diff --git a/rsrc/dialogs/need-party.xml b/rsrc/dialogs/need-party.xml
index b4067f1e..eac47da3 100644
--- a/rsrc/dialogs/need-party.xml
+++ b/rsrc/dialogs/need-party.xml
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@
 	<text top='6' left='49' width='273' height='43'>
 		You can't start a scenario until you have a party loaded.
 		Click the Load Game or Make New Party button to get a group of adventurers.
+		Or, hold the Alt key to use a preset party.
 	</text>
 </dialog>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/boe.actions.cpp b/src/boe.actions.cpp
index d5502cc0..f0bacf7f 100644
--- a/src/boe.actions.cpp
+++ b/src/boe.actions.cpp
@@ -2670,12 +2670,13 @@ void handle_death() {
 	
 }
 
-void start_new_game() {
+void start_new_game(bool force) {
 	short i;
 	std::string choice;
 	using kb = sf::Keyboard;
 	
-	choice = cChoiceDlog("new-party",{"okay","cancel"}).show();
+	if(!force)
+		choice = cChoiceDlog("new-party",{"okay","cancel"}).show();
 	if(choice == "cancel")
 		return;
 	
@@ -2711,7 +2712,8 @@ void start_new_game() {
 	// It was probably a relic of Exile III.
 	// (It also refreshed stores... with uninitialized items.)
 	
-	edit_party();
+	if(!force)
+		edit_party();
 	
 	// if no PCs left, forget it
 	for(i = 0 ; i < 6; i++)
@@ -2727,9 +2729,10 @@ void start_new_game() {
 			univ.party[i].finish_create();
 		}
 	}
+	party_in_memory = true;
+	if(force) return;
 	fs::path file = nav_put_party();
 	if(!file.empty()) save_party(file, univ);
-	party_in_memory = true;
 }
 
 location get_cur_direction(location the_point) {
diff --git a/src/boe.actions.hpp b/src/boe.actions.hpp
index 0feffdfe..6e3ad468 100644
--- a/src/boe.actions.hpp
+++ b/src/boe.actions.hpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void handle_hunting();
 void switch_pc(short which);
 void drop_pc(short which);
 void handle_death();
-void start_new_game();
+void start_new_game(bool force = false);
 location get_cur_direction(location the_point);
 bool outd_move_party(location destination,bool forced);
 bool town_move_party(location destination,short forced);
diff --git a/src/boe.startup.cpp b/src/boe.startup.cpp
index cc5cc8ef..fe025d2b 100644
--- a/src/boe.startup.cpp
+++ b/src/boe.startup.cpp
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ rectangle startup_button[6];
 
 // TODO: Always returns false, so make it void
 bool handle_startup_press(location the_point) {
+	using kb = sf::Keyboard;
 	std::string scen_name;
 	short i,scen;
+	bool force_party = false;
 	
 	the_point.x -= ul.x;
 	the_point.y -= ul.y;
@@ -68,12 +70,20 @@ bool handle_startup_press(location the_point) {
 					
 				case STARTBTN_JOIN: // regular scen
 					if(!party_in_memory) {
-						cChoiceDlog("need-party").show();
-						break;
+						if(kb::isKeyPressed(kb::LAlt) || kb::isKeyPressed(kb::RAlt)) {
+							force_party = true;
+							start_new_game(true);
+						} else {
+							cChoiceDlog("need-party").show();
+							break;
+						}
 					}
 					scen = pick_prefab_scen();
-					if(scen < 0)
+					if(scen < 0) {
+						if(force_party)
+							party_in_memory = false;
 						break;
+					}
 					
 					switch(scen) {
 						case 0: scen_name = "valleydy.exs"; break;
@@ -83,22 +93,37 @@ bool handle_startup_press(location the_point) {
 							//case 3: sprintf(univ.party.scen_name,"busywork.exs"); break;
 					}
 					put_party_in_scen(scen_name);
+					if(force_party && scen_name != univ.party.scen_name)
+						party_in_memory = false;
 					break;
 					
 				case STARTBTN_CUSTOM: // custom
 					if(!party_in_memory) {
-						cChoiceDlog("need-party").show();
-						break;
+						if(kb::isKeyPressed(kb::LAlt) || kb::isKeyPressed(kb::RAlt)) {
+							force_party = true;
+							start_new_game(true);
+						} else {
+							cChoiceDlog("need-party").show();
+							break;
+						}
 					}
 					
 					scen = pick_a_scen();
-					if(scen < 0) break;
+					if(scen < 0) {
+						if(force_party)
+							party_in_memory = false;
+						break;
+					}
 					if(scen_headers[scen].prog_make_ver[0] > 2 || scen_headers[scen].prog_make_ver[1] > 0) {
+						if(force_party)
+							party_in_memory = false;
 						cChoiceDlog("scen-version-mismatch").show();
 						break;
 					}
 					scen_name = scen_headers[scen].file;
 					put_party_in_scen(scen_name);
+					if(force_party && scen_name != univ.party.scen_name)
+						party_in_memory = false;
 					break;
 			}
 		}