For the attack_icon issue, I think what could be causing the problem, in this file
https://github.com/wrightmat/zbom/blob/master/data/scripts/hud/attack_icon.luaI was using a modified version of Christopho's script where I changed two parts that had this code
game:get_custom_command_effect("attack") or game:get_command_effect("attack")
for this new one
game:get_command_effect("attack") or game:get_custom_command_effect("attack")
(see the "attack_icon:initialize(game)" and "attack_icon:check()" functions) and since you used some of my scripts (for carrying custom entities), you have this part different too. So if you have some command_effect for the attack icon (value different from nil), then the script will not change the hud (this was the behaviour I wanted to make my own interactions compatible with the hud, because I wanted to give priority to built-in command effects). If that was the problem, then it was my fault (sorry for the inconvenience!). I also modified the action_icon script in the same way.
If that solves the problem, that could create a new one since my script custom_interactions.lua might not work correctly, but I am not sure at all. (The custom_command_effect attack is not used there, but the custom_command_effect action is used, so if you change back the modified script of the action_icon, then the "lift" caption might not be shown fof portable entities. On the other hand, I was using the attack icon to show the "throw" label of "portable_entities", which might not work correctly if you change back the atack_icon script.)
Diarandor - is it possible to change maps while paused? Have you seen an instance of this in my game, or another game?
Yes, I made a menu to switch heroes from one map to a different map, which uses a teleport function, and it worked. The map changed with the usual transition, with the menu open and game paused all the time (even after teleporting). As I said, there seems to be a bug, so if there are custom entities in the new map, they won't be suspended (they can move and their animations are not stopped) although the game is paused (this only seems to affect custom entities). As a workaround for the bug, I closed the menu and unpaused the game after switching hero (after teleporting).