diff --git a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs
index d30df00d82..fcad926d00 100644
--- a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs
@@ -41,17 +41,19 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 		public string Author;
 		public int PlayerCount;
 		public string Tileset;
-
+
+		public Dictionary<string, PlayerReference> Players = new Dictionary<string, PlayerReference>();
 		public Dictionary<string, ActorReference> Actors = new Dictionary<string, ActorReference>();
 		public List<SmudgeReference> Smudges = new List<SmudgeReference>();
 		public Dictionary<string, int2> Waypoints = new Dictionary<string, int2>();
-		
+
 		// Rules overrides
 		public Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> Rules = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
 		public Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> Weapons = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
 		public Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> Voices = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
 		public Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> Music = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
-		public Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> Terrain = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
+		public Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> Terrain = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
+		
 		// Binary map data
 		public byte TileFormat = 1;
 		public int2 MapSize;
@@ -93,13 +95,20 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 				string[] loc = wp.Value.Value.Split(',');
 				Waypoints.Add(wp.Key, new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])));
 			}
-
-			// Actors
+			
+			// Players
+			foreach (var kv in yaml["Players"].Nodes)
+			{
+				var player = new PlayerReference(kv.Value);
+				Players.Add(player.Name, player);
+			}
+			
+			// Actors
 			foreach (var kv in yaml["Actors"].Nodes)
 			{
 				string[] vals = kv.Value.Value.Split(' ');
 				string[] loc = vals[2].Split(',');
-				var a = new ActorReference(vals[0], new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])), vals[2]);
+				var a = new ActorReference(vals[0], new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])), vals[1]);
 				Actors.Add(kv.Key, a);
 			}
 
diff --git a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e49a44afe9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#region Copyright & License Information
+/*
+ * Copyright 2007,2009,2010 Chris Forbes, Robert Pepperell, Matthew Bowra-Dean, Paul Chote, Alli Witheford.
+ * This file is part of OpenRA.
+ * 
+ *  OpenRA is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ *  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ *  (at your option) any later version.
+ * 
+ *  OpenRA is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *  GNU General Public License for more details.
+ * 
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ *  along with OpenRA.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+#endregion
+
+namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
+{
+	public class PlayerReference
+	{
+		public readonly string Name;
+		public readonly string Palette;
+		public readonly string Race;
+		
+		public PlayerReference(MiniYaml my)
+		{
+			FieldLoader.Load(this, my);
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/OpenRA.FileFormats/OpenRA.FileFormats.csproj b/OpenRA.FileFormats/OpenRA.FileFormats.csproj
index 453db670da..c085da35f3 100644
--- a/OpenRA.FileFormats/OpenRA.FileFormats.csproj
+++ b/OpenRA.FileFormats/OpenRA.FileFormats.csproj
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003" ToolsVersion="3.5">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Primitives\int2.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Map\MapStub.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Map\SmudgeReference.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Map\PlayerReference.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildBinPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
index 335033343e..fbd3f6b87d 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Game.cs
@@ -420,6 +420,9 @@ namespace OpenRA
 
 		static Stance ChooseInitialStance(Player p, Player q)
 		{
+			// HACK
+			return Stance.Enemy;
+			
 			if (p == q) return Stance.Ally;
 			if (p == world.NeutralPlayer || q == world.NeutralPlayer) return Stance.Neutral;
 
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Traits/Player/TechTreeCache.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Traits/Player/TechTreeCache.cs
index 3b476e856a..0423a18353 100755
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Traits/Player/TechTreeCache.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Traits/Player/TechTreeCache.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using System;
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Text;
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Traits
 
 			public void Tick( Player owner, Cache<string, List<Actor>> buildings )
 			{
+				// HACK
+				return;
+				
 				var effectivePrereq = prerequisites.Where( a => a.Traits.Get<BuildableInfo>().Owner.Contains( owner.Country.Race ) );
 				var nowHasPrerequisites = effectivePrereq.Any() &&
 					effectivePrereq.All( a => buildings[ a.Name ].Any( b => !b.traits.Get<Building>().Disabled ) );
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/World.cs b/OpenRA.Game/World.cs
index 6b298f1065..2f8e90ad1e 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/World.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/World.cs
@@ -91,7 +91,27 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			Timer.Time("renderer: {0}");
 			
 			WorldActor = CreateActor("World", new int2(int.MaxValue, int.MaxValue), null);
-			AddPlayer(NeutralPlayer = new Player(this, null));		// add the neutral player
+			
+			// Add Map Players
+			int mapPlayerIndex = -1;
+			foreach (var kv in Map.Players)
+			{
+				var player = new Player(this, null);
+				Console.WriteLine("Creating Player {0}", kv.Key);
+				
+				// Lets just pretend that i didn't do this.... Will fix later
+				player.GetType().GetField("Index").SetValue( player, mapPlayerIndex-- );
+				player.GetType().GetField("Palette").SetValue( player, kv.Value.Palette );// Todo: set Player.Color as well
+				player.GetType().GetField("PlayerName").SetValue( player, kv.Value.Name );
+				player.GetType().GetField("InternalName").SetValue( player, kv.Value.Name );
+				player.GetType().GetField("Country").SetValue( player, this.GetCountries().FirstOrDefault(c => kv.Value.Race == c.Name) );
+
+				AddPlayer(player);
+				
+				// Todo: Obsolete usage of "World.NeutralPlayer"
+				if (kv.Value.Name == "Neutral")
+					NeutralPlayer = player;
+			}
 
