diff --git a/direct/src/level/DistributedLevel.py b/direct/src/level/DistributedLevel.py
index b6729cdc2b..5524946a51 100755
--- a/direct/src/level/DistributedLevel.py
+++ b/direct/src/level/DistributedLevel.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from PythonUtil import Functor, sameElements, list2dict, uniqueElements
 import ToontownGlobals
 import DistributedObject
 import Level
+import LevelConstants
 import DirectNotifyGlobal
 import EntityCreator
 import OnscreenText
@@ -363,7 +364,7 @@ class DistributedLevel(DistributedObject.DistributedObject,
         # if no viz, listen to all the zones
         if not DistributedLevel.WantVisibility:
             zoneNums = list(self.zoneNums)
-            zoneNums.remove(Level.Level.uberZoneNum)
+            zoneNums.remove(LevelConstants.UberZoneNum)
             self.setVisibility(zoneNums)
 
     def toonEnterZone(self, zoneNum):
@@ -428,7 +429,7 @@ class DistributedLevel(DistributedObject.DistributedObject,
         # accepts list of visible zone numbers
         # convert the zone numbers into their actual zoneIds
         # always include Toontown and factory uberZones
-        uberZone = self.getZoneId(zoneNum=Level.Level.UberZoneNum)
+        uberZone = self.getZoneId(zoneNum=LevelConstants.UberZoneNum)
         # the level itself is in the 'level zone'
         visibleZoneIds = [ToontownGlobals.UberZone, self.levelZone, uberZone]
         for vz in vizList:
diff --git a/direct/src/level/Level.py b/direct/src/level/Level.py
index 297659c349..c6d521819f 100755
--- a/direct/src/level/Level.py
+++ b/direct/src/level/Level.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import DirectNotifyGlobal
 import string
+import LevelConstants
 from PythonUtil import lineInfo, uniqueElements
 
 """
@@ -30,9 +31,6 @@ class Level:
     entities and their interrelations, and creates and destroys entities"""
     notify = DirectNotifyGlobal.directNotify.newCategory('Level')
 
-    UberZoneNum = 0
-    UberZoneEntId = 0
-
     def __init__(self):
         self.levelSpec = None
         self.initialized = 0
@@ -56,8 +54,18 @@ class Level:
 
         # there should be one and only one levelMgr
         assert len(self.entType2ids['levelMgr']) == 1
+        self.levelMgrEntity = self.entType2ids['levelMgr'][0]
+        assert self.levelMgrEntity.entId == LevelConstants.LevelMgrEntId
+
+        if __debug__:
+            # there should be one and only one editMgr
+            assert len(self.entType2ids['editMgr']) == 1
+            self.editMgrEntity = self.entType2ids['editMgr'][0]
+            assert self.editMgrEntity.entId == LevelConstants.EditMgrEntId
+
         # make sure the uberzone is there
-        assert Level.UberZoneEntId in self.entType2ids['zone']
+        assert LevelConstants.UberZoneEntId in self.entType2ids['zone']
+        self.UberZoneEntity = self.getEntity(LevelConstants.UberZoneEntId)
 
         # this list contains the entIds of entities that we have actually
         # created, in order of creation
diff --git a/direct/src/level/LevelConstants.py b/direct/src/level/LevelConstants.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..304faa3d93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/direct/src/level/LevelConstants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+"""LevelConstants module: contains Level-related constants"""
+
+UberZoneEntId = 0
+UberZoneNum = 0
+
+LevelMgrEntId = 10
+
+EditMgrEntId = 20
diff --git a/direct/src/level/LevelSpec.py b/direct/src/level/LevelSpec.py
index 5cdc3489a4..4bea391b15 100755
--- a/direct/src/level/LevelSpec.py
+++ b/direct/src/level/LevelSpec.py
@@ -3,18 +3,35 @@
 import DirectNotifyGlobal
 from PythonUtil import list2dict, uniqueElements
 import string
+import LevelConstants
 if __debug__:
     import os
 
+if __debug__:
+    def makeNewSpec(filename, modelPath, ):
+        spec = LevelSpec()
+        spec.doSetAttrib(LevelConstants.LevelMgrEntId,
+                         'modelFilename', modelPath)
+        spec.saveToDisk(filename, makeBackup=0)
+
 class LevelSpec:
     """contains spec data for a level, is responsible for handing the data
     out upon request, as well as recording changes made during editing, and
     saving out modified spec data"""
     notify = DirectNotifyGlobal.directNotify.newCategory("LevelSpec")
     
-    def __init__(self, specDict, scenario=0):
+    def __init__(self, specDict=None, scenario=0):
         self.specDict = specDict
 
+        if __debug__:
+            newSpec = 0
+            if self.specDict == None:
+                newSpec = 1
+                self.specDict = {
+                    'globalEntities': {},
+                    'scenarios': [[{}, 1]],
+                    }
+
         # this maps an entId to the dict that holds its spec;
         # entities are either in the global dict or a scenario dict
         # update the map of entId to spec dict
@@ -29,6 +46,33 @@ class LevelSpec:
 
         self.setScenario(scenario)
 
+        if __debug__:
+            if newSpec:
+                # add required entities
+
+                # create an entityTypeReg before attempting entity
+                # insertions; basic EntityTypes reg is enough for our purposes
+                # here
+                import EntityTypes
+                import EntityTypeRegistry
+                etr = EntityTypeRegistry.EntityTypeRegistry(EntityTypes)
+                self.setEntityTypeReg(etr)
+
+                # UberZone
+                entId = LevelConstants.UberZoneEntId
+                self.insertEntity(entId, 'zone', None)
+                self.doSetAttrib(entId, 'modelZoneNum',
+                                 LevelConstants.UberZoneNum)
+                self.doSetAttrib(entId, 'name', 'UberZone')
+                # LevelMgr
+                entId = LevelConstants.LevelMgrEntId
+                self.insertEntity(entId, 'levelMgr', None)
+                self.doSetAttrib(entId, 'name', 'LevelMgr')
+                # EditMgr
+                entId = LevelConstants.EditMgrEntId
+                self.insertEntity(entId, 'editMgr', None)
+                self.doSetAttrib(entId, 'name', 'EditMgr')
+                                       
     def getNumScenarios(self):
         return len(self.specDict['scenarios'])
 
@@ -84,6 +128,9 @@ class LevelSpec:
         def setLevel(self, level):
             self.level = level
 
+        def hasLevel(self):
+            return hasattr(self, 'level')
+
         def setEntityTypeReg(self, entTypeReg):
             self.entTypeReg = entTypeReg
             self.checkSpecIntegrity()
@@ -94,20 +141,25 @@ class LevelSpec:
         def setFilename(self, filename):
             self.filename = filename
 
-        def setAttribChange(self, entId, attrib, value, username):
-            """ we're being asked to change an attribute """
-            LevelSpec.notify.info("setAttribChange(%s): %s, %s = '%s'" %
-                                  (username, entId, attrib, repr(value)))
+        def doSetAttrib(self, entId, attrib, value):
+            """ do the dirty work of changing an attrib value """
             assert entId in self.entId2specDict
             specDict = self.entId2specDict[entId]
             assert specDict[entId].has_key(attrib)
             specDict[entId][attrib] = value
-            # let the level know that this attribute value has
-            # officially changed
-            self.level.handleAttribChange(entId, attrib, value, username)
+
+        def setAttribChange(self, entId, attrib, value, username):
+            """ we're being asked to change an attribute """
+            LevelSpec.notify.info("setAttribChange(%s): %s, %s = '%s'" %
+                                  (username, entId, attrib, repr(value)))
+            self.doSetAttrib(entId, attrib, value)
+            if self.hasLevel():
+                # let the level know that this attribute value has
+                # officially changed
+                self.level.handleAttribChange(entId, attrib, value, username)
 
         def insertEntity(self, entId, entType, parentEntId):
-            LevelSpec.notify.info('inserting entity %s' % entId)
+            LevelSpec.notify.info('inserting entity %s (%s)' % (entId, entType))
             assert entId not in self.entId2specDict
             assert self.entTypeReg is not None
             globalEnts = self.privGetGlobalEntityDict()
@@ -124,14 +176,18 @@ class LevelSpec:
             if 'parentEntId' in spec:
                 spec['parentEntId'] = parentEntId
 
-            # notify the level
-            self.level.handleEntityInsert(entId)
+            if self.hasLevel():
+                # notify the level
+                self.level.handleEntityInsert(entId)
             
         def removeEntity(self, entId):
             LevelSpec.notify.info('removing entity %s' % entId)
             assert entId in self.entId2specDict
-            # notify the level
-            self.level.handleEntityRemove(entId)
+
+            if self.hasLevel():
+                # notify the level
+                self.level.handleEntityRemove(entId)
+
             # remove the entity's spec
             dict = self.entId2specDict[entId]
             del dict[entId]
@@ -162,6 +218,7 @@ class LevelSpec:
                     LevelSpec.notify.warning(
                         'error during backup: %s' % str(e))
 
+            LevelSpec.notify.info("writing to '%s'" % filename)
             self.privRemoveFile(filename)
             self.privSaveToDisk(filename)
 
diff --git a/direct/src/level/ZoneEntityBase.py b/direct/src/level/ZoneEntityBase.py
index 6b5e783729..8f19ee706f 100755
--- a/direct/src/level/ZoneEntityBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/level/ZoneEntityBase.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """ZoneEntityBase module: contains the ZoneEntityBase class"""
 
 import Entity
-import Level
+import LevelConstants
 
 class ZoneEntityBase(Entity.Entity):
     def __init__(self, level, entId):
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class ZoneEntityBase(Entity.Entity):
         Entity.Entity.destroy(self)
 
     def isUberZone(self):
-        return self.entId == Level.Level.UberZoneEntId
+        return self.entId == LevelConstants.UberZoneEntId
 
     def setZoneId(self, zoneId):
         """set the network zoneId that this zone entity corresponds to"""