diff --git a/common/eq_stream.h b/common/eq_stream.h
index d5e78c085..6f43cc337 100644
--- a/common/eq_stream.h
+++ b/common/eq_stream.h
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ class EQStream : public EQStreamInterface {
 		virtual bool CheckState(EQStreamState state) { return GetState() == state; }
 		virtual std::string Describe() const { return("Direct EQStream"); }
 
-		void SetOpcodeManager(OpcodeManager **opm) { OpMgr = opm; }
+		virtual void SetOpcodeManager(OpcodeManager **opm) { OpMgr = opm; }
 
 		void CheckTimeout(uint32 now, uint32 timeout=30);
 		bool HasOutgoingData();
@@ -250,13 +250,13 @@ class EQStream : public EQStreamInterface {
 		void Write(int eq_fd);
 
 		// whether or not the stream has been assigned (we passed our stream match)
-		void SetActive(bool val) { streamactive = val; }
+		virtual void SetActive(bool val) { streamactive = val; }
 
 		//
 		inline bool IsInUse() { bool flag; MInUse.lock(); flag=(active_users>0); MInUse.unlock(); return flag; }
 		inline void PutInUse() { MInUse.lock(); active_users++; MInUse.unlock(); }
 
-		inline EQStreamState GetState() { EQStreamState s; MState.lock(); s=State; MState.unlock(); return s; }
+		virtual EQStreamState GetState() { EQStreamState s; MState.lock(); s=State; MState.unlock(); return s; }
 
 		static SeqOrder CompareSequence(uint16 expected_seq , uint16 seq);
 
@@ -306,19 +306,7 @@ class EQStream : public EQStreamInterface {
 		const uint64 GetPacketsReceived() { return received_packet_count; }
 
 		//used for dynamic stream identification
-		class Signature {
-		public:
-			//this object could get more complicated if needed...
-			uint16 ignore_eq_opcode;		//0=dont ignore
-			uint16 first_eq_opcode;
-			uint32 first_length;			//0=dont check length
-		};
-		typedef enum {
-			MatchNotReady,
-			MatchSuccessful,
-			MatchFailed
-		} MatchState;
-		MatchState CheckSignature(const Signature *sig);
+		virtual MatchState CheckSignature(const Signature *sig);
 
 };
 
diff --git a/common/eq_stream_ident.cpp b/common/eq_stream_ident.cpp
index cb0810467..fa7435910 100644
--- a/common/eq_stream_ident.cpp
+++ b/common/eq_stream_ident.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ EQStreamIdentifier::~EQStreamIdentifier() {
 	}
 }
 
-void EQStreamIdentifier::RegisterPatch(const EQStream::Signature &sig, const char *name, OpcodeManager ** opcodes, const StructStrategy *structs) {
+void EQStreamIdentifier::RegisterPatch(const EQStreamInterface::Signature &sig, const char *name, OpcodeManager ** opcodes, const StructStrategy *structs) {
 	auto p = new Patch;
 	p->signature = sig;
 	p->name = name;
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ void EQStreamIdentifier::Process() {
 	}	//end foreach stream
 }
 
-void EQStreamIdentifier::AddStream(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> &eqs) {
+void EQStreamIdentifier::AddStream(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> &eqs) {
 	m_streams.push_back(Record(eqs));
 	eqs = nullptr;
 }
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ EQStreamInterface *EQStreamIdentifier::PopIdentified() {
 	return(res);
 }
 
-EQStreamIdentifier::Record::Record(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> s)
+EQStreamIdentifier::Record::Record(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> s)
 :	stream(std::move(s)),
 	expire(STREAM_IDENT_WAIT_MS)
 {
diff --git a/common/eq_stream_ident.h b/common/eq_stream_ident.h
index 3b6a63ed9..e26857292 100644
--- a/common/eq_stream_ident.h
+++ b/common/eq_stream_ident.h
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ public:
 	~EQStreamIdentifier();
 
 	//registration interface.
-	void RegisterPatch(const EQStream::Signature &sig, const char *name, OpcodeManager ** opcodes, const StructStrategy *structs);
+	void RegisterPatch(const EQStreamInterface::Signature &sig, const char *name, OpcodeManager ** opcodes, const StructStrategy *structs);
 
