diff --git a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index dc341b39d..c9438e04e 100644
--- a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ if(BUILD_SUPPORTED)
     dfhack_plugin(siege-engine siege-engine.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     dfhack_plugin(sort sort.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     dfhack_plugin(steam-engine steam-engine.cpp)
-    dfhack_plugin(spectate spectate.cpp)
+    add_subdirectory(spectate)
     dfhack_plugin(stockflow stockflow.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     add_subdirectory(stockpiles)
     dfhack_plugin(stocks stocks.cpp)
diff --git a/plugins/spectate/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/spectate/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..000291d34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/spectate/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+
+project(spectate)
+
+SET(SOURCES
+        spectate.cpp
+        pause.cpp)
+
+dfhack_plugin(${PROJECT_NAME} ${SOURCES} LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/spectate/pause.cpp b/plugins/spectate/pause.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bac3c1654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/spectate/pause.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+#include "pause.h"
+#include <VTableInterpose.h>
+#include <df/global_objects.h>
+#include <df/viewscreen_dwarfmodest.h>
+#include <df/announcements.h>
+#include <df/d_init.h>
+#include <df/ui.h>
+
+#include <algorithm>
+
+using namespace DFHack;
+using namespace Pausing;
+using namespace df::enums;
+
+namespace pausing {
+    AnnouncementLock announcementLock("monitor");
+    PlayerLock playerLock("monitor");
+
+    const size_t announcement_flag_arr_size = sizeof(decltype(df::announcements::flags)) / sizeof(df::announcement_flags);
+    bool state_saved = false; // indicates whether a restore state is ok
+    bool announcements_disabled = false; // indicates whether disable or restore was last enacted, could use a better name
+    bool saved_states[announcement_flag_arr_size]; // state to restore
+    bool locked_states[announcement_flag_arr_size]; // locked state (re-applied each frame)
+    bool allow_player_pause = true; // toggles player pause ability
+
+    using df::global::ui;
+    using namespace df::enums;
+    struct player_pause_hook : df::viewscreen_dwarfmodest {
+        typedef df::viewscreen_dwarfmodest interpose_base;
+        DEFINE_VMETHOD_INTERPOSE(void, feed, (std::set<df::interface_key>* input)) {
+            if ((ui->main.mode == ui_sidebar_mode::Default) && !allow_player_pause) {
+                input->erase(interface_key::D_PAUSE);
+            }
+            INTERPOSE_NEXT(feed)(input);
+        }
+    };
+
+    IMPLEMENT_VMETHOD_INTERPOSE(player_pause_hook, feed);
+}
+using namespace pausing;
+
+std::unordered_set<Lock*> PlayerLock::locks;
+std::unordered_set<Lock*> AnnouncementLock::locks;
+
+template<typename Locks>
+inline bool any_lock(Locks locks) {
+    return std::any_of(locks.begin(), locks.end(), [](Lock* lock) { return lock->isLocked(); });
+}
+
+template<typename Locks, typename LockT>
+inline bool only_lock(Locks locks, LockT* this_lock) {
+    return std::all_of(locks.begin(), locks.end(), [&](Lock* lock) {
+        if (lock == this_lock) {
+            return lock->isLocked();
+        }
+        return !lock->isLocked();
+    });
+}
+
+template<typename Locks, typename LockT>
+inline bool only_or_none_locked(Locks locks, LockT* this_lock) {
+    for (auto &L: locks) {
+        if (L == this_lock) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (L->isLocked()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool AnnouncementLock::captureState() {
+    if (only_or_none_locked(locks, this)) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < announcement_flag_arr_size; ++i) {
+            locked_states[i] = df::global::d_init->announcements.flags[i].bits.PAUSE;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+void AnnouncementLock::lock() {
+    Lock::lock();
+    captureState();
+}
+
+bool AnnouncementLock::isAnyLocked() const {
+    return any_lock(locks);
+}
+
+bool AnnouncementLock::isOnlyLocked() const {
+    return only_lock(locks, this);
+}
+
+bool PlayerLock::isAnyLocked() const {
+    return any_lock(locks);
+}
+
+bool PlayerLock::isOnlyLocked() const {
+    return only_lock(locks, this);
+}
+
+bool World::DisableAnnouncementPausing() {
+    if (!announcementLock.isAnyLocked()) {
+        for (auto& flag : df::global::d_init->announcements.flags) {
+            flag.bits.PAUSE = false;
+        }
+        announcements_disabled = true;
+    }
+    return announcements_disabled;
+}
+
+bool World::SaveAnnouncementSettings() {
+    if (!announcementLock.isAnyLocked()) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < announcement_flag_arr_size; ++i) {
+            saved_states[i] = df::global::d_init->announcements.flags[i].bits.PAUSE;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+bool World::RestoreAnnouncementSettings() {
+    if (!announcementLock.isAnyLocked() && state_saved) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < announcement_flag_arr_size; ++i) {
+            df::global::d_init->announcements.flags[i].bits.PAUSE = saved_states[i];
