diff --git a/common/CMakeLists.txt b/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 034cf415a..6e78e1016 100644
--- a/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ SET(common_sources
 	item_struct.cpp
 	light_source.cpp
 	md5.cpp
+	memory_buffer.cpp
 	memory_mapped_file.cpp
 	misc.cpp
 	misc_functions.cpp
@@ -165,6 +166,7 @@ SET(common_headers
 	loottable.h
 	mail_oplist.h
 	md5.h
+	memory_buffer.h
 	memory_mapped_file.h
 	misc.h
 	misc_functions.h
diff --git a/common/item.h b/common/item.h
index 181c57d9c..7c3cd87bb 100644
--- a/common/item.h
+++ b/common/item.h
@@ -32,13 +32,11 @@ class EvolveInfo;			// Stores information about an evolving item family
 #include "../common/item_struct.h"
 #include "../common/timer.h"
 #include "../common/bodytypes.h"
-#include "../common/deity.h" // aren't we already in '/common'?
-
-#include "string_util.h"
+#include "../common/deity.h"
+#include "../common/memory_buffer.h"
 
 #include <list>
 #include <map>
-//#include <sstream>
 
 
 namespace ItemField
diff --git a/common/memory_buffer.cpp b/common/memory_buffer.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..898851cb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/memory_buffer.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,277 @@
+/*	EQEMu:  Everquest Server Emulator
+	
+	Copyright (C) 2001-2016 EQEMu Development Team (http://eqemulator.net)
+
+	This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+	it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+	the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License.
+
+	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY except by those people which sell it, which
+	are required to give you total support for your newly bought product;
+	without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
+	A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+	You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+	along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+	Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307  USA
+*/
+
+#include "memory_buffer.h"
+
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::MemoryBuffer()
+{
+	buffer_ = nullptr;
+	size_ = 0;
+	capacity_ = 0;
+	read_pos_ = 0;
+	write_pos_ = 0;
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::MemoryBuffer(size_t sz)
+{
+	buffer_ = nullptr;
+	size_ = 0;
+	capacity_ = 0;
+	read_pos_ = 0;
+	write_pos_ = 0;
+	Resize(sz);
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::MemoryBuffer(const MemoryBuffer &other)
+{
+	if(other.capacity_) {
+		buffer_ = new uchar[other.capacity_];
+		memcpy(buffer_, other.buffer_, other.capacity_);
+	} else {
+		buffer_ = nullptr;
+	}
+
+	size_ = other.size_;
+	capacity_ = other.capacity_;
+	write_pos_ = other.write_pos_;
+	read_pos_ = other.read_pos_;
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::MemoryBuffer(MemoryBuffer &&other)
+{
+	uchar *tbuf = other.buffer_;
+	size_t tsz = other.size_;
+	size_t tcapacity = other.capacity_;
+	size_t twrite_pos = other.write_pos_;
+	size_t tread_pos = other.read_pos_;
+
+	other.buffer_ = nullptr;
+	other.size_ = 0;
+	other.capacity_ = 0;
+	other.read_pos_ = 0;
+	other.write_pos_ = 0;
+
+	buffer_ = tbuf;
+	size_ = tsz;
+	capacity_ = tcapacity;
+	write_pos_ = twrite_pos;
+	read_pos_ = tread_pos;
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer& EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::operator=(const MemoryBuffer &other)
+{
+	if(this == &other) {
+		return *this;
+	}
+
+	if(buffer_) {
+		delete[] buffer_;
+	}
+
+	if(other.capacity_) {
+		buffer_ = new uchar[other.capacity_];
+		memcpy(buffer_, other.buffer_, other.capacity_);
+	}
+	else {
+		buffer_ = nullptr;
+	}
+
+	size_ = other.size_;
+	capacity_ = other.capacity_;
+	write_pos_ = other.write_pos_;
+	read_pos_ = other.read_pos_;
+	return *this;
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer& EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::operator=(MemoryBuffer &&other)
+{
+	uchar *tbuf = other.buffer_;
+	size_t tsz = other.size_;
+	size_t tcapacity = other.capacity_;
+	size_t twrite_pos = other.write_pos_;
