diff --git a/src/dehacked.c b/src/dehacked.c
index cddbd1a0e..e9320134c 100644
--- a/src/dehacked.c
+++ b/src/dehacked.c
@@ -2831,6 +2831,11 @@ static void readmaincfg(MYFILE *f)
 				bootmap = (INT16)value;
 				//titlechanged = true;
 			}
+			else if (fastcmp(word, "STARTCHAR"))
+			{
+				startchar = (INT16)value;
+				char_on = -1;
+			}
 			else
 				deh_warning("Maincfg: unknown word '%s'", word);
 		}
@@ -3527,6 +3532,20 @@ static const char *const STATE_LIST[] = { // array length left dynamic for sanit
 	"S_PLAY_NIGHTS_FLYC",
 	"S_PLAY_NIGHTS_DRILLC",
 
+	// c:
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_STAND",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_0DEGREES",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS30DEGREES",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS60DEGREES",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS30DEGREES",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS60DEGREES",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_RUN",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_FLY",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_TIRE",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_PAIN",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_GASP",
+	"S_TAILSOVERLAY_EDGE",
+
 	// Blue Crawla
 	"S_POSS_STND",
 	"S_POSS_RUN1",
@@ -5881,6 +5900,7 @@ static const char *const MOBJTYPE_LIST[] = {  // array length left dynamic for s
 
 	"MT_THOK", // Thok! mobj
 	"MT_PLAYER",
+	"MT_TAILSOVERLAY", // c:
 
 	// Enemies
 	"MT_BLUECRAWLA",
diff --git a/src/info.c b/src/info.c
index d62111640..76a27149a 100644
--- a/src/info.c
+++ b/src/info.c
@@ -479,6 +479,19 @@ char spr2names[NUMPLAYERSPRITES][5] =
 	"DRLB",
 	"DRLC",
 
+	"TAL0",
+	"TAL1",
+	"TAL2",
+	"TAL3",
+	"TAL4",
+	"TAL5",
+	"TAL6",
+	"TAL7",
+	"TAL8",
+	"TAL9",
+	"TALA",
+	"TALB",
+
 	"SIGN",
 	"LIFE"
 };
@@ -562,8 +575,21 @@ playersprite_t spr2defaults[NUMPLAYERSPRITES] = {
 	SPR2_NGTB, // SPR2_DRLB,
 	SPR2_NGTC, // SPR2_DRLC,
 
+	0, // SPR2_TAL0,
+	SPR2_TAL0, // SPR2_TAL1,
+	SPR2_TAL1, // SPR2_TAL2,
+	SPR2_TAL2, // SPR2_TAL3,
+	SPR2_TAL1, // SPR2_TAL4,
+	SPR2_TAL4, // SPR2_TAL5,
+	SPR2_TAL0, // SPR2_TAL6,
+	SPR2_TAL3, // SPR2_TAL7,
+	SPR2_TAL7, // SPR2_TAL8,
+	SPR2_TAL0, // SPR2_TAL9,
+	SPR2_TAL9, // SPR2_TALA,
+	SPR2_TAL0, // SPR2_TALB,
+
 	0, // SPR2_SIGN,
-	0, // SPR2_LIFE
+	0, // SPR2_LIFE,
 };
 
 // Doesn't work with g++, needs actionf_p1 (don't modify this comment)
@@ -712,6 +738,20 @@ state_t states[NUMSTATES] =
 	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_NGTC, 2, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_PLAY_NIGHTS_FLYC},   // S_PLAY_NIGHTS_FLYC
 	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_DRLC, 2, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_PLAY_NIGHTS_DRILLC}, // S_PLAY_NIGHTS_DRILLC
 
+	// c:
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL0|FF_SPR2MIDSTART,  5, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_STAND}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_STAND
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL1|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_0DEGREES}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_0DEGREES
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL2|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS30DEGREES}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS30DEGREES
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL3|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS60DEGREES}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS60DEGREES
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL4|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS30DEGREES}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS30DEGREES
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL5|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS60DEGREES}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS60DEGREES
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL6|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_RUN}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_RUN
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL7|FF_SPR2MIDSTART,  4, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_FLY}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_FLY
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL8|FF_SPR2MIDSTART,  4, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_TIRE}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_TIRE
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TAL9|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_PAIN}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_PAIN
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TALA|FF_SPR2MIDSTART, 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_GASP}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_GASP
+	{SPR_PLAY, SPR2_TALB                , 35, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_TAILSOVERLAY_EDGE}, // S_TAILSOVERLAY_EDGE
+
 	// Blue Crawla
 	{SPR_POSS, 0, 5, {A_Look}, 0, 0, S_POSS_STND},   // S_POSS_STND
 	{SPR_POSS, 0, 3, {A_Chase}, 0, 0, S_POSS_RUN2},   // S_POSS_RUN1
@@ -3235,6 +3275,33 @@ mobjinfo_t mobjinfo[NUMMOBJTYPES] =
 		(statenum_t)MT_NULL // raisestate
 	},
 
