diff --git a/code/boot.js b/code/boot.js
index 4e3995b2..ec80b308 100644
--- a/code/boot.js
+++ b/code/boot.js
@@ -24,12 +24,13 @@ window.setupLargeImagePreview = function() {
   });
 }
 
+
 window.setupStyles = function() {
   $('head').append('<style>' +
     [ '#largepreview.res img { border:2px solid '+COLORS[TEAM_RES]+'; } ',
       '#largepreview.enl img { border:2px solid '+COLORS[TEAM_ENL]+'; } ',
       '#largepreview.none img { border:2px solid '+COLORS[TEAM_NONE]+'; } ',
-      '#chatcontrols { bottom: '+(CHAT_SHRINKED+4)+'px; }',
+      '#chatcontrols { bottom: '+(CHAT_SHRINKED+24)+'px; }',
       '#chat { height: '+CHAT_SHRINKED+'px; } ',
       '#updatestatus { width:'+(SIDEBAR_WIDTH-2*4)+'px;  } ',
       '#sidebar, #gamestat, #gamestat span, input, ',
@@ -82,21 +83,19 @@ window.setupMap = function() {
   });
 
   // map update status handling
-  map.on('zoomstart', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = true });
-  map.on('movestart', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = true });
-  map.on('zoomend', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = false });
-  map.on('moveend', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = false });
-
+  map.on('movestart zoomstart', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = true });
+  map.on('moveend zoomend', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = false });
 
   // update map hooks
-  map.on('zoomstart', window.requests.abort);
-  map.on('zoomend', function() { window.startRefreshTimeout(500) });
-  map.on('movestart', window.requests.abort );
-  map.on('moveend', function() { window.startRefreshTimeout(500) });
+  map.on('movestart zoomstart', window.requests.abort);
+  map.on('moveend zoomend', function() { window.startRefreshTimeout(500) });
 
   // run once on init
   window.requestData();
   window.startRefreshTimeout();
+
+  window.addResumeFunction(window.requestData);
+  window.requests.addRefreshFunction(window.requestData);
 };
 
 // renders player details into the website. Since the player info is
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ function boot() {
   window.setupLargeImagePreview();
   window.updateGameScore();
   window.setupPlayerStat();
-  window.setupChat();
+  window.chat.setup();
   // read here ONCE, so the URL is only evaluated one time after the
   // necessary data has been loaded.
   urlPortal = getURLParam('pguid');
diff --git a/code/chat.js b/code/chat.js
index 75fc8655..080b6bc8 100644
--- a/code/chat.js
+++ b/code/chat.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-window.chat = function() {}
+window.chat = function() {};
 
-window.getOldestTimestampChat = function(public) {
+window.chat.getOldestTimestamp = function(public) {
   if(public) {
     var a = $('#chatpublic time:first').data('timestamp');
     var b = $('#chatbot time:first').data('timestamp');
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ window.getOldestTimestampChat = function(public) {
   }
 }
 
-window.getNewestTimestampChat = function(public) {
+window.chat.getNewestTimestamp = function(public) {
   if(public) {
     var a = $('#chatpublic time:last').data('timestamp');
     var b = $('#chatbot time:last').data('timestamp');
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ window.getNewestTimestampChat = function(public) {
   }
 }
 
-window.getPostDataForChat = function(public, getOlderMsgs) {
+window.chat.genPostData = function(public, getOlderMsgs) {
   if(typeof public !== 'boolean') throw('Need to know if public or faction chat.');
 
   var b = map.getBounds();
@@ -42,75 +42,213 @@ window.getPostDataForChat = function(public, getOlderMsgs) {
 
   if(getOlderMsgs) {
     // ask for older chat when scrolling up
-    data = $.extend(data, {maxTimestampMs: getOldestTimestampChat(public)});
+    data = $.extend(data, {maxTimestampMs: chat.getOldestTimestamp(public)});
   } else {
     // ask for newer chat
-    $.extend(data, {minTimestampMs: getNewestTimestampChat(public)});
+    var min = chat.getNewestTimestamp(public);
+    // the inital request will have both timestamp values set to -1,
+    // thus we receive the newest desiredNumItems. After that, we will
+    // only receive messages with a timestamp greater or equal to min
+    // above.
+    // After resuming from idle, there might be more new messages than
+    // desiredNumItems. So on the first request, we are not really up to
+    // date. We will eventually catch up, as long as there are less new
+    // messages than desiredNumItems per each refresh cycle.
+    // A proper solution would be to query until no more new results are
+    // returned. Another way would be to set desiredNumItems to a very
+    // large number so we really get all new messages since the last
+    // request. Setting desiredNumItems to -1 does unfortunately not
+    // work.
+    // Currently this edge case is not handled. Let’s see if this is a
+    // problem in crowded areas.
+    $.extend(data, {minTimestampMs: min});
   }
   return data;
 }
 
-window.requestFactionChat  = function(getOlderMsgs) {
-  if(window.idleTime >= MAX_IDLE_TIME) {
-    console.log('user has been idle for ' + idleTime + ' minutes. Skipping faction chat.');
-    renderUpdateStatus();
-    return;
-  }
+//
+// requesting faction
+//
 
-  data = getPostDataForChat(false, false);
-  window.requests.add(window.postAjax('getPaginatedPlextsV2', data, window.handleFactionChat));
+window.chat._requestOldFactionRunning = false;
+window.chat.requestOldFaction = function(isRetry) {
+  if(chat._requestOldFactionRunning) return;
+  if(isIdle()) return renderUpdateStatus();
+  chat._requestOldFactionRunning = true;
+
+  var d = chat.genPostData(false, true);
+  var r = window.postAjax(
+    'getPaginatedPlextsV2',
+    d,
+    chat.handleOldFaction,
+    isRetry
+      ? function() { window.chat._requestOldFactionRunning = false; }
+      : function() { window.chat.requestOldFaction(true) }
+  );
+
+  requests.add(r);
 }
 
