diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index deb03d1..d32ae4a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ NPC to ask for a passwort or the answer to a question the NPC just asked.
 The player's answer is checked against the *expected answer* that you give
 when you set up this action.
 
-Custom Actions
-==============
+Custom Preconditions, Actions and Effects
+=========================================
 You can define custom actions and provide a parameter. The function
 	yl_speak_up.get_fs_action_custom(player, param)
 gets called when such a function is executed and ought to return a formspec.
@@ -187,3 +187,9 @@ Input ought to be sent to the function
 	yl_speak_up.input_fs_action_custom(player, formname, fields)
 which acts as an example of what you need to take care of in your own
 implementation of this function.
+
+You can also define custom preconditions and effects. For more information,
+take a look at
+	custrom_functions_you_can_override.lua
+In order to add custom functions, you need to be able to edit that file or
+execute Lua code on the server.
diff --git a/custrom_functions_you_can_override.lua b/custrom_functions_you_can_override.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67b21ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/custrom_functions_you_can_override.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+
+-- this contains custom functions that you can override on your server
+-- please take a look at the example code!
+
+-- replace some variables in the text the NPC speaks and which the player can use to reply
+-- pname: the name of the player that is talking to the NPC;
+-- Note: If you want to change this function, best call the original as well after
+--       applying your custom changes.
+yl_speak_up.replace_vars_in_text = function(text, dialog, pname)
+	local subs = {
+		MY_NAME = dialog.n_npc,
+		NPC_NAME = dialog.n_npc,
+		OWNER_NAME = dialog.npc_owner,
+		PLAYER_NAME = pname,
+	}
+
+	local day_time_name = "day"
+	local day_time = minetest.get_timeofday()
+	if(day_time < 0.5) then
+		day_time_name = "morning"
+	elseif(day_time < 0.75) then
+		day_time_name = "afternoon"
+	else
+		day_time_name = "evening"
+	end
+	subs.GOOD_DAY = "Good "..day_time_name
+	subs.good_DAY = "good "..day_time_name
+
+	-- Note: the $ char is a special one. It needs to be escaped with %$ in lua.
+	-- Note: when substitution argument is a table, we look up
+	-- substitutions in it using substring captured by "()" in
+	-- pattern. "[%a_]+" means one or more letter or underscore.
+	-- If lookup returns nil, then no substitution is made.
+	text = string.gsub(text, "%$([%a_]+)%$", subs)
+
+	return text
+end
+
+
+-- a custom precondition;
+-- has to return either true (=precondition is fulfilled) or false (=precondition is not fulfilled)
+-- Note: This function will be called often. Make it efficient!
+yl_speak_up.precondition_custom = function(player, param)
+	minetest.chat_send_player(player:get_player_name(),
+		"Checking custom precondition with parameter \""..tostring(param).."\"..")
+	-- return if your precondition is fulfilled (true) or not (false)
+	return true
+end
+
+
+-- a custom effect;
+-- has to return true (=effect was executed successfully) or false (=effect failed for some reason)
+yl_speak_up.effect_custom = function(player, param)
+	minetest.chat_send_player(player:get_player_name(),
+		"Executing custom effect with parameter \""..tostring(param).."\"..")
+	-- return true if your effect executed successfuly, and false if not
+	-- (only relevant for following on_failure effects)
+        return true
+end
+
+
+-- a custom action (the formspec shown to the player);
+-- overwrite this function on your server with a custom one that shows the formspec
+-- that you want!
+yl_speak_up.get_fs_action_custom = function(player, param)
+	local pname = player:get_player_name()
+	local dialog = yl_speak_up.speak_to[pname].dialog
+	return "size[8.5,4.0]"..
+		"button[0.2,0.0;2.0,0.9;back_to_talk;Back to talk]"..
+		"button[4.75,0.0;3.0,0.9;finished_action;Stare back]"..
+
+		"tooltip[back_to_talk;Click here if you want the action to FAIL.]"..
+		"tooltip[finished_action;Click here if you want the action to be a SUCCESS.]"..
+		"label[0.5,1.7;"..minetest.formspec_escape(
+			"["..(dialog.n_npc or "- ? -").." stares expectantly at you.]").."]"..
+		"label[0.5,2.5;Your custom parameter is:]"..
+		"label[1.5,3.0;"..minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(param)).."]"..
+		"label[0.5,3.5;Overwrite this function with a custom one!]"
+end
+
+
+-- a custom action (checking of the input);
+-- overwrite this function on your server with a custom one that checks the
+-- input to your formspec - but don't forget to call the necessary functions
+-- as shown here
+yl_speak_up.input_fs_action_custom = function(player, formname, fields)
+	-- back from error_msg? then show the formspec again
+	if(fields.back_from_error_msg) then
+		yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "action_custom", nil)
+		return
+	end
+	local pname = player:get_player_name()
+	local a_id = yl_speak_up.speak_to[pname].a_id
+	if(fields.back_to_talk) then
+		-- the action failed
+		yl_speak_up.execute_next_action(player, a_id, false)
+		return
+	end
+	if(fields.finished_action) then
+		-- the action was a success
+		yl_speak_up.execute_next_action(player, a_id, true)
+		return
+	end
+	-- else show a message to the player that he ought to decide
+	yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "msg", {
+		input_to = "yl_speak_up:action_custom",
+		formspec = "size[7,1.0]"..
+			"label[0.2,-0.2;"..
+				"Please click either on \"Stare back\" or \"Back to talk\"!]"..
+				"button[2,0.5;1.5,0.9;back_from_error_msg;Back]"})
+end
+
diff --git a/fs_edit_actions.lua b/fs_edit_actions.lua
index b6f9b31..f348aa8 100644
--- a/fs_edit_actions.lua
+++ b/fs_edit_actions.lua
@@ -618,55 +618,6 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_action_text_input = function(player, param)
 end
 
