diff --git a/LUA_API.rst b/LUA_API.rst
index 12b25bac8..bf6c81ec0 100644
--- a/LUA_API.rst
+++ b/LUA_API.rst
@@ -127,10 +127,15 @@ They implement the following features:
 
   Valid fields of the structure may be accessed by subscript.
 
-  In case of inheritance, *superclass* fields have precedence
+  Primitive typed fields, i.e. numbers & strings, are converted
+  to/from matching lua values. The value of a pointer is a reference
+  to the target, or nil/NULL. Complex types are represented by
+  a reference to the field within the structure; unless recursive
+  lua table assignment is used, such fields can only be read.
+
+  **NOTE:** In case of inheritance, *superclass* fields have precedence
   over the subclass, but fields shadowed in this way can still
   be accessed as ``ref['subclasstype.field']``.
-
   This shadowing order is necessary because vtable-based classes
   are automatically exposed in their exact type, and the reverse
   rule would make access to superclass fields unreliable.
@@ -138,8 +143,8 @@ They implement the following features:
 * ``ref._field(field)``
 
   Returns a reference to a valid field. That is, unlike regular
-  subscript, it returns a pointer reference even for primitive
-  typed fields.
+  subscript, it returns a reference to the field within the structure
+  even for primitive typed fields and pointers.
 
 * ``ref:vmethod(args...)``
 
@@ -297,3 +302,198 @@ The ``df`` table itself contains the following functions and values:
 * ``df.is_instance(type,obj)``
 
