diff --git a/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAI.cs b/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAI.cs
index 008887e95..09c31b673 100644
--- a/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAI.cs
+++ b/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAI.cs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands
             if (args.Length < 2) { Help(p); return; }
             string ai = args[1].ToLower();
 
-            if (!Player.ValidName(ai)) { Player.Message(p, "Invalid AI name!"); return; }
+            if (!ValidName(p, ai, "bot AI")) return;
             if (ai == "hunt" || ai == "kill") { Player.Message(p, "Reserved for special AI."); return; }
 
             switch (args[0].ToLower()) {
diff --git a/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAdd.cs b/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAdd.cs
index 5da7aeda1..6e0f74c6e 100644
--- a/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAdd.cs
+++ b/Commands/Bots/CmdBotAdd.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
             if (message == "") { Help(p); return; }
             if (p == null) { MessageInGameOnly(p); return; }
             
-            if (!Player.ValidName(message)) { Player.Message(p, "bot name " + message + " not valid!"); return; }
+            if (!ValidName(p, message, "bot")) return;
             PlayerBot bot = new PlayerBot(message, p.level, p.pos[0], p.pos[1], p.pos[2], p.rot[0], 0);
             PlayerBot.Add(bot);
         }
diff --git a/Commands/CPE/CmdCustomColors.cs b/Commands/CPE/CmdCustomColors.cs
index 6183a8157..63f522151 100644
--- a/Commands/CPE/CmdCustomColors.cs
+++ b/Commands/CPE/CmdCustomColors.cs
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.CPE {
             Player.Message(p, "%H  code is a single ascii character.");
             Player.Message(p, "%H  fallback is the color code shown to non-supporting clients.");
             Player.Message(p, "%T/customcolors remove [code] %H- Removes that custom color.");
-            Player.Message(p, "%T/customcolors list [offset] %H - lists all custom colors.");
+            Player.Message(p, "%T/customcolors list [offset] %H- lists all custom colors.");
             Player.Message(p, "%T/customcolors edit [code] [name/fallback/hex]");
         }
         
diff --git a/Commands/CPE/CmdSkin.cs b/Commands/CPE/CmdSkin.cs
index 331abb631..22749ee01 100644
--- a/Commands/CPE/CmdSkin.cs
+++ b/Commands/CPE/CmdSkin.cs
@@ -57,9 +57,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.CPE {
                 skin = message;
             }
 
-            if (!Player.ValidName(skin)) {
-                Player.Message(p, "\"" + skin + "\" is not a valid skin name."); return;
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, skin, "skin")) return;
             if ((isBot || who != p) && !CheckExtraPerm(p)) { MessageNeedPerms(p, "can change the skin of other players."); return; }
             
             if (isBot) {
diff --git a/Commands/Command.Helpers.cs b/Commands/Command.Helpers.cs
index 9609a1144..c871ed006 100644
--- a/Commands/Command.Helpers.cs
+++ b/Commands/Command.Helpers.cs
@@ -89,6 +89,12 @@ namespace MCGalaxy {
                 Player.Message(p, "Can only {0} players ranked below {1}", action, grp.ColoredName);
         }
         
+        protected static bool ValidName(Player p, string name, string type) {
+            if (Player.ValidName(name)) return true;
+            Player.Message(p, "\"{0}\" is not a valid {1} name.", name, type);
+            return false;
+        }
+        
         internal void MessageCannotUse(Player p) {
             var perms = GrpCommands.allowedCommands.Find(C => C.commandName == name);
             if (perms.disallow.Contains(p.group.Permission)) {
diff --git a/Commands/Information/CmdWhois.cs b/Commands/Information/CmdWhois.cs
index 984fe82a4..2985bcbfc 100644
--- a/Commands/Information/CmdWhois.cs
+++ b/Commands/Information/CmdWhois.cs
@@ -44,9 +44,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
             if (matches == 1) {
                 info = FromOnline(pl);
             } else {
-                if (!Player.ValidName(message)) { 
-            	    Player.Message(p, "\"" + message + "\" is not a valid player name."); return; 
-            	}
+                if (!ValidName(p, message, "player")) return;
                 Player.Message(p, "Searching database for the player..");           
                 OfflinePlayer target = PlayerInfo.FindOfflineMatches(p, message);              
                 if (target == null) return;
diff --git a/Commands/Moderation/CmdBan.cs b/Commands/Moderation/CmdBan.cs
index c7c83a33c..14e939451 100644
--- a/Commands/Moderation/CmdBan.cs
+++ b/Commands/Moderation/CmdBan.cs
@@ -43,9 +43,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.Moderation {
             Player who = PlayerInfo.Find(args[0]);
             
             string target = who == null ? args[0] : who.name;
-            if (!Player.ValidName(target)) {
-                Player.Message(p, "Invalid name \"" + target + "\"."); return;
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, target, "player")) return;
             Group group = who == null ? Group.findPlayerGroup(args[0]) : who.group;
             if (!CheckPerms(target, group, p)) return;
             