+	size_t tread_pos = other.read_pos_;
+
+	other.buffer_ = nullptr;
+	other.size_ = 0;
+	other.capacity_ = 0;
+	other.read_pos_ = 0;
+	other.write_pos_ = 0;
+
+	buffer_ = tbuf;
+	size_ = tsz;
+	capacity_ = tcapacity;
+	write_pos_ = twrite_pos;
+	read_pos_ = tread_pos;
+	return *this;
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer& EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::operator+=(const MemoryBuffer &rhs)
+{
+	if(!rhs.buffer_) {
+		return *this;
+	}
+
+	if(buffer_) {
+		size_t old_size = size_;
+		Resize(size_ + rhs.size_);
+		memcpy(&buffer_[old_size], rhs.buffer_, rhs.size_);
+	} else {
+		buffer_ = new uchar[rhs.capacity_];
+		memcpy(buffer_, rhs.buffer_, rhs.capacity_);
+		size_ = rhs.size_;
+		capacity_ = rhs.capacity_;
+	}
+
+	return *this;
+}
+
+EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::~MemoryBuffer()
+{
+	Clear();
+}
+
+uchar& EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::operator[](size_t pos)
+{
+	return buffer_[pos];
+}
+
+const uchar& EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::operator[](size_t pos) const
+{
+	return buffer_[pos];
+}
+
+bool EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Empty()
+{
+	return size_ == 0;
+}
+
+bool EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Empty() const
+{
+	return size_ == 0;
+}
+
+size_t EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Size()
+{
+	return size_;
+}
+
+size_t EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Size() const
+{
+	return size_;
+}
+
+size_t EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Capacity()
+{
+	return capacity_;
+}
+
+size_t EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Capacity() const
+{
+	return capacity_;
+}
+
+void EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Resize(size_t sz)
+{
+	if(!buffer_) {
+		size_t new_size = sz + 64;
+		buffer_ = new uchar[new_size];
+		capacity_ = new_size;
+		size_ = sz;
+		memset(buffer_, 0, capacity_);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if(sz > capacity_) {
+		size_t new_size = sz + 32;
+		uchar *temp = new uchar[new_size];
+		memcpy(temp, buffer_, capacity_);
+		delete[] buffer_;
+		buffer_ = temp;
+		
+		capacity_ = new_size;
+		size_ = sz;
+	}
+	else {
+		size_ = sz;
+	}
+}
+
+void EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Clear()
+{
+	if(buffer_) {
+		delete[] buffer_;
+		buffer_ = nullptr;
+	}
+	
+	size_ = 0;
+	capacity_ = 0;
+	write_pos_ = 0;
+	read_pos_ = 0;
+}
+
+void EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Zero()
+{
+	if(buffer_) {
+		memset(buffer_, 0, capacity_);
+	}
+}
+
+void EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Write(const char *val, size_t len)
+{
+	size_t size_needed = write_pos_ + len;
+	Resize(size_needed);
+
+	memcpy(&buffer_[write_pos_], val, len);
+	write_pos_ += len;
+}
+
+void EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Read(uchar *buf, size_t len)
+{
+	memcpy(buf, &buffer_[read_pos_], len);
+	read_pos_ += len;
+}
+
+void EQEmu::MemoryBuffer::Read(char *str)
+{
+	size_t len = strlen((const char*)&buffer_[read_pos_]);
+	memcpy(str, &buffer_[read_pos_], len);
+	read_pos_ += len;
+}
+
+void EQEmu::OutBuffer::overwrite(OutBuffer::pos_type position, const char *_Str, std::streamsize _Count)
+{
+	auto last_pos = tellp();
+	seekp(position);
+	write(_Str, _Count);
+	seekp(last_pos);
+}
+
+uchar* EQEmu::OutBuffer::detach()
+{
+	size_t buffer_size = tellp();
+	if (buffer_size == 0)
+		return nullptr;
+
+	auto out_buffer = new uchar[buffer_size];
+	memcpy(out_buffer, str().c_str(), buffer_size);
+	flush();
+
+	return out_buffer;
+}
diff --git a/common/memory_buffer.h b/common/memory_buffer.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..880b860ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/memory_buffer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+/*	EQEMu: Everquest Server Emulator
+	
+	Copyright (C) 2001-2016 EQEMu Development Team (http://eqemulator.net)
+
+	This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+	it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+	the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License.
