diff --git a/src/d_clisrv.c b/src/d_clisrv.c
index 76470b865..97f416c20 100644
--- a/src/d_clisrv.c
+++ b/src/d_clisrv.c
@@ -1272,7 +1272,7 @@ static void CL_LoadReceivedSavegame(boolean reloading)
 	paused = false;
 	demo.playback = false;
 	demo.title = false;
-	titlemapinaction = TITLEMAP_OFF;
+	titlemapinaction = false;
 	automapactive = false;
 
 	// load a base level
diff --git a/src/d_main.c b/src/d_main.c
index 489ad3c32..dc5db348d 100644
--- a/src/d_main.c
+++ b/src/d_main.c
@@ -337,8 +337,8 @@ static void D_Display(void)
 		if (rendermode != render_none)
 		{
 			// Fade to black first
-			if (!(gamestate == GS_LEVEL || (gamestate == GS_TITLESCREEN && titlemapinaction)) // fades to black on its own timing, always
-			 && wipetypepre != UINT8_MAX)
+			if (G_GamestateUsesLevel() == false // fades to black on its own timing, always
+				&& wipetypepre != UINT8_MAX)
 			{
 				F_WipeStartScreen();
 				F_WipeColorFill(31);
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ static void D_Display(void)
 
 		// clean up border stuff
 		// see if the border needs to be initially drawn
-		if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL || (gamestate == GS_TITLESCREEN && titlemapinaction && curbghide && (!hidetitlemap)))
+		if (G_GamestateUsesLevel() == true || (gamestate == GS_TITLESCREEN && titlemapinaction && curbghide && (!hidetitlemap)))
 		{
 			if (!automapactive && !dedicated && cv_renderview.value)
 			{
@@ -560,14 +560,25 @@ static void D_Display(void)
 
 			ps_uitime = I_GetPreciseTime();
 
-			if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+			switch (gamestate)
 			{
-				ST_Drawer();
-				F_TextPromptDrawer();
-				HU_Drawer();
+				case GS_LEVEL:
+				{
+					ST_Drawer();
+					F_TextPromptDrawer();
+					HU_Drawer();
+					break;
+				}
+				case GS_TITLESCREEN:
+				{
+					F_TitleScreenDrawer();
+					break;
+				}
+				default:
+				{
+					break;
+				}
 			}
-			else
-				F_TitleScreenDrawer();
 		}
 		else
 		{
@@ -577,7 +588,7 @@ static void D_Display(void)
 
 	// change gamma if needed
 	// (GS_LEVEL handles this already due to level-specific palettes)
-	if (forcerefresh && !(gamestate == GS_LEVEL || (gamestate == GS_TITLESCREEN && titlemapinaction)))
+	if (forcerefresh && G_GamestateUsesLevel() == false)
 		V_SetPalette(0);
 
 	// draw pause pic
diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index 82c477529..e4eb708c2 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -2990,6 +2990,14 @@ void readwipes(MYFILE *f)
 				else if (fastcmp(pword, "FINAL"))
 					wipeoffset = wipe_gameend_final;
 			}
+			else if (fastncmp(word, "CEREMONY_", 9))
+			{
+				pword = word + 9;
+				if (fastcmp(pword, "TOBLACK"))
+					wipeoffset = wipe_ceremony_toblack;
+				else if (fastcmp(pword, "FINAL"))
+					wipeoffset = wipe_ceremony_final;
+			}
 			else if (fastncmp(word, "ENCORE_", 7))
 			{
 				pword = word + 7;
diff --git a/src/f_finale.c b/src/f_finale.c
index 6658227a8..9f7f18076 100644
--- a/src/f_finale.c
+++ b/src/f_finale.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 INT32 finalecount;
 INT32 titlescrollxspeed = 16;
 INT32 titlescrollyspeed = 0;
-UINT8 titlemapinaction = TITLEMAP_OFF;
+boolean titlemapinaction = false;
 
 static INT32 timetonext; // Delay between screen changes
 
@@ -1835,14 +1835,14 @@ void F_StartTitleScreen(void)
 		mapthing_t *startpos;
 
 		gamestate_t prevwipegamestate = wipegamestate;
-		titlemapinaction = TITLEMAP_LOADING;
+		titlemapinaction = true;
 		titlemapcameraref = NULL;
 		gamemap = titleMapNum+1;
 
 		maptol = mapheaderinfo[titleMapNum]->typeoflevel;
 		globalweather = mapheaderinfo[titleMapNum]->weather;
 
-		G_DoLoadLevel(true);
+		G_DoLoadLevelEx(true, GS_TITLESCREEN);
 		if (!titlemap)
 			return;
 
@@ -1878,13 +1878,12 @@ void F_StartTitleScreen(void)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		titlemapinaction = TITLEMAP_OFF;
+		G_SetGamestate(GS_TITLESCREEN);
+		titlemapinaction = false;
 		gamemap = 1; // g_game.c
 		CON_ClearHUD();
 	}
 
-	G_SetGamestate(GS_TITLESCREEN);
-
 	// IWAD dependent stuff.
 
 	animtimer = skullAnimCounter = 0;
@@ -3149,9 +3148,7 @@ boolean F_StartCeremony(void)
 		maptol = mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->typeoflevel;
 		globalweather = mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->weather;
 
-		G_DoLoadLevel(false);
-
-		G_SetGamestate(GS_CEREMONY);
+		G_DoLoadLevelEx(false, GS_CEREMONY);
 		return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/f_finale.h b/src/f_finale.h
index 338f514e7..8afc54aba 100644
--- a/src/f_finale.h
+++ b/src/f_finale.h
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ enum
 	wipe_credits_toblack,
 	wipe_evaluation_toblack,
 	wipe_gameend_toblack,
+	wipe_ceremony_toblack,
 	wipe_intro_toblack,
 	wipe_ending_toblack,
 	wipe_cutscene_toblack,
@@ -203,6 +204,7 @@ enum
 	wipe_credits_final,
 	wipe_evaluation_final,
 	wipe_gameend_final,
+	wipe_ceremony_final,
 	wipe_intro_final,
 	wipe_ending_final,
 	wipe_cutscene_final,
diff --git a/src/f_wipe.c b/src/f_wipe.c
index 227573c46..19f365611 100644
--- a/src/f_wipe.c
+++ b/src/f_wipe.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ UINT8 wipedefs[NUMWIPEDEFS] = {
 	99, // wipe_credits_toblack
 	0,  // wipe_evaluation_toblack
 	0,  // wipe_gameend_toblack
+	0,  // wipe_ceremony_toblack
 	UINT8_MAX, // wipe_intro_toblack (hardcoded)
 	99, // wipe_ending_toblack (hardcoded)
 	99, // wipe_cutscene_toblack (hardcoded)
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ UINT8 wipedefs[NUMWIPEDEFS] = {
 	99, // wipe_credits_final
 	0,  // wipe_evaluation_final
 	0,  // wipe_gameend_final
+	0,  // wipe_ceremony_final
 	99, // wipe_intro_final (hardcoded)
 	99, // wipe_ending_final (hardcoded)
 	99  // wipe_cutscene_final (hardcoded)
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index c2ef64403..f8e0bd2a1 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1442,9 +1442,9 @@ static void weaponPrefChange4(void)
 }
 
 //
-// G_DoLoadLevel
+// G_DoLoadLevelEx
 //
-void G_DoLoadLevel(boolean resetplayer)
+void G_DoLoadLevelEx(boolean resetplayer, gamestate_t newstate)
 {
 	boolean doAutomate = false;
 	INT32 i;
@@ -1471,27 +1471,27 @@ void G_DoLoadLevel(boolean resetplayer)
 		Y_EndVote();
 
 	// cleanup
-	if (titlemapinaction == TITLEMAP_LOADING)
+	// Is this actually necessary? Doesn't F_StartTitleScreen already do a significantly more comprehensive check?
+	if (newstate == GS_TITLESCREEN)
 	{
-		//if (W_CheckNumForName(G_BuildMapName(gamemap)) == LUMPERROR)
 		if (gamemap < 1 || gamemap > nummapheaders)
 		{
+			G_SetGamestate(GS_TITLESCREEN);
+			titlemapinaction = false;
+
 			Z_Free(titlemap);
 			titlemap = NULL; // let's not infinite recursion ok
+
 			Command_ExitGame_f();
 			return;
 		}
-
-		titlemapinaction = TITLEMAP_RUNNING;
 	}
-	else
-		titlemapinaction = TITLEMAP_OFF;
 
 	// Doing this matches HOSTMOD behavior.
 	// Is that desired? IDK
-	doAutomate = (gamestate != GS_LEVEL);
+	doAutomate = (gamestate != GS_LEVEL && newstate == GS_LEVEL);
 
-	G_SetGamestate(GS_LEVEL);
+	G_SetGamestate(newstate);
 	if (wipegamestate == GS_MENU)
 		M_ClearMenus(true);
 	I_UpdateMouseGrab();
@@ -1536,6 +1536,11 @@ void G_DoLoadLevel(boolean resetplayer)
 	}
 }
 
