diff --git a/apps/esmtool/record.cpp b/apps/esmtool/record.cpp
index 912ad0d683..b83c711476 100644
--- a/apps/esmtool/record.cpp
+++ b/apps/esmtool/record.cpp
@@ -896,9 +896,6 @@ namespace EsmTool
         if (const ESM::Land::LandData* data = mData.getLandData(mData.mDataTypes))
         {
             std::cout << "  Height Offset: " << data->mHeightOffset << std::endl;
-            // Lots of missing members.
-            std::cout << "  Unknown1: " << data->mUnk1 << std::endl;
-            std::cout << "  Unknown2: " << static_cast<unsigned>(data->mUnk2) << std::endl;
         }
         mData.unloadData();
         std::cout << "  Deleted: " << mIsDeleted << std::endl;
diff --git a/apps/essimporter/converter.cpp b/apps/essimporter/converter.cpp
index 4c4bd1e438..ebb0c9d281 100644
--- a/apps/essimporter/converter.cpp
+++ b/apps/essimporter/converter.cpp
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ namespace ESSImport
                 esm.skip(4);
             }
 
-            esm.getExact(nam8, 32);
+            esm.getT(nam8);
 
             newcell.mFogOfWar.reserve(16 * 16);
             for (int x = 0; x < 16; ++x)
diff --git a/apps/essimporter/importcellref.cpp b/apps/essimporter/importcellref.cpp
index 56e888d3f6..9e8e9a6948 100644
--- a/apps/essimporter/importcellref.cpp
+++ b/apps/essimporter/importcellref.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,30 @@
 #include "importcellref.hpp"
 
 #include <components/esm3/esmreader.hpp>
+#include <components/misc/concepts.hpp>
+
 #include <cstdint>
 
 namespace ESSImport
 {
+    template <Misc::SameAsWithoutCvref<ACDT> T>
+    void decompose(T&& v, const auto& f)
+    {
+        f(v.mUnknown, v.mFlags, v.mBreathMeter, v.mUnknown2, v.mDynamic, v.mUnknown3, v.mAttributes, v.mMagicEffects,
+            v.mUnknown4, v.mGoldPool, v.mCountDown, v.mUnknown5);
+    }
+
+    template <Misc::SameAsWithoutCvref<ACSC> T>
+    void decompose(T&& v, const auto& f)
+    {
+        f(v.mUnknown1, v.mFlags, v.mUnknown2, v.mCorpseClearCountdown, v.mUnknown3);
+    }
+
+    template <Misc::SameAsWithoutCvref<ANIS> T>
+    void decompose(T&& v, const auto& f)
+    {
+        f(v.mGroupIndex, v.mUnknown, v.mTime);
+    }
 
     void CellRef::load(ESM::ESMReader& esm)
     {
@@ -45,14 +65,9 @@ namespace ESSImport
         bool isDeleted = false;
         ESM::CellRef::loadData(esm, isDeleted);
 
-        mActorData.mHasACDT
-            = esm.getHNOT("ACDT", mActorData.mACDT.mUnknown, mActorData.mACDT.mFlags, mActorData.mACDT.mBreathMeter,
-                mActorData.mACDT.mUnknown2, mActorData.mACDT.mDynamic, mActorData.mACDT.mUnknown3,
-                mActorData.mACDT.mAttributes, mActorData.mACDT.mMagicEffects, mActorData.mACDT.mUnknown4,
-                mActorData.mACDT.mGoldPool, mActorData.mACDT.mCountDown, mActorData.mACDT.mUnknown5);
+        mActorData.mHasACDT = esm.getOptionalComposite("ACDT", mActorData.mACDT);
 
-        mActorData.mHasACSC = esm.getHNOT("ACSC", mActorData.mACSC.mUnknown1, mActorData.mACSC.mFlags,
-            mActorData.mACSC.mUnknown2, mActorData.mACSC.mCorpseClearCountdown, mActorData.mACSC.mUnknown3);
+        mActorData.mHasACSC = esm.getOptionalComposite("ACSC", mActorData.mACSC);
 
         if (esm.isNextSub("ACSL"))
             esm.skipHSubSize(112);
@@ -127,8 +142,7 @@ namespace ESSImport
         if (esm.isNextSub("ND3D"))
             esm.skipHSub();
 
