diff --git a/prompts/llama-base.yml b/prompts/llama-base.yml
index 7e7e09f..ebe7b6d 100644
--- a/prompts/llama-base.yml
+++ b/prompts/llama-base.yml
@@ -353,6 +353,9 @@ prompts:
     {{notes_prompt}} {{events_prompt}}
     What will you do next? Reply with a JSON function call, calling one of the actions.
     You can only perform one action per turn. What is your next action?
+  world_simulate_character_action_error_json: |
+    Your last reply was not a valid action or the action you tried to use does not exist. Please try again, being
+    careful to reply with a valid function call in JSON format. The available actions are: {{actions}}.
 
   world_simulate_character_planning: |
     You are about to start your turn. Plan your next action carefully. Take notes and schedule events to help keep track of your goals.
@@ -375,4 +378,7 @@ prompts:
   world_simulate_character_planning_events_none: |
     You have no upcoming events.
   world_simulate_character_planning_events_item: |
-    {{event.name}} in {{turns}} turns
\ No newline at end of file
+    {{event.name}} in {{turns}} turns
+  world_simulate_character_planning_error_json: |
+    Your last reply was not a valid action or the action you tried to use does not exist. Please try again, being
+    careful to reply with a valid function call in JSON format. The available actions are: {{actions}}.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/taleweave/bot/discord.py b/taleweave/bot/discord.py
index d5047ed..0b31260 100644
--- a/taleweave/bot/discord.py
+++ b/taleweave/bot/discord.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ client = None
 active_tasks = set()
 event_messages: Dict[int, str | GameEvent] = {}
 event_queue: Queue[GameEvent] = Queue()
+player_mentions: Dict[str, str] = {}
 
 
 def remove_tags(text: str) -> str:
@@ -80,6 +81,12 @@ class AdventureClient(Client):
         if message.author == self.user:
             return
 
+        # make sure the message was in a valid channel
+        active_channels = get_active_channels()
+        if message.channel not in active_channels:
+            return
+
+        # get message contents
         config = get_game_config()
         author = message.author
         channel = message.channel
@@ -143,6 +150,7 @@ class AdventureClient(Client):
             )
             set_character_agent(character_name, character, player)
             set_player(user_name, player)
+            player_mentions[user_name] = author.mention
 
             logger.info(f"{user_name} has joined the game as {character.name}!")
             join_event = PlayerEvent("join", character_name, user_name)
@@ -179,6 +187,9 @@ class AdventureClient(Client):
             if content.startswith(config.bot.discord.command_prefix + "leave"):
                 remove_player(user_name)
 
+                if user_name in player_mentions:
+                    del player_mentions[user_name]
+
                 # revert to LLM agent
                 character, _ = get_character_agent_for_name(player.name)
                 if character and player.fallback_agent:
@@ -443,6 +454,9 @@ def embed_from_prompt(event: PromptEvent):
 
         if user:
             # TODO: use Discord user.mention to ping the user
+            if user in player_mentions:
+                user = player_mentions[user]
+
             prompt_embed.add_field(
                 name="Player",
                 value=user,
diff --git a/taleweave/simulate.py b/taleweave/simulate.py
index 3e6f8a9..83cd758 100644
--- a/taleweave/simulate.py
+++ b/taleweave/simulate.py
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ from typing import Callable, Sequence
 
 from packit.agent import Agent
 from packit.conditions import condition_or, condition_threshold
+from packit.errors import ToolError
 from packit.loops import loop_retry
 from packit.results import function_result
 from packit.toolbox import Toolbox
-from packit.utils import could_be_json
 
 from taleweave.actions.base import (
     action_ask,
@@ -80,8 +80,10 @@ def world_result_parser(value, agent, **kwargs):
 
 
 def prompt_character_action(
-    room, character, agent, action_names, action_toolbox, current_turn
+    room, character, agent, action_toolbox, current_turn
 ) -> str:
+    action_names = action_toolbox.list_tools()
+
     # collect data for the prompt
     notes_prompt, events_prompt = get_notes_events(character, current_turn)
 
@@ -114,18 +116,21 @@ def prompt_character_action(
                 except Exception:
                     pass
 
-        if could_be_json(value):
-            # TODO: only emit valid actions that parse and run correctly, and try to avoid parsing the JSON twice
+        try:
+            result = world_result_parser(value, **kwargs)
+
+            # TODO: try to avoid parsing the JSON twice
             event = ActionEvent.from_json(value, room, character)
-        else:
+            broadcast(event)
+
+            return result
+        except ToolError:
             raise ActionError(
-                "Your last reply was not valid JSON. Please try again and reply with a valid function call in JSON format."
+                format_prompt(
+                    "world_simulate_character_action_error_json", actions=action_names
+                )
             )
 
-        broadcast(event)
-
-        return world_result_parser(value, **kwargs)
-
     # prompt and act
     logger.info("starting turn for character: %s", character.name)
     result = loop_retry(
@@ -201,9 +206,21 @@ def prompt_character_planning(
     event_count = len(character.planner.calendar.events)
     note_count = len(character.planner.notes)
 
+    def result_parser(value, **kwargs):
+        try:
+            return function_result(value, **kwargs)
+        except ToolError:
+            raise ActionError(
+                format_prompt(
+                    "world_simulate_character_planning_error_json",
+                    actions=planner_toolbox.list_tools(),
+                )
+            )
+
     logger.info("starting planning for character: %s", character.name)
     _, condition_end, result_parser = make_keyword_condition(
-        get_prompt("world_simulate_character_planning_done")
+        get_prompt("world_simulate_character_planning_done"),
+        result_parser=result_parser,
     )
     stop_condition = condition_or(
         condition_end, partial(condition_threshold, max=max_steps)
@@ -256,7 +273,6 @@ def simulate_world(
             *actions,
         ]
     )
-    action_names = action_tools.list_tools()
 
     # build a toolbox for the planners
     planner_toolbox = Toolbox(
@@ -309,7 +325,7 @@ def simulate_world(
 
             try:
                 result = prompt_character_action(
-                    room, character, agent, action_names, action_tools, current_turn
+                    room, character, agent, action_tools, current_turn
                 )
                 result_event = ResultEvent(
                     result=result, room=room, character=character
diff --git a/taleweave/utils/conversation.py b/taleweave/utils/conversation.py
index c072471..0628661 100644
--- a/taleweave/utils/conversation.py
+++ b/taleweave/utils/conversation.py
@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ from .string import and_list, normalize_name
 logger = getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def make_keyword_condition(end_message: str, keywords=["end", "stop"]):
+def make_keyword_condition(
+    end_message: str,
+    keywords=["end", "stop"],
+    result_parser=multi_function_or_str_result,
+):
     set_end, condition_end = make_flag_condition()
 
-    def result_parser(value, **kwargs):
+    def inner_parser(value, **kwargs):
         normalized_value = normalize_name(value)
         if normalized_value in keywords:
             logger.debug(f"found keyword, setting stop condition: {normalized_value}")
@@ -51,9 +55,9 @@ def make_keyword_condition(end_message: str, keywords=["end", "stop"]):
                 set_end()
                 return end_message
 
-        return multi_function_or_str_result(value, **kwargs)
+        return result_parser(value, **kwargs)
 
-    return set_end, condition_end, result_parser
+    return set_end, condition_end, inner_parser
 
 
 def summarize_room(room: Room, player: Character) -> str: