diff --git a/src/battle.c b/src/battle.c
index 65b2cff7b..ca8bdc3b8 100644
--- a/src/battle.c
+++ b/src/battle.c
@@ -3595,14 +3595,15 @@ battle *make_battle(region * r)
     if (battledebug) {
         char zText[MAX_PATH];
         char zFilename[MAX_PATH];
-        sprintf(zText, "%s/battles", basepath());
+        join_path(basepath(), "battles", zText, sizeof(zText));
         if (_mkdir(zText) != 0) {
             log_error("could not create subdirectory for battle logs: %s", zText);
             battledebug = false;
         }
         else {
-            sprintf(zFilename, "%s/battle-%d-%s.log", zText, obs_count++, simplename(r));
-            bdebug = fopen(zFilename, "w");
+            sprintf(zFilename, "battle-%d-%s.log", obs_count++, simplename(r));
+            join_path(zText, zFilename, zText, sizeof(zText));
+            bdebug = fopen(zText, "w");
             if (!bdebug)
                 log_error("battles cannot be debugged");
             else {
diff --git a/src/bind_config.c b/src/bind_config.c
index 945c7f603..3959cc22c 100644
--- a/src/bind_config.c
+++ b/src/bind_config.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "bind_config.h"
 
 #include <platform.h>
+#include <kernel/config.h>
 #include <kernel/jsonconf.h>
 #include <util/log.h>
 #include <util/language.h>
@@ -58,11 +59,11 @@ int config_read(const char *filename, const char * relpath)
 
     json_relpath = relpath;
     if (relpath) {
-        _snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%s/%s", relpath, filename);
-        F = fopen(name, "rt");
+        join_path(relpath, filename, name, sizeof(name));
+        F = fopen(name, "r");
     }
     else {
-        F = fopen(filename, "rt");
+        F = fopen(filename, "r");
     }
     if (F) {
         long size;
diff --git a/src/bind_eressea.c b/src/bind_eressea.c
index 270cb44e8..d7683ec18 100755
--- a/src/bind_eressea.c
+++ b/src/bind_eressea.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ int eressea_read_orders(const char * filename) {
 }
 
 int eressea_export_json(const char * filename, int flags) {
-    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "wt");
+    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "w");
     if (F) {
         stream out = { 0 };
         int err;
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ int eressea_export_json(const char * filename, int flags) {
 }
 
 int eressea_import_json(const char * filename) {
-    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "rt");
+    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "r");
     if (F) {
         stream out = { 0 };
         int err;
diff --git a/src/bind_storage.c b/src/bind_storage.c
index aaeb84128..ca83f199a 100644
--- a/src/bind_storage.c
+++ b/src/bind_storage.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
 static int tolua_storage_create(lua_State * L)
 {
     const char *filename = tolua_tostring(L, 1, 0);
-    const char *type = tolua_tostring(L, 2, "r");
+    const char *type = tolua_tostring(L, 2, "rb");
     gamedata *data;
 
     data = gamedata_open(filename, type);
diff --git a/src/creport.c b/src/creport.c
index 186afab4d..c202029e0 100644
--- a/src/creport.c
+++ b/src/creport.c
@@ -1502,7 +1502,7 @@ report_computer(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
     const char *mailto = LOC(f->locale, "mailto");
     const attrib *a;
     seen_region *sr = NULL;
-    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "wt");
+    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "w");
 
     if (era < 0) {
         era = config_get_int("world.era", 1);
diff --git a/src/gmtool.c b/src/gmtool.c
index 3c50aaf45..3a48535a0 100644
--- a/src/gmtool.c
+++ b/src/gmtool.c
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ static void handlekey(state * st, int c)
         break;
     case 'B':
         if (!new_players) {
-            sprintf(sbuffer, "%s/newfactions", basepath());
+            join_path(basepath(), "newfactions", sbuffer, sizeof(sbuffer));
             new_players = read_newfactions(sbuffer);
         }
         cnormalize(&st->cursor, &nx, &ny);
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ static void handlekey(state * st, int c)
         break;
     case 'A':
         if (!new_players) {
-            sprintf(sbuffer, "%s/newfactions", basepath());
+            join_path(basepath(), "newfactions", sbuffer, sizeof(sbuffer));
             new_players = read_newfactions(sbuffer);
         }
         seed_players(&new_players, false);
@@ -1236,11 +1236,10 @@ void run_mapper(void)
     WINDOW *hwininfo;
     WINDOW *hwinmap;
     int width, height, x, y;
-    int split = 20, old_flags = log_flags;
+    int split = 20;
     state *st;
     point tl;
 
