diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f7c07c6..5db5bad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,21 +1,29 @@
-Areas mod for Minetest 0.4.8+
-=============================
+Areas mod for Minetest
+======================
+
+Dependencies
+------------
+
+Minetest 5.0.0+ is recommended, but 0.4.16+ should work as well.
 
 
 Configuration
 -------------
 
-If you wish to specify configuration options, such as whether players are
-allowed to protect their own areas with the `protect` command (disabled by
-default), you should check settings.lua and set the appropriate settings in your
-server's configuration file (probably `minetest.conf`).
+Open the tab `Settings -> All Settings -> Mods -> areas` to get a list of all
+possible settings.
+
+For server owners: Check `settingtypes.txt` and modify your `minetest.conf`
+according to the wanted setting changes.
+
 
 
 Tutorial
 --------
 
-To protect an area you must first set the corner positions of the area.
-In order to set the corner positions you can run:
+1) Specify the corner positions of the area you would like to protect.
+Use one of the following commands:
+
   * `/area_pos set` and punch the two corner nodes to set them.
   * `/area_pos set1/set2` and punch only the first or second corner node to
 	set them one at a time.
@@ -23,25 +31,25 @@ In order to set the corner positions you can run:
   * `/area_pos1/2 X Y Z` to set one of the positions to the specified
 	coordinates.
 
-Once you have set the border positions you can protect the area by running one
-of the following commands:
+2) Protect the selected area by running one of the following commands:
+
   * `/set_owner <OwnerName> <AreaName>` -- If you have the `areas` privilege.
   * `/protect <AreaName>` -- If you have the `areas` privilege or the server
 	administrator has enabled area self-protection.
 
-The area name is used only for informational purposes (so that you know what
-an area is for).  It is not used for any other purpose.
+The area name is used only for informational purposes and has no functional
+importance.
+
 For example: `/set_owner SomePlayer Mese city`
 
-Now that you own an area you may want to add sub-owners to it. You can do this
-with the `add_owner` command.  Anyone with an area can use the `add_owner`
-command on their areas.  Before using the `add_owner` command you have to
-select the corners of the sub-area as you did for `set_owner`. If your markers
-are still around your original area and you want to grant access to your
-entire area you will not have to re-set them. You can also use `select_area` to
-place the markers at the corners of an existing area if you've reset your
+3) You now own an area. You may now add sub-owners to it if you want to (see command `/add_owner`). Before using the `/add_owner` command you have to
+select the corners of the sub-area as you did in step 1.
+
+If your markers are still around your original area and you want to grant
+access to your entire area you will not have to re-set them. Use `/select_area` to place the markers at the corners of an existing area if you've reset your
 markers and want to grant access to a full area.
-The `add_owner` command expects three arguments:
+
+The `/add_owner` command expects three arguments:
   1. The ID number of the parent area (the area that you want to add a
 	sub-area to).
   2. The name of the player that will own the sub-area.
diff --git a/settings.lua b/settings.lua
index feaa687..22af52c 100644
--- a/settings.lua
+++ b/settings.lua
@@ -2,44 +2,45 @@ local world_path = minetest.get_worldpath()
 
 areas.config = {}
 
-local function setting(tp, name, default)
-	local full_name = "areas."..name
+local function setting(name, tp, default)
+	local full_name = "areas." .. name
 	local value
-	if tp == "boolean" then
+	if tp == "bool" then
 		value = minetest.settings:get_bool(full_name)
+		default = value == nil and minetest.is_yes(default)
 	elseif tp == "string" then
 		value = minetest.settings:get(full_name)
-	elseif tp == "position" then
+	elseif tp == "v3f" then
 		value = minetest.setting_get_pos(full_name)
-	elseif tp == "number" then
+		default = value == nil and minetest.string_to_pos(default)
+	elseif tp == "float" or tp == "int" then
 		value = tonumber(minetest.settings:get(full_name))
+		local v, other = default:match("^(%S+) (.+)")
+		default = value == nil and tonumber(other and v or default)
 	else
-		error("Invalid setting type!")
+		error("Cannot parse setting type " .. tp)
 	end
+
 	if value == nil then
 		value = default
+		assert(default ~= nil, "Cannot parse default for " .. full_name)
 	end
+	--print("add", name, default, value)
 	areas.config[name] = value
 end
 
+local file = io.open(areas.modpath .. "/settingtypes.txt", "r")
+for line in file:lines() do
+	local name, tp, value = line:match("^areas%.(%S+) %(.*%) (%S+) (.*)")
+	if value then
+		setting(name, tp, value)
+	end
+end
+file:close()
+
 --------------
 -- Settings --
 --------------
 
-setting("string", "filename", world_path.."/areas.dat")
+setting("filename", "string", world_path.."/areas.dat")
 
--- Allow players with a privilege create their own areas
--- within the maximum size and number.
-setting("boolean",  "self_protection", false)
-setting("string",   "self_protection_privilege", "interact")
-setting("position", "self_protection_max_size",      {x=64,  y=128, z=64})
-setting("number",   "self_protection_max_areas",      4)
--- For players with the areas_high_limit privilege.
-setting("position", "self_protection_max_size_high", {x=512, y=512, z=512})
-setting("number",   "self_protection_max_areas_high", 32)
-
--- legacy_table (owner_defs) compatibility.  Untested and has known issues.
-setting("boolean", "legacy_table", false)
-
--- configure the refresh delay for the name displays in the HUD
-setting("number", "tick", 0.5)
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6316523
--- /dev/null
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# This file is parsed in "settings.lua". Check regex first.
+
+# Static paths do not work well with settings
+#areas.filename (Configuration file path) string (world_path)/areas.dat
+
+# Allow players with a privilege create their own areas using /protect
+# within the specified size and amount limits.
+areas.self_protection (Self protection) bool false
+
+# Self protection: Privilege required to protect an area
+areas.self_protection_privilege (Self protection: Required privs) string interact
+
+# Refresh delay for the name displays in the HUD in seconds
+areas.tick (HUD update delay) float 0.5 0 100
+
+# Enable the legacy owner_defs metatable mode. Untested and possibly unstable
+areas.legacy_table (Legacy owner_defs metatable) bool false
+
+[Self protection (normal)]
+
+# Self protection (normal): Maximal size of the protectable area
+# Only enter positive whole numbers for the coordinate values or you'll mess up stuff.
+areas.self_protection_max_size (Maximal area size) v3f (64, 128, 64)
+
+# Self protection (normal): Maximal amount of protected areas per player
+areas.self_protection_max_areas (Maximal area count) int 4
+
+[Self protection (high)]
+
+# Self protection (normal): Maximal size of the protectable area
+# This setting applies for plyaers with the privilege 'areas_high_limit'
+areas.self_protection_max_size_high (Maximal area size) v3f (512, 512, 512)
+
+# Self protection (normal): Maximal amount of protected areas per player
+# Only enter positive whole numbers for the coordinate values or you'll mess up stuff.
+# This setting applies for plyaers with the privilege 'areas_high_limit'
+areas.self_protection_max_areas_high (Maximal area count) float 32
+