diff --git a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index b6e05b749..5d2d40813 100644
--- a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ if (BUILD_SUPPORTED)
     add_subdirectory(rendermax)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(resume resume.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(reveal reveal.cpp)
+    DFHACK_PLUGIN(twbt-utils twbt-utils.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(search search.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(seedwatch seedwatch.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(showmood showmood.cpp)
diff --git a/plugins/lua/twbt-utils.lua b/plugins/lua/twbt-utils.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56bdb0b19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/lua/twbt-utils.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+local _ENV = mkmodule('plugins.twbt-utils')
+
+--[[
+
+ Native functions:
+
+ * render_map_rect(x,y,z,w,h)
+
+--]]
+
+return _ENV
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/twbt-utils.cpp b/plugins/twbt-utils.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7524ac29e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/twbt-utils.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#include "Core.h"
+#include "Console.h"
+#include "Export.h"
+#include "PluginManager.h"
+#include "VersionInfo.h"
+#include "VTableInterpose.h"
+#include "LuaTools.h"
+
+#include "DataDefs.h"
+
+#include "df/viewscreen_dwarfmodest.h"
+#include "df/init.h"
+#include "df/renderer.h"
+#include "df/graphic.h"
+
+using std::string;
+using std::vector;
+using namespace DFHack;
+using namespace df::enums;
+
+DFHACK_PLUGIN("twbt-utils");
+REQUIRE_GLOBAL(window_x)
+REQUIRE_GLOBAL(window_y)
+REQUIRE_GLOBAL(window_z)
+REQUIRE_GLOBAL_NO_USE(gps)
+
+#ifdef WIN32
+    // On Windows there's no convert_magenta parameter. Arguments are pushed onto stack,
+    // except for tex_pos and filename, which go into ecx and edx. Simulating this with __fastcall.
+    typedef void(__fastcall *LOAD_MULTI_PDIM)(long *tex_pos, const string &filename, void *tex, long dimx, long dimy, long *disp_x, long *disp_y);
+
+    // On Windows there's no parameter pointing to the map_renderer structure
+    typedef void(_stdcall *RENDER_MAP)(int);
+    typedef void(_stdcall *RENDER_UPDOWN)();
+
+    RENDER_MAP _render_map;
+    void render_map(){ _render_map(0); }
+#else
+    typedef void(*LOAD_MULTI_PDIM)(void *tex, const string &filename, long *tex_pos, long dimx, long dimy, bool convert_magenta, long *disp_x, long *disp_y);
+
+    typedef void(*RENDER_MAP)(void*, int);
+    typedef void(*RENDER_UPDOWN)(void*);
+
+    RENDER_MAP _render_map;
+    void render_map(){ _render_map(); }
+#endif
+static int render_map_rect(lua_State* L)
+{
+    CoreSuspender suspender;
+
+    int x = luaL_checkint(L, 1);
+    int y = luaL_checkint(L, 2);
+    int z = luaL_checkint(L, 3);
+    int w = luaL_checkint(L, 4);
+    int h = luaL_checkint(L, 5);
+    //backup state
+    uint8_t *s = df::global::gps->screen;
+    int32_t win_h = df::global::gps->dimy;
+    int32_t was_x = *window_x;
+    int32_t was_y = *window_y;
+    int32_t was_z = *window_z;
+    int32_t gx = df::global::init->display.grid_x;
+    int32_t gy = df::global::init->display.grid_y;
+    df::global::init->display.grid_x = w+1;
+    df::global::init->display.grid_y = h+1;
+    *window_x = x;
+    *window_y = y;
+    *window_z = z;
+    //force full redraw
+    df::global::gps->force_full_display_count = 1;
+    for (int ty = 0; ty < h; ty++)
+    for (int tx = 0; tx < w; tx++)
+    {
+        for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
+        {
+            int t = (tx + 1)*win_h + ty + 1;
+            s[t * 4 + i] = 0;
+        }
+    }
+    render_map();
+    //restore state
+    *window_x = was_x;
+    *window_y = was_y;
+    *window_z = was_z;
+    df::global::init->display.grid_x = gx;
+    df::global::init->display.grid_y = gy;
+
+    lua_createtable(L,w*h*4,0);
+
+    int counter = 0;
+    for (int ty = 0; ty < h; ty++)
+    for (int tx = 0; tx < w; tx++)
+    {
+        for (int i = 0; i < 4;i++)
+        {
+            int t = (tx + 1)*win_h + ty + 1;
+            lua_pushnumber(L, s[t*4+i]);
+            lua_rawseti(L, -2, counter);
+            counter++;
+        }
+    }
+    return 1;
+}
+
+DFHACK_PLUGIN_LUA_COMMANDS{
+    DFHACK_LUA_COMMAND(render_map_rect),
+    DFHACK_LUA_END
+};
+
+DFhackCExport command_result plugin_init(color_ostream &out, std::vector<PluginCommand> &commands)
+{
+    auto addr =reinterpret_cast<RENDER_MAP>(Core::getInstance().vinfo->getAddress("twbt_render_map"));
+    if (addr == nullptr)
+        return CR_FAILURE;
+    _render_map = addr;
+    return CR_OK;
+}
+
+DFhackCExport command_result plugin_shutdown(color_ostream &out)
+{
+    return CR_OK;
+}