diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/api.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/api.lua
index 4cb19cca10..9699852053 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/api.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/api.lua
@@ -67,14 +67,9 @@ function mcl_burning.set_on_fire(obj, burn_time)
 	end
 
 	if not storage.burn_time or burn_time >= storage.burn_time then
-		if obj:is_player() and not storage.fire_hud_id then
-			storage.fire_hud_id = obj:hud_add({
-				hud_elem_type = "image",
-				position = {x = 0.5, y = 0.5},
-				scale = {x = -100, y = -100},
-				text = "mcl_burning_entity_flame_animated.png^[opacity:180^[verticalframe:" .. mcl_burning.animation_frames .. ":" .. 1,
-				z_index = 1000,
-			})
+		if obj:is_player() then
+			mcl_burning.channels[obj]:send_all(tostring(mcl_burning.animation_frames))
+			mcl_burning.channels[obj]:send_all("start")
 		end
 		storage.burn_time = burn_time
 		storage.fire_damage_timer = 0
@@ -95,7 +90,6 @@ function mcl_burning.set_on_fire(obj, burn_time)
 		fire_entity:set_properties({visual_size = size})
 		fire_entity:set_attach(obj, "", offset, {x = 0, y = 0, z = 0})
 		local fire_luaentity = fire_entity:get_luaentity()
-		fire_luaentity:update_frame(obj, storage)
 
 		for _, other in pairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(fire_entity:get_pos(), 0)) do
 			local other_luaentity = other:get_luaentity()
@@ -111,9 +105,7 @@ function mcl_burning.extinguish(obj)
 	if mcl_burning.is_burning(obj) then
 		local storage = mcl_burning.get_storage(obj)
 		if obj:is_player() then
-			if storage.fire_hud_id then
-				obj:hud_remove(storage.fire_hud_id)
-			end
+			mcl_burning.channels[obj]:send_all("stop")
 			mcl_burning.storage[obj] = {}
 		else
 			storage.burn_time = nil
@@ -143,4 +135,4 @@ function mcl_burning.tick(obj, dtime, storage)
 			end
 		end
 	end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/init.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/init.lua
index 34b7ca2d4b..313e75dca7 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_burning/init.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local get_item_group = minetest.get_item_group
 
 mcl_burning = {
 	storage = {},
+	channels = {},
 	animation_frames = tonumber(minetest.settings:get("fire_animation_frames")) or 8
 }
 
@@ -54,12 +55,11 @@ minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
 	end
 
 	mcl_burning.storage[player] = storage
+	mcl_burning.channels[player] = minetest.mod_channel_join("mcl_burning:" .. player:get_player_name())
 end)
 
 minetest.register_on_leaveplayer(function(player)
-	local storage = mcl_burning.storage[player]
-	storage.fire_hud_id = nil
-	player:get_meta():set_string("mcl_burning:data", minetest.serialize(storage))
+	player:get_meta():set_string("mcl_burning:data", minetest.serialize(mcl_burning.storage[player]))
 	mcl_burning.storage[player] = nil
 end)
 
@@ -68,27 +68,28 @@ minetest.register_entity("mcl_burning:fire", {
 	initial_properties = {
 		physical = false,
 		collisionbox = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
-		visual = "cube",
+		visual = "upright_sprite",
+		textures = {
+			name = "mcl_burning_entity_flame_animated.png",
+			animation = {
+				type = "vertical_frames",
+				aspect_w = 16,
+				aspect_h = 16,
+				length = 1.0,
+			},
+		},
+		spritediv = {x = 1, y = mcl_burning.animation_frames},
 		pointable = false,
 		glow = -1,
 		backface_culling = false,
 	},
 	animation_frame = 0,
 	animation_timer = 0,
-	on_step = function(self, dtime)
-		local parent, storage = self:sanity_check()
-
-		if parent then
-			self.animation_timer = self.animation_timer + dtime
-			if self.animation_timer >= 0.1 then
-				self.animation_timer = 0
-				self.animation_frame = self.animation_frame + 1
-				if self.animation_frame > mcl_burning.animation_frames - 1 then
-					self.animation_frame = 0
-				end
-				self:update_frame(parent, storage)
-			end
-		else
+	on_activate = function(self)
+		self.object:set_sprite({x = 0, y = 0}, mcl_burning.animation_frames, 1.0 / mcl_burning.animation_frames)
+	end,
+	on_step = function(self)
+		if not self:sanity_check() then
 			self.object:remove()
 		end
 	end,
@@ -96,23 +97,15 @@ minetest.register_entity("mcl_burning:fire", {
 		local parent = self.object:get_attach()
 
