diff --git a/src/d_dehacked.cpp b/src/d_dehacked.cpp
index 633eb466b..1239d71bb 100644
--- a/src/d_dehacked.cpp
+++ b/src/d_dehacked.cpp
@@ -1928,7 +1928,7 @@ static int PatchMisc (int dummy)
 					}
 					else if (a > 0)
 					{
-						static_cast<APowerup *>(GetDefaultByName (types[i]))->BlendColor = PalEntry(
+						GetDefaultByName (types[i])->ColorVar(NAME_BlendColor) = PalEntry(
 							BYTE(clamp(a,0.f,1.f)*255.f),
 							clamp(r,0,255),
 							clamp(g,0,255),
@@ -1936,7 +1936,7 @@ static int PatchMisc (int dummy)
 					}
 					else
 					{
-						static_cast<APowerup *>(GetDefaultByName (types[i]))->BlendColor = 0;
+						GetDefaultByName (types[i])->ColorVar(NAME_BlendColor) = 0;
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/dobject.cpp b/src/dobject.cpp
index 6c9afb884..e31a3dd23 100644
--- a/src/dobject.cpp
+++ b/src/dobject.cpp
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ DObject::DObject ()
 {
 	ObjectFlags = GC::CurrentWhite & OF_WhiteBits;
 	ObjNext = GC::Root;
+	GCNext = nullptr;
 	GC::Root = this;
 }
 
@@ -283,6 +284,7 @@ DObject::DObject (PClass *inClass)
 {
 	ObjectFlags = GC::CurrentWhite & OF_WhiteBits;
 	ObjNext = GC::Root;
+	GCNext = nullptr;
 	GC::Root = this;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dobject.h b/src/dobject.h
index 3e8801d40..367350427 100644
--- a/src/dobject.h
+++ b/src/dobject.h
@@ -479,6 +479,8 @@ public:
 
 	// Add other types as needed.
 	int &IntVar(FName field);
+	PalEntry &ColorVar(FName field);
+	FName &NameVar(FName field);
 	double &FloatVar(FName field);
 
 	// If you need to replace one object with another and want to
diff --git a/src/dobjtype.cpp b/src/dobjtype.cpp
index 75513c5b5..a041b4b9d 100644
--- a/src/dobjtype.cpp
+++ b/src/dobjtype.cpp
@@ -3347,7 +3347,7 @@ void PClass::InitializeDefaults()
 	Defaults = (BYTE *)M_Malloc(Size);
 
 	// run the constructor on the defaults to set the vtbl pointer which is needed to run class-aware functions on them.
-	// bSerialOverride prevents linking into the thinker chains.
+	// Temporarily setting bSerialOverride prevents linking into the thinker chains.
 	auto s = DThinker::bSerialOverride;
 	DThinker::bSerialOverride = true;
 	ConstructNative(Defaults);
@@ -3359,9 +3359,10 @@ void PClass::InitializeDefaults()
 	optr->SetClass(this);
 
 
+	// Copy the defaults from the parent but leave the DObject part alone because it contains important data.
 	if (ParentClass->Defaults != NULL)
 	{
-		memcpy(Defaults, ParentClass->Defaults, ParentClass->Size);
+		memcpy(Defaults + sizeof(DObject), ParentClass->Defaults + sizeof(DObject), ParentClass->Size - sizeof(DObject));
 		if (Size > ParentClass->Size)
 		{
 			memset(Defaults + ParentClass->Size, 0, Size - ParentClass->Size);
@@ -3369,7 +3370,7 @@ void PClass::InitializeDefaults()
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		memset(Defaults, 0, Size);
+		memset(Defaults + sizeof(DObject), 0, Size - sizeof(DObject));
 	}
 
 	if (bRuntimeClass)
diff --git a/src/dobjtype.h b/src/dobjtype.h
index a7ce429bb..ee5d0984e 100644
--- a/src/dobjtype.h
+++ b/src/dobjtype.h
@@ -1078,6 +1078,16 @@ inline int &DObject::IntVar(FName field)
 	return *(int*)ScriptVar(field, TypeSInt32);
 }
 
