diff --git a/artifacts/ddraw.ini b/artifacts/ddraw.ini
index e5e9812f..59e79a11 100644
--- a/artifacts/ddraw.ini
+++ b/artifacts/ddraw.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ;sfall configuration settings
-;v3.7.3
+;v3.7.4
 
 [Main]
 ;Change to 1 if you want to use command line args to tell sfall to use another ini file.
@@ -201,10 +201,15 @@ WorldMapSlots=0
 ;To use a patch file other than patch000.dat, uncomment the next line and add your new file name
 ;If you want to check for multiple patch files, you can include a %d in the file name (sprintf syntax)
 ;By default, only the first patch file found will be used.
-;If you want to load multiple patch files at once, uncomment the MultiPatches line and set it to 1
+;If you want to load multiple patch files (up to 1000) at once, uncomment the MultiPatches line and set it to 1
 ;PatchFile=patch%03d.dat
 ;MultiPatches=0
 
+;Set to 1 to enable the modified data load order for the engine to find game data
+;Original: patchXXX.dat > critter_patches > critter_dat > f2_res_patches > f2_res_dat > master_patches > master_dat
+;Modified: master_patches > critter_patches > patchXXX.dat > critter_dat > f2_res_patches > f2_res_dat > master_dat
+DataLoadOrderPatch=0
+
 ;To change the default and starting player models, uncomment the next four lines.
 ;The default models can also be changed ingame via script
 ;MaleStartModel=hmwarr
@@ -477,7 +482,7 @@ QuickPocketsApCostReduction=2
 ;Set to 1 to allow objects seeing through other objects with their ShootThru flag set
 ObjCanSeeObj_ShootThru_Fix=0
 
-;Set to 1 to use the balanced bullet distribution formula for burst attacks
+;Set to 1 to enable the balanced bullet distribution formula for burst attacks
 ComputeSprayMod=1
 
 ;These options modify the bullet distribution of burst attacks if ComputeSprayMod is 1
diff --git a/sfall/FalloutEngine.cpp b/sfall/FalloutEngine.cpp
index f78e1048..1a54ee05 100644
--- a/sfall/FalloutEngine.cpp
+++ b/sfall/FalloutEngine.cpp
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ const DWORD stat_pc_add_experience_ = 0x4AFAA8;
 const DWORD stat_pc_get_ = 0x4AF8FC;
 const DWORD stat_pc_set_ = 0x4AF910;
 const DWORD stat_set_bonus_ = 0x4AF63C;
+const DWORD stricmp_ = 0x4DECE6;
 const DWORD strncpy_ = 0x4F014F;
 const DWORD switch_hand_ = 0x4714E0;
 const DWORD talk_to_translucent_trans_buf_to_buf_ = 0x44AC68;
@@ -419,6 +420,7 @@ const DWORD xfread_ = 0x4DF44C;
 const DWORD xfseek_ = 0x4DF5D8;
 const DWORD xftell_ = 0x4DF690;
 const DWORD xfwrite_ = 0x4DF4E8;
+const DWORD xremovepath_ = 0x4DFAB4;
 const DWORD xrewind_ = 0x4DF6E4;
 const DWORD xungetc_ = 0x4DF3F4;
 const DWORD xvfprintf_ = 0x4DF1AC;
diff --git a/sfall/FalloutEngine.h b/sfall/FalloutEngine.h
index b59a9707..20dd139c 100644
--- a/sfall/FalloutEngine.h
+++ b/sfall/FalloutEngine.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #define _combat_turn_running        0x51093C
 #define _combatNumTurns             0x510940
 #define _crit_succ_eff              0x510978
+#define _critter_db_handle          0x58E94C
 #define _critterClearObj            0x518438
 #define _crnt_func                  0x664508
 #define _curr_font_num              0x51E3B0
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@
 #define _main_window                0x5194F0
 #define _map_elevation              0x519578
 #define _map_global_vars            0x51956C
+#define _master_db_handle           0x58E948
 #define _max                        0x56FB50
 #define _Meet_Frank_Horrigan        0x672E04
 #define _mouse_hotx                 0x6AC7D0
@@ -539,6 +541,7 @@ extern const DWORD stat_pc_add_experience_;
 extern const DWORD stat_pc_get_;
 extern const DWORD stat_pc_set_;
 extern const DWORD stat_set_bonus_;
+extern const DWORD stricmp_;
 extern const DWORD strncpy_;
 extern const DWORD switch_hand_;
 extern const DWORD talk_to_translucent_trans_buf_to_buf_;
@@ -583,6 +586,7 @@ extern const DWORD xfread_;
 extern const DWORD xfseek_;
 extern const DWORD xftell_;
 extern const DWORD xfwrite_;
+extern const DWORD xremovepath_;
 extern const DWORD xrewind_;
 extern const DWORD xungetc_;
 extern const DWORD xvfprintf_;
diff --git a/sfall/ddraw2.cpp b/sfall/ddraw2.cpp
index e5cacfa5..7506fb69 100644
--- a/sfall/ddraw2.cpp
+++ b/sfall/ddraw2.cpp
@@ -170,9 +170,7 @@ void _stdcall SetShaderMode(DWORD d, DWORD mode) {
 }
 
