diff --git a/src/kernel/equipment.test.c b/src/kernel/equipment.test.c
index edc7f92e1..66872af0e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/equipment.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/equipment.test.c
@@ -17,14 +17,13 @@ void test_equipment(CuTest * tc)
   equipment * eq;
   unit * u;
   const item_type * it_horses;
-  const char * names[] = {"horse", "horse_p"};
   spell *sp;
   sc_mage * mage;
   
   test_cleanup();
   test_create_race("human");
   enable_skill(SK_MAGIC, true);
-  it_horses = test_create_itemtype(names);
+  it_horses = test_create_itemtype("horse");
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, it_horses);
   sp = create_spell("testspell", 0);
   CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, sp);
diff --git a/src/kernel/item.c b/src/kernel/item.c
index ec307bbf2..1a2bbf879 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.c
+++ b/src/kernel/item.c
@@ -147,6 +147,20 @@ const char *resourcename(const resource_type * rtype, int flags)
   return "none";
 }
 
+static int num_resources;
+
+static void rt_register(resource_type * rtype)
+{
+    char buffer[64];
+    const char * name = rtype->_name[0];
+    size_t len = strlen(name);
+
+    assert(len<sizeof(buffer) - sizeof(rtype));
+    len = cb_new_kv(name, len, &rtype, sizeof(rtype), buffer);
+    cb_insert(&cb_resources, buffer, len);
+    ++num_resources;
+}
+
 resource_type *rt_get_or_create(const char *name) {
     resource_type *rtype = rt_find(name);
     if (!rtype) {
@@ -159,32 +173,6 @@ resource_type *rt_get_or_create(const char *name) {
     return rtype;
 }
 
-resource_type *new_resourcetype(const char **names, const char **appearances,
-  int flags)
-{
-  resource_type *rtype = rt_find(names[0]);
-
-  if (rtype == NULL) {
-    int i;
-    rtype = (resource_type *)calloc(sizeof(resource_type), 1);
-
-    for (i = 0; i != 2; ++i) {
-      rtype->_name[i] = _strdup(names[i]);
-      if (appearances)
-        rtype->_appearance[i] = _strdup(appearances[i]);
-      else
-        rtype->_appearance[i] = NULL;
-    }
-  }
-#ifndef NDEBUG
-  else {
-    /* TODO: check that this is the same type */
-  }
-#endif
-  rtype->flags |= flags;
-  return rtype;
-}
-
 void it_register(item_type * itype)
 {
   char buffer[64];
@@ -230,9 +218,13 @@ item_type *it_get_or_create(resource_type *rtype) {
     item_type * itype;
     assert(rtype);
     itype = it_find(rtype->_name[0]);
-    assert(!itype);
-    itype = (item_type *)calloc(sizeof(item_type), 1);
+    assert(!itype || !itype->rtype || itype->rtype == rtype);
+    if (!itype) {
+        itype = (item_type *)calloc(sizeof(item_type), 1);
+    }
     itype->rtype = rtype;
+    rtype->uchange = res_changeitem;
+    rtype->itype = itype;
     rtype->flags |= RTF_ITEM;
     it_register(itype);
     return itype;
@@ -348,18 +340,11 @@ potion_type *new_potiontype(item_type * itype, int level)
   return ptype;
 }
 
-static int num_resources;
-
-void rt_register(resource_type * rtype)
-{
-    char buffer[64];
-    const char * name = rtype->_name[0];
-    size_t len = strlen(name);
-    
-    assert(len<sizeof(buffer)-sizeof(rtype));
-    len = cb_new_kv(name, len, &rtype, sizeof(rtype), buffer);
-    cb_insert(&cb_resources, buffer, len);
-    ++num_resources;
+void it_set_appearance(item_type *itype, const char *appearance) {
+    assert(itype && itype->rtype);
+    itype->rtype->_appearance[0] = _strdup(appearance);
+    itype->rtype->_appearance[1] = appearance ?
+        strcat(strcpy((char *)malloc(strlen((char *)appearance) + 3), (char *)appearance), "_p") : 0;
 }
 
 const resource_type *item2resource(const item_type * itype)
@@ -964,70 +949,37 @@ static void init_oldpotions(void)
 }
 
 static const char *names[] = {
-  "money", "money_p",
-  "person", "person_p",
-  "permaura", "permaura_p",
-  "hp", "hp_p",
-  "peasant", "peasant_p",
-  "aura", "aura_p",
-  "unit", "unit_p"
+  "money", "person", "permaura", "hp", "peasant", "aura", "unit",
 };
 
 void init_resources(void)
 {
     resource_type *rtype;
-    item_type *itype;
 
-    rtype = rt_find(names[8]);
-    if (!rtype) {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(names + 8, NULL, RTF_NONE);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-    }
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create(resourcenames[R_PEASANT]);
     rtype->uchange = res_changepeasants;
     