-    log_flags &= ~(LOG_CPERROR | LOG_CPWARNING);
     init_curses();
     curs_set(1);
 
@@ -1332,7 +1331,6 @@ void run_mapper(void)
     set_readline(NULL);
     curs_set(1);
     endwin();
-    log_flags = old_flags;
     state_close(st);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.c b/src/kernel/config.c
index 08b7f53c9..64afd98d3 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.c
+++ b/src/kernel/config.c
@@ -659,11 +659,16 @@ void set_basepath(const char *path)
 #define PATH_DELIM '/'
 #endif
 
-
 char * join_path(const char *p1, const char *p2, char *dst, size_t len) {
     size_t sz;
     assert(p1 && p2);
-    sz = strlcpy(dst, p1, len);
+    assert(p2 != dst);
+    if (dst == p1) {
+        sz = strlen(p1);
+    }
+    else {
+        sz = strlcpy(dst, p1, len);
+    }
     assert(sz < len);
     dst[sz++] = PATH_DELIM;
     strlcpy(dst + sz, p2, len - sz);
diff --git a/src/kernel/faction.c b/src/kernel/faction.c
index cf1372950..aa04470f0 100755
--- a/src/kernel/faction.c
+++ b/src/kernel/faction.c
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ int writepasswd(void)
     FILE *F;
     char zText[128];
 
-    sprintf(zText, "%s/passwd", basepath());
+    join_path(basepath(), "passwd", zText, sizeof(zText));
     F = fopen(zText, "w");
     if (!F) {
         perror(zText);
diff --git a/src/kernel/group.test.c b/src/kernel/group.test.c
index 35b25aad5..46d794d2d 100644
--- a/src/kernel/group.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/group.test.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static void test_group_readwrite(CuTest * tc)
     FILE *F;
     stream strm;
 
-    F = fopen("test.dat", "w");
+    F = fopen("test.dat", "wb");
     fstream_init(&strm, F);
     binstore_init(&store, &strm);
     test_cleanup();
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static void test_group_readwrite(CuTest * tc)
     binstore_done(&store);
     fstream_done(&strm);
 
-    F = fopen("test.dat", "r");
+    F = fopen("test.dat", "rb");
     fstream_init(&strm, F);
     binstore_init(&store, &strm);
     f->groups = 0;
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
index 099b7a228..aac4bce10 100644
--- a/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.c
@@ -828,11 +828,11 @@ static void json_include(cJSON *json) {
         FILE *F;
         if (json_relpath) {
             char name[MAX_PATH];
-            _snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%s/%s", json_relpath, child->valuestring);
-            F = fopen(name, "rt");
+            join_path(json_relpath, child->valuestring, name, sizeof(name));
+            F = fopen(name, "r");
         }
         else {
-            F = fopen(child->valuestring, "rt");
+            F = fopen(child->valuestring, "r");
         }
         if (F) {
             long pos;
diff --git a/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c b/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c
index 5e7d3047e..63c5fe0ff 100644
--- a/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/jsonconf.test.c
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ static void test_configs(CuTest * tc)
 
     test_cleanup();
 
-    F = fopen("test.json", "wt");
+    F = fopen("test.json", "w");
     fwrite(building_data, 1, strlen(building_data), F);
     fclose(F);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, json);
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 25ae2d858..7e5112443 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ int current_turn(void)
     int cturn = 0;
     FILE *F;
 
-    sprintf(zText, "%s/turn", basepath());
+    join_path(basepath(), "turn", zText, sizeof(zText));
     F = fopen(zText, "r");
     if (!F) {
         perror(zText);
@@ -1166,6 +1166,7 @@ faction *readfaction(struct gamedata * data)
     char name[DISPLAYSIZE];
 
