diff --git a/build/linux/Makefile b/build/linux/Makefile
index a8a0097..0526762 100644
--- a/build/linux/Makefile
+++ b/build/linux/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ OBJ=main.o fio.o Core.o Log.o QMap.o Tile.o Thought.o
 OBJ+=render/Quat.o render/Mat4.o render/Vec.o render/Mesh.o render/Texture.o render/Program.o render/RenderScene.o render/RenderSet.o render/RenderObject.o render/RenderCamera.o render/RenderView.o render/Sprite.o
 OBJ+=render/Font.o render/Ui.o render/UiText.o
 OBJ+=states/GameState.o states/UiSubState.o
-OBJ+=Controller.o PlayerController.o
+OBJ+=Controller.o PlayerController.o AiController.o
 OBJ+=things/Thing.o things/Denizen.o things/SightSeer.o things/GnashingGibber.o
 OBJ+=abilities/Ability.o abilities/GodHand.o abilities/VampiricNom.o
 OBJ_DIR=obj
diff --git a/data/shaders/sprite_outline_fs.glsl b/data/shaders/sprite_outline_fs.glsl
index 388c95e..03e9b5a 100644
--- a/data/shaders/sprite_outline_fs.glsl
+++ b/data/shaders/sprite_outline_fs.glsl
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ void main() {
   gl_FragColor = vec4(0.75, 0.5, 0.5, c);
   if (gl_FragColor.a == 0.0) discard;
   //gl_FragColor = vec4(0.5, 0.0, 0.0, 0.5);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/data/shaders/ui_fs.glsl b/data/shaders/ui_fs.glsl
index 12ba389..312f312 100644
--- a/data/shaders/ui_fs.glsl
+++ b/data/shaders/ui_fs.glsl
@@ -2,13 +2,34 @@
 // uniforms
 uniform sampler2D texture_sampler;
 uniform float transparency;
+uniform float vertical_fade;
 // input
 varying vec2 frag_uv;
 
