diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/collections.yml b/changelogs/fragments/collections.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eba88ff829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/collections.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+major_changes:
+- Experimental support for Ansible Collections and content namespacing - Ansible content can now be packaged in a
+  collection and addressed via namespaces. This allows for easier sharing, distribution, and installation of bundled
+  modules/roles/plugins, and consistent rules for accessing specific content via namespaces.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py b/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
index cb3de31eb6..0dae9dc19d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@ from ansible.executor.playbook_executor import PlaybookExecutor
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes
 from ansible.playbook.block import Block
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
+from ansible.utils.collection_loader import set_collection_playbook_paths
 from ansible.plugins.loader import add_all_plugin_dirs
 
+
 display = Display()
 
 
@@ -76,19 +78,21 @@ class PlaybookCLI(CLI):
 
         # initial error check, to make sure all specified playbooks are accessible
         # before we start running anything through the playbook executor
+
+        b_playbook_dirs = []
         for playbook in context.CLIARGS['args']:
             if not os.path.exists(playbook):
                 raise AnsibleError("the playbook: %s could not be found" % playbook)
             if not (os.path.isfile(playbook) or stat.S_ISFIFO(os.stat(playbook).st_mode)):
                 raise AnsibleError("the playbook: %s does not appear to be a file" % playbook)
+
+            b_playbook_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(to_bytes(playbook, errors='surrogate_or_strict')))
             # load plugins from all playbooks in case they add callbacks/inventory/etc
-            add_all_plugin_dirs(
-                os.path.dirname(
-                    os.path.abspath(
-                        to_bytes(playbook, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
-                    )
-                )
-            )
+            add_all_plugin_dirs(b_playbook_dir)
+
+            b_playbook_dirs.append(b_playbook_dir)
+
+        set_collection_playbook_paths(b_playbook_dirs)
 
         # don't deal with privilege escalation or passwords when we don't need to
         if not (context.CLIARGS['listhosts'] or context.CLIARGS['listtasks'] or
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index 8205ac369e..76db1844b8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -215,6 +215,14 @@ CACHE_PLUGIN_TIMEOUT:
   - {key: fact_caching_timeout, section: defaults}
   type: integer
   yaml: {key: facts.cache.timeout}
+COLLECTIONS_PATHS:
+  name: ordered list of root paths for loading installed Ansible collections content
+  default: ~/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
+  type: pathspec
+  env:
+  - {name: ANSIBLE_COLLECTIONS_PATHS}
+  ini:
+  - {key: collections_paths, section: defaults}
 COLOR_CHANGED:
   name: Color for 'changed' task status
   default: yellow
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/module_common.py b/lib/ansible/executor/module_common.py
index 021ea5349b..c8c82719c3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/module_common.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/module_common.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import os
 import shlex
 import zipfile
 import re
+import pkgutil
 from io import BytesIO
 
 from ansible.release import __version__, __author__
@@ -45,6 +46,18 @@ from ansible.executor import action_write_locks
 
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 
+# HACK: keep Python 2.6 controller tests happy in CI until they're properly split
+try:
+    from importlib import import_module
+except ImportError:
+    import_module = __import__
+
+# if we're on a Python that doesn't have FNFError, redefine it as IOError (since that's what we'll see)
+try:
+    FileNotFoundError
+except NameError:
+    FileNotFoundError = IOError
+
 display = Display()
 
 REPLACER = b"#<<INCLUDE_ANSIBLE_MODULE_COMMON>>"
@@ -429,10 +442,14 @@ class ModuleDepFinder(ast.NodeVisitor):
 
     def visit_Import(self, node):
         # import ansible.module_utils.MODLIB[.MODLIBn] [as asname]
-        for alias in (a for a in node.names if a.name.startswith('ansible.module_utils.')):
-            py_mod = alias.name[self.IMPORT_PREFIX_SIZE:]
-            py_mod = tuple(py_mod.split('.'))
-            self.submodules.add(py_mod)
+        for alias in node.names:
+            if alias.name.startswith('ansible.module_utils.'):
+                py_mod = alias.name[self.IMPORT_PREFIX_SIZE:]
+                py_mod = tuple(py_mod.split('.'))
+                self.submodules.add(py_mod)
+            elif alias.name.startswith('ansible_collections.'):
+                # keep 'ansible_collections.' as a sentinel prefix to trigger collection-loaded MU path
+                self.submodules.add(tuple(alias.name.split('.')))
         self.generic_visit(node)
 
     def visit_ImportFrom(self, node):
@@ -453,6 +470,10 @@ class ModuleDepFinder(ast.NodeVisitor):
                 # from ansible.module_utils import MODLIB [,MODLIB2] [as asname]
                 for alias in node.names:
                     self.submodules.add((alias.name,))
+
+        elif node.module.startswith('ansible_collections.'):
+            # TODO: finish out the subpackage et al cases
+            self.submodules.add(tuple(node.module.split('.')))
         self.generic_visit(node)
 
 
@@ -555,6 +576,20 @@ def recursive_finder(name, data, py_module_names, py_module_cache, zf):
             module_info = imp.find_module('_six', [os.path.join(p, 'six') for p in module_utils_paths])
             py_module_name = ('six', '_six')
             idx = 0
+        elif py_module_name[0] == 'ansible_collections':
+            # FIXME: replicate module name resolution like below for granular imports
+            # this is a collection-hosted MU; look it up with get_data
+            package_name = '.'.join(py_module_name[:-1])
+            resource_name = py_module_name[-1] + '.py'
+            try:
+                # FIXME: need this in py2 for some reason TBD, but we shouldn't (get_data delegates to wrong loader without it)
+                pkg = import_module(package_name)
+                module_info = pkgutil.get_data(package_name, resource_name)
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                # FIXME: implement package fallback code
+                raise AnsibleError('unable to load collection-hosted module_util {0}.{1}'.format(to_native(package_name),
+                                                                                                 to_native(resource_name)))
+            idx = 0
         else:
             # Check whether either the last or the second to last identifier is
             # a module name
@@ -577,56 +612,78 @@ def recursive_finder(name, data, py_module_names, py_module_cache, zf):
                 msg.append(py_module_name[-1])
             raise AnsibleError(' '.join(msg))
 
-        # Found a byte compiled file rather than source.  We cannot send byte
-        # compiled over the wire as the python version might be different.
-        # imp.find_module seems to prefer to return source packages so we just
-        # error out if imp.find_module returns byte compiled files (This is
-        # fragile as it depends on undocumented imp.find_module behaviour)
-        if module_info[2][2] not in (imp.PY_SOURCE, imp.PKG_DIRECTORY):
-            msg = ['Could not find python source for imported module support code for %s.  Looked for' % name]
+        if isinstance(module_info, bytes):  # collection-hosted, just the code
+            # HACK: maybe surface collection dirs in here and use existing find_module code?
+            normalized_name = py_module_name
+            normalized_data = module_info
+            normalized_path = os.path.join(*py_module_name)
+            py_module_cache[normalized_name] = (normalized_data, normalized_path)
+            normalized_modules.add(normalized_name)
+
+            # HACK: walk back up the package hierarchy to pick up package inits; this won't do the right thing
+            # for actual packages yet...
+            accumulated_pkg_name = []
+            for pkg in py_module_name[:-1]:
+                accumulated_pkg_name.append(pkg)  # we're accumulating this across iterations
+                normalized_name = tuple(accumulated_pkg_name[:] + ['__init__'])  # extra machinations to get a hashable type (list is not)
+                if normalized_name not in py_module_cache:
+                    normalized_path = os.path.join(*accumulated_pkg_name)
+                    # HACK: possibly preserve some of the actual package file contents; problematic for extend_paths and others though?
+                    normalized_data = ''
+                    py_module_cache[normalized_name] = (normalized_data, normalized_path)
+                    normalized_modules.add(normalized_name)
+
+        else:
+            # Found a byte compiled file rather than source.  We cannot send byte
+            # compiled over the wire as the python version might be different.
+            # imp.find_module seems to prefer to return source packages so we just
+            # error out if imp.find_module returns byte compiled files (This is
+            # fragile as it depends on undocumented imp.find_module behaviour)
+            if module_info[2][2] not in (imp.PY_SOURCE, imp.PKG_DIRECTORY):
+                msg = ['Could not find python source for imported module support code for %s.  Looked for' % name]
+                if idx == 2:
+                    msg.append('either %s.py or %s.py' % (py_module_name[-1], py_module_name[-2]))
+                else:
+                    msg.append(py_module_name[-1])
+                raise AnsibleError(' '.join(msg))
+
             if idx == 2:
-                msg.append('either %s.py or %s.py' % (py_module_name[-1], py_module_name[-2]))
-            else:
-                msg.append(py_module_name[-1])
-            raise AnsibleError(' '.join(msg))
+                # We've determined that the last portion was an identifier and
+                # thus, not part of the module name
+                py_module_name = py_module_name[:-1]
 
-        if idx == 2:
-            # We've determined that the last portion was an identifier and
-            # thus, not part of the module name
-            py_module_name = py_module_name[:-1]
+            # If not already processed then we've got work to do
+            # If not in the cache, then read the file into the cache
+            # We already have a file handle for the module open so it makes
+            # sense to read it now
+            if py_module_name not in py_module_cache:
+                if module_info[2][2] == imp.PKG_DIRECTORY:
+                    # Read the __init__.py instead of the module file as this is
+                    # a python package
+                    normalized_name = py_module_name + ('__init__',)
+                    if normalized_name not in py_module_names:
+                        normalized_path = os.path.join(module_info[1], '__init__.py')
+                        normalized_data = _slurp(normalized_path)
+                        py_module_cache[normalized_name] = (normalized_data, normalized_path)
+                        normalized_modules.add(normalized_name)
+                else:
+                    normalized_name = py_module_name
+                    if normalized_name not in py_module_names:
+                        normalized_path = module_info[1]
+                        normalized_data = module_info[0].read()
+                        module_info[0].close()
+                        py_module_cache[normalized_name] = (normalized_data, normalized_path)
+                        normalized_modules.add(normalized_name)
 
