diff --git a/lib/class.js b/lib/class.js
index 593c661..62fd495 100644
--- a/lib/class.js
+++ b/lib/class.js
@@ -35,6 +35,43 @@ var util           = require( './util' ),
 var class_meta = {};
 
 
+/**
+ * This module may be invoked in order to provide a more natural looking class
+ * definition mechanism
+ *
+ * This may not be used to extend existing classes. To extend an existing class,
+ * use the class's extend() method. If unavailable (or extending a non-ease.js
+ * class/object), use the module's extend() method.
+ *
+ * @param  {Object}  def  class definition
+ *
+ * @return  {Class}  new class
+ */
+module.exports = function( def )
+{
+    // the class definition should be an object
+    if ( typeof def !== 'object' )
+    {
+        throw TypeError(
+            "Must provide class definition when declaring a new class"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // ensure we have the proper number of arguments (if they passed in too
+    // many, it may signify that they don't know what they're doing, and likely
+    // they're not getting the result they're looking for)
+    if ( arguments.length > 1 )
+    {
+        throw Error(
+            "Expecting one argument for Class definition; " +
+                arguments.length + " given."
+        );
+    }
+
+    return extend( def );
+};
+
+
 /**
  * Creates a class, inheriting either from the provided base class or the
  * default base class
@@ -43,7 +80,7 @@ var class_meta = {};
  *
  * @return  {Object}  extended class
  */
-exports.extend = function( base )
+module.exports.extend = function( base )
 {
     return extend.apply( this, arguments );
 };
@@ -56,12 +93,12 @@ exports.extend = function( base )
  *
  * @return  {Class}  new class containing interface abstractions
  */
-exports.implement = function()
+module.exports.implement = function()
 {
     var args = Array.prototype.slice.call( arguments );
 
     // apply to an empty (new) object
-    args.unshift( exports.extend() );
+    args.unshift( module.exports.extend() );
 
     return implement.apply( this, args );
 };
@@ -74,7 +111,7 @@ exports.implement = function()
  *
  * @return  {boolean}  true if class (created through ease.js), otherwise false
  */
-exports.isClass = function( obj )
+module.exports.isClass = function( obj )
 {
     obj = obj || {};
 
@@ -94,7 +131,7 @@ exports.isClass = function( obj )
  * @return  {boolean}  true if instance of class (created through ease.js),
  *                     otherwise false
  */
-exports.isClassInstance = function( obj )
+module.exports.isClassInstance = function( obj )
 {
     obj = obj || {};
 
@@ -117,7 +154,7 @@ exports.isClassInstance = function( obj )
  *
  * @return  {boolean}  true if instance is an instance of type, otherwise false
  */
-exports.isInstanceOf = function( type, instance )
+module.exports.isInstanceOf = function( type, instance )
 {
     var meta, implemented, i;
 
@@ -162,7 +199,7 @@ exports.isInstanceOf = function( type, instance )
  * accurately conveys the act of inheritance, implementing interfaces and
  * traits, etc.
  */
-exports.isA = exports.isInstanceOf;
+module.exports.isA = module.exports.isInstanceOf;
 
 
 /**
@@ -429,7 +466,7 @@ var implement = function()
     }
 
     // create a new class with the implemented abstract methods
-    var class_new = exports.extend( base, dest );
+    var class_new = module.exports.extend( base, dest );
     getMeta( class_new.__cid ).implemented = implemented;
 
     return class_new;
@@ -594,7 +631,7 @@ function attachInstanceOf( instance )
 {
     var method = function( type )
     {
-        return exports.isInstanceOf( type, instance );
+        return module.exports.isInstanceOf( type, instance );
     };
 
     util.defineSecureProp( instance, 'isInstanceOf', method );
diff --git a/test/test-class-extend.js b/test/test-class-extend.js
index 31c9e67..84ab8a1 100644
--- a/test/test-class-extend.js
+++ b/test/test-class-extend.js
@@ -30,200 +30,219 @@ var foo_props = {
         one: 1,
         two: 2,
     },
-    Foo = Class.extend( foo_props );
 
