diff --git a/cmds.lua b/cmds.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f140374
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmds.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+local tk = require("tracking")
+local ch = require("chat")
+local cfg = require("cfg")
+
+local cmds = {}
+
+local function q(v)
+    return tostring(v or "??")
+end
+
+cmds.loc = {
+    alias = { "locate", "location", "l", "where", "whereis",
+        "whereisplayer", "dox", "doxplayer", "doxplayerlocation",
+        "doxplayerloc", "doxplrloc", "doxplr",
+        "addressof", "find", "findplayer", "findplr" },
+    desc = "locate a player",
+    args = {
+        { match = "player", desc = "target" }
+    },
+    proc = function(unm, tg)
+        tk:refreshOne(tg)
+        local p = tk.plrs[tg]
+        if not p then
+            ch.send(unm, "couldn't locate target", "loc")
+            return
+        end
+
+        ch.send(unm, ("user: %s xyz:[%s, %s, %s] dim=%s"):format(tg, q(p.x), q(p.y), q(p.z), q(p.dimension)))
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.rpt = {
+    alias = { "report", "r", "list", "listall", "whereall", "findall", "doxall" },
+    desc = "show coordinate report",
+    args = {},
+    proc = function(unm)
+        tk:refresh()
+
+        local ins = table.insert
+
+        local mparts = {}
+        ins(mparts, { text = "finished generating report!\n" })
+
+        for i, v in pairs(tk.plrs) do
+            local line = ("user: %s xyz:[%s, %s, %s] dim=%s"):format(i, q(v.x), q(v.y), q(v.z), q(v.dimension))
+
+            ins(mparts, { text = "\n[" })
+            ins(mparts, { text = "s", color = "aqua" })
+            ins(mparts, { text = "] " .. line })
+        end
+
+        ch.send(unm, mparts, "rpt")
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.dims = {
+    alias = { "dimensions" },
+    desc = "show dimension report",
+    args = {},
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm)
+        tk:refresh()
+
+        local ins = table.insert
+
+        local mparts = {}
+        ins(mparts, { text = "finished generating dimension report!" })
+
+        for i, v in pairs(tk.plrs) do
+            local line = ("user: %s dim=%s"):format(i, q(v.dimension))
+
+            ins(mparts, { text = "\n[" })
+            ins(mparts, { text = "s", color = "aqua" })
+            ins(mparts, { text = "] " .. line })
+        end
+
+        ch.send(unm, mparts, "rpt")
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.sublog = {
+    alias = { "subscribelog", "logsub", "logsubscribe", "addlog", "log+" },
+    desc = "subscribe to log",
+    args = {},
+    proc = function(unm)
+        if cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog then
+            ch.send(unm, "you're already subscribed!", "users")
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries log sub, but already there")
+        else
+            cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog = true
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " subscribes to log")
+        end
+    end
+}
+
+cmds.unsublog = {
+    alias = { "unsubscribelog", "logunsub", "logunsubscribe",
+        "dellog", "rmlog", "log-" },
+    desc = "unsubscribe from log",
+    args = {},
+    proc = function(unm)
+        if not cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog then
+            ch.send(unm, "you're already aren't subscribed!", "users")
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries log unsub, but they weren't there")
+        else
+            cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog = false
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " unsubscribes from log")
+        end
+    end
+}
+
+cmds.allow = {
+    alias = { "wl" },
+    desc = "add someone to skynet",
+    args = {
+        { match = "player", desc = "who" }
+    },
+    proc = function(unm, tg)
+        if cfg.users[tg] ~= nil then
+            ch.send(unm, "They're already allowed!!", "users")
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries to allow " .. tg .. ", but they already are")
+        else
+            cfg.users[tg] = {}
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " allows " .. tg)
+            ch.send(tg, "You were added to skynet, welcome!! // try $help for list of commands", "users")
+        end
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.disallow = {
