diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/container.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/container.cpp
index 179070aed..59e51e461 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/container.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/container.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp"
+#include "../mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwworld/ptr.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/failedaction.hpp"
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@
 
 #include "../mwgui/tooltips.hpp"
 
-#include "../mwrender/objects.hpp"
+#include "../mwrender/actors.hpp"
 #include "../mwrender/renderinginterface.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp"
@@ -87,7 +88,8 @@ namespace MWClass
     {
         const std::string model = getModel(ptr);
         if (!model.empty()) {
-            renderingInterface.getObjects().insertModel(ptr, model);
+            MWRender::Actors& actors = renderingInterface.getActors();
+            actors.insertActivator(ptr);
         }
     }
 
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ namespace MWClass
         const std::string model = getModel(ptr);
         if(!model.empty())
             physics.addObject(ptr);
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->add(ptr);
     }
 
     std::string Container::getModel(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp
index 4608010ac..396c8fa48 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp
@@ -633,8 +633,8 @@ namespace MWGui
         MWWorld::Store<ESM::Skill>::iterator it = skills.begin();
         for (; it != skills.end(); ++it)
         {
-            if (it->mData.mSpecialization == specId)
-                specText += std::string("\n#{") + ESM::Skill::sSkillNameIds[it->mIndex] + "}";
+            if (it->second.mData.mSpecialization == specId)
+                specText += std::string("\n#{") + ESM::Skill::sSkillNameIds[it->first] + "}";
         }
         widget->setUserString("Caption_CenteredCaptionText", specText);
         widget->setUserString("ToolTipLayout", "TextWithCenteredCaptionToolTip");
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 2e4f76c1a..46e06f460 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -1072,7 +1072,8 @@ bool CharacterController::updateWeaponState()
         }
         else if (mHitState == CharState_KnockDown)
         {
-            mUpperBodyState = UpperCharState_WeapEquiped;
+            if (mUpperBodyState > UpperCharState_WeapEquiped)
+                mUpperBodyState = UpperCharState_WeapEquiped;
             mAnimation->disable(mCurrentWeapon);
         }
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index b4edf44aa..9cafe9b3c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             MWWorld::Store<ESM::Skill>::iterator iter = skills.begin();
             for (; iter != skills.end(); ++iter)
             {
-                if (iter->mData.mSpecialization==class_->mData.mSpecialization)
+                if (iter->second.mData.mSpecialization==class_->mData.mSpecialization)
                 {
-                    int index = iter->mIndex;
+                    int index = iter->first;
 
                     if (index>=0 && index<27)
                     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/activatoranimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/activatoranimation.cpp
index de0457e57..540876a3e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/activatoranimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/activatoranimation.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 
+#include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
+
 #include "renderconst.hpp"
 
 namespace MWRender
@@ -16,17 +18,14 @@ ActivatorAnimation::~ActivatorAnimation()
 ActivatorAnimation::ActivatorAnimation(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr)
   : Animation(ptr, ptr.getRefData().getBaseNode())
 {
-    MWWorld::LiveCellRef<ESM::Activator> *ref = mPtr.get<ESM::Activator>();
+    const std::string& model = mPtr.getClass().getModel(mPtr);
 
-    assert(ref->mBase != NULL);
-    if(!ref->mBase->mModel.empty())
+    if(!model.empty())
     {
-        const std::string name = "meshes\\"+ref->mBase->mModel;
-
-        setObjectRoot(name, false);
+        setObjectRoot(model, false);
         setRenderProperties(mObjectRoot, RV_Misc, RQG_Main, RQG_Alpha);
 
-        addAnimSource(name);
+        addAnimSource(model);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index 548906cdf..ecaaba0b9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -114,10 +114,6 @@ void Animation::setObjectRoot(const std::string &model, bool baseonly)
     mObjectRoot = (!baseonly ? NifOgre::Loader::createObjects(mInsert, mdlname) :
                                NifOgre::Loader::createObjectBase(mInsert, mdlname));
 
