diff --git a/src/command.rs b/src/command.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dcd447b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/command.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+use crate::player::PlayerType;
+
+const CMD_ME: &str = "me";
+const CMD_SAY: &str = "say";
+const CMD_SET_PERM: &str = "set-perm";
+
+/// enum for possible commands
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum Command<'m> {
+	/// for rp, prefixes `action` with `*<username>`
+	///
+	/// i.e. `/me says hello` becomes `*<username> says hello`
+	Me { action: &'m str },
+	/// sends a message prefixed with `[SERVER]` instead of the player's username
+	Say { message: &'m str },
+	/// sets permissions for a player
+	SetPermissions {
+		player_username: &'m str,
+		permissions: PlayerType,
+	},
+}
+
+impl<'m> Command<'m> {
+	pub const PREFIX: char = '/';
+
+	pub fn parse(input: &'m str) -> Result<Command, String> {
+		let (command_name, mut arguments) = input.split_once(' ').unwrap_or((input, ""));
+		Ok(match command_name {
+			CMD_ME => Self::Me { action: arguments },
+			CMD_SAY => Self::Say { message: arguments },
+			CMD_SET_PERM => Self::SetPermissions {
+				player_username: Self::next_string(&mut arguments)?,
+				permissions: arguments.trim().try_into()?,
+			},
+			_ => return Err(format!("Unknown command: {command_name}")),
+		})
+	}
+
+	pub fn perms_required(&self) -> PlayerType {
+		match self {
+			Self::Me { .. } => PlayerType::Normal,
+			_ => PlayerType::Moderator,
+		}
+	}
+
+	fn next_string(args: &mut &'m str) -> Result<&'m str, String> {
+		if args.is_empty() {
+			return Err("Missing argument".to_string());
+		}
+
+		let (start_index, end_index, extra) = if args.starts_with('"') {
+			let mut end_index = 1;
+			let mut extra = 1;
+			while end_index < args.len() {
+				if let Some(index) = args[end_index..].find('"') {
+					end_index += index;
+					if &args[end_index - 1..=end_index - 1] == "\\" {
+					} else {
+						break;
+					}
+				} else {
+					end_index = args.len();
+					extra = 0;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+			(1, end_index, extra)
+		} else {
+			(0, args.find(' ').unwrap_or(args.len()), 0)
+		};
+
+		let result = &args[start_index..end_index];
+		*args = &args[end_index + extra..];
+
+		Ok(result)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 765b16b..c7adf6c 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use server::{
 	Server,
 };
 
+mod command;
 mod level;
 mod packet;
 mod player;
diff --git a/src/packet/server.rs b/src/packet/server.rs
index 9991c68..578bd48 100644
--- a/src/packet/server.rs
+++ b/src/packet/server.rs
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ impl ServerPacket {
 				.write_u8(*protocol_version)
 				.write_string(server_name)
 				.write_string(server_motd)
-				.write_u8(*user_type as u8),
+				.write_u8(user_type.into()),
 			Self::Ping {} => writer,
 			Self::LevelInitialize {} => writer,
 			Self::LevelDataChunk {
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ impl ServerPacket {
 				writer.write_i8(*player_id).write_string(message)
 			}
 			Self::DisconnectPlayer { disconnect_reason } => writer.write_string(disconnect_reason),
-			Self::UpdateUserType { user_type } => writer.write_u8(*user_type as u8),
+			Self::UpdateUserType { user_type } => writer.write_u8(user_type.into()),
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/player.rs b/src/player.rs
index 5f24fce..d056884 100644
--- a/src/player.rs
+++ b/src/player.rs
@@ -33,12 +33,13 @@ pub struct Player {
 
 /// enum describing types of players
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-#[repr(u8)]
 pub enum PlayerType {
 	/// a normal player
-	Normal = 0x00,
+	Normal,
+	/// moderator of the server
+	Moderator,
 	/// a player who's an operator
-	Operator = 0x64,
+	Operator,
 }
 
 impl Default for PlayerType {
@@ -47,16 +48,25 @@ impl Default for PlayerType {
 	}
 }
 
-impl TryFrom<u8> for PlayerType {
-	type Error = ();
-
-	fn try_from(value: u8) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-		if value == Self::Normal as u8 {
-			Ok(Self::Normal)
-		} else if value == Self::Operator as u8 {
-			Ok(Self::Operator)
-		} else {
-			Err(())
+impl From<&PlayerType> for u8 {
+	fn from(val: &PlayerType) -> Self {
+		match val {
+			PlayerType::Normal => 0,
+			PlayerType::Moderator => 0x64,
+			PlayerType::Operator => 0x64,
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+impl TryFrom<&str> for PlayerType {
+	type Error = String;
+
+	fn try_from(value: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+		Ok(match value.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+			"normal" => Self::Normal,
+			"moderator" => Self::Moderator,
+			"operator" => Self::Operator,
+			value => return Err(format!("Unknown permissions type: {value}")),
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/server/network.rs b/src/server/network.rs
index 5e5df30..ecf6820 100644
--- a/src/server/network.rs
+++ b/src/server/network.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use tokio::{
 };
 
 use crate::{
+	command::Command,
 	level::{block::BLOCK_INFO, BlockUpdate, Level},
 	packet::{client::ClientPacket, server::ServerPacket, PacketWriter, ARRAY_LENGTH},
 	player::{Player, PlayerType},
@@ -72,6 +73,24 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 	let mut read_buf;
 	let mut id_buf;
 
