diff --git a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/Game.java b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/Game.java
index 4ba06a1..fe9055f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/Game.java
+++ b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/Game.java
@@ -29,14 +29,19 @@ public abstract class Game {
     scene.render();
   }
 
-  public void update() {
-    scene.update(0);
+  private static final float ns240 = 1_000_000_000f / 240f;
+  protected float dTime = 0;
 
+  public void update() {
     long nanoTime = System.nanoTime();
+    float elapsed = nanoTime - lastFrame;
+    dTime = elapsed / ns240;
+    lastFrame = nanoTime;
+
+    scene.update(dTime);
 
     // average framerate
-    averageFPS = lerp(averageFPS, 1_000_000_000f / (nanoTime - lastFrame), (nanoTime - lastFrame) / 1_000_000_000f);
-    lastFrame = nanoTime;
+    averageFPS = lerp(averageFPS, 1_000_000_000f / (elapsed), (elapsed) / 1_000_000_000f);
 
     framesSinceKeyframe ++;
     if(nanoTime > lastKeyframe + 1_000_000_000) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/GameObject.java b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/GameObject.java
index 641a90e..b1a3424 100644
--- a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/GameObject.java
+++ b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/GameObject.java
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import java.util.List;
 public class GameObject implements IRenderable, ITickable, Serializable {
   private transient SceneGraph scene;
 
+  private boolean created = false;
+
   public void link(SceneGraph scene) {
     this.scene = scene;
   }
@@ -43,7 +45,21 @@ public class GameObject implements IRenderable, ITickable, Serializable {
   @Override
   public void update(float dTime) {}
 
-  public void start() {}
+  // connect is solely for ensuring links to other objects. get() and getAll()
+  protected void connect() {}
+  // create is guaranteed to only run once for an object, even after save/load
+  protected void create() {} 
+  // start is called any time the object is added to a scene
+  protected void start() {}
+
+  public final void addedToScene() {
+    connect();
+    if(!created) {
+      create();
+      created = true;
+    }
+    start();
+  }
 
   protected void remove(GameObject obj) {
     scene.remove(obj);
diff --git a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/SceneGraph.java b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/SceneGraph.java
index d89b962..6104026 100644
--- a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/SceneGraph.java
+++ b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/engine/scenegraph/SceneGraph.java
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ public abstract class SceneGraph implements IScene {
     }
 
     for(GameObject obj : objects) {
-      obj.start();
+      obj.addedToScene();
     }
   }
 
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ public abstract class SceneGraph implements IScene {
   public void add(GameObject obj) {
     newObjects.add(obj);
     obj.link(this);
-    obj.start();
+    obj.addedToScene();
   }
 
   public void remove(GameObject obj) {
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ public abstract class SceneGraph implements IScene {
       objects.addAll(newObjects);
 
       for(GameObject obj : objects) obj.link(this);
-      for(GameObject obj : objects) obj.start();
+      for(GameObject obj : objects) obj.addedToScene();
     } catch (Exception e) {
       e.printStackTrace();
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/HadeanGame.java b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/HadeanGame.java
index 9a880be..086196c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/HadeanGame.java
+++ b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/HadeanGame.java
@@ -44,14 +44,15 @@ public class HadeanGame extends Game {
     
     long allocated = runtime.totalMemory();
     long max = runtime.maxMemory();
-    int left = 800;
+    int left = 780;
     int top = 10;
 
     List<String> strings = new ArrayList<String>();
-    strings.add("DEBUG");
-    strings.add("FPS: " + Math.round(averageFPS) + "/" + measuredFPS + " | AVG/MEASURED");
-    strings.add("Mouse: <" + App.mouseX + ", " + App.mouseY + ">");
+    strings.add("=== [ DEBUG ] ===");
+    strings.add("FPS:     " + Math.round(averageFPS) + "/" + measuredFPS + " | AVG/MEASURED");
+    strings.add("Mouse:  <" + App.mouseX + ", " + App.mouseY + ">");
     strings.add("MEMORY: " + (int)((allocated / (double)max) * 100) + "% (" + (allocated / (1024 * 1024)) + "/" + (max / (1024 * 1024)) + "MB)");
+    strings.add("dTime:  " + dTime);
 
     for(String str : strings) {
       Assets.flat.pushColor(Vector4f.black);
diff --git a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/gameobjects/worldobjects/agents/Agent.java b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/gameobjects/worldobjects/agents/Agent.java
index 089eadb..e79681c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/gameobjects/worldobjects/agents/Agent.java
+++ b/src/main/java/xyz/valnet/hadean/gameobjects/worldobjects/agents/Agent.java
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public abstract class Agent extends WorldObject implements ISelectable {
   @Override
   public void start() {
     super.start();
-    frameCounter = speed;
+    frameCounter = 0;
     pathfinder = new AStarPathfinder(terrain);
   }