diff --git a/src/feature.cpp b/src/feature.cpp
index b7fe2f2dd..2eb2850f1 100644
--- a/src/feature.cpp
+++ b/src/feature.cpp
@@ -72,13 +72,7 @@ FEATURE_STATS* oilResFeature = NULL;
 //specifies how far round (in tiles) a constructor droid sound look for more wreckage
 #define WRECK_SEARCH 3
 
-struct featureTypeMap
-{
-	const char *typeStr;
-	FEATURE_TYPE type;
-};
-
-static const struct featureTypeMap map[] =
+static const StringToEnum<FEATURE_TYPE> mapUnsorted_FEATURE_TYPE[] =
 {
 	{ "PROPULSION_TYPE_HOVER WRECK", FEAT_HOVER },
 	{ "TANK WRECK", FEAT_TANK },
@@ -93,6 +87,7 @@ static const struct featureTypeMap map[] =
 	{ "TREE", FEAT_TREE },
 	{ "SKYSCRAPER", FEAT_SKYSCRAPER }
 };
+static const StringToEnumMap<FEATURE_TYPE> map_FEATURE_TYPE(mapUnsorted_FEATURE_TYPE, ARRAY_SIZE(mapUnsorted_FEATURE_TYPE));
 
 
 void featureInitVars(void)
@@ -102,112 +97,54 @@ void featureInitVars(void)
 	oilResFeature = NULL;
 }
 
-static void featureType(FEATURE_STATS* psFeature, const char *pType)
+FEATURE_STATS::FEATURE_STATS(LineView line)
+	: BASE_STATS(REF_FEATURE_START + line.line(), line.s(0))
+	, subType(line.e(7, map_FEATURE_TYPE))
+	, psImd(line.imdShape(6))
+	, baseWidth(line.u16(1))
+	, baseBreadth(line.u16(2))
+	, tileDraw(line.b(8))
+	, allowLOS(line.b(9))
+	, visibleAtStart(line.b(10))
+	, damageable(line.b(3))
+	, body(line.u32(5))
+	, armourValue(line.u32(4))
 {
-	unsigned int i;
-
-	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(map); i++)
+	if (damageable && body == 0)
 	{
-		if (strcmp(pType, map[i].typeStr) == 0)
-		{
-			psFeature->subType = map[i].type;
-			return;
-		}
+		debug(LOG_ERROR, "The feature \"%s\", ref %d is damageable, but has no body points!  The files need to be updated / fixed.  Assigning 1 body point to feature.", pName, ref);
+		body = 1;
 	}
-
-	ASSERT(false, "featureType: Unknown feature type");
 }
 
 /* Load the feature stats */
 BOOL loadFeatureStats(const char *pFeatureData, UDWORD bufferSize)
 {
-	FEATURE_STATS		*psFeature;
-	unsigned int		i;
-	char				featureName[MAX_STR_LENGTH], GfxFile[MAX_STR_LENGTH],
-						type[MAX_STR_LENGTH];
-
-	numFeatureStats = numCR(pFeatureData, bufferSize);
-
 	// Skip descriptive header
 	if (strncmp(pFeatureData,"Feature ",8)==0)
 	{
 		pFeatureData = strchr(pFeatureData,'\n') + 1;
-		numFeatureStats--;
-	}
-	
-	asFeatureStats = (FEATURE_STATS*)malloc(sizeof(FEATURE_STATS) * numFeatureStats);
-
-	if (asFeatureStats == NULL)
-	{
-		debug( LOG_FATAL, "Feature Stats - Out of memory" );
-		abort();
-		return false;
 	}
 
-	psFeature = asFeatureStats;
+	TableView table(pFeatureData, bufferSize);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < numFeatureStats; i++)
+	asFeatureStats = new FEATURE_STATS[table.size()];
+	numFeatureStats = table.size();
+
+	for (unsigned i = 0; i < table.size(); ++i)
 	{
-		UDWORD Width, Breadth;
-		int damageable = 0, tileDraw = 0, allowLOS = 0, visibleAtStart = 0;
-
-		memset(psFeature, 0, sizeof(FEATURE_STATS));
-
-		featureName[0] = '\0';
-		GfxFile[0] = '\0';
-		type[0] = '\0';
-
-		//read the data into the storage - the data is delimeted using comma's
-		sscanf(pFeatureData, "%[^','],%d,%d,%d,%d,%d,%[^','],%[^','],%d,%d,%d",
-			featureName, &Width, &Breadth,
-			&damageable, &psFeature->armourValue, &psFeature->body,
-			GfxFile, type, &tileDraw, &allowLOS,
-			&visibleAtStart);
-
-		psFeature->damageable = damageable;
-		psFeature->tileDraw = tileDraw;
-		psFeature->allowLOS = allowLOS;
-		psFeature->visibleAtStart = visibleAtStart;
-
-		// These are now only 16 bits wide - so we need to copy them
-		psFeature->baseWidth = Width;
-		psFeature->baseBreadth = Breadth;
-
-		psFeature->pName = allocateName(featureName);
-		if (!psFeature->pName)
+		asFeatureStats[i] = FEATURE_STATS(LineView(table, i));
+		if (table.isError())
 		{
+			debug(LOG_ERROR, "%s", table.getError().toUtf8().constData());
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		if (psFeature->damageable && psFeature->body == 0)
-		{
-			debug(LOG_ERROR, "The feature %s, ref %d, is damageable, but has no body points!  The files need to be updated / fixed.  " \
-							 "Assigning 1 body point to feature.", psFeature->pName, psFeature->ref);
-			psFeature->body = 1;
-		}
-		//determine the feature type
-		featureType(psFeature, type);
-
 		//and the oil resource - assumes only one!
-		if (psFeature->subType == FEAT_OIL_RESOURCE)
+		if (asFeatureStats[i].subType == FEAT_OIL_RESOURCE)
 		{
-			oilResFeature = psFeature;
+			oilResFeature = &asFeatureStats[i];
 		}
-
-		//get the IMD for the feature
-		psFeature->psImd = (iIMDShape *) resGetData("IMD", GfxFile);
-		if (psFeature->psImd == NULL)
-		{
-			debug( LOG_ERROR, "Cannot find the feature PIE for record %s",  getName( psFeature->pName ) );
-			return false;
-		}
-
-		psFeature->ref = REF_FEATURE_START + i;
-
-		//increment the pointer to the start of the next record
-		pFeatureData = strchr(pFeatureData,'\n') + 1;
-		//increment the list to the start of the next storage block
-		psFeature++;
 	}
 
 	return true;
@@ -216,11 +153,13 @@ BOOL loadFeatureStats(const char *pFeatureData, UDWORD bufferSize)
 /* Release the feature stats memory */
 void featureStatsShutDown(void)
 {
-	if(numFeatureStats)
+	for (unsigned i = 0; i < numFeatureStats; ++i)
 	{
-		free(asFeatureStats);
-		asFeatureStats = NULL;
+		free(asFeatureStats[i].pName);
 	}
+	delete[] asFeatureStats;
+	asFeatureStats = NULL;
+	numFeatureStats = 0;
 }
 
 /** Deals with damage to a feature
diff --git a/src/featuredef.h b/src/featuredef.h
index d29508d2a..5716d8197 100644
--- a/src/featuredef.h
+++ b/src/featuredef.h
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ typedef enum _feature_type
 /* Stats for a feature */
 struct FEATURE_STATS : public BASE_STATS
 {
+	FEATURE_STATS() {}
+	FEATURE_STATS(LineView line);
+
 	FEATURE_TYPE    subType;                ///< type of feature
 
 	iIMDShape*      psImd;                  ///< Graphic for the feature
diff --git a/src/stats.cpp b/src/stats.cpp
index ed5aff76a..05232e64e 100644
--- a/src/stats.cpp
+++ b/src/stats.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
  *
  */
 #include <string.h>
+#include <algorithm>
 
 #include "lib/framework/frame.h"
 #include "lib/framework/strres.h"
@@ -123,6 +124,228 @@ static void updateMaxECMStats(UWORD maxValue);
 static void updateMaxBodyStats(UWORD maxBody, UWORD maxPower, UWORD maxArmour);
 static void updateMaxConstStats(UWORD maxValue);
 
