diff --git a/lib/bukkit-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar b/lib/bukkit-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar
index 63232dea..b348aa10 100644
Binary files a/lib/bukkit-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar and b/lib/bukkit-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar differ
diff --git a/src/com/massivecraft/factions/Factions.java b/src/com/massivecraft/factions/Factions.java
index 07fad459..50d2c8c7 100644
--- a/src/com/massivecraft/factions/Factions.java
+++ b/src/com/massivecraft/factions/Factions.java
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.logging.Level;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
+import org.bukkit.block.Block;
 import org.bukkit.Location;
+import org.bukkit.Material;
 import org.bukkit.command.Command;
 import org.bukkit.command.CommandSender;
 import org.bukkit.entity.Player;
@@ -266,7 +268,7 @@ public class Factions extends JavaPlugin {
 
 	// This value will be updated whenever new hooks are added
 	public int hookSupportVersion() {
-		return 2;
+		return 3;
 	}
 
 	// If another plugin is handling insertion of chat tags, this should be used to notify Factions
@@ -377,6 +379,21 @@ public class Factions extends JavaPlugin {
 		return players;
 	}
 
+	// check if player is allowed to build/destroy in a particular location
+	public boolean isPlayerAllowedToBuildHere(Player player, Location location) {
+		return FactionsBlockListener.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(player, location, "", true);
+	}
+
+	// check if player is allowed to interact with the specified block (doors/chests/whatever)
+	public boolean isPlayerAllowedToInteractWith(Player player, Block block) {
+		return FactionsPlayerListener.canPlayerUseBlock(player, block, true);
+	}
+
+	// check if player is allowed to use a specified item (flint&steel, buckets, etc) in a particular location
+	public boolean isPlayerAllowedToUseThisHere(Player player, Location location, Material material) {
+		return FactionsPlayerListener.playerCanUseItemHere(player, location, material, true);
+	}
+
 	// -------------------------------------------- //
 	// Test rights
 	// -------------------------------------------- //
diff --git a/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsBlockListener.java b/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsBlockListener.java
index 99d35bed..9197b31e 100644
--- a/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsBlockListener.java
+++ b/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsBlockListener.java
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public class FactionsBlockListener extends BlockListener {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if ( ! this.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(event.getPlayer(), event.getBlock(), "build")) {
+		if ( ! this.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(event.getPlayer(), event.getBlock().getLocation(), "build", false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 		}
 	}
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public class FactionsBlockListener extends BlockListener {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if ( ! this.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(event.getPlayer(), event.getBlock(), "destroy")) {
+		if ( ! this.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(event.getPlayer(), event.getBlock().getLocation(), "destroy", false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 		}
 	}
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public class FactionsBlockListener extends BlockListener {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if (event.getInstaBreak() && ! this.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(event.getPlayer(), event.getBlock(), "destroy")) {
+		if (event.getInstaBreak() && ! this.playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(event.getPlayer(), event.getBlock().getLocation(), "destroy", false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 		}
 	}
@@ -148,35 +148,41 @@ public class FactionsBlockListener extends BlockListener {
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	public boolean playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(Player player, Block block, String action) {
+	public static boolean playerCanBuildDestroyBlock(Player player, Location location, String action, boolean justCheck) {
 
 		if (Conf.adminBypassPlayers.contains(player.getName())) {
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		FLocation loc = new FLocation(block);
+		FLocation loc = new FLocation(location);
 		Faction otherFaction = Board.getFactionAt(loc);
 		FPlayer me = FPlayer.get(player);
 
 		if (otherFaction.isNone()) {
-			if (!Conf.wildernessDenyBuild || Factions.hasPermAdminBypass(player) || Conf.worldsNoWildernessProtection.contains(block.getWorld().getName())) {
+			if (!Conf.wildernessDenyBuild || Factions.hasPermAdminBypass(player) || Conf.worldsNoWildernessProtection.contains(location.getWorld().getName())) {
 				return true; // This is not faction territory. Use whatever you like here.
 			}
-			me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in the wilderness.");
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in the wilderness.");
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		else if (otherFaction.isSafeZone()) {
 			if (!Conf.safeZoneDenyBuild || Factions.hasPermManageSafeZone(player)) {
 				return true;
 			}
-			me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in a safe zone.");
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in a safe zone.");
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		else if (otherFaction.isWarZone()) {
 			if (!Conf.warZoneDenyBuild || Factions.hasPermManageWarZone(player)) {
 				return true;
 			}
-			me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in a war zone.");
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in a war zone.");
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		
@@ -187,7 +193,7 @@ public class FactionsBlockListener extends BlockListener {
 		// Cancel and/or cause pain (depending on configuration) if we are not in our own territory
 		if (!rel.isMember()) {
 			boolean online = otherFaction.hasPlayersOnline();
-			boolean pain = rel.confPainBuild(online);
+			boolean pain = (!justCheck) && rel.confPainBuild(online);
 			boolean deny = rel.confDenyBuild(online);
 