 	//main processing interface
 	void Process();
-	void AddStream(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> &eqs);
+	void AddStream(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> &eqs);
 	EQStreamInterface *PopIdentified();
 
 protected:
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ protected:
 	class Patch {
 	public:
 		std::string				name;
-		EQStream::Signature		signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature		signature;
 		OpcodeManager **		opcodes;
 		const StructStrategy *structs;
 	};
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ protected:
 	//pending streams..
 	class Record {
 	public:
-		Record(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> s);
-		std::shared_ptr<EQStream> stream;		//we own this
+		Record(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> s);
+		std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> stream;		//we own this
 		Timer expire;
 	};
 	std::vector<Record> m_streams;	//we own these objects, and the streams contained in them.
diff --git a/common/eq_stream_intf.h b/common/eq_stream_intf.h
index 917a13a86..5c62c0b39 100644
--- a/common/eq_stream_intf.h
+++ b/common/eq_stream_intf.h
@@ -15,11 +15,25 @@ typedef enum {
 } EQStreamState;
 
 class EQApplicationPacket;
+class OpcodeManager;
 
 class EQStreamInterface {
 public:
 	virtual ~EQStreamInterface() {}
 
+	class Signature {
+	public:
+		//this object could get more complicated if needed...
+		uint16 ignore_eq_opcode;		//0=dont ignore
+		uint16 first_eq_opcode;
+		uint32 first_length;			//0=dont check length
+	};
+	typedef enum {
+		MatchNotReady,
+		MatchSuccessful,
+		MatchFailed
+	} MatchState;
+
 	virtual void QueuePacket(const EQApplicationPacket *p, bool ack_req=true) = 0;
 	virtual void FastQueuePacket(EQApplicationPacket **p, bool ack_req=true) = 0;
 	virtual EQApplicationPacket *PopPacket() = 0;
@@ -30,6 +44,10 @@ public:
 	virtual uint16 GetRemotePort() const = 0;
 	virtual bool CheckState(EQStreamState state) = 0;
 	virtual std::string Describe() const = 0;
+	virtual void SetActive(bool val) { }
+	virtual MatchState CheckSignature(const Signature *sig) { return MatchFailed; }
+	virtual EQStreamState GetState() = 0;
+	virtual void SetOpcodeManager(OpcodeManager **opm) = 0;
 
 	virtual const uint32 GetBytesSent() const { return 0; }
 	virtual const uint32 GetBytesRecieved() const { return 0; }
diff --git a/common/eq_stream_proxy.cpp b/common/eq_stream_proxy.cpp
index 0c41988e4..0817edbd2 100644
--- a/common/eq_stream_proxy.cpp
+++ b/common/eq_stream_proxy.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "struct_strategy.h"
 
 
-EQStreamProxy::EQStreamProxy(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> &stream, const StructStrategy *structs, OpcodeManager **opcodes)
+EQStreamProxy::EQStreamProxy(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> &stream, const StructStrategy *structs, OpcodeManager **opcodes)
 :	m_stream(stream),
 	m_structs(structs),
 	m_opcodes(opcodes)
@@ -26,6 +26,16 @@ const EQEmu::versions::ClientVersion EQStreamProxy::ClientVersion() const
 	return m_structs->ClientVersion();
 }
 
+EQStreamState EQStreamProxy::GetState()
+{
+	return m_stream->GetState();
+}
+
+void EQStreamProxy::SetOpcodeManager(OpcodeManager **opm)
+{
+	return m_stream->SetOpcodeManager(opm);
+}
+
 void EQStreamProxy::QueuePacket(const EQApplicationPacket *p, bool ack_req) {
 	if(p == nullptr)
 		return;
diff --git a/common/eq_stream_proxy.h b/common/eq_stream_proxy.h
index def543b34..e0a2327ca 100644
--- a/common/eq_stream_proxy.h
+++ b/common/eq_stream_proxy.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class EQApplicationPacket;
 class EQStreamProxy : public EQStreamInterface {
 public:
 	//takes ownership of the stream.
-	EQStreamProxy(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> &stream, const StructStrategy *structs, OpcodeManager **opcodes);
+	EQStreamProxy(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> &stream, const StructStrategy *structs, OpcodeManager **opcodes);
 	virtual ~EQStreamProxy();
 
