diff --git a/src/Dodge/Combine.hs b/src/Dodge/Combine.hs
index cd3b5ef11..3d5f04e9c 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Combine.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Combine.hs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ module Dodge.Combine (
     enterCombineInv,
 ) where
 
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import qualified Data.IntSet as IS
 import Control.Lens
 import Control.Monad
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ toggleCombineInv w = case w ^. hud . hudElement of
 enterCombineInv :: World -> World
 enterCombineInv w = w & hud . hudElement . subInventory .~ CombineInventory 
     { _subInvSel = mi
-    , _subInvRegex = T.pack ""
+    , _subInvRegex = ""
     , _subInvRegexInput = False
     }
   where
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Data/HUD.hs b/src/Dodge/Data/HUD.hs
index 0560a834e..6f1f95fbf 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Data/HUD.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Data/HUD.hs
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import Dodge.Data.Button
 import Dodge.Data.FloorItem
 import Control.Lens
 import Geometry.Data
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 
 data HUDElement
     = DisplayInventory 
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ data HUDElement
 data SubInventory
     = NoSubInventory
     | ExamineInventory {_subInvSel :: Maybe Int}
-    | CombineInventory {_subInvSel :: Maybe Int, _subInvRegex :: T.Text 
+    | CombineInventory {_subInvSel :: Maybe Int, _subInvRegex :: String
         , _subInvRegexInput :: Bool}
     | LockedInventory
     | DisplayTerminal {_termID :: Int}
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Data/Input.hs b/src/Dodge/Data/Input.hs
index 508b82e3f..57687b653 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Data/Input.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Data/Input.hs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ data Input = Input
     , _lSelect :: Point2
     , _rSelect :: Point2
     , _clickMousePos :: Point2
-    , _textInput :: T.Text
+    , _textInput :: String
     , _scrollTestValue :: Float
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Data/SelectionList.hs b/src/Dodge/Data/SelectionList.hs
index ef8d4ba21..7da947333 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Data/SelectionList.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Data/SelectionList.hs
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ data SelectionItem a = SelectionItem
     }
     | SelectionFilter
     { _siPictures :: [String]
+    , _siHeight :: Int
+    , _siIsSelectable :: Bool
+    , _siWidth  :: Int
+    , _siColor  :: Color
+    , _siOffX   :: Int
     }
     --deriving (Eq, Ord, Show, Read) --Generic, Flat)
     
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Data/Terminal.hs b/src/Dodge/Data/Terminal.hs
index 475af3346..f136be657 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Data/Terminal.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Data/Terminal.hs
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import Control.Lens
 import Data.Aeson
 import Data.Aeson.TH
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as M
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Data.WorldEffect
 
 data TerminalStatus = TerminalOff | TerminalBusy | TerminalReady
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ data TerminalStatus = TerminalOff | TerminalBusy | TerminalReady
     --deriving (Eq, Ord, Show, Read) --Generic, Flat)
 
 data TerminalInput = TerminalInput
-    { _tiText :: T.Text
+    { _tiText :: String
     , _tiFocus :: Bool
     , _tiSel :: (Int, Int)
     }
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Data/Universe.hs b/src/Dodge/Data/Universe.hs
index 746b4f477..48b4b382b 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Data/Universe.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Data/Universe.hs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ data ScreenLayer
         , _scListDisplayParams :: ListDisplayParams
         }
     | InputScreen
-        { _scInput :: T.Text
+        { _scInput :: String
         , _scFooter :: String
         }
 --    | WaitScreen
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Debug/Terminal.hs b/src/Dodge/Debug/Terminal.hs
index 48c1f807c..a5b7b0e79 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Debug/Terminal.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Debug/Terminal.hs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import Control.Lens
 --import Control.Monad
 --import Data.List
 import Data.Maybe
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Creature
 import Dodge.Data.Universe
 import Dodge.Inventory.Add
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ parseNum :: [String] -> Int
 parseNum xs = fromMaybe 1 $ xs ^? ix 0 >>= readMaybe
 
