diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-database.yml b/.github/actions/setup-database.yml
index b1afbc272b..2d98344961 100644
--- a/.github/actions/setup-database.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-database.yml
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 # (such as with PostgreSQL and MySQL) before you initiate unit tests that will employ that
 # database service.
 
-# NOTE: This action was written for use with the core Evennia workflows ONLY.
+# NOTE: This action was intended for use with the core Evennia workflows ONLY.
 
-name: Set up Database
+name: Set up Evennia database service
 author: dvoraen
 description: "Activates the database server for the passed in service and ensures it's ready for use."
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ runs:
     #   if: inputs.database == "sqlite3"
 
     - name: Set up PostgreSQL server
-      if: inputs.database == "postgresql"
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == "postgresql" }}
       uses: harmon758/postgresql-action@v1
       with:
         postgresql version: "11"
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ runs:
         postgresql password: "password"
 
     - name: Wait for PostgreSQL to activate
-      if: inputs.database == "postgresql" && success()
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == "postgresql" }}
       run: |
         while ! pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1 -q >/dev/null 2>&1
         do
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ runs:
       shell: bash
 
     - name: Set up MySQL server
-      if: inputs.database == "mysql"
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == "mysql" }}
       uses: mirromutth/mysql-action@v1.1
       with:
         host port: 3306
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ runs:
         mysql root password: root_password
 
     - name: Wait for MySQL to activate
-      if: inputs.database == "mysql" && success()
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == "mysql" }}
       run: |
         while ! mysqladmin ping -h 127.0.0.1 -u root -proot_password -s >/dev/null 2>&1
         do
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ runs:
       shell: bash
 
     - name: Set up MySQL Privileges
-      if: inputs.database == "mysql" && success()
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == "mysql" }}
       run: |
         cat <<EOF | mysql -u root -proot_password -h 127.0.0.1 mysql
           create user 'evennia'@'%' identified by 'password';
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ runs:
 
     # get logs from db start
     - name: Database container logs
-      if: (inputs.database == 'postgresql' || inputs.database == 'mysql') && success()
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == 'postgresql' || inputs.database == 'mysql' }}
       uses: jwalton/gh-docker-logs@v2
 
     - name: Check running containers
-      if: (inputs.database == 'postgresql' || inputs.database == 'mysql') && success()
+      if: ${{ inputs.database == 'postgresql' || inputs.database == 'mysql' }}
       run: docker ps -a
diff --git a/.github/workflows/github_action_test_suite.yml b/.github/workflows/github_action_test_suite.yml
index 32c823ca4f..8b38446fd6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/github_action_test_suite.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/github_action_test_suite.yml
@@ -22,10 +22,9 @@ jobs:
         python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11"]
         TESTING_DB: ["sqlite3", "postgresql", "mysql"]
         include:
-          - coverage-test: false
-          - coverage-test: true
-            python-version: "3.10"
+          - python-version: "3.10"
             TESTING_DB: "sqlite3"
+            coverage-test: true
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
       # OBS - it's important to not run the coverage tests with --parallel, it messes up the coverage
       # calculation!
       - name: Run test suite with coverage
-        if: matrix.coverage-test
+        if: ${{ matrix.coverage-test }}
         working-directory: testing_mygame
         run: |
           coverage run \
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ jobs:
 
       # For other runs, run tests in parallel
       - name: Run test suite
-        if: ! matrix.coverage-test
+        if: ! ${{ matrix.coverage-test }}
         working-directory: testing_mygame
         run: |
           evennia test \
@@ -92,11 +91,11 @@ jobs:
             --timing \
             evennia
 
-      # we only want to run coverall once, so we only do it for one of the matrix combinations
+      # we only want to run coverall once, so we only do it for the designated matrix combination(s)
       # it's also not critical if pushing to either service fails (happens for PRs since env is not
       # available outside of the evennia org)
       - name: Send data to Coveralls
-        if: matrix.coverage-test && (github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop')
+        if: ${{ matrix.coverage-test && (github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop') }}
         continue-on-error: true
         env:
           COVERALLS_REPO_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.COVERALLS_REPO_TOKEN }}
@@ -109,6 +108,8 @@ jobs:
     needs: test
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v2
 
@@ -116,14 +117,14 @@ jobs:
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v2
 
       - name: Login to DockerHub
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop'
+        if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop' }}
         uses: docker/login-action@v2
         with:
           username: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
           password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Build and push for master
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
+        if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' }}
         id: docker_build_master
         uses: docker/build-push-action@v3
         with:
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ jobs:
           tags: evennia/evennia:latest
 
       - name: Build and push for develop
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop'
+        if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/develop' }}
         id: docker_build_develop
         uses: docker/build-push-action@v3
         with: