diff --git a/source/common/statistics.cpp b/source/common/statistics.cpp
index d6b5d23b1..868ff3e5c 100644
--- a/source/common/statistics.cpp
+++ b/source/common/statistics.cpp
@@ -546,14 +546,14 @@ bool ReadStatistics()
 	sjson_node* root = sjson_decode(ctx, (const char*)text.Data());
 
 	LevelName = sjson_get_string(root, "levelname", "");
-	StartEpisode = sjson_get_int(root, "episode", -1);
+	StartEpisode = sjson_get_string(root, "episode", "");
 	StartSkill = sjson_get_int(root, "skill", -1);
 	sjson_node* levels = sjson_find_member(root, "levels");
 
-	if (LevelName.Len() == 0 || StartEpisode == -1 || StartSkill == -1 || levels == nullptr)
+	if (LevelName.Len() == 0 || StartEpisode.Len() == 0 || StartSkill == -1 || levels == nullptr)
 	{
 		sjson_destroy_context(ctx);
-		return false;
+		return true;	// do not error out on this.
 	}
 
 	int numlevels = sjson_child_count(levels);
diff --git a/source/common/utility/palentry.h b/source/common/utility/palentry.h
index e52e62cd3..bfc6121d0 100644
--- a/source/common/utility/palentry.h
+++ b/source/common/utility/palentry.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
 struct PalEntry
@@ -34,6 +35,11 @@ struct PalEntry
 		return (r * 77 + g * 143 + b * 37) >> 8;
 	}
 
+	int Amplitude() const
+	{
+		return std::max(r, std::max(g, b));
+	}
+
 	void Decolorize()	// this for 'nocoloredspritelighting' and not the same as desaturation. The normal formula results in a value that's too dark.
 	{
 		int v = (r + g + b);
diff --git a/source/glbackend/gl_palmanager.cpp b/source/glbackend/gl_palmanager.cpp
index 30e865f82..4ce12c231 100644
--- a/source/glbackend/gl_palmanager.cpp
+++ b/source/glbackend/gl_palmanager.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,25 @@ unsigned PaletteManager::FindPalswap(const uint8_t* paldata, palette_t &fadecolo
 	pd.lookup = paldata;
 	pd.crc32 = crc32;
 	pd.swaptexture = nullptr;
+	memset(pd.brightcolors, 0, 256);
+	pd.isbright = false;
+
+	for (int i = 0; i < 255; i++)
+	{
+		int firstmap = paldata[i];
+		int lastmap = paldata[i + 256 * (numshades - 2)];
+
+		PalEntry color1 = palettes[palettemap[0]].colors[firstmap];
+		PalEntry color2 = palettes[palettemap[0]].colors[lastmap];
+		int lum1 = color1.Amplitude();
+		int lum2 = color2.Amplitude();
+		if (lum1 > 40 && lum2 * 10 >= lum1 * 9)
+		{
+			pd.brightcolors[i] = 255;
+			pd.isbright = true;
+		}
+	}
+
 
 	if (fadecolor.f == 0)
 	{
@@ -288,13 +307,18 @@ int PaletteManager::LookupPalette(int palette, int palswap, bool brightmap)
 	}
 	else
 	{
+		if (!swapdata->isbright)
+		{
+			swappedpalmap.Insert(combined, -1);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
 		bool found = false;
 		memset(swappedpalette, 0, sizeof(swappedpalette));
 		for (int i = 0; i < 255; i++)
 		{
-			int swapi = swapdata->lookup[i];
-			auto swapc = paldata->colors[swapi];
-			if (swapc.a)
+			int swapi = swapdata->brightcolors[i];
+			if (swapi)
 			{
 				found = true;
 				swappedpalette[i] = 0xffffffff;
diff --git a/source/glbackend/gl_texture.cpp b/source/glbackend/gl_texture.cpp
index 4219d7a41..37cc41136 100644
--- a/source/glbackend/gl_texture.cpp
+++ b/source/glbackend/gl_texture.cpp
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ bool GLInstance::SetTextureInternal(int picnum, FTexture* tex, int palette, int
 				BindTexture(4, htex, SamplerRepeat);
 			}
 		}
+#if 1
 		if (!(tex->PicAnim.sf & PICANM_NOFULLBRIGHT_BIT) && !(globalflags & GLOBAL_NO_GL_FULLBRIGHT) && !tex->NoBrightmapFlag[usepalswap])
 		{
 			if (TextureType == TT_HICREPLACE)
@@ -293,6 +294,7 @@ bool GLInstance::SetTextureInternal(int picnum, FTexture* tex, int palette, int
 				}
 			}
 		}
+#endif
 	}
 	else return false;
 
diff --git a/source/glbackend/glbackend.cpp b/source/glbackend/glbackend.cpp
index cb95ca4b2..7201c5406 100644
--- a/source/glbackend/glbackend.cpp
+++ b/source/glbackend/glbackend.cpp
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ void GLInstance::Draw(EDrawType type, size_t start, size_t count)
 
 	if (activeShader == polymostShader)
 	{
+		if (istrans) renderState.Flags &= ~RF_Brightmapping;	// The way the colormaps are set up means that brightmaps cannot be used on translucent content at all.
 		renderState.Apply(polymostShader);
 		if (renderState.VertexBuffer != LastVertexBuffer || LastVB_Offset[0] != renderState.VB_Offset[0] || LastVB_Offset[1] != renderState.VB_Offset[1])
 		{
@@ -400,6 +401,7 @@ void GLInstance::SetCull(int type, int winding)
 void GLInstance::SetColor(float r, float g, float b, float a)
 {
 	glVertexAttrib4f(2, r, g, b, a);
+	istrans = (a != 1);
 }
 
 void GLInstance::SetDepthFunc(int func)
diff --git a/source/glbackend/glbackend.h b/source/glbackend/glbackend.h
index b5d125fdd..632c27fa9 100644
--- a/source/glbackend/glbackend.h
+++ b/source/glbackend/glbackend.h
@@ -37,9 +37,11 @@ struct PalShade
 struct PalswapData
 {
 	int32_t crc32;
+	bool isbright;
 	const uint8_t *lookup;	// points to the original data. This is static so no need to copy
 	FHardwareTexture* swaptexture;
 	PalEntry fadeColor;
+	uint8_t brightcolors[255];
 };
 
 enum
@@ -198,6 +200,7 @@ class GLInstance
 	FTexture* currentTexture = nullptr;
 	int TextureType;
 	int MatrixChange = 0;
+	bool istrans = false;
 
 	IVertexBuffer* LastVertexBuffer = nullptr;
 	int LastVB_Offset[2] = {};
diff --git a/source/platform/win32/winbits.cpp b/source/platform/win32/winbits.cpp
index dd6f632dd..d68b23149 100644
--- a/source/platform/win32/winbits.cpp
+++ b/source/platform/win32/winbits.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Windows layer-independent code
 
+#define NOMINMAX
 #include <Windows.h>
 #include "compat.h"
 #include "build.h"