diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index e690c3dad..1c058f023 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -3169,15 +3169,13 @@ new_units (void)
             order ** newordersp;
 
             if (!checkunitnumber(u->faction, 1)) {
-							if (global.unitsperalliance) {
-                ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("too_many_units_in_alliance",
-                  "command unit region allowed",
-                  makeord, u, r, maxunits(u->faction)));
-							} else {
-                ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("too_many_units_in_faction",
-                  "command unit region allowed",
-                  makeord, u, r, maxunits(u->faction)));
-							}
+              if (global.unitsperalliance) {
+                ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, makeord,
+                  "too_many_units_in_alliance", "allowed", maxunits(u->faction)));
+              } else {
+                ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, makeord,
+                  "too_many_units_in_faction", "allowed", maxunits(u->faction)));
+              }
               ordp = &makeord->next;
 
               while (*ordp) {
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/study.c b/src/common/gamecode/study.c
index 16b9f989b..45359ed4d 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/study.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/study.c
@@ -615,8 +615,11 @@ learn_cmd(unit * u, order * ord)
         } else {
           /* Es wurde kein Magiegebiet angegeben und die Partei
           * hat noch keins gewählt. */
-          cmistake(u, ord, 178, MSG_MAGIC);
-          return 0;
+          mtyp = getmagicskill(u->faction->locale);
+          if (mtyp==M_NONE) {
+            cmistake(u, ord, 178, MSG_MAGIC);
+            return 0;
+          }
         }
       }
       if (mtyp != u->faction->magiegebiet){
@@ -638,12 +641,14 @@ learn_cmd(unit * u, order * ord)
         /* die Partei hat noch kein Magiegebiet gewählt. */
         mtyp = getmagicskill(u->faction->locale);
         if (mtyp == M_NONE){
-          cmistake(u, ord, 178, MSG_MAGIC);
-          return 0;
-        } else {
-          /* Legt damit das Magiegebiet der Partei fest */
-          u->faction->magiegebiet = mtyp;
+          mtyp = getmagicskill(u->faction->locale);
+          if (mtyp==M_NONE) {
+            cmistake(u, ord, 178, MSG_MAGIC);
+            return 0;
+          }
         }
+        /* Legt damit das Magiegebiet der Partei fest */
+        u->faction->magiegebiet = mtyp;
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/common/items/artrewards.c b/src/common/items/artrewards.c
index 069a04e2c..276e942ac 100644
--- a/src/common/items/artrewards.c
+++ b/src/common/items/artrewards.c
@@ -88,11 +88,10 @@ use_hornofdancing(struct unit * u, const struct item_type * itype,
   }
 
   if(regionsPacified > 0) {
-    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("hornofpeace_u_success",
-      "unit region command pacified", u, u->region, ord, regionsPacified));
+    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, ord, "hornofpeace_u_success",
+      "pacified", regionsPacified));
   } else {
-    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("hornofpeace_u_nosuccess",
-      "unit region command", u, u->region, ord));
+    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, ord, "hornofpeace_u_nosuccess", ""));
   }
 
   return 0;
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/message.c b/src/common/kernel/message.c
index 77bb3cb75..4296581ab 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/message.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/message.c
@@ -77,36 +77,36 @@ arg_set(variant args[], const message_type * mtype, const char * buffer, variant
 struct message * 
 msg_feedback(const struct unit * u, struct order * ord, const char * name, const char* sig, ...)
 {
-	va_list marker;
-	const message_type * mtype = mt_find(name);
-	char paramname[64];
-	const char *ic = sig;
-	variant args[16];
+  va_list marker;
+  const message_type * mtype = mt_find(name);
+  char paramname[64];
+  const char *ic = sig;
+  variant args[16];
   variant var;
-	memset(args, 0, sizeof(args));
+  memset(args, 0, sizeof(args));
 
-	if (ord==NULL) ord = u->thisorder;
+  if (ord==NULL) ord = u->thisorder;
 
-	if (!mtype) {
-		log_error(("trying to create message of unknown type \"%s\"\n", name));
+  if (!mtype) {
+    log_error(("trying to create message of unknown type \"%s\"\n", name));
     return msg_message("missing_feedback", "unit region command name", u, u->region, ord, name);
-	}
+  }
 
   var.v = (void*)u;
-	arg_set(args, mtype, "unit", var);
+  arg_set(args, mtype, "unit", var);
   var.v = (void*)u->region;
-	arg_set(args, mtype, "region", var);
+  arg_set(args, mtype, "region", var);
   var.v = (void*)ord;
-	arg_set(args, mtype, "command", var);
+  arg_set(args, mtype, "command", var);
 
-	va_start(marker, sig);
-	while (*ic && !isalnum(*ic)) ic++;
-	while (*ic) {
-		char * oc = paramname;
+  va_start(marker, sig);
+  while (*ic && !isalnum(*ic)) ic++;
+  while (*ic) {
+    char * oc = paramname;
     int i;
 
     while (isalnum(*ic)) *oc++ = *ic++;
-		*oc = '\0';
+    *oc = '\0';
 
     for (i=0;i!=mtype->nparameters;++i) {
       if (!strcmp(paramname, mtype->pnames[i])) break;
@@ -124,10 +124,10 @@ msg_feedback(const struct unit * u, struct order * ord, const char * name, const
       assert(!"program aborted.");
     }
     while (*ic && !isalnum(*ic)) ic++;
-	}
-	va_end(marker);
+  }
+  va_end(marker);
 
