diff --git a/src/console.c b/src/console.c
index fdba8601e..f3f40ccb9 100644
--- a/src/console.c
+++ b/src/console.c
@@ -710,9 +710,10 @@ void CON_ToggleOff(void)
 
 	con_destlines = 0;
 	con_curlines = 0;
-	CON_ClearHUD();
 	con_forcepic = 0;
 
+	CON_ClearHUD();
+
 	I_UpdateMouseGrab();
 
 	Unlock_state();
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 9435a5e93..126e658d8 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1878,6 +1878,10 @@ void G_StartLevel(boolean resetplayer)
 	G_SetMouseDeltas(0, 0, 1);
 	G_SetMouseDeltas(0, 0, 2);
 
+	// If starting a game, hide the console messages
+	if (gamestate != GS_LEVEL)
+		CON_ClearHUD();
+
 	if (titlemapinaction)
 		return;
 
@@ -2031,9 +2035,6 @@ void G_DoLoadLevel(void)
 	G_SetMouseDeltas(0, 0, 1);
 	G_SetMouseDeltas(0, 0, 2);
 
-	// clear hud messages remains (usually from game startup)
-	CON_ClearHUD();
-
 	if (demoplayback && !timingdemo)
 		precache = true;
 	if (timingdemo)
@@ -2112,7 +2113,6 @@ void TitleCard_Start(void)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	CON_ClearHUD();
 	TitleCard_LoadGraphics();
 
 	titlecard.running = true;
@@ -2697,24 +2697,18 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 	switch (gamestate)
 	{
 		case GS_LEVEL:
-			if (titlecard.running)
-			{
-				if (run)
-					TitleCard_Run();
-				if (titlecard.prelevel)
-				{
-					G_CheckPlayerReborn();
-					break;
-				}
-			}
+			if (titlecard.running && run)
+				TitleCard_Run();
 			if (titledemo)
 				F_TitleDemoTicker();
-			P_Ticker(run); // tic the game
-			ST_Ticker(run);
-			F_TextPromptTicker();
+			if (!titlecard.prelevel)
+			{
+				P_Ticker(run); // tic the game
+				F_TextPromptTicker();
+			}
+
 			AM_Ticker();
 			HU_Ticker();
-
 			break;
 
 		case GS_INTERMISSION:
@@ -2748,6 +2742,7 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 		case GS_GAMEEND:
 			if (run)
 				F_GameEndTicker();
+			HU_Ticker();
 			break;
 
 		case GS_EVALUATION:
@@ -3598,9 +3593,6 @@ void G_DoReborn(INT32 playernum)
 			G_SetMouseDeltas(0, 0, 1);
 			G_SetMouseDeltas(0, 0, 2);
 
-			// clear hud messages remains (usually from game startup)
-			CON_ClearHUD();
-
 			// Starpost support
 			for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
 			{
diff --git a/src/hu_stuff.c b/src/hu_stuff.c
index d4fa0149b..58d245256 100644
--- a/src/hu_stuff.c
+++ b/src/hu_stuff.c
@@ -2138,10 +2138,7 @@ void HU_DrawTabRankings(INT32 x, INT32 y, playersort_t *tab, INT32 scorelines, I
 			HU_DrawEmeralds(x-12,y+2,tab[i].emeralds);
 		}
 
-		if (greycheck)
-			V_DrawSmallTranslucentPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, livesback);
-		else
-			V_DrawSmallScaledPatch (x, y-4, 0, livesback);
+		V_DrawSmallScaledPatch (x, y-4, greycheck ? V_80TRANS : 0, livesback);
 
 		if (tab[i].color == 0)
 		{
@@ -2150,10 +2147,7 @@ void HU_DrawTabRankings(INT32 x, INT32 y, playersort_t *tab, INT32 scorelines, I
 				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(x, y-4, 0, superprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
 			else
 			{
-				if (greycheck)
-					V_DrawSmallTranslucentPatch(x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
-				else
-					V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(x, y-4, 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
+				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(x, y-4, greycheck ? V_80TRANS : 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
 			}
 		}
 		else
@@ -2167,7 +2161,7 @@ void HU_DrawTabRankings(INT32 x, INT32 y, playersort_t *tab, INT32 scorelines, I
 			{
 				colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(players[tab[i].num].skin, players[tab[i].num].mo ? players[tab[i].num].mo->color : tab[i].color, GTC_CACHE);
 				if (greycheck)
-					V_DrawSmallTranslucentMappedPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
+					V_DrawSmallMappedPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
 				else
 					V_DrawSmallMappedPatch (x, y-4, 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
 			}
@@ -2177,10 +2171,7 @@ void HU_DrawTabRankings(INT32 x, INT32 y, playersort_t *tab, INT32 scorelines, I
 			V_DrawRightAlignedString(x, y+4, V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|(greycheck ? V_60TRANS : 0), va("%dx", players[tab[i].num].lives));
 		else if (G_TagGametype() && players[tab[i].num].pflags & PF_TAGIT)
 		{
-			if (greycheck)
-				V_DrawSmallTranslucentPatch(x-32, y-4, V_60TRANS, tagico);
-			else
-				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(x-32, y-4, 0, tagico);
+			V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(x-32, y-4, greycheck ? V_60TRANS : 0, tagico);
 		}
 
