diff --git a/include/aoclient.h b/include/aoclient.h
index 530efd5..76bc7e7 100644
--- a/include/aoclient.h
+++ b/include/aoclient.h
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ class AOClient : public QObject {
     void cmdSetBackground(int argc, QStringList argv);
     void cmdBgLock(int argc, QStringList argv);
     void cmdBgUnlock(int argc, QStringList argv);
+    void cmdStatus(int argc, QStringList argv);
     // Moderation
     void cmdMods(int argc, QStringList argv);
     void cmdBan(int argc, QStringList argv);
@@ -278,6 +279,7 @@ class AOClient : public QObject {
         {"toggleglobal", {ACLFlags.value("NONE"), 0, &AOClient::cmdToggleGlobal}},
         {"mods", {ACLFlags.value("NONE"), 0, &AOClient::cmdMods}},
         {"help", {ACLFlags.value("NONE"), 0, &AOClient::cmdHelp}},
+        {"status", {ACLFlags.value("NONE"), 1, &AOClient::cmdStatus}},
     };
 
     QString partial_packet;
diff --git a/include/area_data.h b/include/area_data.h
index 1697ec6..f26311d 100644
--- a/include/area_data.h
+++ b/include/area_data.h
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 #include <QElapsedTimer>
 
 class Logger;
-class AreaData {
+class AreaData : public QObject {
+  Q_OBJECT
   public:
     AreaData(QStringList p_characters, QString p_name, int p_index);
 
@@ -43,7 +44,16 @@ class AreaData {
     QMap<QString, bool> characters_taken;
     QList<Evidence> evidence;
     int player_count;
-    QString status;
+    enum Status {
+      IDLE,
+      RP,
+      CASING,
+      LOOKING_FOR_PLAYERS,
+      RECESS,
+      GAMING
+    };
+    Q_ENUM(Status);
+    Status status;
     QList<int> owners;
     QList<int> invited;
     enum LockStatus {
@@ -51,6 +61,7 @@ class AreaData {
       LOCKED,
       SPECTATABLE
     };
+    Q_ENUM(LockStatus);
     LockStatus locked;
     QString background;
     bool is_protected;
diff --git a/src/aoclient.cpp b/src/aoclient.cpp
index 5a7f3ac..167e919 100644
--- a/src/aoclient.cpp
+++ b/src/aoclient.cpp
@@ -215,42 +215,38 @@ void AOClient::arup(ARUPType type, bool broadcast)
     QStringList arup_data;
     arup_data.append(QString::number(type));
     for (AreaData* area : server->areas) {
-        if (type == ARUPType::PLAYER_COUNT) {
-            arup_data.append(QString::number(area->player_count));
-        }
-        else if (type == ARUPType::STATUS) {
-            arup_data.append(area->status);
-        }
-        else if (type == ARUPType::CM) {
-            if (area->owners.isEmpty())
-                arup_data.append("FREE");
-            else {
-                QStringList area_owners;
-                for (int owner_id : area->owners) {
-                    AOClient* owner = server->getClientByID(owner_id);
-                    area_owners.append("[" + QString::number(owner->id) + "] " + owner->current_char);
+        switch(type) {
+            case ARUPType::PLAYER_COUNT: {
+                arup_data.append(QString::number(area->player_count));
+                break;
+            }
+            case ARUPType::STATUS: {
+                QString area_status = QVariant::fromValue(area->status).toString().replace("_", "-");
+                arup_data.append(area_status);
+                break;
+            }
+            case ARUPType::CM: {
+                if (area->owners.isEmpty())
+                    arup_data.append("FREE");
+                else {
+                    QStringList area_owners;
+                    for (int owner_id : area->owners) {
+                        AOClient* owner = server->getClientByID(owner_id);
+                        area_owners.append("[" + QString::number(owner->id) + "] " + owner->current_char);
+                    }
+                    arup_data.append(area_owners.join(", "));
                 }
-                arup_data.append(area_owners.join(", "));
+                break;
+            }
+            case ARUPType::LOCKED: {
+                QString lock_status = QVariant::fromValue(area->locked).toString();
+                arup_data.append(lock_status);
+                break;
+            }
+            default: {
+                return;
             }
         }
-        else if (type == ARUPType::LOCKED) {
-            QString lock_status;
-            switch (area->locked) {
-                case AreaData::LockStatus::FREE:
-                    lock_status = "FREE";
-                    break;
-                case AreaData::LockStatus::LOCKED:
-                    lock_status = "LOCKED";
-                    break;
-                case AreaData::LockStatus::SPECTATABLE:
-                    lock_status = "SPECTATABLE";
-                    break;
-                default:
-                    break;
-            }
-            arup_data.append(lock_status);
-        }
-        else return;
     }
     if (broadcast)
         server->broadcast(AOPacket("ARUP", arup_data));
diff --git a/src/area_data.cpp b/src/area_data.cpp
index 0036af3..bfffba6 100644
--- a/src/area_data.cpp
+++ b/src/area_data.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ AreaData::AreaData(QStringList characters, QString p_name, int p_index)
     areas_ini.endGroup();
     player_count = 0;
     locked = FREE;
-    status = "FREE";
+    status = IDLE;
     def_hp = 10;
     pro_hp = 10;
     document = "No document.";
diff --git a/src/commands.cpp b/src/commands.cpp
index 68ca736..1b32529 100644
--- a/src/commands.cpp
+++ b/src/commands.cpp
@@ -723,13 +723,35 @@ void AOClient::cmdHelp(int argc, QStringList argv)
     QMap<QString, CommandInfo>::const_iterator i;
     for (i = commands.constBegin(); i!= commands.constEnd(); ++i) {
         CommandInfo info = i.value();
-        if (checkAuth(info.acl_mask)) {
+        if (checkAuth(info.acl_mask)) { // if we are allowed to use this command
             entries << "/" + i.key();
         }
     }
     sendServerMessage(entries.join("\n"));
 }
 
+void AOClient::cmdStatus(int argc, QStringList argv) {
+    AreaData* area = server->areas[current_area];
+    QString arg = argv[0].toLower();
+    if (arg == "idle")
+        area->status = AreaData::IDLE;
+    else if (arg == "rp")
+        area->status = AreaData::RP;
+    else if (arg == "casing")
+        area->status = AreaData::CASING;
+    else if (arg == "looking-for-players" || arg == "lfp")
+        area->status = AreaData::LOOKING_FOR_PLAYERS;
+    else if (arg == "recess")
+        area->status = AreaData::RECESS;
+    else if (arg == "gaming")
+        area->status = AreaData::GAMING;
+    else {
+        sendServerMessage("That does not look like a valid status. Valid statuses are idle, rp, casing, lfp, recess, gaming");
+        return;
+    }
+    arup(ARUPType::STATUS, true);
+}
+
 QStringList AOClient::buildAreaList(int area_idx)
 {
     QStringList entries;