diff --git a/src/channels.rs b/src/channels.rs
index 9fd61b6..ec4c64a 100644
--- a/src/channels.rs
+++ b/src/channels.rs
@@ -731,12 +731,15 @@ impl Server {
         {
             return; // unknown user, or already joined
         }
-        // IRC operators override the join restrictions below; each bypass sets
-        // `overrode`, snoticed once the join succeeds.
+        // opers holding channels/override bypass the join restrictions below; each
+        // bypass sets `overrode`, snoticed once the join succeeds. `is_oper` still gates
+        // the +O join *requirement* and the create/badchan module intercepts.
         let is_oper = self.users.get(&uid).map(|u| u.flags.oper).unwrap_or(false);
+        let can_override =
+            crate::modules::opertypes::has_priv(self, uid, crate::modules::opertypes::privs::CHANNELS_OVERRIDE);
         let mut overrode = false;
         // connectclass max-channels cap (opers exempt)
-        if !is_oper {
+        if !can_override {
             if let Some(max) = crate::modules::connclass::max_chans(self, uid) {
                 if self.users.get(&uid).map(|u| u.channels.len()).unwrap_or(0) >= max {
                     self.numeric(
@@ -749,7 +752,7 @@ impl Server {
             }
         }
         // CBAN — a forbidden channel name (opers bypass)
-        if !is_oper {
+        if !can_override {
             if let Some(reason) = self.matched_cban(&key) {
                 self.numeric(
                     uid,
@@ -775,7 +778,7 @@ impl Server {
         if let Some(ch) = self.channels.get(&key) {
             if let Some(k) = &ch.modes.key {
                 if key_arg != Some(k.as_str()) {
-                    if !is_oper {
+                    if !can_override {
                         self.numeric(
                             uid,
                             ERR_BADCHANNELKEY,
@@ -789,7 +792,7 @@ impl Server {
             // +b — bans block even an invited user, unless a +e exception matches
             // (both honour the g: security-group extban)
             if self.ban_list_hit(uid, &ch.bans) && !self.ban_list_hit(uid, &ch.excepts) {
-                if !is_oper {
+                if !can_override {
                     // banredirect: `+b mask$#chan` bounces the user into #chan (once)
                     if let Some(t) = crate::modules::banredirect::redirect_target(self, uid, &key) {
                         let tl = t.to_ascii_lowercase();
@@ -819,7 +822,7 @@ impl Server {
                 && !ch.invites.contains(&uid)
                 && !self.ban_list_hit(uid, &ch.invex)
             {
-                if !is_oper {
+                if !can_override {
                     self.numeric(
                         uid,
                         ERR_INVITEONLYCHAN,
@@ -831,7 +834,7 @@ impl Server {
             }
             // +z — TLS-connected users only
             if ch.modes.secure_only && !self.users.get(&uid).map(|u| u.secure).unwrap_or(false) {
-                if !is_oper {
+                if !can_override {
                     self.numeric(
                         uid,
                         ERR_SECUREONLYCHAN,
@@ -858,7 +861,7 @@ impl Server {
                     .map(|u| u.account.is_none())
                     .unwrap_or(true)
             {
-                if !is_oper {
+                if !can_override {
                     self.numeric(
                         uid,
                         ERR_NEEDREGGEDNICK,
@@ -872,7 +875,7 @@ impl Server {
             if let Some(secs) = ch.modes.kicknorejoin {
                 if let Some(&kt) = ch.recent_kicks.get(&uid) {
                     if now().saturating_sub(kt) < secs as u64 {
-                        if !is_oper {
+                        if !can_override {
                             self.numeric(
                                 uid,
                                 ERR_DELAYREJOIN,
@@ -896,7 +899,7 @@ impl Server {
                 .limit
                 .is_some_and(|l| (ch.members.len() + ch.rmembers.len()) as u32 >= l);
             let redirect = ch.modes.redirect.clone();
-            if full && is_oper {
+            if full && can_override {
                 overrode = true;
             } else if full {
                 match redirect {
@@ -927,7 +930,7 @@ impl Server {
             }
         }
         // +j join flood — once tripped, the channel locks new joins out for 60s (opers exempt)
-        if !is_oper && self.channels.contains_key(&key) && self.joinflood_check(&key) {
+        if !can_override && self.channels.contains_key(&key) && self.joinflood_check(&key) {
             self.numeric(
                 uid,
                 ERR_UNAVAILRESOURCE,
diff --git a/src/coremods/core_extra.rs b/src/coremods/core_extra.rs
index d07b39e..ef5d669 100644
--- a/src/coremods/core_extra.rs
+++ b/src/coremods/core_extra.rs
@@ -401,7 +401,8 @@ impl Command for Map {
             &format!("{} ({} users)", s.name, s.users.len()),
         );
         // hideservices: services (U-lined) servers are hidden from non-opers.
