diff --git a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Manifest.cs b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Manifest.cs
index 1cf9c90537..6b0cc26335 100644
--- a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Manifest.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Manifest.cs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 		public readonly string[]
 			Mods, Folders, Packages, Rules, ServerTraits,
 			Sequences, Cursors, Chrome, Assemblies, ChromeLayout,
-			Weapons, Voices, Music, Movies, TileSets;
+			Weapons, Voices, Music, Movies, TileSets, ChromeMetrics;
 		public readonly string LoadScreen;
 		public readonly int TileSize = 24;
 
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 			Music = YamlList(yaml, "Music");
 			Movies = YamlList(yaml, "Movies");
 			TileSets = YamlList(yaml, "TileSets");
+			ChromeMetrics = YamlList(yaml, "ChromeMetrics");
 
 			LoadScreen = yaml.First( x => x.Key == "LoadScreen" ).Value.Value;
 			
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs b/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs
index 95a62dd3e1..5e67f008fd 100755
--- a/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/ModData.cs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ using System.Linq;
 using OpenRA.FileFormats;
 using OpenRA.Graphics;
 using OpenRA.Traits;
+using OpenRA.Widgets;
 
 namespace OpenRA
 {
@@ -44,22 +45,23 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		{
 			AvailableMaps = FindMaps( Manifest.Mods );
 		}
-			
+
 		public void LoadInitialAssets()
 		{
 			// all this manipulation of static crap here is nasty and breaks 
-            // horribly when you use ModData in unexpected ways.
+			// horribly when you use ModData in unexpected ways.
 			FileSystem.UnmountAll();
 			foreach (var dir in Manifest.Folders)
 				FileSystem.Mount(dir);
-			
+
 			ReloadMaps();
 			Palette = new HardwarePalette();
-			ChromeProvider.Initialize( Manifest.Chrome );
-			SheetBuilder = new SheetBuilder( TextureChannel.Red );
-			CursorSheetBuilder = new CursorSheetBuilder( this );
+			ChromeMetrics.Initialize(Manifest.ChromeMetrics);
+			ChromeProvider.Initialize(Manifest.Chrome);
+			SheetBuilder = new SheetBuilder(TextureChannel.Red);
+			CursorSheetBuilder = new CursorSheetBuilder(this);
 			CursorProvider.Initialize(Manifest.Cursors);
-			Palette.Update(new IPaletteModifier[]{});
+			Palette.Update(new IPaletteModifier[] { });
 		}
 
 		public Map PrepareMap(string uid)
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj b/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj
index 6f79fa88d0..f15001e27a 100755
--- a/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/OpenRA.Game.csproj
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Traits\Target.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Traits\ValidateOrder.cs" />
     <Compile Include="TraitDictionary.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Widgets\ChromeMetrics.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Widgets\PasswordFieldWidget.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Widgets\ScrollingTextWidget.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ButtonWidget.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ButtonWidget.cs
index ea530bfc20..712d31e739 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ButtonWidget.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ButtonWidget.cs
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
 #endregion
 
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Drawing;
 using OpenRA.Graphics;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
 
 namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 {
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChromeMetrics.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChromeMetrics.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..71cceb3fd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChromeMetrics.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#region Copyright & License Information
+/*
+ * Copyright 2007-2011 The OpenRA Developers (see AUTHORS)
+ * This file is part of OpenRA, which is free software. It is made 
+ * available to you under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation. For more information,
+ * see COPYING.
+ */
+#endregion
+
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using OpenRA.FileFormats;
+
+namespace OpenRA.Widgets
+{
+	static class ChromeMetrics
+	{
+		static Dictionary<string, string> data = new Dictionary<string, string>();
+		
+		public static void Initialize(string[] yaml)
+		{
+			data = new Dictionary<string, string>();
+			var metrics = yaml.Select(y => MiniYaml.FromFile(y))
+				.Aggregate(MiniYaml.MergeLiberal);
+
+			foreach (var m in metrics)
+				foreach (var n in m.Value.Nodes)
+					data[n.Key] = n.Value.Value;
+		}
+
+		public static string GetString(string key)
+		{
+			return data[key];
+		}
+
+		public static int GetInt(string key)
+		{
+			return int.Parse(data[key]);
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetLoader.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetLoader.cs
index d01bd82318..190362aa85 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetLoader.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/WidgetLoader.cs
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 #endregion
 
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
 using OpenRA.FileFormats;
 using OpenRA.Widgets;
-using System.IO;
 
 namespace OpenRA
 {
diff --git a/mods/cnc/metrics.yaml b/mods/cnc/metrics.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6dbf4861a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/cnc/metrics.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# General dumping-ground for UI element sizes, etc.
+
+Metrics:
+	ButtonDepth: 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mods/cnc/mod.yaml b/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
index 237583604a..082087ec89 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
@@ -92,3 +92,6 @@ ServerTraits:
 	PlayerCommands
 	LobbyCommands
 	MasterServerPinger
+
+ChromeMetrics:
+	mods/cnc/metrics.yaml
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mods/ra/metrics.yaml b/mods/ra/metrics.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6dbf4861a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mods/ra/metrics.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# General dumping-ground for UI element sizes, etc.
+
+Metrics:
+	ButtonDepth: 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mods/ra/mod.yaml b/mods/ra/mod.yaml
index a2d12a01bb..a5989a417b 100644
--- a/mods/ra/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/mod.yaml
@@ -86,3 +86,6 @@ ServerTraits:
 	PlayerCommands
 	LobbyCommands
 	MasterServerPinger
+
+ChromeMetrics:
+	mods/ra/metrics.yaml
\ No newline at end of file