     READ_INT(data->store, &n);
+    assert(n > 0);
     f = findfaction(n);
     if (f == NULL) {
         f = (faction *)calloc(1, sizeof(faction));
@@ -1401,13 +1402,13 @@ int readgame(const char *filename, bool backup)
 
     init_locales();
     log_debug("- reading game data from %s\n", filename);
-    sprintf(path, "%s/%s", datapath(), filename);
+    join_path(datapath(), filename, path, sizeof(path));
 
     if (backup) {
         create_backup(path);
     }
 
-    F = fopen(path, "r");
+    F = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!F) {
         perror(path);
         return -1;
@@ -1753,7 +1754,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
     /* make sure we don't overwrite an existing file (hard links) */
     unlink(path);
 #endif
-    F = fopen(path, "w");
+    F = fopen(path, "wb");
     if (!F) {
         perror(path);
         return -1;
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.test.c b/src/kernel/save.test.c
index e7f85ad7e..4762bf6e0 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.test.c
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ static void test_readwrite_data(CuTest * tc)
     const char *filename = "test.dat";
     char path[MAX_PATH];
     test_cleanup();
-    sprintf(path, "%s/%s", datapath(), filename);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, writegame(filename));
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, readgame(filename, false));
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, RELEASE_VERSION, global.data_version);
+    join_path(datapath(), filename, path, sizeof(path));
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, remove(path));
     test_cleanup();
 }
@@ -42,15 +42,15 @@ static void test_readwrite_unit(CuTest * tc)
     u = test_create_unit(f, r);
     join_path(datapath(), filename, path, sizeof(path));
 
-    data = gamedata_open(path, "w");
-    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, data); // TODO: intermittent test
+    data = gamedata_open(path, "wb");
+    CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, data); // TODO: intermittent test (even after the 'b' fix!)
     write_unit(data, u);
     gamedata_close(data);
 
     free_gamedata();
     f = test_create_faction(0);
     renumber_faction(f, fno);
-    data = gamedata_open(path, "r");
+    data = gamedata_open(path, "rb");
     u = read_unit(data);
     gamedata_close(data);
 
diff --git a/src/laws.c b/src/laws.c
index eb079b8ac..e72472aec 100755
--- a/src/laws.c
+++ b/src/laws.c
@@ -4442,8 +4442,7 @@ void update_subscriptions(void)
     FILE *F;
     char zText[MAX_PATH];
 
-    strlcpy(zText, basepath(), sizeof(zText));
-    strlcat(zText, "/subscriptions", sizeof(zText));
+    join_path(basepath(), "subscriptions", zText, sizeof(zText));
     F = fopen(zText, "r");
     if (F == NULL) {
         log_warning(0, "could not open %s.\n", zText);
@@ -4463,17 +4462,6 @@ void update_subscriptions(void)
         }
     }
     fclose(F);
-
-    sprintf(zText, "subscriptions.%u", turn);
-    F = fopen(zText, "w");
-    if (F) {
-        faction *f;
-        for (f = factions; f != NULL; f = f->next) {
-            fprintf(F, "%s:%u:%s:%s:%u:\n",
-                itoa36(f->no), f->subscription, f->email, dbrace(f->race), f->lastorders);
-        }
-        fclose(F);
-    }
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 305d4a901..f96c04d2e 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     /* parse arguments again, to override ini file */
     parse_args(argc, argv, &err);
 
-    log_open(logfile);
+    log_open(logfile, LOG_CPERROR | LOG_CPWARNING | LOG_CPDEBUG | LOG_FLUSH);
     locale_init();
 
 #ifdef CRTDBG
diff --git a/src/modules/score.c b/src/modules/score.c
index ed8f4e458..74eb0898b 100644
--- a/src/modules/score.c
+++ b/src/modules/score.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ void score(void)
         allscores = 1;
     }
 
-    sprintf(path, "%s/score", basepath());
+    join_path(basepath(), "score", path, sizeof(path));
     scoreFP = fopen(path, "w");
     if (scoreFP) {
         const unsigned char utf8_bom[4] = { 0xef, 0xbb, 0xbf, 0 };
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ void score(void)
         alliance *a;
         const item_type *token = it_find("conquesttoken");
 
