diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index 68abb753f..f49647810 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -3690,11 +3690,14 @@ static void Command_Pause(void)
 			CONS_Printf(M_GetText("You can't pause here.\n"));
 			return;
 		}
+		// TODO: this would make a great debug feature for release
+#ifndef DEVELOP
 		else if (modeattacking)	// in time attack, pausing restarts the map
 		{
 			//M_ModeAttackRetry(0);	// directly call from m_menu;
 			return;
 		}
+#endif
 
 		SendNetXCmd(XD_PAUSE, &buf, 2);
 	}
@@ -3715,8 +3718,11 @@ static void Got_Pause(UINT8 **cp, INT32 playernum)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	// TODO: this would make a great debug feature for release
+#ifndef DEVELOP
 	if (modeattacking && !demo.playback)
 		return;
+#endif
 
 	paused = READUINT8(*cp);
 	dedicatedpause = READUINT8(*cp);
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index e108861df..08fc60159 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -3318,6 +3318,10 @@ boolean G_GametypeHasTeams(void)
 //
 boolean G_GametypeHasSpectators(void)
 {
+	// TODO: this would make a great debug feature for release
+#ifdef DEVELOP
+	return true;
+#endif
 	return (netgame || (multiplayer && demo.netgame));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/k_battle.c b/src/k_battle.c
index 66e98561c..837f173b4 100644
--- a/src/k_battle.c
+++ b/src/k_battle.c
@@ -127,7 +127,10 @@ void K_CheckBumpers(void)
 	{
 		if (nobumpers > 0 && nobumpers >= numingame)
 		{
+			// TODO: this would make a great debug feature for release
+#ifndef DEVELOP
 			P_DoAllPlayersExit(PF_NOCONTEST, false);
+#endif
 			return;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index fb2a7a071..918c3faca 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -1998,7 +1998,15 @@ static boolean P_KillPlayer(player_t *player, mobj_t *inflictor, mobj_t *source,
 
 	if (!player->exiting && (specialstageinfo.valid == true || modeattacking & ATTACKING_SPB))
 	{
+		// TODO: this would make a great debug feature for release
+#ifdef DEVELOP
+		if (type != DMG_SPECTATOR)
+		{
+			P_DoPlayerExit(player, PF_NOCONTEST);
+		}
+#else
 		P_DoPlayerExit(player, PF_NOCONTEST);
+#endif
 	}
 
 	if (player->exiting)
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index ddcce4818..e3abdee26 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -11841,7 +11841,10 @@ void P_SpawnPlayer(INT32 playernum)
 		}
 		else // Otherwise, never spectator.
 		{
+			// TODO: this would make a great debug feature for release
+#ifndef DEVELOP
 			p->spectator = false;
+#endif
 		}
 	}