw::empty_string, bool unique = false);
+    static OTMLNodePtr create(std::string tag, std::string value);
+
+    std::string tag() const { return m_tag; }
+    int size() const { return m_children.size(); }
+    OTMLNodePtr parent() const { return m_parent.lock(); }
+    std::string source() const { return m_source; }
+
+    bool isUnique() const { return m_unique; }
+    bool isNull() const { return m_null; }
+
+    bool hasTag() const { return !m_tag.empty(); }
+    bool hasValue() const { return !m_value.empty(); }
+    bool hasChildren() const;
+    bool hasChildAt(const std::string& childTag) { return !!get(childTag); }
+    bool hasChildAtIndex(int childIndex) { return !!getIndex(childIndex); }
+
+    void setTag(std::string tag) { m_tag = tag; }
+    void setValue(const std::string& value) { m_value = value; }
+    void setNull(bool null) { m_null = null; }
+    void setUnique(bool unique) { m_unique = unique; }
+    void setParent(const OTMLNodePtr& parent) { m_parent = parent; }
+    void setSource(const std::string& source) { m_source = source; }
 
-    /// Get a child node, if doesn't exists returns nullptr
     OTMLNodePtr get(const std::string& childTag) const;
-    OTMLNodePtr get(int childIndex) const;
+    OTMLNodePtr getIndex(int childIndex) const;
+
+    OTMLNodePtr at(const std::string& childTag);
+    OTMLNodePtr atIndex(int childIndex);
 
     void addChild(const OTMLNodePtr& newChild);
     bool removeChild(const OTMLNodePtr& oldChild);
     bool replaceChild(const OTMLNodePtr& oldChild, const OTMLNodePtr& newChild);
-
-    /// Remove all children
-    void clear();
-
-    /// Recursively copy children from another node to this node
     void merge(const OTMLNodePtr& node);
+    void clear();
 
-    /// Recursively clone this node into a new one
+    OTMLNodeList children() const;
     OTMLNodePtr clone() const;
 
-    /// Emits this node to a std::string
-    virtual std::string emit();
-
-    template<typename T>
-    T read();
-
-    template<typename T>
-    T read(const T& def);
-
-    template<typename T, typename U>
-    T readAt(const U& childIdentifier);
-
-    template<typename T, typename U>
-    T readAt(const U& childIdentifier, const T& def);
+    template<typename T = std::string>
+    T value();
+    template<typename T = std::string>
+    T valueAt(const std::string& childTag);
+    template<typename T = std::string>
+    T valueAtIndex(int childIndex);
+    template<typename T = std::string>
+    T valueAt(const std::string& childTag, const T& def);
+    template<typename T = std::string>
+    T valueAtIndex(int childIndex, const T& def);
 
     template<typename T>
     void write(const T& v);
-
     template<typename T>
     void writeAt(const std::string& childTag, const T& v);
-
     template<typename T>
     void writeIn(const T& v);
 
-private:
+    virtual std::string emit();
+
+protected:
+    OTMLNode() : m_unique(false), m_null(false) { }
+
+    OTMLNodeList m_children;
+    OTMLNodeWeakPtr m_parent;
     std::string m_tag;
     std::string m_value;
     std::string m_source;
     bool m_unique;
-    OTMLNodeList m_childNodes;
-    OTMLNodeWeakPtr m_parent;
+    bool m_null;
 };
 
-// templates for reading values
+#include "otmlexception.h"
+
 template<typename T>
-T OTMLNode::read() {
-    T v;
-    if(!from_otmlnode(shared_from_this(), v))
-        throw OTMLException(shared_from_this(),
-                            fw::mkstr("failed to cast node value to type '", fw::demangle_type<T>(), "'"));
-    return v;
+T OTMLNode::value() {
+    T ret;
+    if(!fw::cast(m_value, ret))
+        throw OTMLException(shared_from_this(), fw::mkstr("failed to cast node value to type '", fw::demangle_type<T>(), "'"));
+    return ret;
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-T OTMLNode::read(const T& def) {
-    if(hasValue())
-        return read<T>();
-    return def;
+T OTMLNode::valueAt(const std::string& childTag) {
+    OTMLNodePtr node = at(childTag);
+    return node->value<T>();
 }
 
-template<typename T, typename U>
-T OTMLNode::readAt(const U& childIdentifier) {
-    OTMLNodePtr child = at(childIdentifier);
-    return child->read<T>();
+template<typename T>
+T OTMLNode::valueAtIndex(int childIndex) {
+    OTMLNodePtr node = atIndex(childIndex);
+    return node->value<T>();
 }
 
