diff --git a/doomsday/engine/portable/include/net_msg.h b/doomsday/engine/portable/include/net_msg.h
index a6659300ab..0e618d6554 100644
--- a/doomsday/engine/portable/include/net_msg.h
+++ b/doomsday/engine/portable/include/net_msg.h
@@ -27,11 +27,13 @@ void            Msg_WriteByte(byte b);
 void            Msg_WriteShort(short w);
 void            Msg_WritePackedShort(short w);
 void            Msg_WriteLong(int l);
+void            Msg_WritePackedLong(unsigned int l);
 void            Msg_Write(const void *src, int len);
 byte            Msg_ReadByte(void);
 short           Msg_ReadShort(void);
 short           Msg_ReadPackedShort(void);
 int             Msg_ReadLong(void);
+unsigned int    Msg_ReadPackedLong(void);
 void            Msg_Read(void *dest, int len);
 int             Msg_Offset(void);
 void            Msg_SetOffset(int offset);
diff --git a/doomsday/engine/portable/src/net_msg.c b/doomsday/engine/portable/src/net_msg.c
index 9fd1a59f3d..9d587e3393 100644
--- a/doomsday/engine/portable/src/net_msg.c
+++ b/doomsday/engine/portable/src/net_msg.c
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
  * Buffer overflow checks *ARE NOT* made.
  * The caller must know what it's doing.
  * The data is stored using little-endian ordering.
+ *
+ * Note that negative values are not good for the packed write/read routines,
+ * as they always have the high bits set.
  */
 
 // HEADER FILES ------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -88,6 +91,20 @@ void Msg_WriteLong(int l)
     netBuffer.cursor += 4;
 }
 
+void Msg_WritePackedLong(unsigned int l)
+{
+    while(l >= 0x80) 
+    {
+        // Write the lowest 7 bits, and set the high bit to indicate that 
+        // at least one more byte will follow.
+        Msg_WriteByte(0x80 | (l & 0x7f));
+        
+        l >>= 7;
+    }
+    // Write the last byte, with the high bit clear.
+    Msg_WriteByte(l);
+}
+
 void Msg_Write(const void *src, int len)
 {
     memcpy(netBuffer.cursor, src, len);
@@ -139,6 +156,28 @@ int Msg_ReadLong(void)
     return LONG( *(int *) (netBuffer.cursor - 4) );
 }
 
+unsigned int Msg_ReadPackedLong(void)
+{
+    byte pack = 0;
+    int pos = 0;
+    unsigned int value = 0;
+    
+    do
+    {
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+        if(Msg_Offset() >= netBuffer.length)
+            Con_Error("Packet read overflow!\n");
+#endif
+
+        pack = *netBuffer.cursor++;
+        value |= ((pack & 0x7f) << pos);
+        pos += 7;
+    }
+    while(pack & 0x80);
+    
+    return value;
+}
+
 void Msg_Read(void *dest, int len)
 {
 #ifdef _DEBUG