diff --git a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.cpp b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.cpp
index d00c0dbe2..72a3a2526 100644
--- a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.cpp
+++ b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.cpp
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ ConsoleSetType(TypeSoundAssetId)
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 SoundAsset::SoundAsset()
+   : AssetBase()
 {
    mSoundFile = StringTable->EmptyString();
    mSoundPath = StringTable->EmptyString();
diff --git a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.h b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.h
index 757d85ab6..adacf2d9b 100644
--- a/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.h
+++ b/Engine/source/T3D/assets/SoundAsset.h
@@ -362,43 +362,51 @@ DefineEngineMethod(className, set##name, bool, (const char*  shape), , assetText
 
 #pragma region Arrayed Asset Macros
 
-#define DECLARE_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(className, name, max) public: \
-   static const U32 sm##name##count = max;\
+#define DECLARE_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(className,name,max) public: \
+   static const U32 sm##name##Count = max;\
    Resource<SFXResource> m##name[max];\
    StringTableEntry m##name##Name[max]; \
    StringTableEntry m##name##AssetId[max];\
-   AssetPtr<SoundAsset> m##name##Asset[max] = NULL;\
-   SFXProfile* m##name##Profile[max] = NULL;\
+   AssetPtr<SoundAsset> m##name##Asset[max];\
+   SFXProfile* m##name##Profile[max];\
 public: \
-   const StringTableEntry get##name##File(const U32& id) const { return m##name##Name[id]; }\
-   void set##name##File(const FileName &_in, const U32& id) { m##name##Name[id] = StringTable->insert(_in.c_str());}\
-   const AssetPtr<SoundAsset> & get##name##Asset(const U32& id) const { return m##name##Asset[id]; }\
-   void set##name##Asset(const AssetPtr<SoundAsset> &_in, const U32& id) { m##name##Asset[id] = _in;}\
+   const StringTableEntry get##name##File(const U32& index) const { return m##name##Name[index]; }\
+   void set##name##File(const FileName &_in, const U32& index) { m##name##Name[index] = StringTable->insert(_in.c_str());}\
+   const AssetPtr<SoundAsset> & get##name##Asset(const U32& index) const { return m##name##Asset[index]; }\
+   void set##name##Asset(const AssetPtr<SoundAsset> &_in, const U32& index) { m##name##Asset[index] = _in;}\
    \
-   bool _set##name(StringTableEntry _in, const U32& id)\
+   bool _set##name(StringTableEntry _in, const U32& index)\
    {\
-      if(m##name##AssetId[id] != _in || m##name##Name[id] != _in)\
+      if(m##name##AssetId[index] != _in || m##name##Name[index] != _in)\
       {\
+         if(index >= sm##name##Count || index < 0) \
+               return false;\
          if (_in == NULL || _in == StringTable->EmptyString())\
          {\
-            if(id >= sm##name##Count || id < 0) \
-               return false;\
-            m##name##Name[id] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
-            m##name##AssetId[id] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
-            m##name##Asset[id] = NULL;\
-            m##name[id] = NULL;\
+            m##name##Name[index] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
+            m##name##AssetId[index] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
+            m##name##Asset[index] = NULL;\
+            m##name[index] = NULL;\
+            return true;\
+         }\
+         else if(_in[0] == '$' || _in[0] == '#')\
+         {\
+            m##name##Name[index] = _in;\
+            m##name##AssetId[index] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
+            m##name##Asset[index] = NULL;\
+            m##name[index] = NULL;\
             return true;\
          }\
          \
          if (AssetDatabase.isDeclaredAsset(_in))\
          {\
-            m##name##AssetId[id] = _in;\
+            m##name##AssetId[index] = _in;\
             \
-            U32 assetState = SoundAsset::getAssetById(m##name##AssetId[id], &m##name##Asset[id]);\
+            U32 assetState = SoundAsset::getAssetById(m##name##AssetId[index], &m##name##Asset[index]);\
             \
             if (SoundAsset::Ok == assetState)\
             {\
-               m##name##Name[id] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
+               m##name##Name[index] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
             }\
          }\
          else\
@@ -406,56 +414,58 @@ public: \
             StringTableEntry assetId = SoundAsset::getAssetIdByFileName(_in);\
             if (assetId != StringTable->EmptyString())\
             {\
-               m##name##AssetId[id] = assetId;\
-               if(SoundAsset::getAssetById(m##name##AssetId, &m##name##Asset) == SoundAsset::Ok)\
+               m##name##AssetId[index] = assetId;\
+               if(SoundAsset::getAssetById(m##name##AssetId[index], &m##name##Asset[index]) == SoundAsset::Ok)\
                {\
-                  m##name##Name[id] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
+                  m##name##Name[index] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
                }\
             }\
             else\
             {\
-               m##name##Name[id] = _in;\
-               m##name##AssetId[id] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
-               m##name##Asset[id] = NULL;\
+               m##name##Name[index] = _in;\
+               m##name##AssetId[index] = StringTable->EmptyString();\
+               m##name##Asset[index] = NULL;\
             }\
          }\
       }\
-      if (get##name(id) != StringTable->EmptyString() && m##name##Asset[id].notNull())\
+      if (get##name(index) != StringTable->EmptyString() && m##name##Asset[index].notNull())\
       {\
-         m##name[id] = m##name##Asset[id]->getSoundResource();\
+         m##name[index] = m##name##Asset[index]->getSoundResource();\
       }\
       else\
       {\
-         m##name[id] = NULL;\
+         m##name[index] = NULL;\
       }\
       \
-      if (m##name##Asset[id].notNull() && m##name##Asset[id]->getStatus() != SoundAsset::Ok)\
+      if (m##name##Asset[index].notNull() && m##name##Asset[index]->getStatus() != SoundAsset::Ok)\
       {\
-         Con::errorf("%s(%s)::_set%s(%i) - sound asset failure\"%s\" due to [%s]", macroText(className), getName(), macroText(name),id, _in, SoundAsset::getAssetErrstrn(m##name##Asset->getStatus()).c_str());\
+         Con::errorf("%s(%s)::_set%s(%i) - sound asset failure\"%s\" due to [%s]", macroText(className), getName(), macroText(name),index, _in, SoundAsset::getAssetErrstrn(m##name##Asset[index]->getStatus()).c_str());\
          return false; \
       }\
-      else if (!m##name)\
+      else if (!m##name[index])\
       {\
-         Con::errorf("%s(%s)::_set%s(%i) - Couldn't load sound \"%s\"", macroText(className), getName(), macroText(name),id, _in);\
+         Con::errorf("%s(%s)::_set%s(%i) - Couldn't load sound \"%s\"", macroText(className), getName(), macroText(name),index, _in);\
          return false;\
       }\
       return true;\
    }\
    \
-   const StringTableEntry get##name(const U32& id) const\
+   const StringTableEntry get##name(const U32& index) const\
    {\
-      if (m##name##Asset[id] && (m##name##Asset[id]->getSoundPath() != StringTable->EmptyString()))\
-         return m##name##Asset[id]->getSoundPath();\
-      else if (m##name##AssetId[id] != StringTable->EmptyString())\
-         return m##name##AssetId[id];\
-      else if (m##name##Name[id] != StringTable->EmptyString())\
-         return StringTable->insert(m##name##Name[id]);\
+      if (m##name##Asset[index] && (m##name##Asset[index]->getSoundPath() != StringTable->EmptyString()))\
+         return m##name##Asset[index]->getSoundPath();\
+      else if (m##name##AssetId[index] != StringTable->EmptyString())\
+         return m##name##AssetId[index];\
+      else if (m##name##Name[index] != StringTable->EmptyString())\
+         return StringTable->insert(m##name##Name[index]);\
       else\
          return StringTable->EmptyString();\
    }\
-   Resource<SFXResource> get##name##Resource() \
+   Resource<SFXResource> get##name##Resource(const U32& id) \
    {\
-      return m##name;\
+      if(id >= sm##name##Count || id < 0)\
+         return ResourceManager::get().load( "" );\
+      return m##name[id];\
    }
 
 #define DECLARE_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY_SETGET(className, name)\
@@ -512,14 +522,14 @@ DefineEngineMethod(className, set##name, bool, (const char* map, S32 index), , a
 #ifdef TORQUE_SHOW_LEGACY_FILE_FIELDS
 
 #define INITPERSISTFIELD_IMAGEASSET_ARRAY(name, arraySize, consoleClass, docs) \
-   addProtectedField(#name, TypeImageFilename, Offset(m##name##Name, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, docs)); \
+   addProtectedField(#name, TypeSoundFilename, Offset(m##name##Name, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, docs)); \
    addProtectedField(assetText(name, Asset), TypeImageAssetId, Offset(m##name##AssetId, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, asset docs.));
 
 #else
 
 #define INITPERSISTFIELD_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(name, arraySize, consoleClass, docs) \
-   addProtectedField(#name, TypeImageFilename, Offset(m##name##Name, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, docs), AbstractClassRep::FIELD_HideInInspectors); \
-   addProtectedField(assetText(name, Asset), TypeImageAssetId, Offset(m##name##AssetId, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, asset docs.));
+   addProtectedField(#name, TypeSoundFilename, Offset(m##name##Name, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, docs), AbstractClassRep::FIELD_HideInInspectors); \
+   addProtectedField(assetText(name, Asset), TypeSoundAssetId, Offset(m##name##AssetId, consoleClass), _set##name##Data, &defaultProtectedGetFn, arraySize, assetDoc(name, asset docs.));
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.cpp b/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.cpp
index 20925ec58..efc521319 100644
--- a/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.cpp
+++ b/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.cpp
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ LightningData::LightningData()
    INIT_SOUNDASSET(StrikeSound);
 
    for (S32 i = 0; i < MaxThunders; i++)
-      thunderSounds[i] = NULL;
+      INIT_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(ThunderSound, MaxThunders);
 
    for (S32 i = 0; i < MaxTextures; i++)
    {
@@ -263,10 +263,8 @@ void LightningData::initPersistFields()
 
