diff --git a/apps/openmw/main.cpp b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
index c3f0f8688..a4bf1fe5b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/main.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <components/version/version.hpp>
 #include <components/files/configurationmanager.hpp>
+#include <components/fallback/validate.hpp>
 
 #include <SDL_messagebox.h>
 #include <SDL_main.h>
@@ -52,39 +53,8 @@ inline boost::filesystem::path lexical_cast<boost::filesystem::path, std::string
 } /* namespace boost */
 #endif /* (BOOST_VERSION <= 104600) */
 
-struct FallbackMap {
-    std::map<std::string,std::string> mMap;
-};
-
-void validate(boost::any &v, std::vector<std::string> const &tokens, FallbackMap*, int)
-{
-    if(v.empty())
-    {
-        v = boost::any(FallbackMap());
-    }
-
-    FallbackMap *map = boost::any_cast<FallbackMap>(&v);
-
-    for(std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator it=tokens.begin(); it != tokens.end(); ++it)
-    {
-        int sep = it->find(",");
-        if(sep < 1 || sep == (int)it->length()-1)
-#if (BOOST_VERSION < 104200)
-            throw boost::program_options::validation_error("invalid value");
-#else
-            throw boost::program_options::validation_error(boost::program_options::validation_error::invalid_option_value);
-#endif
-
-        std::string key(it->substr(0,sep));
-        std::string value(it->substr(sep+1));
-
-        if(map->mMap.find(key) == map->mMap.end())
-        {
-            map->mMap.insert(std::make_pair (key,value));
-        }
-    }
-}
 
+using namespace Fallback;
 
 /**
  * \brief Parses application command line and calls \ref Cfg::ConfigurationManager
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index ebce2e1bf..801016e06 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
 namespace MWWorld
 {
-    class Fallback;
     class CellStore;
     class Player;
     class LocalScripts;
@@ -67,6 +66,11 @@ namespace MWWorld
     typedef std::vector<std::pair<MWWorld::Ptr,MWMechanics::Movement> > PtrMovementList;
 }
 
+namespace Fallback
+{
+    class Map;
+}
+
 namespace MWBase
 {
     /// \brief Interface for the World (implemented in MWWorld)
@@ -119,7 +123,7 @@ namespace MWBase
 
             virtual void adjustSky() = 0;
 
-            virtual const MWWorld::Fallback *getFallback () const = 0;
+            virtual const Fallback::Map *getFallback () const = 0;
 
             virtual MWWorld::Player& getPlayer() = 0;
             virtual MWWorld::Ptr getPlayerPtr() = 0;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/charactercreation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/charactercreation.cpp
index d2ce35509..8c2ec6881 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/charactercreation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/charactercreation.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include "charactercreation.hpp"
 
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/soundmanager.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp"
@@ -10,7 +12,6 @@
 #include "../mwmechanics/actorutil.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
 
 #include "textinput.hpp"
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ namespace
     const ESM::Class::Specialization mSpecializations[3]={ESM::Class::Combat, ESM::Class::Magic, ESM::Class::Stealth}; // The specialization for each answer
     Step sGenerateClassSteps(int number) {
         number++;
-        const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback=MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
+        const Fallback::Map* fallback=MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
         Step step = {fallback->getFallbackString("Question_"+MyGUI::utility::toString(number)+"_Question"),
         {fallback->getFallbackString("Question_"+MyGUI::utility::toString(number)+"_AnswerOne"),
         fallback->getFallbackString("Question_"+MyGUI::utility::toString(number)+"_AnswerTwo"),
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp
index c832a7879..4e8d0a02c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/levelupdialog.cpp
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@
 #include <MyGUI_ImageBox.h>
 #include <MyGUI_EditBox.h>
 
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/soundmanager.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/cellstore.hpp"
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index 68a073731..c2fc82881 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -35,11 +35,12 @@
 #include <components/sceneutil/skeleton.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/positionattitudetransform.hpp>
 
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/esmstore.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/cellstore.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwmechanics/character.hpp" // FIXME: for MWMechanics::Priority
@@ -1113,7 +1114,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Light> light (new osg::Light);
         lightSource->setNodeMask(Mask_Lighting);
 
-        const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
+        const Fallback::Map* fallback = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
 
         float radius = esmLight->mData.mRadius;
         lightSource->setRadius(radius);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index ee9d93c0f..61ce626fd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 #include <components/terrain/terraingrid.hpp>
 
 #include <components/esm/loadcell.hpp>
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
 
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/cellstore.hpp"
 
 #include "sky.hpp"
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ namespace MWRender
     };
 
     RenderingManager::RenderingManager(osgViewer::Viewer* viewer, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> rootNode, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem,
-                                       const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback, const std::string& resourcePath)
+                                       const Fallback::Map* fallback, const std::string& resourcePath)
         : mViewer(viewer)
         , mRootNode(rootNode)
         , mResourceSystem(resourceSystem)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
index 58012078c..3b583af89 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ namespace Terrain
     class World;
 }
 
-namespace MWWorld
+namespace Fallback
 {
-    class Fallback;
+    class Map;
 }
 
 namespace MWRender
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ namespace MWRender
     {
     public:
         RenderingManager(osgViewer::Viewer* viewer, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> rootNode, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem,
-                         const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback, const std::string& resourcePath);
+                         const Fallback::Map* fallback, const std::string& resourcePath);
         ~RenderingManager();
 
         MWRender::Objects& getObjects();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp
index f232ea475..f74631c4a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp
@@ -15,19 +15,18 @@
 #include <components/nifosg/controller.hpp>
 #include <components/resource/texturemanager.hpp>
 #include <components/resource/resourcesystem.hpp>
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
 
 #include "vismask.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
-
 #include "../mwmechanics/actorutil.hpp"
 
 namespace
 {
-    void createWaterRippleStateSet(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback, osg::Node* node)
+    void createWaterRippleStateSet(Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const Fallback::Map* fallback, osg::Node* node)
     {
         int rippleFrameCount = fallback->getFallbackInt("Water_RippleFrameCount");
         if (rippleFrameCount <= 0)
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ namespace
 namespace MWRender
 {
 
-RippleSimulation::RippleSimulation(osg::Group *parent, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback)
+RippleSimulation::RippleSimulation(osg::Group *parent, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const Fallback::Map* fallback)
     : mParent(parent)
 {
     osg::ref_ptr<osg::Geode> geode (new osg::Geode);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.hpp
index a4e12f275..bca81c59b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.hpp
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ namespace Resource
     class ResourceSystem;
 }
 
-namespace MWWorld
+namespace Fallback
 {
-    class Fallback;
+    class Map;
 }
 
 namespace MWRender
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace MWRender
     class RippleSimulation
     {
     public:
-        RippleSimulation(osg::Group* parent, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback);
+        RippleSimulation(osg::Group* parent, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, const Fallback::Map* fallback);
         ~RippleSimulation();
 
         /// @param dt Time since the last frame
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
index 635116db0..efe797336 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <components/resource/texturemanager.hpp>
 
 #include <components/vfs/manager.hpp>
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
 
 #include <components/sceneutil/util.hpp>
 #include <components/sceneutil/statesetupdater.hpp>
@@ -42,8 +43,6 @@
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
-
 #include "vismask.hpp"
 #include "renderbin.hpp"
 
@@ -827,7 +826,7 @@ private:
             , mTimeOfDayFade(1.f)
             , mGlareView(1.f)
         {
-            const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
+            const Fallback::Map* fallback = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
             mColor = fallback->getFallbackColour("Weather_Sun_Glare_Fader_Color");
             mSunGlareFaderMax = fallback->getFallbackFloat("Weather_Sun_Glare_Fader_Max");
             mSunGlareFaderAngleMax = fallback->getFallbackFloat("Weather_Sun_Glare_Fader_Angle_Max");
@@ -1161,7 +1160,7 @@ void SkyManager::create()
 
     mSun.reset(new Sun(mEarlyRenderBinRoot, *mSceneManager->getTextureManager()));
 