-template<typename T, typename U>
-T OTMLNode::readAt(const U& childIdentifier, const T& def) {
-    OTMLNodePtr child = get(childIdentifier);
-    if(!child)
-        return def;
-    return child->read<T>(def);
+template<typename T>
+T OTMLNode::valueAt(const std::string& childTag, const T& def) {
+    if(OTMLNodePtr node = get(childTag))
+        if(!node->isNull())
+            return node->value<T>();
+    return def;
 }
 
+template<typename T>
+T OTMLNode::valueAtIndex(int childIndex, const T& def) {
+    if(OTMLNodePtr node = getIndex(childIndex))
+        return node->value<T>();
+    return def;
+}
 
-// templates for writing values
 template<typename T>
 void OTMLNode::write(const T& v) {
-    to_otmlnode(shared_from_this(), v);
+    m_value = fw::safe_cast<std::string>(v);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 void OTMLNode::writeAt(const std::string& childTag, const T& v) {
-    OTMLNodePtr child = get(childTag);
-    bool created = false;
-    if(!child) {
-        child = OTMLNodePtr(new OTMLNode);
-        child->setTag(childTag);
-        child->setUnique();
-        created = true;
-    }
+    OTMLNodePtr child = OTMLNode::create(childTag);
     child->write<T>(v);
-    if(created)
-        addChild(child);
+    addChild(child);
 }
 
 template<typename T>
 void OTMLNode::writeIn(const T& v) {
-    OTMLNodePtr child = OTMLNodePtr(new OTMLNode);
+    OTMLNodePtr child = OTMLNode::create();
     child->write<T>(v);
     addChild(child);
 }
 
-// templates for casting a node to another type
-template<typename T>
-bool from_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, T& v) {
-    return fw::cast(node->value(), v);
-}
-
-template<typename T>
-bool from_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, std::vector<T>& v) {
-    v.resize(node->size());
-    for(unsigned i=0;i<node->size();++i)
-        v[i] = node->readAt<T>(i);
-    return true;
-}
-
-template<typename T>
-bool from_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, std::list<T>& v) {
-    for(unsigned i=0;i<node->size();++i)
-        v.push_back(node->readAt<T>(i));
-    return true;
-}
-
-template <typename K, typename T>
-bool from_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, std::map<K, T>& m) {
-    for(int i=0;i<node->size();++i) {
-        K k;
-        if(!fw::cast(node->at(i)->tag(), k))
-            return false;
-        m[k] = node->at(i)->read<T>();
-    }
-    return true;
-}
-
-// templates for casting a type to a node
-template<typename T>
-void to_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, const T& v) {
-    node->setValue(fw::unsafe_cast<std::string>(v));
-}
-
-template<typename T>
-void to_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, const std::vector<T>& v) {
-    for(unsigned i=0;i<v.size();++i) {
-        OTMLNodePtr newNode(new OTMLNode);
-        newNode->write(v[i]);
-        node->addChild(newNode);
-    }
-}
-
-template<typename T>
-void to_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, const std::list<T>& v) {
-    for(unsigned i=0;i<v.size();++i) {
-        OTMLNodePtr newNode(new OTMLNode);
-        newNode->write(v[i]);
-        node->addChild(newNode);
-    }
-}
-
-template <typename K, typename T>
-void to_otmlnode(OTMLNodePtr node, const std::map<K, T>& m) {
-    for(auto it = m.begin(); it != m.end(); ++it) {
-        std::string k = fw::unsafe_cast<std::string>(it->first);
-        OTMLNodePtr newNode(new OTMLNode);
-        newNode->setTag(k);
-        newNode->setUnique();
-        newNode->write(it->second);
-        node->addChild(newNode);
-    }
-}
-
 #endif
+
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlnodeext.h b/src/framework/otml/otmlnodeext.h
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000
diff --git a/src/framework/otml/otmlparser.cpp b/src/framework/otml/otmlparser.cpp
index 5ff35956..a150e71a 100644
--- a/src/framework/otml/otmlparser.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/otml/otmlparser.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "otmlparser.h"
 #include "otmldocument.h"
+#include "otmlexception.h"
 
 OTMLParser::OTMLParser(OTMLDocumentPtr doc, std::istream& in) :
     currentDepth(0), currentLine(0),
@@ -52,6 +53,9 @@ void OTMLParser::parseLine(std::string line)
 {
     int depth = getLineDepth(line);
 
