diff --git a/bomb.go b/bomb.go
index 26a4ba6..90d2819 100644
--- a/bomb.go
+++ b/bomb.go
@@ -78,21 +78,23 @@ func (m *MakeBombState) Tick(c *Connection, frame int64) ConnectionState {
 	return m
 }
 
+func (MakeBombState) String() string { return "Making a Bomb" }
+
 func (m *MakeBombState) Exit(c *Connection) {
 	c.bombs += 1
 	c.Printf("Done!  You now have %v bombs.\n", c.bombs)
 }
 
-func (m *MakeBombState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
+func (m *MakeBombState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
 	elapsedFrames := c.game.frame - m.start
 	elapsedDur := framesToDur(elapsedFrames)
 
-	msg := fmt.Sprintf(`
+	desc := fmt.Sprintf(`
 Currently making a bomb!
 
-Current System:       %s
 Build time elapsed:   %v
 Build time remaining: %v
-`, m.System, elapsedDur, options.makeBombTime-elapsedDur)
-	c.Printf(strings.TrimSpace(msg))
+`, elapsedDur, options.makeBombTime-elapsedDur)
+	s.Description = strings.TrimSpace(desc)
+	s.Location = m.System.String()
 }
diff --git a/colony.go b/colony.go
index 104b09b..bcdfcb0 100644
--- a/colony.go
+++ b/colony.go
@@ -49,6 +49,6 @@ func (m *MakeColonyState) Exit(c *Connection) {
 	c.Printf("Established colony on %v.\n", m.System)
 }
 
-func (m *MakeColonyState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
+func (m *MakeColonyState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
+	s.Location = m.System.String()
 }
diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index 6039470..9fa5e69 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -6,11 +6,42 @@ import (
 	"text/template"
 )
 
+var helpTemplate = template.Must(template.New("help").Parse(`
+{{.Name}} Command Reference
+
+  Summary: {{.Summary}}
+{{- if .Usage}}
+  Usage:   {{.Usage}}
+{{end}}
+{{- if .Description}}
+Details:
+
+  {{.Description}}
+{{end}}
+`))
+
+func printHelp(conn *Connection, cmd *Command) {
+	desc := strings.ReplaceAll(strings.TrimSpace(cmd.help), "\n", "\n  ")
+	helpTemplate.Execute(conn, struct {
+		Name        string
+		Summary     string
+		Usage       string
+		Description string
+	}{
+		Name:        cmd.name,
+		Summary:     cmd.summary,
+		Usage:       cmd.usage,
+		Description: desc,
+	})
+}
+
 var commandRegistry map[string]*Command
 
 type Command struct {
 	name     string
 	summary  string
+	usage    string
+	help     string
 	arity    int
 	variadic bool
 	handler  func(*Connection, ...string)
@@ -58,7 +89,14 @@ func (c CommandSet) Commands() []Command {
 
 var helpCommand = Command{
 	name:    "help",
-	summary: "helpful things to help you",
+	summary: "explains how to play the game",
+	usage:   "help [command-name]",
+	help: `
+help explains the usage of various commands in Exocolonus. On its own, the help
+command displays some basic info about how the game is played. If given an
+argument of a command name, the help command displays the detailed usage of the
+specified command.
+`,
 	handler: func(conn *Connection, args ...string) {
 		msg := `
 Exocolonus is a game of cunning text-based, real-time strategy.  You play as
@@ -98,14 +136,14 @@ are farther away take longer to communicate with.
 				conn.Printf("no such command: %v\n", cmdName)
 				continue
 			}
-			conn.Printf("%v: %v\n", cmdName, cmd.summary)
+			printHelp(conn, cmd)
 		}
 	},
 }
 
 type status struct {
-	GameCode    string
 	State       string
+	GameCode    string
 	Balance     int
 	Bombs       int
 	Kills       int
@@ -114,13 +152,15 @@ type status struct {
 }
 
 var statusTemplate = template.Must(template.New("status").Parse(`
+Current State: {{.State}}
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+{{- if .GameCode}}
 Current Game:  {{.GameCode}}
-Current State: {{.State}}
 Balance:       {{.Balance}}
 Bombs:         {{.Bombs}}
 Kills:         {{.Kills}}
 Location:      {{.Location}}
+{{end}}
 