 void main() {
   gl_FragColor = texture2D(texture_sampler, frag_uv);
-  gl_FragColor.a -= transparency;
-  gl_FragColor.a -= 0.10;
+  // grossly outline the UI element
+  if (gl_FragColor.a < 0.1 && frag_uv.x >= 0.001 && frag_uv.x <= 0.999 && frag_uv.y >= 0.001 && frag_uv.y <= 0.999) {
+    vec4 t = texture2D(texture_sampler, frag_uv + vec2( 0.0f, -0.0025f ));
+    vec4 b = texture2D(texture_sampler, frag_uv + vec2( 0.0f, 0.0025f ));
+    vec4 l = texture2D(texture_sampler, frag_uv + vec2( -0.0025f, 0.0f ));
+    float c = 0.0f;
+    if (t.a > 0.75) {
+      gl_FragColor = vec4(0.5 - t.r, 0.5 - t.g, 0.5 - t.b, 1.0 - transparency);
+    } else if (b.a > 0.75) {
+      gl_FragColor = vec4(0.5 - b.r, 0.5 - b.g, 0.5 - b.b, 1.0 - transparency);
+    } else if (l.a > 0.75) {
+      gl_FragColor = vec4(0.5 - l.r, 0.5 - l.g, 0.5 - l.b, 1.0 - transparency);
+    }
+  } else {
+    gl_FragColor.a -= transparency;
+    gl_FragColor.a -= 0.10;
+  }
+  // modify alpha/color based on UV offsets.
+  if (vertical_fade > 0) {
+    //gl_FragColor.a -= 0.35 - frag_uv.y; // this increases alpha towards top
+    gl_FragColor.rgb -= (0.35 - frag_uv.y/2); // this darkens rgb towards top
+  }
   if (gl_FragColor.a == 0.0) discard;
   //gl_FragColor = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/data/sprites/ui_time.png b/data/sprites/ui_time.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af2258b
Binary files /dev/null and b/data/sprites/ui_time.png differ
diff --git a/src/AiController.cpp b/src/AiController.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0639531
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/AiController.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#include "AiController.hpp"
+#include "Thought.hpp"
+#include "Thing.hpp"
+#include "Core.hpp"
+#include "Log.hpp"
+
+AiController::AiController() {
+}
+AiController::~AiController() {
+}
+void AiController::doThink(int ticks) {
+  std::vector<Thing*>::iterator t_it, t_end;
+  for (t_it = things.begin(), t_end = things.end(); t_it != t_end; ++t_it) {
+    Thing *thing = *t_it;
+  }
+}
+void AiController::controlThing(Thing *thing_) {
+  things.push_back(thing_);
+}
+void AiController::recvMessage(std::string string) {
+  LOG(LOG_INFO) << string;
+}
diff --git a/src/AiController.hpp b/src/AiController.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c95763b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/AiController.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#ifndef AICONTROLLER_HPP
+#define AICONTROLLER_HPP
+#include "Controller.hpp"
+#include <vector>
+class AiController : Controller {
+  friend class GameState;
+  public:
+    AiController();
+    ~AiController();
+    virtual void doThink(int ticks);
+    virtual void controlThing(Thing *thing_);
+    virtual void recvMessage(std::string string);
+  protected:
+    std::vector<Thing*> things;
+};
+#endif
diff --git a/src/Controller.cpp b/src/Controller.cpp
index dd242c2..5bcfdd2 100644
--- a/src/Controller.cpp
+++ b/src/Controller.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 Controller::Controller() {
   thing = NULL;
+  tick_rate = 50;
 }
 Controller::~Controller() {
-
 }
diff --git a/src/Controller.hpp b/src/Controller.hpp
index a2ee2eb..572225f 100644
--- a/src/Controller.hpp
+++ b/src/Controller.hpp
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ class Controller {
     Controller();
     ~Controller();
     virtual void recvMessage(std::string string) { return; };
+    virtual void doThink(int ticks) { return; };
+    virtual void controlThing(Thing *thing_) { thing = thing_; };
   protected:
     Thing *thing;
+    int tick_rate;
 };
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Core.cpp b/src/Core.cpp
index e52ff34..551dcec 100644
--- a/src/Core.cpp
+++ b/src/Core.cpp
@@ -47,9 +47,22 @@ int Core::initSystem() {
     LOG(LOG_ERROR) << TTF_GetError();
     return 1;
   }
-  // get our displayyyy
+  // ** Get our display, checking bounding boxes for multi monitor setups
+  int di = SDL_GetNumVideoDisplays()-1; // display index (monitor)
+  /*int mx, my;
+  SDL_GetGlobalMouseState(&mx, &my); // SDL 2.0.4
+  LOG(LOG_INFO) << "mouse: " << mx << "x" << my;
+  int dc = SDL_GetNumVideoDisplays();
+  for (di = 0; di < dc; di++) {
+    SDL_Rect dr;
+    SDL_GetDisplayBounds(di, &dr);
+    if ((mx >= dr.x && mx <= dr.x+dr.w) && (my >= dr.y && my <= dr.y+dr.h)) {
+      break;
+    }
+  }*/
+  // get our window size from display
   SDL_DisplayMode dmode;
-  SDL_GetDesktopDisplayMode(0, &dmode);
+  SDL_GetCurrentDisplayMode(di, &dmode);
   v_width = dmode.w - dmode.w/4;  // TEMP: just for a smaller window per-default
   v_height = dmode.h - dmode.h/4;
   v_flags = SDL_WINDOW_OPENGL|SDL_WINDOW_RESIZABLE;
@@ -279,8 +292,8 @@ Font* Core::getFont(const char *font_name) {
     char *fbuf = NULL;
     size_t flen = 0;
     flen = fileToMem(font_name, &fbuf);
-    font = new Font(font_name, 13, fbuf, flen);
+    font = new Font(font_name, 11, fbuf, flen);
     font_table->set(font_name, font);
   }
   return font;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/abilities/GodHand.cpp b/src/abilities/GodHand.cpp
index e657bca..e03279f 100644
--- a/src/abilities/GodHand.cpp
+++ b/src/abilities/GodHand.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "GodHand.hpp"
+#include "QMap.hpp"
 #include "Controller.hpp"
 #include "Thing.hpp"
 
