diff --git a/aoapplication.h b/aoapplication.h
index dbda673..a237b8f 100644
--- a/aoapplication.h
+++ b/aoapplication.h
@@ -117,15 +117,15 @@ public:
   //implementation in path_functions.cpp
   QString get_base_path();
   QString get_data_path();
-  QString get_theme_path();
-  QString get_default_theme_path();
-  QString get_character_path(QString p_character);
-  QString get_demothings_path();
-  QString get_sounds_path();
+  QString get_theme_path(QString p_file);
+  QString get_default_theme_path(QString p_file);
+  QString get_character_path(QString p_char, QString p_file);
+  QString get_sounds_path(QString p_file);
   QString get_music_path(QString p_song);
-  QString get_background_path();
-  QString get_default_background_path();
-  QString get_evidence_path();
+  QString get_background_path(QString p_file);
+  QString get_default_background_path(QString p_file);
+  QString get_evidence_path(QString p_file);
+  QString get_case_sensitive_path(QString p_file);
 
   ////// Functions for reading and writing files //////
   // Implementations file_functions.cpp
diff --git a/aobutton.cpp b/aobutton.cpp
index ded35af..5be2e67 100644
--- a/aobutton.cpp
+++ b/aobutton.cpp
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ AOButton::~AOButton()
 
 void AOButton::set_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + p_image;
-  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + p_image;
+  QString image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image);
+  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path(p_image);
 
   if (file_exists(image_path))
     this->setStyleSheet("border-image:url(\"" + image_path + "\")");
diff --git a/aocharbutton.cpp b/aocharbutton.cpp
index 2d134b1..23fd0c6 100644
--- a/aocharbutton.cpp
+++ b/aocharbutton.cpp
@@ -56,20 +56,12 @@ void AOCharButton::set_passworded()
 
 void AOCharButton::set_image(QString p_character)
 {
-  QString image_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_character) + "char_icon.png";
-  QString legacy_path = ao_app->get_demothings_path() + p_character.toLower() + "_char_icon.png";
-  QString alt_path = ao_app->get_demothings_path() + p_character.toLower() + "_off.png";
+  QString image_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_character, "char_icon.png");
 
   this->setText("");
 
   if (file_exists(image_path))
     this->setStyleSheet("border-image:url(\"" + image_path + "\")");
-  else if (file_exists(legacy_path))
-  {
-    this->setStyleSheet("border-image:url(\"" + legacy_path + "\")");
-    //ninja optimization
-    QFile::copy(legacy_path, image_path);
-  }
   else
   {
     this->setStyleSheet("border-image:url()");
diff --git a/aocharmovie.cpp b/aocharmovie.cpp
index e9c88ba..5748723 100644
--- a/aocharmovie.cpp
+++ b/aocharmovie.cpp
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ AOCharMovie::AOCharMovie(QWidget *p_parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QLabel(p_
 
 void AOCharMovie::play(QString p_char, QString p_emote, QString emote_prefix)
 {
-  QString original_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + emote_prefix + p_emote.toLower() + ".gif";
-  QString alt_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + p_emote.toLower() + ".png";
-  QString apng_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + emote_prefix + p_emote.toLower() + ".apng";
-  QString placeholder_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + "placeholder.gif";
-  QString placeholder_default_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + "placeholder.gif";
+  QString original_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, emote_prefix + p_emote + ".gif");
+  QString alt_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, p_emote + ".png");
+  QString apng_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, emote_prefix + p_emote + ".apng");
+  QString placeholder_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("placeholder.gif");
+  QString placeholder_default_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path("placeholder.gif");
   QString gif_path;
 
   if (file_exists(apng_path))
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void AOCharMovie::play(QString p_char, QString p_emote, QString emote_prefix)
 
 void AOCharMovie::play_pre(QString p_char, QString p_emote, int duration)
 {
-  QString gif_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + p_emote.toLower();
+  QString gif_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, p_emote);
 
   m_movie->stop();
   this->clear();
@@ -78,8 +78,11 @@ void AOCharMovie::play_pre(QString p_char, QString p_emote, int duration)
     real_duration += m_movie->nextFrameDelay();
     m_movie->jumpToFrame(n_frame + 1);
   }
+
+#ifdef DEBUG_GIF
   qDebug() << "full_duration: " << full_duration;
   qDebug() << "real_duration: " << real_duration;
+#endif
 
   double percentage_modifier = 100.0;
 