-window.renderChatMsg = function(msg, nick, time, team) {
+window.chat._requestNewFactionRunning = false;
+window.chat.requestNewFaction = function(isRetry) {
+  if(chat._requestNewFactionRunning) return;
+  if(window.isIdle()) return renderUpdateStatus();
+  chat._requestNewFactionRunning = true;
+
+  var d = chat.genPostData(false, false);
+  var r = window.postAjax(
+    'getPaginatedPlextsV2',
+    d,
+    chat.handleNewFaction,
+    isRetry
+      ? function() { window.chat._requestNewFactionRunning = false; }
+      : function() { window.chat.requestNewFaction(true) }
+  );
+
+  requests.add(r);
+}
+
+//
+// handle faction
+//
+
+window.chat.handleOldFaction = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
+  chat._requestOldFactionRunning = false;
+  chat.handleFaction(data, textStatus, jqXHR, true);
+}
+
+window.chat.handleNewFaction = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
+  chat._requestNewFactionRunning = false;
+  chat.handleFaction(data, textStatus, jqXHR, false);
+}
+
+window.chat._displayedFactionGuids = [];
+window.chat.handleFaction = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR, isOldMsgs) {
+  if(!data || !data.result) return console.warn('Couldn’t get chat data. Pausing chat for now.');
+
+  var msgs = '';
+  var prevTime = null;
+  $.each(data.result.reverse(), function(ind, json) {
+    // avoid duplicates
+    if(window.chat._displayedFactionGuids.indexOf(json[0]) !== -1) return;
+    window.chat._displayedFactionGuids.push(json[0]);
+
+    var time = json[1];
+    var msg = json[2].plext.markup[2][1].plain;
+    var team = json[2].plext.team === 'ALIENS' ? TEAM_ENL : TEAM_RES;
+    var nick = json[2].plext.markup[1][1].plain.slice(0, -2); // cut “: ” at end
+    var pguid = json[2].plext.markup[1][1].guid;
+    window.setPlayerName(pguid, nick); // free nick name resolves
+
+
+    var nowTime = new Date(time).toLocaleDateString();
+    if(prevTime && prevTime !== nowTime)
+      msgs += '<summary>'+nowTime+'</summary>';
+
+    msgs += chat.renderMsg(msg, nick, time, team);
+
+
+    prevTime = nowTime;
+  });
+
+  var c = $('#chatfaction');
+  var scrollBefore = scrollBottom(c);
+  if(isOldMsgs)
+    c.prepend(msgs);
+  else
+    c.append(msgs);
+
+  // If scrolled down completely, keep it that way so new messages can
+  // be seen easily. If scrolled up, only need to fix scroll position
+  // when old messages are added. New messages added at the bottom don’t
+  // change the view and enabling this would make the chat scroll down
+  // for every added message, even if the user wants to read old stuff.
+  if(scrollBefore === 0 || isOldMsgs) {
+    c.data('ignoreNextScroll', true);
+    c.scrollTop(c.scrollTop() + (scrollBottom(c)-scrollBefore));
+  }
+
+  chat.needMoreMessages();
+}
+
+window.chat.toggle = function() {
+  var c = $('#chat, #chatcontrols');
+  if(c.hasClass('expand')) {
+    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('expand');
+    c.removeClass('expand');
+  } else {
+    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('shrink');
+    c.addClass('expand');
+    chat.needMoreMessages();
+  }
+}
+
+window.chat.request = function() {
+  console.log('refreshing chat');
+  chat.requestNewFaction();
+  //~ chat.requestNewPublic();
+}
+
+// checks if there are enough messages in the selected chat tab and
+// loads more if not.
+window.chat.needMoreMessages = function() {
+  var activeChat = $('#chat > :visible');
+  if(scrollBottom(activeChat) !== 0 || activeChat.scrollTop() !== 0) return;
+  console.log('no scrollbar in active chat, requesting more msgs');
+  if($('#chatcontrols a:last.active'))
+    chat.requestOldFaction();
+  else
+    chat.requestOldPublic();
+}
+
+window.chat.setupTime = function() {
+  var inputTime = $('#chatinput time');
+  var updateTime = function() {
+    if(window.isIdle()) return;
+    var d = new Date();
+    inputTime.text(d.toLocaleTimeString().slice(0, 5));
+    // update ON the minute (1ms after)
+    setTimeout(updateTime, (60 - d.getSeconds()) * 1000 + 1);
+  };
+  updateTime();
+  window.addResumeFunction(updateTime);
+}
+
+window.chat.setup = function() {
+  $('#chatcontrols, #chat, #chatinput').show();
+
+  $('#chatcontrols a:first').click(window.chat.toggle);
+  $('#chatinput').click(function() {
+    $('#chatinput input').focus();
+  });
+
+  window.chat.setupTime();
+
+  $('#chatfaction').scroll(function() {
+    var t = $(this);
+    if(t.data('ignoreNextScroll')) return t.data('ignoreNextScroll', false);
+    if(t.scrollTop() < 200) chat.requestOldFaction();
+    if(scrollBottom(t) === 0) chat.requestNewFaction();
+  });
+
+  $('#chatpublic, #chatbot').scroll(function() {
+    var t = $(this);
+    if(t.data('ignoreNextScroll')) return t.data('ignoreNextScroll', false);
+    if(t.scrollTop() < 200) chat.requestOldPublic();
+    if(scrollBottom(t) === 0) chat.requestNewPublic();
+  });
+
+
+  chat.requestNewFaction();
+  window.addResumeFunction(chat.request);
+  window.requests.addRefreshFunction(chat.request);
+}
+
+
+window.chat.renderMsg = function(msg, nick, time, team) {
   var ta = unixTimeToHHmm(time);
   var tb = unixTimeToString(time, true);
   var t = '<time title="'+tb+'" data-timestamp="'+time+'">'+ta+'</time>';
   var s = 'style="color:'+COLORS[team]+'"';
   return '<p>'+t+'<mark '+s+'>'+nick+'</mark><span>'+msg+'</span></p>';
 }
-
-window.handleFactionChat = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
-  var appMsg = '';
-  var first = null;
-  var last;
-  $.each(data.result.reverse(), function(ind, chat) {
-    var time = chat[1];
-    var msg = chat[2].plext.markup[2][1].plain;
-    var team = chat[2].plext.team === 'ALIENS' ? TEAM_ENL : TEAM_RES;
-    var nick = chat[2].plext.markup[1][1].plain.slice(0, -2); // cut “: ” at end
-    var guid = chat[2].plext.markup[1][1].guid;
-    window.setPlayerName(guid, nick); // free nick name resolves
-
-    if(!first) first = time;
-    last = time;
-    appMsg += renderChatMsg(msg, nick, time, team);
-  });
-
-  $('#chatfaction').html(appMsg);
-}
-
-window.toggleChat = function() {
-  var c = $('#chat');
-  var cc = $('#chatcontrols');
-  if(c.data('toggle')) {
-    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('expand');
-    c.css('height', CHAT_SHRINKED+'px');
-    c.css('top', 'auto');
-    c.data('toggle', false);
-    cc.css('top', 'auto');
-    cc.css('bottom', (CHAT_SHRINKED+4)+'px');
-  } else {
-    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('shrink');
-    c.css('height', 'auto');
-    c.css('top', '25px');
-    c.data('toggle', true);
-    cc.css('top', '0');
-    cc.css('bottom', 'auto');
-  }
-}
-
-
-window.setupChat = function() {
-  $('#chatcontrols a').first().click(window.toggleChat);
-  requestFactionChat();
-}
diff --git a/code/idle.js b/code/idle.js
index 666098b7..097b0c21 100644
--- a/code/idle.js
+++ b/code/idle.js
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ var idleReset = function (e) {
   // update immediately when the user comes back
   if(isIdle()) {
     window.idleTime = 0;
-    window.requestData();
+    $.each(window._onResumeFunctions, function(ind, f) {
+      f();
+    });
   }
   window.idleTime = 0;
 };
@@ -16,3 +18,11 @@ $('body').mousemove(idleReset).keypress(idleReset);
 window.isIdle = function() {
   return window.idleTime >= MAX_IDLE_TIME;
 }
+
+window._onResumeFunctions = [];
+
+// add your function here if you want to be notified when the user
+// resumes from being idle
+window.addResumeFunction = function(f) {
+  window._onResumeFunctions.push(f);
+}
diff --git a/code/map_data.js b/code/map_data.js
index 767d705d..bfcd3a8a 100644
--- a/code/map_data.js
+++ b/code/map_data.js
@@ -5,36 +5,9 @@
 // action.
 