-        # If not already processed then we've got work to do
-        # If not in the cache, then read the file into the cache
-        # We already have a file handle for the module open so it makes
-        # sense to read it now
-        if py_module_name not in py_module_cache:
-            if module_info[2][2] == imp.PKG_DIRECTORY:
-                # Read the __init__.py instead of the module file as this is
-                # a python package
-                normalized_name = py_module_name + ('__init__',)
-                if normalized_name not in py_module_names:
-                    normalized_path = os.path.join(os.path.join(module_info[1], '__init__.py'))
-                    normalized_data = _slurp(normalized_path)
-                    py_module_cache[normalized_name] = (normalized_data, normalized_path)
-                    normalized_modules.add(normalized_name)
-            else:
-                normalized_name = py_module_name
-                if normalized_name not in py_module_names:
-                    normalized_path = module_info[1]
-                    normalized_data = module_info[0].read()
-                    module_info[0].close()
-                    py_module_cache[normalized_name] = (normalized_data, normalized_path)
-                    normalized_modules.add(normalized_name)
-
-            # Make sure that all the packages that this module is a part of
-            # are also added
-            for i in range(1, len(py_module_name)):
-                py_pkg_name = py_module_name[:-i] + ('__init__',)
-                if py_pkg_name not in py_module_names:
-                    pkg_dir_info = imp.find_module(py_pkg_name[-1],
-                                                   [os.path.join(p, *py_pkg_name[:-1]) for p in module_utils_paths])
-                    normalized_modules.add(py_pkg_name)
-                    py_module_cache[py_pkg_name] = (_slurp(pkg_dir_info[1]), pkg_dir_info[1])
+                # Make sure that all the packages that this module is a part of
+                # are also added
+                for i in range(1, len(py_module_name)):
+                    py_pkg_name = py_module_name[:-i] + ('__init__',)
+                    if py_pkg_name not in py_module_names:
+                        pkg_dir_info = imp.find_module(py_pkg_name[-1],
+                                                       [os.path.join(p, *py_pkg_name[:-1]) for p in module_utils_paths])
+                        normalized_modules.add(py_pkg_name)
+                        py_module_cache[py_pkg_name] = (_slurp(pkg_dir_info[1]), pkg_dir_info[1])
 
     # FIXME: Currently the AnsiBallZ wrapper monkeypatches module args into a global
     # variable in basic.py.  If a module doesn't import basic.py, then the AnsiBallZ wrapper will
@@ -653,10 +710,16 @@ def recursive_finder(name, data, py_module_names, py_module_cache, zf):
     unprocessed_py_module_names = normalized_modules.difference(py_module_names)
 
     for py_module_name in unprocessed_py_module_names:
+        # HACK: this seems to work as a way to identify a collections-based import, but a stronger identifier would be better
+        if not py_module_cache[py_module_name][1].startswith('/'):
+            dir_prefix = ''
+        else:
+            dir_prefix = 'ansible/module_utils'
+
         py_module_path = os.path.join(*py_module_name)
         py_module_file_name = '%s.py' % py_module_path
 
-        zf.writestr(os.path.join("ansible/module_utils",
+        zf.writestr(os.path.join(dir_prefix,
                     py_module_file_name), py_module_cache[py_module_name][0])
         display.vvvvv("Using module_utils file %s" % py_module_cache[py_module_name][1])
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
index 0763909c3c..5c8b55d928 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_executor.py
@@ -1013,13 +1013,18 @@ class TaskExecutor:
 
         module_prefix = self._task.action.split('_')[0]
 
+        collections = self._task.collections
+
         # let action plugin override module, fallback to 'normal' action plugin otherwise
-        if self._task.action in self._shared_loader_obj.action_loader:
+        if self._shared_loader_obj.action_loader.has_plugin(self._task.action, collection_list=collections):
             handler_name = self._task.action
+        # FIXME: is this code path even live anymore? check w/ networking folks; it trips sometimes when it shouldn't
         elif all((module_prefix in C.NETWORK_GROUP_MODULES, module_prefix in self._shared_loader_obj.action_loader)):
             handler_name = module_prefix
         else:
+            # FUTURE: once we're comfortable with collections impl, preface this action with ansible.builtin so it can't be hijacked
             handler_name = 'normal'
+            collections = None  # until then, we don't want the task's collection list to be consulted; use the builtin
 
         handler = self._shared_loader_obj.action_loader.get(
             handler_name,
@@ -1029,6 +1034,7 @@ class TaskExecutor:
             loader=self._loader,
             templar=templar,
             shared_loader_obj=self._shared_loader_obj,
+            collection_list=collections
         )
 
         if not handler:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
index fe3bdab24c..9543a93441 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from ansible.playbook.play_context import PlayContext
 from ansible.plugins.loader import callback_loader, strategy_loader, module_loader
 from ansible.plugins.callback import CallbackBase
 from ansible.template import Templar
+from ansible.utils.collection_loader import is_collection_ref
 from ansible.utils.helpers import pct_to_int
 from ansible.vars.hostvars import HostVars
 from ansible.vars.reserved import warn_if_reserved
@@ -167,6 +168,10 @@ class TaskQueueManager:
                                    " see the 2.4 porting guide for details." % callback_obj._load_name, version="2.9")
             self._callback_plugins.append(callback_obj)
 
+        for callback_plugin_name in (c for c in C.DEFAULT_CALLBACK_WHITELIST if is_collection_ref(c)):
+            callback_obj = callback_loader.get(callback_plugin_name)
+            self._callback_plugins.append(callback_obj)
+
         self._callbacks_loaded = True
 
     def run(self, play):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py b/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py
index 5de5ed918f..d23f2f2b9d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py
@@ -108,12 +108,13 @@ class ModuleArgsParser:
     Args may also be munged for certain shell command parameters.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, task_ds=None):
+    def __init__(self, task_ds=None, collection_list=None):
         task_ds = {} if task_ds is None else task_ds
 
         if not isinstance(task_ds, dict):
             raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'task_ds' should be a dict, but is a %s" % type(task_ds))
         self._task_ds = task_ds
+        self._collection_list = collection_list
 
     def _split_module_string(self, module_string):
         '''
@@ -287,7 +288,8 @@ class ModuleArgsParser:
 
         # walk the input dictionary to see we recognize a module name
         for (item, value) in iteritems(self._task_ds):
-            if item in BUILTIN_TASKS or item in action_loader or item in module_loader:
+            if item in BUILTIN_TASKS or action_loader.has_plugin(item, collection_list=self._collection_list) or \
+                    module_loader.has_plugin(item, collection_list=self._collection_list):
                 # finding more than one module name is a problem
                 if action is not None:
                     raise AnsibleParserError("conflicting action statements: %s, %s" % (action, item), obj=self._task_ds)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
index 5c912f6d2a..0321615505 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import os
 
 from ansible import constants as C
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError
-from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_text, to_native
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text, to_native
 from ansible.playbook.play import Play
 from ansible.playbook.playbook_include import PlaybookInclude
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py
index 418af42ddf..103b7e4b1f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/block.py
@@ -24,13 +24,14 @@ from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
 from ansible.playbook.become import Become
 from ansible.playbook.conditional import Conditional
+from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.helpers import load_list_of_tasks
 from ansible.playbook.role import Role
 from ansible.playbook.taggable import Taggable
 from ansible.utils.sentinel import Sentinel
 
 
-class Block(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
+class Block(Base, Become, Conditional, CollectionSearch, Taggable):
 
     # main block fields containing the task lists
     _block = FieldAttribute(isa='list', default=list, inherit=False)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/collectionsearch.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/collectionsearch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..245d98117b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/collectionsearch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Copyright: (c) 2019, Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
+from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
+
+
+class CollectionSearch:
+    # this needs to be populated before we can resolve tasks/roles/etc
+    _collections = FieldAttribute(isa='list', listof=string_types, priority=100)
+
+    def _load_collections(self, attr, ds):
+        if not ds:
+            # if empty/None, just return whatever was there; legacy behavior will do the right thing
+            return ds
+
+        if not isinstance(ds, list):
+            ds = [ds]
+
+        if 'ansible.builtin' not in ds and 'ansible.legacy' not in ds:
+            ds.append('ansible.legacy')
+
+        return ds
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
index 12b18ae62b..f9b15dc4bb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
@@ -117,7 +117,10 @@ def load_list_of_tasks(ds, play, block=None, role=None, task_include=None, use_h
             )
             task_list.append(t)
         else:
-            args_parser = ModuleArgsParser(task_ds)
+            collection_list = task_ds.get('collections')
+            if collection_list is None and block is not None and block.collections:
+                collection_list = block.collections
+            args_parser = ModuleArgsParser(task_ds, collection_list=collection_list)
             try:
                 (action, args, delegate_to) = args_parser.parse()
             except AnsibleParserError as e:
@@ -382,7 +385,8 @@ def load_list_of_roles(ds, play, current_role_path=None, variable_manager=None,
 
     roles = []
     for role_def in ds:
-        i = RoleInclude.load(role_def, play=play, current_role_path=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+        i = RoleInclude.load(role_def, play=play, current_role_path=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager,
+                             loader=loader, collection_list=play.collections)
         roles.append(i)
 
     return roles
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 05c6aea2cb..386f5871c0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
 from ansible.playbook.become import Become
 from ansible.playbook.block import Block
+from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.helpers import load_list_of_blocks, load_list_of_roles
 from ansible.playbook.role import Role
 from ansible.playbook.taggable import Taggable
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ display = Display()
 __all__ = ['Play']
 
 
-class Play(Base, Taggable, Become):
+class Play(Base, Taggable, Become, CollectionSearch):
 
