diff --git a/scripts/modtools/attackTrigger.lua b/scripts/modtools/attackTrigger.lua
index 1ba717c19..a1a9545b3 100644
--- a/scripts/modtools/attackTrigger.lua
+++ b/scripts/modtools/attackTrigger.lua
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 --triggers scripts when a unit attacks another with a weapon type, a weapon of a particular material
 
 local eventful = require 'plugins.eventful'
+local utils = require 'utils'
 eventful.enableEvent(eventful.eventType.UNIT_ATTACK,1)
 
 itemTriggers = itemTriggers or {}
 materialTriggers = materialTriggers or {}
-itemMaterialTriggers = itemMaterialTriggers or {}
+--itemMaterialTriggers = itemMaterialTriggers or {}
 
 local function processTrigger(command, attacker, defender)
  local command2 = {}
@@ -65,40 +66,24 @@ eventful.onUnitAttack.attackTrigger = function(attacker,defender,wound)
 -- end
 end
 
-local args = {...}
+local args = utils.processArgs(...)
 
-local i = 1
-local command
-local weaponType
-local material
-while i <= #args do
- if command then
-  table.insert(command, args[i])
-  i = i+1
- else
-  if args[i] == '-weaponType' then
-   weaponType = args[i+1]
-   i = i+2
-  elseif args[i] == '-material' then
-   material = args[i+1]
-   i = i+2
-  elseif args[i] == '-command' then
-   command = {}
-   i = i+1
-  elseif args[i] == '-clear' then
-   itemTriggers = {}
-   materialTriggers = {}
-   i = i+1
-  else
-   error('Invalid arguments to attackTrigger.lua.')
-  end
+if args.clear then
+ itemTriggers = {}
+ materialTriggers = {}
+end
+
+if not args.command then
+ if not args.clear then
+  error 'specify a command'
  end
+ return
 end
 
-if weaponType then
+if args.weaponType then
  local temp
  for _,itemdef in ipairs(df.global.world.raws.itemdefs.weapons) do
-  if itemdef.id == weaponType then
+  if itemdef.id == args.weaponType then
    temp = itemdef.subtype
    break
   end
@@ -106,36 +91,37 @@ if weaponType then
  if not temp then
   error 'Could not find weapon type.'
  end
- weaponType = temp
+ args.weaponType = temp
 end
 
-if material then
+if args.material then
  local i = 0
  while true do
   local mat = dfhack.matinfo.decode(0,i)
   if not mat then
-   error 'Could not find material.'
+   error('Could not find material "' .. args.material .. '" after '..i..' materials.')
   end
-  if mat.inorganic.id == material then
-   material = mat.index
+  if mat.inorganic.id == args.material then
+   args.material = mat.index
    break
   end
   i = i+1
  end
 end
 
-if material then
- if not materialTriggers[material] then
-  materialTriggers[material] = {}
+if args.material and args.weaponType then
+ error 'both material and weaponType defined'
+end
+
+if args.material then
+ if not materialTriggers[args.material] then
+  materialTriggers[args.material] = {}
  end
- table.insert(materialTriggers[material],command)
--- table.insert(materialTriggers[material],function() 
---  print(dfhack.run_command(command))
--- end)
-elseif weaponType then
- if not itemTriggers[weaponType] then
-  itemTriggers[weaponType] = {}
+ table.insert(materialTriggers[args.material],args.command)
+elseif args.weaponType then
+ if not itemTriggers[args.weaponType] then
+  itemTriggers[args.weaponType] = {}
  end
- table.insert(itemTriggers[weaponType],command)
+ table.insert(itemTriggers[args.weaponType],args.command)
 end