+        }
+        announcements_disabled = false;
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+bool World::EnablePlayerPausing() {
+    if (!playerLock.isAnyLocked()) {
+        allow_player_pause = true;
+    }
+    return allow_player_pause;
+}
+
+bool World::DisablePlayerPausing() {
+    if (!playerLock.isAnyLocked()) {
+        allow_player_pause = false;
+    }
+    return !allow_player_pause;
+}
+
+void World::Update() {
+    static bool did_once = false;
+    if (!did_once) {
+        did_once = true;
+        INTERPOSE_HOOK(player_pause_hook, feed).apply();
+    }
+    if (announcementLock.isAnyLocked()) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < announcement_flag_arr_size; ++i) {
+            df::global::d_init->announcements.flags[i].bits.PAUSE = locked_states[i];
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/spectate/pause.h b/plugins/spectate/pause.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dafc259d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/spectate/pause.h
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <unordered_set>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace DFHack {
+    ////////////
+    // Locking mechanisms for control over pausing
+    namespace Pausing
+    {
+        class Lock
+        {
+            bool locked = false;
+            std::string name;
+        public:
+            explicit Lock(const char* name) { this->name = name;};
+            virtual ~Lock()= default;
+            virtual bool isAnyLocked() const = 0;
+            virtual bool isOnlyLocked() const = 0;
+            bool isLocked() const   { return locked; }
+            virtual void lock()     { locked = true; }; //simply locks the lock
+            void unlock()           { locked = false; };
+        };
+
+        // non-blocking lock resource used in conjunction with the announcement functions in World
+        class AnnouncementLock : public Lock
+        {
+            static std::unordered_set<Lock*> locks;
+        public:
+            explicit AnnouncementLock(const char* name): Lock(name) { locks.emplace(this); }
+            ~AnnouncementLock() override { locks.erase(this); }
+            bool captureState(); // captures the state of announcement settings, iff this is the only locked lock (note it does nothing if 0 locks are engaged)
+            void lock() override; // locks and attempts to capture state
+            bool isAnyLocked() const override; // returns true if any instance of AnnouncementLock is locked
+            bool isOnlyLocked() const override; // returns true if locked and no other instance is locked
+        };
+
+        // non-blocking lock resource used in conjunction with the Player pause functions in World
+        class PlayerLock : public Lock
+        {
+            static std::unordered_set<Lock*> locks;
+        public:
+            explicit PlayerLock(const char* name): Lock(name) { locks.emplace(this); }
+            ~PlayerLock() override { locks.erase(this); }
+            bool isAnyLocked() const override; // returns true if any instance of PlayerLock is locked
+            bool isOnlyLocked() const override; // returns true if locked and no other instance is locked
+        };
+    }
+    namespace World {
+        bool DisableAnnouncementPausing(); // disable announcement pausing if all locks are open
+        bool SaveAnnouncementSettings(); // save current announcement pause settings if all locks are open
+        bool RestoreAnnouncementSettings(); // restore saved announcement pause settings if all locks are open
+
+        bool EnablePlayerPausing(); // enable player pausing if all locks are open
+        bool DisablePlayerPausing(); // disable player pausing if all locks are open
+
+        void Update();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/spectate.cpp b/plugins/spectate/spectate.cpp
similarity index 99%
rename from plugins/spectate.cpp
rename to plugins/spectate/spectate.cpp
index 2cf23df1d..fc305d33e 100644
--- a/plugins/spectate.cpp
+++ b/plugins/spectate/spectate.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 // Created by josh on 7/28/21.
 //
 
+#include "pause.h"
+
 #include "Core.h"
 #include <modules/Gui.h>
 #include <Console.h>
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ REQUIRE_GLOBAL(pause_state);
 REQUIRE_GLOBAL(d_init);
 
 using namespace DFHack;
+using namespace Pausing;
 using namespace df::enums;
 
 void onTick(color_ostream& out, void* tick);
@@ -53,6 +56,9 @@ std::set<int32_t> job_tracker;
 std::map<uint16_t,uint16_t> freq;
 std::default_random_engine RNG;
 
+
+
+
 #define base 0.99
 
 static const std::string CONFIG_KEY = std::string(plugin_name) + "/config";
@@ -80,12 +86,12 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_init (color_ostream &out, std::vector <Plugi
                                      "Automated spectator mode.",
                                      spectate,
                                      false));
-    pause_lock = World::AcquireAnnouncementPauseLock("spectate");
+    pause_lock = new AnnouncementLock("spectate");
     return CR_OK;
 }
 
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_shutdown (color_ostream &out) {
-    World::ReleasePauseLock(pause_lock);
+    delete pause_lock;
     return CR_OK;
 }