diff --git a/rpg-docs/Model/Character/Characters.js b/rpg-docs/Model/Character/Characters.js
index eeaebb40..4fd1173c 100644
--- a/rpg-docs/Model/Character/Characters.js
+++ b/rpg-docs/Model/Character/Characters.js
@@ -3,17 +3,17 @@ Characters = new Meteor.Collection("characters");
 
 Schemas.Character = new SimpleSchema({
 	//strings
-	name:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	alignment:	{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	gender:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	race:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	description:{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	personality:{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	ideals:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	bonds:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	flaws:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	backstory: 	{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
-	notes: 		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", optional: true },
+	name:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	alignment:	{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	gender:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	race:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	description:{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	personality:{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	ideals:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	bonds:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	flaws:		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	backstory: 	{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
+	notes: 		{ type: String, defaultValue: "", trim: false},
 
 	//attributes
 	//ability scores
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ Characters.helpers({
 		var char = Characters.findOne(this._id, {fields: fieldSelector});
 		var field = char[fieldName];
 		if(field === undefined){
-			throw "no such field "+fieldName+" exists";
+			console.log("no field ", fieldName, " exists for character ", char)
 		}
 		return field;
 	},
@@ -279,52 +279,123 @@ Characters.helpers({
 			console.log("Character's schema does not contain a field called: " + fieldName);
 			return;
 		}
-		var field = this.getField(fieldName);
 		//duck typing to get the right value function
 		//.proficiency implies skill
 		if (Schemas.Character.schema(fieldName + ".proficiency")){
-			return this.skillMod(field);
+			return this.skillMod(fieldName);
 		}
 		//base without proficiency implies attribute
 		if (Schemas.Character.schema(fieldName + ".base")){
-			return this.attributeValue(field);
+			return this.attributeValue(fieldName);
 		}
 		//fall back to just returning the field itself
-		return field;
+		return this.getField(fieldName);
 	},
 
-	attributeValue: function(attribute){
-		if (attribute === undefined) return;
-		var charId = this._id;
-		if (_.isString(attribute)){
-			attribute = this.getField(attribute);
+	attributeValue: (function(){ 
+		//store a private array of attributes we've visited without returning
+		//if we try to visit the same attribute twice before resolving its value
+		//we are in a dependency loop and need to GTFO
+		var visitedAttributes = [];
+		return function(attributeName){
+			check(attributeName, String);
+			//we're still evaluating this attribute, must be in a loop
+			if(_.contains(visitedAttributes, attributeName)) {
+				console.log("dependency loop detected");
+				return NaN;
+			}
+			//push this attribute to the list of visited attributes
+			//we can't visit it again unless it returns first
+			visitedAttributes.push(attributeName);
+
+			var charId = this._id;
+			var attribute = this.getField(attributeName);
+			//base value
+			var value = attribute.base;
+			//add all values in add array
+			_.each(attribute.add, function(effect){
+				value += evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+			});
+
+			//multiply all values in mul array
+			_.each(attribute.mul, function(effect){
+				value *= evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+			});
+
+			//largest min
+			_.each(attribute.min, function(effect){
+				var min = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+				value = value > min? value : min;
+			});
+
+			//smallest max
+			_.each(attribute.max, function(effect){
+				var max = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+				value = value < max? value : max;
+			});
+			//done traversing the tree, this attribute returns, pull it from the array
+			visitedAttributes = _.without(visitedAttributes, attributeName);
+			return value;
 		}
-		//base value
-		var value = attribute.base;
-		//add all values in add array
-		_.each(attribute.add, function(effect){
-			value += evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-		});
+	})(),
 
-		//multiply all values in mul array
-		_.each(attribute.mul, function(effect){
-			value *= evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-		});
+	skillMod: (function(){
+		//store a private array of skills we've visited without returning
+		//if we try to visit the same skill twice before resolving its value
+		//we are in a dependency loop and need to GTFO
+		var visitedSkills = [];
+		return function(skillName){
+			check(skillName, String);
+			//we're still evaluating this attribute, must be in a loop
+			if(_.contains(visitedSkills, skillName)) {
+				console.log("dependency loop detected");
+				return NaN;
+			}
+			//push this skill to the list of visited skills
+			//we can't visit it again unless it returns first
+			visitedSkills.push(skillName);
 
-		//largest min
-		_.each(attribute.min, function(effect){
-			var min = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-			value = value > min? value : min;
-		});
+			var charId = this._id;
+			skill = this.getField(skillName);
+			//get the final value of the ability score
+			var ability = this.attributeValue(skill.ability);
 
-		//smallest max
-		_.each(attribute.max, function(effect){
-			var max = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-			value = value < max? value : max;
-		});
+			//base modifier
+			var mod = +getMod(ability)
 
-		return value;
-	},
+			//multiply proficiency bonus by largest value in proficiency array
+			var prof = this.proficiency(skill);
+
+			//add multiplied proficiency bonus to modifier
+			mod += prof * this.attributeValue("proficiencyBonus");
+
+			//add all values in add array
+			_.each(skill.add, function(effect){
+				mod += evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+			});
+
+			//multiply all values in mul array
+			_.each(skill.mul, function(effect){
+				mod *= evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+			});
+
+			//largest min
+			_.each(skill.min, function(effect){
+				var min = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+				mod = mod > min? mod : min;
+			});
+
+			//smallest max
+			_.each(skill.max, function(effect){
+				var max = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
+				mod = mod < max? mod : max;
+			});
+
+			//done traversing the tree, this skill returns, pull it from the array
+			visitedSkills = _.without(visitedSkills, skillName);
+			return signedString(mod);
+		}
+	})(),
 
 	proficiency: function(skill){
 		if (_.isString(skill)){
@@ -342,52 +413,6 @@ Characters.helpers({
 		return prof;
 	},
 
-	skillMod: function(skill){
-		if(skill === undefined){ 
-			console.log("Cannot get skillMod of undefined");
-			return;
-		}
-		var charId = this._id;
-		if (_.isString(skill)){
-			skill = this.getField(skill);
-		}
-		//get the final value of the ability score
-		var ability = this.attributeValue(skill.ability);
-
-		//base modifier
-		var mod = +getMod(ability)
-
-		//multiply proficiency bonus by largest value in proficiency array
-		var prof = this.proficiency(skill);
-
-		//add multiplied proficiency bonus to modifier
-		mod += prof * this.attributeValue("proficiencyBonus");
-
-		//add all values in add array
-		_.each(skill.add, function(effect){
-			mod += evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-		});
-
-		//multiply all values in mul array
-		_.each(skill.mul, function(effect){
-			mod *= evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-		});
-
-		//largest min
-		_.each(skill.min, function(effect){
-			var min = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-			mod = mod > min? mod : min;
-		});
-
-		//smallest max
-		_.each(skill.max, function(effect){
-			var max = evaluateEffect(charId, effect);
-			mod = mod < max? mod : max;
-		});
-
-		return signedString(mod);
-	},
-
 	passiveSkill: function(skill){
 		if (_.isString(skill)){
 			skill = this.getField(skill);
diff --git a/rpg-docs/client/globalHelpers/effectList.js b/rpg-docs/client/globalHelpers/effectList.js
index 3bc9df75..9ba6c4d2 100644
--- a/rpg-docs/client/globalHelpers/effectList.js
+++ b/rpg-docs/client/globalHelpers/effectList.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
+/*Template.registerHelper(function("effectList", */var disabled = function(charId, fieldName){
+	var obj = Characters.findOne(charId, {fields: {_id: 1}}).getField(fieldName);
 	var result = $("<div>");
 	if(_.has(obj, "conditional") && obj.conditional.length > 0){
 		_.each(obj.conditional, function(cond){
 			var c = $("<div>")
 			.append("* ")
-			.append(evaluateString(character, cond.name));
+			.append(evaluateString(charId, cond.name));
 			result.append(c);
 		});
 	}
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
 	if(_.has(obj, "proficiency") && obj.proficiency.length > 0){
 		var highestProf = {};
 		_.each(obj.proficiency, function(prof, i){
-			var value = evaluateEffect(character, prof)
+			var value = evaluateEffect(charId, prof)
 			if(i === 0 || value > highestProf.value){
 				highestProf.value = value;
 				highestProf.name = prof.name;
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
 
 	if(_.has(obj, "add") && obj.add.length > 0){
 		_.each(obj.add, function(a){
-			var value = signedString(evaluateEffect(character, a));
+			var value = signedString(evaluateEffect(charId, a));
 			var c = $("<div>")
 			.append($("<span>").addClass("auditValue").append(value))
 			.append(a.name);
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
 