+
+	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY except by those people which sell it, which
+	are required to give you total support for your newly bought product;
+	without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
+	A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+	You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+	along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+	Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+*/
+
+#ifndef COMMON_MEMORY_BUFFER
+#define COMMON_MEMORY_BUFFER
+
+#include "types.h"
+
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <sstream>
+
+
+namespace EQEmu
+{
+	class MemoryBuffer {
+	public:
+		MemoryBuffer();
+		MemoryBuffer(size_t sz);
+		MemoryBuffer(const MemoryBuffer &other);
+		MemoryBuffer(MemoryBuffer &&other);
+		MemoryBuffer& operator=(const MemoryBuffer &other);
+		MemoryBuffer& operator=(MemoryBuffer &&other);
+		MemoryBuffer& operator+=(const MemoryBuffer &rhs);
+		friend MemoryBuffer operator+(MemoryBuffer lhs, const MemoryBuffer& rhs) { return lhs += rhs; }
+		~MemoryBuffer();
+		
+		uchar& operator[](size_t pos);
+		const uchar& operator[](size_t pos) const;
+
+		template<typename T>
+		operator T*() {
+			return reinterpret_cast<T*>(buffer_);
+		}
+
+		template<typename T>
+		operator T*() const {
+			return reinterpret_cast<T*>(buffer_);
+		}
+
+		operator bool() { return buffer_ != nullptr; }
+		operator bool() const { return buffer_ != nullptr; }
+
+		bool Empty();
+		bool Empty() const;
+		size_t Size();
+		size_t Size() const;
+		size_t Capacity();
+		size_t Capacity() const;
+		
+		void Resize(size_t sz);
+		void Clear();
+		void Zero();
+
+		template<typename T>
+		void Write(T val) {
+			static_assert(std::is_pod<T>::value, "MemoryBuffer::Write<T>(T val) only works on pod and string types.");
+			Write((const char*)&val, sizeof(T));
+		}
+
+		template<typename T>
+		T Read() {
+			static_assert(std::is_pod<T>::value, "MemoryBuffer::Read<T>() only works on pod and string types.");
+			T temp;
+			Read((uchar*)&temp, sizeof(T));
+			return temp;
+		}
+
+		void Write(const std::string &val) {
+			Write(val.c_str(), val.length());
+			Write((uint8)0);
+		}
+
+		void Write(const char *val) {
+			size_t len = strlen(val);
+			Write(val, len);
+			Write((uint8)0);
+		}
+
+		std::string ReadString() {
+			std::string ret;
+			size_t len = strlen((const char*)&buffer_[read_pos_]);
+			ret.resize(len);
+			memcpy(&ret[0], &buffer_[read_pos_], len);
+			read_pos_ += len + 1;
+			return ret;
+		}
+	
+		void Write(const char *val, size_t len);
+		void Read(uchar *buf, size_t len);
+		void Read(char *str);
+
+		inline size_t GetWritePosition() { return write_pos_; }
+		inline void SetWritePosition(size_t wp) { write_pos_ = wp; }
+		inline void WriteSkipBytes(size_t skip) { write_pos_ += skip; }
+		inline size_t GetReadPosition() { return read_pos_; }
+		inline void SetReadPosition(size_t rp) { read_pos_ = rp; }
+		inline void ReadSkipBytes(size_t skip) { read_pos_ += skip; }
+		
+	private:
+		uchar *buffer_;
+		size_t size_;
+		size_t capacity_;
+		size_t write_pos_;
+		size_t read_pos_;
+	};
+
+	class OutBuffer : public std::stringstream {
+	public:
+		inline size_t size() { return tellp(); }
+		void overwrite(OutBuffer::pos_type position, const char *_Str, std::streamsize _Count);
+		uchar* detach();
+	};
+
+} /*EQEmu*/
+
+#endif /*COMMON_MEMORY_BUFFER*/
diff --git a/common/string_util.cpp b/common/string_util.cpp
index b5717c1b7..902d13335 100644
--- a/common/string_util.cpp
+++ b/common/string_util.cpp
@@ -415,46 +415,3 @@ void find_replace(std::string& string_subject, const std::string& search_string,
 		index = string_subject.find_first_of(search_string);
 	}
 }
-
-
-
-/*	EQEMu:  Everquest Server Emulator
-	
-	Copyright (C) 2001-2016 EQEMu Development Team (http://eqemulator.net)
-
-	This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-	it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-	the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License.
-
-	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY except by those people which sell it, which
-	are required to give you total support for your newly bought product;
-	without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
-	A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
-
-	You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-	along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-	Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
-*/
-
-
-void EQEmu::OutBuffer::overwrite(OutBuffer::pos_type position, const char *_Str, std::streamsize _Count)
-{
-	auto last_pos = tellp();
-	seekp(position);
-	write(_Str, _Count);
-	seekp(last_pos);
-}
-
-uchar* EQEmu::OutBuffer::detach()
-{
-	size_t buffer_size = tellp();
-	if (buffer_size == 0)
-		return nullptr;
-
-	auto out_buffer = new uchar[buffer_size];
-	memcpy(out_buffer, str().c_str(), buffer_size);
-	flush();
-
-	return out_buffer;
-}
diff --git a/common/string_util.h b/common/string_util.h
index 5b373a41b..c69f01456 100644
--- a/common/string_util.h
+++ b/common/string_util.h
@@ -53,36 +53,4 @@ void MakeLowerString(const char *source, char *target);
 void RemoveApostrophes(std::string &s);
 void find_replace(std::string& string_subject, const std::string& search_string, const std::string& replace_string);
 
-
-
-/*	EQEMu:  Everquest Server Emulator
-	
-	Copyright (C) 2001-2016 EQEMu Development Team (http://eqemulator.net)
-
-	This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-	it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-	the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License.
-
-	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY except by those people which sell it, which
-	are required to give you total support for your newly bought product;
-	without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
-	A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
-
-	You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-	along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-	Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
-*/
-
-
-namespace EQEmu
-{
-	class OutBuffer : public std::stringstream {
-	public:
-		inline size_t size() { return tellp(); }
-		void overwrite(OutBuffer::pos_type position, const char *_Str, std::streamsize _Count);
-		uchar* detach();
-	};
-}
-
 #endif