diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/core/NetClient.java b/core/src/mindustry/core/NetClient.java
index 38946a8331..38e87b32ae 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/core/NetClient.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/core/NetClient.java
@@ -164,14 +164,14 @@ public class NetClient implements ApplicationListener{
     public static void sound(Sound sound, float volume, float pitch, float pan){
         if(sound == null) return;
 
-        sound.play(Mathf.clamp(volume, 0, 2f) * Core.settings.getInt("sfxvol") / 100f, pitch, pan);
+        sound.play(Mathf.clamp(volume, 0, 4f) * Core.settings.getInt("sfxvol") / 100f, pitch, pan);
     }
 
     @Remote(variants = Variant.both, unreliable = true)
     public static void soundAt(Sound sound, float x, float y, float volume, float pitch){
         if(sound == null) return;
 
-        sound.at(x, y, pitch, Mathf.clamp(volume, 0, 2f));
+        sound.at(x, y, pitch, Mathf.clamp(volume, 0, 4f));
     }
 
     @Remote(variants = Variant.both, unreliable = true)
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/entities/Damage.java b/core/src/mindustry/entities/Damage.java
index 1d04148a84..cc11cf29fa 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/entities/Damage.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/entities/Damage.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class Damage{
     public static void dynamicExplosion(float x, float y, float flammability, float explosiveness, float power, float radius, boolean damage, boolean fire, @Nullable Team ignoreTeam, Effect explosionFx){
         if(damage){
             for(int i = 0; i < Mathf.clamp(power / 700, 0, 8); i++){
-                int length = 5 + Mathf.clamp((int)(power / 500), 1, 20);
+                int length = 5 + Mathf.clamp((int)(Mathf.pow(power, 0.98f) / 500), 1, 18);
                 Time.run(i * 0.8f + Mathf.random(4f), () -> Lightning.create(Team.derelict, Pal.power, 3 + Mathf.pow(power, 0.35f), x, y, Mathf.random(360f), length + Mathf.range(2)));
             }
 
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/ui/fragments/ChatFragment.java b/core/src/mindustry/ui/fragments/ChatFragment.java
index c39233a8e5..9a1159350c 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/ui/fragments/ChatFragment.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/ui/fragments/ChatFragment.java
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ public class ChatFragment extends Table{
         String message = chatfield.getText().trim();
         clearChatInput();
 
-        if(message.isEmpty()) return;
+        //avoid sending prefix-empty messages
+        if(message.isEmpty() || (message.startsWith(mode.prefix) && message.substring(mode.prefix.length()).isEmpty())) return;
 
         history.insert(1, message);