 {{.Description}}
 
@@ -130,7 +170,17 @@ var statusCommand = Command{
 	name:    "status",
 	summary: "display your current status",
 	handler: func(conn *Connection, args ...string) {
-		conn.ConnectionState.PrintStatus(conn)
+		s := status{
+			State: conn.ConnectionState.String(),
+		}
+		conn.ConnectionState.FillStatus(conn, &s)
+		if conn.game != nil {
+			s.GameCode = conn.game.id
+			s.Balance = conn.money
+			s.Bombs = conn.bombs
+			s.Kills = conn.kills
+		}
+		statusTemplate.Execute(conn, s)
 	},
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +188,7 @@ var statusCommand = Command{
 // is weird and circular, this is a special case.
 var commandsCommand = Command{
 	name:    "commands",
-	summary: "gives you a handy list of commands",
+	summary: "lists currently available commands",
 }
 
 func BroadcastCommand(sys *System) Command {
diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index 987c74e..8f894d8 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ func (c *Connection) Die(frame int64) {
 type ConnectionState interface {
 	CommandSuite
 	String() string
-	PrintStatus(c *Connection)
+	FillStatus(*Connection, *status)
 	Enter(c *Connection)
 	Tick(c *Connection, frame int64) ConnectionState
 	Exit(c *Connection)
diff --git a/dead.go b/dead.go
index 6c241c1..df92d75 100644
--- a/dead.go
+++ b/dead.go
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ func (d *DeadState) Exit(c *Connection) {
 	c.Printf("You're alive again.\n")
 }
 
-func (d *DeadState) String() string {
-	return "dead"
-}
+func (d *DeadState) String() string { return "dead" }
 
-func (d *DeadState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
-}
+func (d *DeadState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {}
diff --git a/errors.go b/errors.go
index 2cdecba..7b1c8fb 100644
--- a/errors.go
+++ b/errors.go
@@ -63,6 +63,4 @@ func (e *ErrorState) RunCommand(c *Connection, name string, args ...string) Conn
 	return e
 }
 
-func (e *ErrorState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
-}
+func (e *ErrorState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {}
diff --git a/idle.go b/idle.go
index c871419..76f9fcd 100644
--- a/idle.go
+++ b/idle.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ func Idle(sys *System) ConnectionState {
 			name:    "bomb",
 			summary: "bomb another star system",
 			arity:   1,
+			usage:   "bomb [system-name or system-id]",
 			handler: i.bomb,
 		},
 		Command{
@@ -36,12 +37,6 @@ func Idle(sys *System) ConnectionState {
 			arity:   0,
 			handler: i.mine,
 		},
-		Command{
-			name:    "info",
-			summary: "gives you information about the current star system",
-			arity:   0,
-			handler: i.info,
-		},
 		Command{
 			name:    "scan",
 			summary: "scans the galaxy for signs of life",
@@ -104,11 +99,6 @@ func (i *IdleState) mine(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 	c.SetState(Mine(i.System))
 }
 
-func (i *IdleState) info(c *Connection, args ...string) {
-	c.Printf("Currently idle on system %v\n", i.System)
-	c.Printf("Space duckets available: %v\n", i.money)
-}
-
 func (i *IdleState) scan(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 	if time.Since(c.lastScan) < 1*time.Minute {
 		return
@@ -119,6 +109,10 @@ func (i *IdleState) scan(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 
 // "make" is already a keyword
 func (i *IdleState) maek(c *Connection, args ...string) {
+	if len(args) != 1 {
+		c.Printf("not sure what to do! Expecting a command like this: make [thing]\ne.g.:\nmake bomb\nmake colony")
+		return
+	}
 	switch args[0] {
 	case "bomb":
 		if c.money < options.bombCost {
@@ -136,6 +130,7 @@ func (i *IdleState) maek(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (i *IdleState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
+func (i *IdleState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
+	s.Location = i.System.String()
+	s.Description = "Just hanging out, enjoying outer space."
 }
diff --git a/lobby.go b/lobby.go
index 6fff04f..6781890 100644
--- a/lobby.go
+++ b/lobby.go
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (st *LobbyState) Enter(c *Connection) {
 			c.profile = profile
 		} else {
 			c.profile = profile
-			c.Printf("welcome back, %s.\n", profile.name)
+			c.Printf("Welcome back, %s.\n", profile.name)
 		}
 		break
 	}
@@ -93,8 +93,11 @@ func (st *LobbyState) Enter(c *Connection) {
 