+	{           // MT_TAILSOVERLAY
+		-1,             // doomednum
+		S_INVISIBLE,    // spawnstate
+		1000,           // spawnhealth
+		S_NULL,         // seestate
+		sfx_None,       // seesound
+		8,              // reactiontime
+		sfx_None,       // attacksound
+		S_NULL,         // painstate
+		0,              // painchance
+		sfx_None,       // painsound
+		S_NULL,         // meleestate
+		S_NULL,         // missilestate
+		S_NULL,         // deathstate
+		S_NULL,         // xdeathstate
+		sfx_None,       // deathsound
+		8,              // speed
+		16*FRACUNIT,    // radius
+		48*FRACUNIT,    // height
+		1,              // display offset
+		16,             // mass
+		0,              // damage
+		sfx_None,       // activesound
+		MF_NOBLOCKMAP|MF_NOCLIP|MF_NOCLIPHEIGHT|MF_NOGRAVITY|MF_SCENERY, // flags
+		S_NULL          // raisestate
+	},
+
 	{           // MT_BLUECRAWLA
 		100,            // doomednum
 		S_POSS_STND,    // spawnstate
diff --git a/src/info.h b/src/info.h
index 7bc7e673a..08bcc67ca 100644
--- a/src/info.h
+++ b/src/info.h
@@ -685,6 +685,20 @@ typedef enum playersprite
 	SPR2_DRLB,
 	SPR2_DRLC,
 
+	// c:
+	SPR2_TAL0,
+	SPR2_TAL1,
+	SPR2_TAL2,
+	SPR2_TAL3,
+	SPR2_TAL4,
+	SPR2_TAL5,
+	SPR2_TAL6,
+	SPR2_TAL7,
+	SPR2_TAL8,
+	SPR2_TAL9,
+	SPR2_TALA,
+	SPR2_TALB,
+
 	SPR2_SIGN, // end sign head
 	SPR2_LIFE, // life monitor icon
 
@@ -830,6 +844,20 @@ typedef enum state
 	S_PLAY_NIGHTS_FLYC,
 	S_PLAY_NIGHTS_DRILLC,
 
+	// c:
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_STAND,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_0DEGREES,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS30DEGREES,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS60DEGREES,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS30DEGREES,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS60DEGREES,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_RUN,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_FLY,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_TIRE,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_PAIN,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_GASP,
+	S_TAILSOVERLAY_EDGE,
+
 	// Blue Crawla
 	S_POSS_STND,
 	S_POSS_RUN1,
@@ -3206,6 +3234,7 @@ typedef enum mobj_type
 
 	MT_THOK, // Thok! mobj
 	MT_PLAYER,
+	MT_TAILSOVERLAY, // c:
 
 	// Enemies
 	MT_BLUECRAWLA,
diff --git a/src/m_menu.c b/src/m_menu.c
index 748c78ad1..10faadfdf 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.c
+++ b/src/m_menu.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ description_t description[32] =
 	{false, "???", "", "", 0, 0},
 	{false, "???", "", "", 0, 0}
 };
-static INT16 char_on = 0;
+INT16 char_on = -1, startchar = 1;
 static char *char_notes = NULL;
 static fixed_t char_scroll = 0;
 
@@ -6738,7 +6738,15 @@ static void M_SetupChoosePlayer(INT32 choice)
 	SP_PlayerDef.prevMenu = currentMenu;
 	M_SetupNextMenu(&SP_PlayerDef);
 	if (!allowed)
+	{
 		char_on = firstvalid;
+		if (startchar > 0 && startchar < 32)
+		{
+			INT16 workchar = startchar;
+			while (workchar--)
+				char_on = description[char_on].next;
+		}
+	}
 	char_scroll = 0; // finish scrolling the menu
 	Z_Free(char_notes);
 	char_notes = V_WordWrap(0, 21*8, V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, description[char_on].notes);
diff --git a/src/m_menu.h b/src/m_menu.h
index 8040b63e6..aa80445c8 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.h
+++ b/src/m_menu.h
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ extern CV_PossibleValue_t gametype_cons_t[];
 
 extern INT16 startmap;
 extern INT32 ultimate_selectable;
+extern INT16 char_on, startchar;
 