     """
     A play is a language feature that represents a list of roles and/or
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
index 5a01b453ed..a00db31b59 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from ansible.module_utils.common._collections_compat import Container, Mapping,
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
 from ansible.playbook.become import Become
+from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.conditional import Conditional
 from ansible.playbook.helpers import load_list_of_blocks
 from ansible.playbook.role.metadata import RoleMetadata
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ def hash_params(params):
     return frozenset((params,))
 
 
-class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
+class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable, CollectionSearch):
 
     _delegate_to = FieldAttribute(isa='string')
     _delegate_facts = FieldAttribute(isa='bool')
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
     def __init__(self, play=None, from_files=None, from_include=False):
         self._role_name = None
         self._role_path = None
+        self._role_collection = None
         self._role_params = dict()
         self._loader = None
 
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
             if role_include.role not in play.ROLE_CACHE:
                 play.ROLE_CACHE[role_include.role] = dict()
 
+            # FIXME: how to handle cache keys for collection-based roles, since they're technically adjustable per task?
             play.ROLE_CACHE[role_include.role][hashed_params] = r
             return r
 
@@ -176,6 +179,7 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
     def _load_role_data(self, role_include, parent_role=None):
         self._role_name = role_include.role
         self._role_path = role_include.get_role_path()
+        self._role_collection = role_include._role_collection
         self._role_params = role_include.get_role_params()
         self._variable_manager = role_include.get_variable_manager()
         self._loader = role_include.get_loader()
@@ -194,9 +198,6 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
             else:
                 self._attributes[attr_name] = role_include._attributes[attr_name]
 
-        # ensure all plugins dirs for this role are added to plugin search path
-        add_all_plugin_dirs(self._role_path)
-
         # vars and default vars are regular dictionaries
         self._role_vars = self._load_role_yaml('vars', main=self._from_files.get('vars'), allow_dir=True)
         if self._role_vars is None:
@@ -218,6 +219,29 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         else:
             self._metadata = RoleMetadata()
 
+        # reset collections list; roles do not inherit collections from parents, just use the defaults
+        # FUTURE: use a private config default for this so we can allow it to be overridden later
+        self.collections = []
+
+        # configure plugin/collection loading; either prepend the current role's collection or configure legacy plugin loading
+        # FIXME: need exception for explicit ansible.legacy?
+        if self._role_collection:
+            self.collections.insert(0, self._role_collection)
+        else:
+            # legacy role, ensure all plugin dirs under the role are added to plugin search path
+            add_all_plugin_dirs(self._role_path)
+
+        # collections can be specified in metadata for legacy or collection-hosted roles
+        if self._metadata.collections:
+            self.collections.extend(self._metadata.collections)
+
+        # if any collections were specified, ensure that core or legacy synthetic collections are always included
+        if self.collections:
+            # default append collection is core for collection-hosted roles, legacy for others
+            default_append_collection = 'ansible.builtin' if self.collections else 'ansible.legacy'
+            if 'ansible.builtin' not in self.collections and 'ansible.legacy' not in self.collections:
+                self.collections.append(default_append_collection)
+
         task_data = self._load_role_yaml('tasks', main=self._from_files.get('tasks'))
         if task_data:
             try:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
index 235a54490e..c5999bb1b3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
@@ -28,9 +28,11 @@ from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleBaseYAMLObject, AnsibleMapping
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import Attribute, FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
 from ansible.playbook.become import Become
+from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.conditional import Conditional
 from ansible.playbook.taggable import Taggable
 from ansible.template import Templar
+from ansible.utils.collection_loader import get_collection_role_path, is_collection_ref
 from ansible.utils.path import unfrackpath
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 
@@ -39,11 +41,11 @@ __all__ = ['RoleDefinition']
 display = Display()
 
 
-class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
+class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable, CollectionSearch):
 
     _role = FieldAttribute(isa='string')
 
-    def __init__(self, play=None, role_basedir=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
+    def __init__(self, play=None, role_basedir=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None, collection_list=None):
 
         super(RoleDefinition, self).__init__()
 
@@ -52,8 +54,10 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         self._loader = loader
 
         self._role_path = None
+        self._role_collection = None
         self._role_basedir = role_basedir
         self._role_params = dict()
+        self._collection_list = collection_list
 
     # def __repr__(self):
     #     return 'ROLEDEF: ' + self._attributes.get('role', '<no name set>')
@@ -139,6 +143,31 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         append it to the default role path
         '''
 
+        # create a templar class to template the dependency names, in
+        # case they contain variables
+        if self._variable_manager is not None:
+            all_vars = self._variable_manager.get_vars(play=self._play)
+        else:
+            all_vars = dict()
+
+        templar = Templar(loader=self._loader, variables=all_vars)
+        role_name = templar.template(role_name)
+
+        role_tuple = None
+
+        # try to load as a collection-based role first
+        if self._collection_list or is_collection_ref(role_name):
+            role_tuple = get_collection_role_path(role_name, self._collection_list)
+
+        if role_tuple:
+            # we found it, stash collection data and return the name/path tuple
+            self._role_collection = role_tuple[2]
+            return role_tuple[0:2]
+
+        # FUTURE: refactor this to be callable from internal so we can properly order ansible.legacy searches with the collections keyword
+        if self._collection_list and 'ansible.legacy' not in self._collection_list:
+            raise AnsibleError("the role '%s' was not found in %s" % (role_name, ":".join(self._collection_list)), obj=self._ds)
+
         # we always start the search for roles in the base directory of the playbook
         role_search_paths = [
             os.path.join(self._loader.get_basedir(), u'roles'),
@@ -158,16 +187,6 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         # the roles/ dir appended
         role_search_paths.append(self._loader.get_basedir())
 
-        # create a templar class to template the dependency names, in
-        # case they contain variables
-        if self._variable_manager is not None:
-            all_vars = self._variable_manager.get_vars(play=self._play)
-        else:
-            all_vars = dict()
-
-        templar = Templar(loader=self._loader, variables=all_vars)
-        role_name = templar.template(role_name)
-
         # now iterate through the possible paths and return the first one we find
         for path in role_search_paths:
             path = templar.template(path)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py
index ddcdf80997..1e5d901d96 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/include.py
@@ -43,11 +43,12 @@ class RoleInclude(RoleDefinition):
     _delegate_to = FieldAttribute(isa='string')
     _delegate_facts = FieldAttribute(isa='bool', default=False)
 
-    def __init__(self, play=None, role_basedir=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
-        super(RoleInclude, self).__init__(play=play, role_basedir=role_basedir, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+    def __init__(self, play=None, role_basedir=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None, collection_list=None):
+        super(RoleInclude, self).__init__(play=play, role_basedir=role_basedir, variable_manager=variable_manager,
+                                          loader=loader, collection_list=collection_list)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def load(data, play, current_role_path=None, parent_role=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
+    def load(data, play, current_role_path=None, parent_role=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None, collection_list=None):
 
         if not (isinstance(data, string_types) or isinstance(data, dict) or isinstance(data, AnsibleBaseYAMLObject)):
             raise AnsibleParserError("Invalid role definition: %s" % to_native(data))
@@ -55,5 +56,5 @@ class RoleInclude(RoleDefinition):
         if isinstance(data, string_types) and ',' in data:
             raise AnsibleError("Invalid old style role requirement: %s" % data)
 
-        ri = RoleInclude(play=play, role_basedir=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+        ri = RoleInclude(play=play, role_basedir=current_role_path, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader, collection_list=collection_list)
         return ri.load_data(data, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
index b50387329c..fd1d873734 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/metadata.py
@@ -23,17 +23,17 @@ import os
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleError
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
-from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
-from ansible.playbook.attribute import Attribute, FieldAttribute
+from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
+from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
+from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.helpers import load_list_of_roles
-from ansible.playbook.role.include import RoleInclude
 from ansible.playbook.role.requirement import RoleRequirement
 
 __all__ = ['RoleMetadata']
 
 
-class RoleMetadata(Base):
+class RoleMetadata(Base, CollectionSearch):
     '''
     This class wraps the parsing and validation of the optional metadata
     within each Role (meta/main.yml).
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class RoleMetadata(Base):
     def serialize(self):
         return dict(
             allow_duplicates=self._allow_duplicates,
-            dependencies=self._dependencies,
+            dependencies=self._dependencies
         )
 
     def deserialize(self, data):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
index e63c4ac537..870dea80d6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class IncludeRole(TaskInclude):
         else:
             myplay = play
 
-        ri = RoleInclude.load(self._role_name, play=myplay, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+        ri = RoleInclude.load(self._role_name, play=myplay, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader, collection_list=self.collections)
         ri.vars.update(self.vars)
 
         # build role
@@ -97,9 +97,14 @@ class IncludeRole(TaskInclude):
 
         p_block = self.build_parent_block()
 
+        # collections value is not inherited; override with the value we calculated during role setup
+        p_block.collections = actual_role.collections
+
         blocks = actual_role.compile(play=myplay, dep_chain=dep_chain)
         for b in blocks:
             b._parent = p_block
+            # HACK: parent inheritance doesn't seem to have a way to handle this intermediate override until squashed/finalized
+            b.collections = actual_role.collections
 
         # updated available handlers in play
         handlers = actual_role.get_handler_blocks(play=myplay)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index 80854f3fb9..68204b4968 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
 from ansible.playbook.become import Become
 from ansible.playbook.block import Block
+from ansible.playbook.collectionsearch import CollectionSearch
 from ansible.playbook.conditional import Conditional
 from ansible.playbook.loop_control import LoopControl
 from ansible.playbook.role import Role
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ __all__ = ['Task']
 display = Display()
 
 
-class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, Become):
+class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, Become, CollectionSearch):
 
     """
     A task is a language feature that represents a call to a module, with given arguments and other parameters.
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, Become):
         # use the args parsing class to determine the action, args,
         # and the delegate_to value from the various possible forms
         # supported as legacy
-        args_parser = ModuleArgsParser(task_ds=ds)
+        args_parser = ModuleArgsParser(task_ds=ds, collection_list=self.collections)
         try:
             (action, args, delegate_to) = args_parser.parse()
         except AnsibleParserError as e:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
index ff2db2bfc3..3682145ec7 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class ActionBase(with_metaclass(ABCMeta, object)):
                         if key in module_args:
                             module_args[key] = self._connection._shell._unquote(module_args[key])
 
