diff --git a/src/typeclasses/models.py b/src/typeclasses/models.py
index cec9ea4668..ae641f364c 100644
--- a/src/typeclasses/models.py
+++ b/src/typeclasses/models.py
@@ -884,9 +884,7 @@ class TypedObject(SharedMemoryModel):
             # (we make sure to not incur a loop by not triggering the
             # typeclass' __getattribute__, since that one would
             # try to look back to this very database object.)
-            typeclass = _GA(self, 'typeclass')
-            # will raise AttributeError also if typeclass was malformed
-            return _GA(typeclass, propname)
+            return _GA(_GA(self, 'typeclass'), propname)
 
     #@property
     _dbid_cache = None
diff --git a/src/utils/dummyrunner.py b/src/utils/dummyrunner.py
index 2f0a4072a6..9ae69610fb 100644
--- a/src/utils/dummyrunner.py
+++ b/src/utils/dummyrunner.py
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from src.utils import utils
 
 HELPTEXT = """
+
+Usage: dummyrunner.py [-h][-v][-V] [nclients]
+
 DO NOT RUN THIS ON A PRODUCTION SERVER! USE A CLEAN/TESTING DATABASE!
 
 This stand-alone program launches dummy telnet clients against a
@@ -144,6 +147,9 @@ class DummyClient(telnet.StatefulTelnetProtocol):
         self.exits = [] # exit names created
         self.objs = [] # obj names created
 
+        self._report = ""
+        self._cmdlist = [] # already stepping in a cmd definition
+        self._ncmds = 0
         self._actions = self.factory.actions
         self._echo_brief = self.factory.verbose == 1
         self._echo_all = self.factory.verbose == 2
@@ -186,23 +192,28 @@ class DummyClient(telnet.StatefulTelnetProtocol):
         """
         if random.random() > CHANCE_OF_ACTION:
             return
-        if self.istep == 0:
-            cfunc = self._actions[0]
-        else: # random selection using cumulative probabilities
-            rand = random.random()
-            cfunc = [func for cprob, func in self._actions[2] if cprob >= rand][0]
-        # launch the action (don't hide tracebacks)
-        cmd, report = cfunc(self)
-        # handle the result
-        cmd = "\n".join(makeiter(cmd))
-        if self.istep == 0 or self._echo_brief or self._echo_all:
-            print "client %i %s" % (self.cid, report)
-        self.sendLine(cmd)
+        if not self._cmdlist:
+            # no cmdlist in store, get a new one
+            if self.istep == 0:
+                cfunc = self._actions[0]
+            else: # random selection using cumulative probabilities
+                rand = random.random()
+                cfunc = [func for cprob, func in self._actions[2] if cprob >= rand][0]
+            # assign to internal cmdlist
+            cmd, self._report = cfunc(self)
+            self._cmdlist = list(makeiter(cmd))
+            self._ncmds = len(self._cmdlist)
+        # output
+        if self.istep == 0 and not (self._echo_brief or self._echo_all):
+            print "client %i %s" % (self.cid, self._report)
+        elif self.istep == 0 or self._echo_brief or self._echo_all:
+            print "client %i %s (%i/%i)" % (self.cid, self._report, self._ncmds-(len(self._cmdlist)-1), self._ncmds)
+        # launch the action by popping the first element from cmdlist (don't hide tracebacks)
+        self.sendLine(str(self._cmdlist.pop(0)))
         self.istep += 1 # only steps up if an action is taken
 
 class DummyFactory(protocol.ClientFactory):
     protocol = DummyClient
-
     def __init__(self, actions, timestep, verbose):
         "Setup the factory base (shared by all clients)"
         self.actions = actions
diff --git a/src/utils/dummyrunner_actions.py b/src/utils/dummyrunner_actions.py
index 6343a46712..ee08195778 100644
--- a/src/utils/dummyrunner_actions.py
+++ b/src/utils/dummyrunner_actions.py
@@ -59,12 +59,20 @@ TOBJ_TYPECLASS = "examples.red_button.RedButton"
 def c_login(client):
     "logins to the game"
     cname = "Dummy-%s-%i" % (RUNID, client.cid)
-    cemail = "%s@dummy.com" % (cname.lower())
+    #cemail = "%s@dummy.com" % (cname.lower())
     cpwd = "%s-%s" % (RUNID, client.cid)
-    cmd = ('create "%s" %s %s' % (cname, cemail, cpwd),
-           'connect %s %s' % (cemail, cpwd),
+    # set up for digging a first room (to move to)
+    roomname = ROOM_TEMPLATE % client.counter()
+    exitname1 = EXIT_TEMPLATE % client.counter()
+    exitname2 = EXIT_TEMPLATE % client.counter()
+    client.exits.extend([exitname1, exitname2])
+    cmd = '@dig %s = %s, %s' % (roomname, exitname1, exitname2)
+    cmd = ('create %s %s' % (cname, cpwd),
+           'connect %s %s' % (cname, cpwd),
            '@dig %s' % START_ROOM % client.cid,
-           '@teleport %s' % START_ROOM % client.cid)
+           '@teleport %s' % START_ROOM % client.cid,
+           '@dig %s = %s, %s' % (roomname, exitname1, exitname2)
+           )
 
     return cmd, "logs in as %s ..." % cname
 
@@ -143,16 +151,16 @@ def c_moves(client):
 # otherwise the system will normalize them.
 #
 
-# heavy builder definition
-#ACTIONS = ( c_login,
-#            c_logout,
-#            (0.2, c_looks),
-#            (0.1, c_examines),
-#            (0.2, c_help),
-#            (0.1, c_digs),
-#            (0.1, c_creates_obj),
-#            #(0.1, c_creates_button),
-#            (0.2, c_moves))
+# "heavy" builder definition
+ACTIONS = ( c_login,
+            c_logout,
+            (0.2, c_looks),
+            (0.1, c_examines),
+            (0.2, c_help),
+            (0.1, c_digs),
+            (0.1, c_creates_obj),
+            #(0.01, c_creates_button),
+            (0.2, c_moves))
 # "normal builder" definition
 #ACTIONS = ( c_login,
 #            c_logout,
@@ -163,14 +171,14 @@ def c_moves(client):
 #            (0.01, c_creates_obj),
 #            #(0.1, c_creates_button),
 #            (0.3, c_moves))
-# "normal player" definition
-ACTIONS = ( c_login,
-            c_logout,
-            (0.7, c_looks),
-            #(0.1, c_examines),
-            (0.3, c_help))
-            #(0.1, c_digs),
-            #(0.1, c_creates_obj),
-            #(0.1, c_creates_button),
-            #(0.4, c_moves))
+# "passive player" definition
+#ACTIONS = ( c_login,
+#            c_logout,
+#            (0.7, c_looks),
+#            #(0.1, c_examines),
+#            (0.3, c_help))
+#            #(0.1, c_digs),
+#            #(0.1, c_creates_obj),
+#            #(0.1, c_creates_button),
+#            #(0.4, c_moves))