-        mActorData.mHasANIS
-            = esm.getHNOT("ANIS", mActorData.mANIS.mGroupIndex, mActorData.mANIS.mUnknown, mActorData.mANIS.mTime);
+        mActorData.mHasANIS = esm.getOptionalComposite("ANIS", mActorData.mANIS);
 
         if (esm.isNextSub("LVCR"))
         {
@@ -146,7 +160,7 @@ namespace ESSImport
         // I've seen DATA *twice* on a creature record, and with the exact same content too! weird
         // alarmvoi0000.ess
         for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i)
-            esm.getHNOT("DATA", mPos.pos, mPos.rot);
+            esm.getOptionalComposite("DATA", mPos);
 
         mDeleted = 0;
         if (esm.isNextSub("DELE"))
diff --git a/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp b/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp
index 76b685c8a3..5cc9a8259b 100644
--- a/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp
+++ b/apps/essimporter/importer.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ namespace ESSImport
                 sub.mFileOffset = esm.getFileOffset();
                 sub.mName = esm.retSubName().toString();
                 sub.mData.resize(esm.getSubSize());
-                esm.getExact(&sub.mData[0], sub.mData.size());
+                esm.getExact(sub.mData.data(), sub.mData.size());
                 rec.mSubrecords.push_back(sub);
             }
             file.mRecords.push_back(rec);
diff --git a/components/esm/luascripts.cpp b/components/esm/luascripts.cpp
index 8f2048d8a7..71e2ce6dc1 100644
--- a/components/esm/luascripts.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/luascripts.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ std::string ESM::loadLuaBinaryData(ESMReader& esm)
     {
         esm.getSubHeader();
         data.resize(esm.getSubSize());
-        esm.getExact(data.data(), static_cast<int>(data.size()));
+        esm.getExact(data.data(), data.size());
     }
     return data;
 }
diff --git a/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp b/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp
index c52e739f5f..4f69b8edef 100644
--- a/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/esmreader.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ namespace ESM
     {
         if (isNextSub(name))
             return getHString();
-        return "";
+        return {};
     }
 
     ESM::RefId ESMReader::getHNORefId(NAME name)
@@ -244,21 +244,6 @@ namespace ESM
         skipHString();
     }
 
-    void ESMReader::getHExact(void* p, std::size_t size)
-    {
-        getSubHeader();
-        if (size != mCtx.leftSub)
-            reportSubSizeMismatch(size, mCtx.leftSub);
-        getExact(p, size);
-    }
-
-    // Read the given number of bytes from a named subrecord
-    void ESMReader::getHNExact(void* p, std::size_t size, NAME name)
-    {
-        getSubNameIs(name);
-        getHExact(p, size);
-    }
-
     FormId ESMReader::getFormId(bool wide, NAME tag)
     {
         FormId res;
@@ -316,7 +301,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         // reading the subrecord data anyway.
         const std::size_t subNameSize = decltype(mCtx.subName)::sCapacity;
-        getExact(mCtx.subName.mData, static_cast<int>(subNameSize));
+        getExact(mCtx.subName.mData, subNameSize);
         mCtx.leftRec -= static_cast<std::uint32_t>(subNameSize);
     }
 
@@ -506,7 +491,7 @@ namespace ESM
             case RefIdType::Generated:
             {
                 std::uint64_t generated{};
-                getExact(&generated, sizeof(std::uint64_t));
+                getT(generated);
                 return RefId::generated(generated);
             }
             case RefIdType::Index:
@@ -514,14 +499,14 @@ namespace ESM
                 RecNameInts recordType{};
                 getExact(&recordType, sizeof(std::uint32_t));
                 std::uint32_t index{};
-                getExact(&index, sizeof(std::uint32_t));
+                getT(index);
                 return RefId::index(recordType, index);
             }
             case RefIdType::ESM3ExteriorCell:
             {
                 int32_t x, y;
-                getExact(&x, sizeof(std::int32_t));
-                getExact(&y, sizeof(std::int32_t));
+                getT(x);
+                getT(y);
                 return RefId::esm3ExteriorCell(x, y);
             }
         }
@@ -529,7 +514,7 @@ namespace ESM
         fail("Unsupported RefIdType: " + std::to_string(static_cast<unsigned>(refIdType)));
     }
 
-    [[noreturn]] void ESMReader::fail(const std::string& msg)
+    [[noreturn]] void ESMReader::fail(std::string_view msg)
     {
         std::stringstream ss;
 
diff --git a/components/esm3/esmreader.hpp b/components/esm3/esmreader.hpp
index b67cc0f8bb..5af5e75573 100644
--- a/components/esm3/esmreader.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/esmreader.hpp
@@ -237,12 +237,6 @@ namespace ESM
 
         void skipHRefId();
 
-        // Read the given number of bytes from a subrecord
-        void getHExact(void* p, std::size_t size);
-
-        // Read the given number of bytes from a named subrecord
-        void getHNExact(void* p, std::size_t size, NAME name);
-
         ESM::FormId getFormId(bool wide = false, NAME tag = "FRMR");
 
         /*************************************************************************
@@ -354,7 +348,7 @@ namespace ESM
         }
 
         /// Used for error handling
-        [[noreturn]] void fail(const std::string& msg);
+        [[noreturn]] void fail(std::string_view msg);
 
         /// Sets font encoder for ESM strings
         void setEncoder(ToUTF8::Utf8Encoder* encoder) { mEncoder = encoder; }
diff --git a/components/esm3/esmwriter.cpp b/components/esm3/esmwriter.cpp
index ad64ced0a4..47c861e3ca 100644
--- a/components/esm3/esmwriter.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/esmwriter.cpp
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@ namespace ESM
         mHeader.mData.type = type;
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::setAuthor(const std::string& auth)
+    void ESMWriter::setAuthor(std::string_view auth)
     {
-        mHeader.mData.author.assign(auth);
+        mHeader.mData.author = auth;
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::setDescription(const std::string& desc)
+    void ESMWriter::setDescription(std::string_view desc)
     {
-        mHeader.mData.desc.assign(desc);
+        mHeader.mData.desc = desc;
     }
 
     void ESMWriter::setRecordCount(int count)
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ namespace ESM
         mHeader.mMaster.clear();
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::addMaster(const std::string& name, uint64_t size)
+    void ESMWriter::addMaster(std::string_view name, uint64_t size)
     {
         Header::MasterData d;
         d.name = name;
@@ -208,14 +208,14 @@ namespace ESM
         endRecord(NAME(name));
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::writeHNString(NAME name, const std::string& data)
+    void ESMWriter::writeHNString(NAME name, std::string_view data)
     {
         startSubRecord(name);
         writeHString(data);
         endRecord(name);
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::writeHNString(NAME name, const std::string& data, size_t size)
+    void ESMWriter::writeHNString(NAME name, std::string_view data, size_t size)
     {
         assert(data.size() <= size);
         startSubRecord(name);
@@ -278,9 +278,9 @@ namespace ESM
         write(string.c_str(), string.size());
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::writeHString(const std::string& data)
+    void ESMWriter::writeHString(std::string_view data)
     {
-        if (data.size() == 0)
+        if (data.empty())
             write("\0", 1);
         else
         {
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ namespace ESM
         }
     }
 
-    void ESMWriter::writeHCString(const std::string& data)
+    void ESMWriter::writeHCString(std::string_view data)
     {
         writeHString(data);
         if (data.size() > 0 && data[data.size() - 1] != '\0')
diff --git a/components/esm3/esmwriter.hpp b/components/esm3/esmwriter.hpp
index 101246fe43..96445bcdae 100644
--- a/components/esm3/esmwriter.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/esmwriter.hpp
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ namespace ESM
         void setVersion(unsigned int ver = 0x3fa66666);
         void setType(int type);
         void setEncoder(ToUTF8::Utf8Encoder* encoding);
-        void setAuthor(const std::string& author);
-        void setDescription(const std::string& desc);
+        void setAuthor(std::string_view author);
+        void setDescription(std::string_view desc);
         void setHeader(const Header& value) { mHeader = value; }
 
         // Set the record count for writing it in the file header
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace ESM
 
         void clearMaster();
 
-        void addMaster(const std::string& name, uint64_t size);
+        void addMaster(std::string_view name, uint64_t size);
 
         void save(std::ostream& file);
         ///< Start saving a file by writing the TES3 header.
@@ -62,20 +62,20 @@ namespace ESM
         void close();
         ///< \note Does not close the stream.
 
