diff --git a/npcf/.gitignore b/npcf/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06e02d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/npcf/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+npcf.conf
diff --git a/npcf/chatcommands.lua b/npcf/chatcommands.lua
index f21e6a1..7ec2683 100644
--- a/npcf/chatcommands.lua
+++ b/npcf/chatcommands.lua
@@ -58,6 +58,15 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("npcf", {
 						minetest.chat_send_player(name, "Invalid position "..args)
 					end
 				end
+			elseif cmd == "tell" then
+				if admin or name == index[npc_name] then
+					local luaentity = npcf:get_luaentity(npc_name)
+					if luaentity and luaentity.on_tell then
+						luaentity.on_tell(luaentity, name, args)
+					end
+				else
+					minetest.chat_send_player(name, "You don't have permission to tell "..npc_name.." things")
+				end
 			elseif cmd == "setskin" then
 				if admin or name == index[npc_name] then
 					if args == "random" then
diff --git a/npcf/npcf.lua b/npcf/npcf.lua
index 5ffc622..abe5ba7 100644
--- a/npcf/npcf.lua
+++ b/npcf/npcf.lua
@@ -276,6 +276,18 @@ function npcf:register_npc(name, def)
 				def.on_step(self, dtime)
 			end
 		end,
+		on_tell = function(self, sender, message)
+			if type(def.on_tell) == "function" and get_valid_entity(self) then
+				local player = minetest.get_player_by_name(sender)
+				local senderpos	
+				if player then
+					senderpos = player:getpos()
+				else
+					senderpos = {0,0,0}
+				end
+				def.on_tell(self, sender, senderpos, message)
+			end
+		end,
 		get_staticdata = function(self)
 			local npc_data = {
 				name = self.name,
@@ -317,7 +329,7 @@ function npcf:register_npc(name, def)
 			local player_name = puncher:get_player_name()
 			local admin = minetest.check_player_privs(player_name, {server=true})
 			if admin or player_name == owner then
-				minetest.dig_node(pos)
+				minetest.remove_node(pos)
 				if player_name == owner then
 					puncher:get_inventory():add_item("main", node)
 				end
@@ -340,7 +352,7 @@ function npcf:register_npc(name, def)
 					minetest.chat_send_player(player_name, "Error: Invalid NPC Name!")
 					return
 				end
-				minetest.dig_node(pos)
+				minetest.remove_node(pos)
 				local npc_pos = {x=pos.x, y=pos.y + 0.5, z=pos.z}
 				local yaw = sender:get_look_yaw() + math.pi * 0.5
 				local luaentity = npcf:spawn(npc_pos, name, {
diff --git a/npcf/npcs/deco_npc.lua b/npcf/npcs/deco_npc.lua
index ead6b20..1019729 100644
--- a/npcf/npcs/deco_npc.lua
+++ b/npcf/npcs/deco_npc.lua
@@ -73,6 +73,20 @@ npcf:register_npc("npcf:deco_npc" ,{
 		npcf:set_animation(self, ANIMATION[self.metadata.anim_stop].state)
 	end,
 	on_activate = function(self, staticdata, dtime_s)
+
+		-- Deal with legacy errors where these fields sometimes had
+		-- invalid values...
+		if self.metadata.follow_players == true then
+			self.metadata.follow_players = "true"
+		elseif self.metadata.follow_players == false then
+			self.metadata.follow_players = "false"
+		end
+		if self.metadata.free_roaming == true then
+			self.metadata.free_roaming = "true"
+		elseif self.metadata.free_roaming == false then
+			self.metadata.free_roaming = "false"
+		end
+
 		if self.metadata.follow_players == "true" then
 			self.var.target = get_target_player(self)
 		end
@@ -83,20 +97,21 @@ npcf:register_npc("npcf:deco_npc" ,{
 		if self.metadata.message then
 			message = minetest.formspec_escape(self.metadata.message)
 		end
-		local formspec = "label[0,0;"..message.."]"
+		local formspec
 		if player_name == self.owner then
 			local selected_id = ANIMATION[self.metadata.anim_stop].id or ""
-			self.metadata.free_roaming = false
-			self.metadata.follow_players = false
  			formspec = "size[8,4.0]"
 				.."field[0.5,1.0;7.5,0.5;message;Message;"..message.."]"
 				.."label[0.5,1.8;Stationary Animation\\:]"
 				.."dropdown[4.0,1.8;3.5;anim_stop;Stand,Sit,Lay,Mine;"..selected_id.."]"
-				.."checkbox[0.5,2.7;follow_players;Follow Players;false]"
+				.."checkbox[0.5,2.7;follow_players;Follow Players;"..self.metadata.follow_players.."]"
 				.."button_exit[7.0,3.5;1.0,0.5;;Ok]"
 			if NPCF_DECO_FREE_ROAMING == true then
-				formspec = formspec.."checkbox[3.5,2.7;free_roaming;Wander Map;false]"
+				formspec = formspec.."checkbox[3.5,2.7;free_roaming;Wander Map;"..self.metadata.free_roaming.."]"
 			end
+		else
+			formspec = "size[8,4]"
+				.."label[0,0;"..message.."]"
 		end
 		self.var.speed = 0
 		npcf:show_formspec(player_name, self.npc_name, formspec)