diff --git a/include/z64actor.h b/include/z64actor.h
index deac35481c..0f047549ef 100644
--- a/include/z64actor.h
+++ b/include/z64actor.h
@@ -759,6 +759,10 @@ typedef struct NpcInteractInfo {
 #define PARAMS_PACK(p, s, n) \
     (((p) & NBITS_TO_MASK(n)) << (s))
 
+// Moves the value `p` to bit position `s` for building actor parameters by OR-ing these together.
+#define PARAMS_PACK_NOMASK(p, s) \
+    ((p) << (s))
+
 // Generates a bitmask for bit position `s` of length `n`
 #define PARAMS_MAKE_MASK(s, n) PARAMS_GET_NOSHIFT(~0, s, n)
 
diff --git a/include/z64player.h b/include/z64player.h
index 09a1d34f5a..d44da08ae8 100644
--- a/include/z64player.h
+++ b/include/z64player.h
@@ -7,7 +7,19 @@
 
 struct Player;
 
-#define PLAYER_GET_START_MODE(thisx) PARAMS_GET_S(thisx->params, 8, 4)
+#define PLAYER_PARAMS(startMode, startBgCamIndex) (PARAMS_PACK_NOMASK(startMode, 8) | PARAMS_PACK_NOMASK(startBgCamIndex, 0))
+
+// Determines behavior when spawning. See `PlayerStartMode`.
+#define PLAYER_GET_START_MODE(thisx) PARAMS_GET_S((thisx)->params, 8, 4)
+
+// Sets initial `bgCamIndex`, which determines camera behavior.
+// The value is used to index a list of `BgCamInfo` contained within the scene's collision data.
+// See `PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT` for what a value of -1 does.
+#define PLAYER_GET_START_BG_CAM_INDEX(thisx) PARAMS_GET_S((thisx)->params, 0, 8)
+
+// A value of -1 for `startBgCamIndex` indicates that default behavior should be used.
+// This means the `bgCamIndex` will be read from the current floor polygon.
+#define PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT ((u8)-1)
 
 typedef enum PlayerStartMode {
     /*  0 */ PLAYER_START_MODE_NOTHING, // Update is empty and draw function is NULL, nothing occurs. Useful in cutscenes, for example.
diff --git a/src/code/z_actor.c b/src/code/z_actor.c
index 114afb8efe..4fc55d7a87 100644
--- a/src/code/z_actor.c
+++ b/src/code/z_actor.c
@@ -2186,7 +2186,8 @@ void Actor_DrawFaroresWindPointer(PlayState* play) {
 
             if (D_8015BC18 == 0.0f) {
                 gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_TOP] = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN];
-                gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_TOP].playerParams = 0x06FF;
+                gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_TOP].playerParams =
+                    PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_FARORES_WIND, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT);
                 gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_TOP].data = 40;
             }
 
diff --git a/src/code/z_play.c b/src/code/z_play.c
index dc37ab27a5..068bc6ee87 100644
--- a/src/code/z_play.c
+++ b/src/code/z_play.c
@@ -483,8 +483,9 @@ void Play_Init(GameState* thisx) {
     Camera_InitDataUsingPlayer(&this->mainCamera, player);
     Camera_RequestMode(&this->mainCamera, CAM_MODE_NORMAL);
 
-    playerStartBgCamIndex = PARAMS_GET_U(player->actor.params, 0, 8);
-    if (playerStartBgCamIndex != 0xFF) {
+    playerStartBgCamIndex = PLAYER_GET_START_BG_CAM_INDEX(&player->actor);
+
+    if (playerStartBgCamIndex != PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT) {
         PRINTF("player has start camera ID (" VT_FGCOL(BLUE) "%d" VT_RST ")\n", playerStartBgCamIndex);
         Camera_RequestBgCam(&this->mainCamera, playerStartBgCamIndex);
     }
@@ -1901,7 +1902,7 @@ void Play_LoadToLastEntrance(PlayState* this) {
 }
 
 void Play_TriggerRespawn(PlayState* this) {
-    Play_SetupRespawnPoint(this, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN, 0xDFF);
+    Play_SetupRespawnPoint(this, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN, PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_IDLE, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
     Play_LoadToLastEntrance(this);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Ana/z_door_ana.c b/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Ana/z_door_ana.c
index b2b735c3ad..8c38023ac3 100644
--- a/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Ana/z_door_ana.c
+++ b/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Ana/z_door_ana.c
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ void DoorAna_WaitOpen(DoorAna* this, PlayState* play) {
         if ((this->actor.attentionRangeType != 0) && (play->transitionTrigger == TRANS_TRIGGER_OFF) &&
             (player->stateFlags1 & PLAYER_STATE1_31) && (player->av1.actionVar1 == 0)) {
             destinationIdx = PARAMS_GET_U(this->actor.params, 12, 3) - 1;
-            Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN, 0x4FF);
+            Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN,
+                                   PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_GROTTO, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
             gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].pos.y = this->actor.world.pos.y;
             gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].yaw = this->actor.home.rot.y;
             gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].data = PARAMS_GET_U(this->actor.params, 0, 16);
diff --git a/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Shutter/z_door_shutter.c b/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Shutter/z_door_shutter.c
index 1cfb4255d3..130b833b63 100644
--- a/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Shutter/z_door_shutter.c
+++ b/src/overlays/actors/ovl_Door_Shutter/z_door_shutter.c
@@ -821,7 +821,8 @@ void DoorShutter_SetupClosed(DoorShutter* this, PlayState* play) {
             play->roomCtx.activeBufPage ^= 1;
         }
         Room_FinishRoomChange(play, &play->roomCtx);
-        Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN, 0x0EFF);
+        Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN,
+                               PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_MOVE_FORWARD_SLOW, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
     }
     this->isActive = false;
     this->dyna.actor.velocity.y = 0.0f;
diff --git a/src/overlays/actors/ovl_player_actor/z_player.c b/src/overlays/actors/ovl_player_actor/z_player.c
index 3377ec68e8..d5dfcaa4b3 100644
--- a/src/overlays/actors/ovl_player_actor/z_player.c
+++ b/src/overlays/actors/ovl_player_actor/z_player.c
@@ -4814,7 +4814,8 @@ s32 func_808382DC(Player* this, PlayState* play) {
                         respawnInfo = &fallingSpikeTrapRespawn;
                     }
 
-                    Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN, 0xDFF);
+                    Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN,
+                                           PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_IDLE, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
                     gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].pos = respawnInfo->pos;
                     gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].yaw = respawnInfo->yaw;
                 }
@@ -10185,7 +10186,8 @@ s32 func_80845BA0(PlayState* play, Player* this, f32* arg2, s32 arg3) {
 
 s32 func_80845C68(PlayState* play, s32 arg1) {
     if (arg1 == 0) {
-        Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN, 0xDFF);
+        Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN,
+                               PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_IDLE, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
     }
     gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].data = 0;
     return arg1;
@@ -10271,7 +10273,8 @@ void Player_Action_80845EF8(Player* this, PlayState* play) {
                 Room_FinishRoomChange(play, &play->roomCtx);
             }
             Camera_SetFinishedFlag(Play_GetCamera(play, CAM_ID_MAIN));
-            Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN, 0xDFF);
+            Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN,
+                                   PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_IDLE, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
         }
         return;
     }
@@ -10750,7 +10753,8 @@ void Player_Init(Actor* thisx, PlayState* play2) {
     }
 
     if (func_80845C68(play, (respawnFlag == 2) ? 1 : 0) == 0) {
-        gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].playerParams = PARAMS_GET_S(thisx->params, 0, 8) | 0xD00;
+        gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].playerParams =
+            PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_IDLE, PLAYER_GET_START_BG_CAM_INDEX(thisx));
     }
 
     gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].data = 1;
@@ -13785,7 +13789,8 @@ void Player_Action_8084E3C4(Player* this, PlayState* play) {
         s32 pad;
 
         gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].entranceIndex = sWarpSongEntrances[play->msgCtx.lastPlayedSong];
-        gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].playerParams = 0x5FF;
+        gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].playerParams =
+            PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_WARP_SONG, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT);
         gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_RETURN].data = play->msgCtx.lastPlayedSong;
 
         this->csAction = PLAYER_CSACTION_NONE;
@@ -14806,13 +14811,15 @@ void Player_Action_808507F4(Player* this, PlayState* play) {
 
             if (this->av2.actionVar2 == 0) {
                 gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_TOP].data = 1;
-                Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_TOP, 0x6FF);
+                Play_SetupRespawnPoint(play, RESPAWN_MODE_TOP,
+                                       PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_FARORES_WIND, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT));
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.set = 1;
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.pos.x = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].pos.x;
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.pos.y = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].pos.y;
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.pos.z = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].pos.z;
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.yaw = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].yaw;
-                gSaveContext.save.info.fw.playerParams = 0x6FF;
+                gSaveContext.save.info.fw.playerParams =
+                    PLAYER_PARAMS(PLAYER_START_MODE_FARORES_WIND, PLAYER_START_BG_CAM_DEFAULT);
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.entranceIndex = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].entranceIndex;
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.roomIndex = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].roomIndex;
                 gSaveContext.save.info.fw.tempSwchFlags = gSaveContext.respawn[RESPAWN_MODE_DOWN].tempSwchFlags;