diff --git a/include/QF/GL/qf_draw.h b/include/QF/GL/qf_draw.h
index 30315e7b0..7a7283c5c 100644
--- a/include/QF/GL/qf_draw.h
+++ b/include/QF/GL/qf_draw.h
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@
 
 struct qpic_s;
 struct rfont_s;
+struct draw_charbuffer_s;
 
 void gl_Draw_Init (void);
 void gl_Draw_Shutdown (void);
+void gl_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, struct draw_charbuffer_s *buffer);
 void gl_Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned ch);
 void gl_Draw_String (int x, int y, const char *str);
 void gl_Draw_nString (int x, int y, const char *str, int count);
diff --git a/include/QF/GLSL/qf_draw.h b/include/QF/GLSL/qf_draw.h
index ea9b3e5dc..59ecb1668 100644
--- a/include/QF/GLSL/qf_draw.h
+++ b/include/QF/GLSL/qf_draw.h
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@
 
 struct qpic_s;
 struct rfont_s;
+struct draw_charbuffer_s;
 
 void glsl_Draw_Init (void);
 void glsl_Draw_Shutdown (void);
+void glsl_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, struct draw_charbuffer_s *buffer);
 void glsl_Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned ch);
 void glsl_Draw_String (int x, int y, const char *str);
 void glsl_Draw_nString (int x, int y, const char *str, int count);
diff --git a/include/QF/Vulkan/qf_draw.h b/include/QF/Vulkan/qf_draw.h
index 8006d1007..1da531fb1 100644
--- a/include/QF/Vulkan/qf_draw.h
+++ b/include/QF/Vulkan/qf_draw.h
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ struct vulkan_ctx_s;
 struct qfv_renderframe_s;
 struct qpic_s;
 struct rfont_s;
+struct draw_charbuffer_s;
 
+void Vulkan_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, struct draw_charbuffer_s *buffer,
+							 struct vulkan_ctx_s *ctx);
 void Vulkan_Draw_Init (struct vulkan_ctx_s *ctx);
 void Vulkan_Draw_Shutdown (struct vulkan_ctx_s *ctx);
 void Vulkan_Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned ch,
diff --git a/include/QF/draw.h b/include/QF/draw.h
index 532ea7a54..6646ad90a 100644
--- a/include/QF/draw.h
+++ b/include/QF/draw.h
@@ -41,6 +41,23 @@
 
 #include "QF/wad.h"
 
+/** Buffer for drawing text using quake conchars or the default 8x8 font.
+
+	Characters are stored with the first character in the upper left, scanning
+	horizontally to the right.
+*/
+typedef struct draw_charbuffer_s {
+	int         width;		///< width in character cells
+	int         height;		///< height in character cells
+	char       *chars;		///< width * height characters
+} draw_charbuffer_t;
+
+draw_charbuffer_t *Draw_CreateBuffer (int width, int height);
+void Draw_DestroyBuffer (draw_charbuffer_t *buffer);
+void Draw_ClearBuffer (draw_charbuffer_t *buffer);
+void Draw_ScrollBuffer (draw_charbuffer_t *buffer, int lines);
+void Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer);
+
 extern byte *draw_chars;
 
 /** Initialize the draw stuff.
diff --git a/include/QF/plugin/vid_render.h b/include/QF/plugin/vid_render.h
index 81365fbcd..b8b0bbda0 100644
--- a/include/QF/plugin/vid_render.h
+++ b/include/QF/plugin/vid_render.h
@@ -79,10 +79,13 @@ typedef struct vid_model_funcs_s {
 
 struct tex_s;
 struct rfont_s;
+struct draw_charbuffer_s;
+
 typedef void (*capfunc_t) (struct tex_s *screencap, void *data);
 
 typedef struct vid_render_funcs_s {
 	void      (*init) (void);
+	void (*Draw_CharBuffer) (int x, int y, struct draw_charbuffer_s *buffer);
 	void (*Draw_Character) (int x, int y, unsigned ch);
 	void (*Draw_String) (int x, int y, const char *str);
 	void (*Draw_nString) (int x, int y, const char *str, int count);
diff --git a/include/d_iface.h b/include/d_iface.h
index b687e8df1..7f05c38bf 100644
--- a/include/d_iface.h
+++ b/include/d_iface.h
@@ -226,4 +226,7 @@ extern float	r_skytime;
 
 extern int		c_surf;
 
