diff --git a/src/pocketmine/Player.php b/src/pocketmine/Player.php
index 4031877b9..9658ff18d 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/Player.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/Player.php
@@ -2807,7 +2807,7 @@ class Player extends Human implements CommandSender, InventoryHolder, ChunkLoade
 				$t = $this->level->getTile($pos);
 				if($t instanceof Sign){
 					$nbt = new NBT(NBT::LITTLE_ENDIAN);
-					$nbt->read($packet->namedtag);
+					$nbt->read($packet->namedtag, false, true);
 					$nbt = $nbt->getData();
 					if($nbt["id"] !== Tile::SIGN){
 						$t->spawnTo($this);
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/Anvil.php b/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/Anvil.php
index 303f7cacf..b48a5ec2f 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/Anvil.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/Anvil.php
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class Anvil extends McRegion{
 				}
 			}
 			$nbt->setData($list);
-			$tiles = $nbt->write();
+			$tiles = $nbt->write(true);
 		}
 
 		$extraData = new BinaryStream();
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/ChunkRequestTask.php b/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/ChunkRequestTask.php
index 8649f74f1..f86f36fbb 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/ChunkRequestTask.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/level/format/anvil/ChunkRequestTask.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class ChunkRequestTask extends AsyncTask{
 		foreach($chunk->getTiles() as $tile){
 			if($tile instanceof Spawnable){
 				$nbt->setData($tile->getSpawnCompound());
-				$tiles .= $nbt->write();
+				$tiles .= $nbt->write(true);
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/level/format/mcregion/McRegion.php b/src/pocketmine/level/format/mcregion/McRegion.php
index c89c079ba..93d3a76cf 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/level/format/mcregion/McRegion.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/level/format/mcregion/McRegion.php
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class McRegion extends BaseLevelProvider{
 				}
 			}
 			$nbt->setData($list);
-			$tiles = $nbt->write();
+			$tiles = $nbt->write(true);
 		}
 
 		$extraData = new BinaryStream();
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/NBT.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/NBT.php
index 68e15d642..510a04767 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/NBT.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/NBT.php
@@ -463,14 +463,14 @@ class NBT{
 		$this->endianness = $endianness & 0x01;
 	}
 
-	public function read($buffer, $doMultiple = false){
+	public function read($buffer, $doMultiple = false, bool $network = false){
 		$this->offset = 0;
 		$this->buffer = $buffer;
-		$this->data = $this->readTag();
+		$this->data = $this->readTag($network);
 		if($doMultiple and $this->offset < strlen($this->buffer)){
 			$this->data = [$this->data];
 			do{
-				$this->data[] = $this->readTag();
+				$this->data[] = $this->readTag($network);
 			}while($this->offset < strlen($this->buffer));
 		}
 		$this->buffer = "";
@@ -480,20 +480,25 @@ class NBT{
 		$this->read(zlib_decode($buffer));
 	}
 
+	public function readNetworkCompressed($buffer, $compression = ZLIB_ENCODING_GZIP){
+		$this->read(zlib_decode($buffer), false, true);
+	}
+
+
 	/**
 	 * @return string|bool
 	 */
-	public function write(){
+	public function write(bool $network = false){
 		$this->offset = 0;
 		$this->buffer = "";
 
 		if($this->data instanceof CompoundTag){
-			$this->writeTag($this->data);
+			$this->writeTag($this->data, $network);
 
 			return $this->buffer;
 		}elseif(is_array($this->data)){
 			foreach($this->data as $tag){
-				$this->writeTag($tag);
+				$this->writeTag($tag, $network);
 			}
 			return $this->buffer;
 		}
@@ -509,51 +514,64 @@ class NBT{
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	public function readTag(){
-		switch($this->getByte()){
+	public function writeNetworkCompressed($compression = ZLIB_ENCODING_GZIP, $level = 7){
+		if(($write = $this->write(true)) !== false){
+			return zlib_encode($write, $compression, $level);
+		}
+
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	public function readTag(bool $network = false){
+		if($this->feof()){
+			$tagType = -1; //prevent crashes for empty tags
+		}else{
+			$tagType = $this->getByte();
+		}
+		switch($tagType){
 			case NBT::TAG_Byte:
-				$tag = new ByteTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new ByteTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_Short:
-				$tag = new ShortTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new ShortTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_Int:
-				$tag = new IntTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new IntTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_Long:
-				$tag = new LongTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new LongTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_Float:
-				$tag = new FloatTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new FloatTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_Double:
-				$tag = new DoubleTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new DoubleTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_ByteArray:
-				$tag = new ByteArrayTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new ByteArrayTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_String:
-				$tag = new StringTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new StringTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_List:
-				$tag = new ListTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new ListTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_Compound:
-				$tag = new CompoundTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new CompoundTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 			case NBT::TAG_IntArray:
-				$tag = new IntArrayTag($this->getString());
-				$tag->read($this);
+				$tag = new IntArrayTag($this->getString($network));
+				$tag->read($this, $network);
 				break;
 
 			case NBT::TAG_End: //No named tag
@@ -564,12 +582,12 @@ class NBT{
 		return $tag;
 	}
 
