diff --git a/packages/ludic.crafting/recipes.ludic b/packages/ludic.crafting/recipes.ludic
index 62a63143..2ba26a0a 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.crafting/recipes.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.crafting/recipes.ludic
@@ -6,19 +6,20 @@ export const CRAFT_HANDS: int = 0
 # (0 is made at once) and `hold` seconds of holding the button (0 is a click)
 export property CraftRecipe {
   key: string = ""
-  out: int = 0
+  @Ref(Items) out: int = 0
   n: int = 1
-  ins: []int = null
+  @Ref(Items) ins: []int = null
   ns: []int = null
-  station: int = 0
+  @Ref(Stations) station: int = 0
   minutes: int = 0
   hold: float = 0.0
-  group: int = 0
+  @Ref(CraftGroups) group: int = 0
   learned: bool = true
 }
 
 # the game fills it: `def CraftRecipes torch { out: IT_TORCH, ins: [IT_WOOD], ns: [1] }`. A
 # station holds a recipe by its index, so a game that saves that appends, never inserts.
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry CraftRecipes of CraftRecipe as CRAFT
 
 # a recipe was made: handed over (`queued` false) or put into its station (`queued` true)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.fishing/kinds.ludic b/packages/ludic.fishing/kinds.ludic
index d2b4cea9..d1dd5714 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.fishing/kinds.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.fishing/kinds.ludic
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export property FishKind {
   chance_deep: float = 0.35    # ... and in deep water
   need: int = 3                # crossings to land it
   runs: int = 0                # runs it makes, when the only right answer is to leave the line
-  fight: float = 12.0          # seconds before the line goes slack
+  @Unit("s") fight: float = 12.0          # seconds before the line goes slack
   speed: float = 0.9           # the marker's sweep, and how much faster each crossing won
   speed_per_hit: float = 0.0
   closes: float = 0.0          # the window narrows this much a crossing, down to `floor` of it
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export property FishKind {
 }
 
 # the game fills it: `def FishSpecies brook { weight: 0.25 }`, and one legend
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry FishSpecies of FishKind as FISH
 
 # what happened on the line
diff --git a/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic
index fbd3f500..cfd277fb 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.gear/defs.ludic
@@ -4,26 +4,27 @@
 # `mult` is per level from 0 (unowned), for the one number a kind scales.
 export property GearKind {
   key: string = ""
-  vendor: int = 0
+  @Ref(Vendors) vendor: int = 0
   icon: string = ""
   tiers: int = 0
-  blurb: string = ""
-  howto: string = ""
+  @Text @Multiline blurb: string = ""
+  @Text @Multiline howto: string = ""
   names: []string = null
   cost: []int = null
   rep: []int = null
-  item: int = -1
+  @Ref(Items) item: int = -1
   start: int = 0           # the level a new trip begins at
   mult: []float = null
 }
 
 # saved by key, so order is free
+@ByKey
 export open registry GearKinds of GearKind as GEAR
 
 # a number a kind's tier decides: `at` per level from 0, the last one holding past its end
 export property GearValue {
   key: string = ""
-  gear: int = 0
+  @Ref(GearKinds) gear: int = 0
   at: []float = null
 }
 
@@ -33,10 +34,10 @@ export open registry GearValues of GearValue as GV
 # `rate` (-1: per_hour) - a flashlight's drain is its tier's. `hand` runs only while held.
 export property GearCharge {
   key: string = ""
-  item: int = -1
+  @Ref(Items) item: int = -1
   full: float = 100.0
   per_hour: float = 0.0
-  rate: int = -1
+  @Ref(GearValues) rate: int = -1
   hand: bool = true
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.hints/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.hints/defs.ludic
index a5a9b1bf..45a805f6 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.hints/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.hints/defs.ludic
@@ -8,24 +8,25 @@ export const HINTS_URGENT: int = 3     # do it or lose the day
 # the game's: `icon` / `picN` name a glyph, `item` / `itemN` a thing's picture instead (-1: none).
 export property HintCard {
   key: string = ""
-  urgency: int = HINTS_TIP
+  @OneOf(HINTS_TIP, HINTS_NOTE, HINTS_WARN, HINTS_URGENT) urgency: int = HINTS_TIP
   icon: string = ""
-  item: int = -1
-  line: string = ""          # the chip on the rail: five or six words
-  title: string = ""         # the card's heading
-  s1: string = ""            # three steps, each with a picture
-  s2: string = ""
-  s3: string = ""
+  @Ref(Items) item: int = -1
+  @Text line: string = ""          # the chip on the rail: five or six words
+  @Text title: string = ""         # the card's heading
+  @Text s1: string = ""            # three steps, each with a picture
+  @Text s2: string = ""
+  @Text s3: string = ""
   pic1: string = ""
   pic2: string = ""
   pic3: string = ""
-  item1: int = -1
-  item2: int = -1
-  item3: int = -1
-  later: string = ""         # how not to be here next time
+  @Ref(Items) item1: int = -1
+  @Ref(Items) item2: int = -1
+  @Ref(Items) item3: int = -1
+  @Text @Multiline later: string = ""         # how not to be here next time
 }
 