diff --git a/Commands/Moderation/CmdInfoSwap.cs b/Commands/Moderation/CmdInfoSwap.cs
index d02da5ff2..bf3d7aa10 100644
--- a/Commands/Moderation/CmdInfoSwap.cs
+++ b/Commands/Moderation/CmdInfoSwap.cs
@@ -31,12 +31,8 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
         public override void Use(Player p, string text) {
             string[] args = text.Split(' ');
             if (args.Length != 2) { Help(p); return; }
-            if (!Player.ValidName(args[0])) {
-                Player.SendMessage(p, "\"" + args[0] + "\" is not a valid player name."); return;
-            }
-            if (!Player.ValidName(args[1])) {
-                Player.SendMessage(p, "\"" + args[1] + "\" is not a valid player name."); return;
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, args[0], "player")) return;
+            if (!ValidName(p, args[1], "player")) return;
             
             if (PlayerInfo.FindExact(args[0]) != null) {
                 Player.SendMessage(p, "\"" + args[0] + "\" must be offline to use /infoswap."); return;
diff --git a/Commands/Moderation/CmdTempBan.cs b/Commands/Moderation/CmdTempBan.cs
index 7ab9e87b9..ef789c33e 100644
--- a/Commands/Moderation/CmdTempBan.cs
+++ b/Commands/Moderation/CmdTempBan.cs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.Moderation {
             Player who = PlayerInfo.Find(args[0]);
             
             string target = who == null ? args[0] : who.name;
-            if (!Player.ValidName(target)) { Player.Message(p, "Invalid name \"" + target + "\"."); return; }
+            if (!ValidName(p, target, "player")) return;
             Group grp = who == null ? PlayerInfo.GetGroup(target) : who.group;
             if (p != null && grp.Permission >= p.group.Permission) {
                 MessageTooHighRank(p, "temp ban", false); return;
diff --git a/Commands/Moderation/CmdZone.cs b/Commands/Moderation/CmdZone.cs
index b209b9f8d..e320b87b7 100644
--- a/Commands/Moderation/CmdZone.cs
+++ b/Commands/Moderation/CmdZone.cs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
             }
             else { Help(p); return; }
 
-            if (!Player.ValidName(cpos.Owner)) { Player.Message(p, "INVALID NAME."); return; }
+            if (!ValidName(p, cpos.Owner, "player or rank")) return;
 
             cpos.x = 0; cpos.y = 0; cpos.z = 0; p.blockchangeObject = cpos;
 
diff --git a/Commands/World/CmdCopyLVL.cs b/Commands/World/CmdCopyLVL.cs
index b6383b080..ecf2ea64f 100644
--- a/Commands/World/CmdCopyLVL.cs
+++ b/Commands/World/CmdCopyLVL.cs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.World {
             }
             src = LevelInfo.FindMapMatches(p, src);
             if (src == null) return;
-            if (!Player.ValidName(dst)) { Player.Message(p, "\"" + dst + "\" is not a valid level name."); return; }         
+            if (!ValidName(p, dst, "level")) return;
             if (LevelInfo.ExistsOffline(dst)) { Player.Message(p, "The level \"" + dst + "\" already exists."); return; }
             
             try {
diff --git a/Commands/World/CmdDeleteLvl.cs b/Commands/World/CmdDeleteLvl.cs
index d5c6be135..4e9f94ae9 100644
--- a/Commands/World/CmdDeleteLvl.cs
+++ b/Commands/World/CmdDeleteLvl.cs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.World {
                 lvl.Unload();
             }
             
-            if (!Player.ValidName(message)) { Player.Message(p, "\"" + message + "\" is not a valid level name."); return; }
+            if (!ValidName(p, message, "level")) return;
             if (lvl == Server.mainLevel) { Player.Message(p, "Cannot delete the main level."); return; }
 
             string map = LevelInfo.FindMapMatches(p, message);
diff --git a/Commands/World/CmdLockdown.cs b/Commands/World/CmdLockdown.cs
index 0887d3e36..99568c0de 100644
--- a/Commands/World/CmdLockdown.cs
+++ b/Commands/World/CmdLockdown.cs
@@ -39,9 +39,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
 
             if (args[0].CaselessEq("map")) {
                 args[1] = args[1].ToLower();
-                if (!Player.ValidName(args[1])) {
-                    Player.Message(p, "\"" + args[1] + "\" is not a valid level name."); return;
-                }
+                if (!ValidName(p, args[1], "level")) return;
                 
                 string path = "text/lockdown/map/" + args[1];
                 if (!File.Exists(path)) {
diff --git a/Commands/World/CmdMain.cs b/Commands/World/CmdMain.cs
index 488bc668e..aebdb285e 100644
--- a/Commands/World/CmdMain.cs
+++ b/Commands/World/CmdMain.cs
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.World {
                 PlayerActions.ChangeMap(p, Server.mainLevel.name);
             } else {
                 if (!CheckExtraPerm(p)) { MessageNeedPerms(p, "change the main level"); return; }
-                if (!Player.ValidName(message)) {
-                    Player.Message(p, "\"{0}\" is not a valid level name.", message); return;
-                }
+                if (!ValidName(p, message, "level")) return;
                 
