diff --git a/common/main/collide.h b/common/main/collide.h
index 853bfbab3..9c1c130a9 100644
--- a/common/main/collide.h
+++ b/common/main/collide.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void collide_player_and_nasty_robot(vobjptridx_t player, vobjptridx_t robot, vms
 
 void net_destroy_controlcen(objptridx_t controlcen);
 void collide_player_and_powerup(object *player, vobjptridx_t powerup, vms_vector *collision_point);
-extern int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,vms_vector *pnt, object *blower, int force_blowup_flag, int remote);
+int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,const vms_vector &pnt, object *blower, int force_blowup_flag, int remote);
 void apply_damage_to_controlcen(vobjptridx_t controlcen, fix damage, objnum_t who);
 extern void bump_one_object(object *obj0, vms_vector *hit_dir, fix damage);
 void drop_player_eggs(vobjptridx_t playerobj);
diff --git a/common/main/fvi.h b/common/main/fvi.h
index 919ea2777..139fe5e0f 100644
--- a/common/main/fvi.h
+++ b/common/main/fvi.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ int find_vector_intersection(fvi_query *fq,fvi_info *hit_data);
 
 //finds the uv coords of the given point on the given seg & side
 //fills in u & v. if l is non-NULL fills it in also
-void find_hitpoint_uv(fix *u,fix *v, const vms_vector *pnt,const segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum);
+void find_hitpoint_uv(fix *u,fix *v, const vms_vector &pnt,const segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum);
 
 //Returns true if the object is through any walls
 int object_intersects_wall(object *objp);
diff --git a/common/main/multi.h b/common/main/multi.h
index a64537869..b7ad4f8be 100644
--- a/common/main/multi.h
+++ b/common/main/multi.h
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ void multi_send_markers();
 void multi_send_guided_info (object *miss,char);
 void multi_send_orb_bonus(playernum_t pnum);
 void multi_send_got_orb(playernum_t pnum);
-void multi_send_effect_blowup(segnum_t segnum, int side, vms_vector *pnt);
+void multi_send_effect_blowup(segnum_t segnum, int side, const vms_vector &pnt);
 #endif
 void multi_add_lifetime_kills(void);
 void multi_send_bounty( void );
diff --git a/common/main/newdemo.h b/common/main/newdemo.h
index 7c4e8dfe3..15964eb03 100644
--- a/common/main/newdemo.h
+++ b/common/main/newdemo.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ extern void newdemo_record_player_energy(int);
 extern void newdemo_record_player_shields(int);
 extern void newdemo_record_player_flags(uint);
 extern void newdemo_record_player_weapon(int, int);
-extern void newdemo_record_effect_blowup(short, int, vms_vector *);
+void newdemo_record_effect_blowup(segnum_t, int, const vms_vector &);
 extern void newdemo_record_homing_distance(fix);
 extern void newdemo_record_letterbox(void);
 extern void newdemo_record_rearview(void);
diff --git a/similar/main/collide.cpp b/similar/main/collide.cpp
index bfa0167d2..c995b10f9 100644
--- a/similar/main/collide.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/collide.cpp
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ static int effect_parent_is_guidebot(const object *effect)
 
 //if an effect is hit, and it can blow up, then blow it up
 //returns true if it blew up
-int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,vms_vector *pnt, object *blower, int force_blowup_flag, int remote)
+int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,const vms_vector &pnt, object *blower, int force_blowup_flag, int remote)
 {
 	int tm,db;
 
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,vms_vector *pnt, object *blower, i
 					vc = 3;
 				}
 
-				object_create_explosion( seg-Segments, *pnt, dest_size, vc );
+				object_create_explosion( seg-Segments, pnt, dest_size, vc );
 
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 				if (ec!=-1 && db!=-1 && !(Effects[ec].flags&EF_ONE_SHOT))
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,vms_vector *pnt, object *blower, i
 				{
 
 					if ((sound_num = Vclip[vc].sound_num) != -1)
-		  				digi_link_sound_to_pos( sound_num, seg-Segments, 0, *pnt,  0, F1_0 );
+		  				digi_link_sound_to_pos( sound_num, seg-Segments, 0, pnt,  0, F1_0 );
 
 					if ((sound_num=Effects[ec].sound_num)!=-1)		//kill sound
 						digi_kill_sound_linked_to_segment(seg-Segments,side,sound_num);
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ int check_effect_blowup(segment *seg,int side,vms_vector *pnt, object *blower, i
 					seg->sides[side].tmap_num2 = TmapInfo[tm].destroyed | tmf;
 