+    alias = { "unwl" },
+    desc = "remove someone from skynet",
+    args = {
+        { match = "player", desc = "who" }
+    },
+    proc = function(unm, tg)
+        if cfg.users[tg] == nil then
+            ch.send(unm, "That person is already disallowed", "users")
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries to disallow " .. tg .. ", but they already are")
+        else
+            cfg.users[tg] = nil
+            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " disallows " .. tg)
+        end
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.ping = {
+    alias = { "pong" },
+    desc = "alive???",
+    args = {},
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm)
+        ch.send(unm, "Alive!!!!")
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.shutdown = {
+    alias = { "meltdown", "sd" },
+    desc = "no more sky net turnitoff",
+    args = {},
+    requireAdminPrivilege = true,
+    proc = function(unm)
+        ch.reportLog("system shutdown requested by " .. unm)
+        ch.userBc("Shutting down..")
+        return true
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.say = {
+    alias = {},
+    desc = "send an unlabeled message to chat",
+    args = {
+        { match = "rest", desc = "what to say" }
+    },
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm, msg)
+        ch.say(msg)
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.sayas = {
+    alias = {},
+    desc = "say a message as another person",
+    args = {
+        { match = "block", desc = "who says" },
+        { match = "rest",  desc = "what do they say" }
+    },
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm, who, what)
+        ch.sayas(who, what)
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.sayserver = {
+    alias = { "saysrv" },
+    desc = "say a message as server",
+    args = {
+        { match = "rest", desc = "what it will say" }
+    },
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm, what)
+        ch.sayserver(what)
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.faketpa = {
+    alias = { "ftpa" },
+    desc = "send a fake teleport request",
+    args = {
+        { match = "player", desc = "to who" },
+        { match = "block",  desc = "from who fake" },
+        { match = "block",  desc = "from who carrier" },
+        { match = "block",  desc = "carrier says what" },
+    },
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm, tgt, fromwho, carrierwho, carrierwhat)
+        ch.faketpa(tgt, fromwho, carrierwho, carrierwhat)
+    end,
+}
+
+cmds.help = {
+    alias = {},
+    desc = "help with how to use",
+    args = {
+        { match = "number", desc = "page", optional = true }
+    },
+    allowLimitedUser = true,
+    proc = function(unm, page)
+        page = (page or 1) - 1
+
+        local ins = table.insert
+
+        local cmdnames = {}
+        for i, _ in next, cmds do
+            table.insert(cmdnames, i)
+        end
+        table.sort(cmdnames)
+
+        local eachpage = 8
+        local start = page * eachpage + 1
+        local stop = (page + 1) * eachpage
+        if start > #cmdnames then
+            start = #cmdnames - eachpage + 1
+        end
+        stop = math.min(stop, #cmdnames)
+
+        cmdnames = { table.unpack(cmdnames, start, stop) }
+
+        local mparts = {}
+        ins(mparts, { text = ("help for %d commands (%d-%d) //"):format(#cmdnames, start, stop) })
+
+        for _, name in next, cmdnames do
+            local cmd = cmds[name]
+            local line = "$" .. name
+            for _, arg in next, cmd.args do
+                local br1, br2 = "<", ">"
+                if arg.optional then
+                    br1, br2 = "[", "]"
+                end
+                line = line .. " " .. br1 .. arg.desc .. br2
+            end
+            line = line .. " - " .. cmd.desc
+
+            ins(mparts, { text = "\n[" })
+            ins(mparts, { text = "s", color = "aqua" })
+            ins(mparts, { text = "] " .. line })
+        end
+
+        ch.send(unm, mparts)
+    end,
+}
+
+return cmds
diff --git a/index.lua b/index.lua
index 7b075bb..a9bd31e 100644
--- a/index.lua
+++ b/index.lua
@@ -6,200 +6,30 @@
 local cfg = require("cfg")
 local ch = require("chat")
 local tk = require("tracking")
+local cmds = require("cmds")
 --#endregion
 
 --#region Machine Preparation
 settings.set("shell.allow_disk_startup", false)
 --#endregion
 
-local function q(v)
-    return tostring(v or "??")
+local function nextWord(str)
+    local first, last
+
+    if str:sub(1, 1) == "[" then
+        str = str:sub(2)
+        first, last = str:find("[^]]+")
+    else
+        first, last = str:find("%S+")
+    end
+
+    if not last then
+        return str, nil
+    end
+
+    return str:sub(last + 2), str:sub(first, last)
 end
 
-local cmds = {
-    loc = function(unm, args)
-        local tg = tk:resTg(args[1])
-        if not tg then
-            ch.send(unm, "missing target!", "loc")
-            return
-        end
-
-        tk:refreshOne(tg)
-        local p = tk.plrs[tg]
-        if not p then
-            ch.send(unm, "couldn't locate target", "loc")
-            return
-        end
-
-        ch.send(unm, string.format("user: %s xyz:[%s, %s, %s] dim=%s", tg, q(p.x), q(p.y), q(p.z), q(p.dimension)))
-    end,
-    rpt = function(unm, args)
-        tk:refresh()
-
-        local ins = table.insert
-
-        local mparts = {}
-        ins(mparts, { text = "finished generating report!\n" })
-
-        local n, nplrs = 0, 0
-        for _, _ in next, tk.plrs do nplrs = nplrs + 1 end
-        for i, v in pairs(tk.plrs) do
-            local line = string.format("user: %s xyz:[%s, %s, %s] dim=%s", i, q(v.x), q(v.y), q(v.z), q(v.dimension))
-            n = n + 1
-            if n ~= nplrs then
-                line = line .. "\n"
-            end
-
-            ins(mparts, { text = "[" })
-            ins(mparts, { text = "s", color = "aqua" })
-            ins(mparts, { text = "] " .. line })
-        end
-
-        ch.send(unm, mparts, "rpt")
-    end,
-    dims = function(unm, args)
-        tk:refresh()
-
-        local ins = table.insert
-
-        local mparts = {}
-        ins(mparts, { text = "finished generating dimension report!\n" })
-
-        local n, nplrs = 0, 0
-        for _, _ in next, tk.plrs do nplrs = nplrs + 1 end
-        for i, v in pairs(tk.plrs) do
-            local line = string.format("user: %s dim=%s", i, q(v.dimension))
-            n = n + 1
-            if n ~= nplrs then
-                line = line .. "\n"
-            end
-
-            ins(mparts, { text = "[" })
-            ins(mparts, { text = "s", color = "aqua" })
-            ins(mparts, { text = "] " .. line })
-        end
-
-        ch.send(unm, mparts, "rpt")
-    end,
-    unsublog = function(unm, args)
-        if not cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog then
-            ch.send(unm, "you're already aren't subscribed!", "users")
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries log unsub, but they weren't there")
-        else
-            cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog = false
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " unsubscribes from log")
-        end
-    end,
-    sublog = function(unm, args)
-        if cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog then
-            ch.send(unm, "you're already subscribed!", "users")
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries log sub, but already there")
-        else
-            cfg.users[unm].subscribeLog = true
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " subscribes to log")
-        end
-    end,
-    allow = function(unm, args)
-        local tg = tk:resTg(args[1])
-        if not tg then
-            ch.send(unm, "No user was specified!", "users")
-            return
-        end
-
-        if cfg.users[tg] ~= nil then
-            ch.send(unm, "They're already allowed!!", "users")
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries to allow " .. tg .. ", but they already are")
-        else
-            cfg.users[tg] = {}
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " allows " .. tg)
-            ch.send(tg, "You were added to skynet, welcome!! // try $help for list of commands", "users")
-        end
-    end,
-    disallow = function(unm, args)
-        local tg = tk:resTg(args[1])
-        if not tg then
-            ch.send(unm, "No user was specified!", "users")
-            return
-        end
-        if cfg.users[tg] == nil then
-            ch.send(unm, "That person is already disallowed", "users")
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries to disallow " .. tg .. ", but they already are")
-        else
-            cfg.users[tg] = nil
-            ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " disallows " .. tg)
-        end
-    end,
-    ping = function(unm, args)
-        ch.send(unm, "Alive!!!!")
-    end,
-    shutdown = function(unm, args)
-        if cfg.users[unm].admin then
-            ch.reportLog("system shutdown requested by " .. unm)
-            ch.userBc("Shutting down..")
-            return true
-        else
-            ch.reportLog("non-admin user " .. unm .. " attempted to shutdown")
-            ch.send(unm, "no permission to do that..", "cmd")
-        end
-    end,
-    say = function(unm, args)
-        local msg = table.concat(args, " ")
-
-        ch.say(msg)
-    end,
-    sayas = function(unm, args)
-        local plr = table.remove(args, 1)
-        local msg = table.concat(args, " ")
-
-        if not plr or #msg == 0 then
-            ch.send(unm, "must specify player and message")
-            return
-        end
-
-        ch.sayas(plr, msg)
-    end,
-    sayserver = function(unm, args)
-        local msg = table.concat(args, " ")
-
-        if #msg == 0 then
-            ch.send(unm, "no message was given")
-            return
-        end
-
-        ch.sayserver(msg)
-    end,
-    faketpa = function(unm, args)
-        local tgtplr = table.remove(args, 1)
-        local sender = table.remove(args, 1)
-        local fakeplr = table.remove(args, 1)
-        local fakemsg = table.concat(args, " ")
-
-        if not tgtplr then
-            ch.send(unm, "no target player specified", "cmd")
-            return
-        end
-        if not sender then
-            ch.send(unm, "no sender name specified", "cmd")
-            return
-        end
-        if not fakeplr then
-            ch.send(unm, "no fake player specified", "cmd")
-            return
-        end
-
-        tgtplr = tk:resTg(tgtplr)
-        if not tgtplr then
-            ch.send(unm, "target player specified not found", "cmd")
-            return
-        end
-
-        ch.faketpa(tgtplr, sender, fakeplr, fakemsg)
-    end,
-    help = function(unm, args)
-        ch.send(unm, "not added yet sry")
-    end,
-}
-
 local function processMessage(unm, msg, hidden)
     if not hidden and msg:sub(1, #cfg.prefix) ~= cfg.prefix then return end
 