-    // Fast forward auto-play particles, which will have been set up as Emitting by the loader.
-    for (unsigned int i=0; i<mObjectRoot->mParticles.size(); ++i)
-        mObjectRoot->mParticles[i]->fastForward(1, 0.1);
-
     if(mObjectRoot->mSkelBase)
     {
         mSkelBase = mObjectRoot->mSkelBase;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index d20e89324..f2bc3df95 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -571,10 +571,6 @@ NifOgre::ObjectScenePtr NpcAnimation::insertBoundedPart(const std::string &model
     std::for_each(objects->mEntities.begin(), objects->mEntities.end(), SetObjectGroup(group));
     std::for_each(objects->mParticles.begin(), objects->mParticles.end(), SetObjectGroup(group));
 
-    // Fast forward auto-play particles, which will have been set up as Emitting by the loader.
-    for (unsigned int i=0; i<objects->mParticles.size(); ++i)
-        objects->mParticles[i]->fastForward(1, 0.1);
-
     if(objects->mSkelBase)
     {
         Ogre::AnimationStateSet *aset = objects->mSkelBase->getAllAnimationStates();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp
index 469b93f88..5966a99b9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp
@@ -842,36 +842,12 @@ namespace MWWorld
     template <>
     class Store<ESM::Pathgrid> : public StoreBase
     {
-    public:
-        typedef std::vector<ESM::Pathgrid>::const_iterator iterator;
-
     private:
-        std::vector<ESM::Pathgrid>  mStatic;
+        typedef std::map<std::string, ESM::Pathgrid> Interior;
+        typedef std::map<std::pair<int, int>, ESM::Pathgrid> Exterior;
 
-        std::vector<ESM::Pathgrid>::iterator mIntBegin, mIntEnd, mExtBegin, mExtEnd;
-
-        struct IntExtOrdering
-        {
-            bool operator()(const ESM::Pathgrid &x, const ESM::Pathgrid &y) const {
-                // interior pathgrids precedes exterior ones (x < y)
-                if ((x.mData.mX == 0 && x.mData.mY == 0) &&
-                    (y.mData.mX != 0 || y.mData.mY != 0))
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-                return false;
-            }
-        };
-
-        struct ExtCompare
-        {
-            bool operator()(const ESM::Pathgrid &x, const ESM::Pathgrid &y) const {
-                if (x.mData.mX == y.mData.mX) {
-                    return x.mData.mY < y.mData.mY;
-                }
-                return x.mData.mX < y.mData.mX;
-            }
-        };
+        Interior mInt;
+        Exterior mExt;
 
     public:
 
@@ -881,65 +857,33 @@ namespace MWWorld
             pathgrid.load(esm);
 
             // Try to overwrite existing record
-            // Can't use search() because we aren't sorted yet
             if (!pathgrid.mCell.empty())
             {
-                for (std::vector<ESM::Pathgrid>::iterator it = mStatic.begin(); it != mStatic.end(); ++it)
-                {
-                    if ((*it).mCell == pathgrid.mCell)
-                    {
-                        (*it) = pathgrid;
-                        return;
-                    }
-                }
+                std::pair<Interior::iterator, bool> found = mInt.insert(std::make_pair(pathgrid.mCell, pathgrid));
+                if (found.second)
+                    found.first->second = pathgrid;
             }
             else
             {
-                for (std::vector<ESM::Pathgrid>::iterator it = mStatic.begin(); it != mStatic.end(); ++it)
-                {
-                    if ((*it).mData.mX == pathgrid.mData.mX && (*it).mData.mY == pathgrid.mData.mY)
-                    {
-                        (*it) = pathgrid;
-                        return;
-                    }
-                }
+                std::pair<Exterior::iterator, bool> found = mExt.insert(std::make_pair(std::make_pair(pathgrid.mData.mX, pathgrid.mData.mY),
+                                                                                       pathgrid));
+                if (found.second)
+                    found.first->second = pathgrid;
             }
-
-            mStatic.push_back(pathgrid);
         }
 
         size_t getSize() const {
-            return mStatic.size();
+            return mInt.size() + mExt.size();
         }
 
         void setUp() {
-            IntExtOrdering cmp;
-            std::sort(mStatic.begin(), mStatic.end(), cmp);
-
-            ESM::Pathgrid pg;
-            pg.mData.mX = pg.mData.mY = 1;
-            mExtBegin =
-                std::lower_bound(mStatic.begin(), mStatic.end(), pg, cmp);
-            mExtEnd = mStatic.end();
-
-            mIntBegin = mStatic.begin();
-            mIntEnd = mExtBegin;
-
-            std::sort(mIntBegin, mIntEnd, RecordCmp());
-            std::sort(mExtBegin, mExtEnd, ExtCompare());
         }
 
         const ESM::Pathgrid *search(int x, int y) const {
-            ESM::Pathgrid pg;
-            pg.mData.mX = x;
-            pg.mData.mY = y;
-
-            iterator it =
-                std::lower_bound(mExtBegin, mExtEnd, pg, ExtCompare());
-            if (it != mExtEnd && it->mData.mX == x && it->mData.mY == y) {
-                return &(*it);
-            }
-            return 0;
+            Exterior::const_iterator it = mExt.find(std::make_pair(x,y));
+            if (it != mExt.end())
+                return &(it->second);
+            return NULL;
         }
 
         const ESM::Pathgrid *find(int x, int y) const {
@@ -953,14 +897,10 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
 
         const ESM::Pathgrid *search(const std::string &name) const {
-            ESM::Pathgrid pg;
-            pg.mCell = name;
-
-            iterator it = std::lower_bound(mIntBegin, mIntEnd, pg, RecordCmp());
-            if (it != mIntEnd && Misc::StringUtils::ciEqual(it->mCell, name)) {
-                return &(*it);
-            }
-            return 0;
+            Interior::const_iterator it = mInt.find(name);
+            if (it != mInt.end())
+                return &(it->second);
+            return NULL;
         }
 
         const ESM::Pathgrid *find(const std::string &name) const {
@@ -986,53 +926,20 @@ namespace MWWorld
             }
             return find(cell.mData.mX, cell.mData.mY);
         }
-
-        iterator begin() const {
-            return mStatic.begin();
-        }
-
-        iterator end() const {
-            return mStatic.end();
-        }
-
-        iterator interiorPathsBegin() const {
-            return mIntBegin;
-        }
-
-        iterator interiorPathsEnd() const {
-            return mIntEnd;
-        }
-
-        iterator exteriorPathsBegin() const {
-            return mExtBegin;
-        }
-
-        iterator exteriorPathsEnd() const {
-            return mExtEnd;
-        }
     };
 
     template <class T>
     class IndexedStore
     {
-        struct Compare
-        {
-            bool operator()(const T &x, const T &y) const {
-                return x.mIndex < y.mIndex;
-            }
-        };
     protected:
-        std::vector<T> mStatic;
+        typedef typename std::map<int, T> Static;
+        Static mStatic;
 
     public:
-        typedef typename std::vector<T>::const_iterator iterator;
+        typedef typename std::map<int, T>::const_iterator iterator;
 
         IndexedStore() {}
 
-        IndexedStore(unsigned int size) {
-            mStatic.reserve(size);
-        }
-
         iterator begin() const {
             return mStatic.begin();
         }
@@ -1041,10 +948,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
             return mStatic.end();
         }
 
-        /// \todo refine loading order
         void load(ESM::ESMReader &esm) {
-            mStatic.push_back(T());
-            mStatic.back().load(esm);
+            T record;
+            record.load(esm);
+
+            // Try to overwrite existing record
+            std::pair<typename Static::iterator, bool> found = mStatic.insert(std::make_pair(record.mIndex, record));
+            if (found.second)
+                found.first->second = record;
         }
 
         int getSize() const {
@@ -1052,40 +963,13 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
 
         void setUp() {
-            /// \note This method sorts indexed values for further
-            /// searches. Every loaded item is present in storage, but
-            /// latest loaded shadows any previous while searching.
-            /// If memory cost will be too high, it is possible to remove
-            /// unused values.
-
-            Compare cmp;
-
-            std::stable_sort(mStatic.begin(), mStatic.end(), cmp);
-
-            typename std::vector<T>::iterator first, next;
-            next = first = mStatic.begin();
-
-            while (first != mStatic.end() && ++next != mStatic.end()) {
-                while (next != mStatic.end() && !cmp(*first, *next)) {
-                    ++next;
-                }
-                if (first != --next) {
-                    std::swap(*first, *next);
-                }
-                first = ++next;
-            }
         }
 
