diff --git a/include/array.h b/include/array.h
index ddc07b7..054fac6 100644
--- a/include/array.h
+++ b/include/array.h
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ public:
      *  Create a new instance of this object
      *  @return Field*
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const override
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const override
     {
-        return new Array(*this);
+        return std::make_shared<Array>(*this);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public:
     Array set(uint8_t index, const Field &value)
     {
         // construct a shared pointer
-        auto ptr = std::shared_ptr<Field>(value.clone());
+        auto ptr = value.clone();
 
         // should we overwrite an existing record?
         if (index >= _fields.size())
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ public:
         bool first = true;
         
         // loop through all members
-        for (auto iter : _fields) 
+        for (auto &iter : _fields) 
         {
             // split with comma
             if (!first) stream << ",";
@@ -196,6 +196,16 @@ public:
         // postfix
         stream << ")";
     }
+    
+    /**
+     *  Cast to array
+     *  @return Array
+     */
+    virtual operator const Array& () const override
+    {
+        // this already is an array, so no cast is necessary
+        return *this;
+    }
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/include/booleanset.h b/include/booleanset.h
index f165643..b527048 100644
--- a/include/booleanset.h
+++ b/include/booleanset.h
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ public:
      *  Extending from field forces us to implement a clone function.
      *  @return shared_ptr
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const override
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const override
     {
-        return new BooleanSet(*this);
+        return std::make_shared<BooleanSet>(*this);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/include/decimalfield.h b/include/decimalfield.h
index 3164286..75a8ab0 100644
--- a/include/decimalfield.h
+++ b/include/decimalfield.h
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ public:
      *  Create a new identical instance of this object
      *  @return Field*
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const override
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const override
     {
-        return new DecimalField(_places, _number);
+        return std::make_shared<DecimalField>(_places, _number);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/include/field.h b/include/field.h
index 76f89ba..d6a7a88 100644
--- a/include/field.h
+++ b/include/field.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public:
      *  Create a new instance on the heap of this object, identical to the object passed
      *  @return Field*
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const = 0;
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const = 0;
 
     /**
      *  Get the size this field will take when
@@ -64,6 +64,25 @@ public:
      *  @param std::ostream
      */
     virtual void output(std::ostream &stream) const = 0;
+    
+    /**
+     *  Casting operators
+     *  @return mixed
+     */
+    virtual operator const std::string& () const;
+    virtual operator const char * () const { return nullptr; }
+    virtual operator uint8_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator uint16_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator uint32_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator uint64_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator int8_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator int16_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator int32_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator int64_t () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator float () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator double () const { return 0; }
+    virtual operator const Array& () const;
+    virtual operator const Table& () const;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/include/fieldproxy.h b/include/fieldproxy.h
index 5cafcdc..2666850 100644
--- a/include/fieldproxy.h
+++ b/include/fieldproxy.h
@@ -197,6 +197,30 @@ public:
         return operator=(std::string(value));
     }
     
