diff --git a/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs b/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs
index dd2e713ecb..355221665c 100644
--- a/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs
+++ b/OpenRa.Game/Game.cs
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game
 		}
 
 		static int lastTime = Environment.TickCount;
-		public const int timestep = 40;
+		public static int timestep = 40;
 
 		public static void ResetTimer()
 		{
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game
 			return BuildingInfluence.GetDistanceToBuilding(b);
 		}
 
-		public static Random SharedRandom = new Random();		/* for things that require sync */
+		public static Random SharedRandom = new Random(0);		/* for things that require sync */
 		public static Random CosmeticRandom = new Random();		/* for things that are just fluff */
 
 		public static readonly Pair<VoicePool, VoicePool> SovietVoices =
diff --git a/OpenRa.Game/MainWindow.cs b/OpenRa.Game/MainWindow.cs
index 8dabc19aca..012892877c 100755
--- a/OpenRa.Game/MainWindow.cs
+++ b/OpenRa.Game/MainWindow.cs
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ namespace OpenRa.Game
 
 			UiOverlay.ShowUnitDebug = settings.GetValue("udebug", false);
 			UiOverlay.ShowBuildDebug = settings.GetValue("bdebug", false);
+			Game.timestep = settings.GetValue("rate", 40);
 			WorldRenderer.ShowUnitPaths = settings.GetValue("pathdebug", false);
 			Game.Replay = settings.GetValue("replay", "");