diff --git a/game/gamesrc/parents/base/README b/game/gamesrc/parents/base/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..42314d2060
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/gamesrc/parents/base/README
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Do not modify files in this directory! They are base classes from which other
+things may be sub-classed. Modifying these classes may cause conflicts the
+next time you upgrade manually or through subversion.
+
+Instead, sub-class the classes contained here and point the default parent
+imports in settings.py to your new classes.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/script_parents/exit/__init__.py b/src/script_parents/exit/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/src/script_parents/npc/__init__.py b/src/script_parents/npc/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/src/script_parents/player/__init__.py b/src/script_parents/player/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/src/script_parents/thing/__init__.py b/src/script_parents/thing/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000