diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/actor.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/actor.cpp
index 8226ff31f..fe3cade9a 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/actor.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/actor.cpp
@@ -4927,11 +4927,11 @@ void MoveDude(DBloodActor* actor)
 		switch (nLink)
 		{
 		case kMarkerLowStack:
-			if (pPlayer->nPlayer == myconnectindex)
+			if (pPlayer && pPlayer->nPlayer == gViewIndex)
 				gotpic.Set(actor->sector()->floorpicnum);
 			break;
 		case kMarkerUpStack:
-			if (pPlayer->nPlayer == myconnectindex)
+			if (pPlayer && pPlayer->nPlayer == gViewIndex)
 				gotpic.Set(actor->sector()->ceilingpicnum);
 			break;
 		case kMarkerLowWater:
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/animatesprite.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/animatesprite.cpp
index 18d208440..f54af0f6d 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/animatesprite.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/animatesprite.cpp
@@ -477,13 +477,14 @@ static tspritetype* viewAddEffect(tspriteArray& tsprites, int nTSprite, VIEW_EFF
 		auto& nVoxel = voxelIndex[nTile];
 		if (cl_showweapon == 2 && r_voxels && nVoxel != -1)
 		{
-			pNSprite->angle = (pPlayer->actor->spr.angle + DAngle90).Normalized360(); // always face viewer
+			auto gView = &gPlayer[gViewIndex];
+			pNSprite->set_int_ang((gView->actor->int_ang() + 512) & 2047); // always face viewer
 			pNSprite->cstat |= CSTAT_SPRITE_ALIGNMENT_SLAB;
 			pNSprite->cstat &= ~CSTAT_SPRITE_YFLIP;
 			pNSprite->picnum = nVoxel;
 			if (pPlayer->curWeapon == kWeapLifeLeech) // position lifeleech behind player
 			{
-				pNSprite->pos.XY() += pPlayer->actor->spr.angle.ToVector() * 8;
+				pNSprite->pos.XY() += gView->actor->spr.angle.ToVector() * 8;
 			}
 			if ((pPlayer->curWeapon == kWeapLifeLeech) || (pPlayer->curWeapon == kWeapVoodooDoll))  // make lifeleech/voodoo doll always face viewer like sprite
 				pNSprite->set_int_ang((pNSprite->int_ang() + 512) & 2047); // offset angle 90 degrees
@@ -524,7 +525,7 @@ static int GetOctant(int x, int y)
 
 void viewProcessSprites(tspriteArray& tsprites, int32_t cX, int32_t cY, int32_t cZ, DAngle cA, double interpfrac)
 {
-	PLAYER* pPlayer = &gPlayer[myconnectindex];
+	PLAYER* pPlayer = &gPlayer[gViewIndex];
 	int nViewSprites = tsprites.Size();
 	// shift before interpolating to increase precision.
 	DAngle myclock = DAngle::fromDeg(((PlayClock << 3) + (4 << 3) * interpfrac) * BAngToDegree);
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
index cbc3ebd9d..18a9cf4ee 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(_Blood, PowerupIcon)
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(_Blood, GetViewPlayer)
 {
 	PARAM_PROLOGUE;
-	ACTION_RETURN_POINTER(&gPlayer[myconnectindex]);
+	ACTION_RETURN_POINTER(&gPlayer[gViewIndex]);
 }
 
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(_BloodPlayer, GetHealth)
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/view.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/view.cpp
index 60b2a5bb1..360e7c16c 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/view.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/view.cpp
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ void renderCrystalBall()
 
 void viewDrawScreen(bool sceneonly)
 {
-	PLAYER* pPlayer = &gPlayer[myconnectindex];
+	PLAYER* pPlayer = &gPlayer[gViewIndex];
 
 	if (testgotpic(2342, true))
 	{
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ bool GameInterface::DrawAutomapPlayer(const DVector2& mxy, const DVector2& cpos,
 
 	for (int i = connecthead; i >= 0; i = connectpoint2[i])
 	{
-		if (i == myconnectindex || gGameOptions.nGameType == 1)
+		if (i == gViewIndex || gGameOptions.nGameType == 1)
 		{
 			auto actor = gPlayer[i].actor;
 			auto vect = OutAutomapVector(mxy - cpos, cangvect, czoom, xydim);