diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 25d434492..3705cebaa 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ namespace MWBase
 
             virtual void rotateObject(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr,float x,float y,float z, bool adjust = false) = 0;
 
-            virtual MWWorld::Ptr safePlaceObject(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, MWWorld::CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos) = 0;
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr safePlaceObject(const MWWorld::ConstPtr& ptr, MWWorld::CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos) = 0;
             ///< place an object in a "safe" location (ie not in the void, etc).
 
             virtual void indexToPosition (int cellX, int cellY, float &x, float &y, bool centre = false)
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ namespace MWBase
 
             virtual void update (float duration, bool paused) = 0;
 
-            virtual MWWorld::Ptr placeObject (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount) = 0;
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr placeObject (const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount) = 0;
             ///< copy and place an object into the gameworld at the specified cursor position
             /// @param object
             /// @param cursor X (relative 0-1)
             /// @param cursor Y (relative 0-1)
             /// @param number of objects to place
 
-            virtual MWWorld::Ptr dropObjectOnGround (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& object, int amount) = 0;
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr dropObjectOnGround (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, int amount) = 0;
             ///< copy and place an object into the gameworld at the given actor's position
             /// @param actor giving the dropped object position
             /// @param object
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index be54f557a..2efe578a4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         rotateObjectImp(ptr, osg::Vec3f(x, y, z), adjust);
     }
 
-    MWWorld::Ptr World::safePlaceObject(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, MWWorld::CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos)
+    MWWorld::Ptr World::safePlaceObject(const MWWorld::ConstPtr& ptr, MWWorld::CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos)
     {
         return copyObjectToCell(ptr,cell,pos,false);
     }
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             item.getRefData().getLocals().setVarByInt(script, "onpcdrop", 1);
     }
 
-    MWWorld::Ptr World::placeObject (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount)
+    MWWorld::Ptr World::placeObject (const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount)
     {
         const float maxDist = 200.f;
 
@@ -1817,10 +1817,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
         pos.rot[1] = 0;
 
         // copy the object and set its count
-        int origCount = object.getRefData().getCount();
-        object.getRefData().setCount(amount);
         Ptr dropped = copyObjectToCell(object, cell, pos, true);
-        object.getRefData().setCount(origCount);
+        dropped.getRefData().setCount(amount);
 
         // only the player place items in the world, so no need to check actor
         PCDropped(dropped);
@@ -1846,7 +1844,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
     }
 
 
-    Ptr World::copyObjectToCell(const Ptr &object, CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos, bool adjustPos)
+    Ptr World::copyObjectToCell(const ConstPtr &object, CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos, bool adjustPos)
     {
         if (cell->isExterior())
         {
@@ -1899,7 +1897,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         return dropped;
     }
 
-    MWWorld::Ptr World::dropObjectOnGround (const Ptr& actor, const Ptr& object, int amount)
+    MWWorld::Ptr World::dropObjectOnGround (const Ptr& actor, const ConstPtr& object, int amount)
     {
         MWWorld::CellStore* cell = actor.getCell();
 
@@ -1920,10 +1918,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
             pos.pos[2] = result.mHitPointWorld.z();
 
         // copy the object and set its count
-        int origCount = object.getRefData().getCount();
-        object.getRefData().setCount(amount);
         Ptr dropped = copyObjectToCell(object, cell, pos);
-        object.getRefData().setCount(origCount);
+        dropped.getRefData().setCount(amount);
 
         if(actor == mPlayer->getPlayer()) // Only call if dropped by player
             PCDropped(dropped);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index c4d37b008..244ed9835 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             Ptr moveObjectImp (const Ptr& ptr, float x, float y, float z);
             ///< @return an updated Ptr in case the Ptr's cell changes
 
-            Ptr copyObjectToCell(const Ptr &ptr, CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos, bool adjustPos=true);
+            Ptr copyObjectToCell(const ConstPtr &ptr, CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos, bool adjustPos=true);
 
             void updateSoundListener();
             void updateWindowManager ();
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             /// \param adjust indicates rotation should be set or adjusted
             virtual void rotateObject (const Ptr& ptr,float x,float y,float z, bool adjust = false);
 
-            virtual MWWorld::Ptr safePlaceObject(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, MWWorld::CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos);
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr safePlaceObject(const MWWorld::ConstPtr& ptr, MWWorld::CellStore* cell, ESM::Position pos);
             ///< place an object in a "safe" location (ie not in the void, etc). Makes a copy of the Ptr.
 
             virtual float getMaxActivationDistance();
@@ -443,14 +443,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             virtual void update (float duration, bool paused);
 
-            virtual MWWorld::Ptr placeObject (const MWWorld::Ptr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount);
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr placeObject (const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, float cursorX, float cursorY, int amount);
             ///< copy and place an object into the gameworld at the specified cursor position
             /// @param object
             /// @param cursor X (relative 0-1)
             /// @param cursor Y (relative 0-1)
             /// @param number of objects to place
 
-            virtual MWWorld::Ptr dropObjectOnGround (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& object, int amount);
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr dropObjectOnGround (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::ConstPtr& object, int amount);
             ///< copy and place an object into the gameworld at the given actor's position
             /// @param actor giving the dropped object position
             /// @param object