diff --git a/client/in_world.cpp b/client/in_world.cpp
index 3acad2f..b5cc028 100644
--- a/client/in_world.cpp
+++ b/client/in_world.cpp
@@ -301,7 +301,6 @@ void InWorld::HandleCharacterNew(CharacterPacket* const argPacket) {
 		localCharacter = &character;
 
 		//setup the camera
-		//TODO: can't change the screen size?
 		camera.width = GetScreen()->w;
 		camera.height = GetScreen()->h;
 
diff --git a/client/lobby_menu.cpp b/client/lobby_menu.cpp
index facfa9f..8cbf55a 100644
--- a/client/lobby_menu.cpp
+++ b/client/lobby_menu.cpp
@@ -238,5 +238,11 @@ void LobbyMenu::HandleJoinResponse(ClientPacket* const argPacket) {
 	network.Bind(&argPacket->srcAddress, Channels::SERVER);
 	SetNextScene(SceneList::INWORLD);
 
-	//TODO: send this player's character info
+	//send this player's character info
+	CharacterPacket newPacket;
+	newPacket.type = SerialPacketType::CHARACTER_NEW;
+	strncpy(newPacket.handle, config["client.handle"].c_str(), PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
+	strncpy(newPacket.avatar, config["client.avatar"].c_str(), PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
+	newPacket.accountIndex = accountIndex;
+	network.SendTo(Channels::SERVER, &newPacket);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/main_menu.cpp b/client/main_menu.cpp
index b5d633e..c33766c 100644
--- a/client/main_menu.cpp
+++ b/client/main_menu.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
 */
 #include "main_menu.hpp"
 
+#include <iostream>
+
+using std::cout;
+using std::endl;
+
 //-------------------------
 //Public access members
 //-------------------------
@@ -53,6 +58,11 @@ MainMenu::MainMenu(ConfigUtility* const argConfig):
 	startButton.SetText("Start");
 	optionsButton.SetText("Options");
 	quitButton.SetText("Quit");
+
+	//debug
+	cout << config["client.username"] << endl;
+	cout << config["client.handle"] << endl;
+	cout << config["client.avatar"] << endl;
 }
 
 MainMenu::~MainMenu() {
diff --git a/common/network/packet/serial_packet_base.hpp b/common/network/packet/serial_packet_base.hpp
index b84816e..156d1e5 100644
--- a/common/network/packet/serial_packet_base.hpp
+++ b/common/network/packet/serial_packet_base.hpp
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 
 #include "SDL/SDL_net.h"
 
-#define NETWORK_VERSION 20140607
-#define PACKET_STRING_SIZE 100
+constexpr int NETWORK_VERSION = 20140607;
+constexpr int PACKET_STRING_SIZE = 100;
 
 struct SerialPacketBase {
 	//members
diff --git a/common/network/serial/serial_client.cpp b/common/network/serial/serial_client.cpp
index c96449d..96bc881 100644
--- a/common/network/serial/serial_client.cpp
+++ b/common/network/serial/serial_client.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ void serializeClient(ClientPacket* packet, void* buffer) {
 
 	SERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->clientIndex, sizeof(int));
 	SERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->accountIndex, sizeof(int));
-	SERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->username, sizeof(PACKET_STRING_SIZE));
-//	SERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->password, sizeof(PACKET_STRING_SIZE));
+	SERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->username, PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
+//	SERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->password, PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
 }
 
 void deserializeClient(ClientPacket* packet, void* buffer) {
@@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ void deserializeClient(ClientPacket* packet, void* buffer) {
 
 	DESERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->clientIndex, sizeof(int));
 	DESERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->accountIndex, sizeof(int));
-	DESERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->username, sizeof(PACKET_STRING_SIZE));
-//	DESERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->password, sizeof(PACKET_STRING_SIZE));
+	DESERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->username, PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
+//	DESERIALIZE(buffer, &packet->password, PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
 }
diff --git a/server/server_application.cpp b/server/server_application.cpp
index 4c576f5..9aee4c8 100644
--- a/server/server_application.cpp
+++ b/server/server_application.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <string>
 
+using std::cout;
+using std::endl;
+
 //-------------------------
 //public methods
 //-------------------------
@@ -233,7 +236,7 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleBroadcastRequest(SerialPacket* const argPacket) {
 	ServerPacket newPacket;
 
 	newPacket.type = SerialPacketType::BROADCAST_RESPONSE;
-	snprintf(newPacket.name, PACKET_STRING_SIZE, "%s", config["server.name"].c_str());
+	strncpy(newPacket.name, config["server.name"].c_str(), PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
 	newPacket.playerCount = characterMgr.GetContainer()->size();
 	newPacket.version = NETWORK_VERSION;
 
@@ -241,6 +244,8 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleBroadcastRequest(SerialPacket* const argPacket) {
 }
 
 void ServerApplication::HandleJoinRequest(ClientPacket* const argPacket) {
+	cout << "Attempting connection: " << argPacket->username << endl;
+
 	//create the new client
 	ClientData newClient;
 	newClient.address = argPacket->srcAddress;
@@ -268,6 +273,7 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleJoinRequest(ClientPacket* const argPacket) {
 }
 
 void ServerApplication::HandleDisconnect(ClientPacket* const argPacket) {
+	cout << "Trying to disconnect account " << argPacket->accountIndex << endl;
 	//TODO: authenticate who is disconnecting/kicking
 
 	//forward to the specified client
@@ -281,8 +287,10 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleDisconnect(ClientPacket* const argPacket) {
 	characterMgr.UnloadCharacterIf([&](std::map<int, CharacterData>::iterator it) -> bool {
 		if (argPacket->accountIndex == it->second.owner) {
 			PumpCharacterUnload(it->first);
+			cout << "Deleting character " << it->first << endl;
 			return true;
 		}
+		cout << "Not deleting character " << it->first << endl;
 		return false;
 	});
 
@@ -338,7 +346,8 @@ void ServerApplication::HandleRegionRequest(RegionPacket* const argPacket) {
 //-------------------------
 
 void ServerApplication::HandleCharacterNew(CharacterPacket* const argPacket) {
-	int characterIndex = characterMgr.CreateCharacter(argPacket->accountIndex, argPacket->handle, argPacket->avatar);
+	//NOTE: misnomer, try to load the character first
+	int characterIndex = characterMgr.LoadCharacter(argPacket->accountIndex, argPacket->handle, argPacket->avatar);
 
 	if (characterIndex == -1) {
 		//TODO: rejection packet
@@ -478,8 +487,8 @@ void ServerApplication::CopyCharacterToPacket(CharacterPacket* const packet, int
 
 	//TODO: keep this up to date when the character changes
 	packet->characterIndex = characterIndex;
-	snprintf(packet->handle, PACKET_STRING_SIZE, "%s", character->handle.c_str());
-	snprintf(packet->avatar, PACKET_STRING_SIZE, "%s", character->avatar.c_str());
+	strncpy(packet->handle, character->handle.c_str(), PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
+	strncpy(packet->avatar, character->avatar.c_str(), PACKET_STRING_SIZE);
 	packet->accountIndex = character->owner;
 	packet->roomIndex = character->roomIndex;
 	packet->origin = character->origin;