   Equivalent to the method, but also allows a reference as proxy for its type.
+
+Recursive table assignment
+==========================
+
+Recursive assignment is invoked when a lua table is assigned
+to a C++ object or field, i.e. one of:
+
+* ``ref:assign{...}``
+* ``ref.field = {...}``
+
+The general mode of operation is that all fields of the table
+are assigned to the fields of the target structure, roughly
+emulating the following code::
+
+    function rec_assign(ref,table)
+        for key,value in pairs(table) do
+            ref[key] = value
+        end
+    end
+
+Since assigning a table to a field using = invokes the same
+process, it is recursive.
+
+There are however some variations to this process depending
+on the type of the field being assigned to:
+
+1. If the table contains an ``assign`` field, it is
+   applied first, using the ``ref:assign(value)`` method.
+   It is never assigned as a usual field.
+
+2. When a table is assigned to a non-NULL pointer field
+   using the ``ref.field = {...}`` syntax, it is applied
+   to the target of the pointer instead.
+
+   If the pointer is NULL, the table is checked for a ``new`` field:
+
+   a. If it is *nil* or *false*, assignment fails with an error.
+
+   b. If it is *true*, the pointer is initialized with a newly
+      allocated object of the declared target type of the pointer.
+
+   c. Otherwise, ``table.new`` must be a named type, or an
+      object of a type compatible with the pointer. The pointer
+      is initialized with the result of calling ``table.new:new()``.
+
+   After this auto-vivification process, assignment proceeds
+   as if the pointer wasn't NULL.
+
+   Obviously, the ``new`` field inside the table is always skipped
+   during the actual per-field assignment processing.
+
+3. If the target of the assignment is a container, a separate
+   rule set is used:
+
+   a. If the table contains neither ``assign`` nor ``resize``
+      fields, it is interpreted as an ordinary *1-based* lua
+      array. The container is resized to the #-size of the
+      table, and elements are assigned in numeric order::
+
+        ref:resize(#table);
+        for i=1,#table do ref[i-1] = table[i] end
+
+   b. Otherwise, ``resize`` must be *true*, *false*, or
+      an explicit number. If it is not false, the container
+      is resized. After that the usual struct-like 'pairs'
+      assignment is performed.
+
+      In case ``resize`` is *true*, the size is computed
+      by scanning the table for the largest numeric key.
+
+   This means that in order to reassign only one element of
+   a container using this system, it is necessary to use::
+
+      { resize=false, [idx]=value }
+
+Since nil inside a table is indistinguishable from missing key,
+it is necessary to use ``df.NULL`` as a null pointer value.
+
+This system is intended as a way to define a nested object
+tree using pure lua data structures, and then materialize it in
+C++ memory in one go. Note that if pointer auto-vivification
+is used, an error in the middle of the recursive walk would
+not destroy any objects allocated in this way, so the user
+should be prepared to catch the error and do the necessary
+cleanup.
+
+================
+DFHack utilities
+================
+
+DFHack utility functions are placed in the ``dfhack`` global tree.
+
+Currently it defines the following features:
+
+* ``dfhack.print(args...)``
+
+  Output tab-separated args as standard lua print would do,
+  but without a newline.
+
+* ``print(args...)``, ``dfhack.println(args...)``
+
+  A replacement of the standard library print function that
+  works with DFHack output infrastructure.
+
+* ``dfhack.printerr(args...)``
+
+  Same as println; intended for errors. Uses red color and logs to stderr.log.
+
+* ``dfhack.color([color])``
+
+  Sets the current output color. If color is *nil* or *-1*, resets to default.
+
+* ``dfhack.is_interactive()``
+
+  Checks if the thread can access the interactive console and returns *true* or *false*.
+
+* ``dfhack.lineedit([prompt[,history_filename]])``
+
+  If the thread owns the interactive console, shows a prompt
+  and returns the entered string. Otherwise returns *nil, error*.
+
+* ``dfhack.interpreter([prompt[,env[,history_filename]]])``
+
+  Starts an interactive lua interpreter, using the specified prompt
+  string, global environment and command-line history file.
+
+  If the interactive console is not accessible, returns *nil, error*.
+
+* ``dfhack.pcall(f[,args...])``
+
+  Invokes f via xpcall, using an error function that attaches
+  a stack trace to the error. The same function is used by SafeCall
+  in C++, and dfhack.safecall.
+
+  The returned error is a table with separate ``message`` and
+  ``stacktrace`` string fields; it implements ``__tostring``.
+
+* ``safecall(f[,args...])``, ``dfhack.safecall(f[,args...])``
+
+  Just like pcall, but also prints the error using printerr before
+  returning. Intended as a convenience function.
+
+* ``dfhack.with_suspend(f[,args...])``
+
+  Calls ``f`` with arguments after grabbing the DF core suspend lock.
+  Suspending is necessary for accessing a consistent state of DF memory.
+
+  Returned values and errors are propagated through after releasing
+  the lock. It is safe to nest suspends.
+
+  Every thread is allowed only one suspend per DF frame, so it is best
+  to group operations together in one big critical section. A plugin
+  can choose to run all lua code inside a C++-side suspend lock.
+
+Persistent configuration storage
+================================
+
+This api is intended for storing configuration options in the world itself.
+It probably should be restricted to data that is world-dependent.
+
+Entries are identified by a string ``key``, but it is also possible to manage
+multiple entries with the same key; their identity is determined by ``entry_id``.
+Every entry has a mutable string ``value``, and an array of 7 mutable ``ints``.
+
+* ``dfhack.persistent.get(key)``, ``entry:get()``
+
+  Retrieves a persistent config record with the given string key,
+  or refreshes an already retrieved entry. If there are multiple
+  entries with the same key, it is undefined which one is retrieved
+  by the first version of the call.
+
+  Returns entry, or *nil* if not found.
+
+* ``dfhack.persistent.delete(key)``, ``entry:delete()``
+
+  Removes an existing entry. Returns *true* if succeeded.
+
+* ``dfhack.persistent.get_all(key[,match_prefix])``
+
+  Retrieves all entries with the same key, or starting with key..'/'.
+  Calling ``get_all('',true)`` will match all entries.
+
+  If none found, returns nil; otherwise returns an array of entries.
+
+* ``dfhack.persistent.save({key=str1, ...}[,new])``, ``entry:save([new])``
+
+  Saves changes in an entry, or creates a new one. Passing true as
+  new forces creation of a new entry even if one already exists;
+  otherwise the existing one is simply updated.
+  Returns *entry, did_create_new*
+
+Since the data is hidden in data structures owned by the DF world,
+and automatically stored in the save game, these save and retrieval
+functions can just copy values in memory without doing any actual I/O.
+However, currently every entry has a 180+-byte dead-weight overhead.
diff --git a/library/Core.cpp b/library/Core.cpp
index ffc174721..b3c91034f 100644
--- a/library/Core.cpp
+++ b/library/Core.cpp
@@ -868,6 +868,15 @@ int Core::Update()
 
     color_ostream_proxy out(con);
 