 			Timer.Time( "worldActor: {0}" );
 
diff --git a/mods/ra/maps/shellmap/map.yaml b/mods/ra/maps/shellmap/map.yaml
index a70d92c39b..fb3d8111b5 100644
--- a/mods/ra/maps/shellmap/map.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/maps/shellmap/map.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ TopLeft: 26,36
 
 BottomRight: 118,93
 
+Players:
+	PlayerReference@Neutral:
+		Name: Neutral
+		Palette: neutral
+		Race: allies
+	PlayerReference@GoodGuy:
+		Name: GoodGuy
+		Palette: player1
+		Race: allies
+	PlayerReference@Greece:
+		Name: Greece
+		Palette: player4
+		Race: soviet
+
 Actors:
 	Actor0: brik Neutral 32,43
 	Actor1: brik Neutral 33,43
diff --git a/mods/ra/maps/snowyridge/map.yaml b/mods/ra/maps/snowyridge/map.yaml
index 2b2f13cf1b..dbb0ec5272 100644
--- a/mods/ra/maps/snowyridge/map.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/maps/snowyridge/map.yaml
@@ -18,39 +18,45 @@ TopLeft: 14,19
 
 BottomRight: 60,60
 
+Players:
+	PlayerReference@Neutral:
+		Name: Neutral
+		Palette: neutral
+		Race: allies
+
 Actors:
-	Actor0: tc02 25,39 25,39
-	Actor1: tc01 26,40 26,40
-	Actor2: tc01 27,39 27,39
-	Actor3: tc05 30,40 30,40
-	Actor4: tc04 37,39 37,39
-	Actor5: tc04 39,37 39,37
-	Actor6: tc04 41,35 41,35
-	Actor7: t01 42,33 42,33
-	Actor8: t01 50,24 50,24
-	Actor9: t05 49,25 49,25
-	Actor10: t08 45,29 45,29
-	Actor11: tc04 43,49 43,49
-	Actor12: tc01 45,51 45,51
-	Actor13: tc01 48,52 48,52
-	Actor14: t03 40,42 40,42
-	Actor15: t03 35,40 35,40
-	Actor16: tc04 57,57 57,57
-	Actor17: tc02 58,19 58,19
-	Actor18: tc01 21,19 21,19
-	Actor19: tc02 19,20 19,20
-	Actor20: t08 16,22 16,22
-	Actor21: v12 18,22 18,22
-	Actor22: t05 18,55 18,55
-	Actor23: tc02 16,54 16,54
-	Actor24: t16 29,39 29,39
-	Actor25: t16 21,56 21,56
-	Actor26: mine 33,45 33,45
-	Actor27: mine 36,45 36,45
-	Actor28: mine 44,43 44,43
-	Actor29: mine 45,40 45,40
-	Actor30: mine 37,34 37,34
-	Actor31: mine 35,37 35,37
+	Actor0: tc02 Neutral 25,39
+	Actor1: tc01 Neutral 26,40
+	Actor2: tc01 Neutral 27,39
+	Actor3: tc05 Neutral 30,40
+	Actor4: tc04 Neutral 37,39
+	Actor5: tc04 Neutral 39,37
+	Actor6: tc04 Neutral 41,35
+	Actor7: t01 Neutral 42,33
+	Actor8: t01 Neutral 50,24
+	Actor9: t05 Neutral 49,25
+	Actor10: t08 Neutral 45,29
+	Actor11: tc04 Neutral 43,49
+	Actor12: tc01 Neutral 45,51
+	Actor13: tc01 Neutral 48,52
+	Actor14: t03 Neutral 40,42
+	Actor15: t03 Neutral 35,40
+	Actor16: tc04 Neutral 57,57
+	Actor17: tc02 Neutral 58,19
+	Actor18: tc01 Neutral 21,19
+	Actor19: tc02 Neutral 19,20
+	Actor20: t08 Neutral 16,22
+	Actor21: v12 Neutral 18,22
+	Actor22: t05 Neutral 18,55
+	Actor23: tc02 Neutral 16,54
+	Actor24: t16 Neutral 29,39
+	Actor25: t16 Neutral 21,56
+	Actor26: mine Neutral 33,45
+	Actor27: mine Neutral 36,45
+	Actor28: mine Neutral 44,43
+	Actor29: mine Neutral 45,40
+	Actor30: mine Neutral 37,34
+	Actor31: mine Neutral 35,37
 
 Waypoints:
 	wp0: 29,24