-            module_path = self._shared_loader_obj.module_loader.find_plugin(module_name, mod_type)
+            module_path = self._shared_loader_obj.module_loader.find_plugin(module_name, mod_type, collection_list=self._task.collections)
             if module_path:
                 break
         else:  # This is a for-else: http://bit.ly/1ElPkyg
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
index 9c9458f349..1a40b89929 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/loader.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import glob
 import imp
 import os
 import os.path
+import pkgutil
 import sys
 import warnings
 
@@ -23,9 +24,15 @@ from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.parsing.utils.yaml import from_yaml
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.loader import AnsibleLoader
 from ansible.plugins import get_plugin_class, MODULE_CACHE, PATH_CACHE, PLUGIN_PATH_CACHE
+from ansible.utils.collection_loader import AnsibleCollectionLoader, AnsibleFlatMapLoader, is_collection_ref
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 from ansible.utils.plugin_docs import add_fragments
 
+# HACK: keep Python 2.6 controller tests happy in CI until they're properly split
+try:
+    from importlib import import_module
+except ImportError:
+    import_module = __import__
 
 display = Display()
 
@@ -298,7 +305,69 @@ class PluginLoader:
                 self._clear_caches()
                 display.debug('Added %s to loader search path' % (directory))
 
-    def _find_plugin(self, name, mod_type='', ignore_deprecated=False, check_aliases=False):
+    def _find_fq_plugin(self, fq_name, extension):
+        fq_name = to_native(fq_name)
+        # prefix our extension Python namespace if it isn't already there
+        if not fq_name.startswith('ansible_collections.'):
+            fq_name = 'ansible_collections.' + fq_name
+
+        splitname = fq_name.rsplit('.', 1)
+        if len(splitname) != 2:
+            raise ValueError('{0} is not a valid namespace-qualified plugin name'.format(to_native(fq_name)))
+
+        package = splitname[0]
+        resource = splitname[1]
+
+        append_plugin_type = self.class_name or self.subdir
+
+        if append_plugin_type:
+            # only current non-class special case, module_utils don't use this loader method
+            if append_plugin_type == 'library':
+                append_plugin_type = 'modules'
+            else:
+                append_plugin_type = get_plugin_class(append_plugin_type)
+            package += '.plugins.{0}'.format(append_plugin_type)
+
+        if extension:
+            resource += extension
+
+        pkg = sys.modules.get(package)
+        if not pkg:
+            # FIXME: there must be cheaper/safer way to do this
+            pkg = import_module(package)
+
+        # if the package is one of our flatmaps, we need to consult its loader to find the path, since the file could be
+        # anywhere in the tree
+        if hasattr(pkg, '__loader__') and isinstance(pkg.__loader__, AnsibleFlatMapLoader):
+            try:
+                file_path = pkg.__loader__.find_file(resource)
+                return to_text(file_path)
+            except IOError:
+                # this loader already takes care of extensionless files, so if we didn't find it, just bail
+                return None
+
+        pkg_path = os.path.dirname(pkg.__file__)
+
+        resource_path = os.path.join(pkg_path, resource)
+
+        # FIXME: and is file or file link or ...
+        if os.path.exists(resource_path):
+            return to_text(resource_path)
+
+        # look for any matching extension in the package location (sans filter)
+        ext_blacklist = ['.pyc', '.pyo']
+        found_files = [f for f in glob.iglob(os.path.join(pkg_path, resource) + '.*') if os.path.isfile(f) and os.path.splitext(f)[1] not in ext_blacklist]
+
+        if not found_files:
+            return None
+
+        if len(found_files) > 1:
+            # TODO: warn?
+            pass
+
+        return to_text(found_files[0])
+
+    def _find_plugin(self, name, mod_type='', ignore_deprecated=False, check_aliases=False, collection_list=None):
         ''' Find a plugin named name '''
 
         global _PLUGIN_FILTERS
@@ -315,6 +384,38 @@ class PluginLoader:
             # they can have any suffix
             suffix = ''
 
+        # HACK: need this right now so we can still load shipped PS module_utils
+        if (is_collection_ref(name) or collection_list) and not name.startswith('Ansible'):
+            if '.' in name or not collection_list:
+                candidates = [name]
+            else:
+                candidates = ['{0}.{1}'.format(c, name) for c in collection_list]
+            # TODO: keep actual errors, not just assembled messages
+            errors = []
+            for candidate_name in candidates:
+                try:
+                    # HACK: refactor this properly
+                    if candidate_name.startswith('ansible.legacy'):
+                        # just pass the raw name to the old lookup function to check in all the usual locations
+                        p = self._find_plugin_legacy(name.replace('ansible.legacy.', '', 1), ignore_deprecated, check_aliases, suffix)
+                    else:
+                        p = self._find_fq_plugin(candidate_name, suffix)
+                    if p:
+                        return p
+                except Exception as ex:
+                    errors.append(to_native(ex))
+
+            if errors:
+                display.debug(msg='plugin lookup for {0} failed; errors: {1}'.format(name, '; '.join(errors)))
+
+            return None
+
+        # if we got here, there's no collection list and it's not an FQ name, so do legacy lookup
+
+        return self._find_plugin_legacy(name, ignore_deprecated, check_aliases, suffix)
+
+    def _find_plugin_legacy(self, name, ignore_deprecated=False, check_aliases=False, suffix=None):
+
         if check_aliases:
             name = self.aliases.get(name, name)
 
@@ -388,13 +489,13 @@ class PluginLoader:
 
         return None
 
-    def find_plugin(self, name, mod_type='', ignore_deprecated=False, check_aliases=False):
+    def find_plugin(self, name, mod_type='', ignore_deprecated=False, check_aliases=False, collection_list=None):
         ''' Find a plugin named name '''
 
         # Import here to avoid circular import
         from ansible.vars.reserved import is_reserved_name
 
-        plugin = self._find_plugin(name, mod_type=mod_type, ignore_deprecated=ignore_deprecated, check_aliases=check_aliases)
+        plugin = self._find_plugin(name, mod_type=mod_type, ignore_deprecated=ignore_deprecated, check_aliases=check_aliases, collection_list=collection_list)
         if plugin and self.package == 'ansible.modules' and name not in ('gather_facts',) and is_reserved_name(name):
             raise AnsibleError(
                 'Module "%s" shadows the name of a reserved keyword. Please rename or remove this module. Found at %s' % (name, plugin)
@@ -402,10 +503,16 @@ class PluginLoader:
 
         return plugin
 
-    def has_plugin(self, name):
+    def has_plugin(self, name, collection_list=None):
         ''' Checks if a plugin named name exists '''
 
-        return self.find_plugin(name) is not None
+        try:
+            return self.find_plugin(name, collection_list=collection_list) is not None
+        except Exception as ex:
+            if isinstance(ex, AnsibleError):
+                raise
+            # log and continue, likely an innocuous type/package loading failure in collections import
+            display.debug('has_plugin error: {0}'.format(to_native(ex)))
 
     __contains__ = has_plugin
 
@@ -436,9 +543,10 @@ class PluginLoader:
 
         found_in_cache = True
         class_only = kwargs.pop('class_only', False)
+        collection_list = kwargs.pop('collection_list', None)
         if name in self.aliases:
             name = self.aliases[name]
-        path = self.find_plugin(name)
+        path = self.find_plugin(name, collection_list=collection_list)
         if path is None:
             return None
 
@@ -600,14 +708,20 @@ class Jinja2Loader(PluginLoader):
     The filter and test plugins are Jinja2 plugins encapsulated inside of our plugin format.
     The way the calling code is setup, we need to do a few things differently in the all() method
     """
-    def find_plugin(self, name):
+    def find_plugin(self, name, collection_list=None):
         # Nothing using Jinja2Loader use this method.  We can't use the base class version because
         # we deduplicate differently than the base class
+        if '.' in name:
+            return super(Jinja2Loader, self).find_plugin(name, collection_list=collection_list)
+
         raise AnsibleError('No code should call find_plugin for Jinja2Loaders (Not implemented)')
 
     def get(self, name, *args, **kwargs):
         # Nothing using Jinja2Loader use this method.  We can't use the base class version because
         # we deduplicate differently than the base class
+        if '.' in name:
+            return super(Jinja2Loader, self).get(name, *args, **kwargs)
+
         raise AnsibleError('No code should call find_plugin for Jinja2Loaders (Not implemented)')
 
     def all(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -695,11 +809,18 @@ def _load_plugin_filter():
     return filters
 
 
+def _configure_collection_loader():
+    if not any((isinstance(l, AnsibleCollectionLoader) for l in sys.meta_path)):
+        sys.meta_path.insert(0, AnsibleCollectionLoader())
+
+
 # TODO: All of the following is initialization code   It should be moved inside of an initialization
 # function which is called at some point early in the ansible and ansible-playbook CLI startup.
 
