diff --git a/src/c_console.cpp b/src/c_console.cpp
index 4340cc3f8..493625bf9 100644
--- a/src/c_console.cpp
+++ b/src/c_console.cpp
@@ -1752,11 +1752,10 @@ void C_MidPrintBold (FFont *font, const char *msg)
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(_Console, MidPrint)
 {
 	PARAM_PROLOGUE;
-	PARAM_STRING(font);
+	PARAM_POINTER_NOT_NULL(fnt, FFont);
 	PARAM_STRING(text);
 	PARAM_BOOL_DEF(bold);
 
-	FFont *fnt = FFont::FindFont(font);
 	const char *txt = text[0] == '$'? GStrings(&text[1]) : text.GetChars();
 	if (!bold) C_MidPrint(fnt, txt);
 	else C_MidPrintBold(fnt, txt);
diff --git a/src/d_main.cpp b/src/d_main.cpp
index 9a966e6d5..573c19071 100644
--- a/src/d_main.cpp
+++ b/src/d_main.cpp
@@ -2467,6 +2467,9 @@ void D_DoomMain (void)
 		TexMan.Init();
 		C_InitConback();
 
+		StartScreen->Progress();
+		V_InitFonts();
+
 		// [CW] Parse any TEAMINFO lumps.
 		if (!batchrun) Printf ("ParseTeamInfo: Load team definitions.\n");
 		TeamLibrary.ParseTeamInfo ();
diff --git a/src/dobjtype.cpp b/src/dobjtype.cpp
index 7468b6dab..e4d9fc177 100644
--- a/src/dobjtype.cpp
+++ b/src/dobjtype.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ PColor *TypeColor;
 PTextureID *TypeTextureID;
 PSpriteID *TypeSpriteID;
 PStatePointer *TypeState;
+PPointer *TypeFont;
 PStateLabel *TypeStateLabel;
 PStruct *TypeVector2;
 PStruct *TypeVector3;
@@ -437,6 +438,7 @@ void PType::StaticInit()
 	TypeVoidPtr = NewPointer(TypeVoid, false);
 	TypeColorStruct = NewStruct("@ColorStruct", nullptr);	//This name is intentionally obfuscated so that it cannot be used explicitly. The point of this type is to gain access to the single channels of a color value.
 	TypeStringStruct = NewNativeStruct("Stringstruct", nullptr);
+	TypeFont = NewPointer(NewNativeStruct("Font", nullptr));
 #ifdef __BIG_ENDIAN__
 	TypeColorStruct->AddField(NAME_a, TypeUInt8);
 	TypeColorStruct->AddField(NAME_r, TypeUInt8);
diff --git a/src/dobjtype.h b/src/dobjtype.h
index 2726ebff1..8cbe79966 100644
--- a/src/dobjtype.h
+++ b/src/dobjtype.h
@@ -940,6 +940,7 @@ extern PStruct *TypeVector3;
 extern PStruct *TypeColorStruct;
 extern PStruct *TypeStringStruct;
 extern PStatePointer *TypeState;
+extern PPointer *TypeFont;
 extern PStateLabel *TypeStateLabel;
 extern PPointer *TypeNullPtr;
 extern PPointer *TypeVoidPtr;
diff --git a/src/r_utility.cpp b/src/r_utility.cpp
index d2358d8b3..a7a3860bb 100644
--- a/src/r_utility.cpp
+++ b/src/r_utility.cpp
@@ -337,8 +337,6 @@ void R_Init ()
 {
 	atterm (R_Shutdown);
 
-	StartScreen->Progress();
-	V_InitFonts();
 	StartScreen->Progress();
 	// Colormap init moved back to InitPalette()
 	//R_InitColormaps ();
diff --git a/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp b/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp
index a23811390..a3641269f 100644
--- a/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp
@@ -1420,6 +1420,76 @@ ExpEmit FxSoundCast::Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build)
 	return to;
 }
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+FxFontCast::FxFontCast(FxExpression *x)
+	: FxExpression(EFX_FontCast, x->ScriptPosition)
+{
+	basex = x;
+	ValueType = TypeSound;
+}
+
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+FxFontCast::~FxFontCast()
+{
+	SAFE_DELETE(basex);
+}
+
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+FxExpression *FxFontCast::Resolve(FCompileContext &ctx)
+{
+	CHECKRESOLVED();
+	SAFE_RESOLVE(basex, ctx);
+
+	if (basex->ValueType == TypeFont)
+	{
+		FxExpression *x = basex;
+		basex = nullptr;
+		delete this;
+		return x;
+	}
+	// This intentionally does not convert non-constants.
+	// The sole reason for this cast is to allow passing both font pointers and string constants to printing functions and have the font names checked at compile time.
+	else if ((basex->ValueType == TypeString || basex->ValueType == TypeName) && basex->isConstant())
+	{
+		ExpVal constval = static_cast<FxConstant *>(basex)->GetValue();
+		FFont *font = V_GetFont(constval.GetString());
+		// Font must exist. Most internal functions working with fonts do not like null pointers.
+		// If checking is needed scripts will have to call Font.GetFont themselves.
+		if (font == nullptr)
+		{
+			ScriptPosition.Message(MSG_ERROR, "Unknown font '%s'", constval.GetString().GetChars());
+			delete this;
+			return nullptr;
+		}
+
+		FxExpression *x = new FxConstant(font, ScriptPosition);
+		delete this;
+		return x;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		ScriptPosition.Message(MSG_ERROR, "Cannot convert to font");
+		delete this;
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+}
+
+
 //==========================================================================
 //
 // generic type cast operator
@@ -1649,6 +1719,14 @@ FxExpression *FxTypeCast::Resolve(FCompileContext &ctx)
 	{
 		goto basereturn;
 	}
+	else if (ValueType == TypeFont)
+	{
+		FxExpression *x = new FxFontCast(basex);
+		x = x->Resolve(ctx);
+		basex = nullptr;
+		delete this;
+		return x;
+	}
 	// todo: pointers to class objects. 
 	// All other types are only compatible to themselves and have already been handled above by the equality check.
 	// Anything that falls through here is not compatible and must print an error.
diff --git a/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.h b/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.h
index 69ad192f5..6438e0868 100644
--- a/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.h
+++ b/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.h
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ enum EFxType
 	EFX_StrLen,
 	EFX_ColorLiteral,
 	EFX_GetDefaultByType,
+	EFX_FontCast,
 	EFX_COUNT
 };
 
