diff --git a/source/CMakeLists.txt b/source/CMakeLists.txt
index 526d956..25490ec 100644
--- a/source/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/source/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -275,6 +275,8 @@ if(STAR_COMPILER_GNU)
   set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE "-DNDEBUG -Ofast")
   set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE "-DNDEBUG -Ofast")
 
+  set(BUILD_RPATH_USE_ORIGIN TRUE)
+
 elseif(STAR_COMPILER_CLANG)
   set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -Wall -Wextra -Wuninitialized -Wno-parentheses-equality -Wno-deprecated-declarations")
   set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra -Wuninitialized -Wno-parentheses-equality -Wno-deprecated-declarations")
@@ -304,6 +306,8 @@ elseif(STAR_COMPILER_CLANG)
   set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE "-DNDEBUG -Ofast")
   set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE "-DNDEBUG -Ofast")
 
+  set(BUILD_RPATH_USE_ORIGIN TRUE)
+
 elseif(STAR_COMPILER_MSVC)
   # /MP      - Multi-processor building
   # /EHsc    - Enable normal C++ exception handling
@@ -513,7 +517,10 @@ set(STAR_EXTERN_INCLUDES ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/extern)
 add_subdirectory(extern)
 
 # Core support code, not specific to starbound.
-set(STAR_CORE_INCLUDES ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/core)
+set(STAR_CORE_INCLUDES
+    ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/core
+    ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/core/scripting
+)
 add_subdirectory(core)
 
 # Less general purpose code than core that is available to both the game and
diff --git a/source/base/StarAssets.cpp b/source/base/StarAssets.cpp
index de7bc51..2515b5e 100644
--- a/source/base/StarAssets.cpp
+++ b/source/base/StarAssets.cpp
@@ -17,33 +17,35 @@
 #include "StarLexicalCast.hpp"
 #include "StarSha256.hpp"
 #include "StarDataStreamDevices.hpp"
+#include "StarLua.hpp"
+#include "StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp"
 
 namespace Star {
 
-static void validatePath(AssetPath const& components, bool canContainSubPath, bool canContainDirectives) {
-  if (components.basePath.empty() || components.basePath[0] != '/')
-    throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' must be absolute", components.basePath));
+static void validateBasePath(std::string_view const& basePath) {
+  if (basePath.empty() || basePath[0] != '/')
+    throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' must be absolute", basePath));
 
   bool first = true;
   bool slashed = true;
   bool dotted = false;
-  for (auto c : components.basePath) {
+  for (auto c : basePath) {
     if (c == '/') {
       if (!first) {
         if (slashed)
-          throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' contains consecutive //, not allowed", components.basePath));
+          throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' contains consecutive //, not allowed", basePath));
         else if (dotted)
-          throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' '.' and '..' not allowed", components.basePath));
+          throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' '.' and '..' not allowed", basePath));
       }
       slashed = true;
       dotted = false;
     } else if (c == ':') {
       if (slashed)
-        throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' has ':' after directory", components.basePath));
+        throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' has ':' after directory", basePath));
       break;
     } else if (c == '?') {
       if (slashed)
-        throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' has '?' after directory", components.basePath));
+        throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' has '?' after directory", basePath));
       break;
     } else {
       slashed = false;
@@ -52,7 +54,11 @@ static void validatePath(AssetPath const& components, bool canContainSubPath, bo
     first = false;
   }
   if (slashed)
-    throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' cannot be a file", components.basePath));
+    throw AssetException(strf("Path '{}' cannot be a file", basePath));
+}
+
+static void validatePath(AssetPath const& components, bool canContainSubPath, bool canContainDirectives) {
+  validateBasePath(components.basePath.utf8());
 
   if (!canContainSubPath && components.subPath)
     throw AssetException::format("Path '{}' cannot contain sub-path", components);
@@ -60,6 +66,32 @@ static void validatePath(AssetPath const& components, bool canContainSubPath, bo
     throw AssetException::format("Path '{}' cannot contain directives", components);
 }
 
+static void validatePath(StringView const& path, bool canContainSubPath, bool canContainDirectives) {
+  std::string_view const& str = path.utf8();
+
+  size_t end = str.find_first_of(":?");
+  auto basePath = str.substr(0, end);
+  validateBasePath(basePath);
+
+  bool subPath = false;
+  if (str[end] == ':') {
+    size_t beg = end + 1;
+    if (beg != str.size()) {
+      end = str.find_first_of('?', beg);
+      if (end == NPos && beg + 1 != str.size())
+        subPath = true;
+      else if (size_t len = end - beg)
+        subPath = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (subPath)
+    throw AssetException::format("Path '{}' cannot contain sub-path", path);
+
+  if (end != NPos && str[end] == '?' && !canContainDirectives)
+    throw AssetException::format("Path '{}' cannot contain directives", path);
+}
+
 Maybe<RectU> FramesSpecification::getRect(String const& frame) const {
   if (auto alias = aliases.ptr(frame)) {
     return frames.get(*alias);
@@ -75,6 +107,22 @@ Assets::Assets(Settings settings, StringList assetSources) {
   m_stopThreads = false;
   m_assetSources = std::move(assetSources);
 