 
--- overwrite this function on your server with a custom one that checks the
--- input to your formspec above
-yl_speak_up.input_fs_action_custom = function(player, formname, fields)
-	-- back from error_msg? then show the formspec again
-	if(fields.back_from_error_msg) then
-		yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "action_custom", nil)
-		return
-	end
-	local pname = player:get_player_name()
-	local a_id = yl_speak_up.speak_to[pname].a_id
-	if(fields.back_to_talk) then
-		-- the action failed
-		yl_speak_up.execute_next_action(player, a_id, false)
-		return
-	end
-	if(fields.finished_action) then
-		-- the action was a success
-		yl_speak_up.execute_next_action(player, a_id, true)
-		return
-	end
-	-- else show a message to the player that he ought to decide
-	yl_speak_up.show_fs(player, "msg", {
-		input_to = "yl_speak_up:action_custom",
-		formspec = "size[7,1.0]"..
-			"label[0.2,-0.2;"..
-				"Please click either on \"Stare back\" or \"Back to talk\"!]"..
-				"button[2,0.5;1.5,0.9;back_from_error_msg;Back]"})
-end
-
-
--- overwrite this function on your server with a custom one that shows the formspec
--- that you want!
-yl_speak_up.get_fs_action_custom = function(player, param)
-	local pname = player:get_player_name()
-	local dialog = yl_speak_up.speak_to[pname].dialog
-	return "size[8.5,4.0]"..
-		"button[0.2,0.0;2.0,0.9;back_to_talk;Back to talk]"..
-		"button[4.75,0.0;3.0,0.9;finished_action;Stare back]"..
-
-		"tooltip[back_to_talk;Click here if you want the action to FAIL.]"..
-		"tooltip[finished_action;Click here if you want the action to be a SUCCESS.]"..
-		"label[0.5,1.7;"..minetest.formspec_escape(
-			"["..(dialog.n_npc or "- ? -").." stares expectantly at you.]").."]"..
-		"label[0.5,2.5;Your custom parameter is:]"..
-		"label[1.5,3.0;"..minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(param)).."]"..
-		"label[0.5,3.5;Overwrite this function with a custom one!]"
-end
-
-
 -- these are only wrapper functions for those in fs_edit_general.lua
 
 yl_speak_up.input_fs_edit_actions = function(player, formname, fields)
diff --git a/fs_edit_effects.lua b/fs_edit_effects.lua
index 6612ae5..1d0670b 100644
--- a/fs_edit_effects.lua
+++ b/fs_edit_effects.lua
@@ -694,16 +694,6 @@ yl_speak_up.execute_effect = function(player, n_id, o_id, r)
 end
 