 
-// sets the timer for the next auto refresh. Ensures only one timeout
-// is queued. May be given 'override' in milliseconds if time should
-// not be guessed automatically. Especially useful if a little delay
-// is required, for example when zooming.
-window.startRefreshTimeout = function(override) {
-  // may be required to remove 'paused during interaction' message in
-  // status bar
-  window.renderUpdateStatus();
-  if(refreshTimeout) clearTimeout(refreshTimeout);
-  if(override) {
-    console.log('refreshing in ' + override + 'ms');
-    refreshTimeout = setTimeout(window.requestData, override);
-    return;
-  }
-  var t = REFRESH*1000;
-  var adj = ZOOM_LEVEL_ADJ * (18 - window.map.getZoom());
-  if(adj > 0) t += adj*1000;
-  console.log("next auto refresh in " + t/1000 + " seconds.");
-  refreshTimeout = setTimeout(window.requestData, t);
-}
-
 // requests map data for current viewport. For details on how this
 // works, refer to the description in “MAP DATA REQUEST CALCULATORS”
 window.requestData = function() {
-  if(window.idleTime >= MAX_IDLE_TIME) {
-    console.log('user has been idle for ' + idleTime + ' minutes. Skipping refresh.');
-    renderUpdateStatus();
-    return;
-  }
-
   console.log('refreshing data');
   requests.abort();
   cleanUp();
@@ -81,7 +54,6 @@ window.requestData = function() {
 // works on map data response and ensures entities are drawn/updated.
 window.handleDataResponse = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
   // remove from active ajax queries list
-  window.requests.remove(jqXHR);
   if(!data || !data.result) {
     console.warn(data);
     return;
@@ -158,7 +130,12 @@ window.cleanUp = function() {
 // removes given entity from map
 window.removeByGuid = function(guid) {
   // portals end in “.11” or “.12“, links in “.9", fields in “.b”
-  // .c == player/creator
+  // .11 == portals
+  // .12 == portals
+  // .9  == links
+  // .b  == fields
+  // .c  == player/creator
+  // .d  == chat messages
   switch(guid.slice(33)) {
     case '11':
     case '12':
@@ -240,7 +217,7 @@ window.renderLink = function(ent) {
 
   poly.on('remove', function() { delete window.links[this.options.guid]; });
   poly.on('add',    function() { window.links[this.options.guid] = this; });
-  poly.addTo(linksLayer);
+  poly.addTo(linksLayer).bringToBack();
 }
 