+  auto luaEngine = LuaEngine::create();
+  auto decorateLuaContext = [this](LuaContext& context) {
+    context.setCallbacks("sb", LuaBindings::makeUtilityCallbacks());
+    LuaCallbacks callbacks;
+    callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<StringSet, String>("byExtension", bind(&Assets::scanExtension, this, _1));
+    callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<Json, String>("json", bind(&Assets::json, this, _1));
+    callbacks.registerCallback("bytes", [this](String const& path) -> String {
+      auto assetBytes = bytes(path);
+      return String(assetBytes->ptr(), assetBytes->size());
+    });
+    callbacks.registerCallback("scan", [this](Maybe<String> const& a, Maybe<String> const& b) -> StringList {
+      return b ? scan(a.value(), *b) : scan(a.value());
+    });
+    context.setCallbacks("assets", callbacks);
+  };
+
   for (auto& sourcePath : m_assetSources) {
     Logger::info("Loading assets from: '{}'", sourcePath);
     AssetSourcePtr source;
@@ -105,6 +153,25 @@ Assets::Assets(Settings settings, StringList assetSources) {
       auto& descriptor = m_files[filename];
       descriptor.sourceName = filename;
       descriptor.source = source;
+      m_filesByExtension[AssetPath::extension(filename).toLower()].insert(filename);
+    }
+    auto metadata = source->metadata();
+    if (auto scripts = metadata.ptr("scripts")) {
+      if (auto onLoad = scripts->optArray("onLoad")) {
+        Logger::info("Running onLoad scripts {}", *onLoad);
+        try {
+          auto context = luaEngine->createContext();
+          decorateLuaContext(context);
+          for (auto& jPath : *onLoad) {
+            auto path = jPath.toString();
+            auto script = source->read(path);
+            context.load(script, path);
+          }
+        }
+        catch (LuaException const& e) {
+          Logger::error("Exception while running onLoad scripts from asset source '{}': {}", sourcePath, e.what());
+        }
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -133,9 +200,6 @@ Assets::Assets(Settings settings, StringList assetSources) {
 
   m_digest = digest.compute();
 
-  for (auto const& filename : m_files.keys())
-    m_filesByExtension[AssetPath::extension(filename).toLower()].append(filename);
-
   int workerPoolSize = m_settings.workerPoolSize;
   for (int i = 0; i < workerPoolSize; i++)
     m_workerThreads.append(Thread::invoke("Assets::workerMain", mem_fn(&Assets::workerMain), this));
@@ -194,7 +258,9 @@ Maybe<String> Assets::assetSourcePath(AssetSourcePtr const& source) const {
 
 StringList Assets::scan(String const& suffix) const {
   if (suffix.beginsWith(".") && !suffix.substr(1).hasChar('.')) {
-    return scanExtension(suffix);
+    return scanExtension(suffix).values();
+  } else if (suffix.empty()) {
+    return m_files.keys();
   } else {
     StringList result;
     for (auto const& fileEntry : m_files) {
@@ -210,7 +276,7 @@ StringList Assets::scan(String const& suffix) const {
 StringList Assets::scan(String const& prefix, String const& suffix) const {
   StringList result;
   if (suffix.beginsWith(".") && !suffix.substr(1).hasChar('.')) {
-    StringList filesWithExtension = scanExtension(suffix);
+    StringSet filesWithExtension = scanExtension(suffix);
     for (auto const& file : filesWithExtension) {
       if (file.beginsWith(prefix, String::CaseInsensitive))
         result.append(file);
@@ -225,11 +291,11 @@ StringList Assets::scan(String const& prefix, String const& suffix) const {
   return result;
 }
 
-StringList Assets::scanExtension(String const& extension) const {
-  if (extension.beginsWith("."))
-    return m_filesByExtension.value(extension.substr(1));
-  else
-    return m_filesByExtension.value(extension);
+const StringSet NullStringSet;
+
+StringSet const& Assets::scanExtension(String const& extension) const {
+  auto find = m_filesByExtension.find(extension.beginsWith(".") ? extension.substr(1) : extension);
+  return find != m_filesByExtension.end() ? find->second : NullStringSet;
 }
 
 Json Assets::json(String const& path) const {
@@ -255,6 +321,16 @@ void Assets::queueJsons(StringList const& paths) const {
   }));
 }
 
+void Assets::queueJsons(StringSet const& paths) const {
+  MutexLocker assetsLocker(m_assetsMutex);
+  for (String const& path : paths) {
+    auto components = AssetPath::split(path);
+    validatePath(components, true, false);
+
+    queueAsset(AssetId{AssetType::Json, {components.basePath, {}, {}}});
+  };
+}
+
 ImageConstPtr Assets::image(AssetPath const& path) const {
   validatePath(path, true, true);
 
@@ -270,6 +346,16 @@ void Assets::queueImages(StringList const& paths) const {
   }));
 }
 
+void Assets::queueImages(StringSet const& paths) const {
+  MutexLocker assetsLocker(m_assetsMutex);
+  for (String const& path : paths) {
+    auto components = AssetPath::split(path);
+    validatePath(components, true, true);
+
+    queueAsset(AssetId{AssetType::Image, std::move(components)});
+  };
+}
+
 ImageConstPtr Assets::tryImage(AssetPath const& path) const {
   validatePath(path, true, true);
 
@@ -296,13 +382,23 @@ AudioConstPtr Assets::audio(String const& path) const {
 
 void Assets::queueAudios(StringList const& paths) const {
   queueAssets(paths.transformed([](String const& path) {
-    const auto components = AssetPath::split(path);
+    auto components = AssetPath::split(path);
     validatePath(components, false, false);
 
     return AssetId{AssetType::Audio, std::move(components)};
   }));
 }
 
+void Assets::queueAudios(StringSet const& paths) const {
+  MutexLocker assetsLocker(m_assetsMutex);
+  for (String const& path : paths) {
+    auto components = AssetPath::split(path);
+    validatePath(components, false, true);
+
+    queueAsset(AssetId{AssetType::Audio, std::move(components)});
+  };
+}
+
 AudioConstPtr Assets::tryAudio(String const& path) const {
   auto components = AssetPath::split(path);
   validatePath(components, false, false);
@@ -490,17 +586,20 @@ FramesSpecification Assets::parseFramesSpecification(Json const& frameConfig, St
 void Assets::queueAssets(List<AssetId> const& assetIds) const {
   MutexLocker assetsLocker(m_assetsMutex);
 