-        void writeHNString(NAME name, const std::string& data);
-        void writeHNString(NAME name, const std::string& data, size_t size);
-        void writeHNCString(NAME name, const std::string& data)
+        void writeHNString(NAME name, std::string_view data);
+        void writeHNString(NAME name, std::string_view data, size_t size);
+        void writeHNCString(NAME name, std::string_view data)
         {
             startSubRecord(name);
             writeHCString(data);
             endRecord(name);
         }
-        void writeHNOString(NAME name, const std::string& data)
+        void writeHNOString(NAME name, std::string_view data)
         {
             if (!data.empty())
                 writeHNString(name, data);
         }
-        void writeHNOCString(NAME name, const std::string& data)
+        void writeHNOCString(NAME name, std::string_view data)
         {
             if (!data.empty())
                 writeHNCString(name, data);
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ namespace ESM
         // state being discarded without any error on writing or reading it. :(
         // writeHNString and friends must be used instead.
         void writeHNT(NAME name, const std::string& data) = delete;
+        void writeHNT(NAME name, std::string_view data) = delete;
 
         void writeT(NAME data) = delete;
 
@@ -181,8 +182,8 @@ namespace ESM
         void endRecord(NAME name);
         void endRecord(uint32_t name);
         void writeMaybeFixedSizeString(const std::string& data, std::size_t size);
-        void writeHString(const std::string& data);
-        void writeHCString(const std::string& data);
+        void writeHString(std::string_view data);
+        void writeHCString(std::string_view data);
 
         void writeMaybeFixedSizeRefId(RefId value, std::size_t size);
 
diff --git a/components/esm3/landrecorddata.hpp b/components/esm3/landrecorddata.hpp
index e7db0d9f3a..ca2a2b74ad 100644
--- a/components/esm3/landrecorddata.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/landrecorddata.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef OPENMW_COMPONENTS_ESM3_LANDRECORDDATA_H
 #define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_ESM3_LANDRECORDDATA_H
 
+#include <array>
 #include <cstdint>
 
 namespace ESM
@@ -22,24 +23,20 @@ namespace ESM
         // Initial reference height for the first vertex, only needed for filling mHeights
         float mHeightOffset = 0;
         // Height in world space for each vertex
-        float mHeights[sLandNumVerts];
+        std::array<float, sLandNumVerts> mHeights;
         float mMinHeight = 0;
         float mMaxHeight = 0;
 
         // 24-bit normals, these aren't always correct though. Edge and corner normals may be garbage.
-        std::int8_t mNormals[sLandNumVerts * 3];
+        std::array<std::int8_t, 3 * sLandNumVerts> mNormals;
 
         // 2D array of texture indices. An index can be used to look up an LandTexture,
         // but to do so you must subtract 1 from the index first!
         // An index of 0 indicates the default texture.
-        std::uint16_t mTextures[sLandNumTextures];
+        std::array<std::uint16_t, sLandNumTextures> mTextures;
 
         // 24-bit RGB color for each vertex
-        std::uint8_t mColours[3 * sLandNumVerts];
-
-        // ???
-        std::uint16_t mUnk1 = 0;
-        std::uint8_t mUnk2 = 0;
+        std::array<std::uint8_t, 3 * sLandNumVerts> mColours;
 
         int mDataLoaded = 0;
     };
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadland.cpp b/components/esm3/loadland.cpp
index 8b8a8f90fa..74edf30498 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadland.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadland.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 #include <limits>
 #include <utility>
 
-#include "components/esm/defs.hpp"
+#include <components/esm/defs.hpp>
+#include <components/misc/concepts.hpp>
+
 #include "esmreader.hpp"
 #include "esmwriter.hpp"
 