 // renders a field on the map from a given entity
@@ -264,5 +241,5 @@ window.renderField = function(ent) {
 
   poly.on('remove', function() { delete window.fields[this.options.guid]; });
   poly.on('add',    function() { window.fields[this.options.guid] = this; });
-  poly.addTo(fieldsLayer);
+  poly.addTo(fieldsLayer).bringToBack();
 }
diff --git a/code/request_handling.js b/code/request_handling.js
index ef967a3e..10209f49 100644
--- a/code/request_handling.js
+++ b/code/request_handling.js
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ window.requests.abort = function() {
   window.activeRequests = [];
   window.failedRequestCount = 0;
 
-  startRefreshTimeout();
   renderUpdateStatus();
 }
 
@@ -56,3 +55,49 @@ window.renderUpdateStatus = function() {
 
   $('#updatestatus').html(t);
 }
+
+
+// sets the timer for the next auto refresh. Ensures only one timeout
+// is queued. May be given 'override' in milliseconds if time should
+// not be guessed automatically. Especially useful if a little delay
+// is required, for example when zooming.
+window.startRefreshTimeout = function(override) {
+  // may be required to remove 'paused during interaction' message in
+  // status bar
+  window.renderUpdateStatus();
+  if(refreshTimeout) clearTimeout(refreshTimeout);
+  var t = 0;
+  if(override) {
+    t = override;
+  } else {
+    t = REFRESH*1000;
+    var adj = ZOOM_LEVEL_ADJ * (18 - window.map.getZoom());
+    if(adj > 0) t += adj*1000;
+  }
+  var next = new Date(new Date().getTime() + t).toLocaleTimeString();
+  console.log('planned refresh: ' + next);
+  refreshTimeout = setTimeout(window.requests._callOnRefreshFunctions, t);
+}
+
+window.requests._onRefreshFunctions = [];
+window.requests._callOnRefreshFunctions = function() {
+  startRefreshTimeout();
+
+  if(isIdle()) {
+    console.log('user has been idle for ' + idleTime + ' minutes. Skipping refresh.');
+    renderUpdateStatus();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log('refreshing');
+
+  $.each(window.requests._onRefreshFunctions, function(ind, f) {
+    f();
+  });
+}
+
+
+// add method here to be notified of auto-refreshes
+window.requests.addRefreshFunction = function(f) {
+  window.requests._onRefreshFunctions.push(f);
+}
diff --git a/code/utils_misc.js b/code/utils_misc.js
index cc046aea..01acfbfb 100644
--- a/code/utils_misc.js
+++ b/code/utils_misc.js
@@ -48,13 +48,14 @@ window.digits = function(d) {
 // error: see above. Additionally it is logged if the request failed.
 window.postAjax = function(action, data, success, error) {
   data = JSON.stringify($.extend({method: 'dashboard.'+action}, data));
+  var remove = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) { window.requests.remove(jqXHR); };
   var errCnt = function(jqXHR) { window.failedRequestCount++; window.requests.remove(jqXHR); };
   return $.ajax({
     url: 'rpc/dashboard.'+action,
     type: 'POST',
     data: data,
     dataType: 'json',
-    success: success,
+    success: [remove, success],
     error: error ? [errCnt, error] : errCnt,
     contentType: 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
     beforeSend: function(req) {
@@ -110,3 +111,11 @@ window.getPaddedBounds = function() {
   window._storedPaddedBounds = p;
   return p;
 }
+
+
+// returns number of pixels left to scroll down before reaching the
+// bottom. Works similar to the native scrollTop function.
+window.scrollBottom = function(elm) {
+  if(typeof elm === 'string') elm = $(elm);
+  return elm.get(0).scrollHeight - elm.innerHeight() - elm.scrollTop();
+}
diff --git a/json_examples/chat_send_message.js b/json_examples/chat_send_message.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..97560ec2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/json_examples/chat_send_message.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// http://www.ingress.com/rpc/dashboard.sendPlext
+
+// posting:
+{"message":"x","latE6":73689520,"lngE6":95322756,"factionOnly":true,"method":"dashboard.sendPlext"}
+
+{"message":"x","latE6":73689520,"lngE6":95322756,"method":"dashboard.sendPlext"}
+
+
+// faction response:
+{"gameBasket": {"deletedEntityGuids": [], "gameEntities": [], "inventory": []}, "result": "c709d0aa51664510a43c635d5df919cf.d"}
+
+// public response:
+{"gameBasket": {"deletedEntityGuids": [], "gameEntities": [], "inventory": []}, "result": "1b113466f403499191eae568915b7cc9.d"}
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index ac5384a2..49bece3e 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -46,14 +46,15 @@ document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].innerHTML = ''
 
 document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].innerHTML = ''
   + '<div id="map">Loading, please wait</div>'
-  + '<div id="chatcontrols">'
+  + '<div id="chatcontrols" style="display:none">'
   + '  <a>expand</a><a>automated</a><a>public</a><a class="active">faction</a>'
   + '</div>'
-  + '<div id="chat">'
+  + '<div id="chat" style="display:none">'
   + '  <div id="chatfaction"></div>'
   + '  <div id="chatpublic"></div>'
   + '  <div id="chatbot"></div>'
   + '</div>'
+  + '<form id="chatinput" style="display:none"><time></time><span>tell faction:</span><input type="text"/></form>'
   + '<div id="sidebar" style="display: none">'
   + '  <div id="playerstat">t</div>'
   + '  <div id="gamestat">&nbsp;loading global control stats</div>'
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 0f054fb8..be2f4861 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -155,6 +155,17 @@ mark {
   background: transparent;
 }
 
