diff --git a/data/terrain.cfg b/data/terrain.cfg
index f45b187f55e..0f2af60f9cb 100644
--- a/data/terrain.cfg
+++ b/data/terrain.cfg
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ char=t
 red=200
 green=200
 blue=200
+
+#make this not overlay nearby grassland (but will overlay other lower terrain)
+no_overlay=true
 [/terrain]
 
 [terrain]
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral-n.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-n.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d3c3f413c6f
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-n.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral-ne.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-ne.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6bf7c1ca4a9
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-ne.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral-nw.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-nw.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0357f59552a
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-nw.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral-s.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-s.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0e047a79c35
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-s.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral-se.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-se.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1e0f7942fe0
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-se.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral-sw.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-sw.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9a8b4ef9604
Binary files /dev/null and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral-sw.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-neutral.png b/images/terrain/flag-neutral.png
index f3e60861ae1..55da38055a1 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-neutral.png and b/images/terrain/flag-neutral.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-team1.png b/images/terrain/flag-team1.png
index 08bdfc5f128..19ed0e83d99 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-team1.png and b/images/terrain/flag-team1.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-team2.png b/images/terrain/flag-team2.png
index 200abf59a35..a945ffb8a2d 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-team2.png and b/images/terrain/flag-team2.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-team3.png b/images/terrain/flag-team3.png
index 6ba35d10973..a2495cec2ee 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-team3.png and b/images/terrain/flag-team3.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-team4.png b/images/terrain/flag-team4.png
index e8a3f3d37e1..10deea4d6b6 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-team4.png and b/images/terrain/flag-team4.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-team5.png b/images/terrain/flag-team5.png
index 08bdfc5f128..19ed0e83d99 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-team5.png and b/images/terrain/flag-team5.png differ
diff --git a/images/terrain/flag-team6.png b/images/terrain/flag-team6.png
index 08bdfc5f128..19ed0e83d99 100644
Binary files a/images/terrain/flag-team6.png and b/images/terrain/flag-team6.png differ
diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index 0dac2571f55..9520df419aa 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 #include "config.hpp"
 #include "filesystem.hpp"
+#include "game_config.hpp"
 #include "log.hpp"
 
 bool operator<(const line_source& a, const line_source& b)
@@ -44,26 +45,8 @@ line_source get_line_source(const std::vector<line_source>& line_src, int line)
 	return res;
 }
 
-}
-
-std::string read_file(const std::string& fname)
+std::string read_file_internal(const std::string& fname)
 {
-	//if we have a path to the data
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-
-	//convert any filepath which is relative
-	if(!fname.empty() && fname[0] != '/' && WESNOTH_PATH[0] == '/') {
-		std::cerr << "trying to read file: '" <<
-		           (WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") + fname) << "'\n";
-		const std::string& res =
-		           read_file(WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") + fname);
-		if(!res.empty()) {
-			std::cerr << "success\n";
-			return res;
-		}
-	}
-#endif
-
 	std::ifstream file(fname.c_str());
 	std::string res;
 	char c;
@@ -75,6 +58,26 @@ std::string read_file(const std::string& fname)
 	return res;
 }
 
+} //end anon namespace
+
+std::string read_file(const std::string& fname)
+{
+	//if we have a path to the data,
+	//convert any filepath which is relative
+	if(!fname.empty() && fname[0] != '/' && !game_config::path.empty()) {
+		std::cerr << "trying to read file: '" <<
+		           game_config::path << "/" << fname << "'\n";
+		const std::string& res =
+		         read_file_internal(game_config::path + "/" + fname);
+		if(!res.empty()) {
+			std::cerr << "success\n";
+			return res;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return read_file_internal(fname);
+}
+
 void write_file(const std::string& fname, const std::string& data)
 {
 	std::ofstream file(fname.c_str());
diff --git a/src/display.cpp b/src/display.cpp
index b6a798b38ef..1d8f66aab64 100644
--- a/src/display.cpp
+++ b/src/display.cpp
@@ -1288,10 +1288,15 @@ std::vector<SDL_Surface*> display::getAdjacentTerrain(int x, int y,
 	std::vector<gamemap::TERRAIN>::const_iterator terrain =
 	       std::find(precedence.begin(),precedence.end(),current_terrain);
 