 _PLUGIN_FILTERS = _load_plugin_filter()
 
+_configure_collection_loader()
+
 # doc fragments first
 fragment_loader = PluginLoader(
     'ModuleDocFragment',
diff --git a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
index 86ca17968f..a3e6af1062 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
@@ -20,15 +20,14 @@ from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
 import ast
-import contextlib
 import datetime
 import os
+import pkgutil
 import pwd
 import re
 import time
 
 from functools import wraps
-from io import StringIO
 from numbers import Number
 
 try:
@@ -42,9 +41,9 @@ from jinja2.runtime import Context, StrictUndefined
 
 from ansible import constants as C
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleFilterError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleAssertionError
-from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types, text_type
+from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types, text_type
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native, to_text, to_bytes
-from ansible.module_utils.common._collections_compat import Sequence, Mapping
+from ansible.module_utils.common._collections_compat import Sequence, Mapping, MutableMapping
 from ansible.plugins.loader import filter_loader, lookup_loader, test_loader
 from ansible.template.safe_eval import safe_eval
 from ansible.template.template import AnsibleJ2Template
@@ -52,6 +51,12 @@ from ansible.template.vars import AnsibleJ2Vars
 from ansible.utils.display import Display
 from ansible.utils.unsafe_proxy import UnsafeProxy, wrap_var
 
+# HACK: keep Python 2.6 controller tests happy in CI until they're properly split
+try:
+    from importlib import import_module
+except ImportError:
+    import_module = __import__
+
 display = Display()
 
 
@@ -255,6 +260,83 @@ class AnsibleContext(Context):
         return val
 
 
+class JinjaPluginIntercept(MutableMapping):
+    def __init__(self, delegatee, pluginloader, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(JinjaPluginIntercept, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self._delegatee = delegatee
+        self._pluginloader = pluginloader
+
+        if self._pluginloader.class_name == 'FilterModule':
+            self._method_map_name = 'filters'
+            self._dirname = 'filter'
+        elif self._pluginloader.class_name == 'TestModule':
+            self._method_map_name = 'tests'
+            self._dirname = 'test'
+
+        self._collection_jinja_func_cache = {}
+
+    # FUTURE: we can cache FQ filter/test calls for the entire duration of a run, since a given collection's impl's
+    # aren't supposed to change during a run
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        if not isinstance(key, string_types):
+            raise ValueError('key must be a string')
+
+        key = to_native(key)
+
+        if '.' not in key:  # might be a built-in value, delegate to base dict
+            return self._delegatee.__getitem__(key)
+
+        func = self._collection_jinja_func_cache.get(key)
+
+        if func:
+            return func
+
+        components = key.split('.')
+
+        if len(components) != 3:
+            raise KeyError('invalid plugin name: {0}'.format(key))
+
+        collection_name = '.'.join(components[0:2])
+        collection_pkg = 'ansible_collections.{0}.plugins.{1}'.format(collection_name, self._dirname)
+
+        # FIXME: error handling for bogus plugin name, bogus impl, bogus filter/test
+
+        # FIXME: move this capability into the Jinja plugin loader
+        pkg = import_module(collection_pkg)
+
+        for dummy, module_name, ispkg in pkgutil.iter_modules(pkg.__path__, prefix=collection_name + '.'):
+            if ispkg:
+                continue
+
+            plugin_impl = self._pluginloader.get(module_name)
+
+            method_map = getattr(plugin_impl, self._method_map_name)
+
+            for f in iteritems(method_map()):
+                fq_name = '.'.join((collection_name, f[0]))
+                self._collection_jinja_func_cache[fq_name] = f[1]
+
+            function_impl = self._collection_jinja_func_cache[key]
+
+        # FIXME: detect/warn on intra-collection function name collisions
+
+        return function_impl
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        return self._delegatee.__setitem__(key, value)
+
+    def __delitem__(self, key):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        # not strictly accurate since we're not counting dynamically-loaded values
+        return iter(self._delegatee)
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        # not strictly accurate since we're not counting dynamically-loaded values
+        return len(self._delegatee)
+
+
 class AnsibleEnvironment(Environment):
     '''
     Our custom environment, which simply allows us to override the class-level
@@ -263,6 +345,12 @@ class AnsibleEnvironment(Environment):
     context_class = AnsibleContext
     template_class = AnsibleJ2Template
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(AnsibleEnvironment, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        self.filters = JinjaPluginIntercept(self.filters, filter_loader)
+        self.tests = JinjaPluginIntercept(self.tests, test_loader)
+
 
