diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 3de2b6da..b80c1096 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ set(CXX_FEATURES
 # # # General project flags
 if (MSVC)
 	add_definitions(/DUNICODE /D_UNICODE /D_SILENCE_CXX17_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION_DEPRECATION_WARNING /D_SILENCE_CXX17_CODECVT_HEADER_DEPRECATION_WARNING /D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS /D_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE)
-	add_compile_options(/W4 /EHsc)
+	# Warning level, exceptions, compile-multiple-files
+	add_compile_options(/W4 /EHsc /MP)
 else()
 	add_compile_options(-Wno-unknown-warning -Wno-unknown-warning-option -Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic -pedantic -pedantic-errors)
 endif()
diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index a04d14c2..f3f2a5d8 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -35,11 +35,16 @@ environment:
   matrix:
   - LUA_VERSION: 5.3.4
     MINGW_VERSION: 6.3.0
+    PARALLELISM: 
   - LUA_VERSION: 5.3.4
     MINGW_VERSION: 5.3.0
+    PARALLELISM: 
   - LUA_VERSION: 5.3.4
+    PARALLELISM: -- /maxcpucount
   - LUA_VERSION: 5.2.4
+    PARALLELISM: -- /maxcpucount
   - LUA_VERSION: 5.1.5
+    PARALLELISM: -- /maxcpucount
 
 platform:
 - x86
@@ -52,22 +57,23 @@ matrix:
     # 32-bit builds are temperamental with exceptions
     - platform: x86
   exclude:
-    - platform: x86
-      LUA_VERSION: 5.2.4
-    - platform: x86
-      LUA_VERSION: 5.1.5
-    - platform: x86
-      MINGW_VERSION: 6.3.0
+    # Necessary: MinGW doesn't exist on VS 2017 images
     - image: Visual Studio 2017
       MINGW_VERSION: 6.3.0
     - image: Visual Studio 2017
       MINGW_VERSION: 5.3.0
+    # Get rid of x86 builds
+    - platform: x86
+      LUA_VERSION: 5.2.4
+    - platform: x86
+      LUA_VERSION: 5.1.5
+    - platform: x86
+      MINGW_VERSION: 5.3.0
+    # Get rid of redundant Visual Studio 2015 builds
     - image: Visual Studio 2015
       LUA_VERSION: 5.1.5
     - image: Visual Studio 2015
       LUA_VERSION: 5.2.4
-    - image: Visual Studio 2015
-      platform: x86
 
 init:
   # make sure we have Ninja
@@ -101,6 +107,7 @@ before_build:
 - set python_path=C:\Python36
 - set mingw_path=
 - set build_type=
+- set parallelism=
 - if "%CMAKE_GENERATOR%"=="MinGW Makefiles" (set build_type=-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release)
 - if "%CMAKE_GENERATOR%"=="Ninja" (set build_type=-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release)
 - if "%MINGW_VERSION%"=="5.3.0" (set mingw_path=C:\mingw-w64\i686-5.3.0-posix-dwarf-rt_v4-rev0)
@@ -116,8 +123,8 @@ before_build:
 # generates too much debug info for MinGW to handle
 # TODO: fix the damn compilation space and time already
 build_script:
-- if NOT "%build_type%"=="-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release" (cmake --build . --config Debug)
-- cmake --build . --config Release
+- if NOT "%build_type%"=="-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release" (cmake --build . --config Debug %PARALLELISM%)
+- cmake --build . --config Release %PARALLELISM%
 
 test_script:
 - if NOT "%build_type%"=="-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release" (ctest -C Debug --output-on-failure)
diff --git a/examples/assert.hpp b/examples/assert.hpp
index f247fca4..a51b1ebf 100644
--- a/examples/assert.hpp
+++ b/examples/assert.hpp
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
-#ifndef MY_ASSERT_HPP
-#define MY_ASSERT_HPP
+#ifndef EXAMPLES_ASSERT_HPP
+#define EXAMPLES_ASSERT_HPP
 
 #ifndef NDEBUG
+#include <exception>
+#include <iostream>
+
 #   define m_assert(condition, message) \
     do { \
         if (! (condition)) { \
@@ -20,11 +23,8 @@
         } \
     } while (false)
 #else
-#include <exception>
-#include <iostream>
-
 #   define m_c_assert(condition, message) do { (void)sizeof(condition); (void)sizeof(message); } while (false)
 #   define c_assert(condition) do { (void)sizeof(condition); } while (false)
 #endif
 
-#endif // MY_ASSERT_HPP
+#endif // EXAMPLES_ASSERT_HPP
diff --git a/examples/interop/LuaBridge.cpp b/examples/interop/LuaBridge.cpp
index f88f975f..a852f52b 100644
--- a/examples/interop/LuaBridge.cpp
+++ b/examples/interop/LuaBridge.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 #include <LuaBridge/LuaBridge.h>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../assert.hpp"
 
 // LuaBridge,
-// no longer maintained by VinnieFalco:
+// no longer maintained, by VinnieFalco:
 // https://github.com/vinniefalco/LuaBridge
 
 struct A {
diff --git a/examples/interop/assert.hpp b/examples/interop/assert.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index f247fca4..00000000
--- a/examples/interop/assert.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef MY_ASSERT_HPP
-#define MY_ASSERT_HPP
-
-#ifndef NDEBUG
-#   define m_assert(condition, message) \
-    do { \
-        if (! (condition)) { \
-            std::cerr << "Assertion `" #condition "` failed in " << __FILE__ \
-                      << " line " << __LINE__ << ": " << message << std::endl; \
-            std::terminate(); \
-        } \
-    } while (false)
-
-#   define c_assert(condition) \
-    do { \
-        if (! (condition)) { \
-            std::cerr << "Assertion `" #condition "` failed in " << __FILE__ \
-                      << " line " << __LINE__ << std::endl; \
-            std::terminate(); \
-        } \
-    } while (false)
-#else
-#include <exception>
-#include <iostream>
-
-#   define m_c_assert(condition, message) do { (void)sizeof(condition); (void)sizeof(message); } while (false)
-#   define c_assert(condition) do { (void)sizeof(condition); } while (false)
-#endif
-
-#endif // MY_ASSERT_HPP
diff --git a/examples/interop/kaguya.cpp b/examples/interop/kaguya.cpp
index 0d9f3945..45604972 100644
--- a/examples/interop/kaguya.cpp
+++ b/examples/interop/kaguya.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <kaguya/kaguya.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../assert.hpp"
 
 // kaguya code lifted from README.md,
 // written by satoren:
diff --git a/examples/interop/luwra.cpp b/examples/interop/luwra.cpp
index d1159f83..bbf256fc 100644
--- a/examples/interop/luwra.cpp
+++ b/examples/interop/luwra.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <luwra.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../assert.hpp"
 
 // luwra,
 // another C++ wrapper library:
diff --git a/examples/interop/tolua.cpp b/examples/interop/tolua.cpp
index 72862214..414f2bc4 100644
--- a/examples/interop/tolua.cpp
+++ b/examples/interop/tolua.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "tolua_Player.h"
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../assert.hpp"
 
 // tolua code lifted from some blog, if the link dies
 // I don't know where else you're gonna find the reference,
diff --git a/examples/require_dll_example/assert.hpp b/examples/require_dll_example/assert.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index f247fca4..00000000
--- a/examples/require_dll_example/assert.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef MY_ASSERT_HPP
-#define MY_ASSERT_HPP
-
-#ifndef NDEBUG
-#   define m_assert(condition, message) \
-    do { \
-        if (! (condition)) { \
-            std::cerr << "Assertion `" #condition "` failed in " << __FILE__ \
-                      << " line " << __LINE__ << ": " << message << std::endl; \
-            std::terminate(); \
-        } \
-    } while (false)
-
-#   define c_assert(condition) \
-    do { \
-        if (! (condition)) { \
-            std::cerr << "Assertion `" #condition "` failed in " << __FILE__ \
-                      << " line " << __LINE__ << std::endl; \
-            std::terminate(); \
-        } \
-    } while (false)
-#else
-#include <exception>
-#include <iostream>
-
-#   define m_c_assert(condition, message) do { (void)sizeof(condition); (void)sizeof(message); } while (false)
-#   define c_assert(condition) do { (void)sizeof(condition); } while (false)
-#endif
-
-#endif // MY_ASSERT_HPP
diff --git a/examples/require_dll_example/require_from_dll.cpp b/examples/require_dll_example/require_from_dll.cpp
index 969a56a0..202987bd 100644
--- a/examples/require_dll_example/require_from_dll.cpp
+++ b/examples/require_dll_example/require_from_dll.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
 #include "my_object.hpp"
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../assert.hpp"
 
 #include <iostream>
 
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/assert.hpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/assert.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index f247fca4..00000000
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/assert.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef MY_ASSERT_HPP
-#define MY_ASSERT_HPP
-
-#ifndef NDEBUG
-#   define m_assert(condition, message) \
-    do { \
-        if (! (condition)) { \
-            std::cerr << "Assertion `" #condition "` failed in " << __FILE__ \
-                      << " line " << __LINE__ << ": " << message << std::endl; \
-            std::terminate(); \
-        } \
-    } while (false)
-
-#   define c_assert(condition) \
-    do { \
-        if (! (condition)) { \
-            std::cerr << "Assertion `" #condition "` failed in " << __FILE__ \
-                      << " line " << __LINE__ << std::endl; \
-            std::terminate(); \
-        } \
-    } while (false)
-#else
-#include <exception>
-#include <iostream>
-
-#   define m_c_assert(condition, message) do { (void)sizeof(condition); (void)sizeof(message); } while (false)
-#   define c_assert(condition) do { (void)sizeof(condition); } while (false)
-#endif
-
-#endif // MY_ASSERT_HPP
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_all.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_all.cpp
index 23cc2ac8..2637d661 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_all.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_all.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 #include <iostream>
 
 void some_function() {
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_easy.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_easy.cpp
index dc995301..82fcfd63 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_easy.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/functions_easy.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 	sol::state lua;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/make_tables.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/make_tables.cpp
index f703c762..a10d2218 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/make_tables.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/make_tables.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char* []) {
 	sol::state lua;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_from_lua.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_from_lua.cpp
index d21361cd..b5787f78 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_from_lua.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_from_lua.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char* []) {
 	sol::state lua;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_to_lua.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_to_lua.cpp
index 42caf3b8..3d8bee69 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_to_lua.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/multiple_returns_to_lua.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char* []) {
 	sol::state lua;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/namespacing.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/namespacing.cpp
index c8b8e9fd..13658d7d 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/namespacing.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/namespacing.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main() {
 	std::cout << "=== namespacing example ===" << std::endl;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/opening_a_state.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/opening_a_state.cpp
index 7b483781..3c6d309f 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/opening_a_state.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/opening_a_state.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 	std::cout << "=== opening a state example ===" << std::endl;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code.cpp
index 86c7a20e..dcda4a7e 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 	std::cout << "=== running lua code example ===" << std::endl;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code_low_level.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code_low_level.cpp
index a090f158..04856cfe 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code_low_level.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/running_lua_code_low_level.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <cstdio>
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 	std::cout << "=== running lua code (low level) example ===" << std::endl;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables.cpp
index d605c104..87537e04 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 	sol::state lua;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables_exists.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables_exists.cpp
index f16d236b..18fe1f5f 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables_exists.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/set_and_get_variables_exists.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 	sol::state lua;
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/tables_and_nesting.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/tables_and_nesting.cpp
index f4f3c68b..51bd16ca 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/tables_and_nesting.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/tables_and_nesting.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {
 
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/userdata.cpp b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/userdata.cpp
index 7163bffc..c51cba03 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/userdata.cpp
+++ b/examples/tutorials/quick_n_dirty/userdata.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include "assert.hpp"
+#include "../../assert.hpp"
 #include <iostream>
 
 struct Doge {
diff --git a/examples/wip/lua_inheritance.cpp b/examples/wip/lua_inheritance.cpp
index 2c8b9fe2..f07e10ab 100644
--- a/examples/wip/lua_inheritance.cpp
+++ b/examples/wip/lua_inheritance.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #define SOL_CHECK_ARGUMENTS 1
 #include <sol.hpp>
 
-#include <cassert>
+#include "../assert.hpp"
 #include <iostream>
 
 int main(int, char*[]) {