diff --git a/src/functions.py b/src/functions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f50d826
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+from src.messages import messages
+from src import settings as var
+from src import users
+
+__all__ = ["get_players", "get_target"]
+
+def get_players(roles=None):
+    if roles is None:
+        roles = var.ROLES
+
+    players = set()
+    for x in roles:
+        if x in var.TEMPLATE_RESTRICTIONS:
+            continue
+        for p in var.ROLES.get(x, ()):
+            players.add(p)
+
+    return [p for p in var.ALL_PLAYERS if p.nick in players]
+
+
+def get_target(var, wrapper, message, *, allow_self=False, allow_bot=False):
+    if not message:
+        wrapper.pm(messages["not_enough_parameters"])
+        return
+
+    players = get_players()
+    if not allow_self and wrapper.source in players:
+        players.remove(wrapper.source)
+
+    if allow_bot:
+        players.append(users.Bot)
+
+    match, count = users.complete_match(message, players)
+    if match is None:
+        if not count and users.lower(wrapper.source.nick).startswith(users.lower(message)):
+            return wrapper.source
+        wrapper.pm(messages["not_playing"].format(message))
+        return
+
+    return match