@@ -11,10 +12,22 @@ GodHand::~GodHand() {
   delete sprite;
 }
 int GodHand::onUse() {
-  owner->getController()->recvMessage("The nature of Things have changed.");
+  Vec3 dir = owner->getDirection();
+  Thing *othing = owner->getMap()->checkThings(owner, dir.x, dir.y, 24, 24);
+  if (othing != NULL) {
+    Controller *ocontroller = othing->getController();
+    othing->setController(owner->getController());
+    owner->setController(ocontroller);
+    owner->remAbility(name);
+    othing->unshiftAbility(this);
+    owner->getController()->recvMessage("The nature of Things have changed.");
+    // TODO: haiku-based swap difference, each ability has 5 and 7 syllable versions that create a 5-7-5 message
+  } else {
+    owner->getController()->recvMessage("You yearn for a new host.");
+  }
   return 0;
 }
 int GodHand::onPrompt() {
   owner->getController()->recvMessage("Soul swap with what?");
   return 0;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/render/Sprite.cpp b/src/render/Sprite.cpp
index 9c3f525..2f31166 100644
--- a/src/render/Sprite.cpp
+++ b/src/render/Sprite.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ void Sprite::doAnimation(unsigned int ticks) {
 }
 //
 void Sprite::setOffset(int col_, int row_) {
-  LOG(LOG_INFO) << x << "x" << y;
   col = col_;
   row = row_;
   uv_x = col * uvw;
@@ -76,4 +75,4 @@ void Sprite::setPosition(float xpos, float ypos) {
   // NOTE: since we're using orthogonal rendering, we send ypos as the depth as well (so we don't have to sort)
   object->setTranslation(xpos, ypos, -ypos);
   object->calcMatrix();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/render/Ui.cpp b/src/render/Ui.cpp
index 9754b7f..895e647 100644
--- a/src/render/Ui.cpp
+++ b/src/render/Ui.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Ui::Ui() {
   timeout = 0;
   timeout_elapsed = 0;
   transparency = 0.0f;
+  vertical_fade = 0.0f;
 }
 Ui::Ui(const char *filename, int width_, int height_) {
   texture = NULL;
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ Ui::Ui(const char *filename, int width_, int height_) {
   timeout = 0;
   timeout_elapsed = 0;
   transparency = 0.0f;
+  vertical_fade = 0.0f;
   setImage(filename, width_, height_);
 }
 Ui::~Ui() {
@@ -71,6 +73,11 @@ void Ui::setPosition(float xpos, float ypos) {
   x = xpos;
   y = ypos;
 }
+void Ui::setRotation(int angle_) {
+  angle = angle_;
+  object->setRotation(0, angle, 0);
+  object->calcMatrix();
+}
 void Ui::setOffset(int col_, int row_) {
   col = col_;
   row = row_;
diff --git a/src/render/Ui.hpp b/src/render/Ui.hpp
index f9561fd..2d72dac 100644
--- a/src/render/Ui.hpp
+++ b/src/render/Ui.hpp
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ class Ui {
     virtual void setPosition(float x, float y);
     void setOffset(int col, int row);
     void setTimeout(int time);
+    void setRotation(int angle);
     Texture *getTexture() { return texture; };
     RenderObject *getObject() { return object; };
     int getWidth() { return width; };
     int getHeight() { return height; };
     void doRefresh(float screen_w, float screen_h);
     void doProcess(unsigned int ticks);
+    int getAngle() { return angle; };
     int flags;
     enum Flags {
       UI_DESTROY = (1 << 1)
@@ -32,12 +34,14 @@ class Ui {
     int width, height;  // width and height of ui element
     int col, row;       // column and row in spritesheet
     float x, y;         // x and y in coordinates
+    int angle;          // angle in eular
     int max_x, max_y;   // max x and y coordinates derived from texture
     float uv_x, uv_y;   // uv x and y offsets
     float uvw, uvh;     // sprite size in UV terms
     float timeout;      // time to keep this Ui up before closing it
     float timeout_elapsed; // elapsed time for ^
     float transparency;    // alpha of this element, 1.0 = full transparent, 0.0 = full opacity
+    float vertical_fade;   // vertical fading to apply, 0 = none
 };
 
 bool destroyUi(Ui* ui);
diff --git a/src/render/UiText.cpp b/src/render/UiText.cpp
index ef62762..55ff1cb 100644
--- a/src/render/UiText.cpp
+++ b/src/render/UiText.cpp
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@
 #include <sstream>
 
 UiText::UiText() {
+  vertical_fade = 1.0f;
 }
 UiText::UiText(const char *text_, Font *font_, SDL_Color color_) {
   text = text_;
   font = font_;
   color = color_;
   texture = NULL;
+  vertical_fade = 1.0f;
   setText(text_);
 }
 UiText::~UiText() {
@@ -30,11 +32,15 @@ void UiText::setText(std::string text_) {
   text = text_;
   buildText(text);
   
