diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
index ef2828f531b9..d5f620b25640 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/mapping/SSmapping
 
 /datum/subsystem/mapping
 	name = "Mapping"
-	init_order = 13
+	init_order = 12
 	flags = SS_NO_FIRE
 	display_order = 50
 
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/processing/objects.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/processing/objects.dm
index 6bbd0ffeb329..2332763b7add 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/processing/objects.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/processing/objects.dm
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/objects/SSobj
 
 /datum/subsystem/objects
 	name = "Objects"
-	init_order = 12
+	init_order = 11
 	priority = 40
 
 	var/initialized = INITIALIZATION_INSSOBJ
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
index 97d84323b721..12f6349f0540 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/ticker/ticker
 
 /datum/subsystem/ticker
 	name = "Ticker"
-	init_order = 0
+	init_order = 13
 
 	priority = 200
 	flags = SS_FIRE_IN_LOBBY|SS_KEEP_TIMING
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ var/datum/subsystem/ticker/ticker
 	var/tipped = 0							//Did we broadcast the tip of the day yet?
 	var/selected_tip						// What will be the tip of the day?
 
-	var/timeLeft = 1200						//pregame timer
+	var/timeLeft						//pregame timer
+	var/start_at
 
 	var/totalPlayers = 0					//used for pregame stats on statpanel
 	var/totalPlayersReady = 0				//used for pregame stats on statpanel
@@ -66,19 +67,19 @@ var/datum/subsystem/ticker/ticker
 	if(!syndicate_code_response)
 		syndicate_code_response	= generate_code_phrase()
 	..()
+	start_at = world.time + (config.lobby_countdown * 10)
+	world << "<span class='boldnotice'>Welcome to [station_name()]!</span>"
+	world << "Please set up your character and select \"Ready\". The game will start in about [config.lobby_countdown] seconds."
+	current_state = GAME_STATE_PREGAME
+	for(var/client/C in clients)
+		window_flash(C, ignorepref = TRUE) //let them know lobby has opened up.
 
 /datum/subsystem/ticker/fire()
 	switch(current_state)
-		if(GAME_STATE_STARTUP)
-			timeLeft = config.lobby_countdown * 10
-			world << "<span class='boldnotice'>Welcome to [station_name()]!</span>"
-			world << "Please set up your character and select \"Ready\". The game will start in [config.lobby_countdown] seconds."
-			current_state = GAME_STATE_PREGAME
-			for(var/client/C in clients)
-				window_flash(C, ignorepref = TRUE) //let them know lobby has opened up.
-
 		if(GAME_STATE_PREGAME)
 				//lobby stats for statpanels
+			if(isnull(timeLeft))
+				timeLeft = max(0,start_at - world.time)
 			totalPlayers = 0
 			totalPlayersReady = 0
 			for(var/mob/new_player/player in player_list)
@@ -707,3 +708,15 @@ var/datum/subsystem/ticker/ticker
 
 	if(news_message)
 		send2otherserver(news_source, news_message,"News_Report")
+
+/datum/subsystem/ticker/proc/GetTimeLeft()
+	if(isnull(ticker.timeLeft))
+		return max(0, start_at - world.time)
+	return timeLeft
+
+/datum/subsystem/ticker/proc/SetTimeLeft(newtime)
+	if(newtime >= 0 && isnull(timeLeft))	//remember, negative means delayed
+		start_at = world.time + newtime
+	else
+		timeLeft = newtime
+		
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/admin.dm b/code/modules/admin/admin.dm
index 4b6400189d64..24ee7c1ae331 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/admin.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/admin.dm
@@ -569,11 +569,11 @@ var/global/BSACooldown = 0
 	set desc="Delay the game start"
 	set name="Delay pre-game"
 
-	var/newtime = input("Set a new time in seconds. Set -1 for indefinite delay.","Set Delay",round(ticker.timeLeft/10)) as num|null
+	var/newtime = input("Set a new time in seconds. Set -1 for indefinite delay.","Set Delay",round(ticker.GetTimeLeft()/10)) as num|null
 	if(ticker.current_state > GAME_STATE_PREGAME)
 		return alert("Too late... The game has already started!")
 	if(newtime)
-		ticker.timeLeft = newtime * 10
+		ticker.SetTimeLeft(newtime * 10)
 		if(newtime < 0)
 			world << "<b>The game start has been delayed.</b>"
 			log_admin("[key_name(usr)] delayed the round start.")
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm b/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm
index 09758d874235..35c7030adedf 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@
 		stat("Map:", MAP_NAME)
 
 		if(ticker.current_state == GAME_STATE_PREGAME)
-			stat("Time To Start:", (ticker.timeLeft >= 0) ? "[round(ticker.timeLeft / 10)]s" : "DELAYED")
+			var/time_remaining = ticker.GetTimeLeft()
+			if(time_remaining >= 0)
+				time_remaining /= 10
+			stat("Time To Start:", (time_remaining >= 0) ? "[round(time_remaining)]s" : "DELAYED")
 
 			stat("Players:", "[ticker.totalPlayers]")
 			if(client.holder)