                 string map = LevelInfo.FindMapMatches(p, message);
                 if (map == null) return;
diff --git a/Commands/World/CmdNewLvl.cs b/Commands/World/CmdNewLvl.cs
index 14f430064..6f996ac06 100644
--- a/Commands/World/CmdNewLvl.cs
+++ b/Commands/World/CmdNewLvl.cs
@@ -43,9 +43,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.World {
             if (!MapGen.OkayAxis(y)) { Player.Message(p, "height must be divisible by 16, and >= 16"); return; }
             if (!MapGen.OkayAxis(z)) { Player.Message(p, "length must be divisible by 16, and >= to 16."); return; }
 
-            if (!Player.ValidName(name)) { 
-                Player.Message(p, "Invalid name!"); return; 
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, name, "level")) return;
             if (LevelInfo.ExistsOffline(name)) {
                 Player.Message(p, "Level \"" + name + "\" already exists!"); return;
             }
diff --git a/Commands/World/CmdRenameLvl.cs b/Commands/World/CmdRenameLvl.cs
index e0ff9b60f..a449238a2 100644
--- a/Commands/World/CmdRenameLvl.cs
+++ b/Commands/World/CmdRenameLvl.cs
@@ -34,9 +34,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.World {
             Level lvl = LevelInfo.FindMatches(p, args[0]);
             if (lvl == null) return;
             string newName = args[1];
-            if (!Player.ValidName(newName)) {
-                Player.Message(p, "\"" + newName + "\" is not a valid level name."); return;
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, newName, "level")) return;
             
             if (LevelInfo.ExistsOffline(newName)) { Player.Message(p, "Level already exists."); return; }
             if (lvl == Server.mainLevel) { Player.Message(p, "Cannot rename the main level."); return; }
@@ -50,7 +48,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.World {
         
         public override void Help(Player p) {
             Player.Message(p, "%T/renamelvl <level> <new name>");
-            Player.Message(p, "%H- Renames <level> to <new name>");
+            Player.Message(p, "%HRenames <level> to <new name>");
             Player.Message(p, "%HNote: Portals going to <level> will no longer work.");
         }
     }
diff --git a/Commands/building/CmdCopy.cs b/Commands/building/CmdCopy.cs
index bb8bd80a3..753095f84 100644
--- a/Commands/building/CmdCopy.cs
+++ b/Commands/building/CmdCopy.cs
@@ -164,9 +164,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands.Building {
 		}
 
 		void SaveCopy(Player p, string file) {
-			if (!Player.ValidName(file)) {
-				Player.Message(p, "Bad file name"); return;
-			}
+			if (!ValidName(p, file, "saved copy")) return;
 			
 			if (!Directory.Exists("extra/savecopy"))
 				Directory.CreateDirectory("extra/savecopy");
diff --git a/Commands/other/CmdReport.cs b/Commands/other/CmdReport.cs
index 9ecb8b7e5..d45632af5 100644
--- a/Commands/other/CmdReport.cs
+++ b/Commands/other/CmdReport.cs
@@ -82,9 +82,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
                 Player.Message(p, "You need to provide a player's name."); return;
             }
             if (!CheckExtraPerm(p)) { MessageNeedPerms(p, "can view the details of a report."); return; }
-            if (!Player.ValidName(args[1])) {
-                Player.Message(p, "\"" + args[1] + "\" is not a valid player name."); return;
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, args[1], "player")) return;
             
             if (!File.Exists("extra/reported/" + args[1] + ".txt")) {
                 Player.Message(p, "The player you specified has not been reported."); return;
@@ -98,9 +96,7 @@ namespace MCGalaxy.Commands {
                 Player.Message(p, "You need to provide a player's name."); return;
             }
             if (!CheckExtraPerm(p)) { MessageNeedPerms(p, "can delete reports."); return; }
-            if (!Player.ValidName(args[1])) {
-                Player.Message(p, "\"" + args[1] + "\" is not a valid player name."); return;
-            }
+            if (!ValidName(p, args[1], "player")) return;
             
             if (!File.Exists("extra/reported/" + args[1] + ".txt")) {
                 Player.Message(p, "The player you specified has not been reported."); return;
diff --git a/Player/Player.cs b/Player/Player.cs
index 3654f6e1e..42cf0146c 100644
--- a/Player/Player.cs
+++ b/Player/Player.cs
@@ -681,8 +681,11 @@ Next: continue;
         }
 
         public static bool ValidName(string name) {
-            string allowedchars = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890._+";
-            return name.All(ch => allowedchars.IndexOf(ch) != -1);
+            const string valid = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890._+";
+            foreach (char c in name) {
+                if (valid.IndexOf(c) == -1) return false;
+            }
+            return true;
         }
 
         public static int GetBannedCount() {