-    const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback=MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
+    const Fallback::Map* fallback=MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFallback();
     mMasser.reset(new Moon(mEarlyRenderBinRoot, *mSceneManager->getTextureManager(), fallback->getFallbackFloat("Moons_Masser_Size")/125, Moon::Type_Masser));
     mSecunda.reset(new Moon(mEarlyRenderBinRoot, *mSceneManager->getTextureManager(), fallback->getFallbackFloat("Moons_Secunda_Size")/125, Moon::Type_Secunda));
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
index cd1f4c511..1b19246f5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@
 
 #include <components/esm/loadcell.hpp>
 
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwworld/cellstore.hpp"
-#include "../mwworld/fallback.hpp"
 
 #include "vismask.hpp"
 #include "ripplesimulation.hpp"
@@ -457,7 +458,7 @@ public:
 };
 
 Water::Water(osg::Group *parent, osg::Group* sceneRoot, Resource::ResourceSystem *resourceSystem, osgUtil::IncrementalCompileOperation *ico,
-             const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback, const std::string& resourcePath)
+             const Fallback::Map* fallback, const std::string& resourcePath)
     : mParent(parent)
     , mSceneRoot(sceneRoot)
     , mResourceSystem(resourceSystem)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp
index b26782873..b02ee392c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.hpp
@@ -28,11 +28,15 @@ namespace Resource
 
 namespace MWWorld
 {
-    class Fallback;
     class CellStore;
     class Ptr;
 }
 
+namespace Fallback
+{
+    class Map;
+}
+
 namespace MWRender
 {
 
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::PositionAttitudeTransform> mWaterNode;
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Geode> mWaterGeode;
         Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
-        const MWWorld::Fallback* mFallback;
+        const Fallback::Map* mFallback;
         osg::ref_ptr<osgUtil::IncrementalCompileOperation> mIncrementalCompileOperation;
 
         std::auto_ptr<RippleSimulation> mSimulation;
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ namespace MWRender
 
     public:
         Water(osg::Group* parent, osg::Group* sceneRoot,
-              Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osgUtil::IncrementalCompileOperation* ico, const MWWorld::Fallback* fallback,
+              Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem, osgUtil::IncrementalCompileOperation* ico, const Fallback::Map* fallback,
               const std::string& resourcePath);
         ~Water();
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
index 5ce3d5c2f..c40913ff1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <components/esm/esmwriter.hpp>
 #include <components/esm/savedgame.hpp>
 #include <components/esm/weatherstate.hpp>
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@
 
 #include "player.hpp"
 #include "esmstore.hpp"
-#include "fallback.hpp"
 #include "cellstore.hpp"
 
 #include <cmath>
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ template class TimeOfDayInterpolator<float>;
 template class TimeOfDayInterpolator<osg::Vec4f>;
 
 Weather::Weather(const std::string& name,
-                 const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback,
+                 const Fallback::Map& fallback,
                  float stormWindSpeed,
                  float rainSpeed,
                  const std::string& particleEffect)
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ void RegionWeather::chooseNewWeather()
     mWeather = i;
 }
 
-MoonModel::MoonModel(const std::string& name, const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback)
+MoonModel::MoonModel(const std::string& name, const Fallback::Map& fallback)
   : mFadeInStart(fallback.getFallbackFloat("Moons_" + name + "_Fade_In_Start"))
   , mFadeInFinish(fallback.getFallbackFloat("Moons_" + name + "_Fade_In_Finish"))
   , mFadeOutStart(fallback.getFallbackFloat("Moons_" + name + "_Fade_Out_Start"))
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ inline float MoonModel::earlyMoonShadowAlpha(float angle) const
         return 0.0f;
 }
 