@@ -13,27 +15,43 @@ namespace ESM
 {
     namespace
     {
+        struct VHGT
+        {
+            float mHeightOffset;
+            std::int8_t mHeightData[LandRecordData::sLandNumVerts];
+        };
+
+        template <Misc::SameAsWithoutCvref<VHGT> T>
+        void decompose(T&& v, const auto& f)
+        {
+            char padding[3] = { 0, 0, 0 };
+            f(v.mHeightOffset, v.mHeightData, padding);
+        }
+
         void transposeTextureData(const std::uint16_t* in, std::uint16_t* out)
         {
-            int readPos = 0; // bit ugly, but it works
-            for (int y1 = 0; y1 < 4; y1++)
-                for (int x1 = 0; x1 < 4; x1++)
-                    for (int y2 = 0; y2 < 4; y2++)
-                        for (int x2 = 0; x2 < 4; x2++)
+            size_t readPos = 0; // bit ugly, but it works
+            for (size_t y1 = 0; y1 < 4; y1++)
+                for (size_t x1 = 0; x1 < 4; x1++)
+                    for (size_t y2 = 0; y2 < 4; y2++)
+                        for (size_t x2 = 0; x2 < 4; x2++)
                             out[(y1 * 4 + y2) * 16 + (x1 * 4 + x2)] = in[readPos++];
         }
 
         // Loads data and marks it as loaded. Return true if data is actually loaded from reader, false otherwise
         // including the case when data is already loaded.
-        bool condLoad(ESMReader& reader, int flags, int& targetFlags, int dataFlag, void* ptr, std::size_t size)
+        bool condLoad(ESMReader& reader, int flags, int& targetFlags, int dataFlag, auto& in)
         {
             if ((targetFlags & dataFlag) == 0 && (flags & dataFlag) != 0)
             {
-                reader.getHExact(ptr, size);
+                if constexpr (std::is_same_v<std::remove_cvref_t<decltype(in)>, VHGT>)
+                    reader.getSubComposite(in);
+                else
+                    reader.getHT(in);
                 targetFlags |= dataFlag;
                 return true;
             }
-            reader.skipHSubSize(size);
+            reader.skipHSub();
             return false;
         }
     }
@@ -50,11 +68,7 @@ namespace ESM
             switch (esm.retSubName().toInt())
             {
                 case fourCC("INTV"):
-                    esm.getSubHeader();
-                    if (esm.getSubSize() != 8)
-                        esm.fail("Subrecord size is not equal to 8");
-                    esm.getT(mX);
-                    esm.getT(mY);
+                    esm.getHT(mX, mY);
                     hasLocation = true;
                     break;
                 case fourCC("DATA"):
@@ -94,7 +108,7 @@ namespace ESM
                     mDataTypes |= DATA_VHGT;
                     break;
                 case fourCC("WNAM"):
-                    esm.getHExact(mWnam.data(), mWnam.size());
+                    esm.getHT(mWnam);
                     mDataTypes |= DATA_WNAM;
                     break;
                 case fourCC("VCLR"):
@@ -137,12 +151,10 @@ namespace ESM
             {
                 VHGT offsets;
                 offsets.mHeightOffset = mLandData->mHeights[0] / HEIGHT_SCALE;
-                offsets.mUnk1 = mLandData->mUnk1;
-                offsets.mUnk2 = mLandData->mUnk2;
 
                 float prevY = mLandData->mHeights[0];
-                int number = 0; // avoid multiplication
-                for (int i = 0; i < LAND_SIZE; ++i)
+                size_t number = 0; // avoid multiplication
+                for (unsigned i = 0; i < LandRecordData::sLandSize; ++i)
                 {
                     float diff = (mLandData->mHeights[number] - prevY) / HEIGHT_SCALE;
                     offsets.mHeightData[number]
@@ -151,7 +163,7 @@ namespace ESM
                     float prevX = prevY = mLandData->mHeights[number];
                     ++number;
 
