diff --git a/OpenRA.Server/OpenRA.Server.csproj b/OpenRA.Server/OpenRA.Server.csproj
index 714160b8d0..5f486b4d5d 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Server/OpenRA.Server.csproj
+++ b/OpenRA.Server/OpenRA.Server.csproj
@@ -51,6 +51,17 @@
     <Compile Include="Connection.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Server.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="ServerOrder.cs" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\OpenRa.DataStructures\OpenRa.DataStructures.csproj">
+      <Project>{2F9E7A23-56C0-4286-9C8E-1060A9B2F073}</Project>
+      <Name>OpenRa.DataStructures</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\OpenRa.FileFormats\OpenRa.FileFormats.csproj">
+      <Project>{BDAEAB25-991E-46A7-AF1E-4F0E03358DAA}</Project>
+      <Name>OpenRa.FileFormats</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
diff --git a/OpenRA.Server/Server.cs b/OpenRA.Server/Server.cs
index 881798da9b..042a953358 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Server/Server.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Server/Server.cs
@@ -1,70 +1,21 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Linq;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Net.Sockets;
-using System.Threading;
-using System.IO;
-using System.Net;
 using System.Collections;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Net;
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using OpenRa.FileFormats;
 
 namespace OpenRA.Server
 {
-	class ServerOrder
-	{
-		public readonly int PlayerId;
-		public readonly string Name;
-		public readonly string Data;
-
-		public ServerOrder(int playerId, string name, string data)
-		{
-			PlayerId = playerId;
-			Name = name;
-			Data = data;
-		}
-
-		public static ServerOrder Deserialize(BinaryReader r)
-		{
-			byte b;
-			switch (b = r.ReadByte())
-			{
-				case 0xff:
-					Console.WriteLine("This isn't a server order.");
-					return null;
-
-				case 0xfe:
-					{
-						var playerID = r.ReadInt32();
-						var name = r.ReadString();
-						var data = r.ReadString();
-
-						return new ServerOrder(playerID, name, data);
-					}
-
-				default:
-					throw new NotImplementedException(b.ToString("x2"));
-			}
-		}
-
-		public byte[] Serialize()
-		{
-			var ms = new MemoryStream();
-			var bw = new BinaryWriter(ms);
-
-			bw.Write((byte)0xfe);
-			bw.Write(PlayerId);
-			bw.Write(Name);
-			bw.Write(Data);
-			return ms.ToArray();
-		}
-	}
-
 	static class Server
 	{
 		static List<Connection> conns = new List<Connection>();
 		static TcpListener listener = new TcpListener(IPAddress.Any, 1234);
 		static Dictionary<int, List<Connection>> inFlightFrames
 			= new Dictionary<int, List<Connection>>();
+		static Session lobbyInfo = new Session();
 
 		public static void Main(string[] args)
 		{
@@ -109,16 +60,26 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 
 				conns.Add(newConn);
 
+				lobbyInfo.Clients.Add(
+					new Session.Client()
+					{
+						Index = newConn.PlayerIndex,
+						Palette = newConn.PlayerIndex,
+						Name = "Player {0}".F(newConn.PlayerIndex),
+						Race = 1,
+						State = Session.ClientState.NotReady
+					});
+
 				DispatchOrdersToClient(newConn, 0,
 					new ServerOrder(newConn.PlayerIndex, "AssignPlayer", "").Serialize());
 
-				// todo: tell this client about all the other conns.
-
 				Console.WriteLine("Accepted connection from {0}.",
 					newConn.socket.RemoteEndPoint);
 
 				DispatchOrders(newConn, 0, new ServerOrder(newConn.PlayerIndex,
 					"Chat", "has joined the game.").Serialize());
+
+				SyncLobbyInfo();
 			}
 			catch (Exception e) { DropClient(newConn, e); }
 		}
@@ -165,8 +126,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 
 						case ReceiveState.Data:
 							{
-								if (bytes.Length > 0)
-									Console.WriteLine("{0} bytes", bytes.Length);
+						//		if (bytes.Length > 0)
+						//			Console.WriteLine("{0} bytes", bytes.Length);
 
 								DispatchOrders(conn, conn.Frame, bytes);
 								conn.ExpectLength = 8;
@@ -242,7 +203,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 					s => 
 					{
 						Console.WriteLine("Player@{0} is now known as {1}", conn.socket.RemoteEndPoint, s);
-						DispatchOrders( null, 0, new ServerOrder( conn.PlayerIndex, "SetName", s ).Serialize());
+						lobbyInfo.Clients[ conn.PlayerIndex ].Name = s;
+						SyncLobbyInfo();
 						return true;
 					}},
 				{ "lag",
@@ -275,8 +237,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 							return false;
 						}
 
-						DispatchOrders(null, 0,
-							new ServerOrder(conn.PlayerIndex, "SetRace", race.ToString()).Serialize());
+						lobbyInfo.Clients[ conn.PlayerIndex ].Race = 1 + race;
+						SyncLobbyInfo();
 						return true;
 					}},
 				{ "pal",
@@ -297,8 +259,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 							return false;
 						}
 
-						DispatchOrders(null, 0,
-							new ServerOrder(conn.PlayerIndex, "SetPalette", pal.ToString()).Serialize());
+						lobbyInfo.Clients[ conn.PlayerIndex ].Palette = pal;
+						SyncLobbyInfo();
 						return true;
 					}},
 				{ "map",
@@ -379,11 +341,13 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 		static void DropClient(Connection toDrop, Exception e)
 		{
 			Console.WriteLine("Client dropped: {0}.", toDrop.socket.RemoteEndPoint);
-			Console.WriteLine(e.ToString());
+			//Console.WriteLine(e.ToString());
 
 			conns.Remove(toDrop);
 			SendChat(toDrop, "Connection Dropped");
 
+			lobbyInfo.Clients.RemoveAll(c => c.Index == toDrop.PlayerIndex);
+
 			/* don't get stuck waiting for the dropped player, if they were the one holding up a frame */
 			
 			foreach( var f in inFlightFrames.ToArray() )
@@ -392,6 +356,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 				inFlightFrames.Remove(f.Key);
 				DispatchOrders(null, f.Key, new byte[] { 0xef });
 			}
+
+			if (conns.Count == 0) OnServerEmpty();
+			else SyncLobbyInfo();
 		}
 
 		public static void Write(this Stream s, byte[] data) { s.Write(data, 0, data.Length); }
@@ -400,5 +367,22 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 		{
 			return ts.Except(new[] { t });
 		}
+
+		static void OnServerEmpty()
+		{
+			Console.WriteLine("Server emptied out; doing a bit of housekeeping to prepare for next game..");
+			inFlightFrames.Clear();
+			lobbyInfo = new Session();
+		}
+
+		static void SyncLobbyInfo()
+		{
+			var clientData = lobbyInfo.Clients.ToDictionary(
+				a => a.Index.ToString(),
+				a => FieldSaver.Save(a)).WriteToString();
+
+			DispatchOrders(null, 0, 
+				new ServerOrder(0, "SyncInfo", clientData).Serialize());
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/OpenRA.Server/ServerOrder.cs b/OpenRA.Server/ServerOrder.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e11eb43cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenRA.Server/ServerOrder.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace OpenRA.Server
+{
+	class ServerOrder
+	{
+		public readonly int PlayerId;
+		public readonly string Name;
+		public readonly string Data;
+
+		public ServerOrder(int playerId, string name, string data)
+		{
+			PlayerId = playerId;
+			Name = name;
+			Data = data;
+		}
+
+		public static ServerOrder Deserialize(BinaryReader r)
+		{
+			byte b;
+			switch (b = r.ReadByte())
+			{
+				case 0xff:
+					Console.WriteLine("This isn't a server order.");
+					return null;
+
+				case 0xfe:
+					{
+						var playerID = r.ReadInt32();
+						var name = r.ReadString();
+						var data = r.ReadString();
+
+						return new ServerOrder(playerID, name, data);
+					}
+
+				default:
+					throw new NotImplementedException(b.ToString("x2"));
+			}
+		}
+
+		public byte[] Serialize()
+		{
+			var ms = new MemoryStream();
+			var bw = new BinaryWriter(ms);
+
+			bw.Write((byte)0xfe);
+			bw.Write(PlayerId);
+			bw.Write(Name);
+			bw.Write(Data);
+			return ms.ToArray();
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/OpenRa.FileFormats/Session.cs b/OpenRa.FileFormats/Session.cs
index 9fd9b24c57..375d49205c 100644
--- a/OpenRa.FileFormats/Session.cs
+++ b/OpenRa.FileFormats/Session.cs
@@ -8,25 +8,24 @@ namespace OpenRa.FileFormats
 	public class Session
 	{
 		public List<Client> Clients = new List<Client>();
-		public string Map = "scm12ea.ini";
-		// public string[] Mods = { };
-	}
+		// todo: add mods, mapname, global settings here
 
-	public enum ClientState
-	{
-		NotReady,
-		// Downloading,
-		// Uploading,
-		Ready
-	}
+		public enum ClientState
+		{
+			NotReady,
+			// Downloading,
+			// Uploading,
+			Ready
+		}
 
-	public class Client
-	{
-		public int Index;
-		public int Palette;
-		public int Race;
-		// public int SpawnPoint;
-		public string Name;
-		public ClientState State;
+		public class Client
+		{
+			public int Index;
+			public int Palette;
+			public int Race;
+			// public int SpawnPoint;
+			public string Name;
+			public ClientState State;
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs b/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs
index 2a29e288a6..1b96661859 100644
--- a/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs
+++ b/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs
@@ -343,5 +343,21 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game
 
 			return Game.PathFinder.FindPath(search).Count != 0;
 		}
+
+		public static void SyncLobbyInfo(string data)
+		{
+			var ys = MiniYaml.FromString(data);
+			foreach (var y in ys)
+			{
+				int index;
+				if (!int.TryParse(y.Key, out index))
+					continue;	// not a player.
+
+				var client = new Session.Client();
+				FieldLoader.Load(client, y.Value);
+
+				players[index].SyncFromLobby(client);
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/OpenRa.Game/Orders/UnitOrders.cs b/OpenRa.Game/Orders/UnitOrders.cs
index 791aa50d5c..836f55c98f 100644
--- a/OpenRa.Game/Orders/UnitOrders.cs
+++ b/OpenRa.Game/Orders/UnitOrders.cs
@@ -49,18 +49,6 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game.Orders
 					Game.chat.AddLine(order.Player, "is now YOU.");
 					break;
 				}
-			case "SetName":
-				{
-					Game.chat.AddLine(order.Player, "is now known as " + order.TargetString);
-					order.Player.PlayerName = order.TargetString;
-					break;
-				}
-			case "SetRace":
-				{
-					order.Player.Race = order.TargetString == "0" ? Race.Soviet : Race.Allies;
-					Game.chat.AddLine(order.Player, "is now playing {0}".F(order.Player.Race));
-					break;
-				}
 			case "SetLag":
 				{
 					int lag = int.Parse(order.TargetString);
@@ -74,13 +62,6 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game.Orders
 					Game.chat.AddLine(Color.White, "Server", "Order lag is now {0} frames.".F(lag));
 					break;
 				}
-			case "SetPalette":
-				{
-					int palette = int.Parse(order.TargetString);
-					Game.chat.AddLine(order.Player, "has changed color to {0}".F(palette));
-					order.Player.Palette = (PaletteType) palette;
-					break;
-				}
 			case "StartGame":
 				{
 					Game.chat.AddLine(Color.White, "Server", "The game has started.");
@@ -93,6 +74,12 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game.Orders
 					Game.ChangeMap(order.TargetString);
 					break;
 				}
+			case "SyncInfo":
+				{
+					Game.chat.AddLine(Color.White, "Server", "Synchronizing lobby info...");	// temp
+					Game.SyncLobbyInfo(order.TargetString);
+					break;
+				}
 
 			default:
 				{
diff --git a/OpenRa.Game/Player.cs b/OpenRa.Game/Player.cs
index e0051e89b1..f52b80475c 100644
--- a/OpenRa.Game/Player.cs
+++ b/OpenRa.Game/Player.cs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using OpenRa.Game.GameRules;
 using OpenRa.Game.Graphics;
 using OpenRa.Game.Traits;
+using OpenRa.FileFormats;
 
 namespace OpenRa.Game
 {
@@ -151,5 +152,28 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game
 				}
 			}
 		}
+
+		public void SyncFromLobby(Session.Client client)
+		{
+			if (PlayerName != client.Name)
+			{
+				Game.chat.AddLine(this, "is now known as " + client.Name);
+				PlayerName = client.Name;
+			}
+
+			if (Race != (Race)client.Race)
+			{
+				Game.chat.AddLine(this, "is now playing {0}".F((Race)client.Race));
+				Race = (Race)client.Race;
+			}
+
+			if (Palette != (PaletteType)client.Palette)
+			{
+				Game.chat.AddLine(this, "has changed color to {0}".F((PaletteType)client.Palette));
+				Palette = (PaletteType)client.Palette;
+			}
+
+			// todo: IsReady tracking?
+		}
 	}
 }