diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 06f6d6fac6..eaf411d205 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ namespace ESM
     struct Potion;
     struct Spell;
     struct NPC;
+    struct CellId;
 }
 
 namespace MWRender
@@ -105,12 +106,14 @@ namespace MWBase
             virtual void readRecord (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int32_t type) = 0;
 
             virtual OEngine::Render::Fader* getFader() = 0;
-            ///< \ŧodo remove this function. Rendering details should not be exposed.
+            ///< \todo remove this function. Rendering details should not be exposed.
 
             virtual MWWorld::CellStore *getExterior (int x, int y) = 0;
 
             virtual MWWorld::CellStore *getInterior (const std::string& name) = 0;
 
+            virtual MWWorld::CellStore *getCell (const ESM::CellId& id) = 0;
+
             virtual void useDeathCamera() = 0;
 
             virtual void setWaterHeight(const float height) = 0;
@@ -236,6 +239,8 @@ namespace MWBase
             virtual void changeToExteriorCell (const ESM::Position& position) = 0;
             ///< Move to exterior cell.
 
+            virtual void changeToCell (const ESM::CellId& cellId, const ESM::Position& position) = 0;
+
             virtual const ESM::Cell *getExterior (const std::string& cellName) const = 0;
             ///< Return a cell matching the given name or a 0-pointer, if there is no such cell.
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwstate/statemanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwstate/statemanagerimp.cpp
index 11b2d546f0..2eb54a1251 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwstate/statemanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwstate/statemanagerimp.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #include <components/esm/esmwriter.hpp>
 #include <components/esm/esmreader.hpp>
+#include <components/esm/cellid.hpp>
+#include <components/esm/loadcell.hpp>
 
 #include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
 
@@ -216,6 +218,7 @@ void MWState::StateManager::loadGame (const Character *character, const Slot *sl
             case ESM::REC_SPEL:
             case ESM::REC_WEAP:
             case ESM::REC_GLOB:
+            case ESM::REC_PLAY:
 
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->readRecord (reader, n.val);
                 break;
@@ -245,11 +248,11 @@ void MWState::StateManager::loadGame (const Character *character, const Slot *sl
     MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->updatePlayer();
     MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->playerLoaded();
 
-    // for testing purpose only
-    ESM::Position pos;
-    pos.pos[0] = pos.pos[1] = pos.pos[2] = 0;
-    pos.rot[0] = pos.rot[1] = pos.rot[2] = 0;
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->changeToExteriorCell (pos);
+    MWWorld::Ptr ptr = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer();
+
+    ESM::CellId cellId = ptr.getCell()->mCell->getCellId();
+
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->changeToCell (cellId, ptr.getRefData().getPosition());
 }
 
 MWState::Character *MWState::StateManager::getCurrentCharacter (bool create)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a12d20e6ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+
+#include "livecellref.hpp"
+
+#include <components/esm/objectstate.hpp>
+
+void MWWorld::LiveCellRefBase::loadImp (const ESM::ObjectState& state)
+{
+    mRef = state.mRef;
+    mData = RefData (state);
+}
+
+void MWWorld::LiveCellRefBase::saveImp (ESM::ObjectState& state) const
+{
+    state.mRef = mRef;
+    mData.write (state);
+}
+
+bool MWWorld::LiveCellRefBase::checkStateImp (const ESM::ObjectState& state)
+{
+    return true;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.hpp
index 558639a3b3..46f49df78c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/livecellref.hpp
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 
 #include "refdata.hpp"
 
+namespace ESM
+{
+    class ObjectState;
+}
+
 namespace MWWorld
 {
     class Ptr;
@@ -29,6 +34,24 @@ namespace MWWorld
         LiveCellRefBase(std::string type, const ESM::CellRef &cref=ESM::CellRef());
         /* Need this for the class to be recognized as polymorphic */
         virtual ~LiveCellRefBase() { }
+
+        protected:
+
+            void loadImp (const ESM::ObjectState& state);
+            ///< Load state into a LiveCellRef, that has already been initialised with base and
+            /// class.
+            ///
+            /// \attention Must not be called with an invalid \a state.
+
+            void saveImp (ESM::ObjectState& state) const;
+            ///< Save LiveCellRef state into \a state.
+
+            static bool checkStateImp (const ESM::ObjectState& state);
+            ///< Check if state is valid and report errors.
+            ///
+            /// \return Valid?
+            ///
+            /// \note Does not check if the RefId exists.
     };
 
     inline bool operator== (const LiveCellRefBase& cellRef, const ESM::CellRef::RefNum refNum)
@@ -55,7 +78,41 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         // The object that this instance is based on.
         const X* mBase;
+
+        void load (const ESM::ObjectState& state);
+        ///< Load state into a LiveCellRef, that has already been initialised with base and class.
+        ///
+        /// \attention Must not be called with an invalid \a state.
+
+        void save (ESM::ObjectState& state) const;
+        ///< Save LiveCellRef state into \a state.
+
+        static bool checkState (const ESM::ObjectState& state);
+        ///< Check if state is valid and report errors.
+        ///
+        /// \return Valid?
+        ///
+        /// \note Does not check if the RefId exists.
     };
+
+    template <typename X>
+    void LiveCellRef<X>::load (const ESM::ObjectState& state)
+    {
+        loadImp (state);
+    }
+
+    template <typename X>
+    void LiveCellRef<X>::save (ESM::ObjectState& state) const
+    {
+        saveImp (state);
+    }
+
+    template <typename X>
+    bool LiveCellRef<X>::checkState (const ESM::ObjectState& state)
+    {
+        return checkStateImp (state);
+    }
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.cpp
index a2777d4896..14e3104320 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 
 #include "player.hpp"
 
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+#include <components/esm/esmreader.hpp>
+#include <components/esm/esmwriter.hpp>
+#include <components/esm/player.hpp>
+#include <components/esm/defs.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp"
@@ -34,9 +41,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
     void Player::set(const ESM::NPC *player)
     {
         mPlayer.mBase = player;
-
-        float* playerPos = mPlayer.mData.getPosition().pos;
-        playerPos[0] = playerPos[1] = playerPos[2] = 0;
     }
 
     void Player::setCell (MWWorld::CellStore *cellStore)
@@ -181,4 +185,54 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mForwardBackward = 0;
         mTeleported = false;
     }
+
+    void Player::write (ESM::ESMWriter& writer) const
+    {
+        ESM::Player player;
+
+        mPlayer.save (player.mObject);
+        player.mCellId = mCellStore->mCell->getCellId();
+
+        /// \todo sign
+        /// \todo last know exterior position
+        /// \todo mark
+
+        player.mAutoMove = mAutoMove ? 1 : 0;
+
+        writer.startRecord (ESM::REC_PLAY);
+        player.save (writer);
+        writer.endRecord (ESM::REC_PLAY);
+    }
+
+    bool Player::readRecord (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int32_t type)
+    {
+        if (type==ESM::REC_PLAY)
+        {
+            ESM::Player player;
+            player.load (reader);
+
+            if (!mPlayer.checkState (player.mObject))
+            {
+                // this is the one object we can not silently drop.
+                throw std::runtime_error ("invalid player state record");
+            }
+
+            mPlayer.load (player.mObject);
+
+            mCellStore = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getCell (player.mCellId);
+
+            /// \todo sign
+            /// \todo last know exterior position
+            /// \todo mark
+
+            mAutoMove = player.mAutoMove!=0;
+
+            mForwardBackward = 0;
+            mTeleported = false;
+
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.hpp
index fef577cec5..7eb023a2b1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/player.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 namespace ESM
 {
     struct NPC;
+    class ESMWriter;
+    class ESMReader;
 }
 
 namespace MWBase
@@ -88,6 +90,10 @@ namespace MWWorld
         void setTeleported(bool teleported);
 
         void clear();
+
+        void write (ESM::ESMWriter& writer) const;
+
+        bool readRecord (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int32_t type);
     };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp
index 87d0efe190..8d48078b1d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #include <OgreSceneNode.h>
 
+#include <components/esm/objectstate.hpp>
+
 #include "customdata.hpp"
 #include "cellstore.hpp"
 
@@ -52,6 +54,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mLocalRotation.rot[2]=0;
     }
 