+
+BASE_STATS::BASE_STATS(unsigned ref, std::string const &str)
+	: ref(ref)
+	, pName(allocateName(str.c_str()))
+{}
+
+
+TableView::TableView(char const *buffer, unsigned size)
+	: buffer(buffer)
+{
+	size = std::min<unsigned>(size, UINT32_MAX - 1);  // Shouldn't be a problem...
+
+	char const *bufferEnd = buffer + size;
+	bufferEnd = std::find(buffer, bufferEnd, '\0');  // Truncate buffer at first null character, if any.
+
+	// Split into lines.
+	char const *lineNext = buffer;
+	while (lineNext != bufferEnd)
+	{
+		char const *lineBegin = lineNext;
+		char const *lineEnd = std::find(lineBegin, bufferEnd, '\n');
+		lineNext = lineEnd + (lineEnd != bufferEnd);
+
+		// Remove stuff that isn't data.
+		lineEnd = std::find(lineBegin, lineEnd, '#');  // Remove comments, if present.
+		while (lineBegin != lineEnd && uint8_t(*(lineEnd - 1)) <= ' ')
+		{
+			--lineEnd;  // Remove trailing whitespace, if present.
+		}
+		while (lineBegin != lineEnd && uint8_t(*lineBegin) <= ' ')
+		{
+			++lineBegin;  // Remove leading whitespace, if present.
+		}
+		if (lineBegin == lineEnd)
+		{
+			continue;  // Remove empty lines.
+		}
+
+		// Split into cells.
+		size_t firstCell = cells.size();
+		char const *cellNext = lineBegin;
+		while (cellNext != lineEnd)
+		{
+			char const *cellBegin = cellNext;
+			char const *cellEnd = std::find(cellBegin, lineEnd, ',');
+			cellNext = cellEnd + (cellEnd != lineEnd);
+
+			cells.push_back(cellBegin - buffer);
+		}
+		cells.push_back(lineEnd - buffer + 1);
+		lines.push_back(std::make_pair(firstCell, cells.size() - firstCell));
+	}
+}
+
+void LineView::setError(unsigned index, char const *error)
+{
+	if (!table.parseError.isEmpty())
+	{
+		return;  // Already have an error.
+	}
+
+	if (index < numCells)
+	{
+		char const *cellBegin = table.buffer + cells[index];
+		char const *cellEnd = table.buffer + (cells[index + 1] - 1);
+
+		char cellDesc[150];
+		ssprintf(cellDesc, "Line %u, column %u \"%*s\": ", lineNumber, index, std::min<unsigned>(100, cellEnd - cellBegin), cellBegin);
+		table.parseError = QString::fromUtf8((std::string(cellDesc) + error).c_str());
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		char cellDesc[50];
+		ssprintf(cellDesc, "Line %u, column %u: ", lineNumber, index);
+		table.parseError = QString::fromUtf8((std::string(cellDesc) + error).c_str());
+	}
+}
+
+bool LineView::checkRange(unsigned index)
+{
+	if (index < numCells)
+	{
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	setError(index, "Not enough cells.");
+	return false;
+}
+
+int64_t LineView::i(unsigned index, int min, int max)
+{
+	int errorReturn = std::min(std::max(0, min), max);  // On error, return 0 if possible.
+
+	if (!checkRange(index))
+	{
+		return errorReturn;
+	}
+
+	char const *cellBegin = table.buffer + cells[index];
+	char const *cellEnd   = table.buffer + (cells[index + 1] - 1);
+	if (cellBegin != cellEnd)
+	{
+		bool negative = false;
+		switch (*cellBegin++)
+		{
+			case '-':
+				negative = true;
+				break;
+			case '+':
+				break;
+			default:
+				--cellBegin;
+				break;
+		}
+		int64_t absolutePart = 0;
