diff --git a/blizzard.cpp b/blizzard.cpp
index 0dd156b0..b20c651a 100644
--- a/blizzard.cpp
+++ b/blizzard.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ EX void drawBlizzards() {
       transmatrix tpartial = sball.global * rspintox(t) * xpush(hdist0(t) * at0);
       
       if(wmascii || wmblack)
-        queuechr(tpartial, .2, '.', 0xFFFFFF);
+        queuestr(tpartial, .2, ".", 0xFFFFFF);
       else
         queuepoly(tpartial, cgi.shSnowball, 0xFFFFFF80);
       }
diff --git a/celldrawer.cpp b/celldrawer.cpp
index b98e5de1..dbdf6a39 100644
--- a/celldrawer.cpp
+++ b/celldrawer.cpp
@@ -2105,7 +2105,7 @@ void celldrawer::draw_item_full() {
         transmatrix P = ggmatrix(c1);
         hyperpoint P1 = tC0(P);
       
-        queuechr(P1, 2*vid.fsize, 'X', 0x10100 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
+        queuestr(P1, 2*vid.fsize, "X", 0x10100 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
         queuestr(P1, vid.fsize, its(-compassDist(c)), 0x10101 * int(128 - 100 * sintick(150)));
         addauraspecial(P1, 0xFF0000, 0);
         }
@@ -2482,7 +2482,7 @@ void celldrawer::draw() {
     
     #if CAP_QUEUE
     if(error) {
-      queuechr(V, 1, asciichar, darkenedby(asciicol, darken), 2);
+      queuestr(V, 1, s0+asciichar, darkenedby(asciicol, darken), 2);
       }
     
     draw_grid();
diff --git a/drawing.cpp b/drawing.cpp
index 83eb9bd9..e3aac538 100644
--- a/drawing.cpp
+++ b/drawing.cpp
@@ -2154,18 +2154,6 @@ EX void queuestr(int x, int y, int shift, int size, string str, color_t col, int
   ptd.frame = frame ? ((poly_outline & ~ 255)+frame) : 0;
   }
 
-EX void queuechr(int x, int y, int shift, int size, char chr, color_t col, int frame IS(0), int align IS(8)) {
-  auto& ptd = queuea<dqi_string> (PPR::TEXT);
-  ptd.x = x;
-  ptd.y = y;
-  ptd.str = chr;
-  ptd.shift = shift;
-  ptd.size = size;
-  ptd.align = align;
-  ptd.color = col;
-  ptd.frame = frame ? (poly_outline & ~ 255) : 0;
-  }
-
 EX void queuecircle(int x, int y, int size, color_t color, PPR prio IS(PPR::CIRCLE), color_t fillcolor IS(0)) {
   auto& ptd = queuea<dqi_circle>(prio);
   ptd.x = x;
@@ -2196,18 +2184,6 @@ EX bool getcoord0_checked(const hyperpoint& h, int& xc, int &yc, int &zc) {
   return true;
   }
 
-EX void queuechr(const hyperpoint& h, int size, char chr, color_t col, int frame IS(0)) {
-  int xc, yc, sc;
-  if(getcoord0_checked(h, xc, yc, sc))
-    queuechr(xc, yc, sc, size, chr, col, frame);
-  }
-
-EX void queuechr(const transmatrix& V, double size, char chr, color_t col, int frame IS(0)) {
-  int xc, yc, sc; 
-  if(getcoord0_checked(tC0(V), xc, yc, sc))
-    queuechr(xc, yc, sc, scale_in_pixels(V) * size, chr, col, frame);
-  }
-  
 EX void queuestr(const hyperpoint& h, int size, const string& chr, color_t col, int frame IS(0)) {
   int xc, yc, sc; 
   if(getcoord0_checked(h, xc, yc, sc))
diff --git a/graph.cpp b/graph.cpp
index e938cbcb..b9a453df 100644
--- a/graph.cpp
+++ b/graph.cpp
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ EX bool drawItemType(eItem it, cell *c, const transmatrix& V, color_t icol, int
         hyperpoint P1 = tC0(P);
         
         if(isPlayerOn(c)) {
-          queuechr(P1, 2*vid.fsize, 'X', 0x10100 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
+          queuestr(P1, 2*vid.fsize, "X", 0x10100 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
     //      queuestr(V, 1, its(compassDist(c)), 0x10101 * int(128 - 100 * sin(ticks / 150.)), 1);
           queuestr(P1, vid.fsize, its(-compassDist(c)), 0x10101 * int(128 - 100 * sintick(150)));
           addauraspecial(P1, 0xFF0000, 0);
@@ -2609,7 +2609,7 @@ EX bool drawMonster(const transmatrix& Vparam, int ct, cell *c, color_t col, col
       col = mirrorcolor(geometry == gElliptic ? det(Vs) < 0 : mirr);
       if(!mouseout() && !nospins && GDIM == 2) {
         hyperpoint P2 = Vs * inverse(cwtV) * mouseh;
-        queuechr(P2, 10, 'x', 0xFF00);
+        queuestr(P2, 10, "x", 0xFF00);
         }     
       if(!nospins && flipplayer) Vs = Vs * pispin;
       if(mmmon) {
@@ -3948,13 +3948,13 @@ EX void drawMarkers() {
      
     #if CAP_QUEUE
     if(haveMount()) ADC(V, dragon::target) {
-      queuechr(V, 2*vid.fsize, 'X',
+      queuestr(V, 2*vid.fsize, "X",
         gradient(0, iinf[itOrbDomination].color, -1, sintick(dragon::whichturn == turncount ? 75 : 150), 1));
       }
     #endif
 
     /* for(int i=0; i<12; i++) if(c->type == 5 && c->master == &dodecahedron[i])
-      queuechr(xc, yc, sc, 4*vid.fsize, 'A'+i, iinf[itOrbDomination].color); */
+      queuestr(xc, yc, sc, 4*vid.fsize, s0+('A'+i), iinf[itOrbDomination].color); */
     
     if(1) {
       using namespace yendor;
@@ -3973,7 +3973,7 @@ EX void drawMarkers() {
             }
           hyperpoint H = tC0(ggmatrix(keycell));
           #if CAP_QUEUE
-          queuechr(H, 2*vid.fsize, 'X', 0x10101 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
+          queuestr(H, 2*vid.fsize, "X", 0x10101 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
           int cd = celldistance(yi[yii].key(), cwt.at);
           if(cd == DISTANCE_UNKNOWN) for(int i2 = 0; i2<YDIST; i2++) {
             int cd2 = celldistance(cwt.at, yi[yii].path[i2]);
@@ -4061,15 +4061,15 @@ EX void drawMarkers() {
       int adj = 1 - ((sword_angles/cwt.at->type)&1);
       
       if(items[itOrbSword]) ADC(V, cwt.at)
-        queuechr(V * spin(M_PI+(-adj-2*ang)*M_PI/sword_angles) * xpush0(cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, '+', iinf[itOrbSword].color);
+        queuestr(V * spin(M_PI+(-adj-2*ang)*M_PI/sword_angles) * xpush0(cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, "+", iinf[itOrbSword].color);
       if(items[itOrbSword2]) ADC(V, cwt.at)
-        queuechr(V * spin((-adj-2*ang)*M_PI/sword_angles) * xpush0(-cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, '+', iinf[itOrbSword2].color);
+        queuestr(V * spin((-adj-2*ang)*M_PI/sword_angles) * xpush0(-cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, "+", iinf[itOrbSword2].color);
       }
     if(SWORDDIM == 3 && !shmup::on) {
       if(items[itOrbSword]) ADC(V, cwt.at)
-        queuechr(V * sword::dir[multi::cpid].T * xpush0(cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, '+', iinf[itOrbSword].color);
+        queuestr(V * sword::dir[multi::cpid].T * xpush0(cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, "+", iinf[itOrbSword].color);
       if(items[itOrbSword2]) ADC(V, cwt.at)
-        queuechr(V * sword::dir[multi::cpid].T * xpush0(-cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, '+', iinf[itOrbSword2].color);
+        queuestr(V * sword::dir[multi::cpid].T * xpush0(-cgi.sword_size), vid.fsize*2, "+", iinf[itOrbSword2].color);
       }
     }
 
@@ -4082,11 +4082,11 @@ EX void drawMarkers() {
     #if CAP_QUEUE
     if(orbToTarget == itOrbSummon) {
       monsterToSummon = summonedAt(mouseover);
-      queuechr(mousex, mousey, 0, vid.fsize, minf[monsterToSummon].glyph, minf[monsterToSummon].color);
+      queuestr(mousex, mousey, 0, vid.fsize, s0+minf[monsterToSummon].glyph, minf[monsterToSummon].color);
       queuecircleat(mouseover, 0.6, darkena(minf[monsterToSummon].color, 0, 0xFF));
       }
     else if(orbToTarget) {
-      queuechr(mousex, mousey, 0, vid.fsize, '@', iinf[orbToTarget].color);
+      queuestr(mousex, mousey, 0, vid.fsize, "@", iinf[orbToTarget].color);
       queuecircleat(mouseover, 0.6, darkena(iinf[orbToTarget].color, 0, 0xFF));
       }
     #endif
@@ -4675,7 +4675,7 @@ EX void drawfullmap() {
     char ch = 'A';
     for(auto& v: history::v) {
       queuepoly(ggmatrix(v->base) * v->at, cgi.shTriangle, 0x306090C0);
-      queuechr(ggmatrix(v->base) * v->at * C0, 10, ch++, 0xFF0000);
+      queuestr(ggmatrix(v->base) * v->at * C0, 10, s0+(ch++), 0xFF0000);
       }      
     }
   */
diff --git a/hypgraph.cpp b/hypgraph.cpp
index 6961cde6..1575681a 100644
--- a/hypgraph.cpp
+++ b/hypgraph.cpp
@@ -1537,7 +1537,7 @@ EX void draw_model_elements() {
   switch(pmodel) {
   
     case mdRotatedHyperboles: {
-      queuechr(current_display->xcenter, current_display->ycenter + current_display->radius * vid.alpha, 0, vid.fsize, 'X', ringcolor, 1, 8);
+      queuestr(current_display->xcenter, current_display->ycenter + current_display->radius * vid.alpha, 0, vid.fsize, "X", ringcolor, 1, 8);
       return;
       }
     
@@ -1567,8 +1567,8 @@ EX void draw_model_elements() {
 
     case mdTwoPoint: case mdSimulatedPerspective: {
       ld a = -models::model_orientation * degree;
-      queuechr(xspinpush0(a, +vid.twopoint_param), vid.xres / 100, 'X', ringcolor >> 8);
-      queuechr(xspinpush0(a, -vid.twopoint_param), vid.xres / 100, 'X', ringcolor >> 8);
+      queuestr(xspinpush0(a, +vid.twopoint_param), vid.xres / 100, "X", ringcolor >> 8);
+      queuestr(xspinpush0(a, -vid.twopoint_param), vid.xres / 100, "X", ringcolor >> 8);
       return;
       }
     
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@ void queuestraight(hyperpoint X, int style, color_t lc, color_t fc, PPR p) {
     hyperpoint res;
     applymodel(h, res);
     if(hypot2(res) < 1000 && !std::isnan(res[0]) && !std::isnan(res[1]))
-      queuechr(h, 16, 'X', 0xFF0000 + i * 0x20);
+      queuestr(h, 16, "X", 0xFF0000 + i * 0x20);
     } */
   }
 
diff --git a/mapeditor.cpp b/mapeditor.cpp
index 0cb0d141..edf8a48d 100644
--- a/mapeditor.cpp
+++ b/mapeditor.cpp
@@ -2251,7 +2251,7 @@ namespace mapeditor {
           int j = (i%3 == 2 ? i-2 : i+1);
           if(j < isize(ds.list))
             queueline(V * ds.list[i], V * ds.list[j], 0xFF00FFFF, -1, PPR::SUPERLINE);
-          queuechr(V * ds.list[i], 10, 'x', 0xFF00FF);
+          queuestr(V * ds.list[i], 10, "x", 0xFF00FF);
           }
         }
 
@@ -2262,7 +2262,7 @@ namespace mapeditor {
     
           int xc, yc, sc;
           getcoord(P2, xc, yc, sc);
-          queuechr(xc, yc, sc, 10, 'x', 
+          queuestr(xc, yc, sc, 10, "x", 
             a == 0 ? 0x00FF00 : 
             a == isize(ds.list)-1 ? 0xFF0000 :
             0xFFFF00);
@@ -2281,7 +2281,7 @@ namespace mapeditor {
     
           hyperpoint P2 = V * spin(2*M_PI*a/ds.rots) * (b?Mirror*mh:mh);
         
-          queuechr(P2, 10, 'x', 0xFF00FF);
+          queuestr(P2, 10, "x", 0xFF00FF);
           }
         
         if(isize(ds.list) == 0) return us;
@@ -2324,7 +2324,7 @@ namespace mapeditor {
                 }
               }
             
