diff --git a/src/ship/packet/builder/lobby.rs b/src/ship/packet/builder/lobby.rs
index 56aaf66..6c89536 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/builder/lobby.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/builder/lobby.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
 use crate::common::leveltable::CharacterLevelTable;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Clients};
 use crate::ship::character::{CharacterBytesBuilder, FullCharacterBytesBuilder};
 use crate::ship::location::{ClientLocation, LobbyId, AreaClient};
 use crate::entity::character::CharacterEntity;
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ fn player_info(tag: u32, client: &ClientState, area_client: &AreaClient, level_t
 pub fn join_lobby(id: ClientId,
                   lobby: LobbyId,
                   client_location: &ClientLocation,
-                  clients: &HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                  clients: &Clients,
                   level_table: &CharacterLevelTable)
                   -> Result<JoinLobby, ShipError> {
     let lobby_clients = client_location.get_clients_in_lobby(lobby).map_err(|err| ShipError::ClientError(format!("{:?}", err)))?;
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ pub fn join_lobby(id: ClientId,
 pub fn add_to_lobby(id: ClientId,
                     lobby: LobbyId,
                     client_location: &ClientLocation,
-                    clients: &HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                    clients: &Clients,
                     level_table: &CharacterLevelTable)
                     -> Result<AddToLobby, ShipError> {
     let client = clients.get(&id).ok_or(ShipError::ClientNotFound(id)).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/ship/packet/handler/auth.rs b/src/ship/packet/handler/auth.rs
index 0268ba4..4b61d6b 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/handler/auth.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/handler/auth.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use libpso::packet::login::{Login, LoginResponse, AccountStatus, Session};
 use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Clients};
 use crate::login::login::get_login_status;
 use crate::entity::gateway::EntityGateway;
 use crate::ship::items::ActiveItemDatabase;
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use crate::ship::items::ActiveItemDatabase;
 pub fn validate_login<EG: EntityGateway>(id: ClientId,
                                          pkt: &Login,
                                          entity_gateway: &mut EG,
-                                         clients: &mut HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                                         clients: &mut Clients,
                                          item_database: &mut ActiveItemDatabase,
                                          ship_name: &String)
                                          -> Result<Vec<SendShipPacket>, ShipError> {
diff --git a/src/ship/packet/handler/communication.rs b/src/ship/packet/handler/communication.rs
index 17916e4..e2c84aa 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/handler/communication.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/handler/communication.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
 use crate::common::leveltable::CharacterLevelTable;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Clients};
 use crate::ship::character::{CharacterBytesBuilder, FullCharacterBytesBuilder};
 use crate::ship::location::{ClientLocation, LobbyId, RoomId, RoomLobby, MAX_ROOMS};
 use libpso::character::character;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use crate::entity::gateway::EntityGateway;
 pub fn player_chat(id: ClientId,
                    msg: &PlayerChat,
                    client_location: &ClientLocation,
-                   clients: &HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>) -> Result<Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send>, ShipError> {
+                   clients: &Clients) -> Result<Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send>, ShipError> {
     let client = clients.get(&id).ok_or(ShipError::ClientNotFound(id))?;
     let cmsg = PlayerChat::new(client.user.id.0, msg.message.clone());
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pub fn player_chat(id: ClientId,
 pub fn request_infoboard(id: ClientId,
                          request_infoboard: &ViewInfoboardRequest,
                          client_location: &ClientLocation,
-                         clients: &HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>)
+                         clients: &Clients)
                          -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send> {
     let area_clients = client_location.get_client_neighbors(id).unwrap();
     let r = area_clients.iter()
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub fn request_infoboard(id: ClientId,
 