 		if (players[tab[i].num].exiting || (players[tab[i].num].pflags & PF_FINISHED))
@@ -2436,7 +2427,7 @@ void HU_DrawTeamTabRankings(playersort_t *tab, INT32 whiteplayer)
 		{
 			colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(players[tab[i].num].skin, players[tab[i].num].mo ? players[tab[i].num].mo->color : tab[i].color, GTC_CACHE);
 			if (greycheck)
-				V_DrawSmallTranslucentMappedPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
+				V_DrawSmallMappedPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
 			else
 				V_DrawSmallMappedPatch (x, y-4, 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
 		}
@@ -2510,10 +2501,7 @@ void HU_DrawDualTabRankings(INT32 x, INT32 y, playersort_t *tab, INT32 scoreline
 				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch (x, y-4, 0, superprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
 			else
 			{
-				if (greycheck)
-					V_DrawSmallTranslucentPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
-				else
-					V_DrawSmallScaledPatch (x, y-4, 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
+				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch (x, y-4, greycheck ? V_80TRANS : 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin]);
 			}
 		}
 		else
@@ -2527,7 +2515,7 @@ void HU_DrawDualTabRankings(INT32 x, INT32 y, playersort_t *tab, INT32 scoreline
 			{
 				colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(players[tab[i].num].skin, players[tab[i].num].mo ? players[tab[i].num].mo->color : tab[i].color, GTC_CACHE);
 				if (greycheck)
-					V_DrawSmallTranslucentMappedPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
+					V_DrawSmallMappedPatch (x, y-4, V_80TRANS, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
 				else
 					V_DrawSmallMappedPatch (x, y-4, 0, faceprefix[players[tab[i].num].skin], colormap);
 			}
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.c b/src/st_stuff.c
index 4c5f55147..4d7706f00 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.c
+++ b/src/st_stuff.c
@@ -206,13 +206,6 @@ boolean ST_SameTeam(player_t *a, player_t *b)
 
 static boolean st_stopped = true;
 
-void ST_Ticker(boolean run)
-{
-	(void)run;
-	if (st_stopped)
-		return;
-}
-
 // 0 is default, any others are special palettes.
 INT32 st_palette = 0;
 INT32 st_translucency = 10;
@@ -1292,7 +1285,7 @@ void TitleCard_Draw(void)
 	colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(TC_DEFAULT, colornum, GTC_CACHE);
 
 	if (titlecard.prelevel)
-		V_DrawFill(0, 0, BASEVIDWIDTH, BASEVIDHEIGHT, levelfadecol);
+		V_DrawFill(0, 0, BASEVIDWIDTH, BASEVIDHEIGHT, levelfadecol|V_PERPLAYER);
 
 	if (!LUA_HudEnabled(hud_stagetitle) || titlecard.ticker >= (titlecard.endtime + TICRATE))
 	{
@@ -1315,24 +1308,18 @@ void TitleCard_Draw(void)
 	if (lvlttlxpos < 0)
 		lvlttlxpos = 0;
 
-	if (!splitscreen || (splitscreen && stplyr == &players[displayplayer]))
-	{
-		INT32 zzticker = titlecard.ticker;
-		V_DrawMappedPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (-zzticker) % zigzag->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zigzag, colormap);
-		V_DrawMappedPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (zigzag->height-zzticker) % zigzag->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zigzag, colormap);
-		V_DrawMappedPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (-zztext->height+zzticker) % zztext->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zztext, colormap);
-		V_DrawMappedPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (zzticker) % zztext->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zztext, colormap);
-	}
+	INT32 zzticker = titlecard.ticker;
+	V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (-zzticker) % zigzag->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zigzag, colormap);
+	V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (zigzag->height-zzticker) % zigzag->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zigzag, colormap);
+	V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (-zztext->height+zzticker) % zztext->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zztext, colormap);
+	V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(FixedInt(titlecard.zigzag), (zzticker) % zztext->height, V_SNAPTOTOP|V_SNAPTOLEFT, zztext, colormap);
 