-	public function writeTag(Tag $tag){
+	public function writeTag(Tag $tag, bool $network = false){
 		$this->putByte($tag->getType());
 		if($tag instanceof NamedTAG){
-			$this->putString($tag->getName());
+			$this->putString($tag->getName(), $network);
 		}
-		$tag->write($this);
+		$tag->write($this, $network);
 	}
 
 	public function getByte(){
@@ -588,12 +606,19 @@ class NBT{
 		$this->buffer .= $this->endianness === self::BIG_ENDIAN ? Binary::writeShort($v) : Binary::writeLShort($v);
 	}
 
-	public function getInt(){
+	public function getInt(bool $network = false){
+		if($network === true){
+			return Binary::readVarInt($this);
+		}
 		return $this->endianness === self::BIG_ENDIAN ? Binary::readInt($this->get(4)) : Binary::readLInt($this->get(4));
 	}
 
-	public function putInt($v){
-		$this->buffer .= $this->endianness === self::BIG_ENDIAN ? Binary::writeInt($v) : Binary::writeLInt($v);
+	public function putInt($v, bool $network = false){
+		if($network === true){
+			$this->buffer .= Binary::writeVarInt($v);
+		}else{
+			$this->buffer .= $this->endianness === self::BIG_ENDIAN ? Binary::writeInt($v) : Binary::writeLInt($v);
+		}
 	}
 
 	public function getLong(){
@@ -620,12 +645,17 @@ class NBT{
 		$this->buffer .= $this->endianness === self::BIG_ENDIAN ? Binary::writeDouble($v) : Binary::writeLDouble($v);
 	}
 
-	public function getString(){
-		return $this->get($this->getShort());
+	public function getString(bool $network = false){
+		$len = $network ? $this->getByte() : $this->getShort();
+		return $this->get($len);
 	}
 
-	public function putString($v){
-		$this->putShort(strlen($v));
+	public function putString($v, bool $network = false){
+		if($network === true){
+			$this->putByte(strlen($v));
+		}else{
+			$this->putShort(strlen($v));
+		}
 		$this->buffer .= $v;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteArrayTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteArrayTag.php
index 9bfdf7559..7a8200396 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteArrayTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteArrayTag.php
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ class ByteArrayTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_ByteArray;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
-		$this->value = $nbt->get($nbt->getInt());
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$this->value = $nbt->get($nbt->getInt($network));
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
-		$nbt->putInt(strlen($this->value));
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$nbt->putInt(strlen($this->value), $network);
 		$nbt->put($this->value);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteTag.php
index 46caa2798..80aeb55fd 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ByteTag.php
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ class ByteTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_Byte;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = $nbt->getByte();
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$nbt->putByte($this->value);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/CompoundTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/CompoundTag.php
index ebef4fadd..0fceae172 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/CompoundTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/CompoundTag.php
@@ -83,23 +83,23 @@ class CompoundTag extends NamedTag implements \ArrayAccess{
 		return NBT::TAG_Compound;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = [];
 		do{
-			$tag = $nbt->readTag();
+			$tag = $nbt->readTag($network);
 			if($tag instanceof NamedTag and $tag->getName() !== ""){
 				$this->{$tag->getName()} = $tag;
 			}
 		}while(!($tag instanceof EndTag) and !$nbt->feof());
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		foreach($this as $tag){
 			if($tag instanceof Tag and !($tag instanceof EndTag)){
-				$nbt->writeTag($tag);
+				$nbt->writeTag($tag, $network);
 			}
 		}
-		$nbt->writeTag(new EndTag);
+		$nbt->writeTag(new EndTag, $network);
 	}
 