-                    for (int j = 1; j < LAND_SIZE; ++j)
+                    for (unsigned j = 1; j < LandRecordData::sLandSize; ++j)
                     {
                         diff = (mLandData->mHeights[number] - prevX) / HEIGHT_SCALE;
                         offsets.mHeightData[number]
@@ -161,7 +173,7 @@ namespace ESM
                         ++number;
                     }
                 }
-                esm.writeHNT("VHGT", offsets, sizeof(VHGT));
+                esm.writeNamedComposite("VHGT", offsets);
             }
             if (mDataTypes & Land::DATA_WNAM)
             {
@@ -169,13 +181,15 @@ namespace ESM
                 std::int8_t wnam[LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE];
                 constexpr float max = std::numeric_limits<std::int8_t>::max();
                 constexpr float min = std::numeric_limits<std::int8_t>::min();
-                constexpr float vertMult = static_cast<float>(Land::LAND_SIZE - 1) / LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT;
-                for (int row = 0; row < LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT; ++row)
+                constexpr float vertMult
+                    = static_cast<float>(LandRecordData::sLandSize - 1) / LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT;
+                for (unsigned row = 0; row < LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT; ++row)
                 {
-                    for (int col = 0; col < LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT; ++col)
+                    for (unsigned col = 0; col < LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT; ++col)
                     {
-                        float height = mLandData->mHeights[static_cast<int>(row * vertMult) * Land::LAND_SIZE
-                            + static_cast<int>(col * vertMult)];
+                        float height
+                            = mLandData->mHeights[static_cast<size_t>(row * vertMult) * LandRecordData::sLandSize
+                                + static_cast<size_t>(col * vertMult)];
                         height /= height > 0 ? 128.f : 16.f;
                         height = std::clamp(height, min, max);
                         wnam[row * LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT + col] = static_cast<std::int8_t>(height);
@@ -189,8 +203,8 @@ namespace ESM
             }
             if (mDataTypes & Land::DATA_VTEX)
             {
-                uint16_t vtex[LAND_NUM_TEXTURES];
-                transposeTextureData(mLandData->mTextures, vtex);
+                uint16_t vtex[LandRecordData::sLandNumTextures];
+                transposeTextureData(mLandData->mTextures.data(), vtex);
                 esm.writeHNT("VTEX", vtex);
             }
         }
@@ -200,25 +214,23 @@ namespace ESM
     {
         setPlugin(0);
 
-        std::fill(std::begin(mWnam), std::end(mWnam), 0);
+        mWnam.fill(0);
 
         if (mLandData == nullptr)
             mLandData = std::make_unique<LandData>();
 
         mLandData->mHeightOffset = 0;
-        std::fill(std::begin(mLandData->mHeights), std::end(mLandData->mHeights), 0.0f);
+        mLandData->mHeights.fill(0);
         mLandData->mMinHeight = 0;
         mLandData->mMaxHeight = 0;
-        for (int i = 0; i < LAND_NUM_VERTS; ++i)
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < LandRecordData::sLandNumVerts; ++i)
         {
             mLandData->mNormals[i * 3 + 0] = 0;
             mLandData->mNormals[i * 3 + 1] = 0;
             mLandData->mNormals[i * 3 + 2] = 127;
         }
-        std::fill(std::begin(mLandData->mTextures), std::end(mLandData->mTextures), 0);
-        std::fill(std::begin(mLandData->mColours), std::end(mLandData->mColours), 255);
-        mLandData->mUnk1 = 0;
-        mLandData->mUnk2 = 0;
+        mLandData->mTextures.fill(0);
+        mLandData->mColours.fill(255);
         mLandData->mDataLoaded
             = Land::DATA_VNML | Land::DATA_VHGT | Land::DATA_WNAM | Land::DATA_VCLR | Land::DATA_VTEX;
         mDataTypes = mLandData->mDataLoaded;
@@ -259,32 +271,32 @@ namespace ESM
 
         if (reader.isNextSub("VNML"))
         {
-            condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VNML, data.mNormals, sizeof(data.mNormals));
+            condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VNML, data.mNormals);
         }
 
         if (reader.isNextSub("VHGT"))
         {
             VHGT vhgt;
-            if (condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VHGT, &vhgt, sizeof(vhgt)))
+            if (condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VHGT, vhgt))
             {
                 data.mMinHeight = std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
                 data.mMaxHeight = -std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
                 float rowOffset = vhgt.mHeightOffset;
-                for (int y = 0; y < LAND_SIZE; y++)
+                for (unsigned y = 0; y < LandRecordData::sLandSize; y++)
                 {
-                    rowOffset += vhgt.mHeightData[y * LAND_SIZE];
+                    rowOffset += vhgt.mHeightData[y * LandRecordData::sLandSize];
 