+    if(depth == -1)
+        return;
+
     // remove line sides spaces
     boost::trim(line);
 
@@ -87,6 +91,7 @@ void OTMLParser::parseNode(const std::string& data)
     std::string tag;
     std::string value;
     std::size_t dotsPos = data.find_first_of(':');
+    int nodeLine = currentLine;
 
     // node that has no tag and may have a value
     if(!data.empty() && data[0] == '-') {
@@ -150,11 +155,18 @@ void OTMLParser::parseNode(const std::string& data)
     }
 
     // create the node
-    OTMLNodePtr node(new OTMLNode);
+    OTMLNodePtr node = OTMLNode::create(tag);
+
     node->setUnique(dotsPos != std::string::npos);
     node->setTag(tag);
-    node->setValue(value);
-    node->setSource(doc->source() + ":" + fw::safe_cast<std::string>(currentLine));
+    node->setSource(doc->source() + ":" + fw::unsafe_cast<std::string>(nodeLine));
+
+    // ~ is considered the null value
+    if(value == "~")
+        node->setNull(true);
+    else
+        node->setValue(value);
+
     currentParent->addChild(node);
     previousNode = node;
 }
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uibutton.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uibutton.cpp
index 1b6bd449..314db6df 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uibutton.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uibutton.cpp
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ void UIButton::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = styleNode->get("state.down"))
         loadStateStyle(m_statesStyle[ButtonDown], node);
 
-    m_text = styleNode->readAt("text", fw::empty_string);
+    m_text = styleNode->valueAt("text", fw::empty_string);
 
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = styleNode->get("onClick")) {
-        g_lua.loadFunction(node->read<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
+        g_lua.loadFunction(node->value<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
         luaSetField("onClick");
     }
 }
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ void UIButton::loadStateStyle(ButtonStateStyle& stateStyle, const OTMLNodePtr& s
         stateStyle.image = BorderImage::loadFromOTML(node);
     if(OTMLNodePtr node = stateStyleNode->get("image"))
         stateStyle.image = Image::loadFromOTML(node);
-    stateStyle.textTranslate = stateStyleNode->readAt("text-translate", Point());
-    stateStyle.color = stateStyleNode->readAt("font-color", m_fontColor);
-    stateStyle.color = stateStyleNode->readAt("color", m_color);
+    stateStyle.textTranslate = stateStyleNode->valueAt("text-translate", Point());
+    stateStyle.color = stateStyleNode->valueAt("font-color", m_fontColor);
+    stateStyle.color = stateStyleNode->valueAt("color", m_color);
 }
 
 void UIButton::render()
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uilabel.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uilabel.cpp
index 664c6ae1..8813e5fc 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uilabel.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uilabel.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ void UILabel::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
 {
     UIWidget::loadStyleFromOTML(styleNode);
 
-    m_text = styleNode->readAt("text", m_text);
+    m_text = styleNode->valueAt("text", m_text);
 
-    if(styleNode->hasChild("align"))
-        m_align = fw::translateAlignment(styleNode->readAt<std::string>("align"));
+    if(styleNode->hasChildAt("align"))
+        m_align = fw::translateAlignment(styleNode->valueAt("align"));
 
     // auto resize if no size supplied
     if(!m_text.empty() && !getGeometry().isValid())
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uilineedit.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uilineedit.cpp
index ad3f8067..45d9b501 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uilineedit.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uilineedit.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ void UILineEdit::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
 {
     UIWidget::loadStyleFromOTML(styleNode);
 
-    setText(styleNode->readAt("text", getText()));
+    setText(styleNode->valueAt("text", getText()));
 }
 
 void UILineEdit::render()
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
index 3e718f9f..bc922689 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uimanager.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ bool UIManager::importStyles(const std::string& file)
     try {
         OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::parse(file);
 
-        for(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode : doc->childNodes())
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode : doc->children())
             importStyleFromOTML(styleNode);
         return true;
     } catch(std::exception& e) {
@@ -129,14 +129,14 @@ void UIManager::importStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
 OTMLNodePtr UIManager::getStyle(const std::string& styleName)
 {
     if(boost::starts_with(styleName, "UI")) {
-        OTMLNodePtr node(new OTMLNode());
+        OTMLNodePtr node = OTMLNode::create();
         node->writeAt("__widgetType", styleName);
         return node;
     }
 
     auto it = m_styles.find(styleName);
     if(it == m_styles.end())
-        throw std::logic_error(fw::mkstr("style '", styleName, "' is not a defined style"));
+        throw std::runtime_error(fw::mkstr("style '", styleName, "' is not a defined style"));
     return m_styles[styleName];
 }
 