 func (st *LobbyState) Tick(c *Connection, frame int64) ConnectionState { return st }
 
-func (st *LobbyState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
+func (st *LobbyState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
+	s.Description = strings.TrimSpace(`
+Currently in the Lobby, waiting for you to issue a "new" command to start a new
+game, or a "join" command to join an existing game.
+`)
 }
 
 var newGameCommand = Command{
@@ -119,9 +122,18 @@ var newGameCommand = Command{
 var joinGameCommand = Command{
 	name:     "join",
 	summary:  "joins an existing game",
+	usage:    "join [game-code]",
 	arity:    1,
 	variadic: false,
 	handler: func(c *Connection, args ...string) {
+		if len(args) == 0 {
+			c.Printf(strings.TrimLeft(`
+Missing game code! When a player starts a game, they will be given a code to
+identify their game. Use this game to join the other player's game.
+
+Usage: join [game-code]`, " \n\t"))
+			return
+		}
 		id := args[0]
 		c.game = gm.Get(id)
 		c.SetState(SpawnRandomly())
diff --git a/mining.go b/mining.go
index 1ce0dcc..953e4d3 100644
--- a/mining.go
+++ b/mining.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 type MiningState struct {
@@ -23,12 +24,6 @@ func Mine(sys *System) ConnectionState {
 			arity:   0,
 			handler: m.stop,
 		},
-		Command{
-			name:    "info",
-			summary: "gives you information about the current mining operation",
-			arity:   0,
-			handler: m.info,
-		},
 	}
 	return m
 }
@@ -65,12 +60,11 @@ func (m *MiningState) stop(c *Connection, args ...string) {
 	c.SetState(Idle(m.System))
 }
 
-func (m *MiningState) info(c *Connection, args ...string) {
-	c.Printf("Currently mining system %v\n", m.System)
-	c.Printf("Mined so far: %v\n", m.mined)
-	c.Printf("Remaining space duckets on %v: %v\n", m.System, m.money)
-}
-
-func (m *MiningState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
+func (m *MiningState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
+	s.Location = m.System.String()
+	s.Description = strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf(`
+Currently mining on system: %s
+Mined so far:               %d
+Available space duckets:    %d
+`, m.System.String(), m.mined, m.money))
 }
diff --git a/shield.go b/shield.go
index e564d91..5e483ca 100644
--- a/shield.go
+++ b/shield.go
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ func (m *MakeShieldState) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Making shield on %v", m.System)
 }
 
-func (m *MakeShieldState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	panic("not done")
+func (m *MakeShieldState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
+	s.Location = m.System.String()
 }
 
 type Shield struct {
diff --git a/travel.go b/travel.go
index 67110ed..0828ed3 100644
--- a/travel.go
+++ b/travel.go
@@ -107,17 +107,8 @@ func (t *TravelState) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Traveling from %v to %v", t.start, t.dest)
 }
 
-func (t *TravelState) PrintStatus(c *Connection) {
-	desc := fmt.Sprintf("Traveling from %v to %v", t.start, t.dest)
-	statusTemplate.Execute(c, status{
-		GameCode:    c.game.id,
-		State:       "In Transit",
-		Balance:     c.money,
-		Bombs:       c.bombs,
-		Kills:       c.kills,
-		Location:    fmt.Sprintf("%s -> %s", t.start, t.dest),
-		Description: desc,
-	})
+func (t *TravelState) FillStatus(c *Connection, s *status) {
+	s.Location = fmt.Sprintf("between %s and %s", t.start, t.dest)
 }
 
 func (t *TravelState) progress(c *Connection, args ...string) {