diff --git a/quest_api.lua b/quest_api.lua
index 1f3db94..ccf5c65 100644
--- a/quest_api.lua
+++ b/quest_api.lua
@@ -532,9 +532,11 @@ yl_speak_up.get_fs_manage_variables = function(player, param)
 					"values into this variable."
 			)..add_write_button..
 			"label[0.2,5.05;Type of variable: "..
-				-- TODO: show actual type
-				minetest.colorize("#FFFF00","String/text or numerical value, depending "..
-					"on how you use it")..".]"..
+				-- show variable type
+				minetest.colorize("#FFFF00",
+					(yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata(k_long, "var_type")
+					 or "String/text or numerical value, depending on how you use it"))..
+					".]"..
 			"label[0.2,6.05;This variable is used by the following "..
 				minetest.colorize("#FFFF00", tostring(c1)).." NPC:\n\t"..
 				-- those are only n_id - no need to formspec_escape that
@@ -655,6 +657,8 @@ end
 
 
 -- a more general way of setting metadata for variables
+-- in general, meta_name is a table containing entries entry_name (usually players or npc_ids)
+-- with assigned values (usually true) for quick lookup
 yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata = function(k, pname, meta_name, entry_name, new_value)
 	k = yl_speak_up.add_pname_to_var(k, pname)
 	-- delete/unset
@@ -669,11 +673,17 @@ yl_speak_up.set_variable_metadata = function(k, pname, meta_name, entry_name, ne
 	if( not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ])) then
 		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ] = { meta_name = {} }
 	end
-	if( not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ][ meta_name ])
-	or type(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ][ meta_name ]) ~= "table") then
-		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ][ meta_name ] = {}
+
+	-- var_type (the type of the variable) is a single string
+	if(meta_name == "var_type") then
+		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ] = new_value
+	else
+		if( not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ][ meta_name ])
+		or type(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ][ meta_name ]) ~= "table") then
+			yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$" ][ meta_name ] = {}
+		end
+		yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ][ entry_name ] = new_value
 	end
-	yl_speak_up.player_vars[ k ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ][ entry_name ] = new_value
 	yl_speak_up.save_quest_variables(true)
 	return true
 end
@@ -797,6 +807,14 @@ end
 
 -- which NPC do use this variable?
 yl_speak_up.get_variable_metadata = function(var_name, meta_name)
+	-- var_type (the type of the variable) is a single string
+	if(meta_name and var_name and meta_name == "var_type") then
+		if(  not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ])
+		  or not(yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ][ "$META$"])) then
+			return nil
+		end
+		return yl_speak_up.player_vars[ var_name ][ "$META$"][ meta_name ]
+	end
 	-- no variable, or nothing stored? then it's not used by any NPC either
 	if(not(var_name)
 	  or  not(meta_name)