diff --git a/classes/command.js b/classes/command.js
index f29e7cd..ec5f49d 100644
--- a/classes/command.js
+++ b/classes/command.js
@@ -6,6 +6,17 @@ class Command {
     this.message = message;
     this.args = args;
     this.content = content;
+    this.reference = {
+      messageReference: {
+        channelID: this.message.channel.id,
+        messageID: this.message.id,
+        guildID: this.message.channel.guild ? this.message.channel.guild.id : undefined,
+        failIfNotExists: false
+      },
+      allowedMentions: {
+        repliedUser: false
+      }
+    };
   }
 
   async run() {
diff --git a/classes/imageCommand.js b/classes/imageCommand.js
index 12bc1fe..037c410 100644
--- a/classes/imageCommand.js
+++ b/classes/imageCommand.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class ImageCommand extends Command {
     // check if this command has already been run in this channel with the same arguments, and we are awaiting its result
     // if so, don't re-run it
     if (collections.runningCommands.has(this.message.author.id) && (new Date(collections.runningCommands.get(this.message.author.id)) - new Date(this.message.createdAt)) < 5000) {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, please slow down a bit.`;
+      return "Please slow down a bit.";
     }
     // before awaiting the command result, add this command to the set of running commands
     collections.runningCommands.set(this.message.author.id, this.message.createdAt);
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class ImageCommand extends Command {
         const image = await imageDetect(this.client, this.message);
         if (image === undefined) {
           collections.runningCommands.delete(this.message.author.id);
-          return `${this.message.author.mention}, ${this.constructor.noImage}`;
+          return this.constructor.noImage;
         }
         magickParams.path = image.path;
         magickParams.type = image.type;
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class ImageCommand extends Command {
     if (this.constructor.requiresText) {
       if (this.args.length === 0 || !await this.criteria(this.args)) {
         collections.runningCommands.delete(this.message.author.id);
-        return `${this.message.author.mention}, ${this.constructor.noText}`;
+        return this.constructor.noText;
       }
     }
 
@@ -96,13 +96,13 @@ class ImageCommand extends Command {
       const { buffer, type } = await magick.run(magickParams).catch(e => {
         throw e;
       });
-      if (type === "nogif" && this.constructor.requiresGIF) return `${this.message.author.mention}, that isn't a GIF!`;
+      if (type === "nogif" && this.constructor.requiresGIF) return "That isn't a GIF!";
       return {
         file: buffer,
         name: `${this.constructor.command}.${type}`
       };
     } catch (e) {
-      if (e.toString().includes("Not connected to image server")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm still trying to connect to the image servers. Please wait a little bit.`;
+      if (e.toString().includes("Not connected to image server")) return "I'm still trying to connect to the image servers. Please wait a little bit.";
       throw e;
     } finally {
       if (status && await this.client.getMessage(status.channel.id, status.id).catch(() => undefined)) await status.delete();
diff --git a/commands/fun/cowsay.js b/commands/fun/cowsay.js
index 7d0cb39..d5dd3b3 100644
--- a/commands/fun/cowsay.js
+++ b/commands/fun/cowsay.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 class CowsayCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
     if (this.args.length === 0) {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide some text for the cow to say!`;
+      return "You need to provide some text for the cow to say!";
     } else if (cows[this.args[0].toLowerCase()] != undefined) {
       const cow = cows[this.args.shift().toLowerCase()];
       return `\`\`\`\n${cowsay.say(this.args.join(" "), { cow })}\n\`\`\``;
diff --git a/commands/fun/fullwidth.js b/commands/fun/fullwidth.js
index 602c495..50298f3 100644
--- a/commands/fun/fullwidth.js
+++ b/commands/fun/fullwidth.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class FullwidthCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide some text to convert to fullwidth!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide some text to convert to fullwidth!";
     return this.args.join("").replaceAll(/[A-Za-z0-9]/g, (s) => { return String.fromCharCode(s.charCodeAt(0) + 0xFEE0); });
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/fun/mc.js b/commands/fun/mc.js
index 6d81ff4..0951105 100644
--- a/commands/fun/mc.js
+++ b/commands/fun/mc.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class MCCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide some text to generate a Minecraft achievement!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide some text to generate a Minecraft achievement!";
     this.client.sendChannelTyping(this.message.channel.id);
     const request = await fetch(`https://www.minecraftskinstealer.com/achievement/a.php?i=13&h=Achievement+get%21&t=${encodeURIComponent(this.args.join("+"))}`);
     return {
diff --git a/commands/fun/retro.js b/commands/fun/retro.js
index c30a052..493663f 100644
--- a/commands/fun/retro.js
+++ b/commands/fun/retro.js
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
-const magick = require("../../utils/image.js");
 const wrap = require("../../utils/wrap.js");
-const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
+const ImageCommand = require("../../classes/imageCommand.js");
 
-class RetroCommand extends Command {
-  async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide some text to generate some retro text!`;
-    this.client.sendChannelTyping(this.message.channel.id);
-    let [line1, line2, line3] = this.args.join(" ").replaceAll("&", "\\&amp;").replaceAll(">", "\\&gt;").replaceAll("<", "\\&lt;").replaceAll("\"", "\\&quot;").replaceAll("'", "\\&apos;").replaceAll("%", "\\%").split(",").map(elem => elem.trim());
+class RetroCommand extends ImageCommand {
+  params(args) {
+    let [line1, line2, line3] = args.join(" ").replaceAll("&", "\\&amp;").replaceAll(">", "\\&gt;").replaceAll("<", "\\&lt;").replaceAll("\"", "\\&quot;").replaceAll("'", "\\&apos;").replaceAll("%", "\\%").split(",").map(elem => elem.trim());
     if (!line2 && line1.length > 15) {
       const [split1, split2, split3] = wrap(line1, { width: 15, indent: "" }).split("\n");
       line1 = split1;
@@ -20,20 +17,16 @@ class RetroCommand extends Command {
         line3 = "";
       }
     }
-    const { buffer } = await magick.run({
-      cmd: "retro",
-      line1,
-      line2,
-      line3
-    });
-    return {
-      file: buffer,
-      name: "retro.png"
-    };
+    return { line1, line2, line3 };
   }
 
