diff --git a/classes.py b/classes.py
index 0e2e611..e75ad6c 100644
--- a/classes.py
+++ b/classes.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     raise ImportError("PyLink requires ircmatch to function; please install it and try again.")
 
-from . import world, utils, structures, __version__
+from . import world, utils, structures, conf, __version__
 from .log import *
 
 ### Exceptions
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class ProtocolError(Exception):
 
 ### Internal classes (users, servers, channels)
 
-class Irc():
+class Irc(utils.DeprecatedAttributesObject):
     """Base IRC object for PyLink."""
 
     def __init__(self, netname, proto, conf):
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class Irc():
         (a string), the name of the protocol module to use for this connection,
         and a configuration object.
         """
+        self.deprecated_attributes = {
+            'conf': 'Deprecated since 1.2; consider switching to conf.conf',
+            'botdata': "Deprecated since 1.2; consider switching to conf.conf['bot']",
+        }
+
         self.loghandlers = []
         self.name = netname
         self.conf = conf
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@ class Irc():
         Initializes any channel loggers defined for the current network.
         """
         try:
-            channels = self.conf['logging']['channels'][self.name]
+            channels = conf.conf['logging']['channels'][self.name]
         except KeyError:  # Not set up; just ignore.
             return
 
@@ -101,7 +106,6 @@ class Irc():
         (Re)sets an IRC object to its default state. This should be called when
         an IRC object is first created, and on every reconnection to a network.
         """
-        self.botdata = self.conf['bot']
         self.pingfreq = self.serverdata.get('pingfreq') or 90
         self.pingtimeout = self.pingfreq * 3
 
@@ -301,7 +305,7 @@ class Irc():
 
                     self.servers[self.sid] = IrcServer(None, host, internal=True,
                             desc=self.serverdata.get('serverdesc')
-                            or self.botdata['serverdesc'])
+                            or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc'])
 
                     log.info('(%s) Starting ping schedulers....', self.name)
                     self.schedulePing()
diff --git a/coremods/handlers.py b/coremods/handlers.py
index 01224f8..2ff9208 100644
--- a/coremods/handlers.py
+++ b/coremods/handlers.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def handle_whois(irc, source, command, args):
             # 3) +H is set, but whois_use_hideoper is disabled in config
             isHideOper = (irc.umodes.get('hideoper'), None) in user.modes
             if (not isHideOper) or (isHideOper and sourceisOper) or \
-                    (isHideOper and not irc.botdata.get('whois_use_hideoper', True)):
+                    (isHideOper and not conf.conf['bot'].get('whois_use_hideoper', True)):
                 # Let's be gramatically correct. (If the opertype starts with a vowel,
                 # write "an Operator" instead of "a Operator")
                 n = 'n' if user.opertype[0].lower() in 'aeiou' else ''
diff --git a/plugins/fantasy.py b/plugins/fantasy.py
index 9d18a33..c407d82 100644
--- a/plugins/fantasy.py
+++ b/plugins/fantasy.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # fantasy.py: Adds FANTASY command support, to allow calling commands in channels
-from pylinkirc import utils, world
+from pylinkirc import utils, world, conf
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 
 def handle_fantasy(irc, source, command, args):
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def handle_fantasy(irc, source, command, args):
         # Break if the IRC network isn't ready.
         return
 
-    respondtonick = irc.botdata.get("respondtonick")
+    respondtonick = conf.conf['bot'].get("respondtonick")
 
     channel = args['target']
     orig_text = args['text']
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ def handle_fantasy(irc, source, command, args):
                 # Try to look up a prefix specific for this bot in
                 # bot: prefixes: <botname>, falling back to the default prefix if not
                 # specified.
-                prefixes = [irc.botdata.get('prefixes', {}).get(botname) or
-                            irc.botdata.get('prefix')]
+                prefixes = [conf.conf['bot'].get('prefixes', {}).get(botname) or
+                            conf.conf['bot'].get('prefix')]
 
                 # If responding to nick is enabled, add variations of the current nick
                 # to the prefix list: "<nick>," and "<nick>:"
diff --git a/protocols/hybrid.py b/protocols/hybrid.py
index a79bf93..88f328b 100644
--- a/protocols/hybrid.py
+++ b/protocols/hybrid.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import time
 
-from pylinkirc import utils
+from pylinkirc import utils, conf
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ts6 import *
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class HybridProtocol(TS6Protocol):
         f('CAPAB :TBURST DLN KNOCK UNDLN UNKLN KLN ENCAP IE EX HOPS CHW SVS CLUSTER EOB QS')
 
         f('SERVER %s 0 :%s' % (self.irc.serverdata["hostname"],
-                               self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']))
+                               self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']))
 