 	//EQStreamInterface:
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ public:
 	virtual bool CheckState(EQStreamState state);
 	virtual std::string Describe() const;
 	virtual const EQEmu::versions::ClientVersion ClientVersion() const;
+	virtual EQStreamState GetState();
+	virtual void SetOpcodeManager(OpcodeManager **opm);
 
 	virtual const uint32 GetBytesSent() const;
 	virtual const uint32 GetBytesRecieved() const;
@@ -36,8 +38,8 @@ public:
 	virtual const uint32 GetBytesRecvPerSecond() const;
 
 protected:
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> const					m_stream;	//we own this stream object.
-	const StructStrategy *const		m_structs;	//we do not own this object.
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> const m_stream;	//we own this stream object.
+	const StructStrategy *const	m_structs;	//we do not own this object.
 	//this is a pointer to a pointer to make it less likely that a packet will
 	//reference an invalid opcode manager when they are being reloaded.
 	OpcodeManager **const			m_opcodes;	//we do not own this object.
diff --git a/common/patches/rof.cpp b/common/patches/rof.cpp
index 8ab38905f..1f5a86b83 100644
--- a/common/patches/rof.cpp
+++ b/common/patches/rof.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ namespace RoF
 
 		//ok, now we have what we need to register.
 
-		EQStream::Signature signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature signature;
 		std::string pname;
 
 		//register our world signature.
diff --git a/common/patches/rof2.cpp b/common/patches/rof2.cpp
index aedd7b592..4077d2419 100644
--- a/common/patches/rof2.cpp
+++ b/common/patches/rof2.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ namespace RoF2
 
 		//ok, now we have what we need to register.
 
-		EQStream::Signature signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature signature;
 		std::string pname;
 
 		//register our world signature.
diff --git a/common/patches/sod.cpp b/common/patches/sod.cpp
index c1d573020..0eba65e8d 100644
--- a/common/patches/sod.cpp
+++ b/common/patches/sod.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ namespace SoD
 
 		//ok, now we have what we need to register.
 
-		EQStream::Signature signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature signature;
 		std::string pname;
 
 		//register our world signature.
diff --git a/common/patches/sof.cpp b/common/patches/sof.cpp
index bfad8d296..a944cd4e2 100644
--- a/common/patches/sof.cpp
+++ b/common/patches/sof.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ namespace SoF
 
 		//ok, now we have what we need to register.
 
-		EQStream::Signature signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature signature;
 		std::string pname;
 
 		//register our world signature.
diff --git a/common/patches/ss_declare.h b/common/patches/ss_declare.h
index b4059f640..4ea05d25b 100644
--- a/common/patches/ss_declare.h
+++ b/common/patches/ss_declare.h
@@ -17,5 +17,5 @@
 	Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
 */
 
-#define E(x) static void Encode_##x(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req);
+#define E(x) static void Encode_##x(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req);
 #define D(x) static void Decode_##x(EQApplicationPacket *p);
diff --git a/common/patches/ss_define.h b/common/patches/ss_define.h
index c5815eac8..f5c6ab361 100644
--- a/common/patches/ss_define.h
+++ b/common/patches/ss_define.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 	Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
 */
 
-#define ENCODE(x) void Strategy::Encode_##x(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req)
+#define ENCODE(x) void Strategy::Encode_##x(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req)
 #define DECODE(x) void Strategy::Decode_##x(EQApplicationPacket *__packet)
 
 #define StructDist(in, f1, f2) (uint32(&in->f2)-uint32(&in->f1))
diff --git a/common/patches/titanium.cpp b/common/patches/titanium.cpp
index 72b492eeb..e1f3140c1 100644
--- a/common/patches/titanium.cpp
+++ b/common/patches/titanium.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ namespace Titanium
 
 		//ok, now we have what we need to register.
 