-WeatherManager::WeatherManager(MWRender::RenderingManager& rendering, const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback, MWWorld::ESMStore& store)
+WeatherManager::WeatherManager(MWRender::RenderingManager& rendering, const Fallback::Map& fallback, MWWorld::ESMStore& store)
     : mStore(store)
     , mRendering(rendering)
     , mSunriseTime(fallback.getFallbackFloat("Weather_Sunrise_Time"))
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ void WeatherManager::clear()
 }
 
 inline void WeatherManager::addWeather(const std::string& name,
-                                       const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback,
+                                       const Fallback::Map& fallback,
                                        const std::string& particleEffect)
 {
     static const float fStromWindSpeed = mStore.get<ESM::GameSetting>().find("fStromWindSpeed")->getFloat();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp
index a5627a507..044200757 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/weather.hpp
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ namespace Loading
     class Listener;
 }
 
+namespace Fallback
+{
+    class Map;
+}
+
 namespace MWWorld
 {
-    class Fallback;
     class TimeStamp;
 
 
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     {
     public:
         Weather(const std::string& name,
-                const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback,
+                const Fallback::Map& fallback,
                 float stormWindSpeed,
                 float rainSpeed,
                 const std::string& particleEffect);
@@ -172,7 +176,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     class MoonModel
     {
     public:
-        MoonModel(const std::string& name, const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback);
+        MoonModel(const std::string& name, const Fallback::Map& fallback);
 
         MWRender::MoonState calculateState(const TimeStamp& gameTime) const;
 
@@ -203,7 +207,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     public:
         // Have to pass fallback and Store, can't use singleton since World isn't fully constructed yet at the time
         WeatherManager(MWRender::RenderingManager& rendering,
-                       const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback,
+                       const Fallback::Map& fallback,
                        MWWorld::ESMStore& store);
         ~WeatherManager();
 
@@ -288,7 +292,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         std::string mPlayingSoundID;
 
         void addWeather(const std::string& name,
-                        const MWWorld::Fallback& fallback,
+                        const Fallback::Map& fallback,
                         const std::string& particleEffect = "");
 
         void importRegions();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 15826009d..789b1b64f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         return 0;
     }
 
-    const MWWorld::Fallback *World::getFallback() const
+    const Fallback::Map *World::getFallback() const
     {
         return &mFallback;
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 4ed97759e..53d640871 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -5,21 +5,20 @@
 
 #include <osg/ref_ptr>
 
+#include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
+#include <components/fallback/fallback.hpp>
+
+#include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
+
 #include "ptr.hpp"
 #include "scene.hpp"
 #include "esmstore.hpp"
 #include "cells.hpp"
 #include "localscripts.hpp"
 #include "timestamp.hpp"
-#include "fallback.hpp"
 #include "globals.hpp"
-
-#include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
-
 #include "contentloader.hpp"
 
-#include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
-
 namespace osg
 {
     class Group;
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     {
             Resource::ResourceSystem* mResourceSystem;
 
-            MWWorld::Fallback mFallback;
+            Fallback::Map mFallback;
             MWRender::RenderingManager* mRendering;
 
             MWWorld::WeatherManager* mWeatherManager;
@@ -210,7 +209,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             virtual void adjustSky();
 
-            virtual const Fallback *getFallback() const;
+            virtual const Fallback::Map *getFallback() const;
 
             virtual Player& getPlayer();
             virtual MWWorld::Ptr getPlayerPtr();
diff --git a/components/CMakeLists.txt b/components/CMakeLists.txt
index bbbff234c..af26fc998 100644
--- a/components/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/components/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -138,6 +138,10 @@ add_component_dir (version
     version
     )
 
+add_component_dir (fallback
+    fallback validate
+    )
+
 set (ESM_UI ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/files/ui/contentselector.ui
     )
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/fallback.cpp b/components/fallback/fallback.cpp
similarity index 75%
rename from apps/openmw/mwworld/fallback.cpp
rename to components/fallback/fallback.cpp
index e810f8241..354595660 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/fallback.cpp
+++ b/components/fallback/fallback.cpp
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
-namespace MWWorld
+namespace Fallback
 {
-    Fallback::Fallback(const std::map<std::string,std::string>& fallback):mFallbackMap(fallback)
+    Map::Map(const std::map<std::string,std::string>& fallback):mFallbackMap(fallback)
     {}
 