+		while (cellBegin != cellEnd && absolutePart < int64_t(1000000000)*1000000000)
+		{
+			unsigned digit = *cellBegin - '0';
+			if (digit > 9)
+			{
+				break;
+			}
+			absolutePart = absolutePart*10 + digit;
+			++cellBegin;
+		}
+		if (cellBegin == cellEnd)
+		{
+			int64_t result = negative? -absolutePart : absolutePart;
+			if (result >= min && result <= max)
+			{
+				return result;  // Maybe should just have copied the string to null-terminate it, and used scanf...
+			}
+			setError(index, "Integer out of range.");
+			return errorReturn;
+		}
+	}
+
+	setError(index, "Expected integer.");
+	return errorReturn;
+}
+
+float LineView::f(unsigned index, float min, float max)
+{
+	float errorReturn = std::min(std::max(0.f, min), max);  // On error, return 0 if possible.
+
+	std::string const &str = s(index);
+	if (!str.empty())
+	{
+		int parsed = 0;
+		float result;
+		sscanf(str.c_str(), "%f%n", &result, &parsed);
+		if ((unsigned)parsed == str.size())
+		{
+			if (result >= min && result <= max)
+			{
+				return result;
+			}
+			setError(index, "Float out of range.");
+			return errorReturn;
+		}
+	}
+
+	setError(index, "Expected float.");
+	return errorReturn;
+}
+
+std::string const &LineView::s(unsigned index)
+{
+	if (!checkRange(index))
+	{
+		table.returnString.clear();
+		return table.returnString;
+	}
+
+	char const *cellBegin = table.buffer + cells[index];
+	char const *cellEnd   = table.buffer + (cells[index + 1] - 1);
+	table.returnString.assign(cellBegin, cellEnd);
+	return table.returnString;
+}
+
+iIMDShape *LineView::imdShape(unsigned int index)
+{
+	std::string const &str = s(index);
+	iIMDShape *result = (iIMDShape *)resGetData("IMD", str.c_str());
+	if (result == NULL)
+	{
+		setError(index, "Expected PIE shape.");
+	}
+	return result;
+}
+
+static inline bool stringToEnumFindFunction(std::pair<char const *, unsigned> const &a, char const *b)
+{
+	return strcmp(a.first, b) < 0;
+}
+
+unsigned LineView::eu(unsigned int index, std::vector<std::pair<char const *, unsigned> > const &map)
+{
+	typedef std::vector<std::pair<char const *, unsigned> > M;
+
+	std::string const &str = s(index);
+	M::const_iterator i = std::lower_bound(map.begin(), map.end(), str.c_str(), stringToEnumFindFunction);
+	if (i != map.end() && strcmp(i->first, str.c_str()) == 0)
+	{
+		return i->second;
+	}
+
+	// Didn't find it, give error and return 0.
+	if (table.parseError.isEmpty())
+	{
+		std::string values = "Expected one of";
+		for (i = map.begin(); i != map.end(); ++i)
+		{
+			values += std::string(" \"") + i->first + '"';
+		}
+		values = values + '.';
+		setError(index, "Expected one of");
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
 /*******************************************************************************
 *		Generic stats macros/functions
 *******************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/stats.h b/src/stats.h
index c04ef3348..74faa5067 100644
--- a/src/stats.h
+++ b/src/stats.h
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #ifndef __INCLUDED_SRC_STATS_H__
 #define __INCLUDED_SRC_STATS_H__
 
