diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/CardPrimitive.h b/projects/mtg/include/CardPrimitive.h
index 064478bc5..f02cd7d16 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/CardPrimitive.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/CardPrimitive.h
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public:
     bool hasSubtype(int _subtype);
     bool hasSubtype(const string& _subtype);
     bool hasType(int _type);
-    bool hasType(const char * type);
+    bool hasType(const string& type);
 
     void setManaCost(const string& value);
     ManaCost * getManaCost();
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/DeckEditorMenu.h b/projects/mtg/include/DeckEditorMenu.h
index d252785ec..6191d88bb 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/DeckEditorMenu.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/DeckEditorMenu.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ private:
     StatsWrapper *stw;
 
 public:
-    DeckEditorMenu(int id, JGuiListener* listener = NULL, int fontId = 1, const char * _title = "", DeckDataWrapper *selectedDeck = NULL, StatsWrapper *stats = NULL);
+    DeckEditorMenu(int id, JGuiListener* listener = NULL, int fontId = 1, const string& _title = "", DeckDataWrapper *selectedDeck = NULL, StatsWrapper *stats = NULL);
     void Render();
     virtual ~DeckEditorMenu();
 };
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenu.h b/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenu.h
index 0f2376634..fa3035efd 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenu.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenu.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public:
     virtual void Render();
     virtual void Update(float dt);
     using JGuiController::Add;
-    virtual void Add(int id, const char * Text, string desc = "", bool forceFocus = false, DeckMetaData *deckMetaData = NULL);
+    virtual void Add(int id, const string& Text, const string& desc = "", bool forceFocus = false, DeckMetaData *deckMetaData = NULL);
     virtual void Close();
     void updateScroller();
     void RenderBackground();
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenuItem.h b/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenuItem.h
index 67d48e9b5..53ee35d5e 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenuItem.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/DeckMenuItem.h
@@ -77,9 +77,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	// Setters
-	void setDescription( const string description ) { mDescription = description; };
-
-    ;
+    void setDescription( const string& description ) { mDescription = description; }
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/DeckStats.h b/projects/mtg/include/DeckStats.h
index 428b538c8..39238c533 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/DeckStats.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/DeckStats.h
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public:
     string getManaColorIndex();
     void updateStats(string filename, MTGAllCards * collection);
     void updateStats(DeckDataWrapper *mtgDeck);
-    int countCardsByType(const char * _type, DeckDataWrapper * myDeck);
+    int countCardsByType(const string& _type, DeckDataWrapper * myDeck);
     float noLuck(int n, int a, int x);
 
     vector<string> aiDeckNames;
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/GameObserver.h b/projects/mtg/include/GameObserver.h
index 281e742ba..5b3bfcbbe 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/GameObserver.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/GameObserver.h
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ class GameObserver{
   int cardClick(MTGCardInstance * card,Targetable * _object = NULL, bool log = true);
   GamePhase getCurrentGamePhase();
   void setCurrentGamePhase(GamePhase phase) { mCurrentGamePhase = phase; };
-  const char * getCurrentGamePhaseName();
-  const char * getNextGamePhaseName();
+  const string& getCurrentGamePhaseName();
+  const string& getNextGamePhaseName();
   void nextCombatStep();
   void userRequestNextGamePhase(bool allowInterrupt = true, bool log = true);
   void cleanupPhase();
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/MTGCardInstance.h b/projects/mtg/include/MTGCardInstance.h
index 7317c4142..ab708e5db 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/MTGCardInstance.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/MTGCardInstance.h
@@ -129,11 +129,11 @@ public:
 
 
     //types
-    void addType(char * type_text);
+    void addType(const string& type_text);
     virtual void addType(int id);
-    void setType(const char * type_text);
-    void setSubtype( string value);
-    int removeType(string value, int removeAll = 0);
+    void setType(const string& type_text);
+    void setSubtype(const string &value);
+    int removeType(const string &value, int removeAll = 0);
     int removeType(int value, int removeAll = 0);
 
     //dangerranking is a hint to Ai which creatures are the ones it should be targetting for effects.
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/MTGDeck.h b/projects/mtg/include/MTGDeck.h
index 3fe38b5f2..577d83c8f 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/MTGDeck.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/MTGDeck.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class MTGPack;
 class MTGSetInfo
 {
 public:
-    MTGSetInfo(string _id);
+    MTGSetInfo(const string& _id);
     ~MTGSetInfo();
     string id; //Short name: 10E, RAV, etc. Automatic from folder.
     string author; //Author of set, for crediting mod makers, etc.
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public:
     MTGSets();
     ~MTGSets();
 
-    int Add(const char * subtype);
+    int Add(const string& subtype);
     int findSet(string value);
     int findBlock(string s);
     int size();
@@ -127,8 +127,10 @@ public:
     MTGCard * getCardByName(string name);
     void loadFolder(const string& folder, const string& filename="" );
 