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ UIWidgetPtr UIManager::loadUI(const std::string& file)
     try {
         OTMLDocumentPtr doc = OTMLDocument::parse(file);
         UIWidgetPtr widget;
-        for(const OTMLNodePtr& node : doc->childNodes()) {
+        for(const OTMLNodePtr& node : doc->children()) {
             std::string tag = node->tag();
 
             // import styles in these files too
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ UIWidgetPtr UIManager::loadUI(const std::string& file)
                 importStyleFromOTML(node);
             else {
                 if(widget)
-                    throw OTMLException(node, "cannot have multiple main widgets in .otui files");
+                    throw std::runtime_error("cannot have multiple main widgets in .otui files");
                 widget = loadWidgetFromOTML(node);
             }
         }
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ UIWidgetPtr UIManager::loadWidgetFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& widgetNode)
     OTMLNodePtr styleNode = getStyle(widgetNode->tag())->clone();
     styleNode->merge(widgetNode);
 
-    std::string widgetType = styleNode->readAt<std::string>("__widgetType");
+    std::string widgetType = styleNode->valueAt("__widgetType");
 
     UIWidgetPtr widget;
     if(widgetType == "UIWidget")
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ UIWidgetPtr UIManager::loadWidgetFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& widgetNode)
     widget->loadStyleFromOTML(styleNode);
     widget->updateGeometry();
 
-    for(const OTMLNodePtr& childNode : widgetNode->childNodes()) {
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& childNode : widgetNode->children()) {
         if(!childNode->isUnique())
             widget->addChild(loadWidgetFromOTML(childNode));
     }
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uiwidget.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uiwidget.cpp
index c2b68936..26d248f6 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uiwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uiwidget.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void UIWidget::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
     assert(!m_destroyed);
 
     // load styles used by all widgets
-    for(const OTMLNodePtr& node : styleNode->childNodes()) {
+    for(const OTMLNodePtr& node : styleNode->children()) {
         // id
         if(node->tag() == "id") {
             setId(node->value());
@@ -121,48 +121,48 @@ void UIWidget::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
         }
         // font color
         else if(node->tag() == "font-color") {
-            setFontColor(node->read<Color>());
+            setFontColor(node->value<Color>());
         }
         // color
         else if(node->tag() == "color") {
-            setColor(node->read<Color>());
+            setColor(node->value<Color>());
         }
         // opacity
         else if(node->tag() == "opacity") {
-            setOpacity(node->read<int>());
+            setOpacity(node->value<int>());
         }
         // size
         else if(node->tag() == "size") {
-            resize(node->read<Size>());
+            resize(node->value<Size>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "width") {
-            setWidth(node->read<int>());
+            setWidth(node->value<int>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "height") {
-            setHeight(node->read<int>());
+            setHeight(node->value<int>());
         }
         // position
         else if(node->tag() == "position") {
-            move(node->read<Point>());
+            move(node->value<Point>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "x") {
-            setX(node->read<int>());
+            setX(node->value<int>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "y") {
-            setY(node->read<int>());
+            setY(node->value<int>());
         }
         // margins
         else if(node->tag() == "margin.left") {
-            setMarginLeft(node->read<int>());
+            setMarginLeft(node->value<int>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "margin.right") {
-            setMarginRight(node->read<int>());
+            setMarginRight(node->value<int>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "margin.top") {
-            setMarginTop(node->read<int>());
+            setMarginTop(node->value<int>());
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "margin.bottom") {
-            setMarginBottom(node->read<int>());
+            setMarginBottom(node->value<int>());
         }
         // anchors
         else if(boost::starts_with(node->tag(), "anchors.")) {
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ void UIWidget::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
             }
         }
         else if(node->tag() == "onLoad") {
-            g_lua.loadFunction(node->read<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
+            g_lua.loadFunction(node->value<std::string>(), "@" + node->source() + "[" + node->tag() + "]");
             luaSetField("onLoad");
         }
     }
@@ -437,8 +437,12 @@ UIWidgetPtr UIWidget::recursiveGetChildById(const std::string& childId)
         for(const UIWidgetPtr& child : m_children) {
             if(child->getId() == childId)
                 return child;
-            else
-                return child->recursiveGetChildById(childId);
+        }
+        for(const UIWidgetPtr& child : m_children) {
+            if(UIWidgetPtr subChild = child->recursiveGetChildById(childId)) {
+                if(subChild->getId() == childId)
+                    return subChild;
+            }
         }
     }
     return nullptr;
@@ -522,6 +526,9 @@ void UIWidget::addChild(const UIWidgetPtr& childToAdd)
 {
     assert(!m_destroyed);
 