+inline PalEntry &DObject::ColorVar(FName field)
+{
+	return *(PalEntry*)ScriptVar(field, TypeColor);
+}
+
+inline FName &DObject::NameVar(FName field)
+{
+	return *(FName*)ScriptVar(field, TypeName);
+}
+
 inline double &DObject::FloatVar(FName field)
 {
 	return *(double*)ScriptVar(field, TypeFloat64);
diff --git a/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.cpp b/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.cpp
index 15895eaa4..e69de29bb 100644
--- a/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.cpp
+++ b/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.cpp
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-#include "info.h"
-#include "a_pickups.h"
-#include "d_player.h"
-#include "p_local.h"
-#include "c_dispatch.h"
-#include "gi.h"
-#include "s_sound.h"
-#include "p_local.h"
-#include "p_spec.h"
-#include "p_lnspec.h"
-#include "p_effect.h"
-#include "a_artifacts.h"
-#include "sbar.h"
-#include "d_player.h"
-#include "m_random.h"
-#include "v_video.h"
-#include "templates.h"
-#include "a_morph.h"
-#include "g_level.h"
-#include "doomstat.h"
-#include "v_palette.h"
-#include "serializer.h"
-#include "r_utility.h"
-#include "virtual.h"
-#include "g_levellocals.h"
-
-#include "r_data/colormaps.h"
-
-static FRandom pr_torch ("Torch");
-
-/* Those are no longer needed, except maybe as reference?
- * They're not used anywhere in the code anymore, except
- * MAULATORTICS as redefined in a_minotaur.cpp...
-#define	INVULNTICS (30*TICRATE)
-#define	INVISTICS (60*TICRATE)
-#define	INFRATICS (120*TICRATE)
-#define	IRONTICS (60*TICRATE)
-#define WPNLEV2TICS (40*TICRATE)
-#define FLIGHTTICS (60*TICRATE)
-#define SPEEDTICS (45*TICRATE)
-#define MAULATORTICS (25*TICRATE)
-#define	TIMEFREEZE_TICS	( 12 * TICRATE )
-*/
-
-
-IMPLEMENT_CLASS(APowerup, false, false)
-
-// Powerup-Giver -------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-// Powerup -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-DEFINE_FIELD(APowerup, EffectTics)
-DEFINE_FIELD(APowerup, BlendColor)
-DEFINE_FIELD(APowerup, Mode)
-DEFINE_FIELD(APowerup, Strength)
-DEFINE_FIELD(APowerup, Colormap)
-
-//===========================================================================
-//
-// APowerup :: Serialize
-//
-//===========================================================================
-
-void APowerup::Serialize(FSerializer &arc)
-{
-	Super::Serialize (arc);
-	auto def = (APowerup*)GetDefault();
-	arc("effecttics", EffectTics, def->EffectTics)
-		("blendcolor", BlendColor, def->BlendColor)
-		("mode", Mode, def->Mode)
-		("strength", Strength, def->Strength)
-		("colormap", Colormap, def->Colormap);
-}
diff --git a/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.h b/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.h
index 84c18505b..5f5bd1e88 100644
--- a/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.h
+++ b/src/g_inventory/a_artifacts.h
@@ -3,24 +3,4 @@
 
 #include "a_pickups.h"
 
-class player_t;
-
-// A powerup is a pseudo-inventory item that applies an effect to its
-// owner while it is present.
-class APowerup : public AInventory
-{
-	DECLARE_CLASS (APowerup, AInventory)
-public:
-	virtual void Serialize(FSerializer &arc) override;
-
-	int EffectTics;
-	PalEntry BlendColor;
-	FNameNoInit Mode;
-	double Strength;
-	int Colormap;
-
-public:
-	friend void EndAllPowerupEffects(AInventory *item);
-	friend void InitAllPowerupEffects(AInventory *item);
-};
 #endif //__A_ARTIFACTS_H__
diff --git a/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.cpp b/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.cpp
index 7b3756f52..b19fcf1f2 100644
--- a/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.cpp
+++ b/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.cpp
@@ -341,22 +341,11 @@ bool AInventory::Grind(bool items)
 // AInventory :: DoEffect
 //
 // Handles any effect an item might apply to its owner
-// Normally only used by subclasses of APowerup
+// Normally only used by subclasses of Powerup
 //
 //===========================================================================
 
-void AInventory::DoEffect ()
-{
-}
-
-DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(AInventory, DoEffect)
-{
-	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AInventory);
-	self->DoEffect();
-	return 0;
-}
-
-void AInventory::CallDoEffect()
+void AInventory::DoEffect()
 {
 	IFVIRTUAL(AInventory, DoEffect)
 	{
@@ -364,7 +353,6 @@ void AInventory::CallDoEffect()
 		VMFrameStack stack;
 		GlobalVMStack.Call(func, params, 1, nullptr, 0, nullptr);
 	}
-	else DoEffect();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.h b/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.h
index 0d2c43fc5..3ef2fd285 100644
--- a/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.h
+++ b/src/g_inventory/a_pickups.h
@@ -115,8 +115,7 @@ public:
 	virtual bool ShouldStay();
 	bool CallShouldStay();
 
-	virtual void DoEffect();
-	void CallDoEffect();
+	void DoEffect();
 
 	virtual void PlayPickupSound(AActor *toucher);
 	void CallPlayPickupSound(AActor *toucher);
diff --git a/src/p_acs.cpp b/src/p_acs.cpp
index fb0de5932..8914ab788 100644
--- a/src/p_acs.cpp
+++ b/src/p_acs.cpp
@@ -5728,9 +5728,9 @@ doplaysound:			if (funcIndex == ACSF_PlayActorSound)
 				AActor *actor = SingleActorFromTID(args[0], activator);
 				if (actor != NULL)
 				{
-					APowerup* powerup = (APowerup*)actor->FindInventory(powerupclass);
+					auto powerup = actor->FindInventory(powerupclass);
 					if (powerup != NULL)
-						return powerup->EffectTics;
+						return powerup->IntVar(NAME_EffectTics);
 				}
 				return 0;
 			}
diff --git a/src/p_lnspec.cpp b/src/p_lnspec.cpp
index f26f617a9..a09ad16cf 100644
--- a/src/p_lnspec.cpp
+++ b/src/p_lnspec.cpp
@@ -2868,10 +2868,10 @@ FUNC(LS_SetPlayerProperty)
 			{ // Give power to activator
 				if (power != 4)
 				{
-					APowerup *item = static_cast<APowerup*>(it->GiveInventoryType(PClass::FindActor(powers[power])));
+					auto item = it->GiveInventoryType(PClass::FindActor(powers[power]));
 					if (item != NULL && power == 0 && arg1 == 1) 
 					{
-						item->BlendColor = MakeSpecialColormap(INVERSECOLORMAP);
+						item->ColorVar(NAME_BlendColor) = MakeSpecialColormap(INVERSECOLORMAP);
 					}
 				}
 				else if (it->player - players == consoleplayer)
@@ -2908,10 +2908,10 @@ FUNC(LS_SetPlayerProperty)
 				{ // Give power
 					if (power != 4)
 					{
-						APowerup *item = static_cast<APowerup*>(players[i].mo->GiveInventoryType ((PClass::FindActor(powers[power]))));
+						auto item = players[i].mo->GiveInventoryType ((PClass::FindActor(powers[power])));
 						if (item != NULL && power == 0 && arg1 == 1) 
 						{
-							item->BlendColor = MakeSpecialColormap(INVERSECOLORMAP);
+							item->ColorVar(NAME_BlendColor) = MakeSpecialColormap(INVERSECOLORMAP);
 						}
 					}
 					else if (i == consoleplayer)
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.cpp b/src/p_mobj.cpp
index e52b10a8e..4bf890462 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.cpp
+++ b/src/p_mobj.cpp
@@ -3954,7 +3954,7 @@ void AActor::Tick ()
 		// by the order in the inventory, not the order in the thinker table
 		while (item != NULL && item->Owner == this)
 		{
-			item->CallDoEffect();
+			item->DoEffect();
 			item = item->Inventory;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/scripting/thingdef_properties.cpp b/src/scripting/thingdef_properties.cpp
index f441f8417..947ee1587 100644
--- a/src/scripting/thingdef_properties.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/thingdef_properties.cpp
@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ static AWeapon::MetaClass *FindClassTentativeWeapon(const char *name, bool optio
 {
 	return static_cast<AWeapon::MetaClass *>(FindClassTentative(name, RUNTIME_CLASS(AWeapon), optional));
 }
-static APowerup::MetaClass *FindClassTentativePowerup(const char *name, bool optional = false)
-{
-	return static_cast<APowerup::MetaClass *>(FindClassTentative(name, RUNTIME_CLASS(APowerup), optional));
-}
 static APlayerPawn::MetaClass *FindClassTentativePlayerPawn(const char *name, bool optional = false)
 {
 	return static_cast<APlayerPawn::MetaClass *>(FindClassTentative(name, RUNTIME_CLASS(APlayerPawn), optional));
@@ -458,9 +454,8 @@ int MatchString (const char *in, const char **strings)
 
 //==========================================================================
 //
-// Get access to scripted fields.
-// Fortunately there's only a handful that cannot be done with a
-// scripted property definition, most notably the powerup and morph stuff.
+// Get access to scripted pointers.
+// They need a bit more work than other variables.
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
@@ -2289,7 +2284,7 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, color, C_f, Inventory)
 
 	if (info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) || isgiver)
 	{
-		pBlendColor = &TypedScriptVar<PalEntry>(defaults, info, NAME_BlendColor, TypeColor);
+		pBlendColor = &defaults->ColorVar(NAME_BlendColor);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -2335,13 +2330,9 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, color, C_f, Inventory)
 //==========================================================================
 DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, colormap, FFFfff, Inventory)
 {
-	PalEntry * pBlendColor;
+	PalEntry BlendColor;
 
-	if (info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) || info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
-	{
-		pBlendColor = &TypedScriptVar<PalEntry>(defaults, info, NAME_BlendColor, TypeColor);
-	}
-	else
+	if (!info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) && !info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
 	{
 		I_Error("\"powerup.colormap\" requires an actor of type \"Powerup\"\n");
 		return;
@@ -2352,7 +2343,7 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, colormap, FFFfff, Inventory)
 		PROP_FLOAT_PARM(r, 0);
 		PROP_FLOAT_PARM(g, 1);
 		PROP_FLOAT_PARM(b, 2);
-		*pBlendColor = MakeSpecialColormap(AddSpecialColormap(0, 0, 0, r, g, b));
+		BlendColor = MakeSpecialColormap(AddSpecialColormap(0, 0, 0, r, g, b));
 	}
 	else if (PROP_PARM_COUNT == 6)
 	{
@@ -2362,12 +2353,13 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, colormap, FFFfff, Inventory)
 		PROP_FLOAT_PARM(r2, 3);
 		PROP_FLOAT_PARM(g2, 4);
 		PROP_FLOAT_PARM(b2, 5);
-		*pBlendColor = MakeSpecialColormap(AddSpecialColormap(r1, g1, b1, r2, g2, b2));
+		BlendColor = MakeSpecialColormap(AddSpecialColormap(r1, g1, b1, r2, g2, b2));
 	}
 	else
 	{
 		I_Error("\"power.colormap\" must have either 3 or 6 parameters\n");
 	}
+	defaults->ColorVar(NAME_BlendColor) = BlendColor;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -2375,20 +2367,14 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, colormap, FFFfff, Inventory)
 //==========================================================================
 DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, duration, I, Inventory)
 {
-	int *pEffectTics;
-
-	if (info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) || info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
-	{
-		pEffectTics = &TypedScriptVar<int>(defaults, info, NAME_EffectTics, TypeSInt32);
-	}
-	else
+	if (!info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) && !info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
 	{
 		I_Error("\"powerup.duration\" requires an actor of type \"Powerup\"\n");
 		return;
 	}
 