   static description = "Generates a retro text image (separate lines with a comma)";
-  static arguments = ["[text]", "{middle text}", "{bottom text}"];
+  static arguments = ["[top text]", "{middle text}", "{bottom text}"];
+
+  static requiresImage = false;
+  static requiresText = true;
+  static noText = "You need to provide some text to make retro!";
+  static command = "retro";
 }
 
 module.exports = RetroCommand;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/commands/fun/rps.js b/commands/fun/rps.js
index 9c399b3..355e26a 100644
--- a/commands/fun/rps.js
+++ b/commands/fun/rps.js
@@ -3,22 +3,22 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class RPSCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0 || (this.args[0] !== "rock" && this.args[0] !== "paper" && this.args[0] !== "scissors")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to choose whether you want to be rock, paper, or scissors!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0 || (this.args[0] !== "rock" && this.args[0] !== "paper" && this.args[0] !== "scissors")) return "You need to choose whether you want to be rock, paper, or scissors!";
     let emoji;
     let winOrLose;
     const result = misc.random(["rock", "paper", "scissors"]);
     switch (result) {
       case "rock":
         emoji = "✊";
-        if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "paper") winOrLose = 1;
+        if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "paper") winOrLose = true;
         break;
       case "paper":
         emoji = "✋";
-        if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "scissors") winOrLose = 1;
+        if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "scissors") winOrLose = true;
         break;
       case "scissors":
         emoji = "✌";
-        if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "rock") winOrLose = 1;
+        if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "rock") winOrLose = true;
         break;
       default:
         break;
diff --git a/commands/fun/xkcd.js b/commands/fun/xkcd.js
index 4b80bdf..c09e9d7 100644
--- a/commands/fun/xkcd.js
+++ b/commands/fun/xkcd.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class XKCDCommand extends Command {
       };
       return embed;
     } catch {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, I couldn't get that XKCD!`;
+      return "I couldn't get that XKCD!";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/channel.js b/commands/general/channel.js
index 652e44b..e0b74f8 100644
--- a/commands/general/channel.js
+++ b/commands/general/channel.js
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class ChannelCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.permission.has("administrator") && this.message.member.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be an administrator to enable/disable me!`;
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide whether I should be enabled or disabled in this channel!`;
-    if (this.args[0] !== "disable" && this.args[0] !== "enable") return `${this.message.author.mention}, that's not a valid option!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.permission.has("administrator") && this.message.member.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "You need to be an administrator to enable/disable me!";
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide whether I should be enabled or disabled in this channel!";
+    if (this.args[0] !== "disable" && this.args[0] !== "enable") return "That's not a valid option!";
 
     const guildDB = await db.getGuild(this.message.channel.guild.id);
 
@@ -14,28 +14,28 @@ class ChannelCommand extends Command {
       let channel;
       if (this.args[1] && this.args[1].match(/^<?[@#]?[&!]?\d+>?$/) && this.args[1] >= 21154535154122752n) {
         const id = this.args[1].replaceAll("@", "").replaceAll("#", "").replaceAll("!", "").replaceAll("&", "").replaceAll("<", "").replaceAll(">", "");
-        if (guildDB.disabled.includes(id)) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm already disabled in this channel!`;
+        if (guildDB.disabled.includes(id)) return "I'm already disabled in this channel!";
         channel = this.message.channel.guild.channels.get(id);
       } else {
-        if (guildDB.disabled.includes(this.message.channel.id)) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm already disabled in this channel!`;
+        if (guildDB.disabled.includes(this.message.channel.id)) return "I'm already disabled in this channel!";
         channel = this.message.channel;
       }
 
       await db.disableChannel(channel);
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, I have been disabled in this channel. To re-enable me, just run \`${guildDB.prefix}channel enable\`.`;
+      return `I have been disabled in this channel. To re-enable me, just run \`${guildDB.prefix}channel enable\`.`;
     } else if (this.args[0].toLowerCase() === "enable") {
       let channel;
       if (this.args[1] && this.args[1].match(/^<?[@#]?[&!]?\d+>?$/) && this.args[1] >= 21154535154122752) {
         const id = this.args[1].replaceAll("@", "").replaceAll("#", "").replaceAll("!", "").replaceAll("&", "").replaceAll("<", "").replaceAll(">", "");
-        if (!guildDB.disabled.includes(id)) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not disabled in that channel!`;
+        if (!guildDB.disabled.includes(id)) return "I'm not disabled in that channel!";
         channel = this.message.channel.guild.channels.get(id);
       } else {
-        if (!guildDB.disabled.includes(this.message.channel.id)) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not disabled in this channel!`;
+        if (!guildDB.disabled.includes(this.message.channel.id)) return "I'm not disabled in this channel!";
         channel = this.message.channel;
       }
 