-                    data.mHeights[y * LAND_SIZE] = rowOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
+                    data.mHeights[y * LandRecordData::sLandSize] = rowOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
                     if (rowOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE > data.mMaxHeight)
                         data.mMaxHeight = rowOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
                     if (rowOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE < data.mMinHeight)
                         data.mMinHeight = rowOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
 
                     float colOffset = rowOffset;
-                    for (int x = 1; x < LAND_SIZE; x++)
+                    for (unsigned x = 1; x < LandRecordData::sLandSize; x++)
                     {
-                        colOffset += vhgt.mHeightData[y * LAND_SIZE + x];
-                        data.mHeights[x + y * LAND_SIZE] = colOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
+                        colOffset += vhgt.mHeightData[y * LandRecordData::sLandSize + x];
+                        data.mHeights[x + y * LandRecordData::sLandSize] = colOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
 
                         if (colOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE > data.mMaxHeight)
                             data.mMaxHeight = colOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
@@ -292,8 +304,6 @@ namespace ESM
                             data.mMinHeight = colOffset * HEIGHT_SCALE;
                     }
                 }
-                data.mUnk1 = vhgt.mUnk1;
-                data.mUnk2 = vhgt.mUnk2;
             }
         }
 
@@ -301,13 +311,13 @@ namespace ESM
             reader.skipHSub();
 
         if (reader.isNextSub("VCLR"))
-            condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VCLR, data.mColours, 3 * LAND_NUM_VERTS);
+            condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VCLR, data.mColours);
         if (reader.isNextSub("VTEX"))
         {
-            uint16_t vtex[LAND_NUM_TEXTURES];
-            if (condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VTEX, vtex, sizeof(vtex)))
+            uint16_t vtex[LandRecordData::sLandNumTextures];
+            if (condLoad(reader, flags, data.mDataLoaded, DATA_VTEX, vtex))
             {
-                transposeTextureData(vtex, data.mTextures);
+                transposeTextureData(vtex, data.mTextures.data());
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadland.hpp b/components/esm3/loadland.hpp
index 0d32407a5d..510f1790a8 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadland.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadland.hpp
@@ -86,19 +86,9 @@ namespace ESM
         // total number of textures per land
         static constexpr int LAND_NUM_TEXTURES = LandRecordData::sLandNumTextures;
 
-        static constexpr int LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE = 81;
+        static constexpr unsigned LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE = 81;
 
-        static constexpr int LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT = 9;
-
-#pragma pack(push, 1)
-        struct VHGT
-        {
-            float mHeightOffset;
-            std::int8_t mHeightData[LAND_NUM_VERTS];
-            std::uint16_t mUnk1;
-            std::uint8_t mUnk2;
-        };
-#pragma pack(pop)
+        static constexpr unsigned LAND_GLOBAL_MAP_LOD_SIZE_SQRT = 9;
 
         using LandData = ESM::LandRecordData;
 
@@ -128,16 +118,10 @@ namespace ESM
         const LandData* getLandData(int flags) const;
 
         /// Return land data without loading first anything. Can return a 0-pointer.
-        const LandData* getLandData() const
-        {
-            return mLandData.get();
-        }
+        const LandData* getLandData() const { return mLandData.get(); }
 
         /// Return land data without loading first anything. Can return a 0-pointer.
-        LandData* getLandData()
-        {
-            return mLandData.get();
-        }
+        LandData* getLandData() { return mLandData.get(); }
 
         /// \attention Must not be called on objects that aren't fully loaded.
         ///