@@ -488,6 +489,13 @@ public:
 		isresolved = true;
 	}
 
+	FxConstant(FFont *state, const FScriptPosition &pos) : FxExpression(EFX_Constant, pos)
+	{
+		value.pointer = state;
+		ValueType = value.Type = TypeFont;
+		isresolved = true;
+	}
+
 	FxConstant(const FScriptPosition &pos) : FxExpression(EFX_Constant, pos)
 	{
 		value.pointer = nullptr;
@@ -664,6 +672,18 @@ public:
 	ExpEmit Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build);
 };
 
+class FxFontCast : public FxExpression
+{
+	FxExpression *basex;
+
+public:
+
+	FxFontCast(FxExpression *x);
+	~FxFontCast();
+	FxExpression *Resolve(FCompileContext&);
+};
+
+
 //==========================================================================
 //
 //	FxTypeCast
diff --git a/src/serializer.cpp b/src/serializer.cpp
index 6d7a6ef7c..dcb7acab6 100644
--- a/src/serializer.cpp
+++ b/src/serializer.cpp
@@ -2187,13 +2187,13 @@ template<> FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, FFont *&fon
 {
 	if (arc.isWriting())
 	{
-		const char *n = font->GetName();
-		return arc.StringPtr(key, n);
+		FName n = font->GetName();
+		return arc(key, n);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		const char *n;
-		arc.StringPtr(key, n);
+		FName n;
+		arc(key, n);
 		font = V_GetFont(n);
 		if (font == nullptr)
 		{
diff --git a/src/v_font.cpp b/src/v_font.cpp
index 2854be8c2..6a4f60826 100644
--- a/src/v_font.cpp
+++ b/src/v_font.cpp
@@ -340,6 +340,14 @@ FFont *V_GetFont(const char *name)
 	return font;
 }
 
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(FFont, GetFont)
+{
+	PARAM_PROLOGUE;
+	PARAM_NAME(name);
+	ACTION_RETURN_POINTER(V_GetFont(name.GetChars()));
+}
+
+
 //==========================================================================
 //
 // FFont :: FFont
@@ -366,7 +374,7 @@ FFont::FFont (const char *name, const char *nametemplate, int first, int count,
 	LastChar = first + count - 1;
 	FontHeight = 0;
 	GlobalKerning = false;
-	Name = copystring (name);
+	FontName = name;
 	Next = FirstFont;
 	FirstFont = this;
 	Cursor = '_';
@@ -478,11 +486,6 @@ FFont::~FFont ()
 		delete[] PatchRemap;
 		PatchRemap = NULL;
 	}
-	if (Name)
-	{
-		delete[] Name;
-		Name = NULL;
-	}
 
 	FFont **prev = &FirstFont;
 	FFont *font = *prev;
@@ -508,27 +511,26 @@ FFont::~FFont ()
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-FFont *FFont::FindFont (const char *name)
+FFont *FFont::FindFont (FName name)
 {
-	if (name == NULL)
+	if (name == NAME_None)
 	{
-		return NULL;
+		return nullptr;
 	}
 	FFont *font = FirstFont;
 
-	while (font != NULL)
+	while (font != nullptr)
 	{
-		if (stricmp (font->Name, name) == 0)
-			break;
+		if (font->FontName == name) return font;
 		font = font->Next;
 	}
-	return font;
+	return nullptr;
 }
 
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(FFont, FindFont)
 {
 	PARAM_PROLOGUE;
-	PARAM_STRING(name);
+	PARAM_NAME(name);
 	ACTION_RETURN_POINTER(FFont::FindFont(name));
 }
 
