diff --git a/discord/ext/commands/context.py b/discord/ext/commands/context.py
index 95996a673..efaa5b43d 100644
--- a/discord/ext/commands/context.py
+++ b/discord/ext/commands/context.py
@@ -24,14 +24,18 @@ DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 """
 
 import asyncio
+import discord.abc
+import discord.utils
 
-class Context:
+class Context(discord.abc.MessageChannel):
     """Represents the context in which a command is being invoked under.
 
     This class contains a lot of meta data to help you understand more about
     the invocation context. This class is not created manually and is instead
     passed around to commands by passing in :attr:`Command.pass_context`.
 
+    This class implements the :class:`abc.MessageChannel` ABC.
+
     Attributes
     -----------
     message : :class:`discord.Message`
@@ -76,6 +80,7 @@ class Context:
         self.invoked_with = attrs.pop('invoked_with', None)
         self.invoked_subcommand = attrs.pop('invoked_subcommand', None)
         self.subcommand_passed = attrs.pop('subcommand_passed', None)
+        self._state = self.message._state
 
     @asyncio.coroutine
     def invoke(self, command, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -112,6 +117,9 @@ class Context:
         ret = yield from command.callback(*arguments, **kwargs)
         return ret
 
+    def _get_destination(self):
+        return self.channel.id, getattr(self.guild, 'id', None)
+
     @property
     def cog(self):
         """Returns the cog associated with this context's command. None if it does not exist."""
@@ -119,3 +127,25 @@ class Context:
         if self.command is None:
             return None
         return self.command.instance
+
+    @discord.utils.cached_property
+    def id(self):
+        # we need this to meet MessageChannel abc
+        # it is purposefully undocumented because it makes no logistic sense
+        # outside of providing the sugar of the main class.
+        return self.channel.id
+
+    @discord.utils.cached_property
+    def guild(self):
+        """Returns the guild associated with this context's command. None if not available."""
+        return self.message.guild
+
+    @discord.utils.cached_property
+    def channel(self):
+        """Returns the channel associated with this context's command. Shorthand for :attr:`Message.channel`."""
+        return self.message.channel
+
+    @discord.utils.cached_property
+    def author(self):
+        """Returns the author associated with this context's command. Shorthand for :attr:`Message.author`"""
+        return self.message.author
diff --git a/discord/ext/commands/converter.py b/discord/ext/commands/converter.py
index eb1023b03..7e54241fa 100644
--- a/discord/ext/commands/converter.py
+++ b/discord/ext/commands/converter.py
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ import inspect
 from .errors import BadArgument, NoPrivateMessage
 
 __all__ = [ 'Converter', 'MemberConverter', 'UserConverter',
-            'ChannelConverter', 'InviteConverter', 'RoleConverter',
-            'GameConverter', 'ColourConverter' ]
+            'TextChannelConverter', 'InviteConverter', 'RoleConverter',
+            'GameConverter', 'ColourConverter', 'VoiceChannelConverter' ]
 
 def _get_from_guilds(bot, getter, argument):
     result = None
@@ -103,20 +103,50 @@ class MemberConverter(IDConverter):
 
 UserConverter = MemberConverter
 
-class ChannelConverter(IDConverter):
+class TextChannelConverter(IDConverter):
     def convert(self):
-        message = self.ctx.message
         bot = self.ctx.bot
 
         match = self._get_id_match() or re.match(r'<#([0-9]+)>$', self.argument)
         result = None
-        guild = message.guild
+        guild = self.ctx.guild
+
+        if match is None:
+            # not a mention
+            if guild:
+                result = discord.utils.get(guild.text_channels, name=self.argument)
+            else:
+                def check(c):
+                    return isinstance(c, discord.TextChannel) and c.name == self.argument
+                result = discord.utils.find(check, bot.get_all_channels())
+        else:
+            channel_id = int(match.group(1))
+            if guild:
+                result = guild.get_channel(channel_id)
+            else:
+                result = _get_from_guilds(bot, 'get_channel', channel_id)
+
+        if result is None:
+            raise BadArgument('Channel "{}" not found.'.format(self.argument))
+
+        return result
+
+class VoiceChannelConverter(IDConverter):
+    def convert(self):
+        bot = self.ctx.bot
+
+        match = self._get_id_match() or re.match(r'<#([0-9]+)>$', self.argument)
+        result = None
+        guild = self.ctx.guild
+
         if match is None:
             # not a mention
             if guild:
-                result = discord.utils.get(guild.channels, name=self.argument)
+                result = discord.utils.get(guild.voice_channels, name=self.argument)
             else:
-                result = discord.utils.get(bot.get_all_channels(), name=self.argument)
+                def check(c):
+                    return isinstance(c, discord.VoiceChannel) and c.name == self.argument
+                result = discord.utils.find(check, bot.get_all_channels())
         else:
             channel_id = int(match.group(1))
             if guild:
diff --git a/discord/ext/commands/core.py b/discord/ext/commands/core.py
index 8ae3262e6..13f476fee 100644
--- a/discord/ext/commands/core.py
+++ b/discord/ext/commands/core.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class Command:
         The list of aliases the command can be invoked under.
     pass_context : bool
         A boolean that indicates that the current :class:`Context` should
-        be passed as the **first parameter**. Defaults to `False`.
+        be passed as the **first parameter**. Defaults to `True`.
     enabled : bool
         A boolean that indicates if the command is currently enabled.
         If the command is invoked while it is disabled, then
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class Command:
         self.brief = kwargs.get('brief')
         self.rest_is_raw = kwargs.get('rest_is_raw', False)
         self.aliases = kwargs.get('aliases', [])
-        self.pass_context = kwargs.get('pass_context', False)
+        self.pass_context = kwargs.get('pass_context', True)
         self.description = inspect.cleandoc(kwargs.get('description', ''))
         self.hidden = kwargs.get('hidden', False)
         signature = inspect.signature(callback)