-    int load(const char * config_file, const char * setName = NULL, int autoload = 1);
-    int countByType(const char * _type);
+    int load(const string& config_file);
+    int load(const string& config_file, const string& setName);
+    int load(const string& config_file, int set_id);
+    int countByType(const string& _type);
     int countByColor(int color);
     int countBySet(int setId);
     int totalCards();
@@ -218,8 +220,8 @@ public:
     int totalCards();
     int totalPrice();
     MTGDeck(MTGAllCards * _allcards);
-    MTGDeck(const char * config_file, MTGAllCards * _allcards, int meta_only = 0,int difficultySetting = 0);
-    int addRandomCards(int howmany, int * setIds = NULL, int nbSets = 0, int rarity = -1, const char * subtype = NULL,
+    MTGDeck(const string& config_file, MTGAllCards * _allcards, int meta_only = 0,int difficultySetting = 0);
+    int addRandomCards(int howmany, int * setIds = NULL, int nbSets = 0, int rarity = -1, const string& subtype = "",
             int * colors = NULL, int nbcolors = 0);
     int add(int cardid);
     int add(MTGDeck * deck); // adds the contents of "deck" into myself
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/MTGDefinitions.h b/projects/mtg/include/MTGDefinitions.h
index 0db903015..86d11e14d 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/MTGDefinitions.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/MTGDefinitions.h
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ class Constants
 
   static map<string,int> MTGBasicAbilitiesMap;
   static const char* MTGBasicAbilities[];
-  static const char* MTGPhaseNames[];
+  static const string MTGPhaseNames[];
   static const char* MTGPhaseCodeNames[];
 
   static int GetBasicAbilityIndex(string mtgAbility);
diff --git a/projects/mtg/include/PhaseRing.h b/projects/mtg/include/PhaseRing.h
index 2c116c1bf..3c3afd7cd 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/include/PhaseRing.h
+++ b/projects/mtg/include/PhaseRing.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public:
     int addCombatAfter(Player* player, int after_id, bool withMain = false);
     int addPhaseAfter(GamePhase id, Player* player, int after_id);
     int removePhase(int id);
-    const char * phaseName(int id);
+    const string& phaseName(int id);
     static GamePhase phaseStrToInt(string s);
     static string phaseIntToStr(int id);
 
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/ActionStack.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/ActionStack.cpp
index 6509bc217..4e4fe8948 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/ActionStack.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/ActionStack.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ void NextGamePhase::Render()
     if (observer->currentActionPlayer == observer->players[1])
         playerId = 2;
 
-    sprintf(buffer, "%s %i :  %s", _("Player").c_str(), playerId, observer->getNextGamePhaseName());
+    sprintf(buffer, "%s %i :  %s", _("Player").c_str(), playerId, observer->getNextGamePhaseName().c_str());
 
     mFont->DrawString(buffer, x + 15, y+10, JGETEXT_LEFT);
     mFont->SetScale(DEFAULT_MAIN_FONT_SCALE);
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/CardPrimitive.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/CardPrimitive.cpp
index 9946f138a..e564fb84e 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/CardPrimitive.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/CardPrimitive.cpp
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ bool CardPrimitive::hasSubtype(int _subtype)
     return hasType(_subtype);
 }
 
-bool CardPrimitive::hasType(const char * _type)
+bool CardPrimitive::hasType(const string& _type)
 {
     int id = MTGAllCards::findType(_type);
     return hasType(id);
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/DeckEditorMenu.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/DeckEditorMenu.cpp
index 5af4b183a..f88695d9a 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/DeckEditorMenu.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/DeckEditorMenu.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include <iomanip>
 #include "Translate.h"
 
-DeckEditorMenu::DeckEditorMenu(int id, JGuiListener* listener, int fontId, const char * _title, DeckDataWrapper *_selectedDeck, StatsWrapper *stats) :
+DeckEditorMenu::DeckEditorMenu(int id, JGuiListener* listener, int fontId, const string& _title, DeckDataWrapper *_selectedDeck, StatsWrapper *stats) :
     DeckMenu(id, listener, fontId, _title), selectedDeck(_selectedDeck), stw(stats)
 {
     backgroundName = "DeckEditorMenuBackdrop";
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/DeckMenu.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/DeckMenu.cpp
index 98122f87a..8524fc90e 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/DeckMenu.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/DeckMenu.cpp
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ void DeckMenu::Update(float dt)
     
 }
 
-void DeckMenu::Add(int id, const char * text, string desc, bool forceFocus, DeckMetaData * deckMetaData)
+void DeckMenu::Add(int id, const string& text, const string& desc, bool forceFocus, DeckMetaData * deckMetaData)
 {
     DeckMenuItem * menuItem = NEW DeckMenuItem(this, id, fontId, text, 0, 
             mY + DeckMenuConst::kVerticalMargin + mCount * DeckMenuConst::kLineHeight, (mCount == 0), mAutoTranslate, deckMetaData);
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/DeckStats.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/DeckStats.cpp
index 9f50b2a7c..677760bb6 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/DeckStats.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/DeckStats.cpp
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ void StatsWrapper::updateStats(DeckDataWrapper *myDeck)
 
 // This should probably be cached in DeckDataWrapper
 // or at least be calculated for all common types in one go
-int StatsWrapper::countCardsByType(const char * _type, DeckDataWrapper * myDeck)
+int StatsWrapper::countCardsByType(const string& _type, DeckDataWrapper * myDeck)
 {
     int result = 0;
     for (int i = 0; i < myDeck->Size(true); i++)
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/GameObserver.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/GameObserver.cpp
index 7d16dfdd1..ed01c26d5 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/GameObserver.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/GameObserver.cpp
@@ -110,12 +110,12 @@ GamePhase GameObserver::getCurrentGamePhase()
     return mCurrentGamePhase;
 }
 
-const char* GameObserver::getCurrentGamePhaseName()
+const string& GameObserver::getCurrentGamePhaseName()
 {
     return phaseRing->phaseName(mCurrentGamePhase);
 }
 
-const char* GameObserver::getNextGamePhaseName()
+const string& GameObserver::getNextGamePhaseName()
 {
     return phaseRing->phaseName((mCurrentGamePhase + 1) % MTG_PHASE_CLEANUP);
 }
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/GameOptions.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/GameOptions.cpp
index b82265623..43b63a9df 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/GameOptions.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/GameOptions.cpp
@@ -818,9 +818,9 @@ void GameSettings::createUsersFirstDeck(int setId)
         mCollection->addRandomCards(10, 0, 0, Constants::RARITY_L, "Island");
 
     //Starter Deck
-    mCollection->addRandomCards(3, sets, 1, Constants::RARITY_R, NULL);
-    mCollection->addRandomCards(9, sets, 1, Constants::RARITY_U, NULL);
-    mCollection->addRandomCards(48, sets, 1, Constants::RARITY_C, NULL);
+    mCollection->addRandomCards(3, sets, 1, Constants::RARITY_R);
+    mCollection->addRandomCards(9, sets, 1, Constants::RARITY_U);
+    mCollection->addRandomCards(48, sets, 1, Constants::RARITY_C);
 
     //Boosters
     for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/MTGCardInstance.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/MTGCardInstance.cpp
index a44f1aae2..b1855b014 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/MTGCardInstance.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/MTGCardInstance.cpp
@@ -254,22 +254,22 @@ void MTGCardInstance::addType(int type)
         SAFE_DELETE(e);
 }
 
-void MTGCardInstance::addType(char * type_text)
+void MTGCardInstance::addType(const string& type_text)
 {
     setSubtype(type_text);
 }
 
-void MTGCardInstance::setType(const char * type_text)
+void MTGCardInstance::setType(const string& type_text)
 {
     setSubtype(type_text);
 }
 
-void MTGCardInstance::setSubtype(string value)
+void MTGCardInstance::setSubtype(const string& value)
 {
     int id = MTGAllCards::findType(value);
     addType(id);
 }
-int MTGCardInstance::removeType(string value, int removeAll)
+int MTGCardInstance::removeType(const string& value, int removeAll)
 {
     int id = MTGAllCards::findType(value);
     return removeType(id, removeAll);
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/MTGDeck.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/MTGDeck.cpp
index c97b838a3..7359271b7 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/MTGDeck.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/MTGDeck.cpp
@@ -381,10 +381,20 @@ void MTGAllCards::loadFolder(const string& infolder, const string& filename )
     }
 }
 
-int MTGAllCards::load(const char * config_file, const char * set_name, int)
+int MTGAllCards::load(const string &config_file)
+{
+    return load(config_file, MTGSets::INTERNAL_SET);
+}
+
+int MTGAllCards::load(const string& config_file, const string &set_name)
+{
+    const int set_id = setlist.Add(set_name);
+    return load(config_file, set_id);
+}
+
+int MTGAllCards::load(const string &config_file, int set_id)
 {
     conf_read_mode = 0;
-    const int set_id = set_name ? setlist.Add(set_name) : MTGSets::INTERNAL_SET;
     MTGSetInfo *si = setlist.getInfo(set_id);
 
     int lineNumber = 0;
@@ -532,7 +542,7 @@ int MTGAllCards::countBySet(int setId)
 }
 
 //TODO more efficient way ?
-int MTGAllCards::countByType(const char * _type)
+int MTGAllCards::countByType(const string &_type)
 {
     int result = 0;
     map<int, MTGCard *>::iterator it;
@@ -772,7 +782,7 @@ int MTGDeck::totalPrice()
     return total;
 }
 
-MTGDeck::MTGDeck(const char * config_file, MTGAllCards * _allcards, int meta_only,int difficultyRating)
+MTGDeck::MTGDeck(const string& config_file, MTGAllCards * _allcards, int meta_only, int difficultyRating)
 {
     total_cards = 0;
     database = _allcards;
@@ -879,7 +889,7 @@ MTGCard * MTGDeck::getCardById(int mtgId)
     return database->getCardById(mtgId);
 }
 
-int MTGDeck::addRandomCards(int howmany, int * setIds, int nbSets, int rarity, const char * _subtype, int * colors, int nbcolors)
+int MTGDeck::addRandomCards(int howmany, int * setIds, int nbSets, int rarity, const string &_subtype, int * colors, int nbcolors)
 {
     if (howmany <= 0) return 1;
 
@@ -900,8 +910,8 @@ int MTGDeck::addRandomCards(int howmany, int * setIds, int nbSets, int rarity, c
     int collectionTotal = database->totalCards();
     if (!collectionTotal) return 0;
 
-    char subtype[4096];
-    if (_subtype) sprintf(subtype, "%s", _subtype);
+    string subtype;
+    if (_subtype.size()) subtype = _subtype;
 
     vector<int> subcollection;
     int subtotal = 0;
@@ -911,7 +921,7 @@ int MTGDeck::addRandomCards(int howmany, int * setIds, int nbSets, int rarity, c
         int r = card->getRarity();
         if (r != Constants::RARITY_T && (rarity == -1 || r == rarity) && // remove tokens
             card->setId != MTGSets::INTERNAL_SET && //remove cards that are defined in primitives. Those are workarounds (usually tokens) and should only be used internally
-            (!_subtype || card->data->hasSubtype(subtype)))
+                (!_subtype.size() || card->data->hasSubtype(subtype)))
         {
             int ok = 0;
 
@@ -1265,7 +1275,7 @@ MTGSetInfo* MTGSets::randomSet(int blockId, int atleast)
 
 int blockSize(int blockId);
 
-int MTGSets::Add(const char * name)
+int MTGSets::Add(const string& name)
 {
     int setid = findSet(name);
     if (setid != -1) return setid;
@@ -1344,7 +1354,7 @@ MTGSetInfo::~MTGSetInfo()
     SAFE_DELETE(mPack);
 }
 
-MTGSetInfo::MTGSetInfo(string _id)
+MTGSetInfo::MTGSetInfo(const string& _id)
 {
     string whitespaces(" \t\f\v\n\r");
     id = _id;
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/MTGDefinitions.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/MTGDefinitions.cpp
index 1ebf044f8..eaecce696 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/MTGDefinitions.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/MTGDefinitions.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ int Constants::GetColorStringIndex(string mtgColor)
     return -1;
 }
 
-const char* Constants::MTGPhaseNames[] =
+const string Constants::MTGPhaseNames[] =
 {
 	"---",
 	"Untap",
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/PhaseRing.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/PhaseRing.cpp
index 330790099..bb9fb82e3 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/PhaseRing.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/PhaseRing.cpp
@@ -142,9 +142,10 @@ bool PhaseRing::extraDamagePhase(int id)
     return false;
 }
 
-const char * PhaseRing::phaseName(int id)
+const string& PhaseRing::phaseName(int id)
 {
-    if (extraDamagePhase(id)) return "Combat Damage (2)";
+    static const string combatPhase2("Combat Damage (2)");
+    if (extraDamagePhase(id)) return combatPhase2;
     return Constants::MTGPhaseNames[id];
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/mtg/src/TestSuiteAI.cpp b/projects/mtg/src/TestSuiteAI.cpp
index eeb279fd2..bb7e236ce 100644
--- a/projects/mtg/src/TestSuiteAI.cpp
+++ b/projects/mtg/src/TestSuiteAI.cpp
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ void TestSuiteGame::assertGame()
 	if (observer->getCurrentGamePhase() != endState.phase)
     {
         sprintf(result, "<span class=\"error\">==phase problem. Expected [ %s ](%i), got [ %s ](%i)==</span><br />", 
-            Constants::MTGPhaseNames[endState.phase],endState.phase,
-            Constants::MTGPhaseNames[observer->getCurrentGamePhase()], observer->getCurrentGamePhase());
+            Constants::MTGPhaseNames[endState.phase].c_str(),endState.phase,
+            Constants::MTGPhaseNames[observer->getCurrentGamePhase()].c_str(), observer->getCurrentGamePhase());
         Log(result);
         error++;
     }