+struct draw_charbuffer_s;
+void sw_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, struct draw_charbuffer_s *buffer);
+
 #endif // _D_IFACE_H
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/Makemodule.am b/libs/video/renderer/Makemodule.am
index ca603d9e1..6d3db7023 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/Makemodule.am
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/Makemodule.am
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ libs_video_renderer_libQFrenderer_la_DEPENDENCIES=	$(renderer_libs)
 libs_video_renderer_libQFrenderer_la_SOURCES=\
 	libs/video/renderer/r_bsp.c \
 	libs/video/renderer/r_cvar.c \
+	libs/video/renderer/r_draw.c \
 	libs/video/renderer/r_efrag.c \
 	libs/video/renderer/r_fog.c \
 	libs/video/renderer/r_font.c \
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/gl/gl_draw.c b/libs/video/renderer/gl/gl_draw.c
index a12cdf86c..9ee389775 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/gl/gl_draw.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/gl/gl_draw.c
@@ -486,6 +486,21 @@ tVA_increment (void)
 		flush_text ();
 }
 
+void
+gl_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	const byte *line = (byte *) buffer->chars;
+	int         width = buffer->width;
+	int         height = buffer->height;
+	while (height-- > 0) {
+		for (int i = 0; i < width; i++) {
+			gl_Draw_Character (x + i * 8, y, line[i]);
+		}
+		line += width;
+		y += 8;
+	}
+}
+
 /*
 	Draw_Character
 
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/glsl/glsl_draw.c b/libs/video/renderer/glsl/glsl_draw.c
index dcd9b0fb7..6258d3048 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/glsl/glsl_draw.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/glsl/glsl_draw.c
@@ -485,6 +485,21 @@ flush_2d (void)
 	line_queue->size = 0;
 }
 
+void
+glsl_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	const byte *line = (byte *) buffer->chars;
+	int         width = buffer->width;
+	int         height = buffer->height;
+	while (height-- > 0) {
+		for (int i = 0; i < width; i++) {
+			glsl_Draw_Character (x + i * 8, y, line[i]);
+		}
+		line += width;
+		y += 8;
+	}
+}
+
 void
 glsl_Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned int chr)
 {
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/r_draw.c b/libs/video/renderer/r_draw.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..207980f88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/r_draw.c
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*
+	r_draw.c
+
+	Renderer general draw support
+
+	Copyright (C) 2022 Bill Currie <bill@taniwha.org>
+
+	This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+	modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+	as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+	of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+	MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+	See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+	You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+	along with this program; if not, write to:
+
+		Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+		59 Temple Place - Suite 330
+		Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA
+
+*/
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+# include "config.h"
+#endif
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "QF/draw.h"
+#include "QF/render.h"
+
+#include "QF/plugin/vid_render.h"
+
+VISIBLE draw_charbuffer_t *
+Draw_CreateBuffer (int width, int height)
+{
+	size_t      size = width * height;
+	draw_charbuffer_t *buffer = malloc (sizeof (draw_charbuffer_t) + size);
+	buffer->width = width;
+	buffer->height = height;
+	buffer->chars = (char *) (buffer + 1);
+	return buffer;
+}
+
+VISIBLE void
+Draw_DestroyBuffer (draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	free (buffer);
+}
+
+VISIBLE void
+Draw_ClearBuffer (draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	memset (buffer->chars, ' ', buffer->height * buffer->width);
+}
+
+VISIBLE void
+Draw_ScrollBuffer (draw_charbuffer_t *buffer, int lines)
+{
+	int         down = 0;
+	if (lines < 0) {
+		lines = -lines;
+		down = 1;
+	}
+	if (lines > buffer->height) {
+		lines = buffer->height;
+	}
+	if (down) {
+		memmove (buffer->chars + lines * buffer->width, buffer->chars,
+				 (buffer->height - lines) * buffer->width);
+		memset (buffer->chars, ' ', lines * buffer->width);
+	} else {
+		memmove (buffer->chars, buffer->chars + lines * buffer->width,
+				 (buffer->height - lines) * buffer->width);
+		memset (buffer->chars + (buffer->height - lines) * buffer->width, ' ',
+				lines * buffer->width);
+	}
+}
+
+VISIBLE void
+Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	r_funcs->Draw_CharBuffer (x, y, buffer);
+}
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/r_progs.c b/libs/video/renderer/r_progs.c
index 95f199242..7f20c0663 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/r_progs.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/r_progs.c
@@ -63,10 +63,17 @@ typedef struct qpic_res_s {
 	char       *name;
 } qpic_res_t;
 
+typedef struct bi_charbuff_s {
+	struct bi_charbuff_s *next;
+	draw_charbuffer_t *buffer;
+} bi_charbuff_t;
+
 typedef struct {
 	PR_RESMAP (qpic_res_t) qpic_map;
+	PR_RESMAP (bi_charbuff_t) charbuff_map;
 	qpic_res_t *qpics;
 	hashtab_t  *pic_hash;
+	bi_charbuff_t *charbuffs;
 } draw_resources_t;
 
 static qpic_res_t *
@@ -121,6 +128,47 @@ get_qpic (progs_t *pr, draw_resources_t *res, const char *name, int qpic_handle)
 	return qp;
 }
 
