diff --git a/assets/game_settings.ron b/assets/game_settings.ron
index 3bd58d2..81090eb 100644
--- a/assets/game_settings.ron
+++ b/assets/game_settings.ron
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
         ground_max_horizontal_velocity: "3.0",
         ground_friction_over_walk_speed_multiplier: "2.0"
     ),
+    stage_manifest_paths: [
+        "stages/test.stage.ron"
+    ],
     fighter_manifest_paths: [
         "fighters/test/test.fighter.ron"
     ]
diff --git a/assets/stages/test.stage.ron b/assets/stages/test.stage.ron
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cab389
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/stages/test.stage.ron
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+(
+    id: TestStage,
+    model_path: "stages/battlefield.glb#Scene0",
+    polygons: [
+        (
+            poly_type: Platform,
+            lines: [
+                (
+                    (x: "-59.5", y: "23.45"),
+                    Floor
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "-28.0", y: "23.45"),
+                    Floor
+                )
+            ]
+        ),
+        (
+            poly_type: Platform,
+            lines: [
+                (
+                    (x: "28.0", y: "23.45"),
+                    Floor
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "59.5", y: "23.45"),
+                    Floor
+                )
+            ]
+        ),
+        (
+            poly_type: Closed,
+            lines: [
+                (
+                    (x: "-56", y: "-200.0"),
+                    Wall
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "-56.0", y: "-3.5"),
+                    Floor,
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "-39.2", y: "0.0"),
+                    Floor,
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "0.0", y: "0.0"),
+                    Floor
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "39.2", y: "0.0"),
+                    Floor
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "56.0", y: "-3.5"),
+                    Wall
+                ),
+                (
+                    (x: "56", y: "-200.0"),
+                    Wall
+                ),
+            ]
+        )
+    ]
+)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/fighter/manifest.rs b/src/fighter/manifest.rs
index cd08dbf..49f39a1 100644
--- a/src/fighter/manifest.rs
+++ b/src/fighter/manifest.rs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ pub fn prepare_fighter_manifests(
     }
 
     commands.insert_resource(FighterManifestRegistry(registry));
-    next_state.set(AppState::Idle);
+    next_state.set(AppState::LoadStageManifests);
 }
 
 fn fail(next_state: &mut NextState<AppState>, message: &str) {
diff --git a/src/game_settings.rs b/src/game_settings.rs
index 90ddf22..5850f4b 100644
--- a/src/game_settings.rs
+++ b/src/game_settings.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ pub struct GameSettings {
     pub fighter_common: FighterSettingsCommon,
     pub input_common: InputSettingsCommon,
     pub fighter_manifest_paths: Vec<String>,
+    pub stage_manifest_paths: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(AssetCollection, Resource)]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index dbe7803..bd3c20d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ use clap::Parser;
 use jackdaw_runtime::EditorCategory;
 
 use crate::{
-    fighter::manifest::FighterManifest, game_settings::GameSettings,
-    schedule::GameplaySchedulePlugin,
+    fighter::manifest::FighterManifest, game_settings::GameSettings, schedule::GameplaySchedulePlugin, stage::manifest::{StageManifest, StageManifestAssets},
 };
 
 mod args;
@@ -49,6 +48,8 @@ pub enum AppState {
     LoadCommonAssets,
     LoadFighterManifests,
     PrepareFighterManifests,
+    LoadStageManifests,
+    PrepareStageManifests,
     CommonAssetLoadFailed,
     Idle,
     LoadingMatch,
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ impl Plugin for GamePlugin {
                 fighter::FighterPlugin,
                 stage::StagePlugin,
                 bevy_common_assets::ron::RonAssetPlugin::<FighterManifest>::new(&["fighter.ron"]),
+                bevy_common_assets::ron::RonAssetPlugin::<StageManifest>::new(&["stage.ron"]),
                 bevy_common_assets::ron::RonAssetPlugin::<GameSettings>::new(&["ron"]),
             ))
             .add_loading_state(
@@ -99,10 +101,20 @@ impl Plugin for GamePlugin {
                     .on_failure_continue_to_state(AppState::CommonAssetLoadFailed)
                     .load_collection::<fighter::manifest::FighterManifestAssets>(),
             )
+            .add_loading_state(
+                LoadingState::new(AppState::LoadStageManifests)
+                    .continue_to_state(AppState::PrepareStageManifests)
+                    .on_failure_continue_to_state(AppState::CommonAssetLoadFailed)
+                    .load_collection::<stage::manifest::StageManifestAssets>(),
+            )
             .add_systems(
                 OnEnter(AppState::PrepareFighterManifests),
                 fighter::manifest::prepare_fighter_manifests,
             )
+            .add_systems(
+                OnEnter(AppState::PrepareStageManifests),
+                stage::manifest::prepare_stage_manifests,
+            )
             .add_systems(
                 OnEnter(AppState::Idle),
                 match_loading::initiate_default_match,
diff --git a/src/match_loading.rs b/src/match_loading.rs
index bb7ee36..982520c 100644
--- a/src/match_loading.rs
+++ b/src/match_loading.rs
@@ -18,22 +18,12 @@ use crate::{
     },
     math::{int::FGi32, vec::FGVec2},
     netcode::{GGRSCfg, session::create_session},
-    stage,
+    stage::{
+        self,
+        manifest::{StageId, StageManifest, StageManifestRegistry},
+    },
 };
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
-pub enum StageId {
-    Battlefield,
-}
-
-impl StageId {
-    fn scene_path(self) -> &'static str {
-        match self {
-            Self::Battlefield => "stages/battlefield.glb#Scene0",
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct MatchPlayer {
     pub handle: usize,
@@ -62,10 +52,19 @@ impl MatchAssets {
         let request = world.resource::<PendingMatch>();
         let asset_server = world.resource::<AssetServer>();
         let registry = world.resource::<FighterManifestRegistry>();
+        let stage_registry = world.resource::<StageManifestRegistry>();
         let manifests = world.resource::<Assets<FighterManifest>>();
+        let stage_manifests = world.resource::<Assets<StageManifest>>();
+
+        let stage_handle = stage_registry
+            .get(request.stage)
+            .expect("Startup validation guarantees every stage has a manifest");
+        let stage_manifest = stage_manifests
+            .get(&stage_handle)
+            .expect("startup-loaded stage manifest should remain available");
 
         Self {
-            stage: asset_server.load(request.stage.scene_path()),
+            stage: asset_server.load(stage_manifest.model_path.clone()),
             fighters: request
                 .players
                 .iter()
@@ -131,7 +130,7 @@ pub fn initiate_default_match(
         &mut commands,
         &mut next_state,
         PendingMatch {
-            stage: StageId::Battlefield,
+            stage: StageId::TestStage,
             players,
         },
     );
@@ -143,7 +142,9 @@ pub fn prepare_match(
     assets: Res<MatchAssets>,
     gltfs: Res<Assets<Gltf>>,
     registry: Res<FighterManifestRegistry>,
+    stage_registry: Res<StageManifestRegistry>,
     manifests: Res<Assets<FighterManifest>>,
+    stage_manifests: Res<Assets<StageManifest>>,
     mut graphs: ResMut<Assets<AnimationGraph>>,
     args: Res<Args>,
     mut next_state: ResMut<NextState<AppState>>,
@@ -231,7 +232,10 @@ pub fn prepare_match(
     };
 
     let root = commands.spawn((Name::new("Match"), MatchRoot)).id();
-    stage::spawn_stage(&mut commands, root, assets.stage.clone());
+
+    let stage_handle = stage_registry.get(request.stage).expect("Initialization check should ensure all stages exist");
+    let stage_manifest = stage_manifests.get(&stage_handle).expect("Initialization check should ensure stage manifests are kept alive");
+    stage::spawn_stage(&mut commands, root, assets.stage.clone(), stage_manifest.to_collision());
 
     for (index, (player, (scene, animations, attributes))) in
         request.players.iter().zip(prepared).enumerate()
@@ -289,7 +293,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn match_request_keeps_duplicate_fighter_slots() {
         let request = PendingMatch {
-            stage: StageId::Battlefield,
+            stage: StageId::TestStage,
             players: vec![
                 MatchPlayer {
                     handle: 0,
diff --git a/src/stage/line.rs b/src/stage/line.rs
index bd00be5..17e8e0d 100644
--- a/src/stage/line.rs
+++ b/src/stage/line.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 
 
 use bevy::prelude::*;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::math::{segment::FGSegment2d, vec::FGVec2};
 
-#[derive(Reflect, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Reflect, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum StagePolyLineSegmentType {
     Floor,
     Wall,
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ pub struct StagePolyLineSegment {
     pub segment_type: StagePolyLineSegmentType,
 }
 
-#[derive(Reflect, Clone, Default)]
+#[derive(Reflect, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize, Copy)]
 pub enum StagePolyType {
     #[default]
     Closed,
@@ -32,8 +33,7 @@ pub struct StageLineID {
     pub segment: usize,
 }
 
-#[derive(Component, Reflect, Clone, Default)]
-#[reflect(Component)]
+#[derive(Reflect, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct StagePoly {
     poly_type: StagePolyType,
     pub segments: Vec<StagePolyLineSegment>,
diff --git a/src/stage/manifest.rs b/src/stage/manifest.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb05e93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stage/manifest.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+use bevy_asset_loader::asset_collection::AssetCollection;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use strum_macros::{EnumIter};
+use strum::IntoEnumIterator;
+
+use crate::{
+    AppState, game_settings::GameSettings, math::{int::FGi32, vec::FGVec2}, stage::{StagePoly, line::{StageCollision, StagePolyLineSegmentType, StagePolyType}},
+};
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+
+#[derive(Reflect, Serialize, Deserialize, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash, Debug, EnumIter)]
+pub enum StageId {
+    TestStage,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Reflect)]
+#[reflect(opaque)]
+pub struct StagePolyDefinition {
+    poly_type: StagePolyType,
+    lines: Vec<(FGVec2, StagePolyLineSegmentType)>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Asset, Reflect)]
+pub struct StageManifest {
+    pub id: StageId,
+    pub model_path: String,
+    pub polygons: Vec<StagePolyDefinition>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Resource)]
+pub struct StageManifestAssets(pub Vec<Handle<StageManifest>>);
+
+impl StageManifestAssets {
+    fn requested(world: &World) -> Self {
+        let settings = world.resource::<GameSettings>();
+        let asset_server = world.resource::<AssetServer>();
+
+        Self(
+            settings
+                .stage_manifest_paths
+                .iter()
+                .map(|path| asset_server.load(path.clone()))
+                .collect(),
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+impl AssetCollection for StageManifestAssets {
+    fn create(world: &mut World) -> Self {
+        Self::requested(world)
+    }
+
+    fn load(world: &mut World) -> Vec<UntypedHandle> {
+        Self::requested(world)
+            .0
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(Handle::untyped)
+            .collect()
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Resource)]
+pub struct StageManifestRegistry(HashMap<StageId, Handle<StageManifest>>);
+
+impl StageManifestRegistry {
+    pub fn get(&self, stage: StageId) -> Option<Handle<StageManifest>> {
+        self.0.get(&stage).cloned()
+    }
+}
+
+fn fail(next_state: &mut NextState<AppState>, message: &str) {
+    error!("Stage manifest preparation failed: {message}");
+    next_state.set(AppState::CommonAssetLoadFailed);
+}
+
+
+pub fn prepare_stage_manifests(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    handles: Res<StageManifestAssets>,
+    manifests: Res<Assets<StageManifest>>,
+    mut next_state: ResMut<NextState<AppState>>,
+) {
+    let mut registry = HashMap::with_capacity(handles.0.len());
+
+    for handle in &handles.0 {
+        let Some(manifest) = manifests.get(handle) else {
+            fail(&mut next_state, "a loaded fighter manifest is unavailable");
+            return;
+        };
+        if manifest.model_path.is_empty() {
+            fail(
+                &mut next_state,
+                &format!("{:?} has an empty model path", manifest.id),
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        if registry.insert(manifest.id, handle.clone()).is_some() {
+            fail(
+                &mut next_state,
+                &format!("duplicate manifest for stage {:?}", manifest.id),
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    for stage in StageId::iter() {
+        if !registry.contains_key(&stage) {
+            fail(
+                &mut next_state,
+                &format!("no manifest configured for stage {stage:?}"),
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    commands.insert_resource(StageManifestRegistry(registry));
+    next_state.set(AppState::Idle);
+}
+
+impl StageManifest {
+    pub fn to_collision(&self) -> StageCollision {
+        let stage_polys: Vec<StagePoly> = self.polygons.iter().map(|def| {
+            StagePoly::build(def.poly_type, &def.lines)
+        }).collect();
+        
+        StageCollision {
+            stage_polys
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/stage/mod.rs b/src/stage/mod.rs
index d60125f..7ed0a63 100644
--- a/src/stage/mod.rs
+++ b/src/stage/mod.rs
@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@ use bevy::prelude::*;
 pub mod debug;
 pub mod line;
 pub mod scene;
+pub mod manifest;
 
