diff --git a/scenes/room/room.gd b/scenes/room/room.gd
index 4af069f..7fe02ce 100644
--- a/scenes/room/room.gd
+++ b/scenes/room/room.gd
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 class_name Room extends Node2D
 
 
-@export var room_config: RoomConfig
+@export var config: RoomConfig
 
 @onready var camera: RoomCamera = $RoomCamera
 @onready var director: StateMachine = $RoomDirector
 
-# TODO: better alternatice to preloading as i add functionality?
+# TODO: better alternative to preloading as i add functionality?
 # https://theduriel.github.io/Godot/Do-not-use---Preload
 var player_scene: PackedScene = preload("uid://cqm5besqgsb7x")
+var initial_spawn: Vector2i = Vector2i(16,16)
 
 var player: Player
-var initial_spawn: Vector2i = Vector2i(16,16)
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	assert(config != null, "room config is null")
diff --git a/scenes/room/states/room_entering.gd b/scenes/room/states/room_entering.gd
index 0ce68db..80bf749 100644
--- a/scenes/room/states/room_entering.gd
+++ b/scenes/room/states/room_entering.gd
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ func _enter(_previous_state_path: String, _data: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
 	room.player = room.player_scene.instantiate()
 	room.add_child(room.player)
 	room.player.global_position = room.initial_spawn
+	room.camera.global_position = room.config.camera_position
 	
 	finished.emit(PLAYING)
 	return
diff --git a/scenes/room/states/room_playing.gd b/scenes/room/states/room_playing.gd
index 2c66829..eac4f56 100644
--- a/scenes/room/states/room_playing.gd
+++ b/scenes/room/states/room_playing.gd
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 extends RoomState
 
 
+var follow: bool
+
+
 func _enter(_previous_state_path: String, _data: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
 	print("entering room gameplay")
 	get_tree().paused = false
+	follow = room.config.follow_player
 
 
 func _handle_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
@@ -12,4 +16,4 @@ func _handle_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 
 
 func _state_physics_update(delta: float) -> void:
-	room.camera.follow_player(delta)
+	if follow: room.camera.follow_player(delta)