diff --git a/res/content/base/scripts/components/drop.lua b/res/content/base/scripts/components/drop.lua
index f22e1ad2..1b67eeaf 100644
--- a/res/content/base/scripts/components/drop.lua
+++ b/res/content/base/scripts/components/drop.lua
@@ -6,15 +6,21 @@ inair = true
 ready = false
 target = -1
 
-local dropitem = ARGS.item
+ARGS = ARGS or {}
+local dropitem = ARGS.item or {}
+if SAVED_DATA.item then
+    dropitem.id = item.index(SAVED_DATA.item)
+    dropitem.count = SAVED_DATA.count
+end
+
 local scale = {1, 1, 1}
 local rotation = mat4.rotate({
     math.random(), math.random(), math.random()
 }, 360)
 
 function on_save()
-    SAVED_DATA.test = 5
-    print("SAVE ENTITY")
+    SAVED_DATA.item = item.name(dropitem.id)
+    SAVED_DATA.count = dropitem.count
 end
 
 do -- setup visuals
diff --git a/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp b/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp
index d62277c7..37b96946 100644
--- a/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ void ContentLoader::loadBlock(Block& def, const std::string& name, const fs::pat
     else if (model == "custom") { 
         def.model = BlockModel::custom;
         if (root->has("model-primitives")) {
-            loadCustomBlockModel(def, root->map("model-primitives"));
+            loadCustomBlockModel(def, root->map("model-primitives").get());
         } else {
             logger.error() << name << ": no 'model-primitives' found";
         }
diff --git a/src/data/dynamic.cpp b/src/data/dynamic.cpp
index 0cc88103..a7e78a44 100644
--- a/src/data/dynamic.cpp
+++ b/src/data/dynamic.cpp
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ integer_t List::integer(size_t index) const {
     }
 }
 
-Map* List::map(size_t index) const {
+const Map_sptr& List::map(size_t index) const {
     if (auto* val = std::get_if<Map_sptr>(&values[index])) {
-        return val->get();
+        return *val;
     } else {
         throw std::runtime_error("type error");
     }
@@ -192,11 +192,11 @@ void Map::num(const std::string& key, uint& dst) const {
     dst = get(key, static_cast<integer_t>(dst));
 }
 
-Map* Map::map(const std::string& key) const {
+Map_sptr Map::map(const std::string& key) const {
     auto found = values.find(key);
     if (found != values.end()) {
         if (auto* val = std::get_if<Map_sptr>(&found->second)) {
-            return val->get();
+            return *val;
         }
     }
     return nullptr;
diff --git a/src/data/dynamic.hpp b/src/data/dynamic.hpp
index 1153697f..902a5adc 100644
--- a/src/data/dynamic.hpp
+++ b/src/data/dynamic.hpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ namespace dynamic {
         std::string str(size_t index) const;
         number_t num(size_t index) const;
         integer_t integer(size_t index) const;
-        Map* map(size_t index) const;
+        const Map_sptr& map(size_t index) const;
         List* list(size_t index) const;
         bool flag(size_t index) const;
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ namespace dynamic {
         void num(const std::string& key, uint64_t& dst) const;
         void num(const std::string& key, ubyte& dst) const;
         void num(const std::string& key, double& dst) const;
-        Map* map(const std::string& key) const;
+        Map_sptr map(const std::string& key) const;
         List* list(const std::string& key) const;
         void flag(const std::string& key, bool& dst) const;
 
diff --git a/src/data/dynamic_util.hpp b/src/data/dynamic_util.hpp
index 3a10a123..d9e5566e 100644
--- a/src/data/dynamic_util.hpp
+++ b/src/data/dynamic_util.hpp
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ namespace dynamic {
         }
         return list;
     }
+
+    template<int n>
+    void get_vec(const dynamic::Map_sptr& root, const std::string& name, glm::vec<n, float>& vec) {
+        if (const auto& list = root->list(name)) {
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+                vec[i] = list->num(i);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #endif // DATA_DYNAMIC_UTIL_HPP_
diff --git a/src/files/WorldRegions.cpp b/src/files/WorldRegions.cpp
index 9bec7921..6d2485d7 100644
--- a/src/files/WorldRegions.cpp
+++ b/src/files/WorldRegions.cpp
@@ -435,6 +435,15 @@ chunk_inventories_map WorldRegions::fetchInventories(int x, int z) {
     return meta;
 }
 
+ dynamic::Map_sptr WorldRegions::fetchEntities(int x, int z) {
+    uint32_t bytesSize;
+    const ubyte* data = getData(x, z, REGION_LAYER_ENTITIES, bytesSize);
+    if (data == nullptr) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+    return json::from_binary(data, bytesSize);
+ }
+
 void WorldRegions::processRegionVoxels(int x, int z, const regionproc& func) {
     if (getRegion(x, z, REGION_LAYER_VOXELS)) {
         throw std::runtime_error("not implemented for in-memory regions");
diff --git a/src/files/WorldRegions.hpp b/src/files/WorldRegions.hpp
index f96477de..f681794d 100644
--- a/src/files/WorldRegions.hpp
+++ b/src/files/WorldRegions.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "../typedefs.hpp"
 #include "../util/BufferPool.hpp"
 #include "../voxels/Chunk.hpp"
+#include "../data/dynamic_fwd.hpp"
 
 #include <mutex>
 #include <memory>
@@ -185,6 +186,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr<ubyte[]> getChunk(int x, int z);
     std::unique_ptr<light_t[]> getLights(int x, int z);
     chunk_inventories_map fetchInventories(int x, int z);
+    dynamic::Map_sptr fetchEntities(int x, int z); 
 
     void processRegionVoxels(int x, int z, const regionproc& func);
 
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libentity.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libentity.cpp
index 224c112f..c271062a 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libentity.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libentity.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ static int l_spawn(lua::State* L) {
     if (lua::gettop(L) > 2) {
         args = lua::tovalue(L, 3);
     }
-    level->entities->spawn(scripting::engine->getAssets(), def, pos, args);
+    Transform transform {
+        pos, glm::vec3(1.0f), glm::mat3(1.0f), {}, true
+    };
+    level->entities->spawn(scripting::engine->getAssets(), def, transform, args);
     return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp
index 8c5c16d3..2e6e76d6 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,8 @@ void scripting::on_entity_spawn(
     const EntityDef& def, 
     entityid_t eid, 
     const std::vector<std::unique_ptr<UserComponent>>& components,
-    dynamic::Value args
+    dynamic::Value args,
+    dynamic::Map_sptr saved
 ) {
     auto L = lua::get_main_thread();
     lua::requireglobal(L, STDCOMP);
@@ -296,7 +297,15 @@ void scripting::on_entity_spawn(
         lua::pushvalue(L, args);
         lua::setfield(L, "ARGS");
 
-        lua::createtable(L, 0, 0);
+        if (saved == nullptr) {
+            lua::createtable(L, 0, 0);
+        } else {
+            if (auto datamap = saved->map(component->name)) {
+                lua::pushvalue(L, datamap);
+            } else {
+                lua::createtable(L, 0, 0);
+            }
+        }
         lua::setfield(L, "SAVED_DATA");
 
         lua::setfenv(L);
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp
index 328068f2..ad0471fe 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/scripting.hpp
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ namespace scripting {
         const EntityDef& def,
         entityid_t eid, 
         const std::vector<std::unique_ptr<UserComponent>>& components,
-        dynamic::Value args
+        dynamic::Value args,
+        dynamic::Map_sptr saved
     );
     bool on_entity_despawn(const EntityDef& def, const Entity& entity);
     bool on_entity_grounded(const Entity& entity, float force);
diff --git a/src/objects/Entities.cpp b/src/objects/Entities.cpp
index 38d21585..f514d6cc 100644
--- a/src/objects/Entities.cpp
+++ b/src/objects/Entities.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 #include "Entities.hpp"
 
+#include "../debug/Logger.hpp"
 #include "../data/dynamic_util.hpp"
 #include "../assets/Assets.hpp"
 #include "../world/Level.hpp"
+#include "../content/Content.hpp"
 #include "../physics/Hitbox.hpp"
 #include "../physics/PhysicsSolver.hpp"
 #include "../graphics/render/ModelBatch.hpp"
@@ -12,9 +14,12 @@
 #include "../objects/EntityDef.hpp"
 #include "../objects/rigging.hpp"
 #include "../logic/scripting/scripting.hpp"
+#include "../engine.hpp"
 
