diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index e1ac3f2db..3d309f0d1 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -11531,20 +11531,16 @@ void P_SpawnMapThing(mapthing_t *mthing)
 		mobjtype_t macetype = MT_SMALLMACE;
 		boolean firsttime;
 		mobj_t *spawnee;
-		size_t line;
+		INT32 line;
 		const size_t mthingi = (size_t)(mthing - mapthings);
 
-		// Why does P_FindSpecialLineFromTag not work here?!?
-		// Monster Iestyn: tag lists haven't been initialised yet for the map, that's why
-		for (line = 0; line < numlines; line++)
-		{
-			if (lines[line].special == 9 && lines[line].tag == mthing->angle)
-				break;
-		}
+		// Find the corresponding linedef special, using angle as tag
+		// P_FindSpecialLineFromTag works here now =D
+		line = P_FindSpecialLineFromTag(9, mthing->angle, -1);
 
-		if (line == numlines)
+		if (line == -1)
 		{
-			CONS_Debug(DBG_GAMELOGIC, "Mace chain (mapthing #%s) needs tagged to a #9 parameter line (trying to find tag %d).\n", sizeu1(mthingi), mthing->angle);
+			CONS_Debug(DBG_GAMELOGIC, "Mace chain (mapthing #%s) needs to be tagged to a #9 parameter line (trying to find tag %d).\n", sizeu1(mthingi), mthing->angle);
 			return;
 		}
 /*
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index ba4554e68..e283254db 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -2791,8 +2791,7 @@ boolean P_SetupLevel(boolean skipprecip)
 
 	postimgtype = postimgtype2 = postimgtype3 = postimgtype4 = postimg_none;
 
-	if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->forcecharacter[0] != '\0'
-	&& atoi(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->forcecharacter) != 255)
+	if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->forcecharacter[0] != '\0')
 		P_ForceCharacter(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->forcecharacter);
 
 	// chasecam on in chaos, race, coop
@@ -3041,6 +3040,10 @@ boolean P_SetupLevel(boolean skipprecip)
 		P_PrepareThings(lastloadedmaplumpnum + ML_THINGS);
 	}
 
+	// init gravity, tag lists,
+	// anything that P_ResetDynamicSlopes/P_LoadThings needs to know
+	P_InitSpecials();
+
 #ifdef ESLOPE
 	P_ResetDynamicSlopes();
 #endif
@@ -3059,8 +3062,6 @@ boolean P_SetupLevel(boolean skipprecip)
 	if (loadprecip) //  ugly hack for P_NetUnArchiveMisc (and P_LoadNetGame)
 		P_SpawnPrecipitation();
 
-	globalweather = mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather;
-
 #ifdef HWRENDER // not win32 only 19990829 by Kin
 	if (rendermode != render_soft && rendermode != render_none)
 	{
diff --git a/src/p_spec.c b/src/p_spec.c
index 67bb74720..9254c389e 100644
--- a/src/p_spec.c
+++ b/src/p_spec.c
@@ -5621,6 +5621,45 @@ static void P_RunLevelLoadExecutors(void)
 	}
 }
 
+/** Before things are loaded, initialises certain stuff in case they're needed
+  * by P_ResetDynamicSlopes or P_LoadThings. This was split off from
+  * P_SpawnSpecials, in case you couldn't tell.
+  *
+  * \sa P_SpawnSpecials, P_InitTagLists
+  * \author Monster Iestyn
+  */
+void P_InitSpecials(void)
+{
+	// Set the default gravity. Custom gravity overrides this setting.
+	gravity = (FRACUNIT*8)/10;
+
+	// Defaults in case levels don't have them set.
+	sstimer = 90*TICRATE + 6;
+	totalrings = 1;
+
+	CheckForBustableBlocks = CheckForBouncySector = CheckForQuicksand = CheckForMarioBlocks = CheckForFloatBob = CheckForReverseGravity = false;
+
+	// Set curWeather
+	switch (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather)
+	{
+		case PRECIP_SNOW: // snow
+		case PRECIP_RAIN: // rain
+		case PRECIP_STORM: // storm
+		case PRECIP_STORM_NORAIN: // storm w/o rain
+		case PRECIP_STORM_NOSTRIKES: // storm w/o lightning
+			curWeather = mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather;
+			break;
+		default: // blank/none
+			curWeather = PRECIP_NONE;
+			break;
+	}
+
+	// Set globalweather
+	globalweather = mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather;
+
+	P_InitTagLists();   // Create xref tables for tags
+}
+
 /** After the map has loaded, scans for specials that spawn 3Dfloors and
   * thinkers.
   *
@@ -5642,15 +5681,6 @@ void P_SpawnSpecials(INT32 fromnetsave)
 	// but currently isn't.
 	(void)fromnetsave;
 
-	// Set the default gravity. Custom gravity overrides this setting.
-	gravity = (FRACUNIT*8)/10;
-
-	// Defaults in case levels don't have them set.
-	sstimer = 90*TICRATE + 6;
-	totalrings = 1;
-
-	CheckForBustableBlocks = CheckForBouncySector = CheckForQuicksand = CheckForMarioBlocks = CheckForFloatBob = CheckForReverseGravity = false;
-
 	// Init special SECTORs.
 	sector = sectors;
 	for (i = 0; i < numsectors; i++, sector++)
@@ -5699,20 +5729,6 @@ void P_SpawnSpecials(INT32 fromnetsave)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather == 2) // snow
-		curWeather = PRECIP_SNOW;
-	else if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather == 3) // rain
-		curWeather = PRECIP_RAIN;
-	else if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather == 1) // storm
-		curWeather = PRECIP_STORM;
-	else if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather == 5) // storm w/o rain
-		curWeather = PRECIP_STORM_NORAIN;
-	else if (mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather == 6) // storm w/o lightning
-		curWeather = PRECIP_STORM_NOSTRIKES;
-	else
-		curWeather = PRECIP_NONE;
-
-	P_InitTagLists();   // Create xref tables for tags
 	P_SearchForDisableLinedefs(); // Disable linedefs are now allowed to disable *any* line
 
 	P_SpawnScrollers(); // Add generalized scrollers
diff --git a/src/p_spec.h b/src/p_spec.h
index 1231aeda8..b604ac951 100644
--- a/src/p_spec.h
+++ b/src/p_spec.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ void P_InitPicAnims(void);
 void P_SetupLevelFlatAnims(void);
 
 // at map load
+void P_InitSpecials(void);
 void P_SpawnSpecials(INT32 fromnetsave);
 
 // every tic