+summary {
+  color: #bbb;
+  display: inline-block;
+  font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;
+  height: 16px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  padding: 0 2px;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  width: 683px;
+}
+
 #chat span {
   display: inline-block;
   width: 546px;
diff --git a/total-conversion-build.user.js b/total-conversion-build.user.js
index 9a4bc1f3..1a5aec0d 100644
--- a/total-conversion-build.user.js
+++ b/total-conversion-build.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @id             ingress-intel-total-conversion@breunigs
 // @name           intel map total conversion
-// @version        0.1-2013-02-02-003549
+// @version        0.1-2013-02-03-131520
 // @namespace      https://github.com/breunigs/ingress-intel-total-conversion
 // @updateURL      https://raw.github.com/breunigs/ingress-intel-total-conversion/gh-pages/total-conversion-build.user.js
 // @downloadURL    https://raw.github.com/breunigs/ingress-intel-total-conversion/gh-pages/total-conversion-build.user.js
@@ -46,14 +46,15 @@ document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].innerHTML = ''
 
 document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].innerHTML = ''
   + '<div id="map">Loading, please wait</div>'
-  + '<div id="chatcontrols">'
+  + '<div id="chatcontrols" style="display:none">'
   + '  <a>expand</a><a>automated</a><a>public</a><a class="active">faction</a>'
   + '</div>'
-  + '<div id="chat">'
+  + '<div id="chat" style="display:none">'
   + '  <div id="chatfaction"></div>'
   + '  <div id="chatpublic"></div>'
   + '  <div id="chatbot"></div>'
   + '</div>'
+  + '<form id="chatinput" style="display:none"><time></time><span>tell faction:</span><input type="text"/></form>'
   + '<div id="sidebar" style="display: none">'
   + '  <div id="playerstat">t</div>'
   + '  <div id="gamestat">&nbsp;loading global control stats</div>'
@@ -150,36 +151,9 @@ window.fields = {};
 // action.
 
 
-// sets the timer for the next auto refresh. Ensures only one timeout
-// is queued. May be given 'override' in milliseconds if time should
-// not be guessed automatically. Especially useful if a little delay
-// is required, for example when zooming.
-window.startRefreshTimeout = function(override) {
-  // may be required to remove 'paused during interaction' message in
-  // status bar
-  window.renderUpdateStatus();
-  if(refreshTimeout) clearTimeout(refreshTimeout);
-  if(override) {
-    console.log('refreshing in ' + override + 'ms');
-    refreshTimeout = setTimeout(window.requestData, override);
-    return;
-  }
-  var t = REFRESH*1000;
-  var adj = ZOOM_LEVEL_ADJ * (18 - window.map.getZoom());
-  if(adj > 0) t += adj*1000;
-  console.log("next auto refresh in " + t/1000 + " seconds.");
-  refreshTimeout = setTimeout(window.requestData, t);
-}
-
 // requests map data for current viewport. For details on how this
 // works, refer to the description in “MAP DATA REQUEST CALCULATORS”
 window.requestData = function() {
-  if(window.idleTime >= MAX_IDLE_TIME) {
-    console.log('user has been idle for ' + idleTime + ' minutes. Skipping refresh.');
-    renderUpdateStatus();
-    return;
-  }
-
   console.log('refreshing data');
   requests.abort();
   cleanUp();
@@ -226,7 +200,6 @@ window.requestData = function() {
 // works on map data response and ensures entities are drawn/updated.
 window.handleDataResponse = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
   // remove from active ajax queries list
-  window.requests.remove(jqXHR);
   if(!data || !data.result) {
     console.warn(data);
     return;
@@ -303,7 +276,12 @@ window.cleanUp = function() {
 // removes given entity from map
 window.removeByGuid = function(guid) {
   // portals end in “.11” or “.12“, links in “.9", fields in “.b”
-  // .c == player/creator
+  // .11 == portals
+  // .12 == portals
+  // .9  == links
+  // .b  == fields
+  // .c  == player/creator
+  // .d  == chat messages
   switch(guid.slice(33)) {
     case '11':
     case '12':
@@ -385,7 +363,7 @@ window.renderLink = function(ent) {
 
   poly.on('remove', function() { delete window.links[this.options.guid]; });
   poly.on('add',    function() { window.links[this.options.guid] = this; });
-  poly.addTo(linksLayer);
+  poly.addTo(linksLayer).bringToBack();
 }
 
 // renders a field on the map from a given entity
@@ -409,7 +387,7 @@ window.renderField = function(ent) {
 
   poly.on('remove', function() { delete window.fields[this.options.guid]; });
   poly.on('add',    function() { window.fields[this.options.guid] = this; });
-  poly.addTo(fieldsLayer);
+  poly.addTo(fieldsLayer).bringToBack();
 }
 
 
@@ -440,7 +418,6 @@ window.requests.abort = function() {
   window.activeRequests = [];
   window.failedRequestCount = 0;
 
