diff --git a/player.go b/player.go
index f173996..13f86de 100644
--- a/player.go
+++ b/player.go
@@ -13,9 +13,19 @@ const maxMessageSize = 1024
 type protoTalker struct {
 	ws   *websocket.Conn
 	send chan Message
+	buff []byte
 	Id   string
 }
 
+func NewProtoTalker(id string, ws *websocket.Conn) *protoTalker {
+	return &protoTalker{
+		send: make(chan Message, 16),
+		ws:   ws,
+		Id:   id,
+		buff: make([]byte, maxMessageSize),
+	}
+}
+
 func (pt *protoTalker) sender() {
 	log.Printf("%s: client launched", pt.Id)
 	for things := range pt.send {
@@ -60,6 +70,13 @@ type player struct {
 	protoTalker
 }
 
+func NewPlayer(id string, ws *websocket.Conn) *player {
+	return &player{
+		Robots:      []*Robot{},
+		protoTalker: *NewProtoTalker(id, ws),
+	}
+}
+
 func (p *player) recv() {
 	for {
 		msgs, err := p.readJSON(p.buff)
@@ -135,6 +152,12 @@ type Spectator struct {
 	protoTalker
 }
 
+func NewSpectator(id string, ws *websocket.Conn) *Spectator {
+	return &Spectator{
+		protoTalker: *NewProtoTalker(id, ws),
+	}
+}
+
 func (s *Spectator) recv() {
 	for {
 		_, err := s.readJSON(s.buff)
diff --git a/protocol.go b/protocol.go
index d303bc4..1124145 100644
--- a/protocol.go
+++ b/protocol.go
@@ -230,14 +230,7 @@ func addPlayer(ws *websocket.Conn) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		p := &player{
-			Robots: []*Robot{},
-			protoTalker: protoTalker{
-				send: make(chan Message, 16),
-				ws:   ws,
-				Id:   player_id,
-			},
-		}
+		p := NewPlayer(player_id, ws)
 		log.Printf("%s: made a player: %s", gid.Id, p.Id)
 
 		convertedStats := map[string]Stats{}
@@ -292,13 +285,7 @@ func addPlayer(ws *websocket.Conn) {
 			gid.Id,
 		)
 	case "spectator":
-		s := &Spectator{
-			protoTalker{
-				send: make(chan Message, 16),
-				ws:   ws,
-				Id:   player_id,
-			},
-		}
+		s := NewSpectator(player_id, ws)
 		log.Printf("%s, %s: about to register this spectator", gid.Id, s.Id)
 		game.sregister <- s
 		log.Printf("%s, %s: registered spectator", gid.Id, s.Id)