 		if not parent then
-			return
+			return false
 		end
 
 		local storage = mcl_burning.get_storage(parent)
 
 		if not storage or not storage.burn_time then
-			return
+			return false
 		end
 
-		return parent, storage
-	end,
-	update_frame = function(self, parent, storage)
-		local frame_overlay = "^[opacity:180^[verticalframe:" .. mcl_burning.animation_frames .. ":" .. self.animation_frame
-		local fire_texture = "mcl_burning_entity_flame_animated.png" .. frame_overlay
-		self.object:set_properties({textures = {"blank.png", "blank.png", fire_texture, fire_texture, fire_texture, fire_texture}})
-		if parent:is_player() then
-			parent:hud_change(storage.fire_hud_id, "text", "mcl_burning_hud_flame_animated.png" .. frame_overlay)
-		end
+		return true
 	end,
 })
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua
index 7869b9d797..cfd141f046 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ minetest.register_entity(":__builtin:item", {
 	end,
 
 	get_staticdata = function(self)
-		return minetest.serialize({
+		local data = minetest.serialize({
 			itemstring = self.itemstring,
 			always_collect = self.always_collect,
 			age = self.age,
@@ -488,6 +488,39 @@ minetest.register_entity(":__builtin:item", {
 			_flowing = self._flowing,
 			_removed = self._removed,
 		})
+		-- sfan5 guessed that the biggest serializable item
+		-- entity would have a size of 65530 bytes. This has
+		-- been experimentally verified to be still too large.
+		--
+		-- anon5 has calculated that the biggest serializable
+		-- item entity has a size of exactly 65487 bytes:
+		--
+		-- 1. serializeString16 can handle max. 65535 bytes.
+		-- 2. The following engine metadata is always saved:
+		--    • 1 byte (version)
+		--    • 2 byte (length prefix)
+		--    • 14 byte “__builtin:item”
+		--    • 4 byte (length prefix)
+		--    • 2 byte (health)
+		--    • 3 × 4 byte = 12 byte (position)
+		--    • 4 byte (yaw)
+		--    • 1 byte (version 2)
+		--    • 2 × 4 byte = 8 byte (pitch and roll)
+		-- 3. This leaves 65487 bytes for the serialization.
+		if #data > 65487 then -- would crash the engine
+			local stack = ItemStack(self.itemstring)
+			stack:get_meta():from_table(nil)
+			self.itemstring = stack:to_string()
+			minetest.log(
+				"warning",
+				"Overlong item entity metadata removed: “" ..
+				self.itemstring ..
+				"” had serialized length of " ..
+				#data
+			)
+			return self:get_staticdata()
+		end
+		return data
 	end,
 
 	on_activate = function(self, staticdata, dtime_s)
diff --git a/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua b/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua
index 08f1914ca0..505ff403b8 100644
--- a/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua
+++ b/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@ function hb.hide_hudbar(player, identifier)
 	local name = player:get_player_name()
 	local hudtable = hb.get_hudtable(identifier)
 	if hudtable == nil then return false end
+	if hudtable.hudstate[name].hidden == true then return true end
 	if hb.settings.bar_type == "progress_bar" then
 		if hudtable.hudids[name].icon then
 			player:hud_change(hudtable.hudids[name].icon, "scale", {x=0,y=0})
@@ -443,6 +444,7 @@ function hb.unhide_hudbar(player, identifier)
 	local name = player:get_player_name()
 	local hudtable = hb.get_hudtable(identifier)
 	if hudtable == nil then return false end
+	if hudtable.hudstate[name].hidden == false then return true end
 	local value = hudtable.hudstate[name].value
 	local max = hudtable.hudstate[name].max
 	if hb.settings.bar_type == "progress_bar" then
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/craftitems.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/craftitems.lua
index 03f30b7b97..85a078766f 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/craftitems.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/craftitems.lua
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ minetest.register_craftitem("mcl_core:gold_ingot", {
 