     // R_SILVER
-    rtype = rt_find(names[0]);
-    if (!rtype) {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(&names[0], NULL, RTF_ITEM | RTF_POOLED);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-    }
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create(resourcenames[R_SILVER]);
+    rtype->flags |= RTF_ITEM | RTF_POOLED;
     rtype->uchange = res_changeitem;
-    itype = rtype->itype;
-    if (!itype) {
-        itype = new_itemtype(rtype, ITF_NONE, 1 /*weight */ , 0);
-    }
-    itype->give = give_money;
+    rtype->itype = it_get_or_create(rtype);
+    rtype->itype->give = give_money;
 
     // R_PERMAURA
-    rtype = rt_find(names[4]);
-    if (!rtype) {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(&names[4], NULL, RTF_NONE);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-    }
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create(resourcenames[R_PERMAURA]);
     rtype->uchange = res_changepermaura;
     
     // R_LIFE
-    rtype = rt_find(names[6]);
-    if (!rtype) {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(&names[6], NULL, RTF_NONE);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-    }
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create(resourcenames[R_LIFE]);
     rtype->uchange = res_changehp;
     
     // R_AURA
-    rtype = rt_find(names[10]);
-    if (!rtype) {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(&names[10], NULL, RTF_NONE);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-    }
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create(resourcenames[R_AURA]);
     rtype->uchange = res_changeaura;
 
     // R_UNIT
-    rtype = rt_find(names[12]);
-    if (!rtype) {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(&names[12], NULL, RTF_NONE);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-    }
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create(resourcenames[R_UNIT]);
     rtype->uchange = res_changeperson;
     
     /* alte typen registrieren: */
@@ -1250,7 +1202,8 @@ void test_clear_resources(void)
     ++num_resources;
     
     for (i=0; i!=MAXLOCALES; ++i) {
-        cb_clear(inames+i);
+        cb_clear(inames + i);
+        cb_clear(rnames + i);
     }
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/kernel/item.h b/src/kernel/item.h
index a80da6c2e..1466d02fb 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.h
+++ b/src/kernel/item.h
@@ -225,12 +225,12 @@ extern "C" {
       int *deaths);
   } weapon_type;
 
-  void rt_register(resource_type * it);
   resource_type *rt_find(const char *name);
   item_type *it_find(const char *name);
 
-  extern void it_register(item_type * it);
-  extern void wt_register(weapon_type * wt);
+  void it_set_appearance(item_type *itype, const char *appearance);
+  void it_register(item_type * it);
+  void wt_register(weapon_type * wt);
 
   extern const item_type *resource2item(const resource_type * rtype);
   extern const resource_type *item2resource(const item_type * i);
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 /* creation */
     resource_type *rt_get_or_create(const char *name);
-    resource_type *new_resourcetype(const char **names, const char **appearances, int flags);
+//    resource_type *new_resourcetype(const char **names, const char **appearances, int flags);
     item_type *it_get_or_create(resource_type *rtype);
   extern item_type *new_itemtype(resource_type * rtype, int iflags, int weight,
     int capacity);
diff --git a/src/kernel/item.test.c b/src/kernel/item.test.c
index 626090eae..3613777c8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/item.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/item.test.c
@@ -51,20 +51,14 @@ void test_change_person(CuTest * tc)
 void test_resource_type(CuTest * tc)
 {
   struct item_type *itype;
-  const char *names[2] = { 0 , 0 };
 
   test_cleanup();
 
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, rt_find("herpderp"));
 
-  names[0] = names[1] = "herpderp";
-  test_create_itemtype(names);
-
-  names[0] = names[1] = "herp";
-  itype = test_create_itemtype(names);
-
-  names[0] = names[1] = "herpes";
-  test_create_itemtype(names);
+  test_create_itemtype("herpderp");
+  test_create_itemtype("herpes");
+  itype = test_create_itemtype("herp");
 
   CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, itype->rtype, rt_find("herp"));
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/move.test.c b/src/kernel/move.test.c
index 6b4eb015b..5e1d0ecae 100644
--- a/src/kernel/move.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/move.test.c
@@ -18,14 +18,13 @@ static void test_ship_not_allowed_in_coast(CuTest * tc)
   ship * sh;
   terrain_type *ttype, *otype;
   ship_type *stype;
-  const char * names[] = { "derp", "derp_p" };
 
   test_cleanup();
   test_create_world();
 
   ttype = test_create_terrain("glacier", LAND_REGION|ARCTIC_REGION|WALK_INTO|SAIL_INTO);
   otype = test_create_terrain("ocean", SEA_REGION|SAIL_INTO);
-  stype = test_create_shiptype(names);
+  stype = test_create_shiptype("derp");
   stype->coasts = (const struct terrain_type **)calloc(2, sizeof(const struct terrain_type *));
 
   r1 = test_create_region(0, 0, ttype);
diff --git a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
index 4cc8ba358..01c42a67e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
+++ b/src/kernel/xmlreader.c
@@ -105,22 +105,6 @@ static xmlChar *xml_cleanup_string(xmlChar * str)
   return str;
 }
 
-static const resource_type *rt_findorcreate(const char *name)
-{
-  resource_type *rtype = rt_find(name);
-  if (rtype == NULL) {
-    const char *names[2];
-    char *namep = strcat(strcpy((char *)malloc(strlen(name) + 3), name), "_p");
-    /* we'll make a placeholder */
-    names[0] = name;
-    names[1] = namep;
-    rtype = new_resourcetype(names, NULL, RTF_NONE);
-    rt_register(rtype);
-    free(namep);
-  }
-  return rtype;
-}
-
 static void
 xml_readrequirements(xmlNodePtr * nodeTab, int nodeNr, requirement ** reqArray)
 {
@@ -141,7 +125,7 @@ xml_readrequirements(xmlNodePtr * nodeTab, int nodeNr, requirement ** reqArray)
     radd->recycle = xml_fvalue(node, "recycle", 0.5);
 
     propValue = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "type");
-    radd->rtype = rt_findorcreate((const char *)propValue);
+    radd->rtype = rt_get_or_create((const char *)propValue);
     xmlFree(propValue);
 
     ++radd;
@@ -978,10 +962,9 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
   for (i = 0; i != nodes->nodeNr; ++i) {
     xmlNodePtr node = nodes->nodeTab[i];
     xmlChar *propValue, *name, *appearance;
-    const char *names[2], *appearances[2];
-    char *namep = NULL, *appearancep = NULL;
     resource_type *rtype;
-    unsigned int flags = RTF_NONE;
+    item_type *itype;
+    unsigned int flags = RTF_ITEM;
     xmlXPathObjectPtr result;
     int k;
 
@@ -994,44 +977,15 @@ static int parse_resources(xmlDocPtr doc)
     appearance = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "appearance");
     assert(name != NULL);
 
-    if (appearance != NULL) {
-      appearancep =
-        strcat(strcpy((char *)malloc(strlen((char *)appearance) + 3),
-          (char *)appearance), "_p");
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create((const char *)name);
+    rtype->flags |= flags;
+    itype = rtype->itype ? rtype->itype : it_get_or_create(rtype);
+    if (appearance) {
+        it_set_appearance(itype, (const char *)appearance);
     }
 
-    rtype = rt_find((const char *)name);
-    if (rtype != NULL) {
-      /* dependency from another item, was created earlier */
-      rtype->flags |= flags;
-      if (appearance) {
-        rtype->_appearance[0] = _strdup((const char *)appearance);
-        rtype->_appearance[1] = appearancep;
-        free(appearancep);
-      }
-    } else {
-      namep =
-        strcat(strcpy((char *)malloc(strlen((char *)name) + 3), (char *)name),
-        "_p");
-      names[0] = (const char *)name;
-      names[1] = namep;
-      if (appearance) {
-        appearances[0] = (const char *)appearance;
-        appearances[1] = appearancep;
-        rtype = new_resourcetype((const char **)names, (const char **)appearances, flags);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-        free(appearancep);
-      } else {
-        rtype = new_resourcetype(names, NULL, flags);
-        rt_register(rtype);
-      }
-      free(namep);
-    }
-
-    if (name)
-      xmlFree(name);
-    if (appearance)
-      xmlFree(appearance);
+    if (name) xmlFree(name);
+    if (appearance) xmlFree(appearance);
 
     name = xmlGetProp(node, BAD_CAST "material");
     if (name) {
diff --git a/src/market.test.c b/src/market.test.c
index 71f9bcf24..3670dd4f3 100644
--- a/src/market.test.c
+++ b/src/market.test.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ static void test_market_curse(CuTest * tc)
   unit *u;
   faction *f;
   int x, y;
-  const char *names[4] = { "herb", "herbs", "balm", "balms" };
   const terrain_type *terrain;
   item_type *htype, *ltype;
   luxury_type *lux;
@@ -36,11 +35,11 @@ static void test_market_curse(CuTest * tc)
   test_cleanup();
   test_create_world();
 
-  htype = test_create_itemtype(names);
+  htype = test_create_itemtype("herb");
   htype->flags |= ITF_HERB;
   htype->rtype->flags |= (RTF_ITEM | RTF_POOLED);
 
-  ltype = test_create_itemtype(names + 2);
+  ltype = test_create_itemtype("balm");
   ltype->rtype->flags |= (RTF_ITEM | RTF_POOLED);
   lux = new_luxurytype(ltype, 0);
 
diff --git a/src/tests.c b/src/tests.c
index 0ed746388..00e8db540 100644
--- a/src/tests.c
+++ b/src/tests.c
@@ -93,10 +93,10 @@ ship * test_create_ship(region * r, const ship_type * stype)
   return s;
 }
 
-ship_type * test_create_shiptype(const char ** names)
+ship_type * test_create_shiptype(const char * name)
 {
-  ship_type * stype = st_get_or_create(names[0]);
-  locale_setstring(default_locale, names[0], names[0]);
+  ship_type * stype = st_get_or_create(name);
+  locale_setstring(default_locale, name, name);
   return stype;
 }
 
@@ -119,13 +119,12 @@ building_type * test_create_buildingtype(const char * name)
     return btype;
 }
 
-item_type * test_create_itemtype(const char ** names) {
+item_type * test_create_itemtype(const char * name) {
   resource_type * rtype;
   item_type * itype;
 
-  rtype = new_resourcetype(names, NULL, RTF_ITEM);
-  rt_register(rtype);
-  itype = new_itemtype(rtype, ITF_ANIMAL | ITF_BIG, 5000, 7000);
+  rtype = rt_get_or_create(name);
+  itype = it_get_or_create(rtype);
 
   return itype;
 }
@@ -142,14 +141,18 @@ void test_create_world(void)
   terrain_type *t_plain, *t_ocean;
   region *island[2];
   int i;
-  const char * names[] = { "horse", "horse_p", "boat", "boat_p", "iron", "iron_p", "stone", "stone_p" };
+  item_type * itype;
 
   get_or_create_locale("de");
   init_resources();
 
-  test_create_itemtype(names+0);
-  test_create_itemtype(names+4);
-  test_create_itemtype(names + 6);
+  itype = test_create_itemtype("horse");
+  itype->flags |= ITF_BIG | ITF_ANIMAL;
+  itype->weight = 5000;
+  itype->capacity = 7000;
+
+  test_create_itemtype("iron");
+  test_create_itemtype("stone");
 
   t_plain = test_create_terrain("plain", LAND_REGION | FOREST_REGION | WALK_INTO | CAVALRY_REGION);
   t_plain->size = 1000;
@@ -173,6 +176,6 @@ void test_create_world(void)
   test_create_race("human");
 
   test_create_buildingtype("castle");
-  test_create_shiptype(names+2);
+  test_create_shiptype("boat");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tests.h b/src/tests.h
index d7b54e75e..9cbcbcac1 100644
--- a/src/tests.h
+++ b/src/tests.h
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ extern "C" {
   void test_create_world(void);
   struct building * test_create_building(struct region * r, const struct building_type * btype);
   struct ship * test_create_ship(struct region * r, const struct ship_type * stype);
-  struct item_type * test_create_itemtype(const char ** names);
-  struct ship_type *test_create_shiptype(const char **names);
+  struct item_type * test_create_itemtype(const char * name);
+  struct ship_type *test_create_shiptype(const char * name);
   struct building_type *test_create_buildingtype(const char *name);
 
   int RunAllTests(void);
diff --git a/src/tests.test.c b/src/tests.test.c
index e0fb05990..d18775c56 100644
--- a/src/tests.test.c
+++ b/src/tests.test.c
@@ -10,21 +10,27 @@
 #include <tests.h>
 
 static void test_resources(CuTest *tc) {
-    const char *names[] = { "horse", "horse_p" };
     resource_type *rtype;
     test_cleanup();
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, rt_find("horse"));
-    rtype = new_resourcetype(names, 0, 0);
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_HORSE));
-    rt_register(rtype);
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)rtype, (void *)rt_find("horse"));
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)rtype, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_HORSE));
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rt_find("hp"));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, rt_find("hp"), (void *)get_resourcetype(R_LIFE));
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rt_find("peasant"));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, rt_find("peasant"), (void *)get_resourcetype(R_PEASANT));
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rt_find("aura"));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, rt_find("aura"), (void *)get_resourcetype(R_AURA));
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rt_find("permaura"));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, rt_find("permaura"), (void *)get_resourcetype(R_PERMAURA));
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, rt_find("unit"));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, rt_find("unit"), (void *)get_resourcetype(R_UNIT));
+
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, rt_find("stone"));
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create("stone");
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)rtype, (void *)rt_find("stone"));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)rtype, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_STONE));
     test_cleanup();
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, rt_find("horse"));
-    rtype = new_resourcetype(names, 0, 0);
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_HORSE));
-    rt_register(rtype);
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)rtype, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_HORSE));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, rt_find("stone"));
+    rtype = rt_get_or_create("stone");
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, (void *)rtype, (void *)get_resourcetype(R_STONE));
 }
 
 static void test_recreate_world(CuTest * tc)