 #include <glm/ext/matrix_transform.hpp>
 
+static debug::Logger logger("entities");
+
 void Transform::refresh() {
     combined = glm::mat4(1.0f);
     combined = glm::translate(combined, pos);
@@ -57,20 +62,26 @@ static triggercallback create_trigger_callback(Entities* entities) {
 entityid_t Entities::spawn(
     Assets* assets,
     EntityDef& def,
-    glm::vec3 pos,
-    dynamic::Value args) 
+    Transform transform,
+    dynamic::Value args,
+    dynamic::Map_sptr saved,
+    entityid_t uid)
 {
     auto rig = assets->get<rigging::RigConfig>(def.rigName);
     if (rig == nullptr) {
         throw std::runtime_error("rig "+def.rigName+" not found");
     }
     auto entity = registry.create();
-    glm::vec3 size(1);
-    auto id = nextID++;
+    entityid_t id;
+    if (uid == 0) {
+        id = nextID++;
+    } else {
+        id = uid;
+    }
     registry.emplace<EntityId>(entity, static_cast<entityid_t>(id), def);
-    registry.emplace<Transform>(entity, pos, size, glm::mat3(1.0f));
+    registry.emplace<Transform>(entity, transform);
     auto& body = registry.emplace<Rigidbody>(
-        entity, true, Hitbox {pos, def.hitbox}, std::vector<Trigger>{});
+        entity, true, Hitbox {transform.pos, def.hitbox}, std::vector<Trigger>{});
 
     body.triggers.resize(def.radialTriggers.size() + def.boxTriggers.size());
     for (auto& [i, box] : def.boxTriggers) {
@@ -98,7 +109,8 @@ entityid_t Entities::spawn(
             componentName, entity_funcs_set {}, nullptr);
         scripting.components.emplace_back(std::move(component));
     }
-    scripting::on_entity_spawn(def, id, scripting.components, std::move(args));
+    scripting::on_entity_spawn(
+        def, id, scripting.components, std::move(args), std::move(saved));
     return id;
 }
 
@@ -112,6 +124,37 @@ void Entities::despawn(entityid_t id) {
     }
 }
 
+void Entities::loadEntity(const dynamic::Map_sptr& map) {
+    entityid_t uid = 0;
+    std::string defname;
+    map->num("uid", uid);
+    map->str("def", defname);
+    if (uid == 0) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("could not read entity - invalid UID");
+    }
+    auto& def = level->content->entities.require(defname);
+    Transform transform {
+        glm::vec3(), glm::vec3(1.0f), glm::mat3(1.0f), {}, true
+    };
+    if (auto tsfmap = map->map("transform")) {
+        dynamic::get_vec(tsfmap, "pos", transform.pos);
+    }
+    dynamic::Map_sptr savedMap = map->map("comps");
+    auto assets = scripting::engine->getAssets();
+    spawn(assets, def, transform, dynamic::NONE, savedMap, uid);
+}
+
+void Entities::loadEntities(dynamic::Map_sptr root) {
+    auto list = root->list("data");
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < list->size(); i++) {
+        try {
+            loadEntity(list->map(i));
+        } catch (const std::runtime_error& err) {
+            logger.error() << "could not read entity: " << err.what();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void Entities::onSave(const Entity& entity) {
     scripting::on_entity_save(entity);
 }
@@ -129,7 +172,9 @@ dynamic::Value Entities::serialize(const Entity& entity) {
         if (transform.size != glm::vec3(1.0f)) {
             tsfmap.put("size", dynamic::to_value(transform.size));
         }
-        tsfmap.put("rot", dynamic::to_value(transform.rot));
+        if (transform.rot != glm::mat3(1.0f)) {
+            tsfmap.put("rot", dynamic::to_value(transform.rot));
+        }
     }
     {
         auto& rigidbody = entity.getRigidbody();
@@ -166,6 +211,7 @@ dynamic::Value Entities::serialize(const Entity& entity) {
             auto data = scripting::get_component_value(comp->env, "SAVED_DATA");
             compsMap.put(comp->name, data);
         }
+        std::cout << root << std::endl;
     }
     return root;
 }
diff --git a/src/objects/Entities.hpp b/src/objects/Entities.hpp
index 51bfe0db..8492186c 100644
--- a/src/objects/Entities.hpp
+++ b/src/objects/Entities.hpp
@@ -172,8 +172,10 @@ public:
     entityid_t spawn(
         Assets* assets,
         EntityDef& def,
-        glm::vec3 pos,
-        dynamic::Value args=dynamic::NONE);
+        Transform transform,
+        dynamic::Value args=dynamic::NONE,
+        dynamic::Map_sptr saved=nullptr,
+        entityid_t uid=0);
 
     std::optional<Entity> get(entityid_t id) {
         const auto& found = entities.find(id);
@@ -183,6 +185,8 @@ public:
         return std::nullopt;
     }
 