+    if(!childToAdd)
+        return;
+
     assert(!hasChild(childToAdd));
     m_children.push_back(childToAdd);
     childToAdd->setParent(asUIWidget());
@@ -538,6 +545,9 @@ void UIWidget::removeChild(const UIWidgetPtr& childToRemove)
 {
     assert(!m_destroyed);
 
+    if(!childToRemove)
+        return;
+
     // defocus if needed
     if(m_focusedChild == childToRemove)
         focusChild(nullptr, ActiveFocusReason);
diff --git a/src/framework/ui/uiwindow.cpp b/src/framework/ui/uiwindow.cpp
index 0c8573f0..7a25656c 100644
--- a/src/framework/ui/uiwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/framework/ui/uiwindow.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ void UIWindow::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
     if(OTMLNodePtr headNode = styleNode->get("head")) {
         if(OTMLNodePtr node = headNode->get("border-image"))
             m_headImage = BorderImage::loadFromOTML(node);
-        m_headHeight = headNode->readAt("height", m_headImage->getDefaultSize().height());
-        m_headMargin = headNode->readAt("margin", 0);
-        m_titleAlign = fw::translateAlignment(headNode->readAt("text align", std::string("center")));
+        m_headHeight = headNode->valueAt("height", m_headImage->getDefaultSize().height());
+        m_headMargin = headNode->valueAt("margin", 0);
+        m_titleAlign = fw::translateAlignment(headNode->valueAt("text align", std::string("center")));
     } else {
         m_headHeight = 0;
         m_headMargin = 0;
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ void UIWindow::loadStyleFromOTML(const OTMLNodePtr& styleNode)
             m_bodyImage = BorderImage::loadFromOTML(node);
     }
 
-    m_title = styleNode->readAt("title", fw::empty_string);
+    m_title = styleNode->valueAt("title", fw::empty_string);
 }
 
 void UIWindow::render()
diff --git a/src/framework/util/color.h b/src/framework/util/color.h
index c81cd2a2..8c629bb7 100644
--- a/src/framework/util/color.h
+++ b/src/framework/util/color.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ typedef uint32 RGBA;
 class Color
 {
 public:
-    Color() : color(0) { }
+    Color() : color(0xFFFFFFFF) { }
     Color(uint8 r, uint8 g, uint8 b, uint8 a = 0xFF) : color(((a & 0xff)<<24) | ((b & 0xff)<<16) | ((g & 0xff)<<8) | (r & 0xff)) { }
     Color(const Color& other) : color(other.color) { }
     Color(RGBA rgba) : color(rgba) { }
diff --git a/src/otclient/core/datmanager.cpp b/src/otclient/core/datmanager.cpp
index 2b45e29c..188a4be6 100644
--- a/src/otclient/core/datmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/otclient/core/datmanager.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 
 DatManager g_dat;
 
-bool DatManager::load(const std::string& filename)
+bool DatManager::load(const std::string& file)
 {
     try {
         std::stringstream fin;
-        g_resources.loadFile(filename, fin);
+        g_resources.loadFile(file, fin);
 
         m_signature = fw::getu32(fin);
         int numItems = fw::getu16(fin);
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ bool DatManager::load(const std::string& filename)
 
         return true;
     } catch(std::exception& e) {
-        logError(e.what());
+        logError("ERROR: failed to load dat from '", file, "': ", e.what());
         return false;
     }
 }
@@ -87,11 +87,9 @@ void DatManager::parseThingAttributes(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes& t
 