 minetest.register_craftitem("mcl_core:emerald", {
 	description = S("Emerald"),
-	_doc_items_longdesc = S("Emeralds are not very useful on their own, but they can exchanged for gold ingots by crafting."),
+	_doc_items_longdesc = S("Emeralds are used in villager trades as currency."),
 	inventory_image = "mcl_core_emerald.png",
 	stack_max = 64,
 	groups = { craftitem=1 },
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/locale/template.txt b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/locale/template.txt
index 2cb74f5d1e..19d156711d 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/locale/template.txt
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_core/locale/template.txt
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ Dirt acts as a soil for a few plants. When in light, this block may grow a grass
 Emerald=
 Emerald Ore=
 Emerald ore is the ore of emeralds. It is very rare and can be found alone, not in clusters.=
-Emeralds are not very useful on their own, but they can exchanged for gold ingots by crafting.=
+Emeralds are used in villager trades as currency.=
 Flint=
 Flint is a raw material.=
 Flowing Lava=
diff --git a/mods/MISC/mcl_temp_helper_recipes/init.lua b/mods/MISC/mcl_temp_helper_recipes/init.lua
index 420cd6c2ec..b7607946d4 100644
--- a/mods/MISC/mcl_temp_helper_recipes/init.lua
+++ b/mods/MISC/mcl_temp_helper_recipes/init.lua
@@ -35,40 +35,6 @@ minetest.register_craft({
 	},
 })
 
-minetest.register_craft({
-	output = "mcl_armor:helmet_chain",
-	recipe = {
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-	}
-})
-
-minetest.register_craft({
-	output = "mcl_armor:leggings_chain",
-	recipe = {
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-	}
-})
-
-minetest.register_craft({
-	output = "mcl_armor:boots_chain",
-	recipe = {
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-	}
-})
-
-minetest.register_craft({
-	output = "mcl_armor:chestplate_chain",
-	recipe = {
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "mcl_core:iron_ingot", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-		{ "xpanes:bar_flat", "xpanes:bar_flat", "xpanes:bar_flat" },
-	}
-})
-
 -- Make red sand, red sandstone and more craftable in v6
 -- NOTE: When you change these, also update mcl_craftguide for the "v6" icon in
 -- the craft guide!
diff --git a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_sprint/init.lua b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_sprint/init.lua
index 73a518c425..4c0d609c96 100644
--- a/mods/PLAYER/mcl_sprint/init.lua
+++ b/mods/PLAYER/mcl_sprint/init.lua
@@ -69,18 +69,19 @@ local function setSprinting(playerName, sprinting) --Sets the state of a player
 	local controls = player:get_player_control()
 	if players[playerName] then
 		players[playerName].sprinting = sprinting
+		local fov_old = players[playerName].fov
+		local fov_new = fov_old
+		local fade_time = .15
 		if sprinting == true
 		or controls.RMB
 		and string.find(player:get_wielded_item():get_name(), "mcl_bows:bow")
 		and player:get_wielded_item():get_name() ~= "mcl_bows:bow" then
 			if sprinting == true then
-				players[playerName].fov = math.min(players[playerName].fov + 0.05, 1.2)
-				players[playerName].fade_time = .15
+				fov_new = math.min(players[playerName].fov + 0.05, 1.2)
 			else
-				players[playerName].fov = .7
+				fov_new = .7
 				players[playerName].fade_time = .3
 			end
-			player:set_fov(players[playerName].fov, true, players[playerName].fade_time)
 			if sprinting == true then
 				playerphysics.add_physics_factor(player, "speed", "mcl_sprint:sprint", mcl_sprint.SPEED)
 			end
@@ -88,12 +89,15 @@ local function setSprinting(playerName, sprinting) --Sets the state of a player
 		and player:get_wielded_item():get_name() ~= "mcl_bows:bow_0"
 		and player:get_wielded_item():get_name() ~= "mcl_bows:bow_1"
 		and player:get_wielded_item():get_name() ~= "mcl_bows:bow_2" then
-			players[playerName].fov = math.max(players[playerName].fov - 0.05, 1.0)
-			player:set_fov(players[playerName].fov, true, 0.15)
+			fov_new = math.max(players[playerName].fov - 0.05, 1.0)
 			if sprinting == false then
 				playerphysics.remove_physics_factor(player, "speed", "mcl_sprint:sprint")
 			end
 		end
+		if fov_new ~= fov_old then
+			players[playerName].fov = fov_new
+			player:set_fov(fov_new, true, fade_time)
+		end
 		return true
 	end
 	return false