       await db.enableChannel(channel);
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, I have been re-enabled in this channel.`;
+      return "I have been re-enabled in this channel.";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/count.js b/commands/general/count.js
index c969b5a..48cf792 100644
--- a/commands/general/count.js
+++ b/commands/general/count.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class CountCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Add Reactions\` permission!`;
-    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Embed Links\` permission!`;
+    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return "I don't have the `Add Reactions` permission!";
+    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return "I don't have the `Embed Links` permission!";
     const counts = await database.getCounts();
     const countArray = [];
     for (const entry of Object.entries(counts)) {
diff --git a/commands/general/decode.js b/commands/general/decode.js
index d2be1e2..23f93af 100644
--- a/commands/general/decode.js
+++ b/commands/general/decode.js
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class DecodeCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide a string to decode!`;
-    const b64Decoded = Buffer.from(this.args.join(" "), "base64").toString("utf-8");
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide a string to decode!";
+    const b64Decoded = Buffer.from(this.args.join(" "), "base64").toString("utf8");
     return `\`\`\`\n${await clean(b64Decoded)}\`\`\``;
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/emote.js b/commands/general/emote.js
index e28715a..0442c70 100644
--- a/commands/general/emote.js
+++ b/commands/general/emote.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class EmoteCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide an emoji!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide an emoji!";
     if (this.content.split(" ")[0].match(/^<a?:.+:\d+>$/)) {
       return `https://cdn.discordapp.com/emojis/${this.content.split(" ")[0].replace(/^<(a)?:.+:(\d+)>$/, "$2")}.${this.content.split(" ")[0].replace(/^<(a)?:.+:(\d+)>$/, "$1") === "a" ? "gif" : "png"}`;
     } else if (this.args[0].match(emojiRegex)) {
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class EmoteCommand extends Command {
       }
       return `https://twemoji.maxcdn.com/v/latest/72x72/${codePoints.join("-").replace("-fe0f", "")}.png`;
     } else {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide a valid emoji to get an image!`;
+      return "You need to provide a valid emoji to get an image!";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/encode.js b/commands/general/encode.js
index bd68924..594f0fb 100644
--- a/commands/general/encode.js
+++ b/commands/general/encode.js
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class EncodeCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide a string to encode!`;
-    const b64Encoded = Buffer.from(this.args.join(" ")).toString("base64");
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide a string to encode!";
+    const b64Encoded = Buffer.from(this.args.join(" "), "utf8").toString("base64");
     return `\`\`\`\n${b64Encoded}\`\`\``;
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/eval.js b/commands/general/eval.js
index e3ac399..3ecd4a3 100644
--- a/commands/general/eval.js
+++ b/commands/general/eval.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class EvalCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the bot owner can use eval!`;
+    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "Only the bot owner can use eval!";
     const code = this.args.join(" ");
     try {
       const evaled = eval(code);
diff --git a/commands/general/exec.js b/commands/general/exec.js
index 44a1521..23540e9 100644
--- a/commands/general/exec.js
+++ b/commands/general/exec.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class ExecCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the bot owner can use exec!`;
+    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "Only the bot owner can use exec!";
     const code = this.args.join(" ");
     try {
       const execed = await exec(code);
diff --git a/commands/general/image.js b/commands/general/image.js
index f87a751..3a1a1df 100644
--- a/commands/general/image.js
+++ b/commands/general/image.js
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class ImageSearchCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Add Reactions\` permission!`;
-    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Embed Links\` permission!`;
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide something to search for!`;
+    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return "I don't have the `Add Reactions` permission!";
+    if (this.message.channel.guild && !this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return "I don't have the `Embed Links` permission!";
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide something to search for!";
     const embeds = [];
     const images = await image_search({ query: this.args.join(" "), moderate: true });
-    if (images.error && images.error.code === 403) return `${this.message.author.mention}, the daily search quota has been exceeded. Check back later.`;
-    if (images.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I couldn't find any results!`;
+    if (images.error && images.error.code === 403) return "The daily search quota has been exceeded. Check back later.";
+    if (images.length === 0) return "I couldn't find any results!";
     for (const [i, value] of images.entries()) {
       embeds.push({
         "embed": {
diff --git a/commands/general/imagereload.js b/commands/general/imagereload.js
index 1ad8944..2a4230e 100644
--- a/commands/general/imagereload.js
+++ b/commands/general/imagereload.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class ImageReloadCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the bot owner can reload the image servers!`;
+    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "Only the bot owner can reload the image servers!";
     await image.disconnect();
     await image.repopulate();
     let amount = 0;
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class ImageReloadCommand extends Command {
     if (amount > 0) {
       return `Successfully connected to ${amount} image servers.`;
     } else {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, I couldn't connect to any image servers!`;
+      return "I couldn't connect to any image servers!";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/invite.js b/commands/general/invite.js
index 507ecde..de8fb25 100644
--- a/commands/general/invite.js
+++ b/commands/general/invite.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class InviteCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    return `${this.message.author.mention}, you can invite me to your server here: <https://projectlounge.pw/invite>`;
+    return "You can invite me to your server here: <https://projectlounge.pw/invite>";
   }
 