 # the game's cards; a card's mute is kept by its key, so their order is free
+@ByKey
 export open registry Hints of HintCard as HINT
 
 export const HINTS_F_OPENED: int = 0    # a card was opened, or the arrows moved to another
diff --git a/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic
index 657fc49a..a1983eb9 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.jobs/defs.ludic
@@ -13,23 +13,24 @@ export const JOBS_GROUPS: int = 8      # the game's lists (a board of notices, a
 # narrows it (-1 any), `need` 0 is never ready by counting. Money and rep are paid through JobsPay.
 export property JobDef {
   key: string = ""
-  group: int = 0
-  vendor: int = 0
-  kind: int = -1
-  param: int = -1
+  @OneOf(JG_) group: int = 0
+  @Ref(Vendors) vendor: int = 0
+  @Ref(JobKinds) kind: int = -1
+  @Ref(Species) param: int = -1
   need: int = 1
   money: int = 0
   rep: int = 0
   minrep: int = 0      # standing in its scope before it is offered
   minstage: int = 0    # how far the game's story must be
-  scope: int = JOBS_SELF
-  title: string = ""
-  text: string = ""
-  how: string = ""
+  @OneOf(JOBS_SELF, JOBS_PARTY, JOBS_OFFERED, JOBS_ACTIVE, JOBS_DONE, JOBS_READY, JOBS_GROUPS) scope: int = JOBS_SELF
+  @Text title: string = ""
+  @Text @Multiline text: string = ""
+  @Text @Multiline how: string = ""
   icon: string = ""
 }
 
 # the game's jobs; saved by key, so order is free
+@ByKey
 export open registry Jobs of JobDef as JOB
 
 # a board of posts rolled by the game (JobsWorld.roll): `keep` days a post stays up, `auto` pays
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ export property JobBoard {
   keep: int = 1
   auto: bool = false
   refill: bool = true
-  scope: int = JOBS_SELF
+  @OneOf(JOBS_SELF, JOBS_PARTY, JOBS_OFFERED, JOBS_ACTIVE, JOBS_DONE, JOBS_READY, JOBS_GROUPS) scope: int = JOBS_SELF
 }
 
 export open registry JobBoards of JobBoard as BOARD
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
index 4bdf8d29..cdb1d642 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/defs.ludic
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ export property NpcStep {
   from: float = 0.0
   to: float = 24.0
   weight: int = 1
-  spot: int = 0
-  act: int = 1
+  @Ref(NpcSpots) spot: int = 0
+  @Ref(NpcActs) act: int = 1
   lo: int = 10
   hi: int = 30
   near: float = 0.0
@@ -120,13 +120,14 @@ export property NpcAct {
   tick: fn(NpcPerson, float) -> bool = null
 }
 
+@AppendOnly
 export open registry NpcActs of NpcAct as NPCA
 def NpcActs from "acts.lres"
 
 # a name somebody can have; `body` the game's (a pool per model), so a Nora is drawn as a woman
 export property NpcName {
   key: string = ""
-  name: string = ""
+  @Text name: string = ""
   body: int = 0
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic
index 3d1590b1..a0f70282 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/talk.ludic
@@ -2,18 +2,18 @@
 # anything to say winning, each line in its turn given its `chance`; a line's words are its `text`,
 # or the story's (NpcTalk.say) when it `fill`s; a line may offer choices, each answered by a line
 export property NpcChoice {
-  text: string = ""
-  line: string = ""            # the key of the line that answers it ("" ends the talk)
+  @Text text: string = ""
+  @Text line: string = ""            # the key of the line that answers it ("" ends the talk)
   code: int = -1               # the game's, carried by the Talked fact
 }
 