@@ -91,7 +94,10 @@ void AOCharMovie::play_pre(QString p_char, QString p_emote, int duration)
     if (percentage_modifier > 100.0)
       percentage_modifier = 100.0;
   }
+
+#ifdef DEBUG_GIF
   qDebug() << "% mod: " << percentage_modifier;
+#endif
 
   if (full_duration == 0 || full_duration >= real_duration)
   {
@@ -110,7 +116,7 @@ void AOCharMovie::play_pre(QString p_char, QString p_emote, int duration)
 
 void AOCharMovie::play_talking(QString p_char, QString p_emote)
 {
-  QString gif_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + "(b)" + p_emote.toLower();
+  QString gif_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, "(b)" + p_emote);
 
   m_movie->stop();
   this->clear();
@@ -123,7 +129,7 @@ void AOCharMovie::play_talking(QString p_char, QString p_emote)
 
 void AOCharMovie::play_idle(QString p_char, QString p_emote)
 {
-  QString gif_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + "(a)" + p_emote.toLower();
+  QString gif_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, "(a)" + p_emote);
 
   m_movie->stop();
   this->clear();
diff --git a/aoemotebutton.cpp b/aoemotebutton.cpp
index 9e3c446..9c1d388 100644
--- a/aoemotebutton.cpp
+++ b/aoemotebutton.cpp
@@ -16,19 +16,13 @@ AOEmoteButton::AOEmoteButton(QWidget *p_parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app, int p_x
 void AOEmoteButton::set_image(QString p_char, int p_emote, QString suffix)
 {
   QString emotion_number = QString::number(p_emote + 1);
-  QString image_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + "emotions/ao2/button" + emotion_number + suffix;
-  QString alt_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + "emotions/button" + emotion_number + suffix;
+  QString image_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, "emotions/button" + emotion_number + suffix);
 
   if (file_exists(image_path))
   {
     this->setText("");
     this->setStyleSheet("border-image:url(\"" + image_path + "\")");
   }
-  else if (file_exists(alt_path))
-  {
-    this->setText("");
-    this->setStyleSheet("border-image:url(\"" + alt_path + "\")");
-  }
   else
   {
     this->setText(ao_app->get_emote_comment(p_char, p_emote));
diff --git a/aoevidencebutton.cpp b/aoevidencebutton.cpp
index 573b8ef..924aeb8 100644
--- a/aoevidencebutton.cpp
+++ b/aoevidencebutton.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ void AOEvidenceButton::reset()
 
 void AOEvidenceButton::set_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString image_path = ao_app->get_evidence_path() + p_image;
+  QString image_path = ao_app->get_evidence_path(p_image);
 
   if (file_exists(image_path))
   {
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ void AOEvidenceButton::set_image(QString p_image)
 
 void AOEvidenceButton::set_theme_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString theme_image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + p_image;
-  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + p_image;
+  QString theme_image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image);
+  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path(p_image);
 
   QString final_image_path;
 
diff --git a/aoevidencedisplay.cpp b/aoevidencedisplay.cpp
index 5364ffb..9ec105d 100644
--- a/aoevidencedisplay.cpp
+++ b/aoevidencedisplay.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ void AOEvidenceDisplay::show_evidence(QString p_evidence_image, bool is_left_sid
 
   sfx_player->set_volume(p_volume);
 
-  QString f_evidence_path = ao_app->get_evidence_path() + p_evidence_image;
+  QString f_evidence_path = ao_app->get_evidence_path(p_evidence_image);
 
   QPixmap f_pixmap(f_evidence_path);
 
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ void AOEvidenceDisplay::show_evidence(QString p_evidence_image, bool is_left_sid
 
   evidence_icon->setPixmap(f_pixmap.scaled(evidence_icon->width(), evidence_icon->height(), Qt::IgnoreAspectRatio));
 
