diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 72644a6..6b7e8e2 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -350,3 +350,5 @@ matteo.db
 matteo.db-wal
 matteo.db-shm
 /matteo_env/Lib/site-packages/flask_socketio/__init__.py
+
+env
diff --git a/games.py b/games.py
index 8ca356d..b89d970 100644
--- a/games.py
+++ b/games.py
@@ -806,4 +806,4 @@ class weather(object):
         self.counter_home = 0
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return f"{self.emoji} {self.name}"
\ No newline at end of file
+        return f"{self.emoji} {self.name}"
diff --git a/onomancer.py b/onomancer.py
index f270a48..278d128 100644
--- a/onomancer.py
+++ b/onomancer.py
@@ -1,12 +1,29 @@
 #interfaces with onomancer
 
 import requests, json, urllib
+from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
+from requests.packages.urllib3.util.retry import Retry
 import database as db
 
 
 onomancer_url = "https://onomancer.sibr.dev/api/"
 name_stats_hook = "getOrGenerateStats?name="
 collection_hook = "getCollection?token="
+names_hook = "getNames"
+
+
+def _retry_session(retries=3, backoff=0.3, status=(500, 501, 502, 503, 504)):
+    session = requests.Session()
+    retry = Retry(
+        total=retries,
+        read=retries,
+        connect=retries,
+        backoff_factor=backoff,
+        status_forcelist=status,
+    )
+    adapter = HTTPAdapter(max_retries=retry)
+    session.mount('https://', adapter)
+    return session
 
 def get_stats(name):
     player = db.get_stats(name)
@@ -14,7 +31,7 @@ def get_stats(name):
         return player #returns json_string
 
     #yell at onomancer if not in cache or too old
-    response = requests.get(onomancer_url + name_stats_hook + urllib.parse.quote_plus(name))
+    response = _retry_session().get(onomancer_url + name_stats_hook + urllib.parse.quote_plus(name))
     if response.status_code == 200:
         stats = json.dumps(response.json())
         db.cache_stats(name, stats)
@@ -30,9 +47,32 @@ def get_scream(username):
         return scream
 
 def get_collection(collection_url):
-    response = requests.get(onomancer_url + collection_hook + urllib.parse.quote(collection_url))
+    response = _retry_session().get(onomancer_url + collection_hook + urllib.parse.quote(collection_url))
     if response.status_code == 200:
         for player in response.json()['lineup'] + response.json()['rotation']:
             db.cache_stats(player['name'], json.dumps(player))
 
