diff --git a/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic
index cfd277fb..2daf9905 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export property GearValue {
   at: []float = null
 }
 
+@ByKey
 export open registry GearValues of GearValue as GV
 
 # something that burns down while it runs: `full` units, `per_hour` of them an hour, or the value
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ export property GearCharge {
   hand: bool = true
 }
 
+@ByKey
 export open registry GearCharges of GearCharge as CHARGE
 
 export const GEAR_BOUGHT: int = 0       # a tier was bought
diff --git a/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic
index a1983eb9..d03472dc 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export property JobBoard {
   @OneOf(JOBS_SELF, JOBS_PARTY, JOBS_OFFERED, JOBS_ACTIVE, JOBS_DONE, JOBS_READY, JOBS_GROUPS) scope: int = JOBS_SELF
 }
 
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry JobBoards of JobBoard as BOARD
 
 export const JOBS_F_OFFERED: int = 0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
index cdb1d642..5970c55c 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ export property NpcKind {
   steps: []NpcStep = null
 }
 
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry NpcKinds of NpcKind as NPCK
 
 # where a step goes: `find` sends the person there (npc_go / npc_do) or says it cannot
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ export property NpcName {
   body: int = 0
 }
 
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry NpcNames of NpcName as NPCN
 
 export const NPC_F_GREETED: int = 0    # a player came within notice
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic
index a0f70282..44bd5410 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export property NpcLine {
   choices: []NpcChoice = null
 }
 
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry NpcLines of NpcLine as NPCL