diff --git a/src/main/java/tconstruct/smeltery/logic/SmelteryLogic.java b/src/main/java/tconstruct/smeltery/logic/SmelteryLogic.java
index dbc987e4..697bb928 100644
--- a/src/main/java/tconstruct/smeltery/logic/SmelteryLogic.java
+++ b/src/main/java/tconstruct/smeltery/logic/SmelteryLogic.java
@@ -590,6 +590,8 @@ public class SmelteryLogic extends InventoryLogic implements IActiveLogic, IFaci
 
         // ensure active lava tank
         verifyFuelTank();
+        if (activeLavaTank == null)
+            return;
 
         // checks are all done before in verifyFuelTank. Don't do this without checks!
         IFluidHandler tankContainer = (IFluidHandler) worldObj.getTileEntity(activeLavaTank.x, activeLavaTank.y, activeLavaTank.z);
@@ -650,6 +652,8 @@ public class SmelteryLogic extends InventoryLogic implements IActiveLogic, IFaci
             activeLavaTank = tank;
             return;
         }
+
+        // possibly assign default empty tank here (tanks.get(0)) so we don't have a null activeLavaTank if all are empty
     }
 
     @SideOnly(Side.CLIENT)
diff --git a/src/main/java/tconstruct/tools/TinkerToolEvents.java b/src/main/java/tconstruct/tools/TinkerToolEvents.java
index de760763..6296e734 100644
--- a/src/main/java/tconstruct/tools/TinkerToolEvents.java
+++ b/src/main/java/tconstruct/tools/TinkerToolEvents.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import net.minecraft.init.Items;
 import net.minecraft.item.*;
 import net.minecraft.nbt.NBTTagCompound;
 import net.minecraft.util.*;
+import net.minecraft.world.EnumDifficulty;
 import net.minecraftforge.event.entity.living.*;
 import net.minecraftforge.event.entity.player.PlayerDropsEvent;
 import net.minecraftforge.oredict.*;
@@ -385,12 +386,22 @@ public class TinkerToolEvents
     }
 
 
+
     @SubscribeEvent
     public void damageToolsOnDeath (PlayerDropsEvent event)
     {
         if(!PHConstruct.deathPenality)
             return;
-        
+
+        EnumDifficulty difficulty = event.entityPlayer.worldObj.difficultySetting;
+        // easy and peaceful don't punish
+        if(difficulty == EnumDifficulty.PEACEFUL || difficulty == EnumDifficulty.EASY)
+            return;
+
+        int punishment = 20; // normal has 5%
+        if(difficulty == EnumDifficulty.HARD)
+            punishment = 10; // hard has 10%
+
         for(EntityItem drop : event.drops)
         {
             // we're only interested in tools
@@ -400,7 +411,7 @@ public class TinkerToolEvents
             // damage tools by 10% of their total durability!
             NBTTagCompound tags = drop.getEntityItem().getTagCompound().getCompoundTag("InfiTool");
             int dur = tags.getInteger("TotalDurability");
-            dur /= 10;
+            dur /= punishment;
 
             AbilityHelper.damageTool(drop.getEntityItem(), dur, event.entityPlayer, true);
         }