-assert.ok(
-    ( Foo.extend instanceof Function ),
-    "Created class contains extend method"
-);
+    // there are two different means of extending; we want to test them both
+    classes = [
+        Class.extend( foo_props ),
+        Class( foo_props ),
+    ],
 
-var sub_props = {
-        three: 3,
-        four:  4,
-    },
-    SubFoo = Foo.extend( sub_props );
+    class_count = classes.length
 
-assert.ok(
-    ( SubFoo instanceof Object ),
-    "Subtype is returned as an object"
-);
+    // will hold the class being tested
+    Foo = null
+;
 
-// ensure properties were inherited from supertype
-for ( var prop in foo_props )
+
+// Run all tests for both. This will ensure that, regardless of how the class is
+// created, it operates as it should. Fortunately, these tests are fairly quick.
+for ( var i = 0; i < class_count; i++ )
 {
+    Foo = classes[ i ];
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( Foo.extend instanceof Function ),
+        "Created class contains extend method"
+    );
+
+    var sub_props = {
+            three: 3,
+            four:  4,
+        },
+        SubFoo = Foo.extend( sub_props );
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( SubFoo instanceof Object ),
+        "Subtype is returned as an object"
+    );
+
+    // ensure properties were inherited from supertype
+    for ( var prop in foo_props )
+    {
+        assert.equal(
+            foo_props[ prop ],
+            SubFoo.prototype[ prop ],
+            "Subtype inherits parent properties: " + prop
+        );
+    }
+
+    // and ensure that the subtype's properties were included
+    for ( var prop in sub_props )
+    {
+        assert.equal(
+            sub_props[ prop ],
+            SubFoo.prototype[ prop ],
+            "Subtype contains its own properties: " + prop
+        );
+    }
+
+
+    var sub_instance = new SubFoo();
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( sub_instance instanceof Foo ),
+        "Subtypes are considered to be instances of their supertypes " +
+            "(via instanceof operator)"
+    );
+
+    assert.ok(
+        sub_instance.isInstanceOf( SubFoo ),
+        "Subtypes are considered to be instances of their supertypes (via " +
+            "isInstanceOf method)"
+    );
+
+
+    //         Foo
+    //          |
+    //        SubFoo
+    //        /   \
+    // SubSubFoo  SubSubFoo2
+    //
+    var SubSubFoo  = SubFoo.extend(),
+        SubSubFoo2 = SubFoo.extend(),
+
+        sub_sub_instance  = new SubSubFoo(),
+        sub_sub2_instance = new SubSubFoo2();
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( ( sub_sub_instance instanceof Foo )
+            && sub_sub_instance.isInstanceOf( Foo )
+        ),
+        "Sub-subtypes should be instances of their super-supertype"
+    );
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( !( sub_instance instanceof SubSubFoo )
+            && !( sub_instance.isInstanceOf( SubSubFoo ) )
+        ),
+        "Supertypes should not be considered instances of their subtypes"
+    );
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( !( sub_sub2_instance instanceof SubSubFoo )