   static description = "Gets my invite link";
diff --git a/commands/general/lengthen.js b/commands/general/lengthen.js
index 526e6ac..6fdee67 100644
--- a/commands/general/lengthen.js
+++ b/commands/general/lengthen.js
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 class LengthenCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
     this.client.sendChannelTyping(this.message.channel.id);
-    if (this.args.length === 0 || !urlCheck(this.args[0])) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide a short URL to lengthen!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0 || !urlCheck(this.args[0])) return "You need to provide a short URL to lengthen!";
     if (urlCheck(this.args[0])) {
       const url = await fetch(encodeURI(this.args[0]), { redirect: "manual" });
       return url.headers.get("location") || this.args[0];
     } else {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, that isn't a URL!`;
+      return "That isn't a URL!";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/ping.js b/commands/general/ping.js
index 9d0a714..3878b43 100644
--- a/commands/general/ping.js
+++ b/commands/general/ping.js
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class PingCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    const pingMessage = await this.client.createMessage(this.message.channel.id, "🏓 Ping?");
+    const pingMessage = await this.client.createMessage(this.message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+      content: "🏓 Ping?"
+    }, this.reference));
     return pingMessage.edit(`🏓 Pong!\n\`\`\`\nLatency: ${pingMessage.timestamp - this.message.timestamp}ms${this.message.channel.guild ? `\nShard Latency: ${Math.round(this.client.shards.get(this.client.guildShardMap[this.message.channel.guild.id]).latency)}ms` : ""}\n\`\`\``);
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/prefix.js b/commands/general/prefix.js
index d3b8493..5aaa8c5 100644
--- a/commands/general/prefix.js
+++ b/commands/general/prefix.js
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class PrefixCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
     const guild = await database.getGuild(this.message.channel.guild.id);
     if (this.args.length !== 0) {
-      if (!this.message.member.permission.has("administrator") && this.message.member.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be an administrator to change the bot prefix!`;
+      if (!this.message.member.permission.has("administrator") && this.message.member.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "You need to be an administrator to change the bot prefix!";
       await database.setPrefix(this.args[0], this.message.channel.guild);
       return `The prefix has been changed to ${this.args[0]}.`;
     } else {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, the current prefix is \`${guild.prefix}\`.`;
+      return `The current prefix is \`${guild.prefix}\`.`;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/qrcreate.js b/commands/general/qrcreate.js
index e7c3a60..e4f1931 100644
--- a/commands/general/qrcreate.js
+++ b/commands/general/qrcreate.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class QrCreateCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide some text to generate a QR code!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide some text to generate a QR code!";
     this.client.sendChannelTyping(this.message.channel.id);
     const writable = new stream.PassThrough();
     qrcode.toFileStream(writable, this.content, { margin: 1 });
diff --git a/commands/general/qrread.js b/commands/general/qrread.js
index 35c4625..7b0530d 100644
--- a/commands/general/qrread.js
+++ b/commands/general/qrread.js
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 class QrReadCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
     const image = await require("../../utils/imagedetect.js")(this.client, this.message);
-    if (image === undefined) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide an image with a QR code to read!`;
+    if (image === undefined) return "You need to provide an image with a QR code to read!";
     this.client.sendChannelTyping(this.message.channel.id);
     const data = await (await fetch(image.path)).buffer();
     const rawData = await sharp(data).ensureAlpha().raw().toBuffer({ resolveWithObject: true });
     const qrBuffer = jsqr(rawData.data, rawData.info.width, rawData.info.height);
-    if (!qrBuffer) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I couldn't find a QR code!`;
+    if (!qrBuffer) return "I couldn't find a QR code!";
     return `\`\`\`\n${await clean(qrBuffer.data)}\n\`\`\``;
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/reload.js b/commands/general/reload.js
index a86d2d4..e96ed6c 100644
--- a/commands/general/reload.js
+++ b/commands/general/reload.js
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ class ReloadCommand extends Command {
   // quite possibly one of the hackiest commands in the bot
   run() {
     return new Promise((resolve) => {
-      if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) resolve(`${this.message.author.mention}, only the bot owner can reload commands!`);
-      if (this.args.length === 0) resolve(`${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide a command to reload!`);
+      if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) resolve("Only the bot owner can reload commands!");
+      if (this.args.length === 0) resolve("You need to provide a command to reload!");
       this.ipc.broadcast("reload", { cmd: this.args[0] });
       this.ipc.register("reloadSuccess", () => {
         this.ipc.unregister("reloadSuccess");
         this.ipc.unregister("reloadFail");
-        resolve(`${this.message.author.mention}, the command \`${this.args[0]}\` has been reloaded.`);
+        resolve(`The command \`${this.args[0]}\` has been reloaded.`);
       });
       this.ipc.register("reloadFail", (message) => {
         this.ipc.unregister("reloadSuccess");
diff --git a/commands/general/restart.js b/commands/general/restart.js
index c010bac..7b767ef 100644
--- a/commands/general/restart.js
+++ b/commands/general/restart.js
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class RestartCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the bot owner can restart me!`;
-    await this.client.createMessage(this.message.channel.id, `${this.message.author.mention}, esmBot is restarting.`);
+    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "Only the bot owner can restart me!";
+    await this.client.createMessage(this.message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+      content: "esmBot is restarting."
+    }, this.reference));
     for (const command of collections.commands) {
       await handler.unload(command);
     }
diff --git a/commands/general/serverinfo.js b/commands/general/serverinfo.js
index 7643286..6ea57ba 100644
--- a/commands/general/serverinfo.js
+++ b/commands/general/serverinfo.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class ServerInfoCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
     const owner = await this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.message.channel.guild.ownerID);
     return {
       "embed": {
diff --git a/commands/general/snowflake.js b/commands/general/snowflake.js
index 13b13c2..893d7f6 100644
--- a/commands/general/snowflake.js
+++ b/commands/general/snowflake.js
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class SnowflakeCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (!this.args[0]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide a snowflake ID!`;
-    if (!this.args[0].match(/^<?[@#]?[&!]?\d+>?$/) && this.args[0] < 21154535154122752) return `${this.message.author.mention}, that's not a valid snowflake!`;
+    if (!this.args[0]) return "You need to provide a snowflake ID!";
+    if (!this.args[0].match(/^<?[@#]?[&!]?\d+>?$/) && this.args[0] < 21154535154122752) return "That's not a valid snowflake!";
     return new Date((this.args[0].replaceAll("@", "").replaceAll("#", "").replaceAll("!", "").replaceAll("&", "").replaceAll("<", "").replaceAll(">", "") / 4194304) + 1420070400000).toUTCString();
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/soundreload.js b/commands/general/soundreload.js
index 720d0aa..7e924d0 100644
--- a/commands/general/soundreload.js
+++ b/commands/general/soundreload.js
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class SoundReloadCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the bot owner can reload Lavalink!`;
+    if (this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "Only the bot owner can reload Lavalink!";
     const soundStatus = await soundPlayer.checkStatus();
     if (!soundStatus) {
       const length = await soundPlayer.connect(this.client);
       return `Successfully connected to ${length} Lavalink node(s).`;
     } else {
-      return `${this.message.author.mention}, I couldn't connect to any Lavalink nodes!`;
+      return "I couldn't connect to any Lavalink nodes!";
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/general/youtube.js b/commands/general/youtube.js
index 3708ed2..709fe0e 100644
--- a/commands/general/youtube.js
+++ b/commands/general/youtube.js
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 
 class YouTubeCommand extends Command {
   async run() {
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide something to search for!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide something to search for!";
     this.client.sendChannelTyping(this.message.channel.id);
     const messages = [];
     const request = await fetch(`https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&q=${encodeURIComponent(this.args.join(" "))}&key=${process.env.GOOGLE}&maxResults=50`);
     const result = await request.json();
-    if (result.error && result.error.code === 403) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I've exceeded my YouTube API search quota for the day. Check back later.`;
+    if (result.error && result.error.code === 403) return "I've exceeded my YouTube API search quota for the day. Check back later.";
     for (const [i, value] of result.items.entries()) {
       if (value.id.kind === "youtube#channel") {
         messages.push(`Page ${i + 1} of ${result.items.length}\n<:youtube:637020823005167626> **${decodeEntities(value.snippet.title).replaceAll("*", "\\*")}**\nhttps://youtube.com/channel/${value.id.channelId}`);
diff --git a/commands/music/loop.js b/commands/music/loop.js
index aacfea2..2a154e7 100644
--- a/commands/music/loop.js
+++ b/commands/music/loop.js
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ class LoopCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not in a voice channel!`;
-    if (this.connection.host !== this.message.author.id) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the current voice session host can loop the music!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return "I'm not in a voice channel!";
+    if (this.connection.host !== this.message.author.id) return "Only the current voice session host can loop the music!";
     const object = this.connection;
     object.loop = !object.loop;
     soundPlayer.players.set(this.message.channel.guild.id, object);
diff --git a/commands/music/nowplaying.js b/commands/music/nowplaying.js
index d9dcb8a..613c454 100644
--- a/commands/music/nowplaying.js
+++ b/commands/music/nowplaying.js
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ class NowPlayingCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not in a voice channel!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return "I'm not in a voice channel!";
     const player = this.connection.player;
-    if (!player) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not playing anything!`;
+    if (!player) return "I'm not playing anything!";
     const track = await fetch(`http://${player.node.host}:${player.node.port}/decodetrack?track=${encodeURIComponent(player.track)}`, { headers: { Authorization: player.node.password } }).then(res => res.json());
     const parts = Math.floor((player.state.position / track.length) * 10);
     return {
diff --git a/commands/music/pause.js b/commands/music/pause.js
index 81dfbc6..f4eb373 100644
--- a/commands/music/pause.js
+++ b/commands/music/pause.js
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ class PauseCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not in a voice channel!`;
-    if (this.connection.host !== this.message.author.id) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the current voice session host can pause/resume the music!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return "I'm not in a voice channel!";
+    if (this.connection.host !== this.message.author.id) return "Only the current voice session host can pause/resume the music!";
     const player = this.connection.player;
     player.pause(!player.paused ? true : false);
     return `🔊 The player has been ${!player.paused ? "paused" : "resumed"}.`;
diff --git a/commands/music/play.js b/commands/music/play.js
index ec70cca..d6aa2f0 100644
--- a/commands/music/play.js
+++ b/commands/music/play.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class PlayCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.args[0]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide what you want to play!`;
+    if (!this.args[0]) return "You need to provide what you want to play!";
     const query = this.args.join(" ").trim();
     const search = urlRegex.test(query) ? query : (searchRegex.test(query) ? query : `ytsearch:${query}`);
     return await soundPlayer.play(this.client, encodeURIComponent(search), this.message, true);
diff --git a/commands/music/queue.js b/commands/music/queue.js
index a6bb47a..cdea4d7 100644
--- a/commands/music/queue.js
+++ b/commands/music/queue.js
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ class QueueCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not in a voice channel!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Add Reactions\` permission!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Embed Links\` permission!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return "I'm not in a voice channel!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return "I don't have the `Add Reactions` permission!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return "I don't have the `Embed Links` permission!";
     const queue = soundPlayer.queues.get(this.message.channel.guild.id);
     const player = this.connection;
     const tracks = await fetch(`http://${player.player.node.host}:${player.player.node.port}/decodetracks`, { method: "POST", body: JSON.stringify(queue), headers: { Authorization: player.player.node.password, "Content-Type": "application/json" } }).then(res => res.json());
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class QueueCommand extends MusicCommand {
         }
       });
     }
-    if (embeds.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, there's nothing in the queue!`;
+    if (embeds.length === 0) return "There's nothing in the queue!";
     return paginator(this.client, this.message, embeds);
   }
 