-  for (auto const& id : assetIds) {
-    auto i = m_assetsCache.find(id);
-    if (i != m_assetsCache.end()) {
-      if (i->second)
-        freshen(i->second);
-    } else {
-      auto j = m_queue.find(id);
-      if (j == m_queue.end()) {
-        m_queue[id] = QueuePriority::Load;
-        m_assetsQueued.signal();
-      }
+  for (auto const& id : assetIds)
+    queueAsset(id);
+}
+
+void Assets::queueAsset(AssetId const& assetId) const {
+  auto i = m_assetsCache.find(assetId);
+  if (i != m_assetsCache.end()) {
+    if (i->second)
+      freshen(i->second);
+  } else {
+    auto j = m_queue.find(assetId);
+    if (j == m_queue.end()) {
+      m_queue[assetId] = QueuePriority::Load;
+      m_assetsQueued.signal();
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/source/base/StarAssets.hpp b/source/base/StarAssets.hpp
index 37e9a6c..f945cf8 100644
--- a/source/base/StarAssets.hpp
+++ b/source/base/StarAssets.hpp
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ public:
   // Scans all assets for files with the given extension, which is specially
   // indexed and much faster than a normal scan.  Extension may contain leading
   // '.' character or it may be omitted.
-  StringList scanExtension(String const& extension) const;
+  StringSet const& scanExtension(String const& extension) const;
 
   // Get json asset with an optional sub-path.  The sub-path portion of the
   // path refers to a key in the top-level object, and may use dot notation
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ public:
 
   // Load all the given jsons using background processing.
   void queueJsons(StringList const& paths) const;
+  void queueJsons(StringSet const& paths) const;
 
   // Returns *either* an image asset or a sub-frame.  Frame files are JSON
   // descriptor files that reference a particular image and label separate
@@ -212,6 +213,7 @@ public:
   ImageConstPtr image(AssetPath const& path) const;
   // Load images using background processing
   void queueImages(StringList const& paths) const;
+  void queueImages(StringSet const& paths) const;
   // Return the given image *if* it is already loaded, otherwise queue it for
   // loading.
   ImageConstPtr tryImage(AssetPath const& path) const;
@@ -226,6 +228,7 @@ public:
   AudioConstPtr audio(String const& path) const;
   // Load audios using background processing
   void queueAudios(StringList const& paths) const;
+  void queueAudios(StringSet const& paths) const;
   // Return the given audio *if* it is already loaded, otherwise queue it for
   // loading.
   AudioConstPtr tryAudio(String const& path) const;
@@ -249,6 +252,8 @@ private:
   static FramesSpecification parseFramesSpecification(Json const& frameConfig, String path);
 
   void queueAssets(List<AssetId> const& assetIds) const;
+  //Lock before calling!
+  void queueAsset(AssetId const& assetId) const;
   shared_ptr<AssetData> tryAsset(AssetId const& id) const;
   shared_ptr<AssetData> getAsset(AssetId const& id) const;
 
@@ -317,7 +322,7 @@ private:
   // Maps the source asset name to the source containing it
   CaseInsensitiveStringMap<AssetFileDescriptor> m_files;
   // Maps an extension to the files with that extension
-  CaseInsensitiveStringMap<StringList> m_filesByExtension;
+  CaseInsensitiveStringMap<StringSet> m_filesByExtension;
 
   ByteArray m_digest;
 
diff --git a/source/core/CMakeLists.txt b/source/core/CMakeLists.txt
index 4723686..fb31fca 100644
--- a/source/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/source/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ SET (star_core_HEADERS
     StarWorkerPool.hpp
     StarXXHash.hpp
     StarZSTDCompression.hpp
+    scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp
   )
 
 SET (star_core_SOURCES
@@ -183,6 +184,7 @@ SET (star_core_SOURCES
     StarUuid.cpp
     StarWorkerPool.cpp
     StarZSTDCompression.cpp
+    scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
   )
 
 IF (STAR_SYSTEM_FAMILY_UNIX)
diff --git a/source/core/StarAssetPath.cpp b/source/core/StarAssetPath.cpp
index 9a7833b..e54a139 100644
--- a/source/core/StarAssetPath.cpp
+++ b/source/core/StarAssetPath.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ AssetPath AssetPath::split(String const& path) {
   if (str[end] == ':') {
     size_t beg = end + 1;
     if (beg != str.size()) {
-      end = str.find_first_of("?", beg);
+      end = str.find_first_of('?', beg);
       if (end == NPos && beg + 1 != str.size())
         components.subPath.emplace(str.substr(beg));
       else if (size_t len = end - beg)
diff --git a/source/core/StarString.cpp b/source/core/StarString.cpp
index b236656..db785e6 100644
--- a/source/core/StarString.cpp
+++ b/source/core/StarString.cpp
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ bool String::hasCharOrWhitespace(Char c) const {
     return hasChar(c);
 }
 
-String String::replace(String const& rplc, String const& val) const {
+String String::replace(String const& rplc, String const& val, CaseSensitivity cs) const {
   size_t index;
   size_t sz = size();
   size_t rsz = rplc.size();
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ String String::replace(String const& rplc, String const& val) const {
   if (rplc.empty())
     return *this;
 
-  index = find(rplc);
+  index = find(rplc, 0, cs);
   if (index == NPos)
     return *this;
 
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ String String::replace(String const& rplc, String const& val) const {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < rsz; ++i)
       ++it;
 
-    size_t nindex = find(rplc, index);
+    size_t nindex = find(rplc, index, cs);
     for (size_t i = index; i < nindex && i < sz; ++i)
       ret.append(*it++);
 
diff --git a/source/core/StarString.hpp b/source/core/StarString.hpp
index 154a4bc..9c18515 100644
--- a/source/core/StarString.hpp
+++ b/source/core/StarString.hpp
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ public:
   // whitespace.
   bool hasCharOrWhitespace(Char c) const;
 