         # send endburst now
         self.irc.send(':%s EOB' % (self.irc.sid,))
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class HybridProtocol(TS6Protocol):
         uid = self.uidgen[server].next_uid()
 
         ts = ts or int(time.time())
-        realname = realname or self.irc.botdata['realname']
+        realname = realname or conf.conf['bot']['realname']
         realhost = realhost or host
         raw_modes = self.irc.joinModes(modes)
         u = self.irc.users[uid] = IrcUser(nick, ts, uid, server, ident=ident, host=host, realname=realname,
diff --git a/protocols/inspircd.py b/protocols/inspircd.py
index 12db96f..1929e23 100644
--- a/protocols/inspircd.py
+++ b/protocols/inspircd.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ inspircd.py: InspIRCd 2.x protocol module for PyLink.
 import time
 import threading
 
-from pylinkirc import utils
+from pylinkirc import utils, conf
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ts6_common import *
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class InspIRCdProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         uid = self.uidgen[server].next_uid()
 
         ts = ts or int(time.time())
-        realname = realname or self.irc.botdata['realname']
+        realname = realname or conf.conf['bot']['realname']
         realhost = realhost or host
         raw_modes = self.irc.joinModes(modes)
         u = self.irc.users[uid] = IrcUser(nick, ts, uid, server, ident=ident, host=host, realname=realname,
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ class InspIRCdProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         uplink = uplink or self.irc.sid
         name = name.lower()
         # "desc" defaults to the configured server description.
-        desc = desc or self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']
+        desc = desc or self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']
         if sid is None:  # No sid given; generate one!
             sid = self.sidgen.next_sid()
         assert len(sid) == 3, "Incorrect SID length"
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ class InspIRCdProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         host = self.irc.serverdata["hostname"]
         f('SERVER {host} {Pass} 0 {sid} :{sdesc}'.format(host=host,
           Pass=self.irc.serverdata["sendpass"], sid=self.irc.sid,
-          sdesc=self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']))
+          sdesc=self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']))
 
         self._send(self.irc.sid, 'BURST %s' % ts)
         # InspIRCd sends VERSION data on link, instead of whenever requested by a client.
diff --git a/protocols/nefarious.py b/protocols/nefarious.py
index c137afa..14642ac 100644
--- a/protocols/nefarious.py
+++ b/protocols/nefarious.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import struct
 from ipaddress import ip_address
 import time
 
-from pylinkirc import utils, structures
+from pylinkirc import utils, structures, conf
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ircs2s_common import *
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ class P10Protocol(IRCS2SProtocol):
 
         # Fill in all the values we need
         ts = ts or int(time.time())
-        realname = realname or self.irc.botdata['realname']
+        realname = realname or conf.conf['bot']['realname']
         realhost = realhost or host
         raw_modes = self.irc.joinModes(modes)
 
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ class P10Protocol(IRCS2SProtocol):
         # <- SERVER nefarious.midnight.vpn 1 1460673022 1460673239 J10 ABP]] +h6 :Nefarious2 test server
         uplink = uplink or self.irc.sid
         name = name.lower()
-        desc = desc or self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']
+        desc = desc or self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']
 
         if sid is None:  # No sid given; generate one!
             sid = self.sidgen.next_sid()
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ class P10Protocol(IRCS2SProtocol):
         # Encode our SID using P10 Base64.
         self.irc.sid = sid = p10b64encode(self.irc.serverdata["sid"])
 
-        desc = self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']
+        desc = self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']
 
         # Enumerate modes, from https://github.com/evilnet/nefarious2/blob/master/doc/modes.txt
         cmodes = {'op': 'o', 'voice': 'v', 'private': 'p', 'secret': 's', 'moderated': 'm',
diff --git a/protocols/ratbox.py b/protocols/ratbox.py
index 38ad878..c9fb979 100644
--- a/protocols/ratbox.py
+++ b/protocols/ratbox.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import time
 
-from pylinkirc import utils
+from pylinkirc import utils, conf
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ts6 import *
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class RatboxProtocol(TS6Protocol):
         uid = self.uidgen[server].next_uid()
 
         ts = ts or int(time.time())
-        realname = realname or self.irc.botdata['realname']
+        realname = realname or conf.conf['bot']['realname']
         raw_modes = self.irc.joinModes(modes)
 
         orig_realhost = realhost
diff --git a/protocols/ts6.py b/protocols/ts6.py
index 93cc984..ff9ac05 100644
--- a/protocols/ts6.py
+++ b/protocols/ts6.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ts6.py: PyLink protocol module for TS6-based IRCds (charybdis, elemental-ircd).
 import time
 import re
 