+            && !( sub_sub2_instance.isInstanceOf( SubSubFoo ) )
+        ),
+        "Subtypes should not be considered instances of their siblings"
+    );
+
+
+    // to test inheritance of classes that were not previously created via the
+    // Class.extend() method
+    var OtherClass = function() {};
+    OtherClass.prototype =
+    {
+        foo: 'bla',
+    };
+
+    var SubOther = Class.extend( OtherClass,
+    {
+        newFoo: 2,
+    });
+
+
     assert.equal(
-        foo_props[ prop ],
-        SubFoo.prototype[ prop ],
-        "Subtype inherits parent properties: " + prop
+        SubOther.prototype.foo,
+        OtherClass.prototype.foo,
+        "Prototype of existing class should be copied to subclass"
+    );
+
+    assert.notEqual(
+        SubOther.prototype.newFoo,
+        undefined,
+        "Subtype should contain extended members"
+    );
+
+
+    assert.throws( function()
+    {
+        Class.extend( OtherClass,
+        {
+            foo: function() {},
+        });
+    }, TypeError, "Cannot override property with a method" );
+
+
+    var AnotherFoo = Class.extend(
+    {
+        arr: [],
+        obj: {},
+    });
+
+    var Obj1 = new AnotherFoo(),
+        Obj2 = new AnotherFoo();
+
+    Obj1.arr.push( 'one' );
+    Obj2.arr.push( 'two' );
+
+    Obj1.obj.a = true;
+    Obj2.obj.b = true;
+
+    // to ensure we're not getting/setting values of the prototype (=== can also be
+    // used to test for references, but this test demonstrates the functionality
+    // that we're looking to ensure)
+    assert.ok(
+        ( ( Obj1.arr[ 0 ] === 'one' ) && ( Obj2.arr[ 0 ] === 'two' ) ),
+        "Multiple instances of the same class do not share array references"
+    );
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( ( ( Obj1.obj.a === true ) && ( Obj1.obj.b === undefined ) )
+            && ( ( Obj2.obj.a === undefined ) && ( Obj2.obj.b === true ) )
+        ),
+        "Multiple instances of the same class do not share object references"
+    );
+
+    var arr_val = 1;
+    var SubAnotherFoo = AnotherFoo.extend(
+    {
+        arr: [ arr_val ],
+    });
+
+    var SubObj1 = new SubAnotherFoo(),
+        SubObj2 = new SubAnotherFoo();
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( ( SubObj1.arr !== SubObj2.arr ) && ( SubObj1.obj !== SubObj2.obj ) ),
+        "Instances of subtypes do not share property references"
+    );
+
+    assert.ok(
+        ( ( SubObj1.arr[ 0 ] === arr_val ) && ( SubObj2.arr[ 0 ] === arr_val ) ),
+        "Subtypes can override parent property values"
+    );
+
+    assert.throws( function()
+    {
+        Class.extend(
+        {
+            __initProps: function() {},
+        });
+    }, Error, "__initProps() cannot be declared (internal method)" );
+
+
+    var SubSubAnotherFoo = AnotherFoo.extend(),
+        SubSubObj1       = new SubSubAnotherFoo(),
+        SubSubObj2       = new SubSubAnotherFoo();
+
+    // to ensure the effect is recursive
+    assert.ok(
+        ( ( SubSubObj1.arr !== SubSubObj2.arr )
+            && ( SubSubObj1.obj !== SubSubObj2.obj )
+        ),
+        "Instances of subtypes do not share property references"
     );
 }
 