-	if(terrain == precedence.end())
+	if(terrain == precedence.end()) {
 		terrain = precedence.begin();
-	else
+	} else {
 		++terrain;
+		while(terrain != precedence.end() &&
+		      map_.get_terrain_info(*terrain).equal_precedence()) {
+			++terrain;
+		}
+	}
 
 	for(; terrain != precedence.end(); ++terrain){
 		//find somewhere that doesn't have overlap to use as a starting point
@@ -1442,11 +1447,11 @@ SDL_Surface* display::getImage(const std::string& filename,
 		const std::string images_filename = images_path + filename;
 		SDL_Surface* surf = NULL;
 
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-		const std::string& fullpath = WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") +
-		                              images_filename;
-		surf = IMG_Load(fullpath.c_str());
-#endif
+		if(game_config::path.empty() == false) {
+			const std::string& fullpath = game_config::path + "/" +
+			                              images_filename;
+			surf = IMG_Load(fullpath.c_str());
+		}
 
 		if(surf == NULL)
 			surf = IMG_Load(images_filename.c_str());
diff --git a/src/filesystem.cpp b/src/filesystem.cpp
index 1ccd4140980..cbaa881febe 100644
--- a/src/filesystem.cpp
+++ b/src/filesystem.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 
 #include "filesystem.hpp"
+#include "game_config.hpp"
 
 namespace {
 	const mode_t AccessMode = 00770;
@@ -55,18 +56,15 @@ void get_files_in_dir(const std::string& directory,
                       std::vector<std::string>* dirs,
                       FILE_NAME_MODE mode)
 {
-
 	//if we have a path to find directories in, then convert relative
 	//pathnames to be rooted on the wesnoth path
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-	if(!directory.empty() && directory[0] != '/' && WESNOTH_PATH[0] == '/') {
-		const std::string& dir = WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") + directory;
+	if(!directory.empty() && directory[0] != '/' && !game_config::path.empty()){
+		const std::string& dir = game_config::path + "/" + directory;
 		if(is_directory(dir)) {
 			get_files_in_dir(dir,files,dirs,mode);
 			return;
 		}
 	}
-#endif
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 	_finddata_t fileinfo;
@@ -220,16 +218,10 @@ std::string get_user_data_dir()
 #endif
 }
 
-bool is_directory(const std::string& fname)
+namespace {
+
+bool is_directory_internal(const std::string& fname)
 {
-
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-	if(!fname.empty() && fname[0] != '/' && WESNOTH_PATH[0] == '/') {
-		if(is_directory(WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") + fname))
-			return true;
-	}
-#endif
-
 #ifdef _WIN32
 	_finddata_t info;
 	const long handle = _findfirst((fname + "/*").c_str(),&info);
@@ -250,3 +242,15 @@ bool is_directory(const std::string& fname)
 	}
 #endif
 }
+
+}
+
+bool is_directory(const std::string& fname)
+{
+	if(!fname.empty() && fname[0] != '/' && !game_config::path.empty()) {
+		if(is_directory_internal(game_config::path + "/" + fname))
+			return true;
+	}
+
+	return is_directory_internal(fname);
+}
diff --git a/src/font.cpp b/src/font.cpp
index 491e9cd456d..e3fc278ea32 100644
--- a/src/font.cpp
+++ b/src/font.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include "config.hpp"
 #include "font.hpp"
+#include "game_config.hpp"
 #include "tooltips.hpp"
 
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -33,27 +34,27 @@ TTF_Font* open_font(const std::string& fname, int size)
 {
 	std::string name;
 
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-	name = std::string(WESNOTH_PATH) + "/fonts/" + fname;
-	std::cerr << "Opening font file: " << name << " ...\n";
+	if(game_config::path.empty() == false) {
+		name = game_config::path + "/fonts/" + fname;
+		std::cerr << "Opening font file: " << name << " ...\n";
 