 
--- a custom function that the server can override
-yl_speak_up.effect_custom = function(player, param)
-	minetest.chat_send_player(player:get_player_name(),
-		"Executing custom effect with parameter \""..tostring(param).."\"..")
-	-- return true if your effect executed successfuly, and false if not
-	-- (only relevant for following on_failure effects)
-        return true
-end
-
-
 -- these are only wrapper functions for those in fs_edit_general.lua
 
 yl_speak_up.input_fs_edit_effects = function(player, formname, fields)
diff --git a/fs_edit_preconditions.lua b/fs_edit_preconditions.lua
index ec2fbab..ac21c95 100644
--- a/fs_edit_preconditions.lua
+++ b/fs_edit_preconditions.lua
@@ -408,15 +408,6 @@ yl_speak_up.eval_precondition = function(player, n_id, p)
 end
 
 
--- a custom function that the server can override
-yl_speak_up.precondition_custom = function(player, param)
-	minetest.chat_send_player(player:get_player_name(),
-		"Checking custom precondition with parameter \""..tostring(param).."\"..")
-	-- return weather your precondition is fulfilled (true) or not (false)
-	return true
-end
-
-
 -- these are only wrapper functions for those in fs_edit_general.lua
 
 yl_speak_up.input_fs_edit_preconditions = function(player, formname, fields)
diff --git a/functions.lua b/functions.lua
index 27a3694..7460997 100644
--- a/functions.lua
+++ b/functions.lua
@@ -2967,39 +2967,6 @@ yl_speak_up.may_edit_npc = function(player, n_id)
 end
 
 
--- replace some variables in the text the NPC speaks and which the player can use to reply
--- pname: the name of the player that is talking to the NPC
-yl_speak_up.replace_vars_in_text = function(text, dialog, pname)
-	local subs = {
-		MY_NAME = dialog.n_npc,
-		NPC_NAME = dialog.n_npc,
-		OWNER_NAME = dialog.npc_owner,
-		PLAYER_NAME = pname,
-	}
-
-	local day_time_name = "day"
-	local day_time = minetest.get_timeofday()
-	if(day_time < 0.5) then
-		day_time_name = "morning"
-	elseif(day_time < 0.75) then
-		day_time_name = "afternoon"
-	else
-		day_time_name = "evening"
-	end
-	subs.GOOD_DAY = "Good "..day_time_name
-	subs.good_DAY = "good "..day_time_name
-
-	-- Note: the $ char is a special one. It needs to be escaped with %$ in lua.
-	-- Note: when substitution argument is a table, we look up
-	-- substitutions in it using substring captured by "()" in
-	-- pattern. "[%a_]+" means one or more letter or underscore.
-	-- If lookup returns nil, then no substitution is made.
-	text = string.gsub(text, "%$([%a_]+)%$", subs)
-
-	return text
-end
-
-
 -- log changes done by players or admins to NPCs
 yl_speak_up.log_change = function(pname, n_id, text)
 	-- make sure all variables are defined
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 96961c8..de49385 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ dofile(modpath .. "privs.lua")
 dofile(modpath .. "show_fs.lua")
 -- ask if the player wants to save, discard or go back in edit mode
 dofile(modpath .. "fs_save_or_discard_or_back.lua")
+-- as the name says: a collection of custom functions that you can
+-- override on your server or in your game to suit your needs;
+-- Note: No special privs are needed to call custom functions. But...
+--       of course you can change them only if you have access to
+--       the server's file system or can execute lua code.
+dofile(modpath .. "custrom_functions_you_can_override.lua")
 -- common functions for editing preconditions and effects
 dofile(modpath .. "fs_edit_general.lua")
 -- edit preconditions (can be reached through edit options dialog)