 					//assume this is a light, and play light sound
-		  			digi_link_sound_to_pos( SOUND_LIGHT_BLOWNUP, seg-Segments, 0, *pnt,  0, F1_0 );
+		  			digi_link_sound_to_pos( SOUND_LIGHT_BLOWNUP, seg-Segments, 0, pnt,  0, F1_0 );
 				}
 #endif
 
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ static void collide_weapon_and_wall(vobjptridx_t weapon, fix hitspeed, segnum_t
 		return;
 	}
 
-	blew_up = check_effect_blowup(seg,hitwall,hitpt, weapon, 0, 0);
+	blew_up = check_effect_blowup(seg,hitwall,*hitpt, weapon, 0, 0);
 
 	//if ((seg->sides[hitwall].tmap_num2==0) && (TmapInfo[seg->sides[hitwall].tmap_num].flags & TMI_VOLATILE)) {
 
diff --git a/similar/main/fvi.cpp b/similar/main/fvi.cpp
index be61989ad..e9f8dbc8d 100644
--- a/similar/main/fvi.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/fvi.cpp
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ static int obj_in_list(objnum_t objnum,const objnum_t *obj_list)
 
 }
 
-static int check_trans_wall(vms_vector *pnt,segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum);
+static int check_trans_wall(const vms_vector &pnt,segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum);
 
 static void append_segments(fvi_info::segment_array_t &dst, const fvi_info::segment_array_t &src)
 {
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ static int fvi_sub(vms_vector *intp,segnum_t *ints,const vms_vector *p0,segnum_t
 #elif defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 								((wid_flag & WID_RENDER_FLAG) && (wid_flag & WID_RENDPAST_FLAG)) &&
 #endif
-								((flags & FQ_TRANSWALL) || (flags & FQ_TRANSPOINT && check_trans_wall(&hit_point,seg,side,face))))) {
+								((flags & FQ_TRANSWALL) || (flags & FQ_TRANSPOINT && check_trans_wall(hit_point,seg,side,face))))) {
 
 							segnum_t newsegnum,sub_hit_seg;
 							vms_vector sub_hit_point;
@@ -1097,7 +1097,7 @@ quit_looking:
 
 //finds the uv coords of the given point on the given seg & side
 //fills in u & v. if l is non-NULL fills it in also
-void find_hitpoint_uv(fix *u,fix *v,const vms_vector *pnt,const segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum)
+void find_hitpoint_uv(fix *u,fix *v,const vms_vector &pnt,const segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum)
 {
 	int num_faces;
 	const side *side = &seg->sides[sidenum];
@@ -1144,7 +1144,7 @@ void find_hitpoint_uv(fix *u,fix *v,const vms_vector *pnt,const segment *seg,int
 	const vec2d vec1{vf2.*ii - p1.i, vf2.*jj - p1.j};
 
 	//vec from 1 -> checkpoint
-	const vec2d checkp{pnt->*ii, pnt->*jj};
+	const vec2d checkp{pnt.*ii, pnt.*jj};
 
 	//@@checkv.i = checkp.i - p1.i;
 	//@@checkv.j = checkp.j - p1.j;
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ void find_hitpoint_uv(fix *u,fix *v,const vms_vector *pnt,const segment *seg,int
 
 //check if a particular point on a wall is a transparent pixel
 //returns 1 if can pass though the wall, else 0
-int check_trans_wall(vms_vector *pnt,segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum)
+int check_trans_wall(const vms_vector &pnt,segment *seg,int sidenum,int facenum)
 {
 	grs_bitmap *bm;
 	side *side = &seg->sides[sidenum];
diff --git a/similar/main/multi.cpp b/similar/main/multi.cpp
index 2230652c3..c1d4f12da 100644
--- a/similar/main/multi.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/multi.cpp
@@ -2204,7 +2204,7 @@ static void multi_do_effect_blowup(const playernum_t pnum, const ubyte *buf)
 	dummy.ctype.laser_info.parent_type = OBJ_PLAYER;
 	dummy.ctype.laser_info.parent_num = pnum;
 