+void G_DoLoadLevel(boolean resetplayer)
+{
+	G_DoLoadLevelEx(resetplayer, GS_LEVEL);
+}
+
 //
 // Start the title card.
 //
@@ -1566,7 +1571,7 @@ void G_StartTitleCard(void)
 	}
 
 	// start the title card
-	WipeStageTitle = (!titlemapinaction);
+	WipeStageTitle = (gamestate == GS_LEVEL);
 }
 
 //
@@ -2168,7 +2173,6 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 			F_TextPromptTicker();
 			AM_Ticker();
 			HU_Ticker();
-
 			break;
 
 		case GS_INTERMISSION:
@@ -5340,6 +5344,22 @@ void G_SetGamestate(gamestate_t newstate)
 #endif
 }
 
+boolean G_GamestateUsesLevel(void)
+{
+	switch (gamestate)
+	{
+		case GS_TITLESCREEN:
+			return titlemapinaction;
+
+		case GS_LEVEL:
+		case GS_CEREMONY:
+			return true;
+
+		default:
+			return false;
+	}
+}
+
 /* These functions handle the exitgame flag. Before, when the user
    chose to end a game, it happened immediately, which could cause
    crashes if the game was in the middle of something. Now, a flag
@@ -5423,4 +5443,3 @@ INT32 G_TicsToMilliseconds(tic_t tics)
 {
 	return (INT32)((tics%TICRATE) * (1000.00f/TICRATE));
 }
-
diff --git a/src/g_game.h b/src/g_game.h
index fac245c9a..081f414e0 100644
--- a/src/g_game.h
+++ b/src/g_game.h
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ void G_SpawnPlayer(INT32 playernum);
 // A normal game starts at map 1, but a warp test can start elsewhere
 void G_DeferedInitNew(boolean pencoremode, INT32 map, INT32 pickedchar,
 	UINT8 ssplayers, boolean FLS);
+void G_DoLoadLevelEx(boolean resetplayer, gamestate_t newstate);
 void G_DoLoadLevel(boolean resetplayer);
 
 void G_StartTitleCard(void);
@@ -250,8 +251,6 @@ void G_LoadGameSettings(void);
 void G_SetGameModified(boolean silent, boolean major);
 void G_SetUsedCheats(void);
 
-void G_SetGamestate(gamestate_t newstate);
-
 // Gamedata record shit
 void G_AllocMainRecordData(INT16 i);
 void G_ClearRecords(void);
diff --git a/src/g_state.h b/src/g_state.h
index 4446493b5..b78105639 100644
--- a/src/g_state.h
+++ b/src/g_state.h
@@ -59,10 +59,13 @@ typedef enum
 } gameaction_t;
 
 extern gamestate_t gamestate;
-extern UINT8 titlemapinaction;
+extern boolean titlemapinaction;
 extern UINT8 ultimatemode; // was sk_insane
 extern gameaction_t gameaction;
 
+void G_SetGamestate(gamestate_t newstate);
+boolean G_GamestateUsesLevel(void);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } // extern "C"
 #endif
diff --git a/src/k_bot.c b/src/k_bot.c
index 89b4d2abe..300b27404 100644
--- a/src/k_bot.c
+++ b/src/k_bot.c
@@ -1333,7 +1333,9 @@ void K_BuildBotTiccmd(player_t *player, ticcmd_t *cmd)
 	// Remove any existing controls
 	memset(cmd, 0, sizeof(ticcmd_t));
 
-	if (gamestate != GS_LEVEL || !player->mo || player->spectator)
+	if (player->mo == NULL
+		|| player->spectator == true
+		|| G_GamestateUsesLevel() == false)
 	{
 		// Not in the level.
 		return;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 629eff073..e8bb88dc4 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -53,21 +53,7 @@
 
 boolean K_PodiumSequence(void)
 {
-	INT32 podiumMapNum = nummapheaders;
-
-	if (grandprixinfo.gp == false)
-	{
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	// FIXME: This function is used a lot during gameplay. 
-	// Cache so we don't have to iterate all map headers every time.
-	if (podiummap && ((podiumMapNum = G_MapNumber(podiummap)) < nummapheaders))
-	{
-		return (gamemap == podiumMapNum+1);
-	}
-
-	return false;
+	return (gamestate == GS_CEREMONY);
 }
 
