diff --git a/battleman.py b/battleman.py
index 5c1f6ae..16629b9 100755
--- a/battleman.py
+++ b/battleman.py
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 # A table-top RPG battle flow manager
 # Tuned pretty specifically to D&D 4e for now... need a templatized system
 # to do anything fancier... may develop that at some point.
+#
+# future features:
+#  * keep a pickled file or a shelve db of the current state, and add a --resume option
+#    for resuming a battle later
+#  * an option for passing in multiple files that contain combatant definitions
+#  * down combatants go into a separate list
 
 from dice import Dice
 import sys
@@ -133,7 +139,7 @@ class Combatant():
 
 def input_int(prompt, default=-1):
     if default != -1:
-        prompt = prompt + '[{}]'.format(default)
+        prompt = prompt + ' [{}]'.format(default)
     prompt = prompt + ': '
 
     data = raw_input(prompt)
@@ -153,6 +159,19 @@ class Battle():
         self.round = -1
 
 
+    def __str__(self):
+        ret = ''
+        if self.is_started():
+            ret = 'Battle underway, currently on round {}\n'.format(self.round)
+        else:
+            ret = 'Battle not yet started\n'
+
+        ret = ret + 'Combatants:\n'
+        ret = ret + self.list_combatants()
+
+        return ret
+        
+
     def is_started(self):
         return self.current != None
 
@@ -163,9 +182,8 @@ class Battle():
             self.combatant_hash[c.index] = c
 
 
-    # fixme: still returns None after battle begins
     def get_current_group(self):
-        if self.current:
+        if self.current != -1:
             return self.groups[self.current]
         else:
             return None
@@ -174,7 +192,6 @@ class Battle():
     def begin(self):
         if self.is_started():
             print("Error: battle is already running")
-            return
 
         for g in self.groups:
             if g.is_solo_group() and g.members[0].pc:
@@ -190,14 +207,19 @@ class Battle():
             print '{} ({})'.format(g.name, g.init)
 
 
+    # Returns a formatted string with all of the combatants
     def list_combatants(self):
+        ret = ''
+
         for g in self.groups:
             if g.is_solo_group():
-                print('{}: {}'.format(g.members[0].index, g.name))
+                ret = ret + '{}: {}\n'.format(g.members[0].index, g.name)
             else:
-                print('{}:'.format(g.name))
+                ret = ret + '{}:\n'.format(g.name)
                 for c in g.members:
-                    print('\t{}: {} ({})'.format(c.index, c.name, c.get_health_summary()))
+                    ret = ret + '\t{}: {} ({})\n'.format(c.index, c.name, c.get_health_summary())
+        
+        return ret.rstrip()
 
 
     def next_combatant(self):
@@ -228,11 +250,15 @@ def main():
     #     print("Adding enemy group {}".format(i))
     #     battle.add_group(CombatGroup.from_input())
 
+    print "Welcome to 4e Battle Manager.\nCurrent status:"
+    print battle
+
     while True:
         do_prompt()
 
 
 def do_prompt():
+    print('')
     comm = raw_input('> ')
 
     if comm == '?':
@@ -267,7 +293,7 @@ def do_damage():
         return
 
     battle.list_combatants()
-    index = input_int('choose combatant', battle.get_current_group().members[0])
+    index = input_int('choose combatant', battle.get_current_group().members[0].index)
     amount = input_int('damage')
     battle.deal_damage(index, amount)
 
@@ -285,8 +311,7 @@ c - apply a condition
 r - remove a condition (this can also happen automatically)
 n - next (end the current combat group's turn)
 w - wait (remove a combatant from the initiative order and into a separate pool)
-q - quit
-""")
+q - quit""")
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':