diff --git a/game/evennia.py b/game/evennia.py
index 998b078cb5..926d294349 100755
--- a/game/evennia.py
+++ b/game/evennia.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import sys
 import signal
 from optparse import OptionParser
 from subprocess import Popen
+import django
 
 # Set the Python path up so we can get to settings.py from here.
 from django.core import management
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ if not os.path.exists('settings.py'):
     import game.manage
     sys.exit()
 
+# required since django1.7.
+django.setup()
+
 # signal processing
 SIG = signal.SIGINT
 
diff --git a/game/runner.py b/game/runner.py
index 924fd9b955..d9a4b02f31 100644
--- a/game/runner.py
+++ b/game/runner.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import sys
 from optparse import OptionParser
 from subprocess import Popen
 import Queue, thread
+import django
 
 try:
     # check if launched with pypy
@@ -45,6 +46,8 @@ if not os.path.exists('settings.py'):
     print "No settings.py file found. Run evennia.py to create it."
     sys.exit()
 
+django.setup()
+
 # Get the settings
 from django.conf import settings
 
diff --git a/src/comms/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/comms/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..611e4061c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/comms/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='ChannelDB',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(max_length=255, verbose_name=b'key', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_typeclass_path', models.CharField(help_text=b"this defines what 'type' of entity this is. This variable holds a Python path to a module with a valid Evennia Typeclass.", max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'typeclass')),
+                ('db_date_created', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name=b'creation date')),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b"locks limit access to an entity. A lock is defined as a 'lock string' on the form 'type:lockfunctions', defining what functionality is locked and how to determine access. Not defining a lock means no access is granted.", verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Channel',
+                'verbose_name_plural': 'Channels',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='Msg',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_sender_external', models.CharField(help_text=b"identifier for external sender, for example a sender over an IRC connection (i.e. someone who doesn't have an exixtence in-game).", max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'external sender', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_header', models.TextField(null=True, verbose_name=b'header', blank=True)),
+                ('db_message', models.TextField(verbose_name=b'messsage')),
+                ('db_date_sent', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name=b'date sent', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b'access locks on this message.', verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+                ('db_hide_from_channels', models.ManyToManyField(related_name=b'hide_from_channels_set', null=True, to='comms.ChannelDB')),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Message',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/comms/migrations/0002_msg_db_hide_from_objects.py b/src/comms/migrations/0002_msg_db_hide_from_objects.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..58224b1bde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/comms/migrations/0002_msg_db_hide_from_objects.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('objects', '0001_initial'),
+        ('comms', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_hide_from_objects',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(related_name=b'hide_from_objects_set', null=True, to='objects.ObjectDB'),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/comms/migrations/0003_auto_20140917_0756.py b/src/comms/migrations/0003_auto_20140917_0756.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..63cf9292f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/comms/migrations/0003_auto_20140917_0756.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+from django.conf import settings
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('objects', '0001_initial'),
+        migrations.swappable_dependency(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+        ('typeclasses', '0001_initial'),
+        ('comms', '0002_msg_db_hide_from_objects'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_hide_from_players',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(related_name=b'hide_from_players_set', null=True, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_receivers_channels',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'channel recievers', related_name=b'channel_set', null=True, to='comms.ChannelDB'),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_receivers_objects',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'object receivers', related_name=b'receiver_object_set', null=True, to='objects.ObjectDB'),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_receivers_players',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'player receivers', related_name=b'receiver_player_set', null=True, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_sender_objects',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(related_name=b'sender_object_set', null=True, verbose_name=b'sender(object)', to='objects.ObjectDB', db_index=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='msg',
+            name='db_sender_players',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(related_name=b'sender_player_set', null=True, verbose_name=b'sender(player)', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, db_index=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='channeldb',
+            name='db_attributes',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'attributes on this object. An attribute can hold any pickle-able python object (see docs for special cases).', to='typeclasses.Attribute', null=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='channeldb',
+            name='db_subscriptions',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(related_name=b'subscription_set', null=True, verbose_name=b'subscriptions', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, db_index=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='channeldb',
+            name='db_tags',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'tags on this object. Tags are simple string markers to identify, group and alias objects.', to='typeclasses.Tag', null=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/help/admin.py b/src/help/admin.py
index 20fe50ef46..6c41b23b48 100644
--- a/src/help/admin.py
+++ b/src/help/admin.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ class HelpEntryForm(forms.ModelForm):
     "Defines how to display the help entry"
     class Meta:
         model = HelpEntry
+        fields = '__all__'
+
     db_help_category = forms.CharField(label="Help category", initial='General',
                                        help_text="organizes help entries in lists")
     db_lock_storage = forms.CharField(label="Locks", initial='view:all()',required=False,
diff --git a/src/help/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/help/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a8bc6fc91e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/help/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('typeclasses', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='HelpEntry',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(help_text=b'key to search for', unique=True, max_length=255, verbose_name=b'help key')),
+                ('db_help_category', models.CharField(default=b'General', help_text=b'organizes help entries in lists', max_length=255, verbose_name=b'help category')),
+                ('db_entrytext', models.TextField(help_text=b'the main body of help text', verbose_name=b'help entry', blank=True)),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b'normally view:all().', verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+                ('db_staff_only', models.BooleanField(default=False)),
+                ('db_tags', models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'tags on this object. Tags are simple string markers to identify, group and alias objects.', to='typeclasses.Tag', null=True)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Help Entry',
+                'verbose_name_plural': 'Help Entries',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/objects/admin.py b/src/objects/admin.py
index 78d7838c4f..078700cc13 100644
--- a/src/objects/admin.py
+++ b/src/objects/admin.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class ObjectCreateForm(forms.ModelForm):
     "This form details the look of the fields"
     class Meta:
         model = ObjectDB
+        fields = '__all__'
     db_key = forms.CharField(label="Name/Key",
                              widget=forms.TextInput(attrs={'size': '78'}),
                              help_text="Main identifier, like 'apple', 'strong guy', 'Elizabeth' etc. If creating a Character, check so the name is unique among characters!",)
@@ -40,6 +41,8 @@ class ObjectCreateForm(forms.ModelForm):
 class ObjectEditForm(ObjectCreateForm):
     "Form used for editing. Extends the create one with more fields"
 