-        sprintf(path, "%s/score.alliances", basepath());
+        join_path(basepath(), "score.alliances", path, sizeof(path));
         scoreFP = fopen(path, "w");
         if (scoreFP) {
             const unsigned char utf8_bom[4] = { 0xef, 0xbb, 0xbf, 0 };
diff --git a/src/report.c b/src/report.c
index 323a94f02..15c5f1b2c 100644
--- a/src/report.c
+++ b/src/report.c
@@ -1403,7 +1403,7 @@ report_template(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
     const resource_type *rsilver = get_resourcetype(R_SILVER);
     faction *f = ctx->f;
     region *r;
-    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "wt");
+    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "w");
     stream strm = { 0 }, *out = &strm;
     seen_region *sr = NULL;
     char buf[8192], *bufp;
@@ -2067,7 +2067,7 @@ const char *charset)
     unsigned char op;
     int maxh, bytes, ix = want(O_STATISTICS);
     int wants_stats = (f->options & ix);
-    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "wt");
+    FILE *F = fopen(filename, "w");
     stream strm = { 0 }, *out = &strm;
     seen_region *sr = NULL;
     char buf[8192];
diff --git a/src/reports.c b/src/reports.c
index 11c235011..67f5133f8 100644
--- a/src/reports.c
+++ b/src/reports.c
@@ -1558,11 +1558,13 @@ int write_reports(faction * f, time_t ltime)
         if (f->options & rtype->flag) {
             int error;
             do {
-                char filename[MAX_PATH];
-                sprintf(filename, "%s/%d-%s.%s", reportpath(), turn, factionid(f),
+                char filename[32];
+                char path[MAX_PATH];
+                sprintf(filename, "%d-%s.%s", turn, factionid(f),
                     rtype->extension);
+                join_path(reportpath(), filename, path, sizeof(path));
                 error = 0;
-                if (rtype->write(filename, &ctx, encoding) == 0) {
+                if (rtype->write(path, &ctx, encoding) == 0) {
                     gotit = true;
                 }
                 if (errno) {
@@ -1657,15 +1659,6 @@ int reports(void)
     if (mailit)
         fclose(mailit);
     free_seen();
-#ifdef GLOBAL_REPORT
-    {
-        const char *str = config_get("globalreport");
-        if (str != NULL) {
-            sprintf(path, "%s/%s.%u.cr", reportpath(), str, turn);
-            global_report(path);
-        }
-    }
-#endif
     return retval;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/summary.c b/src/summary.c
index 093481c76..51c549cf3 100644
--- a/src/summary.c
+++ b/src/summary.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ static void writeturn(void)
     char zText[MAX_PATH];
     FILE *f;
 
-    sprintf(zText, "%s/datum", basepath());
+    join_path(basepath(), "datum", zText, sizeof(zText));
     f = fopen(zText, "w");
     if (!f) {
         perror(zText);
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ static void writeturn(void)
     }
     fputs(gamedate2(default_locale), f);
     fclose(f);
-    sprintf(zText, "%s/turn", basepath());
+    join_path(basepath(), "turn", zText, sizeof(zText));
     f = fopen(zText, "w");
     if (!f) {
         perror(zText);
@@ -178,10 +178,10 @@ void report_summary(summary * s, summary * o, bool full)
     char zText[MAX_PATH];
 
     if (full) {
-        sprintf(zText, "%s/parteien.full", basepath());
+        join_path(basepath(), "parteien.full", zText, sizeof(zText));
     }
     else {
-        sprintf(zText, "%s/parteien", basepath());
+        join_path(basepath(), "parteien", zText, sizeof(zText));
     }
     F = fopen(zText, "w");
     if (!F) {
diff --git a/src/test_eressea.c b/src/test_eressea.c
index a9b9b941c..4d69ad954 100644
--- a/src/test_eressea.c
+++ b/src/test_eressea.c
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ bool list = false;
 
 int RunAllTests(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    int flags = log_flags;
-
-    log_flags = LOG_FLUSH | LOG_CPERROR;
-
     /* self-test */
     ADD_SUITE(tests);
     ADD_SUITE(callback);
@@ -146,7 +142,6 @@ int RunAllTests(int argc, char *argv[])
             suites = s;
         }
         printf("\ntest summary: %d tests, %d failed\n", summary->count, summary->failCount);
-        log_flags = flags;
         fail_count = summary->failCount;
         CuSuiteDelete(summary);
         game_done();
diff --git a/src/util/log.c b/src/util/log.c
index 958e26e2f..4afee68b4 100644
--- a/src/util/log.c
+++ b/src/util/log.c
@@ -31,22 +31,23 @@ static int stdio_codepage = STDIO_CP;
 static int stdio_codepage = 0;
 #endif
 