diff --git a/commands/music/skip.js b/commands/music/skip.js
index 4d9e6d0..2f95bba 100644
--- a/commands/music/skip.js
+++ b/commands/music/skip.js
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ class SkipCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not in a voice channel!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return "I'm not in a voice channel!";
     const player = this.connection;
     if (player.host !== this.message.author.id) {
       const votes = soundPlayer.skipVotes.has(this.message.channel.guild.id) ? soundPlayer.skipVotes.get(this.message.channel.guild.id) : { count: 0, ids: [] };
-      if (votes.ids.includes(this.message.author.id)) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you've already voted to skip!`;
+      if (votes.ids.includes(this.message.author.id)) return "You've already voted to skip!";
       const newObject = {
         count: votes.count + 1,
         ids: [...votes.ids, this.message.author.id].filter(item => !!item)
diff --git a/commands/music/stop.js b/commands/music/stop.js
index b95d27d..bbacdf0 100644
--- a/commands/music/stop.js
+++ b/commands/music/stop.js
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ class StopCommand extends MusicCommand {
   async run() {
     if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") return "Music commands are coming soon, but they aren't ready yet. Stay tuned to @esmBot_ on Twitter for updates!";
 
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I'm not in a voice channel!`;
-    if (this.connection.host !== this.message.author.id) return `${this.message.author.mention}, only the current voice session host can stop the music!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+    if (!this.message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild.members.get(this.client.user.id).voiceState.channelID) return "I'm not in a voice channel!";
+    if (this.connection.host !== this.message.author.id) return "Only the current voice session host can stop the music!";
     soundPlayer.manager.leave(this.message.channel.guild.id);
     const connection = this.connection.player;
     connection.destroy();
diff --git a/commands/tags/tags.js b/commands/tags/tags.js
index 3e953c0..ae2f7f3 100644
--- a/commands/tags/tags.js
+++ b/commands/tags/tags.js
@@ -6,42 +6,42 @@ const Command = require("../../classes/command.js");
 class TagsCommand extends Command {
   // todo: find a way to split this into subcommands
   async run() {
-    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
+    if (!this.message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
     const guild = await database.getGuild(this.message.channel.guild.id);
 
     if ((guild.tagsDisabled || guild.tags_disabled) && this.args[0].toLowerCase() !== ("enable" || "disable")) return;
-    if (this.args.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to specify the name of the tag you want to view!`;
+    if (this.args.length === 0) return "You need to provide the name of the tag you want to view!";
     const tags = guild.tags instanceof Map ? Object.fromEntries(guild.tags) : guild.tags;
     const blacklist = ["add", "edit", "remove", "delete", "list", "random", "own", "owner", "enable", "disable"];
     switch (this.args[0].toLowerCase()) {
       case "add":
-        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide the name of the tag you want to add!`;
-        if (blacklist.includes(this.args[1].toLowerCase())) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you can't make a tag with that name!`;
-        if (tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this tag already exists!`;
+        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return "You need to provide the name of the tag you want to add!";
+        if (blacklist.includes(this.args[1].toLowerCase())) return "You can't make a tag with that name!";
+        if (tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return "This tag already exists!";
         var result = await this.setTag(this.args.slice(2).join(" "), this.args[1].toLowerCase(), this.message, guild);
         if (result) return result;
-        return `${this.message.author.mention}, the tag \`${this.args[1].toLowerCase()}\` has been added!`;
+        return `The tag \`${this.args[1].toLowerCase()}\` has been added!`;
       case "delete":
       case "remove":
-        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide the name of the tag you want to delete!`;
-        if (!tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this tag doesn't exist!`;
-        if (tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author !== this.message.author.id && !this.message.member.permission.has("manageMessages") && this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you don't own this tag!`;
+        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return "You need to provide the name of the tag you want to delete!";
+        if (!tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return "This tag doesn't exist!";
+        if (tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author !== this.message.author.id && !this.message.member.permission.has("manageMessages") && this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "You don't own this tag!";
         await database.removeTag(this.args[1].toLowerCase(), this.message.channel.guild);
-        return `${this.message.author.mention}, the tag \`${this.args[1].toLowerCase()}\` has been deleted!`;
+        return `The tag \`${this.args[1].toLowerCase()}\` has been deleted!`;
       case "edit":
-        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide the name of the tag you want to edit!`;
-        if (!tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this tag doesn't exist!`;
-        if (tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author !== this.message.author.id && !this.message.member.permission.has("manageMessages") && this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you don't own this tag!`;
+        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return "You need to provide the name of the tag you want to edit!";
+        if (!tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return "This tag doesn't exist!";
+        if (tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author !== this.message.author.id && !this.message.member.permission.has("manageMessages") && this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "You don't own this tag!";
         await this.setTag(this.args.slice(2).join(" "), this.args[1].toLowerCase(), this.message, guild);
-        return `${this.message.author.mention}, the tag \`${this.args[1].toLowerCase()}\` has been edited!`;
+        return `The tag \`${this.args[1].toLowerCase()}\` has been edited!`;
       case "own":
       case "owner":
-        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you need to provide the name of the tag you want to check the owner of!`;
-        if (!tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this tag doesn't exist!`;
-        return `${this.message.author.mention}, this tag is owned by **${this.client.users.get(tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author).username}#${this.client.users.get(tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author).discriminator}** (\`${tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author}\`).`;
+        if (this.args[1] === undefined) return "You need to provide the name of the tag you want to check the owner of!";
+        if (!tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()]) return "This tag doesn't exist!";
+        return `This tag is owned by **${this.client.users.get(tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author).username}#${this.client.users.get(tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author).discriminator}** (\`${tags[this.args[1].toLowerCase()].author}\`).`;
       case "list":
-        if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Add Reactions\` permission!`;
-        if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I don't have the \`Embed Links\` permission!`;
+        if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("addReactions")) return "I don't have the `Add Reactions` permission!";
+        if (!this.message.channel.permissionsOf(this.client.user.id).has("embedLinks")) return "I don't have the `Embed Links` permission!";
         var pageSize = 15;
         var embeds = [];
         var groups = Object.keys(tags).map((item, index) => {
@@ -66,23 +66,23 @@ class TagsCommand extends Command {
             }
           });
         }
-        if (embeds.length === 0) return `${this.message.author.mention}, I couldn't find any tags!`;
+        if (embeds.length === 0) return "I couldn't find any tags!";
         return paginator(this.client, this.message, embeds);
       case "random":
         return tags[random(Object.keys(tags))].content;
       case "enable":
       case "disable":
-        if (!this.message.member.permission.has("manageMessages") && this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return `${this.message.author.mention}, you don't have permission to disable tags!`;
+        if (!this.message.member.permission.has("manageMessages") && this.message.author.id !== process.env.OWNER) return "You don't have permission to disable tags!";
         var toggleResult = await database.toggleTags(this.message.channel.guild);
-        return `${this.message.author.mention}, tags for this guild have been ${toggleResult ? "disabled" : "enabled"}. To ${toggleResult ? "enable" : "disable"} them again, run ${guild.prefix}tags ${toggleResult ? "enable" : "disable"}.`;
+        return `Tags for this guild have been ${toggleResult ? "disabled" : "enabled"}. To ${toggleResult ? "enable" : "disable"} them again, run ${guild.prefix}tags ${toggleResult ? "enable" : "disable"}.`;
       default:
-        if (!tags[this.args[0].toLowerCase()]) return `${this.message.author.mention}, this tag doesn't exist!`;
+        if (!tags[this.args[0].toLowerCase()]) return "This tag doesn't exist!";
         return tags[this.args[0].toLowerCase()].content;
     }
   }
 