-from pylinkirc import utils
+from pylinkirc import utils, conf
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ts6_common import *
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class TS6Protocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         # parameters: nickname, hopcount, nickTS, umodes, username,
         # visible hostname, IP address, UID, real hostname, account name, gecos
         ts = ts or int(time.time())
-        realname = realname or self.irc.botdata['realname']
+        realname = realname or conf.conf['bot']['realname']
         realhost = realhost or host
         raw_modes = self.irc.joinModes(modes)
         u = self.irc.users[uid] = IrcUser(nick, ts, uid, server, ident=ident, host=host, realname=realname,
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ class TS6Protocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         f('CAPAB :QS ENCAP EX CHW IE KNOCK SAVE SERVICES TB EUID RSFNC EOPMOD SAVETS_100')
 
         f('SERVER %s 0 :%s' % (self.irc.serverdata["hostname"],
-                               self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']))
+                               self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']))
 
         # Finally, end all the initialization with a PING - that's Charybdis'
         # way of saying end-of-burst :)
diff --git a/protocols/ts6_common.py b/protocols/ts6_common.py
index 539673f..2af2d39 100644
--- a/protocols/ts6_common.py
+++ b/protocols/ts6_common.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ts6_common.py: Common base protocol class with functions shared by the UnrealIRC
 import string
 import time
 
-from pylinkirc import utils, structures
+from pylinkirc import utils, structures, conf
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ircs2s_common import *
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class TS6BaseProtocol(IRCS2SProtocol):
         # -> :0AL SID test.server 1 0XY :some silly pseudoserver
         uplink = uplink or self.irc.sid
         name = name.lower()
-        desc = desc or self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']
+        desc = desc or self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']
         if sid is None:  # No sid given; generate one!
             sid = self.sidgen.next_sid()
         assert len(sid) == 3, "Incorrect SID length"
diff --git a/protocols/unreal.py b/protocols/unreal.py
index 06e5174..ff29767 100644
--- a/protocols/unreal.py
+++ b/protocols/unreal.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import codecs
 import socket
 import re
 
-from pylinkirc import utils
+from pylinkirc import utils, conf
 from pylinkirc.classes import *
 from pylinkirc.log import log
 from pylinkirc.protocols.ts6_common import *
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class UnrealProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         uid = self.uidgen[server].next_uid()
 
         ts = ts or int(time.time())
-        realname = realname or self.irc.botdata['realname']
+        realname = realname or conf.conf['bot']['realname']
         realhost = realhost or host
 
         # Add +xt so that vHost cloaking always works.
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class UnrealProtocol(TS6BaseProtocol):
         # ESVID - Supports account names in services stamps instead of just the signon time.
         #         AFAIK this doesn't actually affect services' behaviour?
         f('PROTOCTL SJOIN SJ3 NOQUIT NICKv2 VL UMODE2 PROTOCTL NICKIP EAUTH=%s SID=%s VHP ESVID' % (self.irc.serverdata["hostname"], self.irc.sid))
-        sdesc = self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or self.irc.botdata['serverdesc']
+        sdesc = self.irc.serverdata.get('serverdesc') or conf.conf['bot']['serverdesc']
         f('SERVER %s 1 U%s-h6e-%s :%s' % (host, self.proto_ver, self.irc.sid, sdesc))
         f('NETINFO 1 %s %s * 0 0 0 :%s' % (self.irc.start_ts, self.proto_ver, self.irc.serverdata.get("netname", self.irc.name)))
         self._send(self.irc.sid, 'EOS')
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 64616bf..13d93b1 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -560,3 +560,17 @@ class IRCParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
 
     def error(self, message):
         raise InvalidArgumentsError(message)
+
+class DeprecatedAttributesObject():
+    """
+    Object implementing deprecated attributes and warnings on access.
+    """
+
+    def __getattribute__(self, attr):
+        # Note: "self.deprecated_attributes" calls this too, so the != check is
+        # needed to prevent a recursive loop!
+        if attr != 'deprecated_attributes' and attr in self.deprecated_attributes:
+            log.warning('Attribute %s.%s is deprecated: %s' % (self.__class__.__name__, attr,
+                        self.deprecated_attributes.get(attr)))
+
+        return object.__getattribute__(self, attr)