 class Templar:
     '''
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/collection_loader.py b/lib/ansible/utils/collection_loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..231d1e5239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/collection_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,304 @@
+# (c) 2019 Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import os.path
+import pkgutil
+import re
+import sys
+
+from types import ModuleType
+
+from ansible import constants as C
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native, to_text
+from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
+
+# HACK: keep Python 2.6 controller tests happy in CI until they're properly split
+try:
+    from importlib import import_module
+except ImportError:
+    import_module = __import__
+
+_SYNTHETIC_PACKAGES = {
+    'ansible_collections.ansible': dict(type='pkg_only'),
+    'ansible_collections.ansible.builtin': dict(type='pkg_only'),
+    'ansible_collections.ansible.builtin.plugins': dict(type='map', map='ansible.plugins'),
+    'ansible_collections.ansible.builtin.plugins.module_utils': dict(type='map', map='ansible.module_utils', graft=True),
+    'ansible_collections.ansible.builtin.plugins.modules': dict(type='flatmap', flatmap='ansible.modules', graft=True),
+}
+
+# TODO: tighten this up to subset Python identifier requirements (and however we want to restrict ns/collection names)
+_collection_qualified_re = re.compile(to_text(r'^(\w+)\.(\w+)\.(\w+)$'))
+
+
+# FIXME: exception handling/error logging
+class AnsibleCollectionLoader(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._n_configured_paths = C.config.get_config_value('COLLECTIONS_PATHS')
+
+        if isinstance(self._n_configured_paths, string_types):
+            self._n_configured_paths = [self._n_configured_paths]
+        elif self._n_configured_paths is None:
+            self._n_configured_paths = []
+
+        # expand any placeholders in configured paths
+        self._n_configured_paths = [to_native(os.path.expanduser(p), errors='surrogate_or_strict') for p in self._n_configured_paths]
+
+        self._n_playbook_paths = []
+        # pre-inject grafted package maps so we can force them to use the right loader instead of potentially delegating to a "normal" loader
+        for syn_pkg_def in (p for p in iteritems(_SYNTHETIC_PACKAGES) if p[1].get('graft')):
+            pkg_name = syn_pkg_def[0]
+            pkg_def = syn_pkg_def[1]
+
+            newmod = ModuleType(pkg_name)
+            newmod.__package__ = pkg_name
+            newmod.__file__ = '<ansible_synthetic_collection_package>'
+            pkg_type = pkg_def.get('type')
+
+            # TODO: need to rethink map style so we can just delegate all the loading
+
+            if pkg_type == 'flatmap':
+                newmod.__loader__ = AnsibleFlatMapLoader(import_module(pkg_def['flatmap']))
+            newmod.__path__ = []
+
+            sys.modules[pkg_name] = newmod
+
+    @property
+    def _n_collection_paths(self):
+        return self._n_playbook_paths + self._n_configured_paths
+
+    def set_playbook_paths(self, b_playbook_paths):
+        if isinstance(b_playbook_paths, string_types):
+            b_playbook_paths = [b_playbook_paths]
+
+        # track visited paths; we have to preserve the dir order as-passed in case there are duplicate collections (first one wins)
+        added_paths = set()
+
+        # de-dupe and ensure the paths are native strings (Python seems to do this for package paths etc, so assume it's safe)
+        self._n_playbook_paths = [os.path.join(to_native(p), 'collections') for p in b_playbook_paths if not (p in added_paths or added_paths.add(p))]
+        # FIXME: only allow setting this once, or handle any necessary cache/package path invalidations internally?
+
+    def find_module(self, fullname, path=None):
+        # this loader is only concerned with items under the Ansible Collections namespace hierarchy, ignore others
+        if fullname.startswith('ansible_collections.') or fullname == 'ansible_collections':
+            return self
+
+        return None
+
+    def load_module(self, fullname):
+        if sys.modules.get(fullname):
+            return sys.modules[fullname]
+
+        # this loader implements key functionality for Ansible collections
+        # * implicit distributed namespace packages for the root Ansible namespace (no pkgutil.extend_path hackery reqd)
+        # * implicit package support for Python 2.7 (no need for __init__.py in collections, except to use standard Py2.7 tooling)
+        # * preventing controller-side code injection during collection loading
+        # * (default loader would execute arbitrary package code from all __init__.py's)
+
+        parent_pkg_name = '.'.join(fullname.split('.')[:-1])
+
+        parent_pkg = sys.modules.get(parent_pkg_name)
+
+        if parent_pkg_name and not parent_pkg:
+            raise ImportError('parent package {0} not found'.format(parent_pkg_name))
+
+        # are we at or below the collection level? eg a.mynamespace.mycollection.something.else
+        # if so, we don't want distributed namespace behavior; first mynamespace.mycollection on the path is where
+        # we'll load everything from (ie, don't fall back to another mynamespace.mycollection lower on the path)
+        sub_collection = fullname.count('.') > 1
+
+        synpkg_def = _SYNTHETIC_PACKAGES.get(fullname)
+
+        # FIXME: collapse as much of this back to on-demand as possible (maybe stub packages that get replaced when actually loaded?)
+        if synpkg_def:
+            pkg_type = synpkg_def.get('type')
+            if not pkg_type:
+                raise KeyError('invalid synthetic package type (no package "type" specified)')
+            if pkg_type == 'map':
+                map_package = synpkg_def.get('map')
+
+                if not map_package:
+                    raise KeyError('invalid synthetic map package definition (no target "map" defined)')
+                mod = import_module(map_package)
+
+                sys.modules[fullname] = mod
+
+                return mod
+            elif pkg_type == 'flatmap':
+                raise NotImplementedError()
+            elif pkg_type == 'pkg_only':
+                newmod = ModuleType(fullname)
+                newmod.__package__ = fullname
+                newmod.__file__ = '<ansible_synthetic_collection_package>'
+                newmod.__loader__ = self
+                newmod.__path__ = []
+
+                sys.modules[fullname] = newmod
+
+                return newmod
+
+        if not parent_pkg:  # top-level package, look for NS subpackages on all collection paths
+            package_paths = [self._extend_path_with_ns(p, fullname) for p in self._n_collection_paths]
+        else:  # subpackage; search in all subpaths (we'll limit later inside a collection)
+            package_paths = [self._extend_path_with_ns(p, fullname) for p in parent_pkg.__path__]
+
+        for candidate_child_path in package_paths:
+            source = None
+            is_package = True
+            location = None
+            # check for implicit sub-package first
+            if os.path.isdir(candidate_child_path):
+                # Py3.x implicit namespace packages don't have a file location, so they don't support get_data
+                # (which assumes the parent dir or that the loader has an internal mapping); so we have to provide
+                # a bogus leaf file on the __file__ attribute for pkgutil.get_data to strip off
+                location = os.path.join(candidate_child_path, '__synthetic__')
+            else:
+                for source_path in [os.path.join(candidate_child_path, '__init__.py'),
+                                    candidate_child_path + '.py']:
+                    if not os.path.isfile(source_path):
+                        continue
+
+                    with open(source_path, 'rb') as fd:
+                        source = fd.read()
+                    location = source_path
+                    is_package = source_path.endswith('__init__.py')
+                    break
+
+                if not location:
+                    continue
+
+            newmod = ModuleType(fullname)
+            newmod.__package__ = fullname
+            newmod.__file__ = location
+            newmod.__loader__ = self
+
+            if is_package:
+                if sub_collection:  # we never want to search multiple instances of the same collection; use first found
+                    newmod.__path__ = [candidate_child_path]
+                else:
+                    newmod.__path__ = package_paths
+
+            if source:
+                # FIXME: decide cases where we don't actually want to exec the code?
+                exec(source, newmod.__dict__)
+
+            sys.modules[fullname] = newmod
+
+            return newmod
+
+        # FIXME: need to handle the "no dirs present" case for at least the root and synthetic internal collections like ansible.builtin
+
+        return None
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _extend_path_with_ns(path, ns):
+        ns_path_add = ns.rsplit('.', 1)[-1]
+
+        return os.path.join(path, ns_path_add)
+
+    def get_data(self, filename):
+        with open(filename, 'rb') as fd:
+            return fd.read()
+
+
+class AnsibleFlatMapLoader(object):
+    _extension_blacklist = ['.pyc', '.pyo']
+
+    def __init__(self, root_package):
+        self._root_package = root_package
+        self._dirtree = None
+
+    def _init_dirtree(self):
+        # FIXME: thread safety
+        root_path = os.path.dirname(self._root_package.__file__)
+        flat_files = []
+        # FIXME: make this a dict of filename->dir for faster direct lookup?
+        # FIXME: deal with _ prefixed deprecated files (or require another method for collections?)
+        # FIXME: fix overloaded filenames (eg, rename Windows setup to win_setup)
+        for root, dirs, files in os.walk(root_path):
+            # add all files in this dir that don't have a blacklisted extension
+            flat_files.extend(((root, f) for f in files if not any((f.endswith(ext) for ext in self._extension_blacklist))))
+        self._dirtree = flat_files
+
+    def find_file(self, filename):
+        # FIXME: thread safety
+        if not self._dirtree:
+            self._init_dirtree()
+
+        if '.' not in filename:  # no extension specified, use extension regex to filter
+            extensionless_re = re.compile(r'^{0}(\..+)?$'.format(re.escape(filename)))
+            # why doesn't Python have first()?
+            try:
+                # FIXME: store extensionless in a separate direct lookup?
+                filepath = next(os.path.join(r, f) for r, f in self._dirtree if extensionless_re.match(f))
+            except StopIteration:
+                raise IOError("couldn't find {0}".format(filename))
+        else:  # actual filename, just look it up
+            # FIXME: this case sucks; make it a lookup
+            try:
+                filepath = next(os.path.join(r, f) for r, f in self._dirtree if f == filename)
+            except StopIteration:
+                raise IOError("couldn't find {0}".format(filename))
+
+        return filepath
+
+    def get_data(self, filename):
+        found_file = self.find_file(filename)
+
+        with open(found_file, 'rb') as fd:
+            return fd.read()
+
+
+# TODO: implement these for easier inline debugging?
+#    def get_source(self, fullname):
+#    def get_code(self, fullname):
+#    def is_package(self, fullname):
+
+
+def get_collection_role_path(role_name, collection_list=None):
+    match = _collection_qualified_re.match(role_name)
+
+    if match:
+        grps = match.groups()
+        collection_list = ['.'.join(grps[:2])]
+        role = grps[2]
+    elif not collection_list:
+        return None  # not a FQ role and no collection search list spec'd, nothing to do
+    else:
+        role = role_name
+
+    for collection_name in collection_list:
+        try:
+            role_package = u'ansible_collections.{0}.roles.{1}'.format(collection_name, role)
+            # FIXME: error handling/logging; need to catch any import failures and move along
+
+            # FIXME: this line shouldn't be necessary, but py2 pkgutil.get_data is delegating back to built-in loader when it shouldn't
+            pkg = import_module(role_package + u'.tasks')
+
+            # get_data input must be a native string
+            tasks_file = pkgutil.get_data(to_native(role_package) + '.tasks', 'main.yml')
+
+            if tasks_file is not None:
+                # the package is now loaded, get the collection's package and ask where it lives
+                path = os.path.dirname(to_bytes(sys.modules[role_package].__file__, errors='surrogate_or_strict'))
+                return role, to_text(path, errors='surrogate_or_strict'), collection_name
+
+        except IOError:
+            continue
+        except Exception as ex:
+            # FIXME: pick out typical import errors first, then error logging
+            continue
+
+    return None
+
+
+def is_collection_ref(candidate_name):
+    return bool(_collection_qualified_re.match(candidate_name))
+
+
+def set_collection_playbook_paths(b_playbook_paths):
+    # set for any/all AnsibleCollectionLoader instance(s) on meta_path
+    for loader in (l for l in sys.meta_path if isinstance(l, AnsibleCollectionLoader)):
+        loader.set_playbook_paths(b_playbook_paths)
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/a.statichost.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/a.statichost.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..683878aa1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/a.statichost.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# use a plugin defined in a content-adjacent collection to ensure we added it properly
+plugin: testns.content_adj.statichost
+hostname: dynamic_host_a
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/aliases b/test/integration/targets/collections/aliases
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8db6de9ddc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/aliases
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+shippable/posix/group4
+skip/python2.6
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/coll_in_sys/plugins/modules/systestmodule.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/coll_in_sys/plugins/modules/systestmodule.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6fdf0bb3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/coll_in_sys/plugins/modules/systestmodule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='sys')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/maskedmodule.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/maskedmodule.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cb80674870
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/maskedmodule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, failed=True, msg='this collection should be masked by testcoll in the user content root')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/testmodule.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/testmodule.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6fdf0bb3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/testmodule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='sys')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/maskedrole/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/maskedrole/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..21fe324a1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_sys/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/maskedrole/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- fail:
+    msg: this role should never be visible or runnable
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/action/plugin_lookup.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/action/plugin_lookup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f4568a4fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/action/plugin_lookup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from ansible.plugins.action import ActionBase
+from ansible.plugins import loader
+
+
+class ActionModule(ActionBase):
+    TRANSFERS_FILES = False
+    _VALID_ARGS = frozenset(('type', 'name'))
+
+    def run(self, tmp=None, task_vars=None):
+        if task_vars is None:
+            task_vars = dict()
+
+        result = super(ActionModule, self).run(None, task_vars)
+
+        type = self._task.args.get('type')
+        name = self._task.args.get('name')
+
+        result = dict(changed=False, collection_list=self._task.collections)
+
+        if all([type, name]):
+            attr_name = '{0}_loader'.format(type)
+
+            typed_loader = getattr(loader, attr_name, None)
+
+            if not typed_loader:
+                return (dict(failed=True, msg='invalid plugin type {0}'.format(type)))
+
+            result['plugin_path'] = typed_loader.find_plugin(name, collection_list=self._task.collections)
+
+        return result
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/callback/usercallback.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/callback/usercallback.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2c73488f03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/callback/usercallback.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+from ansible.plugins.callback import CallbackBase
+
+DOCUMENTATION = '''
+    callback: usercallback
+    callback_type: notification
+    short_description: does stuff
+    description:
+      - does some stuff
+'''
+
+
+class CallbackModule(CallbackBase):
+    CALLBACK_VERSION = 2.0
+    CALLBACK_TYPE = 'aggregate'
+    CALLBACK_NAME = 'usercallback'
+    CALLBACK_NEEDS_WHITELIST = True
+
+    def __init__(self):
+
+        super(CallbackModule, self).__init__()
+        self._display.display("loaded usercallback from collection, yay")
+
+    def v2_runner_on_ok(self, result):
+        self._display.display("usercallback says ok")
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/connection/localconn.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/connection/localconn.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f85d127450
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/connection/localconn.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
+from ansible.plugins.connection import ConnectionBase
+
+DOCUMENTATION = """
+    connection: localconn
+    short_description: do stuff local
+    description:
+        - does stuff
+    options:
+      connectionvar:
+        description:
+            - something we set
+        default: the_default
+        vars:
+            - name: ansible_localconn_connectionvar
+"""
+
+
+class Connection(ConnectionBase):
+    transport = 'local'
+    has_pipelining = True
+
+    def _connect(self):
+        return self
+
+    def exec_command(self, cmd, in_data=None, sudoable=True):
+        stdout = 'localconn ran {0}'.format(to_native(cmd))
+        stderr = 'connectionvar is {0}'.format(to_native(self.get_option('connectionvar')))
+        return (0, stdout, stderr)
+
+    def put_file(self, in_path, out_path):
+        raise NotImplementedError('just a test')
+
+    def fetch_file(self, in_path, out_path):
+        raise NotImplementedError('just a test')
+
+    def close(self):
+        self._connected = False
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/filter/myfilters.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/filter/myfilters.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9fa199b602
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/filter/myfilters.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+def testfilter(data):
+    return "{0}_from_userdir".format(data)
+
+
+class FilterModule(object):
+
+    def filters(self):
+        return {
+            'testfilter': testfilter
+        }
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/lookup/mylookup.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/lookup/mylookup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f3a7b1fa20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/lookup/mylookup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
+
+
+class LookupModule(LookupBase):
+
+    def run(self, terms, variables, **kwargs):
+
+        return ['lookup_from_user_dir']
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/base.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c22bb1c572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# FIXME: this style (full module import via from) doesn't work yet from collections
+# from ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils import secondary
+import ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils.secondary
+
+
+def thingtocall():
+    return "thingtocall in base called " + ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils.secondary.thingtocall()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/leaf.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/leaf.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e1d2f908cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/leaf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+def thingtocall():
+    return "thingtocall in leaf"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/secondary.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/secondary.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d3b74b738b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/module_utils/secondary.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+def thingtocall():
+    return "thingtocall in secondary"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/ping.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/ping.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..58d3152f28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/ping.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='user')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/testmodule.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/testmodule.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..58d3152f28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/testmodule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='user')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_base_mu_granular_nested_import.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_base_mu_granular_nested_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80c7db2d00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_base_mu_granular_nested_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+import sys
+
+# FIXME: this is only required due to a bug around "new style module detection"
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils.base import thingtocall
+
+
+def main():
+    mu_result = thingtocall()
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='user', mu_result=mu_result)))
+
+    sys.exit()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_flat_import.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_flat_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e3da67dded
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_flat_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+import sys
+
+# FIXME: this is only required due to a bug around "new style module detection"
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+import ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils.leaf
+
+
+def main():
+    mu_result = ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils.leaf.thingtocall()
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='user', mu_result=mu_result)))
+
+    sys.exit()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_granular_import.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_granular_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19c5b990b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_granular_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+import sys
+
+# FIXME: this is only required due to a bug around "new style module detection"
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils.leaf import thingtocall
+
+
+def main():
+    mu_result = thingtocall()
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='user', mu_result=mu_result)))
+
+    sys.exit()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_module_import_from.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_module_import_from.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..83988d4d89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/modules/uses_leaf_mu_module_import_from.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+import sys
+
+# FIXME: this is only required due to a bug around "new style module detection"
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+# FIXME: this style doesn't work yet under collections
+from ansible_collections.testns.testcoll.plugins.module_utils import leaf
+
+
+def main():
+    mu_result = leaf.thingtocall()
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='user', mu_result=mu_result)))
+
+    sys.exit()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/test/mytests.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/test/mytests.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3804c847e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/plugins/test/mytests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+def testtest(data):
+    return data == 'from_user'
+
+
+class TestModule(object):
+    def tests(self):
+        return {
+            'testtest': testtest
+        }
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/testrole/meta/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/testrole/meta/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8c22c1c621
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/testrole/meta/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+collections:
+- ansible.builtin
+- testns.coll_in_sys
+- bogus.fromrolemeta
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/testrole/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/testrole/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0fa5302eef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collection_root_user/ansible_collections/testns/testcoll/roles/testrole/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+- name: check collections list from role meta
+  plugin_lookup:
+  register: pluginlookup_out
+
+- name: call role-local ping module
+  ping:
+  register: ping_out
+
+- name: call unqualified module in another collection listed in role meta (testns.coll_in_sys)
+  systestmodule:
+  register: systestmodule_out
+
+# verify that pluginloader caching doesn't prevent us from explicitly calling a builtin plugin with the same name
+- name: call builtin ping module explicitly
+  ansible.builtin.ping:
+  register: builtinping_out
+
+- debug:
+    msg: '{{ test_role_input | default("(undefined)") }}'
+  register: test_role_output
+
+# FIXME: add tests to ensure that block/task level stuff in a collection-hosted role properly inherit role default/meta values
+
+- assert:
+    that:
+    - pluginlookup_out.collection_list == ['testns.testcoll', 'ansible.builtin', 'testns.coll_in_sys', 'bogus.fromrolemeta']
+    - ping_out.source is defined and ping_out.source == 'user'
+    - systestmodule_out.source is defined and systestmodule_out.source == 'sys'
+    - builtinping_out.ping is defined and builtinping_out.ping == 'pong'
+    - test_role_input is not defined or test_role_input == test_role_output.msg
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collections/ansible_collections/testns/content_adj/plugins/inventory/statichost.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collections/ansible_collections/testns/content_adj/plugins/inventory/statichost.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d4d88ffb13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collections/ansible_collections/testns/content_adj/plugins/inventory/statichost.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+DOCUMENTATION = '''
+    inventory: statichost
+    short_description: Add a single host
+    options:
+      plugin:
+        description: plugin name (must be statichost)
+        required: true
+      hostname:
+        description: Toggle display of stderr even when script was successful
+        type: list
+'''
+
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError
+from ansible.plugins.inventory import BaseInventoryPlugin, Cacheable
+
+
+class InventoryModule(BaseInventoryPlugin):
+
+    NAME = 'statichost'
+
+    def __init__(self):
+
+        super(InventoryModule, self).__init__()
+
+        self._hosts = set()
+
+    def verify_file(self, path):
+        ''' Verify if file is usable by this plugin, base does minimal accessibility check '''
+
+        if not path.endswith('.statichost.yml') and not path.endswith('.statichost.yaml'):
+            return False
+        return super(InventoryModule, self).verify_file(path)
+
+    def parse(self, inventory, loader, path, cache=None):
+
+        super(InventoryModule, self).parse(inventory, loader, path)
+
+        config_data = loader.load_from_file(path, cache=False)
+        host_to_add = config_data.get('hostname')
+
+        if not host_to_add:
+            raise AnsibleParserError("hostname was not specified")
+
+        # this is where the magic happens
+        self.inventory.add_host(host_to_add, 'all')
+
+        # self.inventory.add_group()...
+        # self.inventory.add_child()...
+        # self.inventory.set_variable()..
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/collections/ansible_collections/testns/content_adj/plugins/modules/contentadjmodule.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/collections/ansible_collections/testns/content_adj/plugins/modules/contentadjmodule.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a154ac929b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/collections/ansible_collections/testns/content_adj/plugins/modules/contentadjmodule.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='content_adj')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/library/ping.py b/test/integration/targets/collections/library/ping.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1df011fe97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/library/ping.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+import json
+
+
+def main():
+    print(json.dumps(dict(changed=False, source='legacy_library_dir')))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/play.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/play.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5efc700037
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/play.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+- hosts: testhost
+  tasks:
+  # basic test of FQ module lookup and that we got the right one (user-dir hosted)
+  - name: exec FQ module in a user-dir testns collection
+    testns.testcoll.testmodule:
+    register: testmodule_out
+
+  # verifies that distributed collection subpackages are visible under a multi-location namespace (testns exists in user and sys locations)
+  - name: exec FQ module in a sys-dir testns collection
+    testns.coll_in_sys.systestmodule:
+    register: systestmodule_out
+
+  # verifies that content-adjacent collections were automatically added to the installed content roots
+  - name: exec FQ module from content-adjacent collection
+    testns.content_adj.contentadjmodule:
+    register: contentadjmodule_out
+
+  # content should only be loaded from the first visible instance of a collection
+  - name: attempt to look up FQ module in a masked collection
+    testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+      type: module
+      name: testns.testcoll.maskedmodule
+    register: maskedmodule_out
+
+  # module with a granular module_utils import (from (this collection).module_utils.leaf import thingtocall)
+  - name: exec module with granular module utils import from this collection
+    testns.testcoll.uses_leaf_mu_granular_import:
+    register: granular_out
+
+  # module with a granular nested module_utils import (from (this collection).module_utils.base import thingtocall,
+  # where base imports secondary from the same collection's module_utils)
+  - name: exec module with nested module utils from this collection
+    testns.testcoll.uses_base_mu_granular_nested_import:
+    register: granular_nested_out
+
+  # module with a flat module_utils import (import (this collection).module_utils.leaf)
+  - name: exec module with flat module_utils import from this collection
+    testns.testcoll.uses_leaf_mu_flat_import:
+    register: flat_out
+
+  # FIXME: this one doesn't work yet
+  # module with a full-module module_utils import using 'from' (from (this collection).module_utils import leaf)
+  - name: exec module with full-module module_utils import using 'from' from this collection
+    testns.testcoll.uses_leaf_mu_module_import_from:
+    ignore_errors: true
+    register: from_out
+
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      - testmodule_out.source == 'user'
+      - systestmodule_out.source == 'sys'
+      - contentadjmodule_out.source == 'content_adj'
+      - not maskedmodule_out.plugin_path
+      - granular_out.mu_result == 'thingtocall in leaf'
+      - granular_nested_out.mu_result == 'thingtocall in base called thingtocall in secondary'
+      - flat_out.mu_result == 'thingtocall in leaf'
+      - from_out is failed  # FIXME: switch back once this import is fixed --> from_out.mu_result == 'thingtocall in leaf'
+
+  - name: exercise filters/tests/lookups
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - "'data' | testns.testcoll.testfilter == 'data_from_userdir'"
+      - "'from_user' is testns.testcoll.testtest"
+      - lookup('testns.testcoll.mylookup') == 'lookup_from_user_dir'
+
+# ensure that the synthetic ansible.builtin collection limits to builtin plugins, that ansible.legacy loads overrides
+# from legacy plugin dirs, and that a same-named plugin loaded from a real collection is not masked by the others
+- hosts: testhost
+  tasks:
+  - name: test unqualified ping from library dir
+    ping:
+    register: unqualified_ping_out
+
+  - name: test legacy-qualified ping from library dir
+    ansible.legacy.ping:
+    register: legacy_ping_out
+
+  - name: test builtin ping
+    ansible.builtin.ping:
+    register: builtin_ping_out
+
+  - name: test collection-based ping
+    testns.testcoll.ping:
+    register: collection_ping_out
+
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      - unqualified_ping_out.source == 'legacy_library_dir'
+      - legacy_ping_out.source == 'legacy_library_dir'
+      - builtin_ping_out.ping == 'pong'
+      - collection_ping_out.source == 'user'
+
+# verify the default value for the collections list is empty
+- hosts: testhost
+  tasks:
+  - name: sample default collections value
+    testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+    register: coll_default_out
+
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      # in original release, collections defaults to empty, which is mostly equivalent to ansible.legacy
+      - not coll_default_out.collection_list
+
+
+# ensure that inheritance/masking works as expected, that the proper default values are injected when missing,
+# and that the order is preserved if one of the magic values is explicitly specified
+- name: verify collections keyword play/block/task inheritance and magic values
+  hosts: testhost
+  collections:
+  - bogus.fromplay
+  tasks:
+  - name: sample play collections value
+    testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+    register: coll_play_out
+
+  - name: collections override block-level
+    collections:
+    - bogus.fromblock
+    block:
+    - name: sample block collections value
+      testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+      register: coll_block_out
+
+    - name: sample task collections value
+      collections:
+      - bogus.fromtask
+      testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+      register: coll_task_out
+
+    - name: sample task with explicit core
+      collections:
+      - ansible.builtin
+      - bogus.fromtaskexplicitcore
+      testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+      register: coll_task_core
+
+    - name: sample task with explicit legacy
+      collections:
+      - ansible.legacy
+      - bogus.fromtaskexplicitlegacy
+      testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+      register: coll_task_legacy
+
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      # ensure that parent value inheritance is masked properly by explicit setting
+      - coll_play_out.collection_list == ['bogus.fromplay', 'ansible.legacy']
+      - coll_block_out.collection_list == ['bogus.fromblock', 'ansible.legacy']
+      - coll_task_out.collection_list == ['bogus.fromtask', 'ansible.legacy']
+      - coll_task_core.collection_list == ['ansible.builtin', 'bogus.fromtaskexplicitcore']
+      - coll_task_legacy.collection_list == ['ansible.legacy', 'bogus.fromtaskexplicitlegacy']
+
+- name: verify unqualified plugin resolution behavior
+  hosts: testhost
+  collections:
+  - testns.testcoll
+  - testns.coll_in_sys
+  - testns.contentadj
+  tasks:
+  # basic test of unqualified module lookup and that we got the right one (user-dir hosted, there's another copy of
+  # this one in the same-named collection in sys dir that should be masked
+  - name: exec unqualified module in a user-dir testns collection
+    testmodule:
+    register: testmodule_out
+
+  # use another collection to verify that we're looking in all collections listed on the play
+  - name: exec unqualified module in a sys-dir testns collection
+    systestmodule:
+    register: systestmodule_out
+
+  # ensure we're looking up actions properly
+  - name: unqualified action test
+    plugin_lookup:
+    register: pluginlookup_out
+
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      - testmodule_out.source == 'user'
+      - systestmodule_out.source == 'sys'
+      - pluginlookup_out.collection_list == ['testns.testcoll', 'testns.coll_in_sys', 'testns.contentadj', 'ansible.legacy']
+
+# FIXME: this won't work until collections list gets passed through task templar
+#  - name: exercise unqualified filters/tests/lookups
+#    assert:
+#      that:
+#      - "'data' | testfilter == 'data_from_userdir'"
+#      - "'from_user' is testtest"
+#      - lookup('mylookup') == 'lookup_from_user_dir'
+
+
+# test keyword-static execution of a FQ collection-backed role
+- name: verify collection-backed role execution (keyword static)
+  hosts: testhost
+  collections:
+  # set to ansible.builtin only to ensure that roles function properly without inheriting the play's collections config
+  - ansible.builtin
+  vars:
+    test_role_input: keyword static
+  roles:
+  - role: testns.testcoll.testrole
+  tasks:
+  - name: ensure role executed
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - test_role_output.msg == test_role_input
+
+
+# test dynamic execution of a FQ collection-backed role
+- name: verify collection-backed role execution (dynamic)
+  hosts: testhost
+  collections:
+  # set to ansible.builtin only to ensure that roles function properly without inheriting the play's collections config
+  - ansible.builtin
+  vars:
+    test_role_input: dynamic
+  tasks:
+  - include_role:
+      name: testns.testcoll.testrole
+  - name: ensure role executed
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - test_role_output.msg == test_role_input
+
+
+# test task-static execution of a FQ collection-backed role
+- name: verify collection-backed role execution (task static)
+  hosts: testhost
+  collections:
+  - ansible.builtin
+  vars:
+    test_role_input: task static
+  tasks:
+  - import_role:
+      name: testns.testcoll.testrole
+  - name: ensure role executed
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - test_role_output.msg == test_role_input
+
+
+# test a legacy playbook-adjacent role, ensure that play collections config is not inherited
+- name: verify legacy playbook-adjacent role behavior
+  hosts: testhost
+  collections:
+  - bogus.bogus
+  vars:
+    test_role_input: legacy playbook-adjacent
+  roles:
+  - testrole
+# FIXME: this should technically work to look up a playbook-adjacent role
+#  - ansible.legacy.testrole
+  tasks:
+  - name: ensure role executed
+    assert:
+      that:
+      - test_role_output.msg == test_role_input
+
+
+- name: test a collection-hosted connection plugin against a host from a collection-hosted inventory plugin
+  hosts: dynamic_host_a
+  vars:
+    ansible_connection: testns.testcoll.localconn
+    ansible_localconn_connectionvar: from_play
+  tasks:
+  - raw: echo 'hello world'
+    register: connection_out
+
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      - connection_out.stdout == "localconn ran echo 'hello world'"
+      # ensure that the connection var we overrode above made it into the running config
+      - connection_out.stderr == "connectionvar is from_play"
+
+- hosts: testhost
+  tasks:
+  - assert:
+      that:
+      - hostvars['dynamic_host_a'] is defined
+      - hostvars['dynamic_host_a'].connection_out.stdout == "localconn ran echo 'hello world'"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/pythoncheck.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/pythoncheck.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bd3f370276
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/pythoncheck.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# this test specifically avoids testhost because we need to know about the controller's Python
+- hosts: localhost
+  gather_facts: yes
+  gather_subset: min
+  tasks:
+  - debug:
+      msg: UNSUPPORTEDPYTHON {{ ansible_python_version }}
+    when: ansible_python_version is version('2.7', '<')
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/roles/testrole/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/collections/roles/testrole/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d904cf19f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/roles/testrole/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+- debug:
+    msg: executing testrole from legacy playbook-adjacent roles dir
+
+- name: exec a FQ module from a legacy role
+  testns.testcoll.testmodule:
+  register: coll_module_out
+
+- name: exec a legacy playbook-adjacent module from a legacy role
+  ping:
+  register: ping_out
+
+- name: sample collections list inside a legacy role (should be empty)
+  testns.testcoll.plugin_lookup:
+  register: plugin_lookup_out
+
+- debug:
+    msg: '{{ test_role_input | default("(undefined)") }}'
+  register: test_role_output
+
+- assert:
+    that:
+    - coll_module_out.source == 'user'
+    # ensure we used the library/ ping override, not the builtin or one from another collection
+    - ping_out.source == 'legacy_library_dir'
+    - not plugin_lookup_out.collection_list
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/collections/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/collections/runme.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..133fbdcf9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/collections/runme.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -eux
+
+export ANSIBLE_COLLECTIONS_PATHS=$PWD/collection_root_user:$PWD/collection_root_sys
+export ANSIBLE_GATHERING=explicit
+export ANSIBLE_GATHER_SUBSET=minimal
+
+# temporary hack to keep this test from running on Python 2.6 in CI
+if ansible-playbook -i ../../inventory pythoncheck.yml | grep UNSUPPORTEDPYTHON; then
+  echo skipping test for unsupported Python version...
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+# test callback
+ANSIBLE_CALLBACK_WHITELIST=testns.testcoll.usercallback ansible localhost -m ping | grep "usercallback says ok"
+
+# run test playbook
+ansible-playbook -i ../../inventory -i ./a.statichost.yml -v play.yml
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/win_ping/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/win_ping/tasks/main.yml
index 303702e1e4..a7e6ba7fc4 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/win_ping/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/win_ping/tasks/main.yml
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@
       - win_ping_with_data_result.ping == '☠'
 
