diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 7cda87bb1..ea49ae4a4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,67 @@ namespace
     {
         return new CustomData (*this);
     }
+
+    void autoCalculateAttributes (const ESM::NPC* npc, MWMechanics::CreatureStats& creatureStats)
+    {
+        // race bonus
+        const ESM::Race *race =
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Race>().find(npc->mRace);
+
+        bool male = (npc->mFlags & ESM::NPC::Female) == 0;
+
+        int level = creatureStats.getLevel();
+
+        for (int i=0; i<ESM::Attribute::Length; ++i)
+        {
+            const ESM::Race::MaleFemale& attribute = race->mData.mAttributeValues[i];
+            creatureStats.getAttribute(i).setBase (male ? attribute.mMale : attribute.mFemale);
+        }
+
+        // class bonus
+        const ESM::Class *class_ =
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Class>().find(npc->mClass);
+
+        for (int i=0; i<2; ++i)
+        {
+            int attribute = class_->mData.mAttribute[i];
+            if (attribute>=0 && attribute<8)
+            {
+                creatureStats.getAttribute(attribute).setBase (
+                    creatureStats.getAttribute(attribute).getBase() + 10);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // skill bonus
+        for (int attribute=0; attribute<ESM::Attribute::Length; ++attribute)
+        {
+            float modifierSum = 0;
+
+            for (int j=0; j<ESM::Skill::Length; ++j)
+            {
+                const ESM::Skill* skill = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Skill>().find(j);
+
+                if (skill->mData.mAttribute != attribute)
+                    continue;
+
+                // is this a minor or major skill?
+                float add=0.2;
+                for (int k=0; k<5; ++k)
+                {
+                    if (class_->mData.mSkills[k][0] == j)
+                        add=0.5;
+                }
+                for (int k=0; k<5; ++k)
+                {
+                    if (class_->mData.mSkills[k][1] == j)
+                        add=1.0;
+                }
+                modifierSum += add;
+            }
+            creatureStats.getAttribute(attribute).setBase ( std::min(creatureStats.getAttribute(attribute).getBase()
+                + static_cast<int>((level-1) * modifierSum+0.5), 100) );
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 namespace MWClass
@@ -126,15 +187,14 @@ namespace MWClass
             }
             else
             {
-                for (int i=0; i<8; ++i)
-                    data->mCreatureStats.getAttribute (i).set (10);
-
                 for (int i=0; i<3; ++i)
                     data->mCreatureStats.setDynamic (i, 10);
 
                 data->mCreatureStats.setLevel(ref->mBase->mNpdt12.mLevel);
                 data->mNpcStats.setBaseDisposition(ref->mBase->mNpdt12.mDisposition);
                 data->mNpcStats.setReputation(ref->mBase->mNpdt12.mReputation);
+
+                autoCalculateAttributes(ref->mBase, data->mCreatureStats);
             }
 
             data->mCreatureStats.setAiSetting (0, ref->mBase->mAiData.mHello);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/dialoguemanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/dialoguemanagerimp.cpp
index 9380ab76c..220adf566 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/dialoguemanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/dialoguemanagerimp.cpp
@@ -426,6 +426,7 @@ namespace MWDialogue
 
     void DialogueManager::questionAnswered (const std::string& answer)
     {
+
         if (mChoiceMap.find(answer) != mChoiceMap.end())
         {
             mChoice = mChoiceMap[answer];
@@ -442,6 +443,10 @@ namespace MWDialogue
                         std::string text = info->mResponse;
                         parseText (text);
 