-            queuechr(P2, 10, 'o', 
+            queuestr(P2, 10, "o", 
               0xC000C0);
             
             if(!mouseout()) {
diff --git a/racing.cpp b/racing.cpp
index 5bcabed7..ef6d7338 100644
--- a/racing.cpp
+++ b/racing.cpp
@@ -1408,7 +1408,7 @@ EX void markers() {
     hyperpoint H = tC0(ggmatrix(goal));
     if(invalid_point(H)) return;
 
-    queuechr(H, 2*vid.fsize, 'X', 0x10100 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
+    queuestr(H, 2*vid.fsize, "X", 0x10100 * int(128 + 100 * sintick(150)));
     int cd = celldistance(track.back(), cwt.at);
     if(cd != DISTANCE_UNKNOWN)
     queuestr(H, vid.fsize, 
diff --git a/rug.cpp b/rug.cpp
index 3787430e..cbb6c288 100644
--- a/rug.cpp
+++ b/rug.cpp
@@ -1236,7 +1236,7 @@ EX void prepareTexture() {
     }
   if(finger_center) {
     transmatrix V = rgpushxto0(finger_center->h);
-    queuechr(V, 0.5, 'X', 0xFFFFFFFF, 2);
+    queuestr(V, 0.5, "X", 0xFFFFFFFF, 2);
     for(int i=0; i<72; i++)
       queueline(V * xspinpush0(i*M_PI/32, finger_range), V * xspinpush0((i+1)*M_PI/32, finger_range), 0xFFFFFFFF, vid.linequality);
     }
diff --git a/shmup.cpp b/shmup.cpp
index ebcdd659..0b31c4a8 100644
--- a/shmup.cpp
+++ b/shmup.cpp
@@ -2954,9 +2954,9 @@ bool celldrawer::draw_shmup_monster() {
 
         if(ths && h && WDIM == 3) {
           if(items[itOrbSword])
-            queuechr(swordpos(m->pid, false, 1), vid.fsize * 2, '+', iinf[itOrbSword].color);
+            queuestr(swordpos(m->pid, false, 1), vid.fsize * 2, "+", iinf[itOrbSword].color);
           if(items[itOrbSword2])
-            queuechr(swordpos(m->pid, true, 1), vid.fsize * 2, '+', iinf[itOrbSword2].color);
+            queuestr(swordpos(m->pid, true, 1), vid.fsize * 2, "+", iinf[itOrbSword2].color);
           }
 
         if(ths && keyresult[cpid]) {
diff --git a/surface.cpp b/surface.cpp
index f1c6a64b..fa78830d 100644
--- a/surface.cpp
+++ b/surface.cpp
@@ -837,9 +837,9 @@ void display_coverage() {
 
   if(coverage_style)
     for(auto p : coverage)
-      queuechr(M * p.first, 10, char(p.second), dexp_comb_colors[(p.second >> 8) & 15]);
+      queuestr(M * p.first, 10, s0+char(p.second), dexp_comb_colors[(p.second >> 8) & 15]);
 /*      if(p->valid && p->surface_point.remaining_distance == 0)
-        queuechr(p->h, 10, 'x', dexp_colors[p->dexp_id]); */
+        queuestr(p->h, 10, "x", dexp_colors[p->dexp_id]); */
   }
 
 auto surface_hook2 = addHook(hooks_frame, 0, display_coverage);
diff --git a/textures.cpp b/textures.cpp
index e0cfa17a..b2d92342 100644
--- a/textures.cpp
+++ b/textures.cpp
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ void showMagicMenu() {
     char letter = 'A';
     for(auto& am: amp) {
       hyperpoint h = ggmatrix(am.c) * am.cell_relative;
-      queuechr(h, vid.fsize, letter, 0xC00000, 1);
+      queuestr(h, vid.fsize, s0+letter, 0xC00000, 1);
 
       /*
       hyperpoint inmodel;
@@ -1167,10 +1167,10 @@ void showMagicMenu() {
       inmodel[1] *= current_display->radius * 1. / current_display->scrsize;
       */
 
-      queuechr(
+      queuestr(
         current_display->xcenter + current_display->scrsize * am.texture_coords[0], 
         current_display->ycenter + current_display->scrsize * am.texture_coords[1],
-        0, vid.fsize, letter, 0x00C000, 1);
+        0, vid.fsize, s0+letter, 0x00C000, 1);
       
       letter++;
       }