-	check_effect_blowup(&(Segments[segnum]), side, &hitpnt, &dummy, 0, 1);
+	check_effect_blowup(&(Segments[segnum]), side, hitpnt, &dummy, 0, 1);
 }
 
 static void multi_do_drop_marker (const playernum_t pnum, const ubyte *buf)
@@ -3149,8 +3149,7 @@ multi_send_trigger(int triggernum)
 }
 
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
-void
-multi_send_effect_blowup(segnum_t segnum, int side, vms_vector *pnt)
+void multi_send_effect_blowup(segnum_t segnum, int side, const vms_vector &pnt)
 {
 	// We blew up something connected to a trigger. Send this blowup result to other players shortly before MULTI_TRIGGER.
 	// NOTE: The reason this is now a separate packet is to make sure trigger-connected switches/monitors are in sync with MULTI_TRIGGER.
@@ -3164,9 +3163,9 @@ multi_send_effect_blowup(segnum_t segnum, int side, vms_vector *pnt)
 	multibuf[count] = Player_num;                                   count += 1;
 	PUT_INTEL_SHORT(multibuf+count, segnum);                        count += 2;
 	multibuf[count] = (sbyte)side;                                  count += 1;
-	PUT_INTEL_INT(multibuf+count, pnt->x);                          count += 4;
-	PUT_INTEL_INT(multibuf+count, pnt->y);                          count += 4;
-	PUT_INTEL_INT(multibuf+count, pnt->z);                          count += 4;
+	PUT_INTEL_INT(multibuf+count, pnt.x);                          count += 4;
+	PUT_INTEL_INT(multibuf+count, pnt.y);                          count += 4;
+	PUT_INTEL_INT(multibuf+count, pnt.z);                          count += 4;
 
 	multi_send_data<MULTI_EFFECT_BLOWUP>(multibuf, count, 0);
 }
diff --git a/similar/main/newdemo.cpp b/similar/main/newdemo.cpp
index d2cc3d14f..f753cb8dd 100644
--- a/similar/main/newdemo.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/newdemo.cpp
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ static void nd_write_fixang(fixang f)
 	newdemo_write(&f, sizeof(fixang), 1);
 }
 
-static void nd_write_vector(vms_vector *v)
+static void nd_write_vector(const vms_vector *v)
 {
 	nd_write_fix(v->x);
 	nd_write_fix(v->y);
@@ -1306,13 +1306,13 @@ void newdemo_record_player_weapon(int weapon_type, int weapon_num)
 	start_time();
 }
 
-void newdemo_record_effect_blowup(short segment, int side, vms_vector *pnt)
+void newdemo_record_effect_blowup(short segment, int side, const vms_vector &pnt)
 {
 	stop_time();
 	nd_write_byte (ND_EVENT_EFFECT_BLOWUP);
 	nd_write_short(segment);
 	nd_write_byte((sbyte)side);
-	nd_write_vector(pnt);
+	nd_write_vector(&pnt);
 	start_time();
 }
 
@@ -2525,9 +2525,9 @@ static int newdemo_read_frame_information(int rewrite)
 			}
 			if (Newdemo_vcr_state != ND_STATE_PAUSED)
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_I)
-				check_effect_blowup(&(Segments[segnum]), side, &pnt, NULL, 0, 0);
+				check_effect_blowup(&(Segments[segnum]), side, pnt, NULL, 0, 0);
 #elif defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
-				check_effect_blowup(&(Segments[segnum]), side, &pnt, &dummy, 0, 0);
+				check_effect_blowup(&(Segments[segnum]), side, pnt, &dummy, 0, 0);
 #endif
 			break;
 		}
diff --git a/similar/main/wall.cpp b/similar/main/wall.cpp
index 92d37eb8e..8ab816860 100644
--- a/similar/main/wall.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/wall.cpp
@@ -1669,7 +1669,7 @@ static void bng_process_segment(object *objp, fix damage, segment *segp, int dep
 				if (dist < damage/2) {
 					dist = find_connected_distance(pnt, segp-Segments, objp->pos, objp->segnum, MAX_BLAST_GLASS_DEPTH, WID_RENDPAST_FLAG);
 					if ((dist > 0) && (dist < damage/2))
-						check_effect_blowup(segp, sidenum, &pnt, &Objects[objp->ctype.laser_info.parent_num], 1, 0);
+						check_effect_blowup(segp, sidenum, pnt, &Objects[objp->ctype.laser_info.parent_num], 1, 0);
 				}
 			}
 		}