 #define MAXSAVEGAMES 31 //note: last save game is "no save"
 #define NOSAVESLOT 0 //slot where Play Without Saving appears
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index 30a453448..2deb32ecc 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -10502,15 +10502,201 @@ void P_PlayerAfterThink(player_t *player)
 			else
 #endif
 			{
-				/*switch (player->followmobj->type)
+				switch (player->followmobj->type)
 				{
-					case MT_ALTVIEWMAN:
+					case MT_TAILSOVERLAY: // c:
+						{
+							// init...
+							boolean smilesonground = P_IsObjectOnGround(player->mo);
+							angle_t horizangle = player->drawangle;
+							fixed_t zoffs = 0;
+							fixed_t backwards = -1*FRACUNIT;
+							boolean doroll = (player->panim == PA_ROLL || player->panim == PA_JUMP);
+							angle_t rollangle;
+							boolean panimchange;
+							INT32 ticnum = 0;
+							statenum_t chosenstate;
+
+							if (!player->followmobj->skin)
+							{
+								player->followmobj->skin = player->mo->skin;
+								P_SetMobjState(player->followmobj, S_TAILSOVERLAY_STAND);
+								player->followmobj->movecount = -1;
+							}
+
+							panimchange = (player->followmobj->movecount != (INT32)player->panim);
+
+							// initial position...
+							if (doroll)
+							{
+								fixed_t testval, zdist;
+								if (player->speed < FRACUNIT)
+									testval = FRACUNIT;
+								else
+								{
+									testval = (FixedMul(player->speed, FINECOSINE((horizangle - R_PointToAngle2(0, 0, player->rmomx, player->rmomy)) >> ANGLETOFINESHIFT)));
+									if (testval < FRACUNIT)
+										testval = FRACUNIT;
+								}
+								if (smilesonground && !player->mo->reactiontime)
+									zdist = (player->mo->z - player->followmobj->threshold);
+								else
+									zdist = player->mo->momz;
+								rollangle = R_PointToAngle2(0, 0, testval, -P_MobjFlip(player->mo)*zdist);
+								zoffs = 3*FRACUNIT + 12*FINESINE(rollangle >> ANGLETOFINESHIFT);
+								backwards = -12*FINECOSINE(rollangle >> ANGLETOFINESHIFT);
+							}
+							else if (player->panim == PA_RUN)
+								backwards = -5*FRACUNIT;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_SPRING)
+							{
+								zoffs += 4*FRACUNIT;
+								backwards /= 2;
+							}
+							else if (player->panim == PA_PAIN)
+								backwards /= 16;
+							else if (player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_GASP)
+							{
+								backwards /= 16;
+								zoffs += 12*FRACUNIT;
+							}
+							else if (player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_EDGE)
+							{
+								backwards /= 16;
+								zoffs = 3*FRACUNIT;
+							}
+							else if (player->panim == PA_ABILITY2)
+							{
+								zoffs = -7*FRACUNIT;
+								backwards = -9*FRACUNIT;
+							}
+							else if (player->mo->sprite2 == SPR2_FLY || player->mo->sprite2 == SPR2_TIRE)
+								backwards = -5*FRACUNIT;
+
+							// sprite...
+							if (doroll)
+							{
+								statenum_t add = ((rollangle > ANGLE_180) ? 2 : 0);
+								if (add)
+									rollangle = InvAngle(rollangle);
+								rollangle += ANG15; // modify the thresholds to be nice clean numbers
+								if (rollangle > ANG60)
+									chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS60DEGREES + add;
+								else if (rollangle > ANG30)
+									chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS30DEGREES + add;
+								else
+									chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_0DEGREES;
+							}
+							else if (player->panim == PA_SPRING)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS60DEGREES;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_FALL || player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_RIDE)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS60DEGREES;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_PAIN)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_PAIN;
+							else if (player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_GASP)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_GASP;
+							else if (player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_EDGE)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_EDGE;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_RUN)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_RUN;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_WALK)
+							{
+								if (player->speed >= FixedMul(player->runspeed/2, player->mo->scale))
+									chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_0DEGREES;
+								else
+									chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_MINUS30DEGREES;
+							}
+							else if (player->mo->sprite2 == SPR2_FLY)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_FLY;
+							else if (player->mo->sprite2 == SPR2_TIRE)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_TIRE;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_ABILITY2)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_PLUS30DEGREES;