         const T *search(int index) const {
-            T item;
-            item.mIndex = index;
-
-            iterator it =
-                std::lower_bound(mStatic.begin(), mStatic.end(), item, Compare());
-            if (it != mStatic.end() && it->mIndex == index) {
-                return &(*it);
-            }
-            return 0;
+            typename Static::const_iterator it = mStatic.find(index);
+            if (it != mStatic.end())
+                return &(it->second);
+            return NULL;
         }
 
         const T *find(int index) const {
@@ -1103,18 +987,12 @@ namespace MWWorld
     struct Store<ESM::Skill> : public IndexedStore<ESM::Skill>
     {
         Store() {}
-        Store(unsigned int size)
-          : IndexedStore<ESM::Skill>(size)
-        {}
     };
 
     template <>
     struct Store<ESM::MagicEffect> : public IndexedStore<ESM::MagicEffect>
     {
         Store() {}
-        Store(unsigned int size)
-          : IndexedStore<ESM::MagicEffect>(size)
-        {}
     };
 
     template <>
diff --git a/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp b/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp
index 19e3f3bb3..07561c2ea 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadscpt.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,14 @@ void Script::load(ESMReader &esm)
         int s = mData.mStringTableSize;
 
         std::vector<char> tmp (s);
-        esm.getHExact (&tmp[0], s);
+        // not using getHExact, vanilla doesn't seem to mind unused bytes at the end
+        esm.getSubHeader();
+        int left = esm.getSubSize();
+        if (left < s)
+            esm.fail("SCVR string list is smaller than specified");
+        esm.getExact(&tmp[0], s);
+        if (left > s)
+            esm.skip(left-s); // skip the leftover junk
 
         // Set up the list of variable names
         mVarNames.resize(mData.mNumShorts + mData.mNumLongs + mData.mNumFloats);
diff --git a/components/nif/data.hpp b/components/nif/data.hpp
index 5efd0d6c9..d9de12fb5 100644
--- a/components/nif/data.hpp
+++ b/components/nif/data.hpp
@@ -350,8 +350,11 @@ struct NiMorphData : public Record
 struct NiKeyframeData : public Record
 {
     QuaternionKeyMap mRotations;
-    //\FIXME mXYZ_Keys are read, but not used.
-    FloatKeyMap mXYZ_Keys;
+
+    FloatKeyMap mXRotations;
+    FloatKeyMap mYRotations;
+    FloatKeyMap mZRotations;
+
     Vector3KeyMap mTranslations;
     FloatKeyMap mScales;
 
@@ -362,12 +365,9 @@ struct NiKeyframeData : public Record
         {
             //Chomp unused float
             nif->getFloat();
-            for(size_t i=0;i<3;++i)
-            {
-                //Read concatenates items together. 
-                mXYZ_Keys.read(nif,true);
-            }
-            nif->file->warn("XYZ_ROTATION_KEY read, but not used!");
+            mXRotations.read(nif, true);
+            mYRotations.read(nif, true);
+            mZRotations.read(nif, true);
         }
         mTranslations.read(nif);
         mScales.read(nif);
diff --git a/components/nif/nifkey.hpp b/components/nif/nifkey.hpp
index b0db80914..cb8142720 100644
--- a/components/nif/nifkey.hpp
+++ b/components/nif/nifkey.hpp
@@ -49,9 +49,7 @@ struct KeyMapT {
         if(count == 0 && !force)
             return;
 
-        //If we aren't forcing things, make sure that read clears any previous keys
-        if(!force)
-            mKeys.clear();
+        mKeys.clear();
 
         mInterpolationType = nif->getUInt();
 
@@ -88,7 +86,7 @@ struct KeyMapT {
         //XYZ keys aren't actually read here.
         //data.hpp sees that the last type read was sXYZInterpolation and:
         //    Eats a floating point number, then
-        //    Re-runs the read function 3 more times, with force enabled so that the previous values aren't cleared.
+        //    Re-runs the read function 3 more times.
         //        When it does that it's reading in a bunch of sLinearInterpolation keys, not sXYZInterpolation.
         else if(mInterpolationType == sXYZInterpolation)
         {
diff --git a/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.cpp b/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.cpp
index 053adfb5b..1d1e1a22d 100644
--- a/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.cpp
+++ b/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.cpp
@@ -161,6 +161,38 @@ void ObjectScene::rotateBillboardNodes(Ogre::Camera *camera)
     }
 }
 