+                        mChoiceMap.clear();
+                        mChoice = -1;
+                        mIsInChoice = false;
+
                         MWScript::InterpreterContext interpreterContext(&mActor.getRefData().getLocals(),mActor);
                         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->getDialogueWindow()->addText (Interpreter::fixDefinesDialog(text, interpreterContext));
                         MWBase::Environment::get().getJournal()->addTopic (mLastTopic, info->mId);
@@ -449,9 +454,6 @@ namespace MWDialogue
                         mLastDialogue = *info;
                     }
                 }
-                mChoiceMap.clear();
-                mChoice = -1;
-                mIsInChoice = false;
             }
 
             updateTopics();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/filter.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/filter.cpp
index 78969ffd0..52c7bd4f3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/filter.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwdialogue/filter.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ bool MWDialogue::Filter::testActor (const ESM::DialInfo& info) const
         if (iter->second < info.mData.mRank)
             return false;
     }
+    else if (info.mData.mRank != -1)
+    {
+        // if there is a rank condition, but the NPC is not in a faction, always fail
+        return false;
+    }
 
     // Gender
     if (!isCreature)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/referenceinterface.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/referenceinterface.cpp
index 66e036d92..86a85be18 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/referenceinterface.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/referenceinterface.cpp
@@ -18,17 +18,17 @@ namespace MWGui
 
     void ReferenceInterface::checkReferenceAvailable()
     {
-        if (mPtr.isEmpty())
-            return;
-
         MWWorld::Ptr::CellStore* playerCell = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer().getCell();
 
         // check if player has changed cell, or count of the reference has become 0
         if ((playerCell != mCurrentPlayerCell && mCurrentPlayerCell != NULL)
-            || mPtr.getRefData().getCount() == 0)
+             || (!mPtr.isEmpty() && mPtr.getRefData().getCount() == 0))
         {
-            mPtr = MWWorld::Ptr();
-            onReferenceUnavailable();
+            if (!mPtr.isEmpty())
+            {
+                mPtr = MWWorld::Ptr();
+                onReferenceUnavailable();
+            }
         }
 
         mCurrentPlayerCell = playerCell;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
index 8396acaea..41770d489 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/characterpreview.cpp
@@ -21,13 +21,15 @@ namespace MWRender
 
     CharacterPreview::CharacterPreview(MWWorld::Ptr character, int sizeX, int sizeY, const std::string& name,
                                        Ogre::Vector3 position, Ogre::Vector3 lookAt)
-        : mSizeX(sizeX)
-        , mSizeY(sizeY)
-        , mName(name)
+
+        : mSceneMgr (0)
         , mPosition(position)
         , mLookAt(lookAt)
         , mCharacter(character)
         , mAnimation(NULL)
+        , mName(name)
+        , mSizeX(sizeX)
+        , mSizeY(sizeY)
     {
 
     }
@@ -88,16 +90,20 @@ namespace MWRender
 
     CharacterPreview::~CharacterPreview ()
     {
-        //Ogre::TextureManager::getSingleton().remove(mName);
-        mSceneMgr->destroyCamera (mName);
-        delete mAnimation;
-        Ogre::Root::getSingleton().destroySceneManager(mSceneMgr);
+        if (mSceneMgr)
+        {
+            //Ogre::TextureManager::getSingleton().remove(mName);
+            mSceneMgr->destroyAllCameras();
+            delete mAnimation;
+            Ogre::Root::getSingleton().destroySceneManager(mSceneMgr);
+        }
     }
 
     void CharacterPreview::rebuild()
     {
         assert(mAnimation);
         delete mAnimation;
+        mAnimation = 0;
 
         mAnimation = new NpcAnimation(mCharacter, mNode, MWWorld::Class::get(mCharacter).getInventoryStore(mCharacter),
                                       0, (renderHeadOnly() ? NpcAnimation::VM_HeadOnly : NpcAnimation::VM_Normal));
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index 029cf394b..da51f10c1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include "../mwbase/inputmanager.hpp" // FIXME
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp" // FIXME
 
+#include "../mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp"
+
 #include "../mwworld/ptr.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/player.hpp"
 
@@ -315,13 +317,15 @@ void RenderingManager::update (float duration, bool paused)
 {
     MWBase::World *world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
 