 export property NpcLine {
   key: string = ""
-  kind: int = -1               # NPCK_* (-1: anyone)
-  act: int = -1                # NPCA_* (-1: whatever they are doing)
+  @Ref(NpcKinds) kind: int = -1               # NPCK_* (-1: anyone)
+  @Ref(NpcActs) act: int = -1                # NPCA_* (-1: whatever they are doing)
   prio: int = 0
   chance: int = 100            # percent: how often this line is even considered
-  text: string = ""
+  @Text text: string = ""
   fill: bool = false
   choices: []NpcChoice = null
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.settings/defs.ludic b/packages/ludic.settings/defs.ludic
index 9632e214..6a41d323 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.settings/defs.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.settings/defs.ludic
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ export const SETTING_TEXT: int = 3
 
 export property SettingDef {
   key: string = ""        # its name in the file; a registry fills it with the entry's own name
-  kind: int = 0           # SETTING_*
+  @OneOf(SETTING_) kind: int = 0           # SETTING_*
   num: float = 0.0        # the default: 0 or 1 for a switch, a whole number, a float
-  text: string = ""       # the default of a text setting
+  @Text text: string = ""       # the default of a text setting
   lo: float = 0.0         # the range, inclusive; a value outside it is the default again
   hi: float = -1.0        # hi below lo: any value
   rescue: bool = false    # a rescue start puts it back to its default
diff --git a/packages/ludic.steps/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.steps/state.ludic
index 75e5e970..cb9ef563 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.steps/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.steps/state.ludic
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ export const STEPS_PER_CHAPTER: int = 6
 
 export property StepsKind {
   key: string = ""
-  shape: int = STEPS_SHAPE_YES
-  pool: int = STEPS_POOL_WORLD
+  @OneOf(STEPS_SHAPE_) shape: int = STEPS_SHAPE_YES
+  @OneOf(STEPS_POOL_) pool: int = STEPS_POOL_WORLD
   shows: bool = false          # a panel shows its count against what it wants
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.things/kinds.ludic b/packages/ludic.things/kinds.ludic
index aeef1c75..87c13b86 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.things/kinds.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.things/kinds.ludic
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export property Thing {
 
 export property ThingKind {
   key: string = ""        # the entry's own name: what the save calls the kind
-  name: string = ""       # what it is called when nothing about the one in front of you changes it
+  @Text name: string = ""       # what it is called when nothing about the one in front of you changes it
   reach: float = 2.2      # how close it is used from, when the Thing does not say
   personal: bool = false  # one belongs to whoever put it down
   saved: bool = false     # the save's section keeps a placed one (the port has the last word)
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export property ThingKind {
 }
 
 # the game fills it: `def ThingKinds tent { name: "The tent", use: fn tent_use }`
+@ByKey
 export open registry ThingKinds of ThingKind as TH
 
 export const THING_PLACED: int = 0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.weather/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.weather/state.ludic
index 39d09c56..1b97556f 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.weather/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.weather/state.ludic
@@ -28,16 +28,16 @@ export const WEATHER_WANT_CLEAR: int = 3   # clear the sky and keep it clear
 
 # one kind of weather; its place in the list the game hands in is its number
 export property WeatherKind {
-  name: string = ""
+  @Text name: string = ""
   clear: bool = false        # the kind a sky eases out to: nothing falls, amount goes to 0
   wet: bool = false          # rain or snow is falling (weather_wet)
-  soak: float = 0.0          # how wet the ground gets under it, 0..1
+  @Range(0, 1) soak: float = 0.0          # how wet the ground gets under it, 0..1
   overcast: float = 0.0
   cold: float = 0.0          # extra cold per game hour, in the game's units
-  wind: float = 0.2          # the strength the wind builds toward, 0..1
+  @Range(0, 1) wind: float = 0.2          # the strength the wind builds toward, 0..1
   wind_dir: float = -1.0     # radians the wind blows toward; below 0, the valley's daily turn
   thunder: bool = false
-  spell_lo: float = 2.0      # game hours a spell lasts, drawn in [lo, hi)
+  @Unit("h") spell_lo: float = 2.0      # game hours a spell lasts, drawn in [lo, hi)
   spell_hi: float = 8.0
   odds: []float = null       # weights for the next spell, per kind
 }