+void ObjectScene::_notifyAttached()
+{
+    // convert initial particle positions to world space for world-space particle systems
+    // this can't be done on creation because the particle system is not in its correct world space position yet
+    for (std::vector<Ogre::ParticleSystem*>::iterator it = mParticles.begin(); it != mParticles.end(); ++it)
+    {
+        Ogre::ParticleSystem* psys = *it;
+        if (psys->getKeepParticlesInLocalSpace())
+            continue;
+        Ogre::ParticleIterator pi = psys->_getIterator();
+        while (!pi.end())
+        {
+            Ogre::Particle *p = pi.getNext();
+
+#if OGRE_VERSION >= (1 << 16 | 10 << 8 | 0)
+            Ogre::Vector3& position = p->mPosition;
+            Ogre::Vector3& direction = p->mDirection;
+#else
+            Ogre::Vector3& position = p->position;
+            Ogre::Vector3& direction = p->direction;
+#endif
+
+            position =
+                (psys->getParentNode()->_getDerivedOrientation() *
+                (psys->getParentNode()->_getDerivedScale() * position))
+                + psys->getParentNode()->_getDerivedPosition();
+            direction =
+                (psys->getParentNode()->_getDerivedOrientation() * direction);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 // Animates a texture
 class FlipController
 {
@@ -410,6 +442,9 @@ public:
     {
     private:
         const Nif::QuaternionKeyMap* mRotations;
+        const Nif::FloatKeyMap* mXRotations;
+        const Nif::FloatKeyMap* mYRotations;
+        const Nif::FloatKeyMap* mZRotations;
         const Nif::Vector3KeyMap* mTranslations;
         const Nif::FloatKeyMap* mScales;
         Nif::NIFFilePtr mNif; // Hold a SharedPtr to make sure key lists stay valid
@@ -440,11 +475,25 @@ public:
                 return keys.rbegin()->second.mValue;
         }
 
+        Ogre::Quaternion getXYZRotation(float time) const
+        {
+            float xrot = interpKey(mXRotations->mKeys, time);
+            float yrot = interpKey(mYRotations->mKeys, time);
+            float zrot = interpKey(mZRotations->mKeys, time);
+            Ogre::Quaternion xr(Ogre::Radian(xrot), Ogre::Vector3::UNIT_X);
+            Ogre::Quaternion yr(Ogre::Radian(yrot), Ogre::Vector3::UNIT_Y);
+            Ogre::Quaternion zr(Ogre::Radian(zrot), Ogre::Vector3::UNIT_Z);
+            return (xr*yr*zr);
+        }
+
     public:
         /// @note The NiKeyFrameData must be valid as long as this KeyframeController exists.
         Value(Ogre::Node *target, const Nif::NIFFilePtr& nif, const Nif::NiKeyframeData *data)
           : NodeTargetValue<Ogre::Real>(target)
           , mRotations(&data->mRotations)
+          , mXRotations(&data->mXRotations)
+          , mYRotations(&data->mYRotations)
+          , mZRotations(&data->mZRotations)
           , mTranslations(&data->mTranslations)
           , mScales(&data->mScales)
           , mNif(nif)
@@ -454,6 +503,8 @@ public:
         {
             if(mRotations->mKeys.size() > 0)
                 return interpKey(mRotations->mKeys, time);
+            else if (!mXRotations->mKeys.empty() || !mYRotations->mKeys.empty() || !mZRotations->mKeys.empty())
+                return getXYZRotation(time);
             return mNode->getOrientation();
         }
 
@@ -481,6 +532,8 @@ public:
         {
             if(mRotations->mKeys.size() > 0)
                 mNode->setOrientation(interpKey(mRotations->mKeys, time));
+            else if (!mXRotations->mKeys.empty() || !mYRotations->mKeys.empty() || !mZRotations->mKeys.empty())
+                mNode->setOrientation(getXYZRotation(time));
             if(mTranslations->mKeys.size() > 0)
                 mNode->setPosition(interpKey(mTranslations->mKeys, time));
             if(mScales->mKeys.size() > 0)
@@ -949,6 +1002,8 @@ class NIFObjectLoader
                     createParticleEmitterAffectors(partsys, partctrl, trgtbone, scene->mSkelBase->getName());
                 }
 