-		EQStream::Signature signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature signature;
 		std::string pname;
 
 		//register our world signature.
diff --git a/common/patches/uf.cpp b/common/patches/uf.cpp
index ba5bf7622..d2e6c1867 100644
--- a/common/patches/uf.cpp
+++ b/common/patches/uf.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ namespace UF
 
 		//ok, now we have what we need to register.
 
-		EQStream::Signature signature;
+		EQStreamInterface::Signature signature;
 		std::string pname;
 
 		//register our world signature.
diff --git a/common/struct_strategy.cpp b/common/struct_strategy.cpp
index ea50c9158..52442cee6 100644
--- a/common/struct_strategy.cpp
+++ b/common/struct_strategy.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ StructStrategy::StructStrategy() {
 	}
 }
 
-void StructStrategy::Encode(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req) const {
+void StructStrategy::Encode(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req) const {
 	if((*p)->GetOpcodeBypass() != 0) {
 		PassEncoder(p, dest, ack_req);
 		return;
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void StructStrategy::Decode(EQApplicationPacket *p) const {
 }
 
 
-void StructStrategy::ErrorEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **in_p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req) {
+void StructStrategy::ErrorEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **in_p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req) {
 	EQApplicationPacket *p = *in_p;
 	*in_p = nullptr;
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void StructStrategy::ErrorDecoder(EQApplicationPacket *p) {
 	p->SetOpcode(OP_Unknown);
 }
 
-void StructStrategy::PassEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req) {
+void StructStrategy::PassEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req) {
 	dest->FastQueuePacket(p, ack_req);
 }
 
diff --git a/common/struct_strategy.h b/common/struct_strategy.h
index fdb596891..3c92cf060 100644
--- a/common/struct_strategy.h
+++ b/common/struct_strategy.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #define STRUCTSTRATEGY_H_
 
 class EQApplicationPacket;
-class EQStream;
+class EQStreamInterface;
 #include "emu_opcodes.h"
 #include "emu_versions.h"
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class EQStream;
 class StructStrategy {
 public:
 	//the encoder takes ownership of the supplied packet, and may enqueue multiple resulting packets into the stream
-	typedef void(*Encoder)(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req);
+	typedef void(*Encoder)(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req);
 	//the decoder may only edit the supplied packet, producing a single packet for eqemu to consume.
 	typedef void (*Decoder)(EQApplicationPacket *p);
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ public:
 	virtual ~StructStrategy() {}
 
 	//this method takes an eqemu struct, and enqueues the produced structs into the stream.
-	void Encode(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req) const;
+	void Encode(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req) const;
 	//this method takes an EQ wire struct, and converts it into an eqemu struct
 	void Decode(EQApplicationPacket *p) const;
 
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ public:
 protected:
 	//some common coders:
 	//Print an error saying unknown struct/opcode and drop it
-	static void ErrorEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req);
+	static void ErrorEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req);
 	static void ErrorDecoder(EQApplicationPacket *p);
 	//pass the packet through without modification (emu == EQ) (default)
-	static void PassEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStream> dest, bool ack_req);
+	static void PassEncoder(EQApplicationPacket **p, std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> dest, bool ack_req);
 	static void PassDecoder(EQApplicationPacket *p);
 
 	Encoder encoders[_maxEmuOpcode];
diff --git a/loginserver/client.cpp b/loginserver/client.cpp
index 9a6a81593..4e1449e91 100644
--- a/loginserver/client.cpp
+++ b/loginserver/client.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 extern EQEmuLogSys Log;
 extern LoginServer server;
 
-Client::Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> c, LSClientVersion v)
+Client::Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> c, LSClientVersion v)
 {
 	connection = c;
 	version = v;
diff --git a/loginserver/client.h b/loginserver/client.h
index 0f5efb1f1..872b5189c 100644
--- a/loginserver/client.h
+++ b/loginserver/client.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public:
 	/**
 	* Constructor, sets our connection to c and version to v
 	*/
-	Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> c, LSClientVersion v);
+	Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> c, LSClientVersion v);
 
 	/**
 	* Destructor.
@@ -129,11 +129,11 @@ public:
 	/**
 	* Gets the connection for this client.
 	*/
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> GetConnection() { return connection; }
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> GetConnection() { return connection; }
 