-	return msg_create(mtype, args);
+  return msg_create(mtype, args);
 }
 
 message * 
@@ -239,13 +239,12 @@ addmessage(region * r, faction * f, const char *s, msg_t mtype, int level)
 void
 cmistake(const unit * u, struct order *ord, int mno, int mtype)
 {
-	static char ebuf[20];
+  static char msgname[20];
   unused(mtype);
 
-	if (is_monsters(u->faction)) return;
-	sprintf(ebuf, "error%d", mno);
-	ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message(ebuf, 
-		"command unit region", ord, u, u->region));
+  if (is_monsters(u->faction)) return;
+  sprintf(msgname, "error%d", mno);
+  ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, ord, msgname, ""));
 }
 
 extern unsigned int new_hashstring(const char* s);
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/reports.c b/src/common/kernel/reports.c
index a9660dea4..0c78d9737 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/reports.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/reports.c
@@ -1882,9 +1882,10 @@ static void
 eval_resource(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata)
 {
   const faction * report = (const faction*)userdata;
+  const struct locale * lang = report?report->locale:default_locale;
   int j = opop(stack).i;
   const struct resource_type * res = (const struct resource_type *)opop(stack).v;
-  const char * c = LOC(report->locale, resourcename(res, j!=1));
+  const char * c = LOC(lang, resourcename(res, j!=1));
   size_t len = strlen(c);
   variant var;
 
@@ -1896,9 +1897,10 @@ static void
 eval_race(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata)
 {
   const faction * report = (const faction*)userdata;
+  const struct locale * lang = report?report->locale:default_locale;
   int j = opop(stack).i;
   const race * r = (const race *)opop(stack).v;
-  const char * c = LOC(report->locale, rc_name(r, j!=1));
+  const char * c = LOC(lang, rc_name(r, j!=1));
   size_t len = strlen(c);
   variant var;
 
@@ -1925,6 +1927,7 @@ static void
 eval_resources(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata) /* order -> string */
 {
   const faction * report = (const faction*)userdata;
+  const struct locale * lang = report?report->locale:default_locale;
   const struct resource * res = (const struct resource *)opop(stack).v;
   static char buf[1024]; /* but we only use about half of this */
   size_t size = sizeof(buf) - 1;
@@ -1933,7 +1936,7 @@ eval_resources(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata) /* order -> strin
   char * bufp = buf;
   while (res!=NULL && size > 4) {
     const char * rname = resourcename(res->type, (res->number!=1)?NMF_PLURAL:0);
-    int bytes = snprintf(bufp, size, "%d %s", res->number, LOC(report->locale, rname));
+    int bytes = snprintf(bufp, size, "%d %s", res->number, LOC(lang, rname));
     if (bytes<0 || wrptr(&bufp, &size, bytes)!=0 || size<sizeof(buf)/2) {
       WARN_STATIC_BUFFER();
       break;
@@ -1989,6 +1992,7 @@ static void
 eval_trail(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata) /* order -> string */
 {
   const faction * report = (const faction*)userdata;
+  const struct locale * lang = report?report->locale:default_locale;
   int i, end = 0, begin = 0;
   const arg_regions * regions = (const arg_regions *)opop(stack).v;
   static char buf[512];
@@ -2004,7 +2008,7 @@ eval_trail(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata) /* order -> string */
     end = regions->nregions;
     for (i=begin;i<end;++i) {
       region * r = regions->regions[i];
-      const char * trail = trailinto(r, report->locale);
+      const char * trail = trailinto(r, lang);
       const char * rn = f_regionid_s(r, report);
       int bytes = snprintf(bufp, size, trail, rn);
       if (bytes<0 || wrptr(&bufp, &size, bytes)!=0) WARN_STATIC_BUFFER();
@@ -2012,7 +2016,7 @@ eval_trail(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata) /* order -> string */
       if (i+2<end) {
         bytes = (int)strlcpy(bufp, ", ", size);
       } else if (i+1<end) {
-        bytes = (int)strlcpy(bufp, LOC(report->locale, "list_and"), size);
+        bytes = (int)strlcpy(bufp, LOC(lang, "list_and"), size);
       } else bytes = 0;
 
       if (bytes && wrptr(&bufp, &size, bytes)!=0) WARN_STATIC_BUFFER();
@@ -2032,8 +2036,9 @@ static void
 eval_direction(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata)
 {
   const faction * report = (const faction*)userdata;
+  const struct locale * lang = report?report->locale:default_locale;
   int i = opop(stack).i;
-  const char * c = LOC(report->locale, (i>=0)?directions[i]:"unknown_direction");
+  const char * c = LOC(lang, (i>=0)?directions[i]:"unknown_direction");
   size_t len = strlen(c);
   variant var;
 