 showTerminalError :: String -> String -> Universe -> Universe
-showTerminalError cmd s = uvScreenLayers .:~ InputScreen (T.pack cmd) s
+showTerminalError cmd s = uvScreenLayers .:~ InputScreen cmd s
 
 applySetTerminalString :: String -> Universe -> Universe
 applySetTerminalString [] = id
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Default/Terminal.hs b/src/Dodge/Default/Terminal.hs
index 746bd5bd1..b847bea24 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Default/Terminal.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Default/Terminal.hs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 module Dodge.Default.Terminal where
 
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as M
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Data.Terminal
 import Dodge.Data.WorldEffect
 
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ defaultTerminal =
 defaultTerminalInput :: TerminalInput
 defaultTerminalInput =
     TerminalInput
-        { _tiText = T.pack ""
+        { _tiText = ""
         , _tiFocus = True
         , _tiSel = (0, 0)
         }
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Event.hs b/src/Dodge/Event.hs
index eabf76b9d..cf11988b2 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Event.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Event.hs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ module Dodge.Event (
     handleEvent,
 ) where
 
+import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Concurrent
 import Dodge.Data.Universe
 import Dodge.Event.Input
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ import SDL
 
 handleEvent :: Event -> Universe -> Universe
 handleEvent e u = case eventPayload e of
-    TextInputEvent tev -> inputpoint (handleTextInput (textInputEventText tev)) u
+    TextInputEvent tev -> inputpoint (handleTextInput (T.unpack $ textInputEventText tev)) u
     KeyboardEvent kev -> inputpoint (handleKeyboardEvent kev) u
     MouseMotionEvent mmev -> inputpoint (handleMouseMotionEvent mmev cfig) u
     MouseButtonEvent mbev -> inputpoint (handleMouseButtonEvent mbev) u
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Event/Input.hs b/src/Dodge/Event/Input.hs
index 0a630eab1..2c846b696 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Event/Input.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Event/Input.hs
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ module Dodge.Event.Input (
     handleMouseWheelEvent,
 ) where
 
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Data.Config
 import Dodge.Data.Input
 import LensHelp
@@ -15,8 +14,8 @@ import SDL
 
 -- annoyingly, the text input event doesn't register backspace, so deletion has to be
 -- dealt with separately
-handleTextInput :: T.Text -> Input -> Input
-handleTextInput text = textInput %~ (`T.append` text)
+handleTextInput :: String -> Input -> Input
+handleTextInput text = textInput %~ (++ text)
 
 -- | Handles keyboard press and release.
 handleKeyboardEvent :: KeyboardEventData -> Input -> Input
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Render/HUD.hs b/src/Dodge/Render/HUD.hs
index 5411c4fd8..969d394fa 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Render/HUD.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Render/HUD.hs
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import Dodge.Creature.Info
 import Control.Lens
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as M
 import Data.Maybe
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import qualified Data.Vector as V
 import Dodge.Base
 import Dodge.Clock
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ drawSubInventory subinv cfig w = case subinv of
         titledSub
             cfig
             ("COMBINE")
-            (combineListSelection w mi (T.unpack regex) x)
+            (combineListSelection w mi regex x)
             <> combineInventoryExtra mi cfig w
 
 titledSub :: Configuration -> String -> SelectionList a -> Picture
@@ -250,7 +249,7 @@ displayTerminal tid cfig w = fromMaybe mempty $ do
     displayTermInput tm = case _tmInput tm of
         TerminalInput s hasfoc _ -> (++ [(displayInputText tm s ++ displayBlinkCursor hasfoc, white)])
     displayInputText tm s
-        | _tmStatus tm == TerminalReady = '>' : T.unpack s
+        | _tmStatus tm == TerminalReady = '>' : s
         | otherwise = ""
     displayBlinkCursor hasfoc
         | hasfoc = clockCycle 10 (V.fromList ["_", ""]) w
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Render/List.hs b/src/Dodge/Render/List.hs
index 79393a68a..af14bffaf 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Render/List.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Render/List.hs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module Dodge.Render.List where
 