 	EQEmu::Random random;
 private:
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> connection;
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> connection;
 	LSClientVersion version;
 	LSClientStatus status;
 
diff --git a/loginserver/client_manager.cpp b/loginserver/client_manager.cpp
index c600d58f5..e19cb220f 100644
--- a/loginserver/client_manager.cpp
+++ b/loginserver/client_manager.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ ClientManager::~ClientManager()
 void ClientManager::Process()
 {
 	ProcessDisconnect();
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> cur = titanium_stream->Pop();
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> cur = titanium_stream->Pop();
 	while(cur)
 	{
 		struct in_addr in;
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ void ClientManager::ProcessDisconnect()
 	list<Client*>::iterator iter = clients.begin();
 	while(iter != clients.end())
 	{
-		std::shared_ptr<EQStream> c = (*iter)->GetConnection();
-		if(c->CheckClosed())
+		std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> c = (*iter)->GetConnection();
+		if(c->CheckState(CLOSED))
 		{
 			Log.Out(Logs::General, Logs::Login_Server, "Client disconnected from the server, removing client.");
 			delete (*iter);
diff --git a/ucs/clientlist.cpp b/ucs/clientlist.cpp
index f49e02986..bd4bdcb45 100644
--- a/ucs/clientlist.cpp
+++ b/ucs/clientlist.cpp
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ Clientlist::Clientlist(int ChatPort) {
 	}
 }
 
-Client::Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> eqs) {
+Client::Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> eqs) {
 
 	ClientStream = eqs;
 
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ void Clientlist::CheckForStaleConnections(Client *c) {
 
 void Clientlist::Process()
 {
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> eqs;
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> eqs;
 
 	while ((eqs = chatsf->Pop())) {
 		struct in_addr in;
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ void Clientlist::Process()
 	auto it = ClientChatConnections.begin();
 	while (it != ClientChatConnections.end()) {
 		(*it)->AccountUpdate();
-		if ((*it)->ClientStream->CheckClosed()) {
+		if ((*it)->ClientStream->CheckState(CLOSED)) {
 			struct in_addr in;
 			in.s_addr = (*it)->ClientStream->GetRemoteIP();
 
diff --git a/ucs/clientlist.h b/ucs/clientlist.h
index 79b1359b7..6fa0d49da 100644
--- a/ucs/clientlist.h
+++ b/ucs/clientlist.h
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ struct CharacterEntry {
 class Client {
 
 public:
-	Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> eqs);
+	Client(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> eqs);
 	~Client();
 
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> ClientStream;
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> ClientStream;
 	void AddCharacter(int CharID, const char *CharacterName, int Level);
 	void ClearCharacters() { Characters.clear(); }
 	void SendMailBoxes();
diff --git a/world/net.cpp b/world/net.cpp
index 94a24205a..6354a6467 100644
--- a/world/net.cpp
+++ b/world/net.cpp
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 	Timer InterserverTimer(INTERSERVER_TIMER); // does MySQL pings and auto-reconnect
 	InterserverTimer.Trigger();
 	uint8 ReconnectCounter = 100;
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> eqs;
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> eqs;
 	EmuTCPConnection* tcpc;
 	EQStreamInterface *eqsi;
 
diff --git a/zone/client.h b/zone/client.h
index da2188fc7..b8424f45c 100644
--- a/zone/client.h
+++ b/zone/client.h
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ struct ClientReward
 
 class ClientFactory {
 public:
-	Client *MakeClient(std::shared_ptr<EQStream> ieqs);
+	Client *MakeClient(std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> ieqs);
 };
 
 class Client : public Mob
diff --git a/zone/net.cpp b/zone/net.cpp
index 25d6f65df..20a37114d 100644
--- a/zone/net.cpp
+++ b/zone/net.cpp
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 	Timer quest_timers(100);
 	UpdateWindowTitle();
 	bool worldwasconnected = worldserver.Connected();
-	std::shared_ptr<EQStream> eqss;
+	std::shared_ptr<EQStreamInterface> eqss;
 	EQStreamInterface *eqsi;
 	uint8 IDLEZONEUPDATE = 200;
 	uint8 ZONEUPDATE = 10;