-	if(read_file(name).empty()) {
+		if(read_file(name).empty()) {
+			name = "fonts/" + fname;
+			std::cerr << "Failed, now trying: " << name << " ...\n";
+			if(read_file(name).empty()) {
+				std::cerr << "Failed :(\n";
+				return NULL;
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
 		name = "fonts/" + fname;
-		std::cerr << "Failed, now trying: " << name << " ...\n";
+		std::cerr << "Opening font file: " << name << " ...\n";
+
 		if(read_file(name).empty()) {
 			std::cerr << "Failed :(\n";
 			return NULL;
 		}
 	}
-#else
-	name = "fonts/" + fname;
-	std::cerr << "Opening font file: " << name << " ...\n";
-
-	if(read_file(name).empty()) {
-		std::cerr << "Failed :(\n";
-		return NULL;
-	}
-#endif
 
 	TTF_Font* font = TTF_OpenFont(name.c_str(),size);
 	if(font == NULL) {
diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index 422d15c8c36..e3a4018a03a 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "config.hpp"
 #include "dialogs.hpp"
 #include "display.hpp"
+#include "filesystem.hpp"
 #include "font.hpp"
 #include "game_config.hpp"
 #include "game_events.hpp"
@@ -148,6 +149,32 @@ int play_game(int argc, char** argv)
 	const sound::manager sound_manager;
 	const preferences::manager prefs_manager;
 
+	bool test_mode = false;
+
+	for(int arg = 1; arg != argc; ++arg) {
+		const std::string val(argv[arg]);
+		if(val == "--windowed" || val == "-w") {
+			preferences::set_fullscreen(false);
+		} else if(val == "--test" || val == "-t") {
+			test_mode = true;
+		} else if(val == "--debug" || val == "-d") {
+			game_config::debug = true;
+		} else if(val == "--help" || val == "-h") {
+			std::cout << "usage: " << argv[0]
+		              << " [options] [data-directory]\n";
+		} else if(val == "--version" || val == "-v") {
+			std::cout << "Battle for Wesnoth " << game_config::version
+			          << "\n";
+		} else {
+			if(!is_directory(val)) {
+				std::cerr << "Could not find directory '" << val << "'\n";
+				return 0;
+			}
+
+			game_config::path = val;
+		}
+	}
+
 	std::map<std::string,std::string> defines_map;
 	defines_map["NORMAL"] = "";
 	std::vector<line_source> line_src;
@@ -180,19 +207,6 @@ int play_game(int argc, char** argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	bool test_mode = false;
-
-	for(int arg = 1; arg != argc; ++arg) {
-		const std::string val(argv[arg]);
-		if(val == "-windowed") {
-			preferences::set_fullscreen(false);
-		} else if(val == "-test") {
-			test_mode = true;
-		} else if(val == "-debug") {
-			game_config::debug = true;
-		}
-	}
-
 	int video_flags = preferences::fullscreen() ? FULL_SCREEN : 0;
 
 	const std::pair<int,int>& resolution = preferences::resolution();
diff --git a/src/game_config.cpp b/src/game_config.cpp
index 3a370c6090a..f4ed1eb4d5f 100644
--- a/src/game_config.cpp
+++ b/src/game_config.cpp
@@ -24,4 +24,10 @@ namespace game_config
 	const int recall_cost = 20;
 	const std::string version = "0.4.9-CVS";
 	bool debug = false;
+
+#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
+	std::string path = WESNOTH_PATH;
+#else
+	std::string path = "";
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/game_config.hpp b/src/game_config.hpp
index 5cc101dbb19..bb71b1d13d1 100644
--- a/src/game_config.hpp
+++ b/src/game_config.hpp
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ namespace game_config
 	extern const std::string version;
 
 	extern bool debug;
+
+	extern std::string path;
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/menu.cpp b/src/menu.cpp
index d4e00cc9279..fb9f946cc4c 100644
--- a/src/menu.cpp
+++ b/src/menu.cpp
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ void draw_dialog_frame(int x, int y, int w, int h, display& disp)
 	if(top == NULL || bot == NULL || left == NULL || right == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	SDL_Surface* const scr = disp.video().getSurface();
-
 	scoped_sdl_surface top_image(scale_surface(top,w,top->h));
 
 	if(top_image.get() != NULL) {
diff --git a/src/sound.cpp b/src/sound.cpp
index 55d68a72101..a2766fcb9c5 100644
--- a/src/sound.cpp
+++ b/src/sound.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 
    See the COPYING file for more details.
 */
+
+#include "game_config.hpp"
 #include "sound.hpp"
 