+							else if (player->panim == PA_IDLE)
+								chosenstate = S_TAILSOVERLAY_STAND;
+							else
+								chosenstate = S_INVISIBLE;
+
+							// state...
+							if (panimchange)
+							{
+								player->followmobj->sprite2 = -1;
+								P_SetMobjState(player->followmobj, chosenstate);
+							}
+							else
+							{
+								if (player->followmobj->state != states+chosenstate)
+								{
+									if (states[chosenstate].sprite == SPR_PLAY)
+										player->followmobj->sprite2 = P_GetSkinSprite2(((skin_t *)player->followmobj->skin), (states[chosenstate].frame & FF_FRAMEMASK), player);
+									P_SetMobjState(player->followmobj, chosenstate);
+								}
+							}
+
+							if (player->fly1 != 0 && player->powers[pw_tailsfly] != 0 && !smilesonground)
+								P_SetMobjState(player->followmobj, chosenstate);
+
+							// animation...
+							if (player->panim == PA_SPRING || player->panim == PA_FALL || player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_RIDE)
+							{
+								if (FixedDiv(abs(player->mo->momz), player->mo->scale) < 20<<FRACBITS)
+									ticnum = 2;
+								else
+									ticnum = 1;
+							}
+							else if (player->panim == PA_PAIN)
+								ticnum = 2;
+							else if (player->mo->state-states == S_PLAY_GASP)
+								player->followmobj->tics = -1;
+							else if (player->mo->sprite2 == SPR2_TIRE)
+								ticnum = 4;
+							else if (player->panim != PA_IDLE)
+								ticnum = player->mo->tics;
+
+							if (ticnum && player->followmobj->tics > ticnum)
+								player->followmobj->tics = ticnum;
+
+							// final handling...
+							player->followmobj->color = player->mo->color;
+							player->followmobj->threshold = player->mo->z;
+							player->followmobj->movecount = player->panim;
+							player->followmobj->angle = horizangle;
+							player->followmobj->scale = player->mo->scale;
+							P_SetScale(player->followmobj, player->mo->scale);
+							player->followmobj->destscale = player->mo->destscale;
+							player->followmobj->radius = player->mo->radius;
+							player->followmobj->height = player->mo->height;
+							zoffs = FixedMul(zoffs, player->followmobj->scale);
+
+							if (player->mo->eflags & MFE_VERTICALFLIP)
+							{
+								player->followmobj->eflags |= MFE_VERTICALFLIP;
+								player->followmobj->flags2 |= MF2_OBJECTFLIP;
+								zoffs = player->mo->height - player->followmobj->height - zoffs;
+							}
+							else
+							{
+								player->followmobj->eflags &= ~MFE_VERTICALFLIP;
+								player->followmobj->flags2 &= ~MF2_OBJECTFLIP;
+							}
+
+							P_UnsetThingPosition(player->followmobj);
+							player->followmobj->x = player->mo->x + P_ReturnThrustX(player->followmobj, player->followmobj->angle, FixedMul(backwards, player->followmobj->scale));
+							player->followmobj->y = player->mo->y + P_ReturnThrustY(player->followmobj, player->followmobj->angle, FixedMul(backwards, player->followmobj->scale));
+							player->followmobj->z = player->mo->z + zoffs;
+							P_SetThingPosition(player->followmobj);
+						}
 						break;
-					;
-				}*/
+					default:
+						var1 = 1;
+						var2 = 0;
+						A_CapeChase(player->followmobj);
+						break;
+				}
+
 				if (player->followmobj && !P_MobjWasRemoved(player->followmobj))
 				{
-					player->followmobj->flags2 = (player->followmobj->flags2 & ~(MF2_SHADOW|MF2_DONTDRAW))|(player->mo->flags2 & (MF2_SHADOW|MF2_DONTDRAW));
+					player->followmobj->flags2 = (player->followmobj->flags2 & ~MF2_DONTDRAW)|(player->mo->flags2 & MF2_DONTDRAW);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/r_things.c b/src/r_things.c
index 49b3dbcf5..0e534fb69 100644
--- a/src/r_things.c
+++ b/src/r_things.c
@@ -1385,12 +1385,12 @@ static void R_ProjectSprite(mobj_t *thing)
 	// specific translucency
 	if (!cv_translucency.value)
 		; // no translucency
-	else if (oldthing->flags2 & MF2_SHADOW) // actually only the player should use this (temporary invisibility)
+	else if (oldthing->flags2 & MF2_SHADOW || thing->flags2 & MF2_SHADOW) // actually only the player should use this (temporary invisibility)
 		vis->transmap = transtables + ((tr_trans80-1)<<FF_TRANSSHIFT); // because now the translucency is set through FF_TRANSMASK
 	else if (oldthing->frame & FF_TRANSMASK)
 		vis->transmap = transtables + (oldthing->frame & FF_TRANSMASK) - 0x10000;
 
-	if ((oldthing->frame & FF_FULLBRIGHT) || (oldthing->flags2 & MF2_SHADOW))
+	if (oldthing->frame & FF_FULLBRIGHT || oldthing->flags2 & MF2_SHADOW || thing->flags2 & MF2_SHADOW)
 		vis->cut |= SC_FULLBRIGHT;
 
 	if (vis->cut & SC_FULLBRIGHT
@@ -2438,7 +2438,7 @@ UINT8 P_GetSkinSprite2(skin_t *skin, UINT8 spr2, player_t *player)
 
 	while (!(skin->sprites[spr2].numframes)
 		&& spr2 != SPR2_STND
-		&& ++i != 32) // recursion limiter
+		&& ++i < 32) // recursion limiter
 	{
 		if (spr2 & FF_SPR2SUPER)
 		{