diff --git a/client/client_application.cpp b/client/client_application.cpp
index c3835da..f2dcd8a 100644
--- a/client/client_application.cpp
+++ b/client/client_application.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void ClientApplication::Init(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
 	//load the prerequisites
 	ConfigUtility& config = ConfigUtility::GetSingleton();
-	config.Load("rsc/config.cfg", argc, argv);
+	config.Load("rsc/config.cfg", false, argc, argv);
 
 	//-------------------------
 	//Initialize the APIs
diff --git a/client/main.cpp b/client/main.cpp
index 087a537..1278f91 100644
--- a/client/main.cpp
+++ b/client/main.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 		ConfigUtility::CreateSingleton();
 		UDPNetworkUtility::CreateSingleton();
 
-		//call the server's routines
+		//call the client's routines
 		ClientApplication::CreateSingleton();
 		ClientApplication& app = ClientApplication::GetSingleton();
 
diff --git a/common/debugging/timer.cpp b/common/debugging/timer.cpp
index 302ddb5..b99ee10 100644
--- a/common/debugging/timer.cpp
+++ b/common/debugging/timer.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void Timer::Stop() {
 
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, Timer& t) {
 	os << t.GetName() << ": ";
-	os << std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(t.GetTime()).count();
-	os << "ms";
+	os << std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::microseconds>(t.GetTime()).count();
+	os << "us";
 	return os;
 }
diff --git a/common/debugging/timer.hpp b/common/debugging/timer.hpp
index e5139d3..847f585 100644
--- a/common/debugging/timer.hpp
+++ b/common/debugging/timer.hpp
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ public:
 	Timer(std::string s);
 	~Timer() = default;
 
-	inline void Start();
-	inline void Stop();
+	void Start();
+	void Stop();
 
 	//accessors and mutators
 	Clock::duration GetTime() { return timeSpan; }
diff --git a/common/utilities/config_utility.cpp b/common/utilities/config_utility.cpp
index 2c47929..832680e 100644
--- a/common/utilities/config_utility.cpp
+++ b/common/utilities/config_utility.cpp
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 
-void ConfigUtility::Load(std::string fname, int argc, char* argv[]) {
+void ConfigUtility::Load(std::string fname, bool skipMissingFile, int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	//clear the stored configuration
 	configMap.clear();
 
 	//use the default file
 	if (argc < 2) {
-		configMap = Read(fname);
+		configMap = Read(fname, skipMissingFile);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ void ConfigUtility::Load(std::string fname, int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i) {
 		//read from a specified config file
 		if (!strncmp(argv[i], "-config=", 8)) {
-			redirectedFile = Read(argv[i] + 8);
+			//older specified files take precedence
+			table_t tmp = Read(argv[i] + 8, skipMissingFile);
+			redirectedFile.insert(tmp.begin(), tmp.end());
 			redirectUsed = true;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -73,18 +75,21 @@ void ConfigUtility::Load(std::string fname, int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
 	//finally, construct the final config table
 	if (!redirectUsed) {
-		redirectedFile = Read(fname);
+		redirectedFile = Read(fname, skipMissingFile);
 	}
 	configMap.insert(cmdLineParams.begin(), cmdLineParams.end());
 	configMap.insert(redirectedFile.begin(), redirectedFile.end());
 }
 
-ConfigUtility::table_t ConfigUtility::Read(std::string fname) {
+ConfigUtility::table_t ConfigUtility::Read(std::string fname, bool skipMissingFile) {
 	//read in and return this file's data
 	table_t retTable;
 	std::ifstream is(fname);
 
 	if (!is.is_open()) {
+		if (skipMissingFile) {
+			return {}; //empty table
+		}
 		std::ostringstream os;
 		os << "Failed to open a config file: " << fname;
 		throw(std::runtime_error( os.str() ));
@@ -143,7 +148,7 @@ ConfigUtility::table_t ConfigUtility::Read(std::string fname) {
 
 	//load in any subordinate config files
 	if (retTable.find("config.next") != retTable.end()) {
-		table_t subTable = Read(retTable["config.next"]);
+		table_t subTable = Read(retTable["config.next"], skipMissingFile);
 		retTable.insert(subTable.begin(), subTable.end());
 	}
 
diff --git a/common/utilities/config_utility.hpp b/common/utilities/config_utility.hpp
index 0f97dbd..a63ed17 100644
--- a/common/utilities/config_utility.hpp
+++ b/common/utilities/config_utility.hpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 
-class ConfigUtility : public Singleton<ConfigUtility> {
+class ConfigUtility: public Singleton<ConfigUtility> {
 public:
-	void Load(std::string fname, int argc = 0, char* argv[] = nullptr);
+	void Load(std::string fname, bool skipMissingFile = false, int argc = 0, char* argv[] = nullptr);
 
 	//convert to a type
 	std::string& String(std::string);
@@ -47,10 +47,7 @@ private:
 
 	friend Singleton<ConfigUtility>;
 
-	ConfigUtility() = default;
-	~ConfigUtility() = default;
-
-	table_t Read(std::string fname);
+	table_t Read(std::string fname, bool skipMissingFile);
 
 	table_t configMap;
 };
diff --git a/server/server_logic.cpp b/server/server_logic.cpp
index 0fc2fe5..df88632 100644
--- a/server/server_logic.cpp
+++ b/server/server_logic.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ void ServerApplication::Init(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 	std::cout << "Beginning " << argv[0] << std::endl;
 
 	//load the config settings
-	config.Load("rsc/config.cfg", argc, argv);
+	config.Load("rsc/config.cfg", false, argc, argv);
 
 	//-------------------------
 	//Initialize the APIs