 #include "SDL_mixer.h"
@@ -84,10 +86,10 @@ void play_music(const std::string& file)
 		std::string filename;
 		Mix_Music* music = NULL;
 
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-		filename = WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") + music_prefix + file;
-		music = Mix_LoadMUS(filename.c_str());
-#endif
+		if(game_config::path.empty() == false) {
+			filename = game_config::path + "/" + music_prefix + file;
+			music = Mix_LoadMUS(filename.c_str());
+		}
 
 		if(music == NULL) {
 			filename = music_prefix + file;
@@ -128,10 +130,10 @@ void play_sound(const std::string& file)
 		std::string filename;
 		Mix_Chunk* sfx = NULL;
 
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-		filename = WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/") + sound_prefix + file;
-		sfx = Mix_LoadWAV(filename.c_str());
-#endif
+		if(game_config::path.empty() == false) {
+			filename = game_config::path + "/" + sound_prefix + file;
+			sfx = Mix_LoadWAV(filename.c_str());
+		}
 
 		if(sfx == NULL) {
 			filename = sound_prefix + file;
diff --git a/src/terrain.cpp b/src/terrain.cpp
index a835134847b..09ac727a15f 100644
--- a/src/terrain.cpp
+++ b/src/terrain.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <iostream>
 
-terrain_type::terrain_type() : images_(1,"void"), type_(' '), letter_(' ')
+terrain_type::terrain_type() : images_(1,"void"), type_(' '), letter_(' '),
+                               equal_precedence_(false)
 {}
 
 terrain_type::terrain_type(config& cfg)
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ terrain_type::terrain_type(config& cfg)
 		type_ = alias[0];
 
 	colour_.read(cfg);
+
+	equal_precedence_ = cfg.values["no_overlay"] == "true";
 }
 
 const std::string& terrain_type::image(int x, int y) const
@@ -75,6 +78,11 @@ bool terrain_type::is_alias() const
 	return type_ != letter_;
 }
 
+bool terrain_type::equal_precedence() const
+{
+	return equal_precedence_;
+}
+
 void create_terrain_maps(std::vector<config*>& cfgs,
                          std::vector<char>& terrain_precedence,
                          std::map<char,terrain_type>& letter_to_terrain,
diff --git a/src/terrain.hpp b/src/terrain.hpp
index ea3e90437d7..03a3f3583e7 100644
--- a/src/terrain.hpp
+++ b/src/terrain.hpp
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ public:
 	pixel_data get_rgb() const;
 
 	bool is_alias() const;
+
+	//whether the terrain's overlay precedence is equal (rather than higher
+	//than) the preceeding terrain
+	bool equal_precedence() const;
 private:
 	std::vector<std::string> images_;
 	std::string name_;
@@ -44,6 +48,8 @@ private:
 	char type_, letter_;
 
 	pixel_data colour_;
+
+	bool equal_precedence_;
 };
 
 void create_terrain_maps(std::vector<config*>& cfgs,
diff --git a/src/unit_types.cpp b/src/unit_types.cpp
index 5ecbe60eb6b..845270cb9ab 100644
--- a/src/unit_types.cpp
+++ b/src/unit_types.cpp
@@ -357,12 +357,12 @@ unit_type::unit_type(config& cfg, const movement_type_map& mv_types,
 	//check if the images necessary for units exist
 #ifdef linux
 	struct stat stat_buf;
-#ifdef WESNOTH_PATH
-	if(::stat((WESNOTH_PATH + std::string("/images/") +
-	           cfg_.values["image"]).c_str(),&stat_buf) >= 0) {
-		return;
+	if(game_config::path.empty() == false) {
+		if(::stat((game_config::path + "/images/" +
+		           cfg_.values["image"]).c_str(),&stat_buf) >= 0) {
+			return;
+		}
 	}
-#endif
 
 	if(::stat(("images/" + cfg_.values["image"]).c_str(),&stat_buf) < 0) {
 		std::cerr << "image '" << cfg_.values["image"] << "' does not exist!\n";