   async setTag(content, name, message) {
-    if ((!content || content.length === 0) && message.attachments.length === 0) return `${message.author.mention}, you need to provide the content of the tag!`;
+    if ((!content || content.length === 0) && message.attachments.length === 0) return "You need to provide the content of the tag!";
     if (message.attachments.length !== 0 && content) {
       await database.setTag(name, { content: `${content} ${message.attachments[0].url}`, author: message.author.id }, message.channel.guild);
     } else if (message.attachments.length !== 0) {
diff --git a/events/messageCreate.js b/events/messageCreate.js
index 0b6d310..b3f8d66 100644
--- a/events/messageCreate.js
+++ b/events/messageCreate.js
@@ -82,19 +82,36 @@ module.exports = async (client, cluster, ipc, message) => {
 
   // actually run the command
   logger.log("log", `${message.author.username} (${message.author.id}) ran command ${command}`);
+  const reference = {
+    messageReference: {
+      channelID: message.channel.id,
+      messageID: message.id,
+      guildID: message.channel.guild ? message.channel.guild.id : undefined,
+      failIfNotExists: false
+    },
+    allowedMentions: {
+      repliedUser: false
+    }
+  };
   try {
     await database.addCount(collections.aliases.has(command) ? collections.aliases.get(command) : command);
     const startTime = new Date();
     const commandClass = new cmd(client, cluster, ipc, message, args, message.content.substring(prefix.length).trim().replace(command, "").trim());
     const result = await commandClass.run(); // we also provide the message content as a parameter for cases where we need more accuracy
     const endTime = new Date();
-    if (typeof result === "string" || (typeof result === "object" && result.embed)) {
-      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, result);
+    if ((endTime - startTime) >= 180000) reference.allowedMentions.repliedUser = true;
+    if (typeof result === "string") {
+      reference.allowedMentions.repliedUser = true;
+      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+        content: result
+      }, reference));
+    } else if (typeof result === "object" && result.embed) {
+      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign(result, reference));
     } else if (typeof result === "object" && result.file) {
       if (result.file.length > 8388119 && process.env.TEMPDIR !== "") {
         const filename = `${Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 15)}.${result.name.split(".")[1]}`;
         await fs.promises.writeFile(`${process.env.TEMPDIR}/${filename}`, result.file);
-        await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, {
+        await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
           embed: {
             color: 16711680,
             title: "Here's your image!",
@@ -105,24 +122,33 @@ module.exports = async (client, cluster, ipc, message) => {
             footer: {
               text: "The result image was more than 8MB in size, so it was uploaded to an external site instead."
             },
-          },
-          content: (endTime - startTime) >= 180000 ? message.author.mention : undefined
-        });
+          }
+        }, reference));
       } else {
-        await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, result.text ? result.text : ((endTime - startTime) >= 180000 ? message.author.mention : undefined), result);
+        await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+          content: result.text ? result.text : undefined
+        }, reference), result);
       }
     }
   } catch (error) {
     if (error.toString().includes("Request entity too large")) {
-      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, `${message.author.mention}, the resulting file was too large to upload. Try again with a smaller image if possible.`);
-    } else if (error.toString().includes("UDP timed out")) {
-      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, `${message.author.mention}, I couldn't contact the image API in time (most likely due to it being overloaded). Try running your command again.`);
+      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+        content: "The resulting file was too large to upload. Try again with a smaller image if possible."
+      }, reference));
+    } else if (error.toString().includes("Job ended prematurely")) {
+      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+        content: "Something happened to the image servers before I could receive the image. Try running your command again."
+      }, reference));
     } else if (error.toString().includes("Timed out")) {
-      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, `${message.author.mention}, the request timed out before I could download that image. Try uploading your image somewhere else.`);
+      await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+        content: "The request timed out before I could download that image. Try uploading your image somewhere else or reducing its size."
+      }, reference));
     } else {
       logger.error(error.toString());
       try {
-        await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, "Uh oh! I ran into an error while running this command. Please report the content of the attached file here or on the esmBot Support server: <https://github.com/esmBot/esmBot/issues>", [{
+        await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({
+          content: "Uh oh! I ran into an error while running this command. Please report the content of the attached file at the following link or on the esmBot Support server: <https://github.com/esmBot/esmBot/issues>"
+        }, reference), [{
           file: `Message: ${error}\n\nStack Trace: ${error.stack}`,
           name: "error.txt"
         }]);
diff --git a/shard.js b/shard.js
index edff310..3e4443b 100644
--- a/shard.js
+++ b/shard.js
@@ -132,17 +132,16 @@ connected_workers ${image.connections.length}
   }
 
   async launch() {
-    try {
-      await this.init();
-    } catch {
-      logger.error("Might have failed to register some things");
-    }
+    await this.init();
 
     this.ipc.register("stat", (message) => {
       collections.stats = message;
     });
 