 pub use line::{StagePlaneIntersectResult, StagePoly};
 
+use crate::stage::line::StageCollision;
+
 /// Owns the stage geometry: which scene gets spawned and how it is drawn.
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct StagePlugin;
@@ -22,7 +25,7 @@ impl Plugin for StagePlugin {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn spawn_stage(commands: &mut Commands, match_root: Entity, visual: Handle<WorldAsset>) {
+pub fn spawn_stage(commands: &mut Commands, match_root: Entity, visual: Handle<WorldAsset>, collision: StageCollision) {
     commands.entity(match_root).insert(WorldAssetRoot(visual));
-    scene::spawn_stage_support(commands, match_root);
+    scene::spawn_stage_support(commands, match_root, collision);
 }
diff --git a/src/stage/scene.rs b/src/stage/scene.rs
index 1a67409..2bb323e 100644
--- a/src/stage/scene.rs
+++ b/src/stage/scene.rs
@@ -3,43 +3,17 @@
 use std::f32::consts::PI;
 
 use bevy::prelude::*;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::{
-    math::vec::FGVec2,
-    stage::{
+    math::{int::FGi32, vec::FGVec2}, stage::{
         StagePoly,
         line::{StageCollision, StagePolyLineSegmentType, StagePolyType},
     },
 };
 
-pub fn spawn_stage_support(commands: &mut Commands, match_root: Entity) {
-    let stage_poly = StagePoly::build(
-        StagePolyType::Closed,
-        &[
-            (
-                FGVec2::lit("-56.0", "-3.5"),
-                StagePolyLineSegmentType::Floor,
-            ),
-            (FGVec2::lit("-39.2", "0.0"), StagePolyLineSegmentType::Floor),
-            (FGVec2::lit("0.0", "0.0"), StagePolyLineSegmentType::Floor),
-            (FGVec2::lit("39.2", "0.0"), StagePolyLineSegmentType::Floor),
-            (FGVec2::lit("56.0", "-3.5"), StagePolyLineSegmentType::Wall),
-            (
-                FGVec2::lit("56.0", "-200.0"),
-                StagePolyLineSegmentType::Ceiling,
-            ),
-            (FGVec2::lit("-56", "-200.0"), StagePolyLineSegmentType::Wall),
-        ],
-    );
-
-    commands.insert_resource(StageCollision {
-        stage_polys: vec![stage_poly.clone()],
-    });
-    commands.spawn((
-        Name::new("Stage Collision"),
-        stage_poly,
-        ChildOf(match_root),
-    ));
+pub fn spawn_stage_support(commands: &mut Commands, match_root: Entity, collision: StageCollision) {
+    commands.insert_resource(collision);
     commands.spawn((
         DirectionalLight {
             shadow_maps_enabled: true,