 	public function __toString(){
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/DoubleTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/DoubleTag.php
index f25379248..c64b647a0 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/DoubleTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/DoubleTag.php
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ class DoubleTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_Double;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = $nbt->getDouble();
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$nbt->putDouble($this->value);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/EndTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/EndTag.php
index 0a9af721b..30c8a1641 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/EndTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/EndTag.php
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ class EndTag extends Tag{
 		return NBT::TAG_End;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/FloatTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/FloatTag.php
index 3e80ff6c5..65d595c8a 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/FloatTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/FloatTag.php
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ class FloatTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_Float;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = $nbt->getFloat();
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$nbt->putFloat($this->value);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntArrayTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntArrayTag.php
index a9f2bf5ae..2c6df4446 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntArrayTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntArrayTag.php
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ class IntArrayTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_IntArray;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
-		$size = $nbt->getInt();
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$size = $nbt->getInt($network);
 		$this->value = array_values(unpack($nbt->endianness === NBT::LITTLE_ENDIAN ? "V*" : "N*", $nbt->get($size * 4)));
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
-		$nbt->putInt(count($this->value));
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$nbt->putInt(count($this->value), $network);
 		$nbt->put(pack($nbt->endianness === NBT::LITTLE_ENDIAN ? "V*" : "N*", ...$this->value));
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntTag.php
index db5643bec..48974ba76 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/IntTag.php
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ class IntTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_Int;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
-		$this->value = $nbt->getInt();
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$this->value = $nbt->getInt($network);
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
-		$nbt->putInt($this->value);
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$nbt->putInt($this->value, $network);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ListTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ListTag.php
index d60b44209..02aaedf57 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ListTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ListTag.php
@@ -114,72 +114,72 @@ class ListTag extends NamedTag implements \ArrayAccess, \Countable{
 		return $this->tagType;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = [];
 		$this->tagType = $nbt->getByte();
-		$size = $nbt->getInt();
+		$size = $nbt->getInt($network);
 		for($i = 0; $i < $size and !$nbt->feof(); ++$i){
 			switch($this->tagType){
 				case NBT::TAG_Byte:
 					$tag = new ByteTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_Short:
 					$tag = new ShortTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_Int:
 					$tag = new IntTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_Long:
 					$tag = new LongTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_Float:
 					$tag = new FloatTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_Double:
 					$tag = new DoubleTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_ByteArray:
 					$tag = new ByteArrayTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_String:
 					$tag = new StringTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_List:
 					$tag = new TagEnum("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_Compound:
 					$tag = new CompoundTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 				case NBT::TAG_IntArray:
 					$tag = new IntArrayTag("");
-					$tag->read($nbt);
+					$tag->read($nbt, $network);
 					$this->{$i} = $tag;
 					break;
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		if(!isset($this->tagType)){
 			$id = null;
 			foreach($this as $tag){
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class ListTag extends NamedTag implements \ArrayAccess, \Countable{
 		}
 		$nbt->putInt(count($tags));
 		foreach($tags as $tag){
-			$tag->write($nbt);
+			$tag->write($nbt, $network);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/LongTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/LongTag.php
index ca822905b..7abc82a6d 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/LongTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/LongTag.php
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@ class LongTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_Long;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	//TODO: check if this also changed to varint
+
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = $nbt->getLong();
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$nbt->putLong($this->value);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ShortTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ShortTag.php
index b35cdbbad..a7b53f913 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ShortTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/ShortTag.php
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ class ShortTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_Short;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$this->value = $nbt->getShort();
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
 		$nbt->putShort($this->value);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/StringTag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/StringTag.php
index 11350649c..f53473f8f 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/StringTag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/StringTag.php
@@ -31,12 +31,11 @@ class StringTag extends NamedTag{
 		return NBT::TAG_String;
 	}
 
-	public function read(NBT $nbt){
-		$this->value = $nbt->get($nbt->getShort());
+	public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$this->value = $nbt->getString($network);
 	}
 
-	public function write(NBT $nbt){
-		$nbt->putShort(strlen($this->value));
-		$nbt->put($this->value);
+	public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false){
+		$nbt->putString($this->value, $network);
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/Tag.php b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/Tag.php
index e085f55d3..be2b0b31b 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/Tag.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/nbt/tag/Tag.php
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ abstract class Tag extends \stdClass{
 		$this->value = $value;
 	}
 
-	abstract public function write(NBT $nbt);
+	abstract public function write(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false);
 
-	abstract public function read(NBT $nbt);
+	abstract public function read(NBT $nbt, bool $network = false);
 
 	public function __toString(){
 		return (string) $this->value;
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/tile/Spawnable.php b/src/pocketmine/tile/Spawnable.php
index 6cf3346a6..f9fb98956 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/tile/Spawnable.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/tile/Spawnable.php
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ abstract class Spawnable extends Tile{
 		$pk->x = $this->x;
 		$pk->y = $this->y;
 		$pk->z = $this->z;
-		$pk->namedtag = $nbt->write();
+		$pk->namedtag = $nbt->write(true);
 		$player->dataPacket($pk);
 
 		return true;
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/utils/BinaryStream.php b/src/pocketmine/utils/BinaryStream.php
index cf0c2231d..3896a4a4c 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/utils/BinaryStream.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/utils/BinaryStream.php
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ class BinaryStream extends \stdClass{
 			$this->offset = strlen($this->buffer) - 1;
 			return "";
 		}elseif($len === true){
-			return substr($this->buffer, $this->offset);
+			$str = substr($this->buffer, $this->offset);
+			$this->offset = strlen($this->buffer);
+			return $str;
 		}
 
 		return $len === 1 ? $this->buffer{$this->offset++} : substr($this->buffer, ($this->offset += $len) - $len, $len);