-  QString f_default_gif_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + gif_name;
-  QString f_gif_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + gif_name;
+  QString f_default_gif_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path(gif_name);
+  QString f_gif_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(gif_name);
 
   if (file_exists(f_gif_path))
     final_gif_path = f_gif_path;
diff --git a/aoimage.cpp b/aoimage.cpp
index 935ba74..7bb56bb 100644
--- a/aoimage.cpp
+++ b/aoimage.cpp
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ AOImage::~AOImage()
 
 void AOImage::set_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString theme_image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + p_image;
-  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + p_image;
+  QString theme_image_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(p_image);
+  QString default_image_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path(p_image);
 
   QString final_image_path;
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ void AOImage::set_image(QString p_image)
 
 void AOImage::set_image_from_path(QString p_path)
 {
-  QString default_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + "chatmed.png";
+  QString default_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path("chatmed.png");
 
   QString final_path;
 
diff --git a/aomovie.cpp b/aomovie.cpp
index 88f81e9..6839eab 100644
--- a/aomovie.cpp
+++ b/aomovie.cpp
@@ -28,16 +28,16 @@ void AOMovie::play(QString p_gif, QString p_char, QString p_custom_theme)
 
   QString custom_path;
   if (p_gif == "custom")
-    custom_path = ao_app->get_image_suffix(ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + p_gif);
+    custom_path = ao_app->get_image_suffix(get_character_path(p_char, p_gif));
   else
-    custom_path = ao_app->get_image_suffix(ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + p_gif + "_bubble");
+    custom_path = ao_app->get_image_suffix(get_character_path(p_char, p_gif + "_bubble"));
 
   QString misc_path = ao_app->get_base_path() + "misc/" + p_custom_theme + "/" + p_gif + "_bubble.gif";
   QString custom_theme_path = ao_app->get_base_path() + "themes/" + p_custom_theme + "/" + p_gif + ".gif";
-  QString theme_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + p_gif + ".gif";
-  QString default_theme_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + p_gif + ".gif";
-  QString placeholder_path = ao_app->get_theme_path() + "placeholder.gif";
-  QString default_placeholder_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path() + "placeholder.gif";
+  QString theme_path = ao_app->get_theme_path(p_gif + ".gif");
+  QString default_theme_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path(p_gif + ".gif");
+  QString placeholder_path = ao_app->get_theme_path("placeholder.gif");
+  QString default_placeholder_path = ao_app->get_default_theme_path("placeholder.gif");
 
   if (file_exists(misc_path))
     gif_path = misc_path;
diff --git a/aoscene.cpp b/aoscene.cpp
index dde671f..344522b 100644
--- a/aoscene.cpp
+++ b/aoscene.cpp
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ AOScene::AOScene(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app) : QLabel(parent)
 
 void AOScene::set_image(QString p_image)
 {
-  QString background_path = ao_app->get_background_path() + p_image + ".png";
-  QString animated_background_path = ao_app->get_background_path() + p_image + ".gif";
-  QString default_path = ao_app->get_default_background_path() + p_image;
+  QString background_path = ao_app->get_background_path(p_image + ".png");
+  QString animated_background_path = ao_app->get_background_path(p_image + ".gif");
+  QString default_path = ao_app->get_default_background_path(p_image + ".png");
 
   QPixmap background(background_path);
   QPixmap default_bg(default_path);
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ void AOScene::set_legacy_desk(QString p_image)
   //vanilla desks vary in both width and height. in order to make that work with viewport rescaling,
   //some INTENSE math is needed.
 
-  QString desk_path = ao_app->get_background_path() + p_image;
-  QString default_path = ao_app->get_default_background_path() + p_image;
+  QString desk_path = ao_app->get_background_path(p_image);
+  QString default_path = ao_app->get_default_background_path(p_image);
 
   QPixmap f_desk;
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ void AOScene::set_legacy_desk(QString p_image)
 
   //int final_y = y_modifier * vp_height;
   //int final_w = w_modifier * f_desk.width();
-  int final_h = h_modifier * f_desk.height();
+  int final_h = static_cast<int>(h_modifier * f_desk.height());
 
