diff --git a/doc/fixes36.3 b/doc/fixes36.3
index 4df27bcc5..392c7e196 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.3
+++ b/doc/fixes36.3
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ similar perm_invent issue when lock state known and/or contents known become
 blessed scroll of remove curse read while confused might be shown to operate
 	on itself by perm_invent after player is told that it has disappeared
 fix memory leak if corpse auto-revival attempt failed ("you feel less hassled")
-
+allow a parent function to issue an an unplacebc() call that restricts
+	subsequent placebc() calls to that parent only
 
 Fixes to Post-3.6.2 Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/decl.h b/include/decl.h
index 0b7a929a1..5ebaa326e 100644
--- a/include/decl.h
+++ b/include/decl.h
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ struct plinemsg_type {
 
 E struct plinemsg_type *plinemsg_types;
 
+enum bcargs {override_restriction = -1};
 struct breadcrumbs {
     const char *funcnm;
     int linenum;
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index f7e762bda..5f78cb5e7 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -130,11 +130,19 @@ E void NDECL(ballfall);
 #ifndef BREADCRUMBS
 E void NDECL(placebc);
 E void NDECL(unplacebc);
+E int NDECL(unplacebc_and_covet_placebc);
+E void FDECL(lift_covet_and_placebc, (int));
 #else
 E void FDECL(Placebc, (const char *, int));
 E void FDECL(Unplacebc, (const char *, int));
+E int FDECL(Unplacebc_and_covet_placebc, (const char *, int));
+E void FDECL(Lift_covet_and_placebc, (int, const char *, int));
 #define placebc() Placebc(__FUNCTION__, __LINE__)
 #define unplacebc() Unplacebc(__FUNCTION__, __LINE__)
+#define unplacebc_and_covet_placebc() \
+            Unplacebc_and_covet_placebc(__FUNCTION__, __LINE__)
+#define lift_covet_and_placebc(x) \
+            Lift_covet_and_placebc(x, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__) 
 #endif
 E void FDECL(set_bc, (int));
 E void FDECL(move_bc, (int, int, XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P));
diff --git a/src/ball.c b/src/ball.c
index 00352e2b7..81e2d6dd2 100644
--- a/src/ball.c
+++ b/src/ball.c
@@ -12,10 +12,11 @@ STATIC_DCL int NDECL(bc_order);
 STATIC_DCL void NDECL(litter);
 STATIC_OVL void NDECL(placebc_core);
 STATIC_OVL void NDECL(unplacebc_core);
+STATIC_DCL boolean FDECL(check_restriction, (int));
 
+static int bcrestriction = 0;
 #ifdef BREADCRUMBS
-static struct breadcrumbs bcpbreadcrumbs = { (const char *) 0, 0, FALSE},
-                          bcubreadcrumbs = { (const char *) 0, 0, FALSE};
+static struct breadcrumbs bcpbreadcrumbs = {0}, bcubreadcrumbs = {0};
 #endif
 
 void
@@ -137,34 +138,9 @@ placebc_core()
     u.bglyph = u.cglyph = levl[u.ux][u.uy].glyph; /* pick up glyph */
 
     newsym(u.ux, u.uy);
+    bcrestriction = 0;
 }
 
-#ifdef BREADCRUMBS
-void
-Placebc(funcnm, linenum)
-const char *funcnm;
-int linenum;
-{
-    if (uball && bcpbreadcrumbs.in_effect && uball->where == OBJ_FLOOR) {
-        impossible("placebc collision from %s:%d, already placed by %s:%d",
-                   funcnm, linenum,
-                   bcpbreadcrumbs.funcnm, bcpbreadcrumbs.linenum);
-        return;
-    }
-    bcpbreadcrumbs.in_effect = TRUE;
-    bcubreadcrumbs.in_effect = FALSE;
-    bcpbreadcrumbs.funcnm = funcnm;
-    bcpbreadcrumbs.linenum = linenum;
-    placebc_core();
-}
-#else
-void
-placebc()
-{
-    placebc_core();
-}
-#endif
-
 STATIC_OVL void
 unplacebc_core()
 {
@@ -197,33 +173,190 @@ unplacebc_core()
     u.bc_felt = 0; /* feel nothing */
 }
 
-#ifdef BREADCRUMBS
+STATIC_OVL boolean
+check_restriction(restriction)
+int restriction;
+{
+    boolean ret = FALSE;
+    
+    if (!bcrestriction || (restriction == override_restriction))
+        ret = TRUE;
+    else
+        ret = (bcrestriction == restriction) ? TRUE : FALSE;
+    return ret;
+}
+
+#ifndef BREADCRUMBS
+void
+placebc()
+{
+    if (!check_restriction(0)) {
+#if (NH_DEVEL_STATUS != NH_STATUS_RELEASED)
+        char panicbuf[BUFSZ];
+
+        Sprintf(panicbuf, 
+            "placebc denied, restriction in effect");
+        paniclog("placebc", panicbuf);
+#endif
+        return;
+    }
+    if (uchain && uchain->where != OBJ_FREE) {
+        impossible("bc already placed?");
+        return;
+    }
+    placebc_core();
+}
+
+void
+unplacebc()
+{
+    if (bcrestriction) {
+        impossible("unplacebc denied, restriction in place");
+        return;
+    }
+    unplacebc_core();
+}
+
+int
+unplacebc_and_covet_placebc()
+{
+    int restriction = 0;
+
+    if (bcrestriction) {
+        impossible("unplacebc_and_covet_placebc denied, already restricted");
+    } else {
+        restriction = bcrestriction = rnd(400);
+        unplacebc_core();
+    }
+    return restriction;
+}
+
+void
+lift_covet_and_placebc(pin)
+int pin;
+{
+    if (!check_restriction(pin)) {
+#if (NH_DEVEL_STATUS != NH_STATUS_RELEASED)
+        char panicbuf[BUFSZ];
+
+        Sprintf(panicbuf, 
+                "lift_covet_and_placebc denied, %s",
+                (pin != bcrestriction) ?
+                "pin mismatch" : "restriction in effect");
+        paniclog("placebc", panicbuf);
+#endif
+        return;
+    }
+    if (uchain && uchain->where != OBJ_FREE) {
+        impossible("bc already placed?");
+        return;
+    }
+    placebc_core();
+}
+
+#else  /* BREADCRUMBS */
+
+void
+Placebc(funcnm, linenum)
+const char *funcnm;
+int linenum;
+{
+    if (!check_restriction(0)) {
+#if (NH_DEVEL_STATUS != NH_STATUS_RELEASED)
+        char panicbuf[BUFSZ];
+
+        Sprintf(panicbuf, 
+            "Placebc denied to %s:%d, restricted by %s:%d",
+                funcnm, linenum,
+                bcpbreadcrumbs.funcnm, bcpbreadcrumbs.linenum);
+        paniclog("Placebc", panicbuf);
+#endif
+        return;
+    }
+    if ((uchain && uchain->where != OBJ_FREE)
+                   && bcpbreadcrumbs.in_effect) {
+        impossible("Placebc collision at %s:%d, already placed by %s:%d",
+                   funcnm, linenum,
+                   bcpbreadcrumbs.funcnm, bcpbreadcrumbs.linenum);
+        return;
+    }
+    bcpbreadcrumbs.in_effect = TRUE;
+    bcubreadcrumbs.in_effect = FALSE;
+    bcpbreadcrumbs.funcnm = funcnm;
+    bcpbreadcrumbs.linenum = linenum;
+    placebc_core();
+}
+
 void
 Unplacebc(funcnm, linenum)
 const char *funcnm;
 int linenum;
 {
-#if 0
-    if (uball && bcubreadcrumbs.in_effect && uball->where == OBJ_FREE) {
-        impossible("unplacebc collision from %s:%d, already placed by %s:%d",
+
+    if (bcrestriction) {
+        char panicbuf[BUFSZ];
+
+        Sprintf(panicbuf,
+          "Unplacebc from %s:%d, when restricted to %s:%d",
                    funcnm, linenum,
                    bcubreadcrumbs.funcnm, bcubreadcrumbs.linenum);
-        return;
+        paniclog("Unplacebc", panicbuf);
     }
-#endif
     bcpbreadcrumbs.in_effect = FALSE;
     bcubreadcrumbs.in_effect = TRUE;
     bcubreadcrumbs.funcnm = funcnm;
     bcubreadcrumbs.linenum = linenum;
     unplacebc_core();
 }
-#else
-void
-unplacebc()
+
+int
+Unplacebc_and_covet_placebc(funcnm, linenum)
+const char *funcnm;
+int linenum;
 {
-    unplacebc_core();
+    int restriction = 0;
+
+    if (bcrestriction) {
+        impossible(
+          "Unplacebc_and_covet_placebc denied to %s:%d, restricted by %s:%d",
+                   funcnm, linenum,
+                   bcubreadcrumbs.funcnm, bcubreadcrumbs.linenum);
+    } else {
+        restriction = bcrestriction = rnd(400);
+        bcpbreadcrumbs.in_effect = FALSE;
+        bcubreadcrumbs.in_effect = TRUE;
+        bcubreadcrumbs.funcnm = funcnm;
+        bcubreadcrumbs.linenum = linenum;
+        unplacebc_core();
+    }
+    return restriction;
 }
+
+void
+Lift_covet_and_placebc(pin, funcnm, linenum)
+int pin;
+char *funcnm;
+int linenum;
+{
+    if (!check_restriction(pin)) {
+#if (NH_DEVEL_STATUS != NH_STATUS_RELEASED)
+        char panicbuf[BUFSZ];
+
+        Sprintf(panicbuf, 
+            "Lift_covet_and_placebc denied to %s:%d, restricted by %s:%d",
+                funcnm, linenum,
+                bcpbreadcrumbs.funcnm, bcpbreadcrumbs.linenum);
+        paniclog("Lift_covet_and_placebc", panicbuf);
 #endif
+        return;
+    }
+    if (uchain && uchain->where != OBJ_FREE) {
+        impossible("bc already placed?");
+        return;
+    }
+    placebc_core();
+}
+#endif /* BREADCRUMBS */
 
 /*
  *  Return the stacking of the hero's ball & chain.  This assumes that the
diff --git a/src/mkmaze.c b/src/mkmaze.c
index f516e6927..2a11ba4ed 100644
--- a/src/mkmaze.c
+++ b/src/mkmaze.c
@@ -1400,7 +1400,7 @@ movebubbles()
     struct bubble *b;
     struct container *cons;
     struct trap *btrap;
-    int x, y, i, j;
+    int x, y, i, j, bcpin;
 
     /* set up the portal the first time bubbles are moved */
     if (!wportal)
@@ -1411,7 +1411,7 @@ movebubbles()
     if (Is_waterlevel(&u.uz)) {
         /* keep attached ball&chain separate from bubble objects */
         if (Punished)
-            unplacebc();
+            bcpin = unplacebc_and_covet_placebc();
 
         /*
          * Pick up everything inside of a bubble then fill all bubble
@@ -1528,7 +1528,7 @@ movebubbles()
 
     /* put attached ball&chain back */
     if (Is_waterlevel(&u.uz) && Punished)
-        placebc();
+        lift_covet_and_placebc(bcpin);
     vision_full_recalc = 1;
 }