    INITPERSISTFIELD_SOUNDASSET(StrikeSound, LightningData, "Sound to play when lightning STRIKES!");
 
-   addField( "thunderSounds", TYPEID< SFXTrack >(), Offset(thunderSounds, LightningData), MaxThunders,
-      "@brief List of thunder sound effects to play.\n\n"
-      "A random one of these sounds will be played shortly after each strike "
-      "occurs." );
+   INITPERSISTFIELD_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(ThunderSound, MaxThunders, LightningData, "Sounds for thunder.");
+
    addField( "strikeTextures", TypeString, Offset(strikeTextureNames, LightningData), MaxTextures,
       "List of textures to use to render lightning strikes." );
 
@@ -292,15 +290,18 @@ bool LightningData::preload(bool server, String &errorStr)
    //dQsort(thunderSounds, MaxThunders, sizeof(SFXTrack*), cmpSounds);
 
    for (S32 i = 0; i < MaxThunders; i++) {
-	   if (thunderSounds[i]!= NULL) numThunders++;
+      if (mThunderSound[i] == NULL)
+      {
+         _setThunderSound(getThunderSound(i), i);
+      }
    }
 
    if (server == false) 
    {
       String sfxErrorStr;
       for (U32 i = 0; i < MaxThunders; i++) {
-         if( !sfxResolve( &thunderSounds[ i ], sfxErrorStr ) )
-            Con::errorf(ConsoleLogEntry::General, "LightningData::preload: Invalid packet: %s", sfxErrorStr.c_str());
+         if (!getThunderProfile(i))
+            Con::errorf(ConsoleLogEntry::General, "LightningData::preload: Cant get an sfxProfile for thunder.");
       }
 
       if(!getSFXProfile())
@@ -330,8 +331,7 @@ void LightningData::packData(BitStream* stream)
    U32 i;
    for (i = 0; i < MaxThunders; i++)
    {
-      if (stream->writeFlag(thunderSounds[i]))
-         sfxWrite(stream, thunderSounds[i]);
+      PACKDATA_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(ThunderSound, i);
    }
 
    stream->writeInt(mNumStrikeTextures, 4);
@@ -349,10 +349,7 @@ void LightningData::unpackData(BitStream* stream)
    U32 i;
    for (i = 0; i < MaxThunders; i++)
    {
-      if (stream->readFlag())
-         sfxRead(stream, &thunderSounds[i]);
-      else
-         thunderSounds[i] = NULL;
+      UNPACKDATA_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(ThunderSound, i);
    }
 
    mNumStrikeTextures = stream->readInt(4);
@@ -585,7 +582,7 @@ void Lightning::scheduleThunder(Strike* newStrike)
          if (t <= 0.03f) {
             // If it's really close, just play it...
             U32 thunder = sgLightningRand.randI(0, mDataBlock->numThunders - 1);
-            SFX->playOnce(mDataBlock->thunderSounds[thunder]);
+            SFX->playOnce(mDataBlock->getThunderProfile(thunder));
          } else {
             Thunder* pThunder = new Thunder;
             pThunder->tRemaining = t;
@@ -652,7 +649,7 @@ void Lightning::advanceTime(F32 dt)
 
          // Play the sound...
          U32 thunder = sgLightningRand.randI(0, mDataBlock->numThunders - 1);
-         SFX->playOnce(mDataBlock->thunderSounds[thunder]);
+         SFX->playOnce(mDataBlock->getThunderProfile(thunder));
       } else {
          pThunderWalker = &((*pThunderWalker)->next);
       }
diff --git a/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.h b/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.h
index 78ef4a20b..1e04bd61d 100644
--- a/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.h
+++ b/Engine/source/T3D/fx/lightning.h
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ class LightningData : public GameBaseData
 
    //-------------------------------------- Console set variables
   public:
-   SFXTrack*          thunderSounds[MaxThunders];
+   //SFXTrack*          thunderSounds[MaxThunders];
+
+   DECLARE_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY(LightningData, ThunderSound, MaxThunders);
+   DECLARE_SOUNDASSET_ARRAY_SETGET(LightningData, ThunderSound);
 
    DECLARE_SOUNDASSET(LightningData, StrikeSound);
    DECLARE_SOUNDASSET_SETGET(LightningData, StrikeSound);
@@ -91,6 +94,14 @@ class LightningData : public GameBaseData
    DECLARE_CONOBJECT(LightningData);
    static void initPersistFields();
 
+   SFXProfile* getThunderProfile(U32 id)
+   {
+      if (mThunderSoundAsset[id] != NULL)
+         return mThunderSoundAsset[id]->getSfxProfile();
+      else
+         return NULL;
+   }
+
    SFXProfile* getSFXProfile() {
       if (mStrikeSoundAsset.notNull())
          return mStrikeSoundAsset->getSfxProfile();