 	if (actnum)
 	{
-		if (!splitscreen)
-		{
-			if (actnum > 9) // slightly offset the act diamond for two-digit act numbers
-				V_DrawMappedPatch(ttlnumxpos + (V_LevelActNumWidth(actnum)/4) + ttlscroll, 104 - ttlscroll, 0, actpat, colormap);
-			else
-				V_DrawMappedPatch(ttlnumxpos + ttlscroll, 104 - ttlscroll, 0, actpat, colormap);
-		}
+		if (actnum > 9) // slightly offset the act diamond for two-digit act numbers
+			V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(ttlnumxpos + (V_LevelActNumWidth(actnum)/4) + ttlscroll, 104 - ttlscroll, 0, actpat, colormap);
+		else
+			V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(ttlnumxpos + ttlscroll, 104 - ttlscroll, 0, actpat, colormap);
 		V_DrawLevelActNum(ttlnumxpos + ttlscroll, 104, V_PERPLAYER, actnum);
 	}
 
@@ -1358,7 +1345,7 @@ void TitleCard_DrawOverWipe(void)
 	if (!(titlecard.running && titlecard.wipe && st_overlay))
 		return;
 
-	stplyr = &players[consoleplayer];
+	stplyr = &players[displayplayer];
 	TitleCard_PreDraw();
 	TitleCard_Draw();
 
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.h b/src/st_stuff.h
index 28c67d37c..01b219128 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.h
+++ b/src/st_stuff.h
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 // STATUS BAR
 //
 
-// Called by main loop.
-void ST_Ticker(boolean run);
-
 // Called by main loop.
 void ST_Drawer(void);
 
diff --git a/src/v_video.h b/src/v_video.h
index 80936f3ee..aeb863ca3 100644
--- a/src/v_video.h
+++ b/src/v_video.h
@@ -155,10 +155,6 @@ void V_CubeApply(UINT8 *red, UINT8 *green, UINT8 *blue);
 #define V_PERPLAYER          0x80000000 // automatically adjust coordinates/scaling for splitscreen mode
 
 // defines for old functions
-#define V_DrawPatch(x,y,s,p) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT, s|V_NOSCALESTART|V_NOSCALEPATCH, p, NULL)
-#define V_DrawTranslucentMappedPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT, s, p, c)
-#define V_DrawSmallTranslucentMappedPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/2, s, p, c)
-#define V_DrawTinyTranslucentMappedPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/4, s, p, c)
 #define V_DrawMappedPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT, s, p, c)
 #define V_DrawSmallMappedPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/2, s, p, c)
 #define V_DrawTinyMappedPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/4, s, p, c)
@@ -166,9 +162,8 @@ void V_CubeApply(UINT8 *red, UINT8 *green, UINT8 *blue);
 #define V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(x,y,s,p) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/2, s, p, NULL)
 #define V_DrawTinyScaledPatch(x,y,s,p) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/4, s, p, NULL)
 #define V_DrawTranslucentPatch(x,y,s,p) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT, s, p, NULL)
-#define V_DrawSmallTranslucentPatch(x,y,s,p) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/2, s, p, NULL)
-#define V_DrawTinyTranslucentPatch(x,y,s,p) V_DrawFixedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT/4, s, p, NULL)
 #define V_DrawSciencePatch(x,y,s,p,sc) V_DrawFixedPatch(x,y,sc,s,p,NULL)
+#define V_DrawSplitscreenPatch(x,y,s,p,c) V_DrawCroppedPatch((x)<<FRACBITS, (y)<<FRACBITS, FRACUNIT, FRACUNIT, (s)|V_PERPLAYER, p, c, 0, 0, ((p)->width)<<FRACBITS, ((p)->height)<<FRACBITS)
 #define V_DrawFixedPatch(x,y,sc,s,p,c) V_DrawStretchyFixedPatch(x,y,sc,sc,s,p,c)
 void V_DrawStretchyFixedPatch(fixed_t x, fixed_t y, fixed_t pscale, fixed_t vscale, INT32 scrn, patch_t *patch, const UINT8 *colormap);
 void V_DrawCroppedPatch(fixed_t x, fixed_t y, fixed_t pscale, fixed_t vscale, INT32 scrn, patch_t *patch, const UINT8 *colormap, fixed_t sx, fixed_t sy, fixed_t w, fixed_t h);