+#include <utility>
+
 #include "objectdef.h"
 
 /**************************************************************************************
diff --git a/src/statsdef.h b/src/statsdef.h
index e6b4c0720..2924c3c44 100644
--- a/src/statsdef.h
+++ b/src/statsdef.h
@@ -26,6 +26,84 @@
 
 #include "lib/ivis_opengl/ivisdef.h"
 
+#include <vector>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include "lib/framework/utf.h"  // For QString.
+
+static inline bool stringToEnumSortFunction(std::pair<char const *, unsigned> const &a, std::pair<char const *, unsigned> const &b) { return strcmp(a.first, b.first) < 0; }
+
+template <typename Enum>
+struct StringToEnum
+{
+	operator std::pair<char const *, unsigned>() const { return std::make_pair(string, value); }
+
+	char const *    string;
+	Enum            value;
+};
+
+template <typename Enum>
+struct StringToEnumMap : public std::vector<std::pair<char const *, unsigned> >
+{
+	typedef std::vector<std::pair<char const *, unsigned> > V;
+
+	StringToEnumMap(StringToEnum<Enum> const entries[], unsigned numEntries) : V(entries, entries + numEntries) { std::sort(V::begin(), V::end(), stringToEnumSortFunction); }
+};
+
+/// Read-only view of file data in "A,1,2\nB,3,4" format as a 2D array-like object. Note — does not copy the file data.
+class TableView
+{
+public:
+	TableView(char const *buffer, unsigned size);
+
+	bool isError() const { return parseError.isEmpty(); }
+	QString getError() const { return parseError; }
+
+	unsigned size() const { return lines.size(); }
+
+private:
+	friend class LineView;
+	char const *                                buffer;
+	std::vector<uint32_t>                       cells;
+	std::vector<std::pair<uint32_t, uint32_t> > lines;
+	QString                                     parseError;
+	std::string                                 returnString;
+};
+
+/// Read-only view of a line of file data in "A,1,2" format as an array-like object. Note — does not copy the file data.
+class LineView
+{
+public:
+	LineView(class TableView &table, unsigned lineNumber) : table(table), cells(&table.cells[table.lines.at(lineNumber).first]), numCells(table.lines.at(lineNumber).second), lineNumber(lineNumber) {}  ///< This LineView is only valid for the lifetime of the TableView.
+
+	void setError(unsigned index, char const *error);  ///< Only the first error is saved.
+
+	unsigned size() const { return numCells; }
+	unsigned line() const { return lineNumber; }
+
+	bool b(unsigned index) { return i(index, 0, 1); }
+	int64_t i(unsigned index, int min, int max);
+	uint32_t i8(unsigned index)  { return i(index, INT8_MIN,  INT8_MAX);   }
+	uint32_t u8(unsigned index)  { return i(index, 0,         UINT8_MAX);  }
+	uint32_t i16(unsigned index) { return i(index, INT16_MIN, INT16_MAX);  }
+	uint32_t u16(unsigned index) { return i(index, 0,         UINT16_MAX); }
+	uint32_t i32(unsigned index) { return i(index, INT32_MIN, INT32_MAX);  }
+	uint32_t u32(unsigned index) { return i(index, 0,         UINT32_MAX); }
+	float f(unsigned index, float min = -1.e30f, float max = 1.e30f);
+	std::string const &s(unsigned index);
+	template <typename Enum>
+	Enum e(unsigned index, StringToEnumMap<Enum> const &map) { return (Enum)eu(index, map); }
+
+	iIMDShape *imdShape(unsigned index);
+
+private:
+	unsigned eu(unsigned index, std::vector<std::pair<char const *, unsigned> > const &map);
+	bool checkRange(unsigned index);
+	class TableView &       table;
+	unsigned const *        cells;
+	unsigned                numCells;
+	unsigned                lineNumber;
+};
+
 /*
 if any types are added BEFORE 'COMP_BODY' - then Save/Load Game will have to be
 altered since it loops through the components from 1->MAX_COMP
@@ -206,6 +284,12 @@ typedef enum TRAVEL_MEDIUM
 /* Stats common to all stats structs */
 struct BASE_STATS
 {
+	BASE_STATS() : ref(0), pName(NULL) {}   ///< Only initialised here when using new/delete! TODO Use new/delete only, not malloc()/free().
+	BASE_STATS(unsigned ref, std::string const &str);   ///< Only initialised here when using new/delete! TODO Use new/delete only, not malloc()/free(). TODO Then pName could be a QString...
+	//Gah, too soon to add destructors to BASE_STATS, thanks to local temporaries that are copied with memcpy()... --- virtual ~BASE_STATS() { free(pName); }  ///< pName is only freed here when using new/delete! TODO Use new/delete only, not malloc()/free().
+	//So this one isn't needed for now, maybe not ever. --- BASE_STATS(BASE_STATS const &stats) : ref(stats.ref), pName(strdup(stats.pName)) {}  // TODO Not needed when pName is a QString...
+	//So this one isn't needed for now, maybe not ever. --- BASE_STATS const &operator =(BASE_STATS const &stats) { ref = stats.ref; free(pName); pName = strdup(stats.pName); return *this; }  // TODO Not needed when pName is a QString...
+
 	UDWORD	ref;	/**< Unique ID of the item */
 	char	*pName; /**< pointer to the text id name (i.e. short language-independant name) */
 };