-  String replace(String const& rplc, String const& val) const;
+  String replace(String const& rplc, String const& val, CaseSensitivity cs = CaseSensitive) const;
 
   String trimEnd(String const& chars = "") const;
   String trimBeg(String const& chars = "") const;
diff --git a/source/game/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp b/source/core/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
similarity index 99%
rename from source/game/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
rename to source/core/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
index e2c7472..ed04fa7 100644
--- a/source/game/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
+++ b/source/core/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #include "StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp"
 #include "StarJsonExtra.hpp"
-#include "StarLuaGameConverters.hpp"
 #include "StarUuid.hpp"
 #include "StarRandom.hpp"
 #include "StarPerlin.hpp"
 #include "StarXXHash.hpp"
 #include "StarLogging.hpp"
 #include "StarInterpolation.hpp"
+#include "StarLuaConverters.hpp"
 
 namespace Star {
 
diff --git a/source/game/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp b/source/core/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp
similarity index 100%
rename from source/game/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp
rename to source/core/scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp
diff --git a/source/game/CMakeLists.txt b/source/game/CMakeLists.txt
index b209acf..3b85e2a 100644
--- a/source/game/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/source/game/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -251,7 +251,6 @@ SET (star_game_HEADERS
     scripting/StarStatusControllerLuaBindings.hpp
     scripting/StarWorldLuaBindings.hpp
     scripting/StarUniverseServerLuaBindings.hpp
-    scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.hpp
 
     terrain/StarCacheSelector.hpp
     terrain/StarConstantSelector.hpp
@@ -489,7 +488,6 @@ SET (star_game_SOURCES
     scripting/StarStatusControllerLuaBindings.cpp
     scripting/StarWorldLuaBindings.cpp
     scripting/StarUniverseServerLuaBindings.cpp
-    scripting/StarUtilityLuaBindings.cpp
 
     terrain/StarCacheSelector.cpp
     terrain/StarConstantSelector.cpp
diff --git a/source/game/StarAiDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarAiDatabase.cpp
index 8058a24..e918396 100644
--- a/source/game/StarAiDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarAiDatabase.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ AiDatabase::AiDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
   auto config = assets->json("/ai/ai.config");
 
-  auto missions = assets->scanExtension("aimission");
+  auto& missions = assets->scanExtension("aimission");
   assets->queueJsons(missions);
 
   for (auto const& file : missions) {
diff --git a/source/game/StarBehaviorDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarBehaviorDatabase.cpp
index 03017ca..2246652 100644
--- a/source/game/StarBehaviorDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarBehaviorDatabase.cpp
@@ -151,12 +151,12 @@ BehaviorTree::BehaviorTree(String const& name, StringSet scripts, JsonObject con
 BehaviorDatabase::BehaviorDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  StringList nodeFiles = assets->scanExtension("nodes");
+  auto& nodeFiles = assets->scanExtension("nodes");
   assets->queueJsons(nodeFiles);
   for (String const& file : nodeFiles) {
     try {
       Json nodes = assets->json(file);
-      for (auto node : nodes.toObject()) {
+      for (auto& node : nodes.toObject()) {
         StringMap<NodeParameter> parameters;
         for (auto p : node.second.getObject("properties", {}))
           parameters.set(p.first, jsonToNodeParameter(p.second));
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ BehaviorDatabase::BehaviorDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  auto behaviorFiles = assets->scanExtension("behavior");
+  auto& behaviorFiles = assets->scanExtension("behavior");
   assets->queueJsons(behaviorFiles);
   for (auto const& file : behaviorFiles) {
     try {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ BehaviorDatabase::BehaviorDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto pair : m_configs) {
+  for (auto& pair : m_configs) {
     if (!m_behaviors.contains(pair.first))
       loadTree(pair.first);
   }
diff --git a/source/game/StarBiomeDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarBiomeDatabase.cpp
index 9a39781..4b13280 100644
--- a/source/game/StarBiomeDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarBiomeDatabase.cpp
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ BiomeDatabase::BiomeDatabase() {
 
   // 'type' here is the extension of the file, and determines the selector type
   auto scanFiles = [=](String const& type, ConfigMap& map) {
-    auto files = assets->scanExtension(type);
+    auto& files = assets->scanExtension(type);
     assets->queueJsons(files);
-    for (auto path : files) {
+    for (auto& path : files) {
       auto parameters = assets->json(path);
       if (parameters.isNull())
         continue;
diff --git a/source/game/StarCodexDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarCodexDatabase.cpp
index c7e8972..5b91dcf 100644
--- a/source/game/StarCodexDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarCodexDatabase.cpp
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ namespace Star {
 
 CodexDatabase::CodexDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("codex");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("codex");
   auto codexConfig = assets->json("/codex.config");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto const& file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       auto codexJson = assets->json(file);
       codexJson = codexJson.set("icon",
diff --git a/source/game/StarCollectionDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarCollectionDatabase.cpp
index 40e7595..d2b6161 100644
--- a/source/game/StarCollectionDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarCollectionDatabase.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ Collectable::Collectable(String const& name, int order, String const& title, Str
 
 CollectionDatabase::CollectionDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("collection");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("collection");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     auto config = assets->json(file);
 
     Collection collection;
diff --git a/source/game/StarDamageDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarDamageDatabase.cpp
index 8248295..1708552 100644
--- a/source/game/StarDamageDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarDamageDatabase.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ DamageDatabase::DamageDatabase() {
     m_elementalTypes.set(p.first, std::move(type));
   }
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("damage");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("damage");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     auto config = assets->json(file);
     String name = config.getString("kind");
     if (m_damageKinds.contains(name))
diff --git a/source/game/StarDanceDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarDanceDatabase.cpp
index 2e81fe5..4caab6b 100644
--- a/source/game/StarDanceDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarDanceDatabase.cpp
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ namespace Star {
 