-  startRefreshTimeout();
   renderUpdateStatus();
 }
 
@@ -473,6 +450,52 @@ window.renderUpdateStatus = function() {
 }
 
 
+// sets the timer for the next auto refresh. Ensures only one timeout
+// is queued. May be given 'override' in milliseconds if time should
+// not be guessed automatically. Especially useful if a little delay
+// is required, for example when zooming.
+window.startRefreshTimeout = function(override) {
+  // may be required to remove 'paused during interaction' message in
+  // status bar
+  window.renderUpdateStatus();
+  if(refreshTimeout) clearTimeout(refreshTimeout);
+  var t = 0;
+  if(override) {
+    t = override;
+  } else {
+    t = REFRESH*1000;
+    var adj = ZOOM_LEVEL_ADJ * (18 - window.map.getZoom());
+    if(adj > 0) t += adj*1000;
+  }
+  var next = new Date(new Date().getTime() + t).toLocaleTimeString();
+  console.log('planned refresh: ' + next);
+  refreshTimeout = setTimeout(window.requests._callOnRefreshFunctions, t);
+}
+
+window.requests._onRefreshFunctions = [];
+window.requests._callOnRefreshFunctions = function() {
+  startRefreshTimeout();
+
+  if(isIdle()) {
+    console.log('user has been idle for ' + idleTime + ' minutes. Skipping refresh.');
+    renderUpdateStatus();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log('refreshing');
+
+  $.each(window.requests._onRefreshFunctions, function(ind, f) {
+    f();
+  });
+}
+
+
+// add method here to be notified of auto-refreshes
+window.requests.addRefreshFunction = function(f) {
+  window.requests._onRefreshFunctions.push(f);
+}
+
+
 
 
 // UTILS + MISC  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -523,13 +546,14 @@ window.digits = function(d) {
 // error: see above. Additionally it is logged if the request failed.
 window.postAjax = function(action, data, success, error) {
   data = JSON.stringify($.extend({method: 'dashboard.'+action}, data));
+  var remove = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) { window.requests.remove(jqXHR); };
   var errCnt = function(jqXHR) { window.failedRequestCount++; window.requests.remove(jqXHR); };
   return $.ajax({
     url: 'rpc/dashboard.'+action,
     type: 'POST',
     data: data,
     dataType: 'json',
-    success: success,
+    success: [remove, success],
     error: error ? [errCnt, error] : errCnt,
     contentType: 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
     beforeSend: function(req) {
@@ -587,6 +611,14 @@ window.getPaddedBounds = function() {
 }
 
 
+// returns number of pixels left to scroll down before reaching the
+// bottom. Works similar to the native scrollTop function.
+window.scrollBottom = function(elm) {
+  if(typeof elm === 'string') elm = $(elm);
+  return elm.get(0).scrollHeight - elm.innerHeight() - elm.scrollTop();
+}
+
+
 
 
 // SETUP /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -613,12 +645,13 @@ window.setupLargeImagePreview = function() {
   });
 }
 
+
 window.setupStyles = function() {
   $('head').append('<style>' +
     [ '#largepreview.res img { border:2px solid '+COLORS[TEAM_RES]+'; } ',
       '#largepreview.enl img { border:2px solid '+COLORS[TEAM_ENL]+'; } ',
       '#largepreview.none img { border:2px solid '+COLORS[TEAM_NONE]+'; } ',
-      '#chatcontrols { bottom: '+(CHAT_SHRINKED+4)+'px; }',
+      '#chatcontrols { bottom: '+(CHAT_SHRINKED+24)+'px; }',
       '#chat { height: '+CHAT_SHRINKED+'px; } ',
       '#updatestatus { width:'+(SIDEBAR_WIDTH-2*4)+'px;  } ',
       '#sidebar, #gamestat, #gamestat span, input, ',
@@ -671,21 +704,19 @@ window.setupMap = function() {
   });
 
   // map update status handling
-  map.on('zoomstart', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = true });
-  map.on('movestart', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = true });
-  map.on('zoomend', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = false });
-  map.on('moveend', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = false });
-
+  map.on('movestart zoomstart', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = true });
+  map.on('moveend zoomend', function() { window.mapRunsUserAction = false });
 
   // update map hooks
-  map.on('zoomstart', window.requests.abort);
-  map.on('zoomend', function() { window.startRefreshTimeout(500) });
-  map.on('movestart', window.requests.abort );
-  map.on('moveend', function() { window.startRefreshTimeout(500) });
+  map.on('movestart zoomstart', window.requests.abort);
+  map.on('moveend zoomend', function() { window.startRefreshTimeout(500) });
 
   // run once on init
   window.requestData();
   window.startRefreshTimeout();
+
+  window.addResumeFunction(window.requestData);
+  window.requests.addRefreshFunction(window.requestData);
 };
 
 // renders player details into the website. Since the player info is
@@ -740,7 +771,7 @@ function boot() {
   window.setupLargeImagePreview();
   window.updateGameScore();
   window.setupPlayerStat();
-  window.setupChat();
+  window.chat.setup();
   // read here ONCE, so the URL is only evaluated one time after the
   // necessary data has been loaded.
   urlPortal = getURLParam('pguid');
@@ -765,9 +796,9 @@ var LEAFLET = 'http://cdn.leafletjs.com/leaflet-0.5/leaflet.js';
 load(JQUERY, LEAFLET).then(LLGMAPS).thenRun(boot);
 
 
-window.chat = function() {}
+window.chat = function() {};
 
-window.getOldestTimestampChat = function(public) {
+window.chat.getOldestTimestamp = function(public) {
   if(public) {
     var a = $('#chatpublic time:first').data('timestamp');
     var b = $('#chatbot time:first').data('timestamp');
@@ -778,7 +809,7 @@ window.getOldestTimestampChat = function(public) {
   }
 }
 
-window.getNewestTimestampChat = function(public) {
+window.chat.getNewestTimestamp = function(public) {
   if(public) {
     var a = $('#chatpublic time:last').data('timestamp');
     var b = $('#chatbot time:last').data('timestamp');
@@ -789,7 +820,7 @@ window.getNewestTimestampChat = function(public) {
   }
 }
 
-window.getPostDataForChat = function(public, getOlderMsgs) {
+window.chat.genPostData = function(public, getOlderMsgs) {
   if(typeof public !== 'boolean') throw('Need to know if public or faction chat.');
 
   var b = map.getBounds();
@@ -809,26 +840,210 @@ window.getPostDataForChat = function(public, getOlderMsgs) {
 
   if(getOlderMsgs) {
     // ask for older chat when scrolling up
-    data = $.extend(data, {maxTimestampMs: getOldestTimestampChat(public)});
+    data = $.extend(data, {maxTimestampMs: chat.getOldestTimestamp(public)});
   } else {
     // ask for newer chat
-    $.extend(data, {minTimestampMs: getNewestTimestampChat(public)});
+    var min = chat.getNewestTimestamp(public);
+    // the inital request will have both timestamp values set to -1,
+    // thus we receive the newest desiredNumItems. After that, we will
+    // only receive messages with a timestamp greater or equal to min
+    // above.
+    // After resuming from idle, there might be more new messages than
+    // desiredNumItems. So on the first request, we are not really up to
+    // date. We will eventually catch up, as long as there are less new
+    // messages than desiredNumItems per each refresh cycle.
+    // A proper solution would be to query until no more new results are
+    // returned. Another way would be to set desiredNumItems to a very
+    // large number so we really get all new messages since the last
+    // request. Setting desiredNumItems to -1 does unfortunately not
+    // work.
+    // Currently this edge case is not handled. Let’s see if this is a
+    // problem in crowded areas.
+    $.extend(data, {minTimestampMs: min});
   }
   return data;
 }
 
-window.requestFactionChat  = function(getOlderMsgs) {
-  if(window.idleTime >= MAX_IDLE_TIME) {
-    console.log('user has been idle for ' + idleTime + ' minutes. Skipping faction chat.');
-    renderUpdateStatus();
-    return;
-  }
+//
+// requesting faction
+//
 
-  data = getPostDataForChat(false, false);
-  window.requests.add(window.postAjax('getPaginatedPlextsV2', data, window.handleFactionChat));
+window.chat._requestOldFactionRunning = false;
+window.chat.requestOldFaction = function(isRetry) {
+  if(chat._requestOldFactionRunning) return;
+  if(isIdle()) return renderUpdateStatus();
+  chat._requestOldFactionRunning = true;
+
+  var d = chat.genPostData(false, true);
+  var r = window.postAjax(
+    'getPaginatedPlextsV2',
+    d,
+    chat.handleOldFaction,
+    isRetry
+      ? function() { window.chat._requestOldFactionRunning = false; }
+      : function() { window.chat.requestOldFaction(true) }
+  );
+
+  requests.add(r);
 }
 
