diff --git a/evennia/commands/command.py b/evennia/commands/command.py
index 8110a9ecb3..dba035b481 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/command.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/command.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ All commands in Evennia inherit from the 'Command' class in this module.
 """
 import re
 import math
+import inspect
 
 from django.conf import settings
 
@@ -74,6 +75,13 @@ def _init_command(cls, **kwargs):
         cls.is_exit = False
     if not hasattr(cls, "help_category"):
         cls.help_category = "general"
+    # make sure to pick up the parent's docstring if the child class is
+    # missing one (important for auto-help)
+    if cls.__doc__ is None:
+        for parent_class in inspect.getmro(cls):
+            if parent_class.__doc__ is not None:
+                cls.__doc__ = parent_class.__doc__
+                break
     cls.help_category = cls.help_category.lower()
 
 
diff --git a/evennia/commands/default/building.py b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
index 77b704356c..44a9350c52 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/default/building.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from evennia.utils.eveditor import EvEditor
 from evennia.utils.evmore import EvMore
 from evennia.prototypes import spawner, prototypes as protlib, menus as olc_menus
 from evennia.utils.ansi import raw
+from evennia.prototypes.menus import _format_diff_text_and_options
 
 COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS = class_from_module(settings.COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS)
 
@@ -1912,8 +1913,8 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
 
     Usage:
       typeclass[/switch] <object> [= typeclass.path]
-      type                     ''
-      parent                   ''
+      typeclass/prototype <object> = prototype_key
+
       typeclass/list/show [typeclass.path]
       swap - this is a shorthand for using /force/reset flags.
       update - this is a shorthand for using the /force/reload flag.
@@ -1930,9 +1931,12 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
       list - show available typeclasses. Only typeclasses in modules actually
              imported or used from somewhere in the code will show up here
              (those typeclasses are still available if you know the path)
+      prototype - clean and overwrite the object with the specified
+               prototype key - effectively making a whole new object.
 
     Example:
       type button = examples.red_button.RedButton
+      type/prototype button=a red button
 
     If the typeclass_path is not given, the current object's typeclass is
     assumed.
@@ -1954,7 +1958,7 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
 
     key = "typeclass"
     aliases = ["type", "parent", "swap", "update"]
-    switch_options = ("show", "examine", "update", "reset", "force", "list")
+    switch_options = ("show", "examine", "update", "reset", "force", "list", "prototype")
     locks = "cmd:perm(typeclass) or perm(Builder)"
     help_category = "Building"
 
@@ -2038,6 +2042,27 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
 
         new_typeclass = self.rhs or obj.path
 
+        prototype = None
+        if "prototype" in self.switches:
+            key = self.rhs
+            prototype = protlib.search_prototype(key=key)
+            if len(prototype) > 1:
+                caller.msg(
+                    "More than one match for {}:\n{}".format(
+                        key, "\n".join(proto.get("prototype_key", "") for proto in prototype)
+                    )
+                )
+                return
+            elif prototype:
+                # one match
+                prototype = prototype[0]
+            else:
+                # no match
+                caller.msg("No prototype '{}' was found.".format(key))
+                return
+            new_typeclass = prototype["typeclass"]
+            self.switches.append("force")
+
         if "show" in self.switches or "examine" in self.switches:
             string = "%s's current typeclass is %s." % (obj.name, obj.__class__)
             caller.msg(string)
@@ -2070,11 +2095,38 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
             hooks = "at_object_creation" if update else "all"
             old_typeclass_path = obj.typeclass_path
 
+            # special prompt for the user in cases where we want
+            # to confirm changes.
+            if "prototype" in self.switches:
+                diff, _ = spawner.prototype_diff_from_object(prototype, obj)
+                txt, options = _format_diff_text_and_options(diff, objects=[obj])
+                prompt = "Applying prototype '%s' over '%s' will cause the follow changes:\n%s\n" % \
+                         (
+                             prototype["key"],
+                             obj.name,
+                             "\n".join(txt)
+                         )
+                if not reset:
+                    prompt += "\n|yWARNING:|n Use the /reset switch to apply the prototype over a blank state."
+                prompt += "\nAre you sure you want to apply these changes [yes]/no?"
+                answer = yield (prompt)
+                if answer and answer in ("no", "n"):
+                    caller.msg(
+                        "Canceled: No changes were applied."
+                    )
+                    return
+
             # we let this raise exception if needed
             obj.swap_typeclass(
                 new_typeclass, clean_attributes=reset, clean_cmdsets=reset, run_start_hooks=hooks
             )
 