 DanceDatabase::DanceDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("dance");
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("dance");
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       DancePtr dance = readDance(file);
       m_dances[dance->name] = dance;
diff --git a/source/game/StarDungeonGenerator.cpp b/source/game/StarDungeonGenerator.cpp
index 4014b34..96285df 100644
--- a/source/game/StarDungeonGenerator.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarDungeonGenerator.cpp
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ namespace Dungeon {
 DungeonDefinitions::DungeonDefinitions() : m_paths(), m_cacheMutex(), m_definitionCache(DefinitionsCacheSize) {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  for (auto file : assets->scan(".dungeon")) {
+  for (auto& file : assets->scan(".dungeon")) {
     Json dungeon = assets->json(file);
     m_paths.insert(dungeon.get("metadata").getString("name"), file);
   }
diff --git a/source/game/StarEffectSourceDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarEffectSourceDatabase.cpp
index ab3c112..af01402 100644
--- a/source/game/StarEffectSourceDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarEffectSourceDatabase.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace Star {
 EffectSourceDatabase::EffectSourceDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("effectsource");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("effectsource");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
   for (auto const& file : files) {
     auto sourceConfig = make_shared<EffectSourceConfig>(assets->json(file));
diff --git a/source/game/StarItemDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarItemDatabase.cpp
index 50d044c..c3f2447 100644
--- a/source/game/StarItemDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarItemDatabase.cpp
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ ItemRecipe ItemDatabase::makeRecipe(List<ItemDescriptor> inputs, ItemDescriptor
 
 void ItemDatabase::addItemSet(ItemType type, String const& extension) {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  for (auto file : assets->scanExtension(extension)) {
+  for (auto& file : assets->scanExtension(extension)) {
     ItemData data;
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
@@ -662,9 +662,9 @@ void ItemDatabase::addObjectItems() {
 void ItemDatabase::scanRecipes() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("recipe");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("recipe");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       m_recipes.add(parseRecipe(assets->json(file)));
     } catch (std::exception const& e) {
diff --git a/source/game/StarLiquidsDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarLiquidsDatabase.cpp
index 3161da7..0ef03ae 100644
--- a/source/game/StarLiquidsDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarLiquidsDatabase.cpp
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ LiquidsDatabase::LiquidsDatabase() {
 
   m_liquidNames["empty"] = EmptyLiquidId;
 
-  auto liquids = assets->scanExtension("liquid");
+  auto& liquids = assets->scanExtension("liquid");
   assets->queueJsons(liquids);
 
-  for (auto file : liquids) {
+  for (auto& file : liquids) {
     try {
       auto liquidConfig = assets->json(file);
 
diff --git a/source/game/StarMaterialDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarMaterialDatabase.cpp
index abb49ad..6577937 100644
--- a/source/game/StarMaterialDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarMaterialDatabase.cpp
@@ -54,13 +54,13 @@ MaterialDatabase::MaterialDatabase() {
     setMetaMaterial(matId, MaterialDatabase::MetaMaterialInfo{matName, matId, matCollisionKind, blocksLiquidFlow});
   }
 
-  auto materials = assets->scanExtension("material");
-  auto mods = assets->scanExtension("matmod");
+  auto& materials = assets->scanExtension("material");
+  auto& mods = assets->scanExtension("matmod");
 
   assets->queueJsons(materials);
   assets->queueJsons(mods);
 
-  for (auto file : materials) {
+  for (auto& file : materials) {
     try {
       auto matConfig = assets->json(file);
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ MaterialDatabase::MaterialDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : mods) {
+  for (auto& file : mods) {
     try {
       auto modConfig = assets->json(file);
 
diff --git a/source/game/StarMonsterDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarMonsterDatabase.cpp
index 395d873..963cf87 100644
--- a/source/game/StarMonsterDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarMonsterDatabase.cpp
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ namespace Star {
 MonsterDatabase::MonsterDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto monsterTypes = assets->scanExtension("monstertype");
-  auto monsterParts = assets->scanExtension("monsterpart");
-  auto monsterSkills = assets->scanExtension("monsterskill");
-  auto monsterColors = assets->scanExtension("monstercolors");
+  auto& monsterTypes = assets->scanExtension("monstertype");
+  auto& monsterParts = assets->scanExtension("monsterpart");
+  auto& monsterSkills = assets->scanExtension("monsterskill");
+  auto& monsterColors = assets->scanExtension("monstercolors");
 
   assets->queueJsons(monsterTypes);
   assets->queueJsons(monsterParts);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ MonsterDatabase::MonsterDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : monsterParts) {
+  for (auto const& file : monsterParts) {
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       if (config.isNull())
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ MonsterDatabase::MonsterDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : monsterSkills) {
+  for (auto const& file : monsterSkills) {
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       if (config.isNull())
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ MonsterDatabase::MonsterDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : monsterColors) {
+  for (auto const& file : monsterColors) {
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       if (config.isNull())
diff --git a/source/game/StarNameGenerator.cpp b/source/game/StarNameGenerator.cpp
index 6b8223e..aeb9b9d 100644
--- a/source/game/StarNameGenerator.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarNameGenerator.cpp
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ namespace Star {
 