   //this->resize(final_w, final_h);
   //this->setPixmap(f_desk.scaled(final_w, final_h));
diff --git a/aosfxplayer.cpp b/aosfxplayer.cpp
index c616121..d5b5a9e 100644
--- a/aosfxplayer.cpp
+++ b/aosfxplayer.cpp
@@ -9,16 +9,14 @@ AOSfxPlayer::AOSfxPlayer(QWidget *parent, AOApplication *p_ao_app)
 
 void AOSfxPlayer::play(QString p_sfx, QString p_char, QString shout)
 {
-  p_sfx = p_sfx.toLower();
-
   QString misc_path = "";
   QString char_path = "";
-  QString sound_path = ao_app->get_sounds_path() + p_sfx;
+  QString sound_path = ao_app->get_sounds_path(p_sfx);
 
   if (shout != "")
     misc_path = ao_app->get_base_path() + "misc/" + shout + "/" + p_sfx;
   if (p_char != "")
-    char_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char) + p_sfx;
+    char_path = ao_app->get_character_path(p_char, p_sfx);
 
   QString f_path;
 
diff --git a/charselect.cpp b/charselect.cpp
index 54286b2..ce37f85 100644
--- a/charselect.cpp
+++ b/charselect.cpp
@@ -120,12 +120,12 @@ void Courtroom::set_char_select_page()
 
 void Courtroom::char_clicked(int n_char)
 {
-  QString char_ini_path = ao_app->get_character_path(char_list.at(n_char).name) + "char.ini";
+  QString char_ini_path = ao_app->get_character_path(char_list.at(n_char).name, "char.ini");
+
   qDebug() << "char_ini_path" << char_ini_path;
 
   if (!file_exists(char_ini_path))
   {
-    qDebug() << "did not find " << char_ini_path;
     call_notice("Could not find " + char_ini_path);
     return;
   }
diff --git a/courtroom.cpp b/courtroom.cpp
index dd6bc66..88139e1 100644
--- a/courtroom.cpp
+++ b/courtroom.cpp
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ void Courtroom::set_widgets()
   //the size of the ui_vp_legacy_desk element relies on various factors and is set in set_scene()
 
   double y_modifier = 147.0 / 192.0;
-  int final_y = y_modifier * ui_viewport->height();
+  int final_y = static_cast<int>(y_modifier * ui_viewport->height());
   ui_vp_legacy_desk->move(0, final_y);
   ui_vp_legacy_desk->hide();
 
@@ -793,11 +793,10 @@ void Courtroom::set_background(QString p_background)
   testimony_in_progress = false;
 
   current_background = p_background;
-  QString bg_path = get_background_path();
 
-  is_ao2_bg = file_exists(bg_path + "defensedesk.png") &&
-              file_exists(bg_path + "prosecutiondesk.png") &&
-              file_exists(bg_path + "stand.png");
+  is_ao2_bg = file_exists(ao_app->get_background_path("defensedesk.png")) &&
+              file_exists(ao_app->get_background_path("prosecutiondesk.png")) &&
+              file_exists(ao_app->get_background_path("stand.png"));
 
   if (is_ao2_bg)
   {
@@ -874,11 +873,10 @@ void Courtroom::enter_courtroom(int p_cid)
     ui_prosecution_plus->hide();
   }
 
-  QString char_path = ao_app->get_character_path(current_char);
-
   if (ao_app->custom_objection_enabled &&
-      (file_exists(char_path + "custom.gif") || file_exists(char_path + "custom.apng")) &&
-      file_exists(char_path + "custom.wav"))
+      (file_exists(ao_app->get_character_path(char_path, "custom.gif")) ||
+      file_exists(ao_app->get_character_path(char_path, "custom.apng"))) &&
+      file_exists(ao_app->get_character_path(char_path, "custom.wav")))
     ui_custom_objection->show();
   else
     ui_custom_objection->hide();
@@ -936,7 +934,7 @@ void Courtroom::list_music()
       ui_music_list->addItem(i_song_listname);
       music_row_to_number.append(n_song);
 
-      QString song_path = ao_app->get_base_path() + "sounds/music/" + i_song.toLower();
+      QString song_path = ao_app->get_music_path(i_song);
 
       if (file_exists(song_path))
         ui_music_list->item(n_listed_songs)->setBackground(found_brush);
@@ -1557,14 +1555,14 @@ void Courtroom::handle_chatmessage_2()
   case 1: case 2: case 6:
     play_preanim();
     break;
-  default:
-    qDebug() << "W: invalid emote mod: " << QString::number(emote_mod);
-    //intentional fallthru
   case 0: case 5:
     if (m_chatmessage[NONINTERRUPTING_PRE].toInt() == 0)
       handle_chatmessage_3();
     else
       play_noninterrupting_preanim();
+    break;
+  default:
+    qDebug() << "W: invalid emote mod: " << QString::number(emote_mod);
   }
 }
 
