diff --git a/.config/i3/config.base b/.config/i3/config.base
index 4782eda..ab6d807 100644
--- a/.config/i3/config.base
+++ b/.config/i3/config.base
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ font pango:monospace 8
 # Use Mouse+$mod to drag floating windows to their wanted position
 floating_modifier $mod
 
-# start a terminal
-bindsym $mod+Return exec st -e tmux -u2 new -As0
+set $tlterm st -c tl-main-term -e tmux -u2 new -As0
+# start tl main terminal with $mod+Return
+bindsym $mod+Return exec $tlterm
+# always assign my main term to workspace 3 (only on startup)
+assign [class="tl-main-term"] 3
 
-# start a terminal
+# start a secondary terminal with $mod+Shift+t
 bindsym $mod+Shift+t exec i3-sensible-terminal
 
 # kill focused window
diff --git a/.config/i3/dtarchaio.config b/.config/i3/dtarchaio.config
index ab22384..2e9bb66 100644
--- a/.config/i3/dtarchaio.config
+++ b/.config/i3/dtarchaio.config
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
+set $maindisp eDP1
+set $secondarydisp HDMI1
+
+# Assign workspaces to specific outputs
+workspace 3 output $secondarydisp
+
+# go ahead and launch this term on i3 start (but not restart)
+exec $tlterm
+
+workspace 2 output $maindisp
+workspace 1 output $maindisp
 
 # Start i3bar to display a workspace bar 
 bar {
         status_command i3status -c ~/.config/i3/status/$HOSTNAME.config
         tray_output primary
-	output eDP1
+	output $maindisp
 	# $i3-theme-bar
 }
 
@@ -13,4 +24,3 @@ bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT
 bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle # mute sound
 
 # $i3-theme-window
-# $i3-theme-window