+            if "prototype" in self.switches:
+                modified = spawner.batch_update_objects_with_prototype(prototype, objects=[obj])
+                prototype_success = modified > 0
+                if not prototype_success:
+                    caller.msg("Prototype %s failed to apply." % prototype["key"])
+
             if is_same:
                 string = "%s updated its existing typeclass (%s).\n" % (obj.name, obj.path)
             else:
@@ -2091,6 +2143,8 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
                 string += " All old attributes where deleted before the swap."
             else:
                 string += " Attributes set before swap were not removed."
+            if "prototype" in self.switches and prototype_success:
+                string += " Prototype '%s' was successfully applied over the object type." % prototype["key"]
 
         caller.msg(string)
 
diff --git a/evennia/commands/default/tests.py b/evennia/commands/default/tests.py
index a250166530..0dd76f8d6f 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/default/tests.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/default/tests.py
@@ -991,6 +991,27 @@ class TestBuilding(CommandTest):
             "All object creation hooks were run. All old attributes where deleted before the swap.",
         )
 
+        from evennia.prototypes.prototypes import homogenize_prototype
+        test_prototype = [homogenize_prototype(
+                            {"prototype_key": "testkey",
+                             "prototype_tags": [],
+                               "typeclass": "typeclasses.objects.Object",
+                               "key":"replaced_obj",
+                               "attrs": [("foo", "bar", None, ""),
+                                         ("desc", "protdesc", None, "")]})]
+        with mock.patch("evennia.commands.default.building.protlib.search_prototype",
+                        new=mock.MagicMock(return_value=test_prototype)) as mprot:
+            self.call(
+                building.CmdTypeclass(),
+                "/prototype Obj=testkey",
+                "replaced_obj changed typeclass from "
+                "evennia.objects.objects.DefaultObject to "
+                "typeclasses.objects.Object.\nAll object creation hooks were "
+                "run. Attributes set before swap were not removed. Prototype "
+                "'replaced_obj' was successfully applied over the object type."
+            )
+            assert self.obj1.db.desc == "protdesc"
+
     def test_lock(self):
         self.call(building.CmdLock(), "", "Usage: ")
         self.call(building.CmdLock(), "Obj = test:all()", "Added lock 'test:all()' to Obj.")
diff --git a/evennia/server/portal/portal.py b/evennia/server/portal/portal.py
index 5864134b46..5810e574fc 100644
--- a/evennia/server/portal/portal.py
+++ b/evennia/server/portal/portal.py
@@ -388,19 +388,18 @@ if WEBSERVER_ENABLED:
                     webclientstr = "webclient-websocket%s: %s" % (w_ifacestr, port)
                 INFO_DICT["webclient"].append(webclientstr)
 
-            web_root = Website(web_root, logPath=settings.HTTP_LOG_FILE)
-            web_root.is_portal = True
+
 
             if WEB_PLUGINS_MODULE:
                 try:
                     web_root = WEB_PLUGINS_MODULE.at_webproxy_root_creation(web_root)
-                except Exception as e: # Legacy user has not added an at_webproxy_root_creation function in existing web plugins file
+                except Exception as e:  # Legacy user has not added an at_webproxy_root_creation function in existing web plugins file
                     INFO_DICT["errors"] = (
                         "WARNING: WEB_PLUGINS_MODULE is enabled but at_webproxy_root_creation() not found - "
                         "copy 'evennia/game_template/server/conf/web_plugins.py to mygame/server/conf."
                     )
-
-
+            web_root = Website(web_root, logPath=settings.HTTP_LOG_FILE)
+            web_root.is_portal = True
             proxy_service = internet.TCPServer(proxyport, web_root, interface=interface)
             proxy_service.setName("EvenniaWebProxy%s:%s" % (ifacestr, proxyport))
             PORTAL.services.addService(proxy_service)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index cfbf6e5af3..e569a8ac07 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -7,9 +7,12 @@ pytz
 django-sekizai
 inflect
 autobahn >= 17.9.3
-model_mommy
+
+# try to resolve dependency issue in py3.7
+attrs >= 19.2.0
 
 # testing and development
+model_mommy
 mock >= 1.0.1
 anything
 black