+    /**
+     *  Assign an array value
+     *  @param  value
+     *  @return FieldProxy
+     */
+    FieldProxy &operator=(const Array &value)
+    {
+        // assign value and allow chaining
+        _source->set(_index, value);
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *  Assign a table value
+     *  @param  value
+     *  @return FieldProxy
+     */
+    FieldProxy &operator=(const Table &value)
+    {
+        // assign value and allow chaining
+        _source->set(_index, value);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    
     /**
      *  Get the underlying field
      *  @return Field
@@ -210,97 +234,8 @@ public:
      *  Get a boolean
      *  @return bool
      */
-    operator bool ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return int8_t
-     */
-    operator int8_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return uint8_t
-     */
-    operator uint8_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return int16_t
-     */
-    operator int16_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return uint16_t
-     */
-    operator uint16_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return int32_t
-     */
-    operator int32_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return uint32_t
-     */
-    operator uint32_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return int64_t
-     */
-    operator int64_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get numeric value
-     *  @return uint64_t
-     */
-    operator uint64_t ()
-    {
-        // retrieve the value
-        return _source->get(_index);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     *  Get string value
-     *  @return string
-     */
-    operator std::string ()
+    template <typename TARGET>
+    operator TARGET () const
     {
         // retrieve the value
         return _source->get(_index);
diff --git a/include/numericfield.h b/include/numericfield.h
index 9a60e4d..3cd4c93 100644
--- a/include/numericfield.h
+++ b/include/numericfield.h
@@ -78,10 +78,10 @@ public:
      *  Create a new instance of this object
      *  @return Field*
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const override
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const override
     {
         // create a new copy of ourselves and return it
-        return new NumericField(_value);
+        return std::make_shared<NumericField>(_value);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public:
      *  Get the value
      *  @return mixed
      */
-    operator T () const
+    virtual operator T () const override
     {
         return _value;
     }
diff --git a/include/stringfield.h b/include/stringfield.h
index 3def910..0408de7 100644
--- a/include/stringfield.h
+++ b/include/stringfield.h
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ public:
      *  Create a new instance of this object
      *  @return Field*
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const override
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const override
     {
         // create a new copy of ourselves and return it
-        return new StringField(_data);
+        return std::make_shared<StringField>(_data);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
      *  Get the value
      *  @return string
      */
-    operator const std::string& () const
+    virtual operator const std::string& () const override
     {
         return _data;
     }
diff --git a/include/table.h b/include/table.h
index 997c210..2faec2b 100644
--- a/include/table.h
+++ b/include/table.h
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ public:
      *  Create a new instance on the heap of this object, identical to the object passed
      *  @return Field*
      */
-    virtual Field *clone() const override
+    virtual std::shared_ptr<Field> clone() const override
     {
-        return new Table(*this);
+        return std::make_shared<Table>(*this);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
     Table set(const std::string& name, const Field &value)
     {
         // copy to a new pointer and store it
-        _fields[name] = std::shared_ptr<Field>(value.clone());
+        _fields[name] = value.clone();
 
         // allow chaining
         return *this;
@@ -122,6 +122,16 @@ public:
         return AssociativeFieldProxy(this, name);
     }
 
+    /**
+     *  Get a field
+     *
+     *  @param  name    field name
+     */
+    AssociativeFieldProxy operator[](const char *name)
+    {
+        return AssociativeFieldProxy(this, name);
+    }
+
     /**
      *  Get a const field
      *
@@ -132,6 +142,16 @@ public:
         return get(name);
     }
 
+    /**
+     *  Get a const field
+     *
+     *  @param  name    field name
+     */
+    const Field &operator[](const char *name) const
+    {
+        return get(name);
+    }
+
     /**
      *  Write encoded payload to the given buffer. 
      *  @param  buffer
@@ -160,7 +180,7 @@ public:
         bool first = true;
         
         // loop through all members
-        for (auto iter : _fields) 
+        for (auto &iter : _fields) 
         {
             // split with comma
             if (!first) stream << ",";
@@ -175,6 +195,17 @@ public:
         // postfix
         stream << ")";
     }
+
+    /**
+     *  Cast to table
+     *  @return Table
+     */
+    virtual operator const Table& () const override
+    {
+        // this already is an array, so no cast is necessary
+        return *this;
+    }
+
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/field.cpp b/src/field.cpp
index e49dc17..2655bb2 100644
--- a/src/field.cpp
+++ b/src/field.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,45 @@ Field *Field::decode(ReceivedFrame &frame)
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ *  Cast to string
+ *  @return std::string
+ */
+Field::operator const std::string& () const
+{
+    // static empty string
+    static std::string empty;
+    
+    // return it
+    return empty;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Cast to array
+ *  @return Array
+ */
+Field::operator const Array& () const
+{
+    // static empty array
+    static Array empty;
+    
+    // return it
+    return empty;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Cast to object
+ *  @return Array
+ */
+Field::operator const Table& () const
+{
+    // static empty table
+    static Table empty;
+    
+    // return it
+    return empty;
+}
+
 /**
  *  End of namespace
  */