 pub fn write_infoboard<EG: EntityGateway>(id: ClientId,
                                           new_infoboard: &WriteInfoboard,
-                                          clients: &mut HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                                          clients: &mut Clients,
                                           entity_gateway: &mut EG)
                        -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send> {
     let client = clients.get_mut(&id).ok_or(ShipError::ClientNotFound(id)).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/ship/packet/handler/direct_message.rs b/src/ship/packet/handler/direct_message.rs
index ceb4e05..a824684 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/handler/direct_message.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/handler/direct_message.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use libpso::packet::messages::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
 use crate::common::leveltable::CharacterLevelTable;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Rooms};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Clients, Rooms};
 use crate::ship::character::{CharacterBytesBuilder, FullCharacterBytesBuilder};
 use crate::ship::location::{ClientLocation, LobbyId, RoomId, RoomLobby, MAX_ROOMS};
 use libpso::character::character;
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pub fn guildcard_send(id: ClientId,
                       guildcard_send: &GuildcardSend,
                       target: u32,
                       client_location: &ClientLocation,
-                      clients: &HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>)
+                      clients: &Clients)
                       -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send> {
     let client = clients.get(&id).unwrap();
     let msg = DirectMessage{
diff --git a/src/ship/packet/handler/lobby.rs b/src/ship/packet/handler/lobby.rs
index dcc627d..9be8556 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/handler/lobby.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/handler/lobby.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
 use crate::common::leveltable::CharacterLevelTable;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Clients};
 use crate::ship::character::{CharacterBytesBuilder, FullCharacterBytesBuilder};
 use crate::ship::location::{ClientLocation, LobbyId, RoomId, RoomLobby, MAX_ROOMS};
 use crate::ship::packet;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use libpso::character::character;
 // this function needs a better home
 pub fn block_selected(id: ClientId,
                   pkt: &MenuSelect,
-                  clients: &mut HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                  clients: &mut Clients,
                   level_table: &CharacterLevelTable)
                   -> Result<Vec<SendShipPacket>, ShipError> {
     let client = clients.get_mut(&id).ok_or(ShipError::ClientNotFound(id))?;
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ pub fn block_selected(id: ClientId,
 pub fn send_player_to_lobby(id: ClientId,
                             _pkt: &CharData,
                             client_location: &mut ClientLocation,
-                            clients: &HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                            clients: &Clients,
                             level_table: &CharacterLevelTable)
                             -> Result<Vec<(ClientId, SendShipPacket)>, ShipError> {
     let lobby = client_location.add_client_to_next_available_lobby(id, LobbyId(0)).map_err(|_| ShipError::TooManyClients)?;
diff --git a/src/ship/packet/handler/room.rs b/src/ship/packet/handler/room.rs
index 3553dda..fa046d8 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/handler/room.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/handler/room.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
 use crate::common::leveltable::CharacterLevelTable;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Rooms};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Rooms, Clients};
 use crate::ship::character::{CharacterBytesBuilder, FullCharacterBytesBuilder};
 use crate::ship::location::{ClientLocation, LobbyId, RoomId, RoomLobby, MAX_ROOMS};
 use libpso::character::character;
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use crate::ship::room;
 pub fn create_room(id: ClientId,
                    create_room: &CreateRoom,
                    client_location: &mut ClientLocation,
-                   clients: &mut HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                   clients: &mut Clients,
                    rooms: &mut Rooms)
                    -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send> {
     let area = client_location.get_area(id).unwrap();
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ pub fn room_name_request(id: ClientId,
 pub fn join_room(id: ClientId,
                  pkt: &MenuSelect,
                  client_location: &mut ClientLocation,
-                 clients: &mut HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                 clients: &mut Clients,
                  level_table: &CharacterLevelTable,
                  rooms: &mut Rooms)
                  -> Result<Vec<(ClientId, SendShipPacket)>, ShipError> {
diff --git a/src/ship/packet/handler/settings.rs b/src/ship/packet/handler/settings.rs
index 096f512..93ed14a 100644
--- a/src/ship/packet/handler/settings.rs
+++ b/src/ship/packet/handler/settings.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use libpso::packet::ship::*;
 use crate::common::serverstate::ClientId;
 use crate::common::leveltable::CharacterLevelTable;
-use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState};
+use crate::ship::ship::{SendShipPacket, ShipError, ClientState, Clients};
 use crate::ship::character::{CharacterBytesBuilder, FullCharacterBytesBuilder};
 use crate::ship::location::{ClientLocation, LobbyId, RoomId, RoomLobby, MAX_ROOMS};
 use libpso::character::character;
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use crate::entity::gateway::EntityGateway;
 
 pub fn update_config<EG: EntityGateway>(id: ClientId,
                                         update_config: &UpdateConfig,
-                                        clients: &mut HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+                                        clients: &mut Clients,
                                         entity_gateway: &mut EG)
                                         -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = (ClientId, SendShipPacket)> + Send> {
     let client = clients.get_mut(&id).ok_or(ShipError::ClientNotFound(id)).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/ship/ship.rs b/src/ship/ship.rs
index f95eafc..5ef4728 100644
--- a/src/ship/ship.rs
+++ b/src/ship/ship.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ use crate::ship::packet::handler;
 
 pub const SHIP_PORT: u16 = 23423;
 pub type Rooms = [Option<room::RoomState>; MAX_ROOMS];
+pub type Clients = HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum ShipError {
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ impl ClientState {
 
 pub struct ShipServerState<EG: EntityGateway> {
     entity_gateway: EG,
-    clients: HashMap<ClientId, ClientState>,
+    clients: Clients,
     client_location: ClientLocation,
     level_table: CharacterLevelTable,
     name: String,