 PatternedNameGenerator::PatternedNameGenerator() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("namesource");
+  auto &files = assets->scanExtension("namesource");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       auto sourceConfig = assets->json(file);
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ PatternedNameGenerator::PatternedNameGenerator() {
   }
 
   auto profanityFilter = assets->json("/names/profanityfilter.config").toArray();
-  for (auto naughtyWord : profanityFilter)
+  for (auto& naughtyWord : profanityFilter)
     m_profanityFilter.add(naughtyWord.toString().toLower());
 }
 
diff --git a/source/game/StarNpcDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarNpcDatabase.cpp
index 343702e..bd70df5 100644
--- a/source/game/StarNpcDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarNpcDatabase.cpp
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ namespace Star {
 NpcDatabase::NpcDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("npctype");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("npctype");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       String typeName = config.getString("type");
diff --git a/source/game/StarObjectDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarObjectDatabase.cpp
index 68ec6a9..67a3c67 100644
--- a/source/game/StarObjectDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarObjectDatabase.cpp
@@ -309,9 +309,9 @@ List<ObjectOrientationPtr> ObjectDatabase::parseOrientations(String const& path,
 ObjectDatabase::ObjectDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("object");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("object");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       String name = assets->json(file).getString("objectName");
       if (m_paths.contains(name))
diff --git a/source/game/StarParticleDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarParticleDatabase.cpp
index 04e0f46..3d0d6a6 100644
--- a/source/game/StarParticleDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarParticleDatabase.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ Particle ParticleConfig::instance() {
 
 ParticleDatabase::ParticleDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("particle");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("particle");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     auto particleConfig = make_shared<ParticleConfig>(assets->json(file));
     if (m_configs.contains(particleConfig->kind()))
       throw StarException(strf("Duplicate particle asset kind Name {}. configfile {}", particleConfig->kind(), file));
diff --git a/source/game/StarPlantDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarPlantDatabase.cpp
index 4573634..dde43a7 100644
--- a/source/game/StarPlantDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarPlantDatabase.cpp
@@ -104,10 +104,10 @@ Json BushVariant::toJson() const {
 PlantDatabase::PlantDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto stems = assets->scanExtension("modularstem");
-  auto foliages = assets->scanExtension("modularfoliage");
-  auto grasses = assets->scanExtension("grass");
-  auto bushes = assets->scanExtension("bush");
+  auto& stems = assets->scanExtension("modularstem");
+  auto& foliages = assets->scanExtension("modularfoliage");
+  auto& grasses = assets->scanExtension("grass");
+  auto& bushes = assets->scanExtension("bush");
 
   assets->queueJsons(stems);
   assets->queueJsons(foliages);
@@ -115,22 +115,22 @@ PlantDatabase::PlantDatabase() {
   assets->queueJsons(bushes);
 
   try {
-    for (auto file : stems) {
+    for (auto& file : stems) {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       m_treeStemConfigs.insert(config.getString("name"), Config{AssetPath::directory(file), config.toObject()});
     }
 
-    for (auto file : foliages) {
+    for (auto& file : foliages) {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       m_treeFoliageConfigs.insert(config.getString("name"), Config{AssetPath::directory(file), config.toObject()});
     }
 
-    for (auto file : grasses) {
+    for (auto& file : grasses) {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       m_grassConfigs.insert(config.getString("name"), Config{AssetPath::directory(file), config.toObject()});
     }
 
-    for (auto file : bushes) {
+    for (auto& file : bushes) {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       m_bushConfigs.insert(config.getString("name"), Config{AssetPath::directory(file), config.toObject()});
     }
diff --git a/source/game/StarProjectileDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarProjectileDatabase.cpp
index 2bcd0a7..fd52df6 100644
--- a/source/game/StarProjectileDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarProjectileDatabase.cpp
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ namespace Star {
 ProjectileDatabase::ProjectileDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("projectile");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("projectile");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       auto projectileConfig = readConfig(file);
       if (m_configs.contains(projectileConfig->typeName))
diff --git a/source/game/StarQuestTemplateDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarQuestTemplateDatabase.cpp
index 0e2b8a0..ff58ac2 100644
--- a/source/game/StarQuestTemplateDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarQuestTemplateDatabase.cpp
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ QuestTemplate::QuestTemplate(Json const& config) {
 
 QuestTemplateDatabase::QuestTemplateDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("questtemplate");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("questtemplate");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto qt : files) {
+  for (auto& qt : files) {
     auto questTemplate = make_shared<QuestTemplate>(assets->json(qt));
     if (!m_templates.insert(questTemplate->templateId, questTemplate).second)
       throw StarException(strf("Duplicate quest template '{}'", questTemplate->templateId));
diff --git a/source/game/StarRadioMessageDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarRadioMessageDatabase.cpp
index 2a22fe1..acb13ff 100644
--- a/source/game/StarRadioMessageDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarRadioMessageDatabase.cpp
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ EnumMap<RadioMessageType> const RadioMessageTypeNames{
 
 RadioMessageDatabase::RadioMessageDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("radiomessages");
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("radiomessages");
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       Json messages = assets->json(file);
       for (auto pair : messages.iterateObject()) {
diff --git a/source/game/StarRoot.cpp b/source/game/StarRoot.cpp
index 3e5f8f8..7b8d495 100644
--- a/source/game/StarRoot.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarRoot.cpp
@@ -697,11 +697,12 @@ StringList Root::scanForAssetSources(StringList const& directories, StringList c
 
   StringList sourcePaths;
   for (auto const& source : dependencySortedSources) {
+    auto path = File::convertDirSeparators(source->path);
     if (source->name)
-      Logger::info("Root: Detected asset source named '{}' at '{}'", *source->name, source->path);
+      Logger::info("Root: Detected asset source named '{}' at '{}'", *source->name, path);
     else
-      Logger::info("Root: Detected unnamed asset source at '{}'", source->path);
-    sourcePaths.append(source->path);
+      Logger::info("Root: Detected unnamed asset source at '{}'", path);
+    sourcePaths.append(path);
   }
 
   return sourcePaths;
diff --git a/source/game/StarSpawnTypeDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarSpawnTypeDatabase.cpp
index 7ae3281..542ddec 100644
--- a/source/game/StarSpawnTypeDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarSpawnTypeDatabase.cpp
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ SpawnProfile constructSpawnProfile(Json const& config, uint64_t seed) {
 
 SpawnTypeDatabase::SpawnTypeDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("spawntypes");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("spawntypes");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
   uint64_t seedMix = 0;
   for (auto const& file : files) {
diff --git a/source/game/StarSpeciesDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarSpeciesDatabase.cpp
index c3f2ead..297709f 100644
--- a/source/game/StarSpeciesDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarSpeciesDatabase.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ SpeciesOption::SpeciesOption()
 SpeciesDatabase::SpeciesDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("species");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("species");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     auto speciesDefinition = make_shared<SpeciesDefinition>(assets->json(file));
     if (m_species.contains(speciesDefinition->kind()))
       throw StarException(strf("Duplicate species asset with kind {}. configfile {}", speciesDefinition->kind(), file));
diff --git a/source/game/StarStagehandDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarStagehandDatabase.cpp
index 1bf44e0..f624e70 100644
--- a/source/game/StarStagehandDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarStagehandDatabase.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ namespace Star {
 
 StagehandDatabase::StagehandDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("stagehand");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("stagehand");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
 
diff --git a/source/game/StarStatisticsDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarStatisticsDatabase.cpp
index d3b993e..218bfcf 100644
--- a/source/game/StarStatisticsDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarStatisticsDatabase.cpp
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ namespace Star {
 StatisticsDatabase::StatisticsDatabase() : m_cacheMutex(), m_eventCache() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto eventFiles = assets->scanExtension("event");
+  auto& eventFiles = assets->scanExtension("event");
   assets->queueJsons(eventFiles);
-  auto achievementFiles = assets->scanExtension("achievement");
+  auto& achievementFiles = assets->scanExtension("achievement");
   assets->queueJsons(achievementFiles);
 
-  for (auto file : eventFiles) {
+  for (auto& file : eventFiles) {
     try {
       String name = assets->json(file).getString("eventName");
       if (m_eventPaths.contains(name))
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ StatisticsDatabase::StatisticsDatabase() : m_cacheMutex(), m_eventCache() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : achievementFiles) {
+  for (auto& file : achievementFiles) {
     try {
       Json achievement = assets->json(file);
       String name = achievement.getString("name");
diff --git a/source/game/StarStatusEffectDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarStatusEffectDatabase.cpp
index 5a060bc..63080bb 100644
--- a/source/game/StarStatusEffectDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarStatusEffectDatabase.cpp
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ namespace Star {
 
 StatusEffectDatabase::StatusEffectDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("statuseffect");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("statuseffect");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     auto uniqueEffect = parseUniqueEffect(assets->json(file), file);
 
     if (m_uniqueEffects.contains(uniqueEffect.name))
diff --git a/source/game/StarStoredFunctions.cpp b/source/game/StarStoredFunctions.cpp
index 7905f66..bbbd44b 100644
--- a/source/game/StarStoredFunctions.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarStoredFunctions.cpp
@@ -121,15 +121,15 @@ Json StoredConfigFunction::get(double value) const {
 FunctionDatabase::FunctionDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto functions = assets->scanExtension("functions");
-  auto sndFunctions = assets->scanExtension("2functions");
-  auto configFunctions = assets->scanExtension("configfunctions");
+  auto& functions = assets->scanExtension("functions");
+  auto& sndFunctions = assets->scanExtension("2functions");
+  auto& configFunctions = assets->scanExtension("configfunctions");
 
   assets->queueJsons(functions);
   assets->queueJsons(sndFunctions);
   assets->queueJsons(configFunctions);
 
-  for (auto file : functions) {
+  for (auto& file : functions) {
     for (auto const& functionPair : assets->json(file).iterateObject()) {
       if (m_functions.contains(functionPair.first))
         throw StarException(strf("Named Function '{}' defined twice, second time from {}", functionPair.first, file));
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ FunctionDatabase::FunctionDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : sndFunctions) {
+  for (auto& file : sndFunctions) {
     for (auto const& functionPair : assets->json(file).iterateObject()) {
       if (m_functions2.contains(functionPair.first))
         throw StarException(
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ FunctionDatabase::FunctionDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : configFunctions) {
+  for (auto& file : configFunctions) {
     for (auto const& tablePair : assets->json(file).iterateObject()) {
       if (m_configFunctions.contains(tablePair.first))
         throw StarException(
diff --git a/source/game/StarTechDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarTechDatabase.cpp
index a1cce3e..0929ff9 100644
--- a/source/game/StarTechDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarTechDatabase.cpp
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ EnumMap<TechType> const TechTypeNames{
 
 TechDatabase::TechDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("tech");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("tech");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     auto tech = parseTech(assets->json(file), file);
 
     if (m_tech.contains(tech.name))
diff --git a/source/game/StarTenantDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarTenantDatabase.cpp
index 1cfa0c4..20a1a72 100644
--- a/source/game/StarTenantDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarTenantDatabase.cpp
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ bool Tenant::criteriaSatisfied(StringMap<unsigned> const& colonyTags) const {
 TenantDatabase::TenantDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("tenant");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("tenant");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       String name = assets->json(file).getString("name");
       if (m_paths.contains(name))
diff --git a/source/game/StarTerrainDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarTerrainDatabase.cpp
index 1a6bbb2..c71adce 100644
--- a/source/game/StarTerrainDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarTerrainDatabase.cpp
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ TerrainDatabase::TerrainDatabase() {
 
   // 'type' here is the extension of the file, and determines the selector type
   auto scanFiles = [this, assets](String const& type) {
-    auto files = assets->scanExtension(type);
+    auto& files = assets->scanExtension(type);
     assets->queueJsons(files);
-    for (auto path : files) {
+    for (auto& path : files) {
       auto parameters = assets->json(path);
       auto name = parameters.getString("name");
       if (m_terrainSelectors.contains(name))
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ TerrainDatabase::TerrainDatabase() {
   scanFiles(WormCaveSelector::Name);
   scanFiles(RidgeBlocksSelector::Name);
 