-typedef struct logger {
+typedef struct log_t {
     void(*log)(void *data, int level, const char *module, const char *format, va_list args);
     void *data;
     int flags;
-    struct logger *next;
-} logger;
+    struct log_t *next;
+} log_t;
 
-static logger *loggers;
+static log_t *loggers;
 
-void log_create(int flags, void *data, log_fun call) {
-    logger *lgr = malloc(sizeof(logger));
+log_t *log_create(int flags, void *data, log_fun call) {
+    log_t *lgr = malloc(sizeof(log_t));
     lgr->log = call;
     lgr->flags = flags;
     lgr->data = data;
     lgr->next = loggers;
     loggers = lgr;
+    return lgr;
 }
 
 #define MAXLENGTH 4096          /* because I am lazy, CP437 output is limited to this many chars */
@@ -122,10 +123,8 @@ static int check_dupe(const char *format, int type)
         return 1;
     }
     if (dupes) {
-        if (log_flags & LOG_CPERROR) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "%s: last message repeated %d times\n", log_prefix(last_type),
-                dupes + 1);
-        }
+        fprintf(stderr, "%s: last message repeated %d times\n", log_prefix(last_type),
+            dupes + 1);
         dupes = 0;
     }
     strlcpy(last_message, format, sizeof(last_message));
@@ -167,12 +166,12 @@ static void log_stdio(void *data, int level, const char *module, const char *for
     }
 }
 
-void log_to_file(int flags, FILE *out) {
-    log_create(flags, out, log_stdio);
+log_t *log_to_file(int flags, FILE *out) {
+    return log_create(flags, out, log_stdio);
 }
 
 static void log_write(int flags, const char *module, const char *format, va_list args) {
-    logger *lg;
+    log_t *lg;
     for (lg = loggers; lg; lg = lg->next) {
         int level = flags & LOG_LEVELS;
         if (lg->flags & level) {
@@ -241,7 +240,7 @@ static FILE *logfile;
 void log_close(void)
 {
     while (loggers) {
-        logger *lgr = loggers;
+        log_t *lgr = loggers;
         loggers = lgr->next;
         free(lgr);
     }
@@ -254,7 +253,7 @@ void log_close(void)
     logfile = 0;
 }
 
-void log_open(const char *filename)
+log_t *log_open(const char *filename, int log_flags)
 {
     log_rotate(filename, LOG_MAXBACKUPS);
     logfile = fopen(filename, "a");
@@ -263,6 +262,14 @@ void log_open(const char *filename)
         time_t ltime;
         time(&ltime);
         fprintf(logfile, "===\n=== Logfile started at %s===\n", ctime(&ltime));
-        log_create(log_flags, logfile, log_stdio);
+        return log_create(log_flags, logfile, log_stdio);
     }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int log_level(log_t * log, int flags)
+{
+    int old = log->flags;
+    log->flags = flags;
+    return old;
 }
diff --git a/src/util/log.h b/src/util/log.h
index 8fd8f2a95..56adfa1c3 100644
--- a/src/util/log.h
+++ b/src/util/log.h
@@ -17,10 +17,16 @@ extern "C" {
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 
-    extern void log_open(const char *filename);
-    extern void log_close(void);
+    struct log_t;
+
+    typedef void(*log_fun)(void *data, int level, const char *module, const char *format, va_list args);
+
+    struct log_t * log_open(const char *filename, int flags);
+    struct log_t * log_create(int flags, void *data, log_fun call);
+    struct log_t * log_to_file(int flags, FILE *out);
+    int log_level(struct log_t *log, int flags);
+    void log_close(void);
 
-    /* use macros above instead of these: */
     extern void log_fatal(const char *format, ...);
     extern void log_error(const char *format, ...);
     extern void log_warning(const char *format, ...);
@@ -36,13 +42,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #define LOG_FLUSH      0x10
 #define LOG_BRIEF      0x20
 
-    typedef void(*log_fun)(void *data, int level, const char *module, const char *format, va_list args);
-
-    void log_create(int flags, void *data, log_fun call);
-    void log_to_file(int flags, FILE *out);
-
-    extern int log_flags;
-    extern int log_stderr;
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/tests/score b/tests/score
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f282702b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/score
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/score.alliances b/tests/score.alliances
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..003fe8605
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/score.alliances
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# alliance:factions:persons:score
+1248287:1:0:0
+1490214:1:0:2105