-  width = texture->w/2; height = texture->h/2;
   x = y = 0;
   row = col = 0;
+  width = texture->w/2; height = texture->h/2;
   max_x = texture->w/2 / width;
   max_y = texture->h/2 / height;
+  /*width = texture->w; height = texture->h;
+  max_x = texture->w / width;
+  max_y = texture->h / height;*/
+
   object = new RenderObject();
   object->setScale(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f);
   object->calcMatrix();
@@ -73,9 +79,7 @@ Texture *UiText::buildText(std::string string) {
   int width = 0;
   int height = 0;
   SDL_Surface *line_surface = NULL;
-  LOG(LOG_INFO) << "about to build!";
   while(std::getline(ss, line, '\n')) {
-    //LOG(LOG_INFO) << line;
     line_surface = TTF_RenderUTF8_Blended(font->font, line.c_str(), color);
     if (line_surface == NULL) {
       line_surfaces.push_back(NULL);
@@ -86,7 +90,6 @@ Texture *UiText::buildText(std::string string) {
       height += line_surface->h;
     }
   }
-  LOG(LOG_INFO) << "built!";
   SDL_Surface *final_surface = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0, width, height, line_surface->format->BitsPerPixel, line_surface->format->Rmask, line_surface->format->Gmask, line_surface->format->Bmask, line_surface->format->Amask);
   SDL_Rect offset = { 0, 0, 0, 0 };
   std::vector<SDL_Surface*>::iterator surface_it, surface_end;
@@ -105,4 +108,4 @@ Texture *UiText::buildText(std::string string) {
   texture->buildTexture();
   //SDL_FreeSurface(final_surface); // NOTE: surface is freed by the Texture
   return texture;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/states/GameState.cpp b/src/states/GameState.cpp
index 24c7239..b580bce 100644
--- a/src/states/GameState.cpp
+++ b/src/states/GameState.cpp
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@
 GameState::GameState() {
   camera = new RenderCamera();
   camera->setRenderView(new RenderView(core.getWidth(), core.getHeight()));
-  camera->setPitch(90.0f);
+  //camera->setPitch(75.0f);
+  //camera->setPosition(0, 1000, 0);
   /*camera->setPosition(0, core.getHeight()*2, 0);*/
-  camera->setPosition(0, 0, 0);
+  camera->setPitch(90.0f);
   camera->setRenderMode(1);
   camera->setSize(core.getHeight());
   camera->updateProjection(core.getWidth(), core.getHeight());
@@ -48,14 +49,20 @@ GameState::GameState() {
     }
   }
 
-  pc.thing = new GnashingGibber();
-  pc.thing->setController(&pc);
-  pc.thing->unshiftAbility(new GodHand());
-  current_map->addThing(pc.thing, 1, 1);
+  Thing *thing = new GnashingGibber();
+  thing->setController(&pc);
+  thing->unshiftAbility(new GodHand());
+  current_map->addThing(thing, 1, 1);
 
-  current_map->addThing(new Denizen(), 2, 2);
+  thing = new Denizen();
+  thing->setController(&ac);
 
-  current_map->addThing(new SightSeer(), 4, 4);
+  current_map->addThing(thing, 2, 2);
+
+  thing = new SightSeer();
+  thing->setController(&ac);
+
+  current_map->addThing(thing, 4, 4);
 
   ui_state = new UiSubState();
 
@@ -65,6 +72,10 @@ GameState::GameState() {
   ui_state->pushUi(ui_character);
   ui_character->setImage("data/sprites/gnashing_gibber.png", 16, 32);
 