-window.renderChatMsg = function(msg, nick, time, team) {
+window.chat._requestNewFactionRunning = false;
+window.chat.requestNewFaction = function(isRetry) {
+  if(chat._requestNewFactionRunning) return;
+  if(window.isIdle()) return renderUpdateStatus();
+  chat._requestNewFactionRunning = true;
+
+  var d = chat.genPostData(false, false);
+  var r = window.postAjax(
+    'getPaginatedPlextsV2',
+    d,
+    chat.handleNewFaction,
+    isRetry
+      ? function() { window.chat._requestNewFactionRunning = false; }
+      : function() { window.chat.requestNewFaction(true) }
+  );
+
+  requests.add(r);
+}
+
+//
+// handle faction
+//
+
+window.chat.handleOldFaction = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
+  chat._requestOldFactionRunning = false;
+  chat.handleFaction(data, textStatus, jqXHR, true);
+}
+
+window.chat.handleNewFaction = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
+  chat._requestNewFactionRunning = false;
+  chat.handleFaction(data, textStatus, jqXHR, false);
+}
+
+window.chat._displayedFactionGuids = [];
+window.chat.handleFaction = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR, isOldMsgs) {
+  if(!data || !data.result) return console.warn('Couldn’t get chat data. Pausing chat for now.');
+
+  var msgs = '';
+  var prevTime = null;
+  $.each(data.result.reverse(), function(ind, json) {
+    // avoid duplicates
+    if(window.chat._displayedFactionGuids.indexOf(json[0]) !== -1) return;
+    window.chat._displayedFactionGuids.push(json[0]);
+
+    var time = json[1];
+    var msg = json[2].plext.markup[2][1].plain;
+    var team = json[2].plext.team === 'ALIENS' ? TEAM_ENL : TEAM_RES;
+    var nick = json[2].plext.markup[1][1].plain.slice(0, -2); // cut “: ” at end
+    var pguid = json[2].plext.markup[1][1].guid;
+    window.setPlayerName(pguid, nick); // free nick name resolves
+
+
+    var nowTime = new Date(time).toLocaleDateString();
+    if(prevTime && prevTime !== nowTime)
+      msgs += '<summary>'+nowTime+'</summary>';
+
+    msgs += chat.renderMsg(msg, nick, time, team);
+
+
+    prevTime = nowTime;
+  });
+
+  var c = $('#chatfaction');
+  var scrollBefore = scrollBottom(c);
+  if(isOldMsgs)
+    c.prepend(msgs);
+  else
+    c.append(msgs);
+
+  // If scrolled down completely, keep it that way so new messages can
+  // be seen easily. If scrolled up, only need to fix scroll position
+  // when old messages are added. New messages added at the bottom don’t
+  // change the view and enabling this would make the chat scroll down
+  // for every added message, even if the user wants to read old stuff.
+  if(scrollBefore === 0 || isOldMsgs) {
+    c.data('ignoreNextScroll', true);
+    c.scrollTop(c.scrollTop() + (scrollBottom(c)-scrollBefore));
+  }
+
+  chat.needMoreMessages();
+}
+
+window.chat.toggle = function() {
+  var c = $('#chat, #chatcontrols');
+  if(c.hasClass('expand')) {
+    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('expand');
+    c.removeClass('expand');
+  } else {
+    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('shrink');
+    c.addClass('expand');
+    chat.needMoreMessages();
+  }
+}
+
+window.chat.request = function() {
+  console.log('refreshing chat');
+  chat.requestNewFaction();
+  //~ chat.requestNewPublic();
+}
+
+// checks if there are enough messages in the selected chat tab and
+// loads more if not.
+window.chat.needMoreMessages = function() {
+  var activeChat = $('#chat > :visible');
+  if(scrollBottom(activeChat) !== 0 || activeChat.scrollTop() !== 0) return;
+  console.log('no scrollbar in active chat, requesting more msgs');
+  if($('#chatcontrols a:last.active'))
+    chat.requestOldFaction();
+  else
+    chat.requestOldPublic();
+}
+
+window.chat.setupTime = function() {
+  var inputTime = $('#chatinput time');
+  var updateTime = function() {
+    if(window.isIdle()) return;
+    var d = new Date();
+    inputTime.text(d.toLocaleTimeString().slice(0, 5));
+    // update ON the minute (1ms after)
+    setTimeout(updateTime, (60 - d.getSeconds()) * 1000 + 1);
+  };
+  updateTime();
+  window.addResumeFunction(updateTime);
+}
+
+window.chat.setup = function() {
+  $('#chatcontrols, #chat, #chatinput').show();
+
+  $('#chatcontrols a:first').click(window.chat.toggle);
+  $('#chatinput').click(function() {
+    $('#chatinput input').focus();
+  });
+
+  window.chat.setupTime();
+
+  $('#chatfaction').scroll(function() {
+    var t = $(this);
+    if(t.data('ignoreNextScroll')) return t.data('ignoreNextScroll', false);
+    if(t.scrollTop() < 200) chat.requestOldFaction();
+    if(scrollBottom(t) === 0) chat.requestNewFaction();
+  });
+
+  $('#chatpublic, #chatbot').scroll(function() {
+    var t = $(this);
+    if(t.data('ignoreNextScroll')) return t.data('ignoreNextScroll', false);
+    if(t.scrollTop() < 200) chat.requestOldPublic();
+    if(scrollBottom(t) === 0) chat.requestNewPublic();
+  });
+
+
+  chat.requestNewFaction();
+  window.addResumeFunction(chat.request);
+  window.requests.addRefreshFunction(chat.request);
+}
+
+
+window.chat.renderMsg = function(msg, nick, time, team) {
   var ta = unixTimeToHHmm(time);
   var tb = unixTimeToString(time, true);
   var t = '<time title="'+tb+'" data-timestamp="'+time+'">'+ta+'</time>';
@@ -836,52 +1051,6 @@ window.renderChatMsg = function(msg, nick, time, team) {
   return '<p>'+t+'<mark '+s+'>'+nick+'</mark><span>'+msg+'</span></p>';
 }
 
-window.handleFactionChat = function(data, textStatus, jqXHR) {
-  var appMsg = '';
-  var first = null;
-  var last;
-  $.each(data.result.reverse(), function(ind, chat) {
-    var time = chat[1];
-    var msg = chat[2].plext.markup[2][1].plain;
-    var team = chat[2].plext.team === 'ALIENS' ? TEAM_ENL : TEAM_RES;
-    var nick = chat[2].plext.markup[1][1].plain.slice(0, -2); // cut “: ” at end
-    var guid = chat[2].plext.markup[1][1].guid;
-    window.setPlayerName(guid, nick); // free nick name resolves
-
-    if(!first) first = time;
-    last = time;
-    appMsg += renderChatMsg(msg, nick, time, team);
-  });
-
-  $('#chatfaction').html(appMsg);
-}
-
-window.toggleChat = function() {
-  var c = $('#chat');
-  var cc = $('#chatcontrols');
-  if(c.data('toggle')) {
-    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('expand');
-    c.css('height', CHAT_SHRINKED+'px');
-    c.css('top', 'auto');
-    c.data('toggle', false);
-    cc.css('top', 'auto');
-    cc.css('bottom', (CHAT_SHRINKED+4)+'px');
-  } else {
-    $('#chatcontrols a:first').text('shrink');
-    c.css('height', 'auto');
-    c.css('top', '25px');
-    c.data('toggle', true);
-    cc.css('top', '0');
-    cc.css('bottom', 'auto');
-  }
-}
-
-
-window.setupChat = function() {
-  $('#chatcontrols a').first().click(window.toggleChat);
-  requestFactionChat();
-}
-
 
 
 // PORTAL DETAILS DISPLAY ////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -1131,7 +1300,9 @@ var idleReset = function (e) {
   // update immediately when the user comes back
   if(isIdle()) {
     window.idleTime = 0;
-    window.requestData();
+    $.each(window._onResumeFunctions, function(ind, f) {
+      f();
+    });
   }
   window.idleTime = 0;
 };
@@ -1141,6 +1312,14 @@ window.isIdle = function() {
   return window.idleTime >= MAX_IDLE_TIME;
 }
 
+window._onResumeFunctions = [];
+
+// add your function here if you want to be notified when the user
+// resumes from being idle
+window.addResumeFunction = function(f) {
+  window._onResumeFunctions.push(f);
+}
+
 
 
 // LOCATION HANDLING /////////////////////////////////////////////////