 boolean K_IsDuelItem(mobjtype_t type)
diff --git a/src/lua_script.c b/src/lua_script.c
index 62756688f..f2642e516 100644
--- a/src/lua_script.c
+++ b/src/lua_script.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ int LUA_PushGlobals(lua_State *L, const char *word)
 		lua_pushstring(L, titlemap);
 		return 1;
 	} else if (fastcmp(word,"titlemapinaction")) {
-		lua_pushboolean(L, (titlemapinaction != TITLEMAP_OFF));
+		lua_pushboolean(L, titlemapinaction);
 		return 1;
 	} else if (fastcmp(word,"bootmap")) {
 		lua_pushstring(L, bootmap);
diff --git a/src/lua_script.h b/src/lua_script.h
index 9bfddc875..9e59d4d6d 100644
--- a/src/lua_script.h
+++ b/src/lua_script.h
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void COM_Lua_f(void);
 // #define HAVE_LUA_SEGS
 
 #define ISINLEVEL \
-	(gamestate == GS_LEVEL || titlemapinaction)
+	(G_GamestateUsesLevel())
 
 #define INLEVEL if (! ISINLEVEL)\
 return luaL_error(L, "This can only be used in a level!");
diff --git a/src/m_perfstats.c b/src/m_perfstats.c
index 330db5f1f..53014a5ef 100644
--- a/src/m_perfstats.c
+++ b/src/m_perfstats.c
@@ -255,10 +255,7 @@ static void M_DrawRenderStats(void)
 	perfstatcol_t     batchcalls_col = {220, 200, V_PURPLEMAP,     batchcalls_row};
 
 
-	boolean rendering = (
-			gamestate == GS_LEVEL ||
-			(gamestate == GS_TITLESCREEN && titlemapinaction)
-	);
+	boolean rendering = G_GamestateUsesLevel();
 
 	draw_row = 10;
 	M_DrawPerfTiming(&frametime_col);
@@ -619,8 +616,9 @@ void M_DrawPerfStats(void)
 	}
 	else if (cv_perfstats.value == PS_THINKFRAME) // lua thinkframe
 	{
-		if (!(gamestate == GS_LEVEL || (gamestate == GS_TITLESCREEN && titlemapinaction)))
+		if (G_GamestateUsesLevel() == false)
 			return;
+
 		if (vid.width < 640 || vid.height < 400) // low resolution
 		{
 			// it's not gonna fit very well..
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index d97696309..8679bf278 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -7419,7 +7419,7 @@ static void P_InitGametype(void)
 
 	// Start recording replay in multiplayer with a temp filename
 	//@TODO I'd like to fix dedis crashing when recording replays for the future too...
-	if (!demo.playback && multiplayer && !dedicated)
+	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL && !demo.playback && multiplayer && !dedicated)
 	{
 		char buf[MAX_WADPATH];
 		char ver[128];
@@ -7697,7 +7697,7 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave, boolean reloadinggamestate)
 
 		// Fade out music here. Deduct 2 tics so the fade volume actually reaches 0.
 		// But don't halt the music! S_Start will take care of that. This dodges a MIDI crash bug.
-		if (!(reloadinggamestate || titlemapinaction))
+		if (!(reloadinggamestate || gamestate != GS_LEVEL))
 			S_FadeMusic(0, FixedMul(
 				FixedDiv((F_GetWipeLength(wipedefs[wipe_level_toblack])-2)*NEWTICRATERATIO, NEWTICRATE), MUSICRATE));
 
@@ -7705,7 +7705,7 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave, boolean reloadinggamestate)
 		if (rendermode != render_none)
 			V_ReloadPalette(); // Set the level palette
 
-		if (!(reloadinggamestate || titlemapinaction))
+		if (!(reloadinggamestate || gamestate != GS_LEVEL))
 		{
 			if (ranspecialwipe == 2)
 			{
@@ -7745,8 +7745,11 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave, boolean reloadinggamestate)
 
 		F_RunWipe(wipetype, wipedefs[wipetype], false, ((levelfadecol == 0) ? "FADEMAP1" : "FADEMAP0"), false, false);
 	}
-	/*if (!titlemapinaction)
-		wipegamestate = GS_LEVEL;*/
+
+	/*
+	if (!titlemapinaction)
+		wipegamestate = GS_LEVEL;
+	*/
 
 	// Close text prompt before freeing the old level
 	F_EndTextPrompt(false, true);
@@ -7948,7 +7951,7 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave, boolean reloadinggamestate)
 	P_MapEnd(); // tm.thing is no longer needed from this point onwards
 
 	// Took me 3 hours to figure out why my progression kept on getting overwritten with the titlemap...
-	if (!titlemapinaction)
+	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
 	{
 		if (!lastmaploaded) // Start a new game?
 		{