diff --git a/chat_commands.lua b/chat_commands.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25866e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chat_commands.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+-- Implementation of chat commands that were registered in register_once
+
+-- general function for handling talking to the NPC
+yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk = function(pname, param)
+	if(not(pname)) then
+		return
+	end
+	local parts = string.split(param or "", " ", false, 1)
+	local cmd  = parts[1] or ""
+	local rest = parts[2] or ""
+	-- setting talk style is available for all
+	if(    cmd and cmd == "style") then
+		-- implemented in fs_decorated.lua:
+		return yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk_style(pname, rest)
+	-- debug mode only makes sense if the player can edit that NPC; the command checks for this
+	elseif(cmd and cmd == "debug") then
+		-- implemented in npc_talk_debug.lua:
+		return yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk_debug(pname, rest)
+	-- activates edit mode when talking to an NPC; but only if the player can edit that NPC
+	elseif(cmd and cmd == "force_edit") then
+		-- implemented in functions.lua:
+		return yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk_force_edit(pname, rest)
+
+	-- managing generic NPC requires npc_talk_admin priv
+	elseif(cmd and cmd == "generic") then
+		if(not(minetest.check_player_privs(pname, {npc_talk_admin = true}))) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(pname, "This command is used for managing "..
+				"generic NPC. You lack the \"npc_talk_admin\" priv required to "..
+				"run this command.")
+			return
+		end
+		-- implemented in add_generic_dialogs.lua:
+		return yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk_generic(pname, rest)
+	elseif(cmd and cmd == "privs") then
+		-- TODO: make this available for npc_talk_admin?
+		if(not(minetest.check_player_privs(pname, {privs = true}))) then
+			minetest.chat_send_player(pname, "This command is used for managing "..
+				"privs (like execute lua, teleportation, giving items...) for NPC. "..
+				"You lack the \"privs\" priv required to "..
+				"run this command.")
+			return
+		end
+		-- implemented in npc_privs.lua:
+		return yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk_privs(pname, rest)
+	end
+	minetest.chat_send_player(pname,
+		"The /npc_talk command is used for managing the yl_speak_up mod and "..
+			"any NPC that use it.\n"..
+		"Usage: \"/npc_talk <command>\" with <command> beeing:\n"..
+		"       help        this help here\n"..
+		"       style       display talk menu in a way better suited for very old versions of MT\n"..
+		"       debug       debug a particular NPC\n"..
+		"       force_edit  forces edit mode for any NPC you talk to\n"..
+		"       generic     [requores npc_talk_admin priv] list, add or remove NPC as generic NPC\n"..
+		"       privs       [requires privs priv] list, grant or revoke privs for an NPC\n"..
+		-- reload is fully handled in register_once
+		"Note: /npc_talk_reload [requires privs priv] reloads the code of the mod without server "..
+			"restart.")
+end
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 39daf76..28b29b4 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ yl_speak_up.reload = function(modpath, log_entry)
 	dofile(modpath .. "fs_properties.lua")
 	-- the main functionality of the mod
 	dofile(modpath .. "functions.lua")
+	-- implementation of the chat commands registered in register_once.lua:
+	dofile(modpath .. "chat_commands.lua")
 	-- creating and maintaining quests
 	dofile(modpath .. "fs_quest_gui.lua")
 
diff --git a/register_once.lua b/register_once.lua
index 0542fc5..4e6e6c1 100644
--- a/register_once.lua
+++ b/register_once.lua
@@ -171,6 +171,16 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand( 'npc_talk_force_edit', {
 	end,
 })
 
+-- a general command that may branch off and/or offer help
+minetest.register_chatcommand( 'npc_talk', {
+	description = "Manage NPC based on yl_speak_up.\n"..
+		"Usage: \"/npc_talk <command>\"  i.e. \"/npc_talk help\".",
+	privs = {},
+	func = function(pname, param)
+		return yl_speak_up.command_npc_talk(pname, param)
+	end,
+})
+
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 -- some node positions can be set by punching a node
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