diff --git a/src/commands/new.js b/src/commands/new.js
index 9a9b4b3..133f107 100644
--- a/src/commands/new.js
+++ b/src/commands/new.js
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ module.exports = class NewCommand extends Command {
 					.setFooter(settings.footer, message.guild.iconURL())
 			);
 		} else if (categories.count === 1) {
-			create(categories.rows[0]);
+			create(categories.rows[0]); // skip the category selection
 		} else {
-			let letters_array = Object.values(letters);
-			let category_list = categories.rows.map((category, i) => `${letters_array[i]} » ${category.name}`);
+			let letters_array = Object.values(letters); // convert the A-Z emoji object to an array
+			let category_list = categories.rows.map((category, i) => `${letters_array[i]} » ${category.name}`); // list category names with an A-Z emoji
 			let collector_message = await message.channel.send(
 				new MessageEmbed()
 					.setColor(settings.colour)
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@ module.exports = class NewCommand extends Command {
 			);
 
 			for (let i in categories.rows) {
-				await collector_message.react(letters_array[i]);
+				await collector_message.react(letters_array[i]); // add the correct number of letter reactions
 			}
 
 			const collector_filter = (reaction, user) => {
-				let allowed = letters_array.slice(0, categories.count);
+				let allowed = letters_array.slice(0, categories.count); // get the first x letters of the emoji array
 				return user.id === message.author.id && allowed.includes(reaction.emoji.name);
 			};
 
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ module.exports = class NewCommand extends Command {
 			});
 
 			collector.on('collect', async (reaction) => {
-				let index = letters_array.findIndex(value => value === reaction.emoji.name);
+				let index = letters_array.findIndex(value => value === reaction.emoji.name); // find where the letter is in the alphabet
 				if (index === -1) return await collector_message.delete({ timeout: 15000 });
 				await collector_message.reactions.removeAll();
-				create(categories.rows[index], collector_message);
+				create(categories.rows[index], collector_message); // create the ticket, passing the existing response message to be edited instead of creating a new one
 			});
 
 			collector.on('end', async (collected) => {
@@ -152,7 +152,10 @@ module.exports = class NewCommand extends Command {
 							.setDescription(i18n('commands.new.response.select_category_timeout.description', category_list.join('\n')))
 							.setFooter(footer(settings.footer, i18n('message_will_be_deleted_in', 15)), message.guild.iconURL())
 					);
-					collector_message.delete({ timeout: 15000 });
+					setTimeout(async () => {
+						await collector_message.delete();
+						await message.delete();
+					}, 15000);
 				}
 			});
 		}
diff --git a/src/commands/settings.js b/src/commands/settings.js
index 2e04145..bc2bc18 100644
--- a/src/commands/settings.js
+++ b/src/commands/settings.js
@@ -46,10 +46,12 @@ module.exports = class SettingsCommand extends Command {
 							id: c.id
 						}
 					});
-					category.name = c.name;
-					category.roles = c.roles;
 					category.max_per_member = c.max_per_member;
+					category.name = c.name;
 					category.name_format = c.name_format;
+					category.opening_message = c.opening_message;
+					category.require_topic = c.require_topic;
+					category.roles = c.roles;
 					category.save();
 
 					let cat_channel = await this.client.channels.fetch(c.id);
@@ -99,6 +101,8 @@ module.exports = class SettingsCommand extends Command {
 						name: c.name,
 						name_format: c.name_format,
 						guild: message.guild.id,
+						opening_message: c.opening_message,
+						require_topic: c.require_topic,
 						roles: c.roles,
 					});
 