-        let hide_svc = s.conf_bool("hideservices", false) && !s.is_oper(uid);
+        let hide_svc = s.conf_bool("hideservices", false)
+            && !crate::modules::opertypes::has_priv(s, uid, crate::modules::opertypes::privs::SERVERS_AUSPEX);
         let mut peers: Vec<String> = s
             .servers
             .values()
diff --git a/src/coremods/core_info.rs b/src/coremods/core_info.rs
index baaeaff..22de721 100644
--- a/src/coremods/core_info.rs
+++ b/src/coremods/core_info.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ impl Command for Links {
             &format!("{} {} :0 {}", s.name, s.name, s.server_desc),
         );
         // hideservices: services (U-lined) servers are hidden from non-opers.
-        let hide_svc = s.conf_bool("hideservices", false) && !s.is_oper(uid);
+        let hide_svc = s.conf_bool("hideservices", false)
+            && !crate::modules::opertypes::has_priv(s, uid, crate::modules::opertypes::privs::SERVERS_AUSPEX);
         let mut rows: Vec<(String, String)> = s
             .servers
             .values()
diff --git a/src/coremods/core_message.rs b/src/coremods/core_message.rs
index 6df0868..fd3402a 100644
--- a/src/coremods/core_message.rs
+++ b/src/coremods/core_message.rs
@@ -136,7 +136,9 @@ fn dm_blocked(s: &Server, uid: Uid, tuid: Uid) -> bool {
         ),
         None => return true,
     };
-    if deny_uncommon && !s.is_oper(uid) {
+    if deny_uncommon
+        && !crate::modules::opertypes::has_priv(s, uid, crate::modules::opertypes::privs::USERS_IGNORE_COMMONCHANS)
+    {
         let common = match (s.users.get(&uid), s.users.get(&tuid)) {
             (Some(a), Some(b)) => a.channels.intersection(&b.channels).next().is_some(),
             _ => false,
@@ -485,7 +487,7 @@ pub(crate) fn deliver(s: &mut Server, uid: Uid, params: &[String], notice: bool)
             .map(|u| u.flags.deny_uncommon)
             .unwrap_or(false)
             && uid != tuid
-            && !s.is_oper(uid)
+            && !crate::modules::opertypes::has_priv(s, uid, crate::modules::opertypes::privs::USERS_IGNORE_COMMONCHANS)
         {
             let common = match (s.users.get(&uid), s.users.get(&tuid)) {
                 (Some(a), Some(b)) => a.channels.intersection(&b.channels).next().is_some(),
diff --git a/src/modules/flood.rs b/src/modules/flood.rs
index 578ea63..bab05d0 100644
--- a/src/modules/flood.rs
+++ b/src/modules/flood.rs
@@ -44,8 +44,9 @@ impl Module for Flood {
             let Some(u) = srv.users.get_mut(&uid) else {
                 return ModResult::Passthru;
             };
-            if u.flags.oper {
-                return ModResult::Passthru; // opers bypass flood limits
+            // opers holding users/flood bypass the message-rate limit
+            if crate::modules::opertypes::user_has_priv(u, crate::modules::opertypes::privs::USERS_FLOOD) {
+                return ModResult::Passthru;
             }
             let st = u.ext.get_or_insert_with(FloodState::default);
             st.times.retain(|&t| now.saturating_sub(t) < window);
diff --git a/src/modules/opertypes.rs b/src/modules/opertypes.rs
index b691f58..45e2164 100644
--- a/src/modules/opertypes.rs
+++ b/src/modules/opertypes.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,25 @@ use crate::server::Server;
 use crate::users::DEFAULT_SNOMASK;
 use crate::Uid;
 
+/// Canonical operator privilege names, grouped by domain. Every gate calls
+/// [`has_priv`]/[`user_has_priv`] with one of these constants, so the strings live
+/// in one place instead of drifting as scattered literals. Config `class privs="…"`
+/// uses the same strings (space/comma separated; `*` grants all).