 - name: test win_ping.ps1 with data as complex args
-  win_ping.ps1:
+  # win_ping.ps1: # TODO: do we want to actually support this? no other tests that I can see...
+  win_ping:
     data: bleep
   register: win_ping_ps1_result
 
diff --git a/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py b/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py
index fc61b7d400..b6386a99e6 100644
--- a/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py
+++ b/test/units/playbook/role/test_role.py
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ class TestRole(unittest.TestCase):
         })
 
         mock_play = MagicMock()
+        mock_play.collections = None
         mock_play.ROLE_CACHE = {}
 
         i = RoleInclude.load('foo_metadata', play=mock_play, loader=fake_loader)
diff --git a/test/units/playbook/test_helpers.py b/test/units/playbook/test_helpers.py
index e5cbe14ce9..60ed266430 100644
--- a/test/units/playbook/test_helpers.py
+++ b/test/units/playbook/test_helpers.py
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ class MixinForMocks(object):
         self.mock_tqm = MagicMock(name='MockTaskQueueManager')
 
         self.mock_play = MagicMock(name='MockPlay')
+        self.mock_play._attributes = []
+        self.mock_play.collections = None
 
         self.mock_iterator = MagicMock(name='MockIterator')
         self.mock_iterator._play = self.mock_play
diff --git a/test/units/plugins/action/test_action.py b/test/units/plugins/action/test_action.py
index 17e9e457c2..249561cce1 100644
--- a/test/units/plugins/action/test_action.py
+++ b/test/units/plugins/action/test_action.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class TestActionBase(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_connection = MagicMock()
 
         # create a mock shared loader object
-        def mock_find_plugin(name, options):
+        def mock_find_plugin(name, options, collection_list=None):
             if name == 'badmodule':
                 return None
             elif '.ps1' in options: