diff --git a/src/commands/default/unloggedin.py b/src/commands/default/unloggedin.py
index d9c5145f7c..5485d14132 100644
--- a/src/commands/default/unloggedin.py
+++ b/src/commands/default/unloggedin.py
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ class CmdUnconnectedCreate(MuxCommand):
 
             except Exception, e:
                 session.msg("There was an error creating the default Player/Character:\n%s\n If this problem persists, contact an admin." % e)
+                logger.log_trace()
                 return
 
             # This needs to be called so the engine knows this player is logging in for the first time.
diff --git a/src/server/caches.py b/src/server/caches.py
index 8d36d1f9f8..1fe9eef25d 100644
--- a/src/server/caches.py
+++ b/src/server/caches.py
@@ -3,31 +3,28 @@ Central caching module.
 
 """
 
+import os, threading
 from collections import defaultdict
 from django.dispatch import Signal
 from django.core.cache import get_cache
-#from django.db.models.signals import pre_save, pre_delete, post_init
 from src.server.models import ServerConfig
-from src.utils.utils import uses_database, to_str
+from src.utils.utils import uses_database, to_str, get_evennia_pids
 
 _GA = object.__getattribute__
 _SA = object.__setattr__
 _DA = object.__delattr__
 
+_IS_SUBPROCESS = os.getpid() in get_evennia_pids()
+_IS_MAIN_THREAD = threading.currentThread().getName() == "MainThread"
+
 #
-# Open handles to the caches
+# Set up the cache stores
 #
 
-#_FIELD_CACHE = get_cache("field_cache")
+_FIELD_CACHE = {}
 _ATTR_CACHE = {}
-#_ATTR_CACHE = get_cache("attr_cache")
-#_PROP_CACHE = get_cache("prop_cache")
 _PROP_CACHE = defaultdict(dict)
 
-# make sure caches are empty at startup
-#_FIELD_CACHE.clear()
-_ATTR_CACHE.clear()
-#_PROP_CACHE.clear()
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------
 # Cache key hash generation
diff --git a/src/settings_default.py b/src/settings_default.py
index e055f5c66e..86bd81da09 100644
--- a/src/settings_default.py
+++ b/src/settings_default.py
@@ -160,23 +160,7 @@ DATABASES = {
         'HOST':'',
         'PORT':''
         }}
-# This manages the object-level caches. Evennia will agressively cache
-# fields, properties and attribute lookup. Evennia uses a fast and
-# local in-memory cache by default. If a Memcached server is available
-# it can be used instead (see django docs). Cache performance can be
-# tweaked by adding options to each cache. Finally, any cache can
-# be completely turned off by pointing its backend
-# to 'django.core.cache.backends.dummy.DummyCache'.
-CACHES = {
-    'default': {
-        'BACKEND': 'django.core.cache.backends.locmem.LocMemCache'},
-    'field_cache': {
-        'BACKEND': 'django.core.cache.backends.locmem.LocMemCache'},
-    'prop_cache': {
-        'BACKEND': 'django.core.cache.backends.locmem.LocMemCache'},
-    'attr_cache': {
-        'BACKEND': 'django.core.cache.backends.locmem.LocMemCache'},
-    }
+
 ######################################################################
 # Evennia pluggable modules
 ######################################################################
diff --git a/src/utils/idmapper/base.py b/src/utils/idmapper/base.py
index 73412f8c70..2b4e6ce460 100755
--- a/src/utils/idmapper/base.py
+++ b/src/utils/idmapper/base.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from twisted.internet.reactor import callFromThread
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.db.models.base import Model, ModelBase
 from django.db.models.signals import post_save, pre_delete, post_syncdb
-from src.utils.utils import dbref
+from src.utils.utils import dbref, get_evennia_pids
 
 from manager import SharedMemoryManager
 
@@ -28,31 +28,11 @@ _DA = object.__delattr__
 # determine if our current pid is different from the server PID (i.e.
 # if we are in a subprocess or not)
 from src import PROC_MODIFIED_OBJS
-def _get_pids():
-    """
-    Get the PID (Process ID) by trying to access
-    an PID file.
-    """
-    from django.conf import settings
-    server_pidfile = os.path.join(settings.GAME_DIR, 'server.pid')
-    portal_pidfile = os.path.join(settings.GAME_DIR, 'portal.pid')
-    server_pid, portal_pid = None, None
-    if os.path.exists(server_pidfile):
-        f = open(server_pidfile, 'r')
-        server_pid = f.read()
-        f.close()
-    if os.path.exists(portal_pidfile):
-        f = open(portal_pidfile, 'r')
-        portal_pid = f.read()
-        f.close()
-    if server_pid and portal_pid:
-        return int(server_pid), int(portal_pid)
-    return None, None
 
 # get info about the current process and thread
 
 _SELF_PID = os.getpid()
-_SERVER_PID, _PORTAL_PID = _get_pids()
+_SERVER_PID, _PORTAL_PID = get_evennia_pids()
 _IS_SUBPROCESS = (_SERVER_PID and _PORTAL_PID) and not _SELF_PID in (_SERVER_PID, _PORTAL_PID)
 _IS_MAIN_THREAD = threading.currentThread().getName() == "MainThread"
 
diff --git a/src/utils/utils.py b/src/utils/utils.py
index 75b52b89ea..c072c36002 100644
--- a/src/utils/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils/utils.py
@@ -899,3 +899,28 @@ def format_table(table, extra_space=1):
                        for icol, col in enumerate(table)])
     return ftable
 
+def get_evennia_pids():
+    """
+    Get the currently valids PIDs (Process IDs) of the Portal and Server
+    by trying to access an PID file. This can be used to determine if we
+    are in a subprocess by something like
+
+     self_pid = os.getpid()
+     server_pid, portal_pid = get_evennia_pids()
+     is_subprocess = self_pid not in (server_pid, portal_pid)
+
+    """
+    server_pidfile = os.path.join(settings.GAME_DIR, 'server.pid')
+    portal_pidfile = os.path.join(settings.GAME_DIR, 'portal.pid')
+    server_pid, portal_pid = None, None
+    if os.path.exists(server_pidfile):
+        f = open(server_pidfile, 'r')
+        server_pid = f.read()
+        f.close()
+    if os.path.exists(portal_pidfile):
+        f = open(portal_pidfile, 'r')
+        portal_pid = f.read()
+        f.close()
+    if server_pid and portal_pid:
+        return int(server_pid), int(portal_pid)
+    return None, None