My first project upon my return was switching my data file handling system over to a virtual file system, PhysicsFS, which allows me to look at lists of directory trees or .ZIP file archives transparently as a single file system, searching various paths (trees or archives) in a specified order to find a given resource. Been meaning to make the switch for awhile now. It'll make it easier when the time comes to pack up all my assets into a set of large archives, etc...

I'm also seizing the opportunity to clean up some of the file format specifications (tile sets, wall sets, etc...) that have grown rather clunky and bloated as Golem has evolved. Now that I have a better idea of what data is necessary, I can streamline my formats and the tools used to pack them, and hopefully reduce asset load times and archive file sizes. God knows what I'm going to break in the process...