-    this.ipc.register("restart", () => {
+    this.ipc.register("restart", async () => {
+      await this.bot.editStatus("dnd", {
+        name: "Restarting/shutting down..."
+      });
       process.exit(1);
     });
 
diff --git a/utils/pagination/pagination.js b/utils/pagination/pagination.js
index c1d485e..e50bf10 100644
--- a/utils/pagination/pagination.js
+++ b/utils/pagination/pagination.js
@@ -4,7 +4,17 @@ const MessageCollector = require("./awaitmessages.js");
 module.exports = async (client, message, pages, timeout = 120000) => {
   const manageMessages = message.channel.guild && message.channel.permissionsOf(client.user.id).has("manageMessages") ? true : false;
   let page = 0;
-  let currentPage = await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, pages[page]);
+  let currentPage = await client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign(pages[page], {
+    messageReference: {
+      channelID: message.channel.id,
+      messageID: message.id,
+      guildID: message.channel.guild ? message.channel.guild.id : undefined,
+      failIfNotExists: false
+    },
+    allowedMentions: {
+      repliedUser: false
+    }
+  }));
   const emojiList = ["◀", "🔢", "▶", "🗑"];
   for (const emoji of emojiList) {
     await currentPage.addReaction(emoji);
@@ -19,7 +29,17 @@ module.exports = async (client, message, pages, timeout = 120000) => {
           if (manageMessages) msg.removeReaction("◀", member.id);
           break;
         case "🔢":
-          client.createMessage(message.channel.id, `${message.author.mention}, what page do you want to jump to?`).then(askMessage => {
+          client.createMessage(message.channel.id, Object.assign({ content: "What page do you want to jump to?" }, {
+            messageReference: {
+              channelID: currentPage.channel.id,
+              messageID: currentPage.id,
+              guildID: currentPage.channel.guild ? currentPage.channel.guild.id : undefined,
+              failIfNotExists: false
+            },
+            allowedMentions: {
+              repliedUser: false
+            }
+          })).then(askMessage => {
             const messageCollector = new MessageCollector(client, askMessage.channel, (response) => response.author.id === message.author.id && !isNaN(response.content) && Number(response.content) <= pages.length && Number(response.content) > 0, {
               time: timeout,
               maxMatches: 1
diff --git a/utils/soundplayer.js b/utils/soundplayer.js
index 487e31b..002c368 100644
--- a/utils/soundplayer.js
+++ b/utils/soundplayer.js
@@ -53,21 +53,21 @@ exports.connect = async (client) => {
 };
 
 exports.play = async (client, sound, message, music = false) => {
-  if (!this.manager) return `${message.author.mention}, the sound commands are still starting up!`;
-  if (!message.channel.guild) return `${message.author.mention}, this command only works in servers!`;
-  if (!message.member.voiceState.channelID) return `${message.author.mention}, you need to be in a voice channel first!`;
-  if (!message.channel.permissionsOf(client.user.id).has("voiceConnect")) return `${message.author.mention}, I can't join this voice channel!`;
+  if (!this.manager) return "The sound commands are still starting up!";
+  if (!message.channel.guild) return "This command only works in servers!";
+  if (!message.member.voiceState.channelID) return "You need to be in a voice channel first!";
+  if (!message.channel.permissionsOf(client.user.id).has("voiceConnect")) return "I can't join this voice channel!";
   const voiceChannel = message.channel.guild.channels.get(message.member.voiceState.channelID);
-  if (!voiceChannel.permissionsOf(client.user.id).has("voiceConnect")) return `${message.author.mention}, I don't have permission to join this voice channel!`;
+  if (!voiceChannel.permissionsOf(client.user.id).has("voiceConnect")) return "I don't have permission to join this voice channel!";
   const player = this.players.get(message.channel.guild.id);
-  if (!music && this.manager.voiceStates.has(message.channel.guild.id) && (player && player.type === "music")) return `${message.author.mention}, I can't play a sound effect while playing music!`;
+  if (!music && this.manager.voiceStates.has(message.channel.guild.id) && (player && player.type === "music")) return "I can't play a sound effect while playing music!";
   const node = this.manager.idealNodes[0];
   if (!music && !nodes.filter(obj => obj.host === node.host)[0].local) {
     sound = sound.replace(/\.\//, "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/esmBot/esmBot/master/");
   }
   const { tracks } = await fetch(`http://${node.host}:${node.port}/loadtracks?identifier=${sound}`, { headers: { Authorization: node.password } }).then(res => res.json());
   const oldQueue = this.queues.get(voiceChannel.guild.id);
-  if (!tracks || tracks.length === 0) return `${message.author.mention}, I couldn't find that song!`;
+  if (!tracks || tracks.length === 0) return "I couldn't find that song!";
   if (music) {
     this.queues.set(voiceChannel.guild.id, oldQueue ? [...oldQueue, tracks[0].track] : [tracks[0].track]);
   }
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ exports.play = async (client, sound, message, music = false) => {
   }
 
   if (oldQueue && music) {
-    return `${message.author.mention}, your tune \`${tracks[0].info.title}\` has been added to the queue!`;
+    return `Your tune \`${tracks[0].info.title}\` has been added to the queue!`;
   } else {
     this.nextSong(client, message, connection, tracks[0].track, tracks[0].info, music, voiceChannel, player ? player.loop : false);
     return;