@@ -133,6 +137,8 @@ module.exports = class SettingsCommand extends Command {
 					max_per_member: c.max_per_member,
 					name: c.name,
 					name_format: c.name_format,
+					opening_message: c.opening_message,
+					require_topic: c.require_topic,
 					roles: c.roles
 				};
 			});
diff --git a/src/database/index.js b/src/database/index.js
index d9e8761..9a637bf 100644
--- a/src/database/index.js
+++ b/src/database/index.js
@@ -68,33 +68,33 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			primaryKey: true,
 			allowNull: false,
 		},
-		locale: {
+		colour: {
 			type: DataTypes.STRING,
-			defaultValue: config.locale
+			defaultValue: config.defaults.colour
 		},
 		command_prefix: {
 			type: DataTypes.STRING,
 			defaultValue: config.defaults.command_prefix
 		},
-		colour: {
-			type: DataTypes.STRING,
-			defaultValue: config.defaults.colour
-		},
-		success_colour: {
-			type: DataTypes.STRING,
-			defaultValue: 'GREEN'
-		},
 		error_colour: {
 			type: DataTypes.STRING,
 			defaultValue: 'RED'
 		},
+		footer: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			defaultValue: 'Discord Tickets by eartharoid'
+		},
+		locale: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			defaultValue: config.locale
+		},
 		log_messages: {
 			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
 			defaultValue: config.defaults.log_messages
 		},
-		footer: {
+		success_colour: {
 			type: DataTypes.STRING,
-			defaultValue: 'Discord Tickets by eartharoid'
+			defaultValue: 'GREEN'
 		},
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'guilds'
@@ -106,11 +106,6 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			primaryKey: true,
 			allowNull: false,
 		},
-		name: {
-			type: DataTypes.STRING,
-			allowNull: false,
-			unique: 'name-guild'
-		},
 		guild: {
 			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
 			allowNull: false,
@@ -120,18 +115,36 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			},
 			unique: 'name-guild'
 		},
-		roles: {
-			type: DataTypes.JSON
-		},
 		max_per_member: {
 			type: DataTypes.INTEGER,
 			defaultValue: 1
 		},
+		name: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			allowNull: false,
+			unique: 'name-guild'
+		},
 		name_format: {
 			type: DataTypes.STRING,
 			allowNull: false,
 			defaultValue: config.defaults.name_format
-		}
+		},
+		opening_message: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			defaultValue: config.defaults.opening_message,
+		},
+		require_topic: {
+			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
+			defaultValue: true,
+		},
+		roles: {
+			type: DataTypes.JSON,
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
+		questions: {
+			type: DataTypes.JSON,
+			allowNull: true,
+		},
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'categories'
 	});
@@ -142,10 +155,21 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			primaryKey: true,
 			allowNull: false,
 		},
-		number: {
-			type: DataTypes.INTEGER,
+		category: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+			allowNull: false,
+			references: {
+				model: Category,
+				key: 'id'
+			},
+		},
+		closed_by: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+			allowNull: true,
+		},
+		creator: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
 			allowNull: false,
-			unique: 'number-guild'
 		},
 		guild: {
 			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
@@ -156,30 +180,19 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			},
 			unique: 'number-guild'
 		},
-		category: {
-			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
-			allowNull: false,
-			references: {
-				model: Category,
-				key: 'id'
-			},
-		},
-		topic: {
-			type: DataTypes.STRING,
-			allowNull: true,
-		},
-		creator: {
-			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+		number: {
+			type: DataTypes.INTEGER,
 			allowNull: false,
+			unique: 'number-guild'
 		},
 		open: {
 			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
 			defaultValue: true
 		},
-		closed_by: {
-			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+		topic: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
 			allowNull: true,
-		}
+		},
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'tickets'
 	});
@@ -191,6 +204,22 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			primaryKey: true,
 			allowNull: false,
 		},
+		author: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
+		data: {
+			type: DataTypes.JSON,
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
+		deleted: {
+			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
+			defaultValue: false,
+		},
+		edited: {
+			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
+			defaultValue: false,
+		},
 		ticket: {
 			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
 			allowNull: false,
@@ -199,31 +228,31 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 				key: 'id'
 			},
 		},
-		author: {
-			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
-			allowNull: false,
-		},
-		edited: {
-			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
-			defaultValue: false,
-		},
-		deleted: {
-			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
-			defaultValue: false,
-		},
-		data: {
-			type: DataTypes.JSON
-		},
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'messages'
 	});
 
 	// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
 	const UserEntity = sequelize.define('UserEntity', {
-		user: {
-			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+		avatar: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
+		bot: {
+			type: DataTypes.BOOLEAN,
+			defaultValue: false,
+		},
+		colour: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(6),
+			allowNull: true,
+		},
+		discriminator: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
+		display_name: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
 			allowNull: false,
-			unique: 'id-ticket'
 		},
 		ticket: {
 			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
@@ -232,14 +261,17 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			references: {
 				model: Ticket,
 				key: 'id'
-			},	
+			},
+		},
+		user: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
+			allowNull: false,
+			unique: 'id-ticket'
+		},
+		username: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			allowNull: false,
 		},
-		avatar: DataTypes.STRING,
-		username: DataTypes.STRING,
-		discriminator: DataTypes.STRING,
-		display_name: DataTypes.STRING,
-		colour: DataTypes.CHAR(6),
-		bot: DataTypes.BOOLEAN
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'user_entities'
 	});
@@ -251,6 +283,10 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 			allowNull: false,
 			unique: 'id-ticket'
 		},
+		name: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
 		ticket: {
 			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
 			allowNull: false,
@@ -260,13 +296,20 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 				key: 'id'
 			},
 		},
-		name: DataTypes.STRING,
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'channel_entities'
 	});
 
