diff --git a/common/main/fwdobject.h b/common/main/fwdobject.h
index 3772e64f6..9abcda1d3 100644
--- a/common/main/fwdobject.h
+++ b/common/main/fwdobject.h
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ void compress_objects();
 void render_object(vobjptridx_t obj);
 
 // Draw a blob-type object, like a fireball
-void draw_object_blob(object &obj, bitmap_index bitmap);
+void draw_object_blob(vobjptr_t obj, bitmap_index bitmap);
 
 // draw an object that is a texture-mapped rod
 void draw_object_tmap_rod(vobjptridx_t obj, bitmap_index bitmap, int lighted);
diff --git a/common/main/laser.h b/common/main/laser.h
index 211c89efb..90b58bfe4 100644
--- a/common/main/laser.h
+++ b/common/main/laser.h
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ enum laser_level_t
 #define HOMING_TURN_TIME                (DESIGNATED_GAME_FRAMETIME)
 
 
-void Laser_render(object &obj);
+void Laser_render(vobjptr_t obj);
 objptridx_t Laser_player_fire(vobjptridx_t obj, enum weapon_type_t laser_type, int gun_num, int make_sound, vms_vector shot_orientation);
 void Laser_do_weapon_sequence(vobjptridx_t obj);
 void Flare_create(vobjptridx_t obj);
diff --git a/similar/main/laser.cpp b/similar/main/laser.cpp
index 9880923f2..093a9fa8b 100644
--- a/similar/main/laser.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/laser.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static objptridx_t find_homing_object(const vms_vector &curpos, const vobjptridx
 // Called by render code.... determines if the laser is from a robot or the
 // player and calls the appropriate routine.
 
-void Laser_render(object &obj)
+void Laser_render(const vobjptr_t obj)
 {
 
 //	Commented out by John (sort of, typed by Mike) on 6/8/94
@@ -92,14 +92,15 @@ void Laser_render(object &obj)
 		Error( "Invalid weapon type in Laser_render\n" );
 	}
 #endif
-
-	switch( Weapon_info[get_weapon_id(&obj)].render_type )	{
+	auto &wi = Weapon_info[get_weapon_id(obj)];
+	switch(wi.render_type)
+	{
 	case WEAPON_RENDER_LASER:
 		Int3();	// Not supported anymore!
 					//Laser_draw_one(obj-Objects, Weapon_info[obj->id].bitmap );
 		break;
 	case WEAPON_RENDER_BLOB:
-		draw_object_blob(obj, Weapon_info[get_weapon_id(&obj)].bitmap  );
+		draw_object_blob(obj, wi.bitmap);
 		break;
 	case WEAPON_RENDER_POLYMODEL:
 		break;
diff --git a/similar/main/object.cpp b/similar/main/object.cpp
index 45a77f5ef..8fc3892ab 100644
--- a/similar/main/object.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/object.cpp
@@ -189,25 +189,25 @@ objptridx_t obj_find_first_of_type(int type)
 }
 
 //draw an object that has one bitmap & doesn't rotate
-void draw_object_blob(object &obj,bitmap_index bmi)
+void draw_object_blob(const vobjptr_t obj,bitmap_index bmi)
 {
 	grs_bitmap * bm = &GameBitmaps[bmi.index];
-	vms_vector pos = obj.pos;
+	vms_vector pos = obj->pos;
 
 	PIGGY_PAGE_IN( bmi );
 
 	// draw these with slight offset to viewer preventing too much ugly clipping
-	if ( obj.type == OBJ_FIREBALL && obj.id == VCLIP_VOLATILE_WALL_HIT )
+	if ( obj->type == OBJ_FIREBALL && obj->id == VCLIP_VOLATILE_WALL_HIT )
 	{
 		vms_vector offs_vec;
-		vm_vec_normalized_dir_quick(offs_vec,Viewer->pos,obj.pos);
+		vm_vec_normalized_dir_quick(offs_vec,Viewer->pos,obj->pos);
 		vm_vec_scale_add2(pos,offs_vec,F1_0);
 	}
 
 	if (bm->bm_w > bm->bm_h)
-		g3_draw_bitmap(pos,obj.size,fixmuldiv(obj.size,bm->bm_h,bm->bm_w),*bm);
+		g3_draw_bitmap(pos,obj->size,fixmuldiv(obj->size,bm->bm_h,bm->bm_w),*bm);
 	else
-		g3_draw_bitmap(pos,fixmuldiv(obj.size,bm->bm_w,bm->bm_h),obj.size,*bm);
+		g3_draw_bitmap(pos,fixmuldiv(obj->size,bm->bm_w,bm->bm_h),obj->size,*bm);
 }
 
 //draw an object that is a texture-mapped rod
diff --git a/similar/main/powerup.cpp b/similar/main/powerup.cpp
index bef1e953e..74fc2b0e0 100644
--- a/similar/main/powerup.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/powerup.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void do_powerup_frame(const vobjptridx_t obj)
 
 void draw_powerup(const vobjptridx_t obj)
 {
-	draw_object_blob(*obj, Vclip[obj->rtype.vclip_info.vclip_num].frames[obj->rtype.vclip_info.framenum] );
+	draw_object_blob(obj, Vclip[obj->rtype.vclip_info.vclip_num].frames[obj->rtype.vclip_info.framenum] );
 }
 
 static void _powerup_basic_nonhud(int redadd, int greenadd, int blueadd, int score)
diff --git a/similar/main/vclip.cpp b/similar/main/vclip.cpp
index 2d771ab74..ed641f0a5 100644
--- a/similar/main/vclip.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/vclip.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void draw_vclip_object(const vobjptridx_t obj,fix timeleft,int lighted, int vcli
 		else {
 			Assert(lighted==0);		//blob cannot now be lighted
 
-			draw_object_blob(*obj, Vclip[vclip_num].frames[bitmapnum] );
+			draw_object_blob(obj, Vclip[vclip_num].frames[bitmapnum] );
 		}
 	}