+    MWWorld::Ptr player = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer();
+
+    int blind = MWWorld::Class::get(player).getCreatureStats(player).getMagicEffects().get(MWMechanics::EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::Blind)).mMagnitude;
+    mRendering.getFader()->setFactor(1.f-(blind / 100.f));
+
+    setAmbientMode();
+
     // player position
-    MWWorld::RefData &data =
-        MWBase::Environment::get()
-            .getWorld()
-            ->getPlayer()
-            .getPlayer()
-            .getRefData();
+    MWWorld::RefData &data = player.getRefData();
     float *_playerPos = data.getPosition().pos;
     Ogre::Vector3 playerPos(_playerPos[0], _playerPos[1], _playerPos[2]);
 
@@ -597,8 +601,15 @@ void RenderingManager::setSunColour(const Ogre::ColourValue& colour)
 
 void RenderingManager::setAmbientColour(const Ogre::ColourValue& colour)
 {
-    mRendering.getScene()->setAmbientLight(colour);
-    mTerrainManager->setAmbient(colour);
+    mAmbientColor = colour;
+
+    MWWorld::Ptr player = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer();
+    int nightEye = MWWorld::Class::get(player).getCreatureStats(player).getMagicEffects().get(MWMechanics::EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::NightEye)).mMagnitude;
+    Ogre::ColourValue final = colour;
+    final += Ogre::ColourValue(0.7,0.7,0.7,0) * std::min(1.f, (nightEye/100.f));
+
+    mRendering.getScene()->setAmbientLight(final);
+    mTerrainManager->setAmbient(final);
 }
 
 void RenderingManager::sunEnable(bool real)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp
index 959b944e1..7949cbe00 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.hpp
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             cell.mData.mX = x, cell.mData.mY = y;
 
             std::pair<int, int> key(x, y);
-            std::map<std::pair<int, int>, ESM::Cell>::const_iterator it = mExt.find(key);
+            DynamicExt::const_iterator it = mExt.find(key);
             if (it != mExt.end()) {
                 return &(it->second);
             }
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             cell.mData.mX = x, cell.mData.mY = y;
 
             std::pair<int, int> key(x, y);
-            std::map<std::pair<int, int>, ESM::Cell>::const_iterator it = mExt.find(key);
+            DynamicExt::const_iterator it = mExt.find(key);
             if (it != mExt.end()) {
                 return &(it->second);
             }
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         void setUp() {
             //typedef std::vector<ESM::Cell>::iterator Iterator;
-            typedef std::map<std::pair<int, int>, ESM::Cell>::iterator ExtIterator;
+            typedef DynamicExt::iterator ExtIterator;
             typedef std::map<std::string, ESM::Cell>::iterator IntIterator;
 
             //std::sort(mInt.begin(), mInt.end(), RecordCmp());
diff --git a/components/nifogre/mesh.cpp b/components/nifogre/mesh.cpp
index c0a7af5c3..6d940deed 100644
--- a/components/nifogre/mesh.cpp
+++ b/components/nifogre/mesh.cpp
@@ -260,13 +260,24 @@ void NIFMeshLoader::createSubMesh(Ogre::Mesh *mesh, const Nif::NiTriShape *shape
 
     // Texture UV coordinates
     size_t numUVs = data->uvlist.size();
-    for(size_t i = 0;i < numUVs;i++)
+    if (numUVs)
     {
-        vbuf = hwBufMgr->createVertexBuffer(Ogre::VertexElement::getTypeSize(Ogre::VET_FLOAT2),
-                                            srcVerts.size(), Ogre::HardwareBuffer::HBU_STATIC);
-        vbuf->writeData(0, vbuf->getSizeInBytes(), &data->uvlist[i][0], true);
+        size_t elemSize = Ogre::VertexElement::getTypeSize(Ogre::VET_FLOAT2);
+
+        for(size_t i = 0; i < numUVs; i++)
+            decl->addElement(nextBuf, elemSize*i, Ogre::VET_FLOAT2, Ogre::VES_TEXTURE_COORDINATES, i);
+
+        vbuf = hwBufMgr->createVertexBuffer(decl->getVertexSize(nextBuf), srcVerts.size(),
+                                            Ogre::HardwareBuffer::HBU_STATIC);
+
+        std::vector<Ogre::Vector2> allUVs;
+        allUVs.reserve(srcVerts.size()*numUVs);
+        for (size_t vert = 0; vert<srcVerts.size(); ++vert)
+            for(size_t i = 0; i < numUVs; i++)
+                allUVs.push_back(data->uvlist[i][vert]);
+
+        vbuf->writeData(0, elemSize*srcVerts.size()*numUVs, &allUVs[0], true);
 
-        decl->addElement(nextBuf, 0, Ogre::VET_FLOAT2, Ogre::VES_TEXTURE_COORDINATES, i);
         bind->setBinding(nextBuf++, vbuf);
     }
 
diff --git a/libs/openengine/gui/manager.cpp b/libs/openengine/gui/manager.cpp
index f9117586f..a0a4ab0ae 100644
--- a/libs/openengine/gui/manager.cpp
+++ b/libs/openengine/gui/manager.cpp
@@ -559,6 +559,8 @@ void MyGUIManager::setup(Ogre::RenderWindow *wnd, Ogre::SceneManager *mgr, bool
     assert(mgr);
 
     mSceneMgr = mgr;
+    mShaderRenderManager = NULL;
+    mRenderManager = NULL;
 
     using namespace MyGUI;
 
@@ -574,7 +576,10 @@ void MyGUIManager::setup(Ogre::RenderWindow *wnd, Ogre::SceneManager *mgr, bool
 
     // Set up OGRE platform (bypassing OgrePlatform). We might make this more generic later.
     mLogManager = new LogManager();
-    mRenderManager = new MyGUI::ShaderBasedRenderManager();
+    if (!Ogre::Root::getSingleton().getRenderSystem()->getCapabilities()->hasCapability(Ogre::RSC_FIXED_FUNCTION))
+        mShaderRenderManager = new MyGUI::ShaderBasedRenderManager();
+    else
+        mRenderManager = new MyGUI::OgreRenderManager();
     mDataManager = new MyGUI::FixedOgreDataManager();
 
     LogManager::getInstance().setSTDOutputEnabled(logging);
@@ -582,7 +587,10 @@ void MyGUIManager::setup(Ogre::RenderWindow *wnd, Ogre::SceneManager *mgr, bool
     if (!theLogFile.empty())
         LogManager::getInstance().createDefaultSource(theLogFile);
 
-    mRenderManager->initialise(wnd, mgr);
+    if (mShaderRenderManager)
+        mShaderRenderManager->initialise(wnd, mgr);
+    else
+        mRenderManager->initialise(wnd, mgr);
     mDataManager->initialise("General");
 
     // Create GUI
@@ -592,8 +600,16 @@ void MyGUIManager::setup(Ogre::RenderWindow *wnd, Ogre::SceneManager *mgr, bool
 
 void MyGUIManager::updateWindow (Ogre::RenderWindow *wnd)
 {
-    mRenderManager->setRenderWindow (wnd);
-    mRenderManager->setActiveViewport(0);
+    if (mShaderRenderManager)
+    {
+        mShaderRenderManager->setRenderWindow (wnd);
+        mShaderRenderManager->setActiveViewport(0);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        mRenderManager->setRenderWindow (wnd);
+        mRenderManager->setActiveViewport(0);
+    }
 }
 
 void MyGUIManager::shutdown()
@@ -606,6 +622,12 @@ void MyGUIManager::shutdown()
         delete mRenderManager;
         mRenderManager = NULL;
     }
+    if(mShaderRenderManager)
+    {
+        mShaderRenderManager->shutdown();
+        delete mShaderRenderManager;
+        mShaderRenderManager = NULL;
+    }
     if(mDataManager)
     {
         mDataManager->shutdown();
diff --git a/libs/openengine/gui/manager.hpp b/libs/openengine/gui/manager.hpp
index eec867ff8..9535f2a24 100644
--- a/libs/openengine/gui/manager.hpp
+++ b/libs/openengine/gui/manager.hpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ namespace MyGUI
   class Gui;
   class LogManager;
   class OgreDataManager;
+  class OgreRenderManager;
   class ShaderBasedRenderManager;
 }
 
@@ -25,12 +26,12 @@ namespace GUI
         MyGUI::Gui *mGui;
         MyGUI::LogManager* mLogManager;
         MyGUI::OgreDataManager* mDataManager;
-        MyGUI::ShaderBasedRenderManager* mRenderManager;
+        MyGUI::OgreRenderManager* mRenderManager;
+        MyGUI::ShaderBasedRenderManager* mShaderRenderManager;
         Ogre::SceneManager* mSceneMgr;
 
 
     public:
-        MyGUIManager() : mLogManager(NULL), mDataManager(NULL), mRenderManager(NULL),  mGui(NULL) {}
         MyGUIManager(Ogre::RenderWindow *wnd, Ogre::SceneManager *mgr, bool logging=false, const std::string& logDir = std::string(""))
         {
             setup(wnd,mgr,logging, logDir);
diff --git a/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.cpp b/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.cpp
index 9390d0664..923b0b7e3 100644
--- a/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.cpp
+++ b/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Fader::Fader(Ogre::SceneManager* sceneMgr)
     , mTargetAlpha(0.f)
     , mCurrentAlpha(0.f)
     , mStartAlpha(0.f)
+    , mFactor(1.f)
 {
     // Create the fading material
     MaterialPtr material = MaterialManager::getSingleton().create("FadeInOutMaterial", ResourceGroupManager::DEFAULT_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME );
@@ -62,19 +63,20 @@ void Fader::update(float dt)
             mCurrentAlpha += dt/mTargetTime * (mTargetAlpha-mStartAlpha);
             if (mCurrentAlpha > mTargetAlpha) mCurrentAlpha = mTargetAlpha;
         }
-        
-        applyAlpha();
-        
+                
         mRemainingTime -= dt;
     }
     
-   if (mCurrentAlpha == 0.f) mRectangle->setVisible(false);
+    if (1.f-((1.f-mCurrentAlpha) * mFactor) == 0.f)
+        mRectangle->setVisible(false);
+    else
+        applyAlpha();
 }
 
 void Fader::applyAlpha()
 {
     mRectangle->setVisible(true);
-    mFadeTextureUnit->setAlphaOperation(LBX_SOURCE1, LBS_MANUAL, LBS_CURRENT, mCurrentAlpha);
+    mFadeTextureUnit->setAlphaOperation(LBX_SOURCE1, LBS_MANUAL, LBS_CURRENT, 1.f-((1.f-mCurrentAlpha) * mFactor));
 }
 
 void Fader::fadeIn(float time)
diff --git a/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.hpp b/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.hpp
index bddf5dc91..53124e2f6 100644
--- a/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.hpp
+++ b/libs/openengine/ogre/fader.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ namespace Render
         void fadeOut(const float time);
         void fadeTo(const int percent, const float time);
 
+        void setFactor (float factor) { mFactor = factor; }
+
     private:
         enum FadingMode
         {
@@ -49,6 +51,8 @@ namespace Render
         float mCurrentAlpha;
         float mStartAlpha;
 
+        float mFactor;
+
         Ogre::SceneManager* mSceneMgr;
     };
     }}
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 5f3845776..c033f9547 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@ Bug #700: "On the rocks" mod does not load its UV coordinates correctly.
 Bug #702: Some race mods don't work
 Bug #711: Crash during character creation
 Bug #715: Growing Tauryon
+Bug #725: Auto calculate stats
+Bug #728: Failure to open container and talk dialogue
+Bug #731: Crash with Mush-Mere's "background" topic
 Feature #55/657: Item Repairing
 Feature #62/87: Enchanting
 Feature #99: Pathfinding