+                createParticleInitialState(partsys, particledata, partctrl);
+
                 Ogre::ControllerValueRealPtr srcval((partflags&Nif::NiNode::ParticleFlag_AutoPlay) ?
                                                     Ogre::ControllerManager::getSingleton().getFrameTimeSource() :
                                                     Ogre::ControllerValueRealPtr());
@@ -975,6 +1030,50 @@ class NIFObjectLoader
         createMaterialControllers(partnode, partsys, animflags, scene);
     }
 
+    static void createParticleInitialState(Ogre::ParticleSystem* partsys, const Nif::NiAutoNormalParticlesData* particledata,
+                                           const Nif::NiParticleSystemController* partctrl)
+    {
+        partsys->_update(0.f); // seems to be required to allocate mFreeParticles
+        int i=0;
+        for (std::vector<Nif::NiParticleSystemController::Particle>::const_iterator it = partctrl->particles.begin();
+             i<particledata->activeCount && it != partctrl->particles.end(); ++it, ++i)
+        {
+            const Nif::NiParticleSystemController::Particle& particle = *it;
+
+            Ogre::Particle* created = partsys->createParticle();
+            if (!created)
+                break;
+
+#if OGRE_VERSION >= (1 << 16 | 10 << 8 | 0)
+            Ogre::Vector3& position = created->mPosition;
+            Ogre::Vector3& direction = created->mDirection;
+            Ogre::ColourValue& colour = created->mColour;
+            float& totalTimeToLive = created->mTotalTimeToLive;
+            float& timeToLive = created->mTimeToLive;
+#else
+            Ogre::Vector3& position = created->position;
+            Ogre::Vector3& direction = created->direction;
+            Ogre::ColourValue& colour = created->colour;
+            float& totalTimeToLive = created->totalTimeToLive;
+            float& timeToLive = created->timeToLive;
+#endif
+
+            direction = particle.velocity;
+            position = particledata->vertices.at(particle.vertex);
+
+            if (particle.vertex < int(particledata->colors.size()))
+            {
+                Ogre::Vector4 partcolour = particledata->colors.at(particle.vertex);
+                colour = Ogre::ColourValue(partcolour.x, partcolour.y, partcolour.z, partcolour.w);
+            }
+            else
+                colour = Ogre::ColourValue(1.f, 1.f, 1.f, 1.f);
+            float size = particledata->sizes.at(particle.vertex);
+            created->setDimensions(size, size);
+            totalTimeToLive = std::max(0.f, particle.lifespan);
+            timeToLive = std::max(0.f, particle.lifespan - particle.lifetime);
+        }
+    }
 
     static void createNodeControllers(const Nif::NIFFilePtr& nif, const std::string &name, Nif::ControllerPtr ctrl, ObjectScenePtr scene, int animflags)
     {
@@ -1275,6 +1374,8 @@ ObjectScenePtr Loader::createObjects(Ogre::SceneNode *parentNode, std::string na
             parentNode->attachObject(entity);
     }
 
+    scene->_notifyAttached();
+
     return scene;
 }
 
@@ -1342,6 +1443,8 @@ ObjectScenePtr Loader::createObjects(Ogre::Entity *parent, const std::string &bo
         }
     }
 
+    scene->_notifyAttached();
+
     return scene;
 }
 
diff --git a/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.hpp b/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.hpp
index abadd38de..485495a38 100644
--- a/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.hpp
+++ b/components/nifogre/ogrenifloader.hpp
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ struct ObjectScene {
     void rotateBillboardNodes(Ogre::Camera* camera);
 
     void setVisibilityFlags (unsigned int flags);
+
+    // This is called internally by the OgreNifLoader once all elements of the
+    // scene have been attached to their respective nodes.
+    void _notifyAttached();
 };
 
 typedef Ogre::SharedPtr<ObjectScene> ObjectScenePtr;