@@ -207,13 +37,8 @@ local function processMessage(unm, msg, hidden)
         msg = msg:sub(#cfg.prefix + 1)
     end
 
-    local args = {}
-
-    for arg in msg:gmatch("%S+") do
-        table.insert(args, arg)
-    end
-
-    local cmd = table.remove(args, 1)
+    local cmd
+    msg, cmd = nextWord(msg)
 
     local user = cfg.users[unm]
     if user == nil then
@@ -221,23 +46,86 @@ local function processMessage(unm, msg, hidden)
         return
     end
 
-    if user.limited and (cmd ~= "dims" and cmd ~= "faketpa" and cmd ~= "help" and cmd ~= "ping") then
+    local xcmd
+    for k, v in next, cmds do
+        if k == cmd then
+            xcmd = v
+            break
+        end
+        for _, a in next, v.alias do
+            if a == cmd then
+                xcmd = v
+                break
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    if not xcmd then
+        ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries invalid cmd: " .. cmd)
+        ch.send(unm, "not a valid command", "cmd")
+        return
+    end
+
+    if user.limited and not xcmd.allowLimitedUser then
         ch.reportLog("limited user " .. unm .. " tries: " .. cmd)
         return
     end
 
-    local handler = cmds[cmd]
-    if handler then
-        ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " runs: " .. cmd)
-        local res = handler(unm, args)
+    if xcmd.requireAdminPrivilege and not user.admin then
+        ch.reportLog("non-admin user " .. unm .. " attempted to " .. cmd)
+        ch.send(unm, "no permission to do that..", "cmd")
+        return
+    end
 
-        if res then
-            -- command requested shutdown
-            return true
+    local args = {}
+
+    for _, x in next, xcmd.args do
+        local arg
+
+        if x.match == "block" then
+            msg, arg = nextWord(msg)
+            if not arg then
+                ch.send(unm, "missing arg: " .. x.desc, "cmd")
+                return
+            end
+        elseif x.match == "player" then
+            msg, arg = nextWord(msg)
+            if not arg then
+                ch.send(unm, "missing player arg: " .. x.desc, "cmd")
+                return
+            end
+            arg = tk:resTg(arg)
+            if not arg then
+                ch.send(unm, "target not found for: " .. x.desc, "cmd")
+                return
+            end
+        elseif x.match == "rest" then
+            arg = msg
+            msg = ""
+        elseif x.match == "number" then
+            msg, arg = nextWord(msg)
+            if not arg and x.optional then
+                arg = nil
+            else
+                arg = tonumber(arg)
+                if not arg then
+                    ch.send(unm, "invalid number for: " .. x.desc, "cmd")
+                    return
+                end
+            end
+        else
+            -- what??
+            return true, error("invalid match type")
         end
-    else
-        ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " tries invalid cmd: " .. cmd)
-        ch.send(unm, "not a valid command", "cmd")
+
+        table.insert(args, arg)
+    end
+
+    ch.reportLog("user " .. unm .. " runs: " .. cmd)
+    local res = xcmd.proc(unm, table.unpack(args))
+
+    if res then
+        -- command requested shutdown
+        return true
     end
 end