+  ui_time = new Ui("data/sprites/ui_time.png", 16, 16);
+  ui_time->setPosition(32, 32);
+  ui_state->pushUi(ui_time);
+
   SDL_Color color = { 128, 255, 128, 255 };
   ui_sheet_name = new UiText("Gnashing Gibber", core.getFont("data/fonts/default.ttf"), color);
   ui_state->pushUi(ui_sheet_name);
@@ -139,8 +150,14 @@ int GameState::onEvent(SDL_Event event) {
 int GameState::doProcess(unsigned int ticks) {
   ui_state->doProcess(ticks);
   // 1. for each AiController, run their doThink
+  std::vector<Controller*>::iterator c_it, c_end;
+  for (c_it = controllers.begin(), c_end = controllers.end(); c_it != c_end; ++c_it) {
+    Controller *controller = *c_it;
+    controller->doThink(ticks);
+  }
   // 2. for each thing, run their doThink
   if ((pc.thing->thoughts.size() <= 0 && pc.thing->thought_current.type == 0) && pc.thing->velocity.x == 0 && pc.thing->velocity.y == 0) return 0;
+  ui_time->setRotation(ui_time->getAngle()+1);
   std::vector<Thing*>::iterator thing_it, thing_end;
   for (thing_it = current_map->things.begin(), thing_end = current_map->things.end(); thing_it != thing_end; ++thing_it) {
     Thing *thing = *thing_it;
@@ -156,8 +173,8 @@ int GameState::doProcess(unsigned int ticks) {
     thing->getSprite()->doAnimation(ticks);
     float x = thing->velocity.x;
     float y = thing->velocity.y;
-    if (x != 0) thing->velocity.x += -x/2;
-    if (y != 0) thing->velocity.y += -y/2;
+    if (x != 0) thing->velocity.x += -x/4;
+    if (y != 0) thing->velocity.y += -y/4;
     if (thing->velocity.x > -0.05 && thing->velocity.x < 0.05) thing->velocity.x = 0;
     if (thing->velocity.y > -0.05 && thing->velocity.y < 0.05) thing->velocity.y = 0;
     if (x != 0 || y != 0) {
@@ -165,7 +182,6 @@ int GameState::doProcess(unsigned int ticks) {
       if (othing != NULL) {
         thing->setVelocity(Vec3(0, 0, 0));
         thing->doTouch(othing);
-        othing->onTouch(thing);
       }
       Tile *tile = current_map->checkTiles(thing, x, y, thing->getSprite()->getWidth(), thing->getSprite()->getHeight()/3);
       if (tile == NULL) {
@@ -189,6 +205,7 @@ int GameState::doProcess(unsigned int ticks) {
   }
   // 4. Finally, set the camera to the player's current thing
   camera->setPosition(pc.thing->position.x, camera->getPosition().y, -pc.thing->position.y);
+  //camera->setPosition(pc.thing->position.x, camera->getPosition().y, -pc.thing->position.y*1.5);
   camera->doRefresh();
   return 0;
 }
@@ -306,6 +323,9 @@ int GameState::doRender() {
 int GameState::refreshUi() {
   int width = core.getWidth();
   int height = core.getHeight();
+
+  ui_time->setPosition(16, 16);
+  ui_time->doRefresh(width, height);
   
   ui_sheet->setPosition(width - ui_sheet->getWidth()*2, 0);
   ui_sheet->doRefresh(width, height);
diff --git a/src/states/GameState.hpp b/src/states/GameState.hpp
index bf29e45..638ad4a 100644
--- a/src/states/GameState.hpp
+++ b/src/states/GameState.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define GAMESTATE_HPP
 #include "State.hpp"
 #include "Controller.hpp"
+#include "AiController.hpp"
 #include "PlayerController.hpp"
 #include "QMap.hpp"
 #include "Ui.hpp"
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ class GameState : public State {
     std::vector<QMap*> maps;
     std::vector<Controller*> controllers;
     PlayerController pc;
+    AiController ac;
     // rendering
     GLuint program;
     // get our uniforms (move elsewhere)
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ class GameState : public State {
     UiText *ui_sheet_name;
     UiText *ui_map_name;
     Ui *ui_controls;
+    Ui *ui_time;
     UiText *ui_console;
     UiText *ui_intro;
     std::vector<Ui*> ui_abilities;
diff --git a/src/states/UiSubState.cpp b/src/states/UiSubState.cpp
index 36b9bf4..3f2e47a 100644
--- a/src/states/UiSubState.cpp
+++ b/src/states/UiSubState.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "Core.hpp"
 #include <algorithm> // remove_if
 #include <iterator>
+#include "Log.hpp"
 