 			//hurt the player for building/destroying?
@@ -201,20 +207,24 @@ public class FactionsBlockListener extends BlockListener {
 				}
 			}
 			if (deny) {
-				me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in the territory of "+otherFaction.getTag(myFaction));
+				if (!justCheck) {
+					me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in the territory of "+otherFaction.getTag(myFaction));
+				}
 				return false;
 			}
 		}
 		// Also cancel and/or cause pain if player doesn't have ownership rights for this claim
 		else if (rel.isMember() && ownershipFail && !Factions.hasPermOwnershipBypass(player)) {
-			if (Conf.ownedAreaPainBuild){
+			if (Conf.ownedAreaPainBuild && !justCheck){
 				player.damage(Conf.actionDeniedPainAmount);
 				if (!Conf.ownedAreaDenyBuild) {
 					me.sendMessage("You are hurt for "+action+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
 				}
 			}
 			if (Conf.ownedAreaDenyBuild){
-				me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
+				if (!justCheck) {
+					me.sendMessage("You can't "+action+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
+				}
 				return false;
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsPlayerListener.java b/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsPlayerListener.java
index 008e5b8f..30ed47ad 100644
--- a/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsPlayerListener.java
+++ b/src/com/massivecraft/factions/listeners/FactionsPlayerListener.java
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 			return;  // clicked in air, apparently
 		}
 
-		if ( ! canPlayerUseBlock(player, block)) {
+		if ( ! canPlayerUseBlock(player, block, false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 			return;
 		}
@@ -268,19 +268,19 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 			return;  // only interested on right-clicks for below
 		}
 
-		if ( ! this.playerCanUseItemHere(player, block, event.getMaterial())) {
+		if ( ! this.playerCanUseItemHere(player, block.getLocation(), event.getMaterial(), false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 			return;
 		}
 	}
 
-	public boolean playerCanUseItemHere(Player player, Block block, Material material) {
+	public static boolean playerCanUseItemHere(Player player, Location location, Material material, boolean justCheck) {
 
 		if (Conf.adminBypassPlayers.contains(player.getName())) {
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		FLocation loc = new FLocation(block);
+		FLocation loc = new FLocation(location);
 		Faction otherFaction = Board.getFactionAt(loc);
 
 		if (otherFaction.hasPlayersOnline()){
@@ -296,24 +296,30 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 		FPlayer me = FPlayer.get(player);
 
 		if (otherFaction.isNone()) {
-			if (!Conf.wildernessDenyUseage || Factions.hasPermAdminBypass(player) || Conf.worldsNoWildernessProtection.contains(block.getWorld().getName())) {
+			if (!Conf.wildernessDenyUseage || Factions.hasPermAdminBypass(player) || Conf.worldsNoWildernessProtection.contains(location.getWorld().getName())) {
 				return true; // This is not faction territory. Use whatever you like here.
 			}
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in the wilderness.");
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in the wilderness.");
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		else if (otherFaction.isSafeZone()) {
 			if (!Conf.safeZoneDenyUseage || Factions.hasPermManageSafeZone(player)) {
 				return true;
 			}
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in a safe zone.");
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in a safe zone.");
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		else if (otherFaction.isWarZone()) {
 			if (!Conf.warZoneDenyUseage || Factions.hasPermManageWarZone(player)) {
 				return true;
 			}
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in a war zone.");
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in a war zone.");
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		
@@ -323,19 +329,23 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 		
 		// Cancel if we are not in our own territory
 		if (!rel.isMember() && rel.confDenyUseage()) {
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in the territory of "+otherFaction.getTag(myFaction));
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in the territory of "+otherFaction.getTag(myFaction));
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		// Also cancel if player doesn't have ownership rights for this claim
 		else if (rel.isMember() && ownershipFail && !Factions.hasPermOwnershipBypass(player)) {
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	public boolean canPlayerUseBlock(Player player, Block block) {
+	public static boolean canPlayerUseBlock(Player player, Block block, boolean justCheck) {
 
 		if (Conf.adminBypassPlayers.contains(player.getName())) {
 			return true;
@@ -368,12 +378,16 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 		
 		// You may use any block unless it is another faction's territory...
 		if (rel.isNeutral() || (rel.isEnemy() && Conf.territoryEnemyProtectMaterials) || (rel.isAlly() && Conf.territoryAllyProtectMaterials)) {
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in the territory of "+otherFaction.getTag(myFaction));
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in the territory of "+otherFaction.getTag(myFaction));
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 		// Also cancel if player doesn't have ownership rights for this claim
 		else if (rel.isMember() && ownershipFail && !Factions.hasPermOwnershipBypass(player)) {
-			me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
+			if (!justCheck) {
+				me.sendMessage("You can't use "+TextUtil.getMaterialName(material)+" in this territory, it is owned by: "+myFaction.getOwnerListString(loc));
+			}
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -402,7 +416,7 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 		Block block = event.getBlockClicked();
 		Player player = event.getPlayer();
 
-		if ( ! this.playerCanUseItemHere(player, block, event.getBucket())) {
+		if ( ! this.playerCanUseItemHere(player, block.getLocation(), event.getBucket(), false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 			return;
 		}
@@ -416,7 +430,7 @@ public class FactionsPlayerListener extends PlayerListener{
 		Block block = event.getBlockClicked();
 		Player player = event.getPlayer();
 
-		if ( ! this.playerCanUseItemHere(player, block, event.getBucket())) {
+		if ( ! this.playerCanUseItemHere(player, block.getLocation(), event.getBucket(), false)) {
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 			return;
 		}