+static bi_charbuff_t *
+charbuff_new (draw_resources_t *res)
+{
+	return PR_RESNEW (res->charbuff_map);
+}
+
+static void
+charbuff_free (draw_resources_t *res, bi_charbuff_t *cbuff)
+{
+	Draw_DestroyBuffer (cbuff->buffer);
+	PR_RESFREE (res->charbuff_map, cbuff);
+}
+
+static void
+charbuff_reset (draw_resources_t *res)
+{
+	PR_RESRESET (res->charbuff_map);
+}
+
+static inline bi_charbuff_t *
+charbuff_get (draw_resources_t *res, int index)
+{
+	return PR_RESGET (res->charbuff_map, index);
+}
+
+static inline int __attribute__((pure))
+charbuff_index (draw_resources_t *res, bi_charbuff_t *qp)
+{
+	return PR_RESINDEX (res->charbuff_map, qp);
+}
+
+static bi_charbuff_t * __attribute__((pure))
+get_charbuff (progs_t *pr, draw_resources_t *res, const char *name, int charbuff_handle)
+{
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff = charbuff_get (res, charbuff_handle);
+
+	if (!cbuff)
+		PR_RunError (pr, "invalid charbuff handle passed to %s", name + 3);
+	return cbuff;
+}
+
 static void
 bi_Draw_FreePic (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
 {
@@ -354,6 +402,66 @@ bi_Font_String (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
 	r_funcs->Draw_FontString (x, y, str);
 }
 
+static void
+bi_Draw_CreateBuffer (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
+{
+	draw_resources_t *res = _res;
+	int         width = P_INT (pr, 0);
+	int         height = P_INT (pr, 1);
+	draw_charbuffer_t *buffer;
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff;
+
+	buffer = Draw_CreateBuffer (width, height);
+	cbuff = charbuff_new (res);
+	cbuff->next = res->charbuffs;
+	res->charbuffs = cbuff;
+	cbuff->buffer = buffer;
+	R_INT (pr) = charbuff_index (res, cbuff);
+}
+
+static void
+bi_Draw_DestroyBuffer (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
+{
+	draw_resources_t *res = _res;
+	pr_ptr_t    cbuff_handle = P_POINTER (pr, 0);
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff = get_charbuff (pr, res, __FUNCTION__, cbuff_handle);
+
+	charbuff_free (res, cbuff);
+}
+
+static void
+bi_Draw_ClearBuffer (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
+{
+	draw_resources_t *res = _res;
+	pr_ptr_t    cbuff_handle = P_POINTER (pr, 0);
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff = get_charbuff (pr, res, __FUNCTION__, cbuff_handle);
+
+	Draw_ClearBuffer (cbuff->buffer);
+}
+
+static void
+bi_Draw_ScrollBuffer (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
+{
+	draw_resources_t *res = _res;
+	pr_ptr_t    cbuff_handle = P_POINTER (pr, 0);
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff = get_charbuff (pr, res, __FUNCTION__, cbuff_handle);
+	int         lines = P_INT (pr, 1);
+
+	Draw_ScrollBuffer (cbuff->buffer, lines);
+}
+
+static void
+bi_Draw_CharBuffer (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
+{
+	draw_resources_t *res = _res;
+	int         x = P_INT (pr, 0);
+	int         y = P_INT (pr, 1);
+	pr_ptr_t    cbuff_handle = P_POINTER (pr, 2);
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff = get_charbuff (pr, res, __FUNCTION__, cbuff_handle);
+
+	Draw_CharBuffer (x, y, cbuff->buffer);
+}
+
 static const char *
 bi_draw_get_key (const void *p, void *unused)
 {
@@ -365,13 +473,20 @@ bi_draw_clear (progs_t *pr, void *_res)
 {
 	draw_resources_t *res = (draw_resources_t *) _res;
 	qpic_res_t *qp;
+	bi_charbuff_t *cbuff;
 
 	for (qp = res->qpics; qp; qp = qp->next) {
 		bi_draw_free_qpic (qp);
 	}
 	res->qpics = 0;
 
+	for (cbuff = res->charbuffs; cbuff; cbuff = cbuff->next) {
+		Draw_DestroyBuffer (cbuff->buffer);
+	}
+	res->charbuffs = 0;
+
 	qpic_reset (res);
+	charbuff_reset (res);
 	Hash_FlushTable (res->pic_hash);
 }
 