 int _stdcall LoadShader(const char* path) {
-	if(GraphicsMode < 4) return -1;
-	if(strstr(path, "..")) return -1;
-	if(strstr(path, ":")) return -1;
+	if ((GraphicsMode < 4) || (strstr(path, "..")) || (strstr(path, ":"))) return -1;
 	char buf[MAX_PATH];
 	sprintf(buf, "%s\\shaders\\%s", *(char**)_patches, path);
 	for(DWORD d=0;d<shaders.size();d++) {
diff --git a/sfall/main.cpp b/sfall/main.cpp
index b240d4e1..411d93af 100644
--- a/sfall/main.cpp
+++ b/sfall/main.cpp
@@ -417,6 +417,74 @@ c15:
 		jmp art_get_code_;
 	}
 }
+
+static void __declspec(naked) removeDatabase() {
+	__asm {
+		cmp  eax, -1
+		je   end
+		mov  ebx, ds:[_paths]
+		mov  ecx, ebx
+nextPath:
+		mov  edx, [esp+0x104+4+4]                 // path_patches
+		mov  eax, [ebx+0x0]                       // database.path
+		call stricmp_
+		test eax, eax                             // found path?
+		jz   skip                                 // Yes
+		mov  ecx, ebx
+		mov  ebx, [ebx+0xC]                       // database.next
+		jmp  nextPath
+skip:
+		mov  eax, [ebx+0xC]                       // database.next
+		mov  [ecx+0xC], eax                       // database.next
+		xchg ebx, eax
+		cmp  eax, ecx
+		jne  end
+		mov  ds:[_paths], ebx
+end:
+		retn
+	}
+}
+
+static void __declspec(naked) game_init_databases_hack1() {
+	__asm {
+		call removeDatabase
+		mov  ds:[_master_db_handle], eax
+		retn
+	}
+}
+
+static void __declspec(naked) game_init_databases_hack2() {
+	__asm {
+		cmp  eax, -1
+		je   end
+		mov  eax, ds:[_master_db_handle]
+		mov  eax, [eax+0x0]                       // eax = master_patches.path
+		call xremovepath_
+		dec  eax                                  // remove path (critter_patches == master_patches)?
+		jz   end                                  // Yes
+		inc  eax
+		call removeDatabase
+end:
+		mov  ds:[_critter_db_handle], eax
+		retn
+	}
+}
+
+static void __declspec(naked) game_init_databases_hook() {
+// eax = _master_db_handle
+	__asm {
+		mov  ecx, ds:[_critter_db_handle]
+		mov  edx, ds:[_paths]
+		jecxz skip
+		mov  [ecx+0xC], edx                       // critter_patches.next->_paths
+		mov  edx, ecx
+skip:
+		mov  [eax+0xC], edx                       // master_patches.next
+		mov  ds:[_paths], eax
+		retn
+	}
+}
+
 static char KarmaGainMsg[128];
 static char KarmaLossMsg[128];
 static void _stdcall SetKarma(int value) {
@@ -1215,6 +1283,15 @@ static void DllMain2() {
 		dlogr(" Done", DL_INIT);
 	}
 
+	if (GetPrivateProfileIntA("Misc", "DataLoadOrderPatch", 0, ini)) {
+		dlog("Applying data load order patch.", DL_INIT);
+		MakeCall(0x444259, &game_init_databases_hack1, false);
+		MakeCall(0x4442F1, &game_init_databases_hack2, false);
+		HookCall(0x44436D, &game_init_databases_hook);
+		SafeWrite8(0x4DFAEC, 0x1D); // error correction
+		dlogr(" Done", DL_INIT);
+	}
+
 	if(GetPrivateProfileInt("Misc", "DisplayKarmaChanges", 0, ini)) {
 		dlog("Applying display karma changes patch.", DL_INIT);
 		GetPrivateProfileString("sfall", "KarmaGain", "You gained %d karma.", KarmaGainMsg, 128, translationIni);
diff --git a/sfall/version.h b/sfall/version.h
index c60eab8c..dd8026df 100644
--- a/sfall/version.h
+++ b/sfall/version.h
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@
 
 #define VERSION_MAJOR 3
 #define VERSION_MINOR 7
-#define VERSION_BUILD 3
+#define VERSION_BUILD 4
 #define VERSION_REV 0
 #ifdef WIN2K
-#define VERSION_STRING "3.7.3 win2k"
+#define VERSION_STRING "3.7.4 win2k"
 #else
-#define VERSION_STRING "3.7.3"
+#define VERSION_STRING "3.7.4"
 #endif
 
 #define CHECK_VAL  (4)