diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
index b3b6dce98a..5deb0adf85 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(vote)
 			if("gamemode")
 				if(GLOB.master_mode != .)
 					world.save_mode(.)
-					if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+					if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 						restart = 1
 					else
 						GLOB.master_mode = .
diff --git a/code/datums/mind.dm b/code/datums/mind.dm
index 5a6c34bcc4..9077db63e1 100644
--- a/code/datums/mind.dm
+++ b/code/datums/mind.dm
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
 		to_chat(recipient, "<i>[output]</i>")
 
 /datum/mind/proc/edit_memory()
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Not before round-start!", "Alert")
 		return
 
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/doors/airlock.dm b/code/game/machinery/doors/airlock.dm
index a9331cd142..7ff38f53c9 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/doors/airlock.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/doors/airlock.dm
@@ -1283,8 +1283,6 @@
 
 	if(!density)
 		return 1
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
-		return 0
 	operating = 1
 	update_icon(AIRLOCK_OPENING, 1)
 	src.set_opacity(0)
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/doors/door.dm b/code/game/machinery/doors/door.dm
index cd587a0c44..4e076e3338 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/doors/door.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/doors/door.dm
@@ -229,8 +229,6 @@
 		return 1
 	if(operating)
 		return
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
-		return 0
 	operating = 1
 	do_animate("opening")
 	set_opacity(0)
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/doors/windowdoor.dm b/code/game/machinery/doors/windowdoor.dm
index 20dd6860ea..99cdc1adc3 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/doors/windowdoor.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/doors/windowdoor.dm
@@ -129,8 +129,6 @@
 /obj/machinery/door/window/open(forced=0)
 	if (src.operating == 1) //doors can still open when emag-disabled
 		return 0
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
-		return 0
 	if(!forced)
 		if(!hasPower())
 			return 0
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/secrets.dm b/code/modules/admin/secrets.dm
index 7f0479eac9..a7a42da6d9 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/secrets.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/secrets.dm
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
 		if("showgm")
 			if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN))
 				return
-			if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+			if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 				alert("The game hasn't started yet!")
 			else if (SSticker.mode)
 				alert("The game mode is [SSticker.mode.name]")
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
 		if("traitor_all")
 			if(!check_rights(R_FUN))
 				return
-			if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+			if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 				alert("The game hasn't started yet!")
 				return
 			var/objective = copytext(sanitize(input("Enter an objective")),1,MAX_MESSAGE_LEN)
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/topic.dm b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm
index dd32085681..c05db79983 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/topic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm
@@ -1170,7 +1170,7 @@
 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN))
 			return
 
-		if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+		if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			return alert(usr, "The game has already started.", null, null, null, null)
 		var/dat = {"<B>What mode do you wish to play?</B><HR>"}
 		for(var/mode in config.modes)
@@ -1184,7 +1184,7 @@
 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN))
 			return
 
-		if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+		if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			return alert(usr, "The game has already started.", null, null, null, null)
 		if(GLOB.master_mode != "secret")
 			return alert(usr, "The game mode has to be secret!", null, null, null, null)
@@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@
 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN|R_SERVER))
 			return
 
-		if (SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+		if (SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			return alert(usr, "The game has already started.", null, null, null, null)
 		GLOB.master_mode = href_list["c_mode2"]
 		log_admin("[key_name(usr)] set the mode as [GLOB.master_mode].")
@@ -1213,7 +1213,7 @@
 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN|R_SERVER))
 			return
 
-		if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+		if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			return alert(usr, "The game has already started.", null, null, null, null)
 		if(GLOB.master_mode != "secret")
 			return alert(usr, "The game mode has to be secret!", null, null, null, null)
@@ -1810,7 +1810,7 @@
 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN))
 			return
 
-		if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+		if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			alert("The game hasn't started yet!")
 			return
 
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/topic.dm.rej b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm.rej
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..041ae92107
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm.rej
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+diff a/code/modules/admin/topic.dm b/code/modules/admin/topic.dm	(rejected hunks)
+@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
+ 	if(href_list["ahelp"])
+ 		if(!check_rights(R_ADMIN))
+ 			return
+-		
++
+ 		var/ahelp_ref = href_list["ahelp"]
+ 		var/datum/admin_help/AH = locate(ahelp_ref)
+ 		if(AH)
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/verbs/debug.dm b/code/modules/admin/verbs/debug.dm
index c9014da3b0..c49240ed66 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/verbs/debug.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/verbs/debug.dm
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(AdminProcCall)
 	set category = "Fun"
 	set name = "Make Robot"
 
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Wait until the game starts")
 		return
 	if(ishuman(M))
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(AdminProcCall)
 	set category = "Fun"
 	set name = "Make Blob"
 
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Wait until the game starts")
 		return
 	if(ishuman(M))
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(AdminProcCall)
 	set category = "Fun"
 	set name = "Make Simple Animal"
 
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Wait until the game starts")
 		return
 
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(AdminProcCall)
 	set category = "Fun"
 	set name = "Make Alien"
 
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Wait until the game starts")
 		return
 	if(ishuman(M))
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(AdminProcCall)
 	set category = "Fun"
 	set name = "Make slime"
 
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Wait until the game starts")
 		return
 	if(ishuman(M))
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ GLOBAL_PROTECT(AdminProcCall)
 	set category = "Admin"
 	set name = "Grant Full Access"
 
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("Wait until the game starts")
 		return
 	if(ishuman(M))
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/verbs/onlyone.dm b/code/modules/admin/verbs/onlyone.dm
index dd56f2a6a0..37dab65b0c 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/verbs/onlyone.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/verbs/onlyone.dm
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(highlander, FALSE)
 /client/proc/only_one() //Gives everyone kilts, berets, claymores, and pinpointers, with the objective to hijack the emergency shuttle.
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("The game hasn't started yet!")
 		return
 	GLOB.highlander = TRUE
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(highlander, FALSE)
 	Activate it in your hand, and it will lead to the nearest target. Attack the nuclear authentication disk with it, and you will store it.</span>")
 
 /proc/only_me()
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		alert("The game hasn't started yet!")
 		return
 
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/verbs/randomverbs.dm b/code/modules/admin/verbs/randomverbs.dm
index f4dcc36576..04cf3e855a 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/verbs/randomverbs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/verbs/randomverbs.dm
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ Traitors and the like can also be revived with the previous role mostly intact.
 	set name = "Make Everyone Random"
 	set desc = "Make everyone have a random appearance. You can only use this before rounds!"
 
-	if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+	if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		to_chat(usr, "Nope you can't do this, the game's already started. This only works before rounds!")
 		return
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm b/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm
index ab6377b096..7d05d15624 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer.dm
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ This is the proc mobs get to turn into a ghost. Forked from ghostize due to comp
 /mob/dead/observer/Stat()
 	..()
 	if(statpanel("Status"))
-		if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+		if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			for(var/datum/gang/G in SSticker.mode.gangs)
 				if(G.is_dominating)
 					stat(null, "[G.name] Gang Takeover: [max(G.domination_time_remaining(), 0)]")
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ This is the proc mobs get to turn into a ghost. Forked from ghostize due to comp
 		if(!A.hidden)
 			filtered += A
 	var/area/thearea  = input("Area to jump to", "BOOYEA") as null|anything in filtered
-	
+
 	if(!thearea)
 		return
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/death.dm.rej b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/death.dm.rej
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a4a1fc5a7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/death.dm.rej
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+diff a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/death.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/death.dm	(rejected hunks)
+@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
+ 
+ 	dna.species.spec_death(gibbed, src)
+ 
+-	if(SSticker && SSticker.mode)
++	if(SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
+ 		SSblackbox.ReportDeath(src)
+ 	if(mind && mind.devilinfo)
+ 		INVOKE_ASYNC(mind.devilinfo, /datum/devilinfo.proc/beginResurrectionCheck, src)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
index e3502e7a90..d707f01e60 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@
 	return name
 
 /mob/living/update_gravity(has_gravity,override = 0)
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		return
 	if(has_gravity)
 		clear_alert("weightless")
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living_defense.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living_defense.dm
index 6ea921e560..e4129e642d 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living_defense.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living_defense.dm
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
 
 
 /mob/living/attack_slime(mob/living/simple_animal/slime/M)
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		to_chat(M, "You cannot attack people before the game has started.")
 		return
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/ai_defense.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/ai_defense.dm
index 75ef88768f..d07f85ef6a 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/ai_defense.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/ai_defense.dm
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 
 /mob/living/silicon/ai/attack_alien(mob/living/carbon/alien/humanoid/M)
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		to_chat(M, "You cannot attack people before the game has started.")
 		return
 	..()
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
index 834d799b79..65e83d3c5d 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ It's fairly easy to fix if dealing with single letters but not so much with comp
 	return 0
 
 /proc/is_special_character(mob/M) // returns 1 for special characters and 2 for heroes of gamemode //moved out of admins.dm because things other than admin procs were calling this.
-	if(!SSticker || !SSticker.mode)
+	if(!SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 		return 0
 	if(!istype(M))
 		return 0
diff --git a/code/world.dm b/code/world.dm
index 7af27a1504..c3ded147f2 100644
--- a/code/world.dm
+++ b/code/world.dm
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
 
 		s["map_name"] = SSmapping.config.map_name
 
-		if(key_valid && SSticker && SSticker.mode)
+		if(key_valid && SSticker.HasRoundStarted())
 			s["real_mode"] = SSticker.mode.name
 			// Key-authed callers may know the truth behind the "secret"