-// and ensure that the subtype's properties were included
-for ( var prop in sub_props )
-{
-    assert.equal(
-        sub_props[ prop ],
-        SubFoo.prototype[ prop ],
-        "Subtype contains its own properties: " + prop
-    );
-}
-
-
-var sub_instance = new SubFoo();
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( sub_instance instanceof Foo ),
-    "Subtypes are considered to be instances of their supertypes " +
-        "(via instanceof operator)"
-);
-
-assert.ok(
-    sub_instance.isInstanceOf( SubFoo ),
-    "Subtypes are considered to be instances of their supertypes (via " +
-        "isInstanceOf method)"
-);
-
-
-//         Foo
-//          |
-//        SubFoo
-//        /   \
-// SubSubFoo  SubSubFoo2
-//
-var SubSubFoo  = SubFoo.extend(),
-    SubSubFoo2 = SubFoo.extend(),
-
-    sub_sub_instance  = new SubSubFoo(),
-    sub_sub2_instance = new SubSubFoo2();
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( ( sub_sub_instance instanceof Foo )
-        && sub_sub_instance.isInstanceOf( Foo )
-    ),
-    "Sub-subtypes should be instances of their super-supertype"
-);
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( !( sub_instance instanceof SubSubFoo )
-        && !( sub_instance.isInstanceOf( SubSubFoo ) )
-    ),
-    "Supertypes should not be considered instances of their subtypes"
-);
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( !( sub_sub2_instance instanceof SubSubFoo )
-        && !( sub_sub2_instance.isInstanceOf( SubSubFoo ) )
-    ),
-    "Subtypes should not be considered instances of their siblings"
-);
-
-
-// to test inheritance of classes that were not previously created via the
-// Class.extend() method
-var OtherClass = function() {};
-OtherClass.prototype =
-{
-    foo: 'bla',
-};
-
-var SubOther = Class.extend( OtherClass,
-{
-    newFoo: 2,
-});
-
-
-assert.equal(
-    SubOther.prototype.foo,
-    OtherClass.prototype.foo,
-    "Prototype of existing class should be copied to subclass"
-);
-
-assert.notEqual(
-    SubOther.prototype.newFoo,
-    undefined,
-    "Subtype should contain extended members"
-);
-
-
-assert.throws( function()
-{
-    Class.extend( OtherClass,
-    {
-        foo: function() {},
-    });
-}, TypeError, "Cannot override property with a method" );
-
-
-var AnotherFoo = Class.extend(
-{
-    arr: [],
-    obj: {},
-});
-
-var Obj1 = new AnotherFoo(),
-    Obj2 = new AnotherFoo();
-
-Obj1.arr.push( 'one' );
-Obj2.arr.push( 'two' );
-
-Obj1.obj.a = true;
-Obj2.obj.b = true;
-
-// to ensure we're not getting/setting values of the prototype (=== can also be
-// used to test for references, but this test demonstrates the functionality
-// that we're looking to ensure)
-assert.ok(
-    ( ( Obj1.arr[ 0 ] === 'one' ) && ( Obj2.arr[ 0 ] === 'two' ) ),
-    "Multiple instances of the same class do not share array references"
-);
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( ( ( Obj1.obj.a === true ) && ( Obj1.obj.b === undefined ) )
-        && ( ( Obj2.obj.a === undefined ) && ( Obj2.obj.b === true ) )
-    ),
-    "Multiple instances of the same class do not share object references"
-);
-
-var arr_val = 1;
-var SubAnotherFoo = AnotherFoo.extend(
-{
-    arr: [ arr_val ],
-});
-
-var SubObj1 = new SubAnotherFoo(),
-    SubObj2 = new SubAnotherFoo();
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( ( SubObj1.arr !== SubObj2.arr ) && ( SubObj1.obj !== SubObj2.obj ) ),
-    "Instances of subtypes do not share property references"
-);
-
-assert.ok(
-    ( ( SubObj1.arr[ 0 ] === arr_val ) && ( SubObj2.arr[ 0 ] === arr_val ) ),
-    "Subtypes can override parent property values"
-);
-
-assert.throws( function()
-{
-    Class.extend(
-    {
-        __initProps: function() {},
-    });
-}, Error, "__initProps() cannot be declared (internal method)" );
-
-
-var SubSubAnotherFoo = AnotherFoo.extend(),
-    SubSubObj1       = new SubSubAnotherFoo(),
-    SubSubObj2       = new SubSubAnotherFoo();
-
-// to ensure the effect is recursive
-assert.ok(
-    ( ( SubSubObj1.arr !== SubSubObj2.arr )
-        && ( SubSubObj1.obj !== SubSubObj2.obj )
-    ),
-    "Instances of subtypes do not share property references"
-);
-
 
 // otherwise it'll output the internal constructor code, which is especially
 // confusing since the user does not write it
@@ -236,3 +255,41 @@ assert.ok(
     );
 } )();
 
+
+( function testInvokingClassModuleRequiresObjectAsArgumentIfCreating()
+{
+    assert.throws( function()
+        {
+            Class( 'moo' );
+            Class( 5 );
+            Class( false );
+            Class();
+        },
+        TypeError,
+        "Invoking class module requires object as argument if extending " +
+            "from base class"
+    );
+
+    var args = [ {}, 'one', 'two', 'three' ];
+
+    // we must only provide one argument if the first argument is an object (the
+    // class definition)
+    try
+    {
+        Class.apply( null, args );
+
+        // if all goes well, we don't get to this line
+        assert.fail(
+            "Only one argument for class definitions is permitted"
+        );
+    }
+    catch ( e )
+    {
+        assert.notEqual(
+            e.toString().match( args.length + ' given' ),
+            null,
+            "Class invocation should give argument count on error"
+        );
+    }
+} )();
+