@@ -2045,8 +2050,9 @@ static void
 eval_skill(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata)
 {
   const faction * report = (const faction*)userdata;
+  const struct locale * lang = report?report->locale:default_locale;
   skill_t sk = (skill_t)opop(stack).i;
-  const char * c = skillname(sk, report->locale);
+  const char * c = skillname(sk, lang);
   size_t len = strlen(c);
   variant var;
 
@@ -2068,6 +2074,20 @@ eval_int36(struct opstack ** stack, const void * userdata)
 }
 /*** END MESSAGE RENDERING ***/
 
+#include <util/nrmessage.h>
+
+static void log_orders(const struct message * msg)
+{
+  char buffer[4096];
+  int i;
+  for (i=0;i!=msg->type->nparameters;++i) {
+    if (msg->type->types[i]->copy==&var_copy_order) {
+      nr_render(msg, default_locale, buffer, sizeof(buffer), NULL);
+      log_warning(("meep - %s\n", buffer));
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 void
 reports_init(void)
 {
@@ -2091,6 +2111,9 @@ reports_init(void)
   register_argtype("items", var_free_resources, var_copy_items, VAR_VOIDPTR);
   register_argtype("regions", var_free_regions, NULL, VAR_VOIDPTR);
 
+
+  msg_log_create = &log_orders;
+
   /* register functions that turn message contents to readable strings */
   add_function("alliance", &eval_alliance);
   add_function("region", &eval_region);
diff --git a/src/common/modules/gmcmd.c b/src/common/modules/gmcmd.c
index 41007e244..be0854d99 100644
--- a/src/common/modules/gmcmd.c
+++ b/src/common/modules/gmcmd.c
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ static void
 mistake(const unit * u, struct order * ord, const char *comment)
 {
   if (!is_monsters(u->faction)) {
-    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("mistake",
-      "command error unit region", ord, comment, u, u->region));
+    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(u, ord, "mistake",
+      "error", comment));
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/spells/spells.c b/src/common/spells/spells.c
index 66cfdc88c..0016c3bcc 100644
--- a/src/common/spells/spells.c
+++ b/src/common/spells/spells.c
@@ -1780,8 +1780,8 @@ sp_treewalkenter(castorder *co)
 
       w = weight(u);
       if (remaining_cap - w < 0) {
-        ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_message("fail_tooheavy",
-          "command region unit target", co->order, r, mage, u));
+        ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(mage, co->order, "fail_tooheavy",
+          "target", u));
         continue;
       }
       remaining_cap = remaining_cap - w;
@@ -5698,8 +5698,7 @@ sp_fetchastral(castorder *co)
   region * ro = NULL; /* region in which the target is */
 
   if (rplane(rt)!=get_normalplane()) {
-    ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_message("error190",
-      "command region unit", co->order, rt, mage));
+    ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(mage, co->order, "error190", ""));
     return 0;
   }
 
@@ -5726,15 +5725,16 @@ sp_fetchastral(castorder *co)
       }
       if (rfind==NULL) {
         /* the region r is not in the schemes of rt */
-        ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_message("spellfail_distance",
-          "command region unit target", co->order, mage->region, mage, u));
+        ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(mage, co->order,
+          "spellfail_distance", "target", u));
         continue;
       }
       ro = u->region;
     }
 
     if (is_cursed(ro->attribs, C_ASTRALBLOCK, 0)) {
-      ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(mage, co->order, "spellfail_astralblock", ""));
+      ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(mage, co->order,
+        "spellfail_astralblock", ""));
       continue;
     }
 
@@ -5745,8 +5745,8 @@ sp_fetchastral(castorder *co)
 
     w = weight(u);
     if (remaining_cap - w < 0) {
-      ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_message("fail_tooheavy",
-        "command region unit target", co->order, mage->region, mage, u));
+      ADDMSG(&mage->faction->msgs, msg_feedback(mage, co->order,
+        "fail_tooheavy", "target", u));
       continue;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/common/util/message.c b/src/common/util/message.c
index 9659d5966..ae8346465 100644
--- a/src/common/util/message.c
+++ b/src/common/util/message.c
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 
+void (*msg_log_create)(const struct message * msg) = 0;
+
 const char *
 mt_name(const message_type* mtype)
 {
@@ -147,6 +149,7 @@ msg_create(const struct message_type * mtype, variant args[])
   for (i=0;i!=mtype->nparameters;++i) {
     msg->parameters[i] = copy_arg(mtype->types[i], args[i]);
   }
+  if (msg_log_create) msg_log_create(msg);
   return msg;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/util/message.h b/src/common/util/message.h
index 242ed062f..021283903 100644
--- a/src/common/util/message.h
+++ b/src/common/util/message.h
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ extern const struct message_type * mt_find(const char *);
 extern void register_argtype(const char * name, void(*free_arg)(variant), variant (*copy_arg)(variant), variant_type);
 extern const struct arg_type * find_argtype(const char * name);
 
+extern void (*msg_log_create)(const struct message * msg);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif