diff --git a/plugins/markov.py b/plugins/markov.py
index c93e69d..a8e285d 100644
--- a/plugins/markov.py
+++ b/plugins/markov.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 import dataclasses
 import json
 import logging
+import math
 from pathlib import Path
 import random
 from typing import Any, List, Mapping, Sequence
@@ -35,8 +36,9 @@ def windows(items: Sequence[Any], size: int):
 
 @dataclasses.dataclass
 class Chain:
-    def __init__(self, order: int, path: Path):
+    def __init__(self, order: int, chance: float, path: Path):
         self.order = order
+        self.reply_chance = chance
         self.path = path
         self.__cache = chain_default()
         self.__last_access = 0.0
@@ -85,19 +87,23 @@ class Chain:
             return
         with open(self.path) as fp:
             log.info("Loading markov chain from %s", self.path)
-            self.__cache = defaultdict(
-                chain_inner_default,
-                {
-                    key: defaultdict(
-                        int,
-                        {
-                            (None if not word else word): weight
-                            for word, weight in value.items()
-                        },
-                    )
-                    for key, value in json.load(fp).items()
-                },
-            )
+            obj = json.load(fp)
+
+        # Load the save object
+        self.reply_chance = obj["reply_chance"]
+        self.__cache = defaultdict(
+            chain_inner_default,
+            {
+                key: defaultdict(
+                    int,
+                    {
+                        (None if not word else word): weight
+                        for word, weight in value.items()
+                    },
+                )
+                for key, value in obj["chain"]
+            },
+        )
         self.__dirty = False
 
     def save(self, retain: bool = True):
@@ -106,18 +112,21 @@ class Chain:
         if self.__dirty:
             log.info("Saving markov chain to %s", self.path)
             self.path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            # Build the save object
+            obj = {
+                "reply_chance": self.reply_chance,
+                "chain": {
+                    key: {
+                        ("" if word is None else word): weight
+                        for word, weight in value.items()
+                    }
+                    for key, value in self.__cache.items()
+                },
+            }
             with open(self.path, "w") as fp:
-                json.dump(
-                    {
-                        key: {
-                            ("" if word is None else word): weight
-                            for word, weight in value.items()
-                        }
-                        for key, value in self.__cache.items()
-                    },
-                    fp,
-                )
+                json.dump(obj, fp)
             self.__dirty = False
+
         if not retain:
             log.debug("Pruning markov chain %s from memory", self.path)
             self.clear_cache()
@@ -162,6 +171,7 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
         self.order = int(self.plugin_config.get("order", 1))
         self.data_path = Path(self.plugin_config.get("data_path", "data/markov"))
         self.save_every = int(self.plugin_config.get("save_every", 300))
+        self.reply_chance = float(self.plugin_config.get("reply_chance", 0.01))
         self.__chains = {}
         self.__save_loop_task = None
         self.__saving = asyncio.Lock()
@@ -180,17 +190,22 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
         elif line[0] != "!":
             # ignore other commands
             self.add(channel, who.nick, line)
+            # also, maybe generate a sentence
+            chosen = random.random()
+            chain = self.get_chain(channel, who)
+            if chosen <= chain.reply_chance:
+                pass
 
     def get_chain(self, channel: str, who: str) -> Chain:
         if channel not in self.__chains:
             self.__chains[channel] = {}
         if who not in self.__chains[channel]:
             path = self.data_path / channel / who
-            self.__chains[channel][who] = Chain(self.order, path)
+            self.__chains[channel][who] = Chain(self.order, self.reply_chance, path)
         return self.__chains[channel][who]
 
     def add(self, channel: str, who: str, line: str):
-        if who == self.server_config.nick == who:
+        if who == self.server_config.nick:
             return
         chain = self.get_chain(channel, who)
         chain.add(line)
@@ -208,7 +223,7 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
                 if message:
                     self.send_to(conn, channel, f"{who.nick}: {message}")
             case ["force", nick] | ["emulate", nick]:
-                chain = self.get_chain(channel, who.nick)
+                chain = self.get_chain(channel, nick)
                 if not chain:
                     return
                 message = chain.generate()
@@ -219,6 +234,13 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
                 message = chain.generate()
                 if message:
                     self.send_to(conn, channel, f"{who.nick}: {message}")
+            case ["chance", chance]:
+                chain = self.get_chain(channel, who.nick)
+                reply_chance = float(chance)
+                if not math.isnan(reply_chance):
+                    chain.reply_chance = min(
+                        max(float(reply_chance), 0.0), self.reply_chance
+                    )
             case _:
                 # command not recognized
                 pass
diff --git a/tools/markov_import.py b/tools/markov_import.py
index 43af4fd..5270f00 100644
--- a/tools/markov_import.py
+++ b/tools/markov_import.py
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ async def main():
             for line in lines:
                 if mat := LINE_RE.search(line):
                     name = mat["name"]
-                    message = mat["message"]
-                    plugin.add(channel, name, message)
+                    message = mat["message"].strip()
+                    if name != server_config.nick and message and message[0] != "!":
+                        plugin.add(channel, name, message)
     await plugin.save()