+pub mod privs {
+    /// see a user's real host+IP and geo, and +i users you share no channel with
+    pub const USERS_AUSPEX: &str = "users/auspex";
+    /// see secret/private (+s/+p) channels in LIST / WHO / WHOIS
+    pub const CHANNELS_AUSPEX: &str = "channels/auspex";
+    /// see U-lined/services servers otherwise hidden by `hideservices`
+    pub const SERVERS_AUSPEX: &str = "servers/auspex";
+    /// exempt from message-flood and join-flood limits
+    pub const USERS_FLOOD: &str = "users/flood";
+    /// message a +c user without sharing a common channel
+    pub const USERS_IGNORE_COMMONCHANS: &str = "users/ignore-commonchans";
+    /// join through +k/+b/+i/+l/+z/+R/+J, CBAN and the max-channels cap
+    pub const CHANNELS_OVERRIDE: &str = "channels/override";
+}
+
 /// Per-user resolved grant, stored on `User.ext` at oper-up. Present ⇒ a typed
 /// oper; absent ⇒ a legacy oper with full access. Read by WHOIS for the title.
 pub struct OperType {
@@ -247,12 +266,12 @@ fn builtin() -> (HashMap<String, ClassDef>, HashMap<String, TypeDef>) {
     let mut classes: HashMap<String, ClassDef> = HashMap::default();
     classes.insert("announce".into(), cdef(&["WALLOPS", "GLOBOPS"], &[], "ag"));
     classes.insert("ban".into(), cdef(&["KILL", "KLINE", "GLINE", "ZLINE", "QLINE", "ELINE", "RLINE", "SHUN", "CBAN", "CHECK", "NICKLOCK", "NICKUNLOCK"], &[], "kx"));
-    classes.insert("override".into(), cdef(&["SAJOIN", "SAPART", "SANICK", "SAKICK", "SAMODE", "SATOPIC", "SAQUIT", "CLEARCHAN"], &["override"], "v"));
+    classes.insert("override".into(), cdef(&["SAJOIN", "SAPART", "SANICK", "SAKICK", "SAMODE", "SATOPIC", "SAQUIT", "CLEARCHAN"], &["channels/override", "users/flood"], "v"));
     classes.insert("host".into(), cdef(&["CHGHOST", "CHGIDENT", "CHGNAME", "SETHOST", "SETIDENT", "SETIDLE", "SWHOIS"], &[], ""));
     classes.insert("services".into(), cdef(&["SVSNICK", "SVSJOIN", "SVSPART", "SVSMODE", "SVSLOGIN", "SVSLOGOUT"], &[], ""));
     classes.insert("server".into(), cdef(&["CONNECT", "SQUIT", "DIE", "RESTART"], &[], "lr"));
     // auspex: see through user/channel privacy (real host+IP, geo, secret channels)
-    classes.insert("auspex".into(), cdef(&[], &["users/auspex", "channels/auspex"], ""));
+    classes.insert("auspex".into(), cdef(&[], &["users/auspex", "channels/auspex", "servers/auspex"], ""));
 
     let mut types: HashMap<String, TypeDef> = HashMap::default();
     // The WHOIS title line is bold + colour 4 (red) by default; override per type
@@ -458,7 +477,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let admin = resolved("admin");
         assert!(admin.commands.contains("KILL") && admin.commands.contains("SAJOIN") && admin.commands.contains("CHGHOST"));
-        assert!(admin.privs.contains("override"));
+        assert!(admin.privs.contains("channels/override") && admin.privs.contains("users/flood"));
         assert!(!admin.commands.contains("DIE"), "admin can't DIE");
         assert!(!admin.commands.contains("SVSNICK"), "admin isn't a services admin");
         assert!(admin.all_snomasks);