+	macro_rules! msg {
+		($message:expr) => {
+			reply_queue.push_back(ServerPacket::Message {
+				player_id: -1,
+				message: $message,
+			});
+		};
+	}
+
+	macro_rules! spread_packet {
+		($data:expr, $packet:expr) => {
+			let packet = $packet;
+			for player in &mut $data.players {
+				player.packets_to_send.push(packet.clone());
+			}
+		};
+	}
+
 	loop {
 		let ready = stream
 			.ready(Interest::READABLE | Interest::WRITABLE)
@@ -211,10 +230,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 											player.packets_to_send.push(message_packet.clone());
 										}
 									}
-									reply_queue.push_back(ServerPacket::Message {
-										player_id: *own_id,
-										message: "Welcome to the server! Enjoyyyyyy".to_string(),
-									});
+									msg!("&dWelcome to the server! Enjoyyyyyy".to_string());
 									reply_queue.push_back(ServerPacket::UpdateUserType {
 										user_type: PlayerType::Operator,
 									});
@@ -241,13 +257,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 
 									let new_block_info = BLOCK_INFO.get(&block_type);
 									if new_block_info.is_none() {
-										reply_queue.push_back(ServerPacket::Message {
-											player_id: -1,
-											message: format!(
-												"Unknown block ID: 0x{:0x}",
-												block_type
-											),
-										});
+										msg!(format!("&cUnknown block ID: 0x{:0x}", block_type));
 										continue;
 									}
 									let new_block_info = new_block_info.expect("will never fail");
@@ -266,16 +276,10 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 										.unwrap_or_default();
 									if player_type < new_block_info.place_permissions {
 										cancel = true;
-										reply_queue.push_back(ServerPacket::Message {
-											player_id: -1,
-											message: "Not allowed to place this block.".to_string(),
-										});
+										msg!("&cNot allow to place this block.".to_string());
 									} else if player_type < block_info.break_permissions {
 										cancel = true;
-										reply_queue.push_back(ServerPacket::Message {
-											player_id: -1,
-											message: "Not allowed to break this block.".to_string(),
-										});
+										msg!("&cNot allowed to break this block.".to_string());
 									}
 
 									if cancel {
@@ -305,33 +309,132 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 									yaw,
 									pitch,
 								} => {
-									let packet = ServerPacket::SetPositionOrientation {
-										player_id: *own_id,
-										x,
-										y,
-										z,
-										yaw,
-										pitch,
-									};
 									let mut data = data.write().await;
-									for player in &mut data.players {
-										player.packets_to_send.push(packet.clone());
-									}
+									spread_packet!(
+										data,
+										ServerPacket::SetPositionOrientation {
+											player_id: *own_id,
+											x,
+											y,
+											z,
+											yaw,
+											pitch,
+										}
+									);
 								}
 								ClientPacket::Message { player_id, message } => {
 									let mut data = data.write().await;
-									println!("{message}");
-									let message = format!(
-										"&f<{}> {message}",
-										data.players
-											.iter()
-											.find(|p| p.id == *own_id)
-											.expect("should never fail")
-											.username
-									);
-									let packet = ServerPacket::Message { player_id, message };
-									for player in &mut data.players {
-										player.packets_to_send.push(packet.clone());
+
+									if let Some(message) = message.strip_prefix(Command::PREFIX) {
+										match Command::parse(message) {
+											Ok(cmd) => {
+												let player = data
+													.players
+													.iter()
+													.find(|p| p.id == *own_id)
+													.expect("missing player");
+
+												if cmd.perms_required() > player.player_type {
+													msg!("Permissions do not allow you to use this command".to_string());
+													continue;
+												}
+
+												match cmd {
+													Command::Me { action } => {
+														let message = format!(
+															"&f*{} {action}",
+															data.players
+																.iter()
+																.find(|p| p.id == *own_id)
+																.expect("missing player")
+																.username
+														);
+														spread_packet!(
+															data,
+															ServerPacket::Message {
+																player_id,
+																message,
+															}
+														);
+													}
+													Command::Say { message } => {
+														let message =
+															format!("&d[SERVER] &f{message}");
+														spread_packet!(
+															data,
+															ServerPacket::Message {
+																player_id,
+																message,
+															}
+														);
+													}
+													Command::SetPermissions {
+														player_username,
+														permissions,
+													} => {
+														let player_perms = player.player_type;
+														if player_username == player.username {
+															msg!("Cannot change your own permissions".to_string());
+															continue;
+														} else if permissions >= player_perms {
+															msg!("Cannot set permissions higher or equal to your own".to_string());
+															continue;
+														}
+
+														let perm_string =
+															serde_json::to_string(&permissions)
+																.expect("should never fail");
+
+														let current = data
+															.config
+															.player_perms
+															.entry(player_username.to_string())
+															.or_default();
+														if *current >= player_perms {
+															msg!("This player outranks you"
+																.to_string());
+															continue;
+														}
+
+														*current = permissions;
+														if let Some(p) = data
+															.players
+															.iter_mut()
+															.find(|p| p.username == player_username)
+														{
+															p.player_type = permissions;
+															p.packets_to_send.push(
+																ServerPacket::UpdateUserType {
+																	user_type: p.player_type,
+																},
+															);
+															p.packets_to_send.push(ServerPacket::Message {
+																player_id: p.id,
+																message: format!("Your permissions have been set to {perm_string}")
+															});
+														}
+														msg!(format!("Set permissions for {player_username} to {perm_string}"));
+													}
+												}
+											}
+											Err(msg) => {
+												msg!(format!("&c{msg}"));
+											}
+										}
+									} else {
+										println!("{message}");
+										let message = format!(
+											"&f<{}> {message}",
+											data.players
+												.iter()
+												.find(|p| p.id == *own_id)
+												.expect("should never fail")
+												.username
+										);
+										spread_packet!(
+											data,
+											ServerPacket::Message { player_id, message }
+										);
 									}
 								}
 							}