         return json.dumps(response.json())
+
+
+def get_names(limit=20, threshold=1):
+    """
+    Get `limit` random players that have at least `threshold` upvotes.
+    Returns dictionary keyed by player name of stats.
+    """
+    response = _retry_session().get(
+        onomancer_url + names_hook,
+        params={
+            'limit': limit,
+            'threshold': threshold,
+            'with_stats': 1,
+            'random': 1,
+        },
+    )
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    res = {}
+    for stats in response.json():
+        name = stats['name']
+        db.cache_stats(name, json.dumps(stats))
+        res[name] = stats
+    return res
diff --git a/the_draft.py b/the_draft.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfb4cbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/the_draft.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+from collections import namedtuple
+import games
+import json
+import uuid
+
+import onomancer
+
+DRAFT_SIZE = 20
+REFRESH_DRAFT_SIZE = 4  # fewer players remaining than this and the list refreshes
+DRAFT_ROUNDS = 13
+
+Participant = namedtuple('Participant', ['handle', 'team'])
+BOOKMARK = Participant(handle="bookmark", team=None)  # keep track of start/end of draft round
+
+
+class Draft:
+    """
+    Represents a draft party with n participants constructing their team from a pool
+    of names.
+    """
+
+    @classmethod
+    def make_draft(cls):
+        draft = cls()
+        return draft
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._id = str(uuid.uuid4())[:6]
+        self._participants = []
+        self._active_participant = BOOKMARK  # draft mutex
+        self._players = onomancer.get_names(limit=DRAFT_SIZE)
+        self._round = 0
+
+    @property
+    def round(self):
+        """
+        Current draft round. 1 indexed.
+        """
+        return self._round
+
+    @property
+    def active_drafter(self):
+        """
+        Handle of whomever is currently up to draft.
+        """
+        return self._active_participant.handle
+
+    @property
+    def active_drafting_team(self):
+        return self._active_participant.team.name
+
+    def add_participant(self, handle, team_name, slogan):
+        """
+        A participant is someone participating in this draft. Initializes an empty team for them
+        in memory.
+
+        `handle`: discord @ handle, for ownership and identification
+        """
+        team = games.team()
+        team.name = team_name
+        team.slogan = slogan
+        self._participants.append(Participant(handle=handle, team=team))
+
+    def start_draft(self):
+        """
+        Call after adding all participants and confirming they're good to go.
+        """
+        self.advance_draft()
+
+    def refresh_players(self):
+        self._players = onomancer.get_names(limit=DRAFT_SIZE)
+
+    def advance_draft(self):
+        """
+        The participant list is treated as a circular queue with the head being popped off
+        to act as the draftign mutex.
+        """
+        if self._active_participant == BOOKMARK:
+            self._round += 1
+        self._participants.append(self._active_participant)
+        self._active_participant = self._participants.pop(0)
+
+    def get_draftees(self):
+        return list(self._players.keys())
+
+    def draft_player(self, handle, player_name):
+        """
+        `handle` is the participant's discord handle.
+        """
+        if self._active_participant.handle != handle:
+            raise ValueError(f'{self._active_participant.handle} is drafting, not you')
+
+        player_name = player_name.strip()
+
+        player = self._players.get(player_name)
+        if not player:
+            # might be some whitespace shenanigans
+            for name, stats in self._players.items():
+                if name.replace('\xa0', ' ').strip().lower() == player_name.lower():
+                    player = stats
+                    break
+            else:
+                # still not found
+                raise ValueError(f'Player `{player_name}` not in draft list')
+        del self._players[player['name']]
+
+        if len(self._players) <= REFRESH_DRAFT_SIZE:
+            self.refresh_players()
+
+        if self._round < DRAFT_ROUNDS:
+            self._active_participant.team.add_lineup(games.player(json.dumps(player)))
+        elif self._round == DRAFT_ROUNDS:
+            self._active_participant.team.add_pitcher(games.player(json.dumps(player)))
+
+        self.advance_draft()
+        if self._active_participant == BOOKMARK:
+            self.advance_draft()
+
+        return player
+
+    def get_teams(self):
+        teams = []
+        if self._active_participant != BOOKMARK:
+            teams.append((self._active_participant.handle, self._active_participant.team))
+        for participant in self._participants:
+            if participant != BOOKMARK:
+                teams.append((participant.handle, participant.team))
+        return teams
+
+    def finish_draft(self):
+        for handle, team in self.get_teams():
+            success = games.save_team(team, int(handle[3:-1]))
+            if not success:
+                raise Exception(f'Error saving team for {handle}')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    # extremely robust testing OC do not steal
+    DRAFT_ROUNDS = 2
+    draft = Draft.make_draft()
+    draft.add_participant('@bluh', 'Bluhstein Bluhs', 'bluh bluh bluh')
+    draft.add_participant('@what', 'Barcelona IDK', 'huh')
+    draft.start_draft()
+
+    while draft.round <= DRAFT_ROUNDS:
+        print(draft.get_draftees())
+        cmd = input(f'{draft.round} {draft.active_drafter}:')
+        drafter, player = cmd.split(' ', 1)
+        try:
+            draft.draft_player(drafter, player)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            print(e)
+    print(draft.get_teams())
diff --git a/the_prestige.py b/the_prestige.py
index 87a1959..fa0206d 100644
--- a/the_prestige.py
+++ b/the_prestige.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import discord, json, math, os, roman, games, asyncio, random, main_controller, threading, time, urllib, leagues
 import database as db
 import onomancer as ono
+import random
+from the_draft import Draft, DRAFT_ROUNDS
 from flask import Flask
 from uuid import uuid4
 
@@ -14,6 +16,12 @@ class Command:
     async def execute(self, msg, command):
         return
 
+class DraftError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+class SlowDraftError(DraftError):
+    pass
+
 class CommandError(Exception):
     pass
 
@@ -572,6 +580,152 @@ class StartTournamentCommand(Command):
         await start_tournament_round(channel, tourney)
 
 
+class DraftPlayerCommand(Command):
+    name = "draft"
+    template = "m;draft [playername]"
+    description = "On your turn during a draft, use this command to pick your player."
+
+    async def execute(self, msg, command):
+        """
+        This is a no-op definition. `StartDraftCommand` handles the orchestration directly,
+        this is just here to provide a help entry and so the command dispatcher recognizes it
+        as valid.
+        """
+        pass
+
+
+class StartDraftCommand(Command):
+    name = "startdraft"
+    template = "m;startdraft [mention] [teamname] [slogan]"
+    description = """Starts a draft with an arbitrary number of participants. Send this command at the top of the list with each mention, teamname, and slogan on a new line (shift+enter in discord).
+ - The draft will proceed in the order that participants were entered.
+ - 20 players will be available for draft at a time, and the pool will refresh automatically when it becomes small.
+ - Each participant will be asked to draft 12 hitters then finally one pitcher.
+ - The draft will start only once every participant has given a 👍 to begin.
+ - use the command `d`, `draft`, or `m;draft` on your turn to draft someone
+    """
+
+    async def execute(self, msg, command):
+        draft = Draft.make_draft()
+        mentions = {f'<@!{m.id}>' for m in msg.mentions}
+        content = msg.content.split('\n')[1:]  # drop command out of message
+        if len(content) % 3:
+            await msg.channel.send('Invalid list')
+            raise ValueError('Invalid length')
+
+        for i in range(0, len(content), 3):
+            handle_token = content[i].strip()
+            for mention in mentions:
+                if mention in handle_token:
+                    handle = mention
+                    break
+            else:
+                await msg.channel.send(f"I don't recognize {handle_token}")
+                return
+            team_name = content[i + 1].strip()
+            if games.get_team(team_name):
+                await msg.channel.send(f'Sorry {handle}, {team_name} already exists')
+                return
+            slogan = content[i + 2].strip()
+            draft.add_participant(handle, team_name, slogan)
+
+        success = await self.wait_start(msg.channel, mentions)
+        if not success:
+            return
+
+        draft.start_draft()
+        footer = f"The draft class of {random.randint(2007, 2075)}"
+        while draft.round <= DRAFT_ROUNDS:
+            message_prefix = f'Round {draft.round}/{DRAFT_ROUNDS}:'
+            if draft.round == DRAFT_ROUNDS:
+                body = random.choice([
+                    f"Now just choose a pitcher and we can finish off this paperwork for you, {draft.active_drafter}",
+                    f"Pick a pitcher, {draft.active_drafter}, and we can all go home happy. 'Cept your players. They'll have to play bllaseball.",
+                    f"Almost done, {draft.active_drafter}. Pick your pitcher.",
+                ])
+                message = f"⚾️ {message_prefix} {body}"
+            else:
+                body = random.choice([
+                    f"Choose a batter, {draft.active_drafter}",
+                    f"{draft.active_drafter}, your turn. Pick one.",
+                    f"Pick one to fill your next lineup slot, {draft.active_drafter}",
+                    f"Alright, {draft.active_drafter}, choose a batter.",
+                ])
+                message = f"🏏 {message_prefix} {body}"
+            await msg.channel.send(
+                message,
+                embed=build_draft_embed(draft.get_draftees(), footer=footer),
+            )
+            try:
+                draft_message = await self.wait_draft(msg.channel, draft)
+                draft.draft_player(f'<@!{draft_message.author.id}>', draft_message.content.split(' ', 1)[1])
+            except SlowDraftError:
+                player = random.choice(draft.get_draftees())
+                await msg.channel.send(f"I'm not waiting forever. You get {player}. Next.")
+                draft.draft_player(draft.active_drafter, player)
+            except ValueError as e:
+                await msg.channel.send(str(e))
+            except IndexError:
+                await msg.channel.send("Quit the funny business.")
+
+        for handle, team in draft.get_teams():
+            await msg.channel.send(
+                random.choice([
+                    f"Done and dusted, {handle}. Here's your squad.",
+                    f"Behold the {team.name}, {handle}. Flawless, we think.",
+                    f"Oh, huh. Interesting stat distribution. Good luck, {handle}.",
+                ]),
+                embed=build_team_embed(team),
+            )
+        try:
+            draft.finish_draft()
+        except Exception as e:
+            await msg.channel.send(str(e))
+
+    async def wait_start(self, channel, mentions):
+        start_msg = await channel.send("Sound off, folks. 👍 if you're good to go " + " ".join(mentions))
+        await start_msg.add_reaction("👍")
+        await start_msg.add_reaction("👎")
+
+        def react_check(react, user):
+            return f'<@!{user.id}>' in mentions and react.message == start_msg
+
+        while True:
+            try:
+                react, _ = await client.wait_for('reaction_add', timeout=60.0, check=react_check)
+                if react.emoji == "👎":
+                    await channel.send("We dragged out the photocopier for this! Fine, putting it back.")
+                    return False
+                if react.emoji == "👍":
+                    reactors = set()
+                    async for user in react.users():
+                        reactors.add(f'<@!{user.id}>')
+                    if reactors.intersection(mentions) == mentions:
+                        return True
+            except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                await channel.send("Y'all aren't ready.")
+                return False
+        return False
+
+    async def wait_draft(self, channel, draft):
+
+        def check(m):
+            if m.channel != channel:
+                return False
+            if m.content.startswith('d ') or m.content.startswith('draft '):
+                return True
+            for prefix in config()['prefix']:
+                if m.content.startswith(prefix + 'draft '):
+                    return True
+            return False
+
+        try:
+            draft_message = await client.wait_for('message', timeout=120.0, check=check)
+        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+            raise SlowDraftError('Too slow')
+        return draft_message
+
+
 commands = [
     IntroduceCommand(),
     CountActiveGamesCommand(),
@@ -596,6 +750,8 @@ commands = [
     CreditCommand(),
     RomanCommand(),
     HelpCommand(),
+    StartDraftCommand(),
+    DraftPlayerCommand(),
 ]
 
 client = discord.Client()
@@ -1015,6 +1171,16 @@ async def team_delete_confirm(channel, team, owner):
         return
 
 
+def build_draft_embed(names, title="The Draft", footer="You must choose"):
+    embed = discord.Embed(color=discord.Color.purple(), title=title)
+    column_size = 7
+    for i in range(0, len(names), column_size):
+        draft = '\n'.join(names[i:i + column_size])
+        embed.add_field(name="-", value=draft, inline=True)
+    embed.set_footer(text=footer)
+    return embed
+
+
 def build_team_embed(team):
     embed = discord.Embed(color=discord.Color.purple(), title=team.name)
     lineup_string = ""