+    RefData::RefData (const ESM::ObjectState& objectState)
+    : mBaseNode (0), mHasLocals (false), mEnabled (objectState.mEnabled),
+      mCount (objectState.mCount), mPosition (objectState.mPosition), mCustomData (0)
+    {
+        for (int i=0; i<3; ++i)
+            mLocalRotation.rot[i] = objectState.mLocalRotation[i];
+    }
+
     RefData::RefData (const RefData& refData)
     : mBaseNode(0), mCustomData (0)
     {
@@ -66,6 +76,17 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
     }
 
+    void RefData::write (ESM::ObjectState& objectState) const
+    {
+        objectState.mHasLocals = false;
+        objectState.mEnabled = mEnabled;
+        objectState.mCount = mCount;
+        objectState.mPosition = mPosition;
+
+        for (int i=0; i<3; ++i)
+            objectState.mLocalRotation[i] = mLocalRotation.rot[i];
+    }
+
     RefData& RefData::operator= (const RefData& refData)
     {
         try
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp
index 07841e4704..d9f5697bd1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ namespace ESM
 {
     class Script;
     class CellRef;
+    class ObjectState;
 }
 
 namespace MWWorld
@@ -55,10 +56,18 @@ namespace MWWorld
             /// to reset the position as the orignal data is still held in the CellRef
             RefData (const ESM::CellRef& cellRef);
 
+            RefData (const ESM::ObjectState& objectState);
+            ///< Ignores local variables and custom data (not enough context available here to
+            /// perform these operations).
+
             RefData (const RefData& refData);
 
             ~RefData();
 
+            void write (ESM::ObjectState& objectState) const;
+            ///< Ignores local variables and custom data (not enough context available here to
+            /// perform these operations).
+
             RefData& operator= (const RefData& refData);
 
             /// Return OGRE handle (may be empty).
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 5224ffdceb..8edba0892a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <components/bsa/bsa_archive.hpp>
 #include <components/files/collections.hpp>
 #include <components/compiler/locals.hpp>
+#include <components/esm/cellid.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/math/special_functions/sign.hpp>
 
@@ -309,12 +310,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
     {
         mStore.write (writer);
         mGlobalVariables.write (writer);
+        mPlayer->write (writer);
     }
 
     void World::readRecord (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int32_t type)
     {
         if (!mStore.readRecord (reader, type) &&
-            !mGlobalVariables.readRecord (reader, type))
+            !mGlobalVariables.readRecord (reader, type) &&
+            !mPlayer->readRecord (reader, type))
         {
             throw std::runtime_error ("unknown record in saved game");
         }
@@ -402,6 +405,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
         return mCells.getInterior (name);
     }
 
+    CellStore *World::getCell (const ESM::CellId& id)
+    {
+        if (id.mPaged)
+            return getExterior (id.mIndex.mX, id.mIndex.mY);
+        else
+            return getInterior (id.mWorldspace);
+    }
+
     void World::useDeathCamera()
     {
         if(mRendering->getCamera()->isVanityOrPreviewModeEnabled() )
@@ -802,6 +813,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
         addContainerScripts(getPlayer().getPlayer(), getPlayer().getPlayer().getCell());
     }
 
+    void World::changeToCell (const ESM::CellId& cellId, const ESM::Position& position)
+    {
+        if (cellId.mPaged)
+            changeToExteriorCell (position);
+        else
+            changeToInteriorCell (cellId.mWorldspace, position);
+    }
+
     void World::markCellAsUnchanged()
     {
         return mWorldScene->markCellAsUnchanged();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index d7befcc6e5..58a6111c59 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -181,12 +181,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
             virtual void readRecord (ESM::ESMReader& reader, int32_t type);
 
             virtual OEngine::Render::Fader* getFader();
-            ///< \ŧodo remove this function. Rendering details should not be exposed.
+            ///< \todo remove this function. Rendering details should not be exposed.
 
             virtual CellStore *getExterior (int x, int y);
 
             virtual CellStore *getInterior (const std::string& name);
 
+            virtual CellStore *getCell (const ESM::CellId& id);
+
             //switch to POV before showing player's death animation
             virtual void useDeathCamera();
 
@@ -314,6 +316,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
             virtual void changeToExteriorCell (const ESM::Position& position);
             ///< Move to exterior cell.
 
+            virtual void changeToCell (const ESM::CellId& cellId, const ESM::Position& position);
+
             virtual const ESM::Cell *getExterior (const std::string& cellName) const;
             ///< Return a cell matching the given name or a 0-pointer, if there is no such cell.