+    class Meta:
+        fields = '__all__'
     db_lock_storage = forms.CharField(label="Locks",
                                       required=False,
                                       widget=forms.Textarea(attrs={'cols':'100', 'rows':'2'}),
diff --git a/src/objects/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/objects/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9c0527c47c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/objects/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('typeclasses', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='ObjectDB',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(max_length=255, verbose_name=b'key', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_typeclass_path', models.CharField(help_text=b"this defines what 'type' of entity this is. This variable holds a Python path to a module with a valid Evennia Typeclass.", max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'typeclass')),
+                ('db_date_created', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name=b'creation date')),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b"locks limit access to an entity. A lock is defined as a 'lock string' on the form 'type:lockfunctions', defining what functionality is locked and how to determine access. Not defining a lock means no access is granted.", verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+                ('db_sessid', models.CommaSeparatedIntegerField(help_text=b'csv list of session ids of connected Player, if any.', max_length=32, null=True, verbose_name=b'session id')),
+                ('db_cmdset_storage', models.CharField(help_text=b'optional python path to a cmdset class.', max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'cmdset', blank=True)),
+                ('db_attributes', models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'attributes on this object. An attribute can hold any pickle-able python object (see docs for special cases).', to='typeclasses.Attribute', null=True)),
+                ('db_destination', models.ForeignKey(related_name=b'destinations_set', on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, blank=True, to='objects.ObjectDB', help_text=b'a destination, used only by exit objects.', null=True, verbose_name=b'destination')),
+                ('db_home', models.ForeignKey(related_name=b'homes_set', on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, verbose_name=b'home location', blank=True, to='objects.ObjectDB', null=True)),
+                ('db_location', models.ForeignKey(related_name=b'locations_set', on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, verbose_name=b'game location', blank=True, to='objects.ObjectDB', null=True)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Object',
+                'verbose_name_plural': 'Objects',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/objects/migrations/0002_auto_20140917_0756.py b/src/objects/migrations/0002_auto_20140917_0756.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cc7cf09ca7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/objects/migrations/0002_auto_20140917_0756.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+import django.db.models.deletion
+from django.conf import settings
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('objects', '0001_initial'),
+        migrations.swappable_dependency(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+        ('typeclasses', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='objectdb',
+            name='db_player',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, verbose_name=b'player', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, help_text=b'a Player connected to this object, if any.', null=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='objectdb',
+            name='db_tags',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'tags on this object. Tags are simple string markers to identify, group and alias objects.', to='typeclasses.Tag', null=True),
+            preserve_default=True,
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/objects/migrations/__init__.py b/src/objects/migrations/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/src/players/admin.py b/src/players/admin.py
index b96bab4e78..d01646cd65 100644
--- a/src/players/admin.py
+++ b/src/players/admin.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class PlayerDBChangeForm(UserChangeForm):
 
     class Meta:
         model = PlayerDB
+        fields = '__all__'
 
     username = forms.RegexField(
         label="Username",
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ class PlayerDBCreationForm(UserCreationForm):
 
     class Meta:
         model = PlayerDB
+        fields = '__all__'
 
     username = forms.RegexField(
         label="Username",
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ class PlayerForm(forms.ModelForm):
     """
     class Meta:
         model = PlayerDB
+        fields = '__all__'
 
     db_key = forms.RegexField(
         label="Username",
diff --git a/src/players/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/players/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..902adb82d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/players/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+import django.utils.timezone
+import django.core.validators
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('auth', '0001_initial'),
+        ('typeclasses', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='PlayerDB',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('password', models.CharField(max_length=128, verbose_name='password')),
+                ('last_login', models.DateTimeField(default=django.utils.timezone.now, verbose_name='last login')),
+                ('is_superuser', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Designates that this user has all permissions without explicitly assigning them.', verbose_name='superuser status')),
+                ('username', models.CharField(help_text='Required. 30 characters or fewer. Letters, digits and @/./+/-/_ only.', unique=True, max_length=30, verbose_name='username', validators=[django.core.validators.RegexValidator('^[\\w.@+-]+$', 'Enter a valid username.', 'invalid')])),
+                ('first_name', models.CharField(max_length=30, verbose_name='first name', blank=True)),
+                ('last_name', models.CharField(max_length=30, verbose_name='last name', blank=True)),
+                ('email', models.EmailField(max_length=75, verbose_name='email address', blank=True)),
+                ('is_staff', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Designates whether the user can log into this admin site.', verbose_name='staff status')),
+                ('is_active', models.BooleanField(default=True, help_text='Designates whether this user should be treated as active. Unselect this instead of deleting accounts.', verbose_name='active')),
+                ('date_joined', models.DateTimeField(default=django.utils.timezone.now, verbose_name='date joined')),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(max_length=255, verbose_name=b'key', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_typeclass_path', models.CharField(help_text=b"this defines what 'type' of entity this is. This variable holds a Python path to a module with a valid Evennia Typeclass.", max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'typeclass')),
+                ('db_date_created', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name=b'creation date')),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b"locks limit access to an entity. A lock is defined as a 'lock string' on the form 'type:lockfunctions', defining what functionality is locked and how to determine access. Not defining a lock means no access is granted.", verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+                ('db_is_connected', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text=b'If player is connected to game or not', verbose_name=b'is_connected')),
+                ('db_cmdset_storage', models.CharField(help_text=b'optional python path to a cmdset class. If creating a Character, this will default to settings.CMDSET_CHARACTER.', max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'cmdset')),
+                ('db_is_bot', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text=b'Used to identify irc/imc2/rss bots', verbose_name=b'is_bot')),
+                ('db_attributes', models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'attributes on this object. An attribute can hold any pickle-able python object (see docs for special cases).', to='typeclasses.Attribute', null=True)),
+                ('db_tags', models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'tags on this object. Tags are simple string markers to identify, group and alias objects.', to='typeclasses.Tag', null=True)),
+                ('groups', models.ManyToManyField(related_query_name='user', related_name='user_set', to='auth.Group', blank=True, help_text='The groups this user belongs to. A user will get all permissions granted to each of his/her group.', verbose_name='groups')),
+                ('user_permissions', models.ManyToManyField(related_query_name='user', related_name='user_set', to='auth.Permission', blank=True, help_text='Specific permissions for this user.', verbose_name='user permissions')),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Player',
+                'verbose_name_plural': 'Players',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/scripts/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/scripts/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..67ddafd077
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scripts/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+from django.conf import settings
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('objects', '0001_initial'),
+        migrations.swappable_dependency(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+        ('typeclasses', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='ScriptDB',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(max_length=255, verbose_name=b'key', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_typeclass_path', models.CharField(help_text=b"this defines what 'type' of entity this is. This variable holds a Python path to a module with a valid Evennia Typeclass.", max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'typeclass')),
+                ('db_date_created', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name=b'creation date')),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b"locks limit access to an entity. A lock is defined as a 'lock string' on the form 'type:lockfunctions', defining what functionality is locked and how to determine access. Not defining a lock means no access is granted.", verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+                ('db_desc', models.CharField(max_length=255, verbose_name=b'desc', blank=True)),
+                ('db_interval', models.IntegerField(default=-1, help_text=b'how often to repeat script, in seconds. -1 means off.', verbose_name=b'interval')),
+                ('db_start_delay', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text=b'pause interval seconds before starting.', verbose_name=b'start delay')),
+                ('db_repeats', models.IntegerField(default=0, help_text=b'0 means off.', verbose_name=b'number of repeats')),
+                ('db_persistent', models.BooleanField(default=False, verbose_name=b'survive server reboot')),
+                ('db_is_active', models.BooleanField(default=False, verbose_name=b'script active')),
+                ('db_attributes', models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'attributes on this object. An attribute can hold any pickle-able python object (see docs for special cases).', to='typeclasses.Attribute', null=True)),
+                ('db_obj', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, to='objects.ObjectDB', help_text=b'the object to store this script on, if not a global script.', null=True, verbose_name=b'scripted object')),
+                ('db_player', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, help_text=b'the player to store this script on (should not be set if obj is set)', null=True, verbose_name=b'scripted player')),
+                ('db_tags', models.ManyToManyField(help_text=b'tags on this object. Tags are simple string markers to identify, group and alias objects.', to='typeclasses.Tag', null=True)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Script',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/server/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/server/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bba61366b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/server/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='ServerConfig',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(unique=True, max_length=64)),
+                ('db_value', models.TextField(blank=True)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Server Config value',
+                'verbose_name_plural': 'Server Config values',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/server/portal/portal.py b/src/server/portal/portal.py
index c98229d18f..6af386bf85 100644
--- a/src/server/portal/portal.py
+++ b/src/server/portal/portal.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ from src.server.webserver import EvenniaReverseProxyResource
 from twisted.application import internet, service
 from twisted.internet import protocol, reactor
 from twisted.web import server
+import django
+
+django.setup()
+
 from django.conf import settings
 from src.utils.utils import get_evennia_version, mod_import, make_iter
 from src.server.portal.portalsessionhandler import PORTAL_SESSIONS
diff --git a/src/server/server.py b/src/server/server.py
index 70385792a4..a32b0d9803 100644
--- a/src/server/server.py
+++ b/src/server/server.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ from twisted.web import server, static
 from twisted.application import internet, service
 from twisted.internet import reactor, defer
 import django
+django.setup()
+
 from django.db import connection
 from django.conf import settings
 
diff --git a/src/typeclasses/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/typeclasses/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9cdc965892
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/typeclasses/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models, migrations
+import src.utils.picklefield
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='Attribute',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(max_length=255, verbose_name=b'key', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_value', src.utils.picklefield.PickledObjectField(help_text=b'The data returned when the attribute is accessed. Must be written as a Python literal if editing through the admin interface. Attribute values which are not Python literals cannot be edited through the admin interface.', null=True, verbose_name=b'value')),
+                ('db_strvalue', models.TextField(help_text=b'String-specific storage for quick look-up', null=True, verbose_name=b'strvalue', blank=True)),
+                ('db_category', models.CharField(max_length=128, blank=True, help_text=b'Optional categorization of attribute.', null=True, verbose_name=b'category', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_lock_storage', models.TextField(help_text=b'Lockstrings for this object are stored here.', verbose_name=b'locks', blank=True)),
+                ('db_model', models.CharField(max_length=32, blank=True, help_text=b'Which model of object this attribute is attached to (A natural key like objects.dbobject). You should not change this value unless you know what you are doing.', null=True, verbose_name=b'model', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_attrtype', models.CharField(max_length=16, blank=True, help_text=b'Subclass of Attribute (None or nick)', null=True, verbose_name=b'attrtype', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_date_created', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name=b'date_created')),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Evennia Attribute',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='Tag',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
+                ('db_key', models.CharField(help_text=b'tag identifier', max_length=255, null=True, verbose_name=b'key', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_category', models.CharField(help_text=b'tag category', max_length=64, null=True, verbose_name=b'category', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_data', models.TextField(help_text=b'optional data field with extra information. This is not searched for.', null=True, verbose_name=b'data', blank=True)),
+                ('db_model', models.CharField(help_text=b'database model to Tag', max_length=32, null=True, verbose_name=b'model', db_index=True)),
+                ('db_tagtype', models.CharField(help_text=b'overall type of Tag', max_length=16, null=True, verbose_name=b'tagtype', db_index=True)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'verbose_name': 'Tag',
+            },
+            bases=(models.Model,),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterUniqueTogether(
+            name='tag',
+            unique_together=set([('db_key', 'db_category', 'db_tagtype')]),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterIndexTogether(
+            name='tag',
+            index_together=set([('db_key', 'db_category', 'db_tagtype')]),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/utils/dbserialize.py b/src/utils/dbserialize.py
index ad56806816..44eea29a19 100644
--- a/src/utils/dbserialize.py
+++ b/src/utils/dbserialize.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def to_pickle(data):
     return process_item(data)
 
 
-@transaction.autocommit
+#@transaction.autocommit
 def from_pickle(data, db_obj=None):
     """
     This should be fed a just de-pickled data object. It will be converted back
diff --git a/src/utils/utils.py b/src/utils/utils.py
index c6025c1620..ebb3c5684c 100644
--- a/src/utils/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils/utils.py
@@ -633,9 +633,8 @@ def check_evennia_dependencies():
     nt_python_min = '2.7'
     nt_stop_python_min = "2.6"
     twisted_min = '11.0'
-    django_min = '1.5'
-    django_rec = '1.6'
-    south_min = '0.8.4'
+    django_min = '1.7'
+    django_rec = '1.7'
 
     errstring = ""
     no_error = True
@@ -667,10 +666,6 @@ def check_evennia_dependencies():
             no_error = False
         elif django_min <= dversion < django_rec:
             errstring += "\n NOTE: Django %s found. This will work, but v%s is recommended for production." % (dversion, django_rec)
-        elif dversion_main >= '1.7':
-            errstring += "\n NOTE: Django 1.7+ found. Evennia is not yet tested with this version of django and due " \
-                         "\n       to the changes to migrations in 1.7 it is not likely to work yet. Revert to 1.6+ if you have " \
-                         "\n       any problems."
         elif django_rec < dversion_main:
             errstring += "\n NOTE: Django %s found. This is newer than Evennia's recommended version (v%s). It will"
             errstring += "\n       probably work, but may be new enough not to be fully tested yet. Report any issues." % (dversion, django_rec)
@@ -679,12 +674,8 @@ def check_evennia_dependencies():
         no_error = False
     # South
     try:
-        import south
-        sversion = south.__version__
-        if sversion < south_min:
-            errstring += "\n WARNING: South %s found. Evennia recommends version %s or higher." % (sversion, south_min)
-        if sversion in ("0.8.2", "0.8.3"):
-            errstring += "\n ERROR: South %s found. This has known issues. Please upgrade." % sversion
+        if 'south' in settings.INSTALLED_APPS:
+            errstring += "\n ERROR: 'south' found in settings.INSTALLED_APPS. South is no longer used. If this was added manually, remove."
             no_error = False
     except ImportError:
         errstring += "\n ERROR: South (django-south) does not seem to be installed."