diff --git a/src/main/resources/application.conf b/src/main/resources/application.conf
index 0b676c169..edfc07485 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/application.conf
+++ b/src/main/resources/application.conf
@@ -177,6 +177,41 @@ game {
       variable = 30
     }
   }
+
+  # Limits the dispatch of PlayerStateMessage packets from a session to its client.
+  # Specifically, a packet will only be dispatched based on whether
+  # it is to be dispatched over a threshold time after the previous dispatch time.
+  # The delay between packets is determined by a distance between the observer player and the target player.
+  # Only affects PlayerStateMessage.
+  player-draw = {
+    # Minimum number of players within a given region before scaling down the range.
+    # Total population - population threshold = overpopulation
+    population-threshold = 20
+    # Number of players over threshold before the reduction in range is scaled down.
+    # Population step / overpopulation = range step factor (integer)
+    population-step = 5
+    # Always send packets regarding target players within the given distance.
+    range-min = 50
+    # Do not send packets regarding target players beyond this distance. (sq.m)
+    # Treat this as an absolute render distance.
+    range-max = 550
+    # Number of meters reduced from range based on population count over threshold value. (m)
+    # Range step * range step factor = total distance to remove from actual distance
+    range-step = 25
+    # The distances above min-range where different delays are allowed before a successful packet must be dispatched. [m]
+    # Test distances against entries to find the last one that is not more than the sample distance.
+    # Use the index of that sample distance from this sequence in the sequence `delays` below.
+    ranges = [150, 300, 400]
+    # The absolute time delay before a successful packet must be dispatched regardless of distance. (s)
+    delay-max = 1000
+    # The time delays for each distance range before a successful packet must be dispatched. [s]
+    # The index for an entry in this sequence is expected to be discovered using the `ranges` sequence above.
+    # Delays between packets may not be as precise as desired
+    # as the heartbeat of upstream packets are measured in quanta of 250ms usually.
+    # As a consequence, additional entries with proper time spacing will push back the next proper update considerably
+    # while additional entries with insufficient time spacing may result in no change in behavior.
+    delays = [350, 600, 800]
+  }
 }
 
 anti-cheat {
diff --git a/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionAvatarHandlers.scala b/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionAvatarHandlers.scala
index 5f6d03ce0..e70b69954 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionAvatarHandlers.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionAvatarHandlers.scala
@@ -70,31 +70,74 @@ class SessionAvatarHandlers(
       jumpThrust,
       isCloaking,
       spectating,
-      _
+      canSeeReallyFar
       ) if isNotSameTarget =>
-        val now = System.currentTimeMillis()
-        val (location, time, distanceSq): (Vector3, Long, Float) = if (spectating) {
-          val r2 = 2 + hidingPlayerRandomizer.nextInt(4000).toFloat
-          (Vector3(r2, r2, 1f), 0L, 0f)
-        } else {
-          val before = lastSeenStreamMessage(guid.guid).time
-          val dist = Vector3.DistanceSquared(player.Position, pos)
-          (pos, now - before, dist)
+        val (lastMsg, lastTime, lastPosition, wasSpectating) = lastSeenStreamMessage(guid.guid) match {
+          case SessionAvatarHandlers.LastUpstream(Some(msg), time) => (Some(msg), time, msg.pos, msg.spectator)
+          case _ => (None, 0L, Vector3.Zero, false)
         }
-        if (distanceSq < 302500 || time > 5000) { // Render distance seems to be approx 525m. Reduce update rate at ~550m to be safe
+        val drawConfig = Config.app.game.playerDraw
+        val maxRange = drawConfig.rangeMax * drawConfig.rangeMax //sq.m
+        val ourPosition = player.Position
+        val currentDistance = Vector3.DistanceSquared(ourPosition, pos) //sq.m
+        val inVisibleRange = currentDistance <= maxRange
+        val wasInVisibleRange = Vector3.DistanceSquared(lastPosition, pos) <= maxRange
+        val now = System.currentTimeMillis() //ms
+        val durationSince = now - lastTime //ms
+        if ((!spectating && inVisibleRange && !lastMsg.contains(reply)) ||
+          (inVisibleRange && wasSpectating && !spectating)) { //this condition is unlikely, but ...
+          lazy val targetDelay = {
+            val populationOver = math.max(
+              0,
+              continent.blockMap.sector(ourPosition, range=drawConfig.rangeMax.toFloat).livePlayerList.size - drawConfig.populationThreshold
+            )
+            val distanceAdjustment = math.pow(populationOver / drawConfig.populationStep * drawConfig.rangeStep, 2) //sq.m
+            val adjustedDistance = currentDistance + distanceAdjustment //sq.m
+            drawConfig.ranges.lastIndexWhere { dist => adjustedDistance > dist * dist } match {
+              case -1 => 1
+              case index => drawConfig.delays(index)
+            }
+          } //ms
+          if (canSeeReallyFar ||
+            currentDistance < drawConfig.rangeMin * drawConfig.rangeMin ||
+            durationSince > drawConfig.delayMax ||
+            sessionData.canSeeReallyFar ||
+            durationSince > targetDelay) {
+            //must draw
+            sendResponse(
+              PlayerStateMessage(
+                guid,
+                pos,
+                vel,
+                yaw,
+                pitch,
+                yawUpper,
+                timestamp = 0, //is this okay?
+                isCrouching,
+                isJumping,
+                jumpThrust,
+                isCloaking
+              )
+            )
+            lastSeenStreamMessage(guid.guid) = SessionAvatarHandlers.LastUpstream(Some(pstate), now)
+          } else {
+            lastSeenStreamMessage(guid.guid) = SessionAvatarHandlers.LastUpstream(Some(pstate), lastTime)
+          }
+        } else if (
+          (inVisibleRange && !wasSpectating && spectating) ||
+            (!spectating && wasInVisibleRange && !inVisibleRange)) {
+          //must hide
+          val lat = (1 + hidingPlayerRandomizer.nextInt(continent.map.scale.height.toInt)).toFloat
           sendResponse(
             PlayerStateMessage(
               guid,
-              location,
-              vel,
-              yaw,
-              pitch,
-              yawUpper,
-              timestamp = 0,
-              isCrouching,
-              isJumping,
-              jumpThrust,
-              isCloaking
+              Vector3(1f, lat, 1f),
+              vel=None,
+              facingYaw=0f,
+              facingPitch=0f,
+              facingYawUpper=0f,
+              timestamp=0, //is this okay?
+              is_cloaked = isCloaking
             )
           )
           lastSeenStreamMessage(guid.guid) = SessionAvatarHandlers.LastUpstream(Some(pstate), now)
diff --git a/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionData.scala b/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionData.scala
index 37913f07d..33b17805d 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionData.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/net/psforever/actors/session/support/SessionData.scala
@@ -2908,19 +2908,28 @@ class SessionData(
   }
 
   def canSeeReallyFar: Boolean = {
-    findEquipment().exists {
-      case weapon: Tool
-        if weapon.Size == EquipmentSize.Rifle &&
-          (weapon.Projectile ne GlobalDefinitions.no_projectile) &&
-          player.Crouching &&
-          player.avatar
-            .implants
-            .exists { p =>
-              p.collect { implant => implant.definition.implantType == ImplantType.RangeMagnifier && implant.initialized }.nonEmpty
-            } =>
-        true
-      case item =>
-        item.Definition == GlobalDefinitions.bolt_driver || item.Definition == GlobalDefinitions.heavy_sniper
+    shooting.FindContainedWeapon match {
+      case (Some(_: Vehicle), weapons) if weapons.nonEmpty =>
+        player.avatar
+          .implants
+          .exists { p =>
+            p.collect { implant => implant.definition.implantType == ImplantType.RangeMagnifier && implant.active }.nonEmpty
+          }
+      case (Some(_: Player), weapons) if weapons.nonEmpty =>
+        val wep = weapons.head
+        wep.Definition == GlobalDefinitions.bolt_driver ||
+          wep.Definition == GlobalDefinitions.heavy_sniper ||
+          (
+            (wep.Projectile ne GlobalDefinitions.no_projectile) &&
+              player.Crouching &&
+              player.avatar
+                .implants
+                .exists { p =>
+                  p.collect { implant => implant.definition.implantType == ImplantType.RangeMagnifier && implant.active }.nonEmpty
+                }
+            )
+      case _ =>
+        false
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/scala/net/psforever/util/Config.scala b/src/main/scala/net/psforever/util/Config.scala
index bd2d1c718..f8a6de807 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/net/psforever/util/Config.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/net/psforever/util/Config.scala
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ case class GameConfig(
     baseCertifications: Seq[Certification],
     warpGates: WarpGateConfig,
     cavernRotation: CavernRotationConfig,
-    savedMsg: SavedMessageEvents
+    savedMsg: SavedMessageEvents,
+    playerDraw: PlayerStateDrawSettings
 )
 
 case class NewAvatar(
@@ -216,3 +217,17 @@ case class SavedMessageTimings(
     fixed: Long,
     variable: Long
 )
+
+case class PlayerStateDrawSettings(
+    populationThreshold: Int,
+    populationStep: Int,
+    rangeMin: Int,
+    rangeMax: Int,
+    rangeStep: Int,
+    ranges: Seq[Int],
+    delayMax: Long,
+    delays: Seq[Long]
+) {
+  assert(ranges.nonEmpty)
+  assert(ranges.size == delays.size)
+}