@@ -935,7 +937,7 @@ FFont::FFont (int lump)
 	Lump = lump;
 	Chars = NULL;
 	PatchRemap = NULL;
-	Name = NULL;
+	FontName = NAME_None;
 	Cursor = '_';
 }
 
@@ -951,7 +953,7 @@ FSingleLumpFont::FSingleLumpFont (const char *name, int lump) : FFont(lump)
 {
 	assert(lump >= 0);
 
-	Name = copystring (name);
+	FontName = name;
 
 	FMemLump data1 = Wads.ReadLump (lump);
 	const BYTE *data = (const BYTE *)data1.GetMem();
@@ -1189,7 +1191,7 @@ void FSingleLumpFont::LoadFON2 (int lump, const BYTE *data)
 		if (destSize < 0)
 		{
 			i += FirstChar;
-			I_FatalError ("Overflow decompressing char %d (%c) of %s", i, i, Name);
+			I_FatalError ("Overflow decompressing char %d (%c) of %s", i, i, FontName.GetChars());
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1491,7 +1493,7 @@ FSinglePicFont::FSinglePicFont(const char *picname) :
 
 	FTexture *pic = TexMan[picnum];
 
-	Name = copystring(picname);
+	FontName = picname;
 	FontHeight = pic->GetScaledHeight();
 	SpaceWidth = pic->GetScaledWidth();
 	GlobalKerning = 0;
@@ -1903,7 +1905,7 @@ FSpecialFont::FSpecialFont (const char *name, int first, int count, FTexture **l
 
 	memcpy(this->notranslate, notranslate, 256*sizeof(bool));
 
-	Name = copystring(name);
+	FontName = name;
 	Chars = new CharData[count];
 	charlumps = new FTexture*[count];
 	PatchRemap = new BYTE[256];
diff --git a/src/v_font.h b/src/v_font.h
index b31c51471..124f29a4e 100644
--- a/src/v_font.h
+++ b/src/v_font.h
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ public:
 	int GetDefaultKerning () const { return GlobalKerning; }
 	virtual void LoadTranslations();
 	void Preload() const;
-	const char *GetName() const { return Name; }
+	FName GetName() const { return FontName; }
 
-	static FFont *FindFont (const char *fontname);
+	static FFont *FindFont(FName fontname);
 	static void StaticPreloadFonts();
 
 	// Return width of string in pixels (unscaled)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ protected:
 	BYTE *PatchRemap;
 
 	int Lump;
-	char *Name;
+	FName FontName;
 	FFont *Next;
 
 	static FFont *FirstFont;
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/language.enu b/wadsrc/static/language.enu
index bdc1ce3ae..4d567d3ca 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/language.enu
+++ b/wadsrc/static/language.enu
@@ -1417,6 +1417,9 @@ TXT_KILLED_ORACLE = "You've Killed The Oracle!";
 TXT_KILLED_MACIL = "You Killed Macil!";
 TXT_KILLED_LOREMASTER = "You've Killed the Loremaster!";
 
+TXT_YOUFOOL = "You Fool!  You've set off the alarm.";
+TXT_YOUREDEAD = "You're dead!  You set off the alarm.";
+
 // Strife pickup messages
 
 TXT_METALARMOR = "You picked up the Metal Armor.";
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt
index b84d72a51..f1df373c3 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/base.txt
@@ -70,13 +70,14 @@ struct Screen native
 
 struct Font native
 {
-	native static Font FindFont(String name);
+	native static Font FindFont(Name fontname);
+	native static Font GetFont(Name fontname);
 }
 
 struct Console native
 {
 	native static void HideConsole();
-	native static void MidPrint(string fontname, string textlabel, bool bold = false);	// always uses the stringtable.
+	native static void MidPrint(Font fontname, string textlabel, bool bold = false);
 }
 
 struct DamageTypeDefinition native
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/compatibility.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/compatibility.txt
index 752de8016..1ae88ab85 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/compatibility.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/compatibility.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ extend class Object
 	
 	deprecated static void C_MidPrint(string fontname, string textlabel, bool bold = false) // deprecated for 2.4.x
 	{
-		return Console.MidPrint(fontname, textlabel, bold);
+		let f = Font.GetFont(fontname);
+		if (f == null) return;
+		return Console.MidPrint(f, textlabel, bold);
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/strife/strifeitems.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/strife/strifeitems.txt
index 970478cae..4c7311b56 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/strife/strifeitems.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/strife/strifeitems.txt
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ class RaiseAlarm : DummyStrifeItem
 			dropper.target.SoundAlert(dropper.target);
 			if (dropper.target.CheckLocalView(consoleplayer))
 			{
-				A_Log("You Fool!  You've set off the alarm.");
+				Console.MidPrint(SmallFont, "$TXT_YOUFOOL");
 			}
 		}
 		Destroy ();
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ class CloseDoor222 : DummyStrifeItem
 		{
 			if (dropper.target.CheckLocalView(consoleplayer))
 			{
-				A_Log("You're dead!  You set off the alarm.");
+				Console.MidPrint(SmallFont, "$TXT_YOUREDEAD");
 			}
 			dropper.target.SoundAlert(dropper.target);
 		}