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("terrain");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("terrain");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto path : files) {
+  for (auto& path : files) {
     auto parameters = assets->json(path);
     auto name = parameters.getString("name");
     auto type = parameters.getString("type");
diff --git a/source/game/StarTreasure.cpp b/source/game/StarTreasure.cpp
index 7493d62..e74ede0 100644
--- a/source/game/StarTreasure.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarTreasure.cpp
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ namespace Star {
 TreasureDatabase::TreasureDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
-  auto treasurePools = assets->scanExtension("treasurepools");
-  auto treasureChests = assets->scanExtension("treasurechests");
+  auto& treasurePools = assets->scanExtension("treasurepools");
+  auto& treasureChests = assets->scanExtension("treasurechests");
 
   assets->queueJsons(treasurePools);
   assets->queueJsons(treasureChests);
 
-  for (auto file : treasurePools) {
+  for (auto& file : treasurePools) {
     for (auto const& pair : assets->json(file).iterateObject()) {
       if (m_treasurePools.contains(pair.first))
         throw TreasureException(strf("Duplicate TreasurePool config '{}' from file '{}'", pair.first, file));
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ TreasureDatabase::TreasureDatabase() {
     }
   }
 
-  for (auto file : treasureChests) {
+  for (auto& file : treasureChests) {
     for (auto const& pair : assets->json(file).iterateObject()) {
       if (m_treasureChestSets.contains(pair.first))
         throw TreasureException(strf("Duplicate TreasureChestSet config '{}' from file '{}'", pair.first, file));
diff --git a/source/game/StarVehicleDatabase.cpp b/source/game/StarVehicleDatabase.cpp
index a5f923d..370aceb 100644
--- a/source/game/StarVehicleDatabase.cpp
+++ b/source/game/StarVehicleDatabase.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ namespace Star {
 
 VehicleDatabase::VehicleDatabase() {
   auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
-  auto files = assets->scanExtension("vehicle");
+  auto& files = assets->scanExtension("vehicle");
   assets->queueJsons(files);
-  for (auto file : files) {
+  for (auto& file : files) {
     try {
       auto config = assets->json(file);
       String name = config.getString("name");
diff --git a/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.cpp b/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.cpp
index 6759811..0c66a7b 100644
--- a/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.cpp
+++ b/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ LuaCallbacks LuaBindings::makeRootCallbacks() {
 
   auto root = Root::singletonPtr();
 
-  callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<StringList, String>("assetsByExtension", bind(RootCallbacks::assetsByExtension, root, _1));
   callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<String, String>("assetData", bind(RootCallbacks::assetData, root, _1));
   callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<Json, String>("assetJson", bind(RootCallbacks::assetJson, root, _1));
   callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<Json, String, Json>("makeCurrentVersionedJson", bind(RootCallbacks::makeCurrentVersionedJson, root, _1, _2));
@@ -63,6 +62,15 @@ LuaCallbacks LuaBindings::makeRootCallbacks() {
   callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<Maybe<String>, String, Maybe<String>>("materialMiningSound", bind(RootCallbacks::materialMiningSound, root, _1, _2));
   callbacks.registerCallbackWithSignature<Maybe<String>, String, Maybe<String>>("materialFootstepSound", bind(RootCallbacks::materialFootstepSound, root, _1, _2));
 
+  callbacks.registerCallback("assetsByExtension", [root](LuaEngine& engine, String const& extension) -> LuaTable {
+    auto& extensions = root->assets()->scanExtension(extension);
+    auto table = engine.createTable(extensions.size(), 0);
+    size_t i = 0;
+    for (auto& file : extensions)
+      table.set(++i, file);
+    return table;
+  });
+
   callbacks.registerCallback("assetOrigin", [root](String const& path) -> Maybe<String> {
       auto assets = root->assets();
       if (auto descriptor = assets->assetDescriptor(path))
@@ -242,10 +250,6 @@ LuaCallbacks LuaBindings::makeRootCallbacks() {
   return callbacks;
 }
 
-StringList LuaBindings::RootCallbacks::assetsByExtension(Root* root, String const& extension) {
-  return root->assets()->scanExtension(extension);
-}
-
 String LuaBindings::RootCallbacks::assetData(Root* root, String const& path) {
   auto bytes = root->assets()->bytes(path);
   return String(bytes->ptr(), bytes->size());
diff --git a/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.hpp b/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.hpp
index 5f52dd1..ac8b79f 100644
--- a/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.hpp
+++ b/source/game/scripting/StarRootLuaBindings.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ namespace LuaBindings {
   LuaCallbacks makeRootCallbacks();
 
   namespace RootCallbacks {
-    StringList assetsByExtension(Root* root, String const& extension);
     String assetData(Root* root, String const& path);
     Json assetJson(Root* root, String const& path);
     Json makeCurrentVersionedJson(Root* root, String const& identifier, Json const& content);
diff --git a/source/utility/word_count.cpp b/source/utility/word_count.cpp
index d233b8c..249cbce 100644
--- a/source/utility/word_count.cpp
+++ b/source/utility/word_count.cpp
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
     auto assets = Root::singleton().assets();
 
     auto countWordsInType = [&](String const& type, function<int(Json const&)> countFunction, Maybe<function<bool(String const&)>> filterFunction = {}, Maybe<String> wordCountKey = {}) {
-      auto files = assets->scanExtension(type);
+      auto& files = assets->scanExtension(type).values();
       if (filterFunction)
         files.filter(*filterFunction);
       assets->queueJsons(files);
-      for (auto path : files) {
+      for (auto& path : files) {
         auto json = assets->json(path);
         if (json.isNull())
           continue;
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
         "activeitem",
         "augment" };
 
-    for (auto itemFileType : itemFileTypes) {
+    for (auto& itemFileType : itemFileTypes) {
       countWordsInType(itemFileType, [](Json const& json) {
           int wordCount = 0;
           wordCount += json.getString("shortdescription", "").split(" ").count();