 	if(_.has(obj, "mul") && obj.mul.length > 0){
 		_.each(obj.mul, function(a){
-			var value = signedString(evaluateEffect(character, a));
+			var value = signedString(evaluateEffect(charId, a));
 			var c = $("<div>")
 			.append($("<span>").addClass("auditValue").append("&times;").append(value))
 			.append(a.name);
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
 	if(_.has(obj, "min") && obj.min.length > 0){
 		var highestMin = {};
 		_.each(obj.min, function(m, i){
-			var value = evaluateEffect(character, m)
+			var value = evaluateEffect(charId, m)
 			if(i === 0 || value > highestMin.value){
 				highestMin.value = value;
 				highestMin.name = m.name;
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
 	if(_.has(obj, "max") && obj.max.length > 0){
 		var lowestMax = {};
 		_.each(obj.max, function(m, i){
-			var value = evaluateEffect(character, m)
+			var value = evaluateEffect(charId, m)
 			if(i === 0 || value < lowestMax.value){
 				lowestMax.value = value;
 				lowestMax.name = m.name;
@@ -120,4 +121,4 @@ Template.registerHelper("effectList", function(obj, character){
 	var string = result.html()
 	if (_.isString(string)) return Spacebars.SafeString(string);
 	return string;
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rpg-docs/client/main.js b/rpg-docs/client/main.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 542bdd1e..00000000
--- a/rpg-docs/client/main.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-_.each(Template, function (template, name) {
-	if(template){
-		var counter = 0;
-		template.rendered = template.rendered || function () {
-			console.log(name, "render count: ", ++counter);
-		};
-	}
-});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rpg-docs/client/views/character/skills/skills.html b/rpg-docs/client/views/character/skills/skills.html
index 88597d28..0fccfb2b 100644
--- a/rpg-docs/client/views/character/skills/skills.html
+++ b/rpg-docs/client/views/character/skills/skills.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 	<h2>Saving Throws</h2>
 	<table class="skillTable">
 		{{#each saveList}}
-			<tr title={{effectList skill ..}}>
+			<tr>
 				<td><div class="profIcon" style="background-image: url(/png/profIcons/{{profIcon skill}})"></div></td>
 				{{#if failSkill}}
 					<td class="fail">fail</td>
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 	<h2>Skills</h2>
 	<table class="skillTable">
 		{{#each skillList}}
-			<tr title={{effectList skill ..}}>
+			<tr>
 				<td><div class="profIcon" style="background-image: url(/png/profIcons/{{profIcon skill}})"></div></td>
 				{{#if failSkill}}
 					<td class="fail">fail</td>
diff --git a/rpg-docs/client/views/character/textField/textField.js b/rpg-docs/client/views/character/textField/textField.js
index 072d71fc..81646435 100644
--- a/rpg-docs/client/views/character/textField/textField.js
+++ b/rpg-docs/client/views/character/textField/textField.js
@@ -34,14 +34,13 @@ Template.textField.events({
 		//TODO sanitise the html
 		var setter = {};
 		setter[this.field] = text;
-		Characters.update(this.character._id, {$set: setter}, function(error, result) {
-			if(error) console.log(error);
-		});
+		Characters.update(this.character._id, {$set: setter}, {removeEmptyStrings: false});
 	},
 	"click #textOutput": function(){
 		Template.instance().editing.set(true);
 		Tracker.afterFlush(function(){
 			$("#textInput").focus();
+			placeCaretAtEnd($("#textInput"));
 		});
 	}
 })
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/rpg-docs/lib/functions/evaluate.js b/rpg-docs/lib/functions/evaluate.js
index acc32bde..d97495d6 100644
--- a/rpg-docs/lib/functions/evaluate.js
+++ b/rpg-docs/lib/functions/evaluate.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ evaluate = function(charId, string){
 	} catch(e){
 		console.log(e)
 		return string;
-	}	
+	}
 }
 
 //takes a string with {calculations} and returns it with the results 
diff --git a/rpg-docs/lib/functions/placeCaretAtEnd.js b/rpg-docs/lib/functions/placeCaretAtEnd.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..da6ec46e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rpg-docs/lib/functions/placeCaretAtEnd.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+placeCaretAtEnd = function(el) {
+	el = el.get(0); //jquery element -> DOM element
+    el.focus();
+    if (typeof window.getSelection != "undefined"
+            && typeof document.createRange != "undefined") {
+        var range = document.createRange();
+        range.selectNodeContents(el);
+        range.collapse(false);
+        var sel = window.getSelection();
+        sel.removeAllRanges();
+        sel.addRange(range);
+    } else if (typeof document.body.createTextRange != "undefined") {
+        var textRange = document.body.createTextRange();
+        textRange.moveToElementText(el);
+        textRange.collapse(false);
+        textRange.select();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file