 UiSubState::UiSubState() {
   // UI camera
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ UiSubState::UiSubState() {
   ui_program_texture = glGetUniformLocation(ui_program, "texture_sampler");
   ui_program_uv_offset = glGetUniformLocation(ui_program, "uv_offset");
   ui_program_transparency = glGetUniformLocation(ui_program, "transparency");
+  ui_program_v_fade = glGetUniformLocation(ui_program, "vertical_fade"); // FIXME: should this be a bool?
   // get our attributes
   ui_program_vp = glGetAttribLocation(ui_program, "vp");
   ui_program_uv = glGetAttribLocation(ui_program, "uv");
@@ -74,8 +76,11 @@ int UiSubState::doRender() {
     glUniform2f(ui_program_uv_offset, 0.0f, 0.0f);
     // send alpha
     glUniform1f(ui_program_transparency, ui->transparency);
+    // send fade amount
+    glUniform1f(ui_program_v_fade, ui->vertical_fade);
+    LOG(LOG_INFO) << "vfade is " << ui->vertical_fade;
     // draw
     glDrawArrays(GL_TRIANGLES, 0, mesh->vertices.size());
   }
   return 0;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/states/UiSubState.hpp b/src/states/UiSubState.hpp
index 4e35641..9a73810 100644
--- a/src/states/UiSubState.hpp
+++ b/src/states/UiSubState.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class UiSubState {
     GLuint ui_program_modelview;
     GLuint ui_program_texture;
     GLuint ui_program_transparency;
+    GLuint ui_program_v_fade;
     // get our attributes
     GLuint ui_program_vp;
     GLuint ui_program_uv;
diff --git a/src/things/GnashingGibber.cpp b/src/things/GnashingGibber.cpp
index f4baa84..0757450 100644
--- a/src/things/GnashingGibber.cpp
+++ b/src/things/GnashingGibber.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ int GnashingGibber::onThought(Thought thought) {
   }
   return 0;
 }
-int GnashingGibber::onTouch(Thing *thing) {
+int GnashingGibber::onTouch(Thing *touched) {
+  controller->recvMessage("You bite "+touched->getName());
+  touched->getController()->recvMessage(name+" bites you");
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/things/Thing.cpp b/src/things/Thing.cpp
index 5d54fd6..a0e4836 100644
--- a/src/things/Thing.cpp
+++ b/src/things/Thing.cpp
@@ -32,13 +32,8 @@ int Thing::doThink(unsigned int ticks) {
   return 0;
 }
 int Thing::doTouch(Thing *touched) {
-  if (controller != NULL) controller->recvMessage("You hit "+touched->name);
-  return 0;
-}
-int Thing::onTouch(Thing *toucher) {
-  return 0;
-}
-int Thing::onThought(Thought thought) {
+  onTouch(touched);
+  touched->onTouched(this);
   return 0;
 }
 /* ======== Adding/Access ======== */
@@ -68,6 +63,25 @@ Ability *Thing::getAbility(int number) {
   }
   return abilities.at(number);
 }
+Ability* Thing::remAbility(std::string ability_name) {
+  std::deque<Ability*>::iterator abil_it, abil_end;
+  for (abil_it = abilities.begin(), abil_end = abilities.end(); abil_it != abil_end; ++abil_it) {
+    Ability *abil = *abil_it;
+    if (abil->getName() == ability_name) {
+      abilities.erase(abil_it);
+      return abil;
+    }
+  }
+  return NULL;
+}
+int Thing::hasAbility(std::string ability_name) {
+  std::deque<Ability*>::iterator abil_it, abil_end;
+  for (abil_it = abilities.begin(), abil_end = abilities.end(); abil_it != abil_end; ++abil_it) {
+    Ability *abil = *abil_it;
+    if (abil->getName() == ability_name) return 1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
 /* ======== Velocity/Position ======== */
 void Thing::addVelocity(Vec3 vel) {
   velocity += vel;
diff --git a/src/things/Thing.hpp b/src/things/Thing.hpp
index 46fb339..6191440 100644
--- a/src/things/Thing.hpp
+++ b/src/things/Thing.hpp
@@ -20,17 +20,20 @@ class Thing {
     ~Thing();
     // interface
     int doThink(unsigned int ticks);
-    virtual int doTouch(Thing *touched);
-    virtual int onTouch(Thing *thing);
-    virtual int onThought(Thought thought);
+    int doTouch(Thing *touched);
+    virtual int onTouch(Thing *touched) { return 0; };
+    virtual int onTouched(Thing *toucher) { return 0; };
+    virtual int onThought(Thought thought) { return 0; };
     //
     int pushThought(Thought thought);
     //
     Ability *getAbility(int number);
     int pushAbility(Ability *ability);
     int unshiftAbility(Ability *ability);
+    int hasAbility(std::string ability);
+    Ability* remAbility(std::string ability_name);
     //
-    void setController(Controller *controller_) { controller = controller_; };
+    void setController(Controller *controller_) { controller_->controlThing(this); controller = controller_; };
     Controller* getController() { return controller; };
     void printMsg(std::string string);
     std::string getName() { return name; };
@@ -52,9 +55,11 @@ class Thing {
     // getters for internal stuff
     Sprite *getSprite() { return sprite; };
     // oh boy oh boy, our stats!
-    int speed;
-    int health;
-    int damage;
+    int health;   // total health
+    int armor;    // armor, reduces incoming damage
+    int speed;    // movement speed
+    int damage;   // physical damage
+    int power;    // magical power
   protected:
     QMap *map;                    // the map to which we belong (this is bad)
     Controller *controller;