 	PROP_INT_PARM(i, 0);
-	*pEffectTics = (i >= 0) ? i : -i * TICRATE;
+	defaults->IntVar(NAME_EffectTics) = (i >= 0) ? i : -i * TICRATE;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -2396,19 +2382,13 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, duration, I, Inventory)
 //==========================================================================
 DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, strength, F, Inventory)
 {
-	double *pStrength;
-
-	if (info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) || info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
-	{
-		pStrength = &TypedScriptVar<double>(defaults, info, NAME_Strength, TypeFloat64);
-	}
-	else
+	if (!info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) && !info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
 	{
 		I_Error("\"powerup.strength\" requires an actor of type \"Powerup\"\n");
 		return;
 	}
 	PROP_DOUBLE_PARM(f, 0);
-	*pStrength = f;
+	defaults->FloatVar(NAME_Strength) = f;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -2417,18 +2397,13 @@ DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, strength, F, Inventory)
 DEFINE_CLASS_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, mode, S, Inventory)
 {
 	PROP_STRING_PARM(str, 0);
-	FName *pMode;
 
-	if (info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) || info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
-	{
-		pMode = &TypedScriptVar<FName>(defaults, info, NAME_Mode, TypeName);
-	}
-	else
+	if (!info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup)) && !info->IsDescendantOf(PClass::FindActor(NAME_PowerupGiver)))
 	{
 		I_Error("\"powerup.mode\" requires an actor of type \"Powerup\"\n");
 		return;
 	}
-	*pMode = (FName)str;
+	defaults->NameVar(NAME_Mode) = (FName)str;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -2441,13 +2416,14 @@ DEFINE_SCRIPTED_PROPERTY_PREFIX(powerup, type, S, PowerupGiver)
 	// Yuck! What was I thinking when I decided to prepend "Power" to the name? 
 	// Now it's too late to change it...
 	PClassActor *cls = PClass::FindActor(str);
-	if (cls == nullptr || !cls->IsDescendantOf(RUNTIME_CLASS(APowerup)))
+	auto pow = PClass::FindActor(NAME_Powerup);
+	if (cls == nullptr || !cls->IsDescendantOf(pow))
 	{
 		if (bag.fromDecorate)
 		{
 			FString st;
 			st.Format("%s%s", strnicmp(str, "power", 5) ? "Power" : "", str);
-			cls = FindClassTentativePowerup(st);
+			cls = FindClassTentative(st, pow);
 		}
 		else
 		{
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/inventory.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/inventory.txt
index a27240eb7..3e01d059e 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/inventory.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/inventory.txt
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ class Inventory : Actor native
 	virtual native bool SpecialDropAction (Actor dropper);
 	virtual native String PickupMessage();
 	virtual native bool ShouldStay();
-	virtual native void DoEffect();
 	virtual native void PlayPickupSound(Actor user);
 	virtual native void AttachToOwner(Actor user);
 	virtual native void DetachFromOwner();
@@ -57,9 +56,19 @@ class Inventory : Actor native
 	//
 	//===========================================================================
 
-	virtual void Travelled() 
-	{}
+	virtual void Travelled() {}
 
+	//===========================================================================
+	//
+	// AInventory :: DoEffect
+	//
+	// Handles any effect an item might apply to its owner
+	// Normally only used by subclasses of Powerup
+	//
+	//===========================================================================
+
+	virtual void DoEffect() {}
+	
 	virtual double GetSpeedFactor() { return 1; }
 	virtual bool GetNoTeleportFreeze() { return false; }
 	virtual void ModifyDamage(int damage, Name damageType, out int newdamage, bool passive) {}
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/powerups.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/powerups.txt
index e9325c004..d355a5e14 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/powerups.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/inventory/powerups.txt
@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ class PowerupGiver : Inventory
 	}
 }
 
-class Powerup : Inventory native 
+class Powerup : Inventory
 {
-	native int EffectTics;	
-	native color BlendColor;
-	native Name Mode;			// Meaning depends on powerup - used for Invulnerability and Invisibility
-	native double Strength;		// Meaning depends on powerup - currently used only by Invisibility
-	native int Colormap;
+	int EffectTics;	
+	color BlendColor;
+	Name Mode;			// Meaning depends on powerup - used for Invulnerability and Invisibility
+	double Strength;		// Meaning depends on powerup - currently used only by Invisibility
+	int Colormap;
 	const SPECIALCOLORMAP_MASK =  0x00b60000;
 
 	// Note, that while this is an inventory flag, it only has meaning on an active powerup.