class Parrot < ActiveRecord::Base set_inheritance_column :parrot_sti_class has_and_belongs_to_many :pirates has_and_belongs_to_many :treasures has_many :loots, :as => :looter alias_attribute :title, :name validates_presence_of :name end class LiveParrot < Parrot end class DeadParrot < Parrot belongs_to :killer, :class_name => 'Pirate' end