I was able to resolve the hotspot question and find a workaround for the fade in question. Here's the code in case anyone wants it...
Code:
<td background="images/xxxx.jpg" width="200" height="200"><a href="javascript:gotoshow()">
<img src="images/xxxxxxx.jpg" name="slide" width=200 height=200 border=0 usemap="#slideMap" style="filter:blendTrans(duration=3)"><map name="slideMap" id="slideMap"><area shape="polygon" coords="xx, xx, xx, xx, xx, xx, xx, xx" href="index.htm" /></map></a><script language="JavaScript1.1">
I used a second image as a template for the map xx's. Worked like a champ.
Bookmarks