-    std::string Fallback::getFallbackString(const std::string& fall) const
+    std::string Map::getFallbackString(const std::string& fall) const
     {
         std::map<std::string,std::string>::const_iterator it;
         if((it = mFallbackMap.find(fall)) == mFallbackMap.end())
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
         return it->second;
     }
-    float Fallback::getFallbackFloat(const std::string& fall) const
+    float Map::getFallbackFloat(const std::string& fall) const
     {
         std::string fallback=getFallbackString(fall);
         if(fallback.empty())
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         else
             return boost::lexical_cast<float>(fallback);
     }
-    int Fallback::getFallbackInt(const std::string& fall) const
+    int Map::getFallbackInt(const std::string& fall) const
     {
         std::string fallback=getFallbackString(fall);
         if(fallback.empty())
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             return boost::lexical_cast<int>(fallback);
     }
 
-    bool Fallback::getFallbackBool(const std::string& fall) const
+    bool Map::getFallbackBool(const std::string& fall) const
     {
         std::string fallback=getFallbackString(fall);
         if(fallback.empty())
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         else
             return boost::lexical_cast<bool>(fallback);
     }
-    osg::Vec4f Fallback::getFallbackColour(const std::string& fall) const
+    osg::Vec4f Map::getFallbackColour(const std::string& fall) const
     {
         std::string sum=getFallbackString(fall);
         if(sum.empty())
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/fallback.hpp b/components/fallback/fallback.hpp
similarity index 67%
rename from apps/openmw/mwworld/fallback.hpp
rename to components/fallback/fallback.hpp
index af47063ee..b44483fbc 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/fallback.hpp
+++ b/components/fallback/fallback.hpp
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
-#ifndef GAME_MWWORLD_FALLBACK_H
-#define GAME_MWWORLD_FALLBACK_H
+#ifndef OPENMW_COMPONENTS_FALLBACK_H
+#define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_FALLBACK_H
 
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 
 #include <osg/Vec4f>
 
-namespace MWWorld
+namespace Fallback
 {
-    class Fallback
+    /// @brief contains settings imported from the Morrowind INI file.
+    class Map
     {
             const std::map<std::string,std::string> mFallbackMap;
         public:
-            Fallback(const std::map<std::string,std::string>& fallback);
+            Map(const std::map<std::string,std::string>& fallback);
             std::string getFallbackString(const std::string& fall) const;
             float getFallbackFloat(const std::string& fall) const;
             int getFallbackInt(const std::string& fall) const;
diff --git a/components/fallback/validate.hpp b/components/fallback/validate.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3b6398d6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/fallback/validate.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#ifndef OPENMW_COMPONENTS_FALLBACK_VALIDATE_H
+#define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_FALLBACK_VALIDATE_H
+
+#include <boost/program_options.hpp>
+
+// Parses and validates a fallback map from boost program_options.
+// Note: for boost to pick up the validate function, you need to pull in the namespace e.g.
+// by using namespace Fallback;
+
+namespace Fallback
+{
+
+    struct FallbackMap {
+        std::map<std::string,std::string> mMap;
+    };
+
+    void validate(boost::any &v, std::vector<std::string> const &tokens, FallbackMap*, int)
+    {
+        if(v.empty())
+        {
+            v = boost::any(FallbackMap());
+        }
+
+        FallbackMap *map = boost::any_cast<FallbackMap>(&v);
+
+        for(std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator it=tokens.begin(); it != tokens.end(); ++it)
+        {
+            int sep = it->find(",");
+            if(sep < 1 || sep == (int)it->length()-1)
+    #if (BOOST_VERSION < 104200)
+                throw boost::program_options::validation_error("invalid value");
+    #else
+                throw boost::program_options::validation_error(boost::program_options::validation_error::invalid_option_value);
+    #endif
+
+            std::string key(it->substr(0,sep));
+            std::string value(it->substr(sep+1));
+
+            if(map->mMap.find(key) == map->mMap.end())
+            {
+                map->mMap.insert(std::make_pair (key,value));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+}
+
+#endif