 void DatManager::parseThingAttributesOpt(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes& thingAttributes, uint8 opt)
 {
-    uint8 read_byte;
-    uint16 read_short;
     switch(opt) {
         case 0x00: // Ground tile
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.speed, 2);
+            thingAttributes.speed = fw::getu16(fin);
             thingAttributes.group = THING_GROUP_GROUND;
             break;
         case 0x01: // All OnTop
@@ -120,16 +118,16 @@ void DatManager::parseThingAttributesOpt(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes
         case 0x08: // Writtable
             thingAttributes.group = THING_GROUP_WRITEABLE;
             thingAttributes.readable = true;
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.subParam07, 2);
+            thingAttributes.subParam08 = fw::getu16(fin);
             break;
         case 0x09: // Writtable once
             // Writtable objects that can't be edited by players
             thingAttributes.readable = true;
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.subParam08, 2);
+            thingAttributes.subParam08 = fw::getu16(fin);
             break;
         case 0x0A: // Fluid containers
-            fin.read((char*)&read_byte, 1);
             thingAttributes.group = THING_GROUP_FLUID;
+            fw::getu8(fin);
             break;
         case 0x0B: // Splashes
             thingAttributes.group = THING_GROUP_SPLASH;
@@ -162,8 +160,8 @@ void DatManager::parseThingAttributesOpt(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes
             thingAttributes.rotable = true;
             break;
         case 0x15: // Light info
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.lightLevel, 2);
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.lightColor, 2);
+            thingAttributes.lightLevel = fw::getu16(fin);
+            thingAttributes.lightColor = fw::getu16(fin);
             break;
         case 0x16:
             break;
@@ -171,17 +169,12 @@ void DatManager::parseThingAttributesOpt(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes
             break;
         case 0x18: // Thing must be drawed with offset
             thingAttributes.hasHeight = true;
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.xOffset, 1);
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.yOffset, 1);
-
-            fin.read((char*)&read_short, 2);
+            thingAttributes.xOffset = fw::getu8(fin);
+            thingAttributes.yOffset = fw::getu8(fin);
+            fw::getu16(fin);
             break;
         case 0x19: // pixels characters height
-
-            //fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.xOffset, 1);
-            //fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.yOffset, 1);
-            fin.read((char*)&read_short, 2);
-            //logDebug((int)thingAttributes.xOffset, " ", (int)thingAttributes.yOffset);
+            fw::getu16(fin);
             break;
         case 0x1A:
             //thingAttributes.hasHeight = true;
@@ -189,12 +182,11 @@ void DatManager::parseThingAttributesOpt(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes
         case 0x1B:
             break;
         case 0x1C: // Minimap color
-            fin.read((char*)&thingAttributes.miniMapColor, 2);
+            thingAttributes.miniMapColor = fw::getu16(fin);
             thingAttributes.hasMiniMapColor = true;
             break;
         case 0x1D: // Unknown
-            fin.read((char*)&read_short, 2);
-            if(read_short == 1112)
+            if(fw::getu16(fin) == 1112)
                 thingAttributes.readable = true;
             break;
         case 0x1E:
@@ -205,6 +197,6 @@ void DatManager::parseThingAttributesOpt(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes
         case 0x20:
             break;
         default:
-            throw std::logic_error(fw::mkstr("ERROR: unknown .dat byte code: 0x", std::hex, (int)opt));
+            throw std::runtime_error(fw::mkstr("unknown .dat byte code: 0x", std::hex, (int)opt));
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/otclient/core/datmanager.h b/src/otclient/core/datmanager.h
index 672cc141..3eadd75d 100644
--- a/src/otclient/core/datmanager.h
+++ b/src/otclient/core/datmanager.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 class DatManager
 {
 public:
-    bool load(const std::string& filename);
+    bool load(const std::string& file);
     void unload();
 
     void parseThingAttributes(std::stringstream& fin, ThingAttributes& thingAttributes);
diff --git a/src/otclient/core/spritemanager.cpp b/src/otclient/core/spritemanager.cpp
index e2516376..a7b453db 100644
--- a/src/otclient/core/spritemanager.cpp
+++ b/src/otclient/core/spritemanager.cpp
@@ -12,11 +12,16 @@ SpriteManager::SpriteManager()
 
 bool SpriteManager::load(const std::string &filename)
 {
-    g_resources.loadFile(filename, m_fin);
-    m_signature = fw::getu32(m_fin);
-    m_spritesCount = fw::getu16(m_fin);
-    m_sprites.resize(m_spritesCount);
-    return true;
+    try {
+        g_resources.loadFile(filename, m_fin);
+        m_signature = fw::getu32(m_fin);
+        m_spritesCount = fw::getu16(m_fin);
+        m_sprites.resize(m_spritesCount);
+        return true;
+    } catch(std::exception& e) {
+        logError(e.what());
+        return false;
+    }
 }
 
 void SpriteManager::unload()