+    void loadEntities(dynamic::Map_sptr map);
+    void loadEntity(const dynamic::Map_sptr& map);
     void onSave(const Entity& entity);
     std::vector<Entity> getAllInside(AABB aabb);
     void despawn(entityid_t id);
diff --git a/src/objects/Player.cpp b/src/objects/Player.cpp
index 91301c52..1cb1614a 100644
--- a/src/objects/Player.cpp
+++ b/src/objects/Player.cpp
@@ -251,10 +251,9 @@ void Player::deserialize(dynamic::Map *src) {
     src->flag("flight", flight);
     src->flag("noclip", noclip);
     setChosenSlot(src->get("chosen-slot", getChosenSlot()));
-
-    auto invmap = src->map("inventory");
-    if (invmap) {
-        getInventory()->deserialize(invmap);
+    
+    if (auto invmap = src->map("inventory")) {
+        getInventory()->deserialize(invmap.get());
     }
 }
 
@@ -264,16 +263,14 @@ void Player::convert(dynamic::Map* data, const ContentLUT* lut) {
     if (players) {
         for (uint i = 0; i < players->size(); i++) {
             auto playerData = players->map(i);
-            auto inventory = playerData->map("inventory");
-            if (inventory) {
-                Inventory::convert(inventory, lut);
+            if (auto inventory = playerData->map("inventory")) {
+                Inventory::convert(inventory.get(), lut);
             }
         }
     
     } else {
-        auto inventory = data->map("inventory");
-        if (inventory) {
-            Inventory::convert(inventory, lut);
+        if (auto inventory = data->map("inventory")) {
+            Inventory::convert(inventory.get(), lut);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/objects/rigging.cpp b/src/objects/rigging.cpp
index 275577aa..fc21cb41 100644
--- a/src/objects/rigging.cpp
+++ b/src/objects/rigging.cpp
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ static std::tuple<size_t, std::unique_ptr<RigNode>> read_node(
     size_t count = 1;
     if (auto nodesList = root->list("nodes")) {
         for (size_t i = 0; i < nodesList->size(); i++) {
-            if (auto map = nodesList->map(i)) {
-                auto [subcount, subNode] = read_node(map, index+count);
+            if (const auto& map = nodesList->map(i)) {
+                auto [subcount, subNode] = read_node(map.get(), index+count);
                 subcount += count;
                 subnodes.push_back(std::move(subNode));
             }
@@ -114,6 +114,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<RigConfig> RigConfig::parse(
     if (rootNodeMap == nullptr) {
         throw std::runtime_error("missing 'root' element");
     }
-    auto [count, rootNode] = read_node(rootNodeMap, 0);
+    auto [count, rootNode] = read_node(rootNodeMap.get(), 0);
     return std::make_unique<RigConfig>(std::string(name), std::move(rootNode), count);
 }
diff --git a/src/voxels/ChunksStorage.cpp b/src/voxels/ChunksStorage.cpp
index 73b690af..bac62015 100644
--- a/src/voxels/ChunksStorage.cpp
+++ b/src/voxels/ChunksStorage.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "Block.hpp"
 #include "../content/Content.hpp"
 #include "../files/WorldFiles.hpp"
+#include "../objects/Entities.hpp"
 #include "../world/Level.hpp"
 #include "../world/World.hpp"
 #include "../maths/voxmaths.hpp"
@@ -63,6 +64,10 @@ std::shared_ptr<Chunk> ChunksStorage::create(int x, int z) {
 		auto invs = regions.fetchInventories(chunk->x, chunk->z);
 		chunk->setBlockInventories(std::move(invs));
 
+        if (auto map = regions.fetchEntities(chunk->x, chunk->z)) {
+            level->entities->loadEntities(std::move(map));
+        }
+
         chunk->flags.loaded = true;
 		for(auto& entry : chunk->inventories) {
 			level->inventories->store(entry.second);
diff --git a/src/world/World.cpp b/src/world/World.cpp
index e16b5e6e..0b10dc33 100644
--- a/src/world/World.cpp
+++ b/src/world/World.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<Level> World::load(
                         DEF_PLAYER_SPEED, 
                         level->inventories->create(DEF_PLAYER_INVENTORY_SIZE)
                     );
-                    player->deserialize(players->map(i));
+                    player->deserialize(players->map(i).get());
                     level->inventories->store(player->getInventory());
                 }
             } else {