 	// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
 	const RoleEntity = sequelize.define('RoleEntity', {
+		colour: {
+			type: DataTypes.CHAR(6),
+			defaultValue: '7289DA',
+		},
+		name: {
+			type: DataTypes.STRING,
+			allowNull: false,
+		},
 		role: {
 			type: DataTypes.CHAR(18),
 			allowNull: false,
@@ -281,8 +324,6 @@ module.exports = async (client) => {
 				key: 'id'
 			},
 		},
-		name: DataTypes.STRING,
-		colour: DataTypes.CHAR(6),
 	}, {
 		tableName: DB_TABLE_PREFIX + 'role_entities'
 	});
diff --git a/src/listeners/debug.js b/src/listeners/debug.js
index 607f7d4..7726a75 100644
--- a/src/listeners/debug.js
+++ b/src/listeners/debug.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 module.exports = {
 	event: 'debug',
 	execute: (client, data) => {
-		if (client.config.debug)
-			client.log.debug(data);
+		if (client.config.debug) client.log.debug(data);
 	}
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/listeners/guildCreate.js b/src/listeners/guildCreate.js
index 375722a..2c4bd18 100644
--- a/src/listeners/guildCreate.js
+++ b/src/listeners/guildCreate.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module.exports = {
 	event: 'guildCreate',
 	execute: async (client, guild) => {
-		client.log.info(`Added to ${guild.name}`);
+		client.log.info(`Added to "${guild.name}"`);
 		await guild.createSettings();
 	}
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/listeners/guildDelete.js b/src/listeners/guildDelete.js
index 9f202b9..b184e37 100644
--- a/src/listeners/guildDelete.js
+++ b/src/listeners/guildDelete.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module.exports = {
 	event: 'guildDelete',
 	execute: async (client, guild) => {
-		client.log.info(`Removed from ${guild.name}`);
+		client.log.info(`Removed from "${guild.name}"`);
 		await guild.deleteSettings();
 	}
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/listeners/message.js b/src/listeners/message.js
index 032a003..67fab76 100644
--- a/src/listeners/message.js
+++ b/src/listeners/message.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 module.exports = {
 	event: 'message',
 	execute: async (client, message) => {
+		if (!message.guild) return;
 
-		let settings = await message.guild?.settings;
+		let settings = await message.guild.settings;
+		if (!settings) settings = await message.guild.createSettings();
 
-		if (settings?.log_messages && !message.system)
-			client.tickets.archives.addMessage(message);
+		if (settings.log_messages && !message.system) client.tickets.archives.addMessage(message); // add the message to the archives (if it is in a ticket channel)
 
-		client.commands.handle(message);
+		client.commands.handle(message); // pass the message to the command handler
 	}
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/listeners/messageDelete.js b/src/listeners/messageDelete.js
index 1fed7fc..6ff878a 100644
--- a/src/listeners/messageDelete.js
+++ b/src/listeners/messageDelete.js
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 module.exports = {
 	event: 'messageDelete',
 	execute: async (client, message) => {
+		if (!message.guild) return;
 
-		let settings = await message.guild?.settings;
+		let settings = await message.guild.settings;
+		if (!settings) settings = await message.guild.createSettings();
 
-		if (settings?.log_messages) {
-			if (message.system) return;
-			client.tickets.archives.deleteMessage(message);
-		}
+		if (settings.log_messages && !message.system) client.tickets.archives.deleteMessage(message); // mark the message as deleted in the database (if it exists)
 	}
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/listeners/messageUpdate.js b/src/listeners/messageUpdate.js
index 6f2cd21..873152c 100644
--- a/src/listeners/messageUpdate.js
+++ b/src/listeners/messageUpdate.js
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ module.exports = {
 			}
 		}
 
-		let settings = await newm.guild?.settings;
+		if (!newm.guild) return;
 
-		if (settings?.log_messages) {
-			if (newm.system) return;
-			client.tickets.archives.updateMessage(newm);
-		}
+		let settings = await newm.guild.settings;
+		if (!settings) settings = await newm.guild.createSettings();
+
+		if (settings.log_messages && !newm.system) client.tickets.archives.updateMessage(newm); // update the message in the database
 	}
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/commands/manager.js b/src/modules/commands/manager.js
index 50cd9cd..db285b3 100644
--- a/src/modules/commands/manager.js
+++ b/src/modules/commands/manager.js
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
 const { Collection, Client, Message, MessageEmbed } = require('discord.js');
-// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
-const Command = require('./command');
 
 const fs = require('fs');
 const { path } = require('../../utils/fs');
@@ -41,8 +39,7 @@ module.exports = class CommandManager {
 	/** Register a command */
 	register(cmd) {
 		const exists = this.commands.has(cmd.name);
-		const is_internal = (exists && cmd.internal)
-			|| (exists && this.commands.get(cmd.name).internal);
+		const is_internal = (exists && cmd.internal) || (exists && this.commands.get(cmd.name).internal);
 
 		if (is_internal) {
 			let plugin = this.client.plugins.plugins.find(p => p.commands.includes(cmd.name));
@@ -67,16 +64,18 @@ module.exports = class CommandManager {
 	 */
 	async handle(message) {
 		let settings = await message.guild.settings;
-		if (!settings) settings = await message.guild.createSettings();
-		
-		const prefix = settings.command_prefix;
+
 		const i18n = this.client.i18n.get(settings.locale);
 
-		let cmd_name = message.content.match(new RegExp(`^${prefix.replace(/(?=\W)/g, '\\')}(\\S+)`, 'mi'));
-		if (!cmd_name) return;
+		const prefix = settings.command_prefix;
+		const escaped_prefix = prefix.toLowerCase().replace(/(?=\W)/g, '\\'); // (lazy) escape every character so it can be used in a RexExp
+		const client_mention = `<@!?${this.client.user.id}>`;
+
+		let cmd_name = message.content.match(new RegExp(`^(${escaped_prefix}|${client_mention}\\s?)(\\S+)`, 'mi')); // capture prefix and command
+		if (!cmd_name) return; // stop here if the message is not a command
 
 		let raw_args = message.content.replace(cmd_name[0], '').trim(); // remove the prefix and command
-		cmd_name = cmd_name[1]; // set cmd_name to the actual string
+		cmd_name = cmd_name[2].toLowerCase(); // set cmd_name to the actual command alias, effectively removing the prefix
 
 		const cmd = this.commands.find(cmd => cmd.aliases.includes(cmd_name));
 		if (!cmd) return;
@@ -85,16 +84,16 @@ module.exports = class CommandManager {
 
 		if (cmd.process_args) {
 			args = {};
-			let data = [...raw_args.matchAll(/(?<key>\w+)\??\s?:\s?(?<value>([^;]|;{2})*);/gmi)];
-			data.forEach(arg => args[arg.groups.key] = arg.groups.value.replace(/;{2}/gm, ';'));
+			let data = [...raw_args.matchAll(/(?<key>\w+)\??\s?:\s?(?<value>([^;]|;{2})*);/gmi)]; // an array of argument objects
+			data.forEach(arg => args[arg.groups.key] = arg.groups.value.replace(/;{2}/gm, ';')); // put the data into a useful format
 			for (let arg of cmd.args) {
 				if (arg.required && !args[arg]) {
-					return await cmd.sendUsage(message.channel, cmd_name);
+					return await cmd.sendUsage(message.channel, cmd_name); // send usage if any required arg is missing
 				}
 			}
 		} else {
-			const args_num = raw_args.split(' ').filter(arg => arg.length !== 0).length;
-			const required_args = cmd.args.reduce((acc, arg) => arg.required ? acc + 1 : acc, 0);
+			const args_num = raw_args.split(' ').filter(arg => arg.length !== 0).length; // count the number of single-word args were given
+			const required_args = cmd.args.reduce((acc, arg) => arg.required ? acc + 1 : acc, 0); // count how many of the args are required
 			if (args_num < required_args) {
 				return await cmd.sendUsage(message.channel, cmd_name);
 			}
@@ -120,8 +119,8 @@ module.exports = class CommandManager {
 			});
 			guild_categories.forEach(cat => {
 				cat.roles.forEach(r => staff_roles.add(r));
-			});
-			staff_roles = staff_roles.filter(r => message.member.roles.cache.has(r));
+			}); // add all of the staff role IDs to the Set
+			staff_roles = staff_roles.filter(r => message.member.roles.cache.has(r)); // filter out any roles that the member does not have
 			const not_staff = staff_roles.length === 0;
 			if (not_staff) {
 				return await message.channel.send(
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@ module.exports = class CommandManager {
 					.setColor('ORANGE')
 					.setTitle(i18n('command_execution_error.title'))
 					.setDescription(i18n('command_execution_error.description'))
-			);
+			); // hopefully no user will ever see this message
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/user/example.config.js b/user/example.config.js
index 80d53c8..6aca452 100644
--- a/user/example.config.js
+++ b/user/example.config.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ module.exports = {
 		command_prefix: prefix,
 		log_messages: true, // transcripts/archives will be empty if false
 		name_format: 'ticket-{number}',
+		opening_message: 'Hello {name}, thank you for creating a ticket. A member of staff will soon be available to assist you.\n\n__All messages in this channel are stored for future reference.__',
 	},
 	locale: 'en-GB', // used for globals (such as commands) and the default guild locale
 	logs: {