@@ -406,6 +521,12 @@ static builtin_t builtins[] = {
 
 	bi(Font_Load,       2, p(string), p(int)),
 	bi(Font_String,     3, p(int), p(int), p(string)),
+
+	bi(Draw_CreateBuffer,   2, p(int), p(int)),
+	bi(Draw_DestroyBuffer,  1, p(ptr)),
+	bi(Draw_ClearBuffer,    1, p(ptr)),
+	bi(Draw_ScrollBuffer,   2, p(ptr), p(int)),
+	bi(Draw_CharBuffer,     3, p(int), p(int), p(ptr)),
 	{0}
 };
 
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/sw/draw.c b/libs/video/renderer/sw/draw.c
index 671244755..06db109af 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/sw/draw.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/sw/draw.c
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@ Draw_Init (void)
 	}
 }
 
-
 /*
 	Draw_Character
 
@@ -306,6 +305,21 @@ Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned int chr)
 	}
 }
 
+void
+sw_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	const byte *line = (byte *) buffer->chars;
+	int         width = buffer->width;
+	int         height = buffer->height;
+	while (height-- > 0) {
+		for (int i = 0; i < width; i++) {
+			Draw_Character (x + i * 8, y, line[i]);
+		}
+		line += width;
+		y += 8;
+	}
+}
+
 
 void
 Draw_String (int x, int y, const char *str)
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_gl.c b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_gl.c
index ea8a10049..dac319acf 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_gl.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_gl.c
@@ -486,6 +486,7 @@ gl_capture_screen (capfunc_t callback, void *data)
 
 vid_render_funcs_t gl_vid_render_funcs = {
 	gl_vid_render_init,
+	gl_Draw_CharBuffer,
 	gl_Draw_Character,
 	gl_Draw_String,
 	gl_Draw_nString,
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_glsl.c b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_glsl.c
index 2ffb0cf22..02242755c 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_glsl.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_glsl.c
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ glsl_capture_screen (capfunc_t callback, void *data)
 
 vid_render_funcs_t glsl_vid_render_funcs = {
 	glsl_vid_render_init,
+	glsl_Draw_CharBuffer,
 	glsl_Draw_Character,
 	glsl_Draw_String,
 	glsl_Draw_nString,
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_sw.c b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_sw.c
index 2dc9b8a42..060c9ac0a 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_sw.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_sw.c
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ sw_capture_screen (capfunc_t callback, void *data)
 
 vid_render_funcs_t sw_vid_render_funcs = {
 	sw_vid_render_init,
+	sw_Draw_CharBuffer,
 	Draw_Character,
 	Draw_String,
 	Draw_nString,
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_vulkan.c b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_vulkan.c
index 6519f1740..acb38d4d6 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_vulkan.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/vid_render_vulkan.c
@@ -135,6 +135,12 @@ vulkan_R_LineGraph (int x, int y, int *h_vals, int count, int height)
 {
 }
 
+static void
+vulkan_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer)
+{
+	Vulkan_Draw_CharBuffer (x, y, buffer, vulkan_ctx);
+}
+
 static void
 vulkan_Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned ch)
 {
@@ -740,6 +746,7 @@ vulkan_vid_render_shutdown (void)
 
 vid_render_funcs_t vulkan_vid_render_funcs = {
 	vulkan_vid_render_init,
+	vulkan_Draw_CharBuffer,
 	vulkan_Draw_Character,
 	vulkan_Draw_String,
 	vulkan_Draw_nString,
diff --git a/libs/video/renderer/vulkan/vulkan_draw.c b/libs/video/renderer/vulkan/vulkan_draw.c
index a3693426a..7a604860a 100644
--- a/libs/video/renderer/vulkan/vulkan_draw.c
+++ b/libs/video/renderer/vulkan/vulkan_draw.c
@@ -571,6 +571,22 @@ queue_character (int x, int y, byte chr, vulkan_ctx_t *ctx)
 			  &frame->quad_verts);
 }
 
+void
+Vulkan_Draw_CharBuffer (int x, int y, draw_charbuffer_t *buffer,
+						vulkan_ctx_t *ctx)
+{
+	const byte *line = (byte *) buffer->chars;
+	int         width = buffer->width;
+	int         height = buffer->height;
+	while (height-- > 0) {
+		for (int i = 0; i < width; i++) {
+			Vulkan_Draw_Character (x + i * 8, y, line[i], ctx);
+		}
+		line += width;
+		y += 8;
+	}
+}
+
 void
 Vulkan_Draw_Character (int x, int y, unsigned int chr, vulkan_ctx_t *ctx)
 {