+    // Pretend this thread has suspended the core in the usual way
+    {
+        lock_guard<mutex> lock(d->AccessMutex);
+
+        assert(d->df_suspend_depth == 0);
+        d->df_suspend_thread = this_thread::get_id();
+        d->df_suspend_depth = 1000;
+    }
+
     // detect if the game was loaded or unloaded in the meantime
     void *new_wdata = NULL;
     void *new_mapdata = NULL;
@@ -922,6 +931,14 @@ int Core::Update()
     // notify all the plugins that a game tick is finished
     plug_mgr->OnUpdate(out);
 
+    // Release the fake suspend lock
+    {
+        lock_guard<mutex> lock(d->AccessMutex);
+
+        assert(d->df_suspend_depth == 1000);
+        d->df_suspend_depth = 0;
+    }
+
     out << std::flush;
 
     // wake waiting tools
diff --git a/library/LuaTools.cpp b/library/LuaTools.cpp
index f81396f95..5a50d0dd2 100644
--- a/library/LuaTools.cpp
+++ b/library/LuaTools.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,27 @@ static void set_dfhack_output(lua_State *L, color_ostream *p)
     lua_rawsetp(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_OSTREAM_TOKEN);
 }
 
+static Console *get_console(lua_State *state)
+{
+    color_ostream *pstream = Lua::GetOutput(state);
+
+    if (!pstream)
+    {
+        lua_pushnil(state);
+        lua_pushstring(state, "no output stream");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (!pstream->is_console())
+    {
+        lua_pushnil(state);
+        lua_pushstring(state, "not an interactive console");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    return static_cast<Console*>(pstream);
+}
+
 static std::string lua_print_fmt(lua_State *L)
 {
     /* Copied from lua source to fully replicate builtin print */
@@ -120,37 +141,233 @@ static int lua_dfhack_println(lua_State *S)
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int lua_dfhack_printerr(lua_State *S)
+static void dfhack_printerr(lua_State *S, const std::string &str)
 {
-    std::string str = lua_print_fmt(S);
     if (color_ostream *out = Lua::GetOutput(S))
         out->printerr("%s\n", str.c_str());
     else
         Core::printerr("%s\n", str.c_str());
+}
+
+static int lua_dfhack_printerr(lua_State *S)
+{
+    std::string str = lua_print_fmt(S);
+    dfhack_printerr(S, str);
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int traceback (lua_State *L) {
-    const char *msg = lua_tostring(L, 1);
-    if (msg)
-        luaL_traceback(L, L, msg, 1);
-    else if (!lua_isnoneornil(L, 1)) {  /* is there an error object? */
-        if (!luaL_callmeta(L, 1, "__tostring"))  /* try its 'tostring' metamethod */
-            lua_pushliteral(L, "(no error message)");
-    }
+static int lua_dfhack_color(lua_State *S)
+{
+    int cv = luaL_optint(S, 1, -1);
+
+    if (cv < -1 || cv > color_ostream::COLOR_MAX)
+        luaL_argerror(S, 1, "invalid color value");
+
+    color_ostream *out = Lua::GetOutput(S);
+    if (out)
+        out->color(color_ostream::color_value(cv));
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int lua_dfhack_is_interactive(lua_State *S)
+{
+    lua_pushboolean(S, get_console(S) != NULL);
     return 1;
 }
 
-static void report_error(color_ostream &out, lua_State *L)
+static int lua_dfhack_lineedit(lua_State *S)
 {
+    const char *prompt = luaL_optstring(S, 1, ">> ");
+    const char *hfile = luaL_optstring(S, 2, NULL);
+
+    Console *pstream = get_console(S);
+    if (!pstream)
+        return 2;
+
+    DFHack::CommandHistory hist;
+    if (hfile)
+        hist.load(hfile);
+
+    std::string ret;
+    int rv = pstream->lineedit(prompt, ret, hist);
+
+    if (rv < 0)
+    {
+        lua_pushnil(S);
+        lua_pushstring(S, "input error");
+        return 2;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        if (hfile)
+            hist.save(hfile);
+        lua_pushlstring(S, ret.data(), ret.size());
+        return 1;
+    }
+}
+
+static int DFHACK_EXCEPTION_META_TOKEN = 0;
+
+static void error_tostring(lua_State *L)
+{
+    lua_getglobal(L, "tostring");
+    lua_pushvalue(L, -2);
+    bool ok = lua_pcall(L, 1, 1, 0) == LUA_OK;
+
+    const char *msg = lua_tostring(L, -1);
+    if (!msg)
+    {
+        msg = "tostring didn't return a string";
+        ok = false;
+    }
+
+    if (!ok)
+    {
+        lua_pushfstring(L, "(invalid error: %s)", msg);
+        lua_remove(L, -2);
+    }
+}
+
+static void report_error(lua_State *L, color_ostream *out = NULL)
+{
+    lua_dup(L);
+    error_tostring(L);
+
     const char *msg = lua_tostring(L, -1);
-    if (msg)
-        out.printerr("%s\n", msg);
+    assert(msg);
+
+    if (out)
+        out->printerr("%s\n", msg);
     else
-        out.printerr("In Lua::SafeCall: error message is not a string.\n", msg);
+        dfhack_printerr(L, msg);
+
     lua_pop(L, 1);
 }
 
+static bool convert_to_exception(lua_State *L)
+{
+    int base = lua_gettop(L);
+
+    bool force_unknown = false;
+
+    if (lua_istable(L, base) && lua_getmetatable(L, base))
+    {
+        lua_rawgetp(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_EXCEPTION_META_TOKEN);
+        bool is_exception = lua_rawequal(L, -1, -2);
+        lua_settop(L, base);
+
+        // If it is an exception, return as is
+        if (is_exception)
+            return false;
+
+        force_unknown = true;
+    }
+
+    if (!lua_istable(L, base) || force_unknown)
+    {
+        lua_newtable(L);
+        lua_swap(L);
+
+        if (lua_isstring(L, -1))
+            lua_setfield(L, base, "message");
+        else
+        {
+            error_tostring(L);
+            lua_setfield(L, base, "message");
+            lua_setfield(L, base, "object");
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        lua_getfield(L, base, "message");
+
+        if (!lua_isstring(L, -1))
+        {
+            error_tostring(L);
+            lua_setfield(L, base, "message");
+        }
+
+        lua_settop(L, base);
+    }
+
+    lua_rawgetp(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_EXCEPTION_META_TOKEN);
+    lua_setmetatable(L, base);
+    return true;
+}
+
+static int dfhack_onerror(lua_State *L)
+{
+    luaL_checkany(L, 1);
+    lua_settop(L, 1);
+
+    bool changed = convert_to_exception(L);
+    if (!changed)
+        return 1;
+
+    luaL_traceback(L, L, NULL, 1);
+    lua_setfield(L, 1, "stacktrace");
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int dfhack_exception_tostring(lua_State *L)
+{
+    luaL_checktype(L, 1, LUA_TTABLE);
+
+    int base = lua_gettop(L);
+
+    lua_getfield(L, 1, "message");
+    if (!lua_isstring(L, -1))
+    {
+        lua_pop(L, 1);
+        lua_pushstring(L, "(error message is not a string)");
+    }
+
+    lua_pushstring(L, "\n");
+    lua_getfield(L, 1, "stacktrace");
+    if (!lua_isstring(L, -1))
+        lua_pop(L, 2);
+
+    lua_concat(L, lua_gettop(L) - base);
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static int finish_dfhack_safecall (lua_State *L, bool success)
+{
+    if (!lua_checkstack(L, 2))
+    {
+        lua_settop(L, 0);  /* create space for return values */
+        lua_pushboolean(L, 0);
+        lua_pushstring(L, "stack overflow in dfhack.safecall()");
+        success = false;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        lua_pushboolean(L, success);
+        lua_replace(L, 1); /* put first result in first slot */
+    }
+
+    if (!success)
+        report_error(L);
+
+    return lua_gettop(L);
+}
+
+static int safecall_cont (lua_State *L)
+{
+    int status = lua_getctx(L, NULL);
+    return finish_dfhack_safecall(L, (status == LUA_YIELD));
+}
+
+static int lua_dfhack_safecall (lua_State *L)
+{
+    luaL_checkany(L, 1);
+    lua_pushcfunction(L, dfhack_onerror);
+    lua_insert(L, 1);
+    int status = lua_pcallk(L, lua_gettop(L) - 2, LUA_MULTRET, 1, 0, safecall_cont);
+    return finish_dfhack_safecall(L, (status == LUA_OK));
+}
+
 bool DFHack::Lua::SafeCall(color_ostream &out, lua_State *L, int nargs, int nres, bool perr)
 {
     int base = lua_gettop(L) - nargs;
@@ -158,17 +375,20 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::SafeCall(color_ostream &out, lua_State *L, int nargs, int nres
     color_ostream *cur_out = Lua::GetOutput(L);
     set_dfhack_output(L, &out);
 
-    lua_pushcfunction(L, traceback);
+    lua_pushcfunction(L, dfhack_onerror);
     lua_insert(L, base);
 
     bool ok = lua_pcall(L, nargs, nres, base) == LUA_OK;
 
+    if (!ok && perr)
+    {
+        report_error(L, &out);
+        lua_pop(L, 1);
+    }
+
     lua_remove(L, base);
     set_dfhack_output(L, cur_out);
 
-    if (!ok && perr)
-        report_error(out, L);
-
     return ok;
 }
 
@@ -189,24 +409,51 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::Require(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
     return true;
 }
 
-static bool load_with_env(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state, const std::string &code, int eidx)
+bool DFHack::Lua::AssignDFObject(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
+                                 type_identity *type, void *target, int val_index, bool perr)
 {
-    if (luaL_loadbuffer(state, code.data(), code.size(), "=(interactive)") != LUA_OK)
+    val_index = lua_absindex(state, val_index);
+    lua_getfield(state, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, DFHACK_ASSIGN_NAME);
+    PushDFObject(state, type, target);
+    lua_pushvalue(state, val_index);
+    return Lua::SafeCall(out, state, 2, 0, perr);
+}
+
+bool DFHack::Lua::SafeCallString(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state, const std::string &code,
+                                 int nargs, int nres, bool perr,
+                                 const char *debug_tag, int env_idx)
+{
+    if (!debug_tag)
+        debug_tag = code.c_str();
+    if (env_idx)
+        env_idx = lua_absindex(state, env_idx);
+
+    int base = lua_gettop(state);
+
+    // Parse the code
+    if (luaL_loadbuffer(state, code.data(), code.size(), debug_tag) != LUA_OK)
     {
-        report_error(out, state);
+        if (perr)
+        {
+            report_error(state, &out);
+            lua_pop(state, 1);
+        }
+
         return false;
     }
 
     // Replace _ENV
-    lua_pushvalue(state, eidx);
-
-    if (!lua_setupvalue(state, -2, 1))
+    if (env_idx)
     {
-        out.printerr("No _ENV upvalue.\n");
-        return false;
+        lua_pushvalue(state, env_idx);
+        lua_setupvalue(state, -2, 1);
+        assert(lua_gettop(state) == base+1);
     }
 
-    return true;
+    if (nargs > 0)
+        lua_insert(state, -1-nargs);
+
+    return Lua::SafeCall(out, state, nargs, nres, perr);
 }
 
 bool DFHack::Lua::InterpreterLoop(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
@@ -240,6 +487,8 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::InterpreterLoop(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
 
     // Make a proxy global environment.
     lua_newtable(state);
+    int base = lua_gettop(state);
+
     lua_newtable(state);
     if (env)
         lua_pushvalue(state, env);
@@ -249,7 +498,6 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::InterpreterLoop(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
     lua_setmetatable(state, -2);
 
     // Main interactive loop
-    int base = lua_gettop(state);
     int vcnt = 1;
     string curline;
     string prompt_str = "[" + string(prompt) + "]# ";
@@ -272,9 +520,7 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::InterpreterLoop(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
         {
             curline = "return " + curline.substr(1);
 
-            if (!load_with_env(out, state, curline, base))
-                continue;
-            if (!SafeCall(out, state, 0, LUA_MULTRET))
+            if (!Lua::SafeCallString(out, state, curline, 0, LUA_MULTRET, true, "=(interactive)", base))
                 continue;
 
             int numret = lua_gettop(state) - base;
@@ -308,9 +554,7 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::InterpreterLoop(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
         }
         else
         {
-            if (!load_with_env(out, state, curline, base))
-                continue;
-            if (!SafeCall(out, state, 0, 0))
+            if (!Lua::SafeCallString(out, state, curline, 0, LUA_MULTRET, true, "=(interactive)", base))
                 continue;
         }
     }
@@ -323,9 +567,9 @@ bool DFHack::Lua::InterpreterLoop(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
 
 static int lua_dfhack_interpreter(lua_State *state)
 {
-    color_ostream *pstream = Lua::GetOutput(state);
+    Console *pstream = get_console(state);
     if (!pstream)
-        luaL_error(state, "Cannot use dfhack.interpreter() without output.");
+        return 2;
 
     int argc = lua_gettop(state);
 
@@ -339,8 +583,7 @@ static int lua_dfhack_interpreter(lua_State *state)
 
 static int lua_dfhack_with_suspend(lua_State *L)
 {
-    int ctx;
-    int rv = lua_getctx(L, &ctx);
+    int rv = lua_getctx(L, NULL);
 
     // Non-resume entry point:
     if (rv == LUA_OK)
@@ -351,7 +594,7 @@ static int lua_dfhack_with_suspend(lua_State *L)
 
         Core::getInstance().Suspend();
 
-        lua_pushcfunction(L, traceback);
+        lua_pushcfunction(L, dfhack_onerror);
         lua_insert(L, 1);
 
         rv = lua_pcallk(L, nargs-1, LUA_MULTRET, 1, 0, lua_dfhack_with_suspend);
@@ -372,8 +615,12 @@ static const luaL_Reg dfhack_funcs[] = {
     { "print", lua_dfhack_print },
     { "println", lua_dfhack_println },
     { "printerr", lua_dfhack_printerr },
-    { "traceback", traceback },
+    { "color", lua_dfhack_color },
+    { "is_interactive", lua_dfhack_is_interactive },
+    { "lineedit", lua_dfhack_lineedit },
     { "interpreter", lua_dfhack_interpreter },
+    { "safecall", lua_dfhack_safecall },
+    { "onerror", dfhack_onerror },
     { "with_suspend", lua_dfhack_with_suspend },
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
@@ -459,6 +706,8 @@ static PersistentDataItem get_persistent(lua_State *state)
 
 static int dfhack_persistent_get(lua_State *state)
 {
+    CoreSuspender suspend;
+
     auto ref = get_persistent(state);
 
     return read_persistent(state, ref, !lua_istable(state, 1));
@@ -466,6 +715,8 @@ static int dfhack_persistent_get(lua_State *state)
 
 static int dfhack_persistent_delete(lua_State *state)
 {
+    CoreSuspender suspend;
+
     auto ref = get_persistent(state);
 
     bool ok = Core::getInstance().getWorld()->DeletePersistentData(ref);
@@ -476,6 +727,8 @@ static int dfhack_persistent_delete(lua_State *state)
 
 static int dfhack_persistent_get_all(lua_State *state)
 {
+    CoreSuspender suspend;
+
     const char *str = luaL_checkstring(state, 1);
     bool prefix = (lua_gettop(state)>=2 ? lua_toboolean(state,2) : false);
 
@@ -501,6 +754,8 @@ static int dfhack_persistent_get_all(lua_State *state)
 
 static int dfhack_persistent_save(lua_State *state)
 {
+    CoreSuspender suspend;
+
     lua_settop(state, 2);
     luaL_checktype(state, 1, LUA_TTABLE);
     bool add = lua_toboolean(state, 2);
@@ -597,8 +852,18 @@ lua_State *DFHack::Lua::Open(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state)
     lua_pushcfunction(state, lua_dfhack_println);
     lua_setglobal(state, "print");
 
-    // Create and initialize the dfhack global
+    // Create the dfhack global
     lua_newtable(state);
+
+    // Create the metatable for exceptions
+    lua_newtable(state);
+    lua_pushcfunction(state, dfhack_exception_tostring);
+    lua_setfield(state, -2, "__tostring");
+    lua_dup(state);
+    lua_rawsetp(state, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, &DFHACK_EXCEPTION_META_TOKEN);
+    lua_setfield(state, -2, "exception");
+
+    // Initialize the dfhack global
     luaL_setfuncs(state, dfhack_funcs, 0);
 
     OpenPersistent(state);
diff --git a/library/include/LuaTools.h b/library/include/LuaTools.h
index 6f95e7f6e..7e3ed1683 100644
--- a/library/include/LuaTools.h
+++ b/library/include/LuaTools.h
@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ namespace DFHack { namespace Lua {
      */
     DFHACK_EXPORT void *GetDFObject(lua_State *state, type_identity *type, int val_index, bool exact_type = false);
 
+    /**
+     * Assign the value at val_index to the target of given identity using df.assign().
+     * Return behavior is of SafeCall below.
+     */
+    DFHACK_EXPORT bool AssignDFObject(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state,
+                                      type_identity *type, void *target, int val_index, bool perr = true);
+
     /**
      * Push the pointer onto the stack as a wrapped DF object of a specific type.
      */
@@ -95,12 +102,28 @@ namespace DFHack { namespace Lua {
         return (T*)GetDFObject(state, df::identity_traits<T>::get(), val_index, exact_type);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Assign the value at val_index to the target using df.assign().
+     */
+    template<class T>
+    bool AssignDFObject(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state, T *target, int val_index, bool perr = true) {
+        return AssignDFObject(out, state, df::identity_traits<T>::get(), target, val_index, perr);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Invoke lua function via pcall. Returns true if success.
      * If an error is signalled, and perr is true, it is printed and popped from the stack.
      */
     DFHACK_EXPORT bool SafeCall(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state, int nargs, int nres, bool perr = true);
 
+    /**
+     * Parse code from string with debug_tag and env_idx, then call it using SafeCall.
+     * In case of error, it is either left on the stack, or printed like SafeCall does.
+     */
+    DFHACK_EXPORT bool SafeCallString(color_ostream &out, lua_State *state, const std::string &code,
+                                      int nargs, int nres, bool perr = true,
+                                      const char *debug_tag = NULL, int env_idx = 0);
+
     /**
      * Returns the ostream passed to SafeCall.
      */
diff --git a/library/lua/dfhack.lua b/library/lua/dfhack.lua
index b7052b2ea..67652ff15 100644
--- a/library/lua/dfhack.lua
+++ b/library/lua/dfhack.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 -- Common startup file for all dfhack plugins with lua support
 -- The global dfhack table is already created by C++ init code.
 
+safecall = dfhack.safecall
+
+function dfhack.pcall(f, ...)
+    return xpcall(f, dfhack.onerror, ...)
+end
+
 function mkmodule(module,env)
     local pkg = package.loaded[module]
     if pkg == nil then