 --import Data.Foldable
-import Regex
+import Dodge.SelectionList
 import Data.Maybe
 import Dodge.Base.WinScale
 import Dodge.Base.Window
@@ -26,20 +26,9 @@ drawSelectionList ldps cfig sl =
         <> drawSelectionCursor ldps cfig sl
 
 makeSelectionListPictures :: SelectionList a -> [Picture]
-makeSelectionListPictures sl = regex ++ concatMap f theitems
+makeSelectionListPictures sl = concatMap f $ getShownItems sl
   where
-    theitems = case sl ^. slRegex of
-        "" -> _slItems sl
-        str -> filter (doregex str) (_slItems sl)
-    doregex str = regexList str . _siPictures
-    regex = case sl ^. slRegex of
-        "" | not (sl ^. slRegexInput) -> []
-        str -> [text $ "SEARCH: " ++ str]
     f si = map (color (_siColor si) . text) $ _siPictures si
-        --case sl ^. slSizeRestriction of
---    SelectionSizeRestriction {} -> concatMap (_siPictures . fst) $ _slShownItems sl
---    _ -> concatMap _siPictures $ _slItems sl
-
 
 drawCursorAt :: ListDisplayParams -> Configuration -> Maybe Int -> [SelectionItem a] -> Picture
 drawCursorAt ldps cfig mi lis = fromMaybe mempty $ do
@@ -57,16 +46,13 @@ drawCursorAt ldps cfig mi lis = fromMaybe mempty $ do
         _ -> 1
 
 drawSelectionCursor :: ListDisplayParams -> Configuration -> SelectionList a -> Picture
-drawSelectionCursor ldps cfig sl = drawCursorAt ldps cfig (f $ sl ^. slSelPos) (g $ sl ^. slItems)
+drawSelectionCursor ldps cfig sl = drawCursorAt ldps cfig (f $ sl ^. slSelPos) (getShownItems sl)
   where
     -- the following is quite hacky
     f = case sl ^. slRegex of
+        _ | sl ^. slRegexInput -> const (Just 0)
         "" | not (sl ^. slRegexInput) -> id
         _ -> fmap (+1)
-    g (x:xs) = case sl ^. slRegex of
-        "" | not (sl ^. slRegexInput) -> (x:xs)
-        _ -> ((x & siHeight .~ 1) : x : xs)
-    g _ = []
 
 -- given a list of pictures that are each the size of a "text" call, displays them as
 -- a list on the screen
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Render/MenuScreen.hs b/src/Dodge/Render/MenuScreen.hs
index 93f8c5977..56a7ed8f6 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Render/MenuScreen.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Render/MenuScreen.hs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ module Dodge.Render.MenuScreen (
 import Dodge.Base.WinScale
 import Dodge.Data.SelectionList
 import Dodge.Render.List
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Base.Window
 import Dodge.Data.Universe
 import Picture
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ drawMenuScreen :: Configuration -> ScreenLayer -> Picture
 drawMenuScreen cfig screen = case screen of
     OptionScreen{_scTitle = titf, _scSelectionList = selpos, _scListDisplayParams = ldps} ->
         drawOptions ldps cfig titf selpos
-    InputScreen inputstr help -> drawInputMenu cfig ('>' : T.unpack inputstr) help
+    InputScreen inputstr help -> drawInputMenu cfig ('>' : inputstr) help
 
 drawInputMenu :: 
     Configuration ->
diff --git a/src/Dodge/SelectionList.hs b/src/Dodge/SelectionList.hs
index bc4f56a88..8c9edc359 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/SelectionList.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/SelectionList.hs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ module Dodge.SelectionList where
 
 --import Color
 --import Dodge.WindowLayout
+import Color
 import Regex
 import Dodge.Data.Universe
 import LensHelp
@@ -26,7 +27,14 @@ defaultSelectionList = SelectionList
 
 getShownItems :: SelectionList a -> [SelectionItem a]
 getShownItems sl = case sl ^. slRegex of
-        "" -> _slItems sl
-        str ->  SelectionFilter ["FILTER: "++str] : filter (doregex str) (_slItems sl)
+        "" | not (sl ^. slRegexInput) -> _slItems sl
+        str ->  SelectionFilter 
+            { _siPictures = ["FILTER: "++str] 
+            , _siHeight = 1
+            , _siIsSelectable = False
+            , _siWidth = length $ "FILTER: "++str
+            , _siColor = white
+            , _siOffX = 0
+            }: filter (doregex str) (_slItems sl)
   where
     doregex str = regexList str . _siPictures
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Terminal/LeftButton.hs b/src/Dodge/Terminal/LeftButton.hs
index 9d73d4bb8..75f0725b7 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Terminal/LeftButton.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Terminal/LeftButton.hs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 module Dodge.Terminal.LeftButton where
 
 import Data.Maybe
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Data.World
 import Dodge.Terminal--oops
 import LensHelp
@@ -9,7 +8,7 @@ import LensHelp
 doTerminalEffectLB :: Terminal -> World -> World
 doTerminalEffectLB tm w = guardDisconnected tm w $
     fromMaybe w $ do
-        s <- fmap T.unpack $ w ^? cWorld . lWorld . terminals . ix (_tmID tm) . tmInput . tiText
+        s <- w ^? cWorld . lWorld . terminals . ix (_tmID tm) . tmInput . tiText
         if null (words s)
             then Just $ defocusTerminalInput w
             else return $ terminalReturnEffect tm w
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ doTerminalEffectLB tm w = guardDisconnected tm w $
 terminalReturnEffect :: Terminal -> World -> World
 terminalReturnEffect tm w = guardDisconnected tm w $
     fromMaybe w $ do
-        s <- fmap T.unpack $ w ^? cWorld . lWorld . terminals . ix (_tmID tm) . tmInput . tiText
+        s <- w ^? cWorld . lWorld . terminals . ix (_tmID tm) . tmInput . tiText
         return $
             runTerminalString s tm $
                 w
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ defocusTerminalInput w = fromMaybe w $ do
 runTerminalString :: String -> Terminal -> World -> World
 runTerminalString s tm w =
     w & cWorld . lWorld . terminals . ix (_tmID tm)
-        %~ ( (tmInput .~ TerminalInput T.empty True (0, 0))
+        %~ ( (tmInput .~ TerminalInput mempty True (0, 0))
                 . (tmFutureLines ++.~ commandFutureLines s tm w)
                 . (tmCommandHistory %~ take 10 . (s :))
            )
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Update.hs b/src/Dodge/Update.hs
index f74b1e95f..3cbf60862 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Update.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Update.hs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import Control.Applicative
 import Data.List
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as M
 import Data.Maybe
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Base
 import Dodge.Beam
 import Dodge.Bullet
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ maybeOpenTerminal u = case u ^. uvWorld . input . pressedKeys . at ScancodeSemic
 gotoTerminal :: Universe -> Universe
 gotoTerminal w = case _uvScreenLayers w of
     (InputScreen{} : _) -> w
-    _ -> w & uvScreenLayers .:~ InputScreen T.empty "Enter command"
+    _ -> w & uvScreenLayers .:~ InputScreen mempty "Enter command"
 
 mouseClickOptionsList :: ScreenLayer -> Universe -> Universe
 mouseClickOptionsList screen u = fromMaybe u $ do
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Update/Input.hs b/src/Dodge/Update/Input.hs
index 87cf14cfc..219eb976a 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Update/Input.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Update/Input.hs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module Dodge.Update.Input (
 ) where
 