@@ -1638,16 +1636,12 @@ void Courtroom::handle_chatmessage_3()
   QString f_char = m_chatmessage[CHAR_NAME];
   QString f_emote = m_chatmessage[EMOTE];
 
-  switch (f_anim_state)
-  {
-  case 2:
+  if (f_anim_state == 2) {
     ui_vp_player_char->play_talking(f_char, f_emote);
     anim_state = 2;
-    break;
-  default:
-    qDebug() << "W: invalid anim_state: " << f_anim_state;
-    // fall through
-  case 3:
+  }
+  else
+  {
     ui_vp_player_char->play_idle(f_char, f_emote);
     anim_state = 3;
   }
diff --git a/courtroom.h b/courtroom.h
index dc1c18d..85c454a 100644
--- a/courtroom.h
+++ b/courtroom.h
@@ -156,13 +156,10 @@ public:
   //send a message that the player is banned and quits the server
   void set_ban(int p_cid);
 
-  //implementations in path_functions.cpp
-  QString get_background_path();
-  QString get_default_background_path();
-
   //cid = character id, returns the cid of the currently selected character
   int get_cid() {return m_cid;}
   QString get_current_char() {return current_char;}
+  QString get_current_background() {return current_background;}
 
   //properly sets up some varibles: resets user state
   void enter_courtroom(int p_cid);
diff --git a/evidence.cpp b/evidence.cpp
index e5ef490..4e79664 100644
--- a/evidence.cpp
+++ b/evidence.cpp
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ void Courtroom::on_evidence_image_button_clicked()
   dialog.setFileMode(QFileDialog::ExistingFile);
   dialog.setNameFilter(tr("Images (*.png)"));
   dialog.setViewMode(QFileDialog::List);
-  dialog.setDirectory(ao_app->get_evidence_path());
+  dialog.setDirectory(ao_app->get_base_path() + "evidence");
 
   QStringList filenames;
 
diff --git a/file_functions.cpp b/file_functions.cpp
index bf2a018..f93ee15 100644
--- a/file_functions.cpp
+++ b/file_functions.cpp
@@ -13,3 +13,9 @@ bool dir_exists(QString dir_path)
 
   return check_dir.exists();
 }
+
+bool exists(QString p_path) {
+  QFile file(p_path);
+
+  return file.exists();
+}
diff --git a/file_functions.h b/file_functions.h
index 77e1c20..6937ed8 100644
--- a/file_functions.h
+++ b/file_functions.h
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@
 
 bool file_exists(QString file_path);
 bool dir_exists(QString file_path);
+bool exists(QString p_path);
 
 #endif // FILE_FUNCTIONS_H
diff --git a/path_functions.cpp b/path_functions.cpp
index d4238c9..24041e2 100644
--- a/path_functions.cpp
+++ b/path_functions.cpp
@@ -2,30 +2,39 @@
 #include "courtroom.h"
 #include "file_functions.h"
 
+#include <QDir>
+#include <QStandardPaths>
+#include <QRegExp>
+
 #ifdef BASE_OVERRIDE
 #include "base_override.h"
 #endif
-QString base_path = "";
+
+//this is a quite broad generalization
+//the most common OSes(mac and windows) are _usually_ case insensitive
+//however, there do exist mac installations with case sensitive filesystems
+//in that case, define CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM and compile on a mac
+#if (defined (LINUX) || defined (__linux__))
+#define CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+#endif
 
 QString AOApplication::get_base_path()
 {
-    if (base_path == "")
-    {
-#ifdef BASE_OVERRIDE
-  base_path = base_override;
-#elif defined(ANDROID)
-        QString sdcard_storage = getenv("SECONDARY_STORAGE");
-        if (dir_exists(sdcard_storage + "/AO2/")){
-            base_path = sdcard_storage + "/AO2/";
-        }else{
-            QString external_storage = getenv("EXTERNAL_STORAGE");
-            base_path = external_storage + "/AO2/";
-        }
+  QString base_path = "";
+#ifdef ANDROID
+  QString sdcard_storage = getenv("SECONDARY_STORAGE");
+  if (dir_exists(sdcard_storage + "/AO2/")){
+    base_path = sdcard_storage + "/AO2/";
+  }
+  else {
+    QString external_storage = getenv("EXTERNAL_STORAGE");
+    base_path = external_storage + "/AO2/";
+  }
 #else
   base_path = QDir::currentPath() + "/base/";
 #endif
-}
-    return base_path;
+
+  return base_path;
 }
 
 QString AOApplication::get_data_path()
@@ -33,72 +42,111 @@ QString AOApplication::get_data_path()
   return get_base_path() + "data/";
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_theme_path()
+QString AOApplication::get_default_theme_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  return get_base_path() + "themes/" + current_theme.toLower() + "/";
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "themes/default/" + p_file;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_default_theme_path()
+QString AOApplication::get_theme_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  return get_base_path() + "themes/default/";
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "themes/" + current_theme + "/" + p_file;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_character_path(QString p_character)
+QString AOApplication::get_character_path(QString p_char, QString p_file)
 {
-  return get_base_path() + "characters/" + p_character.toLower() + "/";
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "characters/" + p_char + "/" + p_file;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_demothings_path()
+QString AOApplication::get_sounds_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  QString default_path = "misc/demothings/";
-  QString alt_path = "misc/RosterImages";
-  if (dir_exists(default_path))
-    return get_base_path() + default_path;
-  else if (dir_exists(alt_path))
-    return get_base_path() + alt_path;
-  else
-    return get_base_path() + default_path;
-}
-QString AOApplication::get_sounds_path()
-{
-  return get_base_path() + "sounds/general/";
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "sounds/general/" + p_file;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
+
 QString AOApplication::get_music_path(QString p_song)
 {
-  return get_base_path() + "sounds/music/" + p_song.toLower();
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "sounds/music/" + p_song;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_background_path()
+QString AOApplication::get_background_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  if (courtroom_constructed)
-    return w_courtroom->get_background_path();
-  //this function being called when the courtroom isn't constructed makes no sense
-  return "";
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "background/" + w_courtroom->get_current_background() + "/" + p_file;
+  if (courtroom_constructed) {
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+    return path;
+#else
+    return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
+  }
+  return get_default_background_path(p_file);
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_default_background_path()
+QString AOApplication::get_default_background_path(QString p_file)
 {
-  return get_base_path() + "background/default/";
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "background/default/" + p_file;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
 
-QString AOApplication::get_evidence_path()
+QString AOApplication::get_evidence_path(QString p_file)
 {
-    QString default_path = "evidence/";
-    QString alt_path = "items/";
-    if (dir_exists(default_path))
-      return get_base_path() + default_path;
-    else if (dir_exists(alt_path))
-      return get_base_path() + alt_path;
-    else
-      return get_base_path() + default_path;
+  QString path = get_base_path() + "evidence/" + p_file;
+#ifndef CASE_SENSITIVE_FILESYSTEM
+  return path;
+#else
+  return get_case_sensitive_path(path);
+#endif
 }
 
-QString Courtroom::get_background_path()
-{
-  return ao_app->get_base_path() + "background/" + current_background.toLower() + "/";
-}
+QString AOApplication::get_case_sensitive_path(QString p_file) {
+  //first, check to see if it's actually there (also serves as base case for recursion)
+  if (exists(p_file)) return p_file;
 
-QString Courtroom::get_default_background_path()
-{
-  return ao_app->get_base_path() + "background/default/";
+  QFileInfo file(p_file);
+
+  QString file_basename = file.fileName();
+  QString file_parent_dir = get_case_sensitive_path(file.absolutePath());
+
+  //second, does it exist in the new parent dir?
+  if (exists(file_parent_dir + "/" + file_basename))
+    return file_parent_dir + "/" + file_basename;
+
+  //last resort, dirlist parent dir and find case insensitive match
+  QRegExp file_rx = QRegExp(file_basename, Qt::CaseInsensitive);
+  QStringList files = QDir(file_parent_dir).entryList();
+
+  int result = files.indexOf(file_rx);
+
+  if (result != -1)
+    return file_parent_dir + "/" + files.at(result);
+
+  //if nothing is found, let the caller handle the missing file
+  return file_parent_dir + "/" + file_basename;
 }
diff --git a/text_file_functions.cpp b/text_file_functions.cpp
index a633dd9..69c5fab 100644
--- a/text_file_functions.cpp
+++ b/text_file_functions.cpp
@@ -159,8 +159,8 @@ QString AOApplication::read_design_ini(QString p_identifier, QString p_design_pa
 
 QPoint AOApplication::get_button_spacing(QString p_identifier, QString p_file)
 {
-  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path() + p_file;
-  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path() + p_file;
+  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path(p_file);
+  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path(p_file);
   QString f_result = read_design_ini(p_identifier, design_ini_path);
 
   QPoint return_value;
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ QPoint AOApplication::get_button_spacing(QString p_identifier, QString p_file)
 
 pos_size_type AOApplication::get_element_dimensions(QString p_identifier, QString p_file)
 {
-  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path() + p_file;
-  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path() + p_file;
+  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path(p_file);
+  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path(p_file);
   QString f_result = read_design_ini(p_identifier, design_ini_path);
 
   pos_size_type return_value;
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@ pos_size_type AOApplication::get_element_dimensions(QString p_identifier, QStrin
 
 int AOApplication::get_font_size(QString p_identifier, QString p_file)
 {
-  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path() + p_file;
-  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path() + p_file;
+  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path(p_file);
+  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path(p_file);
   QString f_result = read_design_ini(p_identifier, design_ini_path);
 
   if (f_result == "")
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ int AOApplication::get_font_size(QString p_identifier, QString p_file)
 
 QColor AOApplication::get_color(QString p_identifier, QString p_file)
 {
-  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path() + p_file;
-  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path() + p_file;
+  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path(p_file);
+  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path(p_file);
   QString f_result = read_design_ini(p_identifier, design_ini_path);
 
   QColor return_color(255, 255, 255);
@@ -296,8 +296,8 @@ QColor AOApplication::get_chat_color(QString p_identifier, QString p_chat)
 
 QString AOApplication::get_sfx(QString p_identifier)
 {
-  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path() + "courtroom_sounds.ini";
-  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path() + "courtroom_sounds.ini";
+  QString design_ini_path = get_theme_path("courtroom_sounds.ini");
+  QString default_path = get_default_theme_path("courtroom_sounds.ini");
   QString f_result = read_design_ini(p_identifier, design_ini_path);
 
   QString return_sfx = "";
@@ -317,13 +317,13 @@ QString AOApplication::get_sfx(QString p_identifier)
 
 QString AOApplication::get_sfx_suffix(QString sound_to_check)
 {
-    QString mp3_check = get_sounds_path() + sound_to_check + ".mp3";
-    QString opus_check = get_sounds_path() + sound_to_check + ".opus";
-    if(file_exists(opus_check))
+    QString mp3_check = get_sounds_path(sound_to_check + ".mp3");
+    QString opus_check = get_sounds_path(sound_to_check + ".opus");
+    if (file_exists(opus_check))
     {
         return sound_to_check + ".opus";
     }
-    if(file_exists(mp3_check))
+    else if (file_exists(mp3_check))
     {
         return sound_to_check + ".mp3";
     }
@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ QString AOApplication::get_sfx_suffix(QString sound_to_check)
 
 QString AOApplication::get_image_suffix(QString path_to_check)
 {
-    QString apng_check = path_to_check + ".apng";
-    if(file_exists(apng_check))
+    QString apng_check = get_sounds_path(path_to_check + ".apng");
+    if (file_exists(apng_check))
     {
         return path_to_check + ".apng";
     }
@@ -396,14 +396,14 @@ QString AOApplication::get_chat(QString p_char)
   QString f_result = read_char_ini(p_char, "chat", "Options");
 
   //handling the correct order of chat is a bit complicated, we let the caller do it
-  return f_result.toLower();
+  return f_result;
 }
 
 QString AOApplication::get_char_shouts(QString p_char)
 {
   QString f_result = read_char_ini(p_char, "shouts", "Options");
 
-  return f_result.toLower();
+  return f_result;
 }
 
 int AOApplication::get_preanim_duration(QString p_char, QString p_emote)