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as M
-import qualified Data.Text as T
+import Data.Char
 import Dodge.Base.You
 import Dodge.Button.Event
 import Dodge.Combine
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ import Dodge.WorldPos
 import LensHelp
 import SDL
 
-doTextInputOver :: ASetter' Universe T.Text -> Universe -> Universe
-doTextInputOver p u = u & p %~ (`T.append` T.toUpper thetext)
+doTextInputOver :: ASetter' Universe String -> Universe -> Universe
+doTextInputOver p u = u & p %~ (++ map toUpper thetext)
     & checkBackspace
   where
     thetext = u ^. uvWorld . input . textInput
@@ -32,10 +32,9 @@ doTextInputOver p u = u & p %~ (`T.append` T.toUpper thetext)
         | backspaceInputted u = p %~ doBackspace
         | otherwise = id
     
-doBackspace :: T.Text -> T.Text
-doBackspace t = case T.unsnoc t of
-    Nothing -> t
-    Just (t', _) -> t'
+doBackspace :: String -> String
+doBackspace [] = []
+doBackspace s = init s
 
 backspaceInputted :: Universe -> Bool
 backspaceInputted u = case u ^. uvWorld . input . pressedKeys . at ScancodeBackspace of
@@ -44,17 +43,14 @@ backspaceInputted u = case u ^. uvWorld . input . pressedKeys . at ScancodeBacks
     _ -> False
 
 doSubInvRegexInput :: Universe -> Universe
-doSubInvRegexInput u = u
-    & doTextInputOver (uvWorld . hud . hudElement . subInventory . subInvRegex)
-    & checkEndStatus
+doSubInvRegexInput u
+    | any ( (== Just InitialPress) . (`M.lookup` pkeys)) [ScancodeReturn,ScancodeEscape,ScancodeSlash] 
+            = u & uvWorld . hud . hudElement . subInventory . subInvRegexInput .~ False
+    | otherwise = u & doTextInputOver (uvWorld . hud . hudElement . subInventory . subInvRegex)
   where
     pkeys = u ^. uvWorld . input . pressedKeys
-    checkEndStatus
-        | any ( (== Just InitialPress) . (`M.lookup` pkeys)) [ScancodeReturn,ScancodeEscape,ScancodeSlash] 
-            = uvWorld . hud . hudElement . subInventory . subInvRegexInput .~ False
-        | otherwise = id
 
-doInputScreenInput :: T.Text -> Universe -> Universe
+doInputScreenInput :: String -> Universe -> Universe
 doInputScreenInput s u =
     u & doTextInputOver (uvScreenLayers . _head . scInput)
         & checkEndStatus
@@ -62,7 +58,7 @@ doInputScreenInput s u =
     pkeys = u ^. uvWorld . input . pressedKeys
     checkEndStatus
         | ScancodeReturn `M.member` pkeys = (uvScreenLayers %~ tail) 
-            . applyTerminalString (words $ T.unpack s)
+            . applyTerminalString (words s)
         | ScancodeEscape `M.member` pkeys = uvScreenLayers %~ tail
         | otherwise = id
 
diff --git a/src/Dodge/Update/Scroll.hs b/src/Dodge/Update/Scroll.hs
index 032f35ad5..f3e44537a 100644
--- a/src/Dodge/Update/Scroll.hs
+++ b/src/Dodge/Update/Scroll.hs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ module Dodge.Update.Scroll (
 
 import qualified Data.Map.Strict as M
 import Data.Maybe
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Dodge.Base
 import Dodge.Combine
 import Dodge.Data.Universe
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ terminalWheelEvent yi tmid w
     setInput i j w' tm =
         tm
             & tmInput . tiSel .~ (i, j)
-            & tmInput . tiText .~ T.pack (_tcString tc ++ " " ++ arg)
+            & tmInput . tiText .~ (_tcString tc ++ " " ++ arg)
       where
         tc = scrollCommands tm !! i
         arg = getArguments' tc tm w' !! j