diff --git a/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.jsx b/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.jsx
index f3b5419e5..9f8094efd 100644
--- a/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.jsx
+++ b/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.jsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const createClass = require('create-react-class');
 const _     = require('lodash');
 const cx    = require('classnames');
 const request = require('superagent');
+const StringArrayEditor = require('../stringArrayEditor/stringArrayEditor.jsx');
 
 const SYSTEMS = ['5e', '4e', '3.5e', 'Pathfinder'];
 
@@ -27,38 +28,6 @@ const MetadataEditor = createClass({
 			onChange : ()=>{}
 		};
 	},
-	getInitialState : function() {
-		return {
-			tagContext : !!this.props.metadata.tags ? this.props.metadata.tags.map((tag)=>({
-				tag,
-				editing : false
-			})) : [],
-			temporaryTag : '',
-			updateTag    : ''
-		};
-	},
-
-	componentWillUpdate : function() {
-		const tags = this.props.metadata.tags;
-		if(!!tags) {
-			const contextTags = Object.values(this.state.tagContext).map((context)=>context.tag);
-			let updateContext = tags.length !== contextTags.length;
-			for (let i = 0; i < tags.length && updateContext === false; i++){
-				const tag = tags[i];
-				if(!contextTags.includes(tag))
-					updateContext = true;
-			}
-			if(updateContext) {
-				this.setState((prevState)=>({
-					...prevState,
-					tagContext : this.props.metadata.tags.map((tag)=>({
-						tag,
-						editing : false
-					}))
-				}));
-			}
-		}
-	},
 
 	getInitialState : function(){
 		return {
@@ -78,9 +47,10 @@ const MetadataEditor = createClass({
 	},
 
 	handleFieldChange : function(name, e){
-		this.props.onChange(_.merge({}, this.props.metadata, {
+		this.props.onChange({
+			...this.props.metadata,
 			[name] : e.target.value
-		}));
+		});
 	},
 	handleSystem : function(system, e){
 		if(e.target.checked){
@@ -97,9 +67,10 @@ const MetadataEditor = createClass({
 		this.props.onChange(this.props.metadata);
 	},
 	handlePublish : function(val){
-		this.props.onChange(_.merge({}, this.props.metadata, {
+		this.props.onChange({
+			...this.props.metadata,
 			published : val
-		}));
+		});
 	},
 
 	handleDelete : function(){
@@ -201,68 +172,6 @@ const MetadataEditor = createClass({
 		</div>;
 	},
 
-	addTag : function(tag){
-		this.props.metadata.tags = _.uniq([...this.props.metadata.tags, ...(tag.split(',').map((t)=>t.trim()))]);
-		this.props.onChange(this.props.metadata);
-	},
-	removeTag : function(tag){
-		this.props.metadata.tags = this.props.metadata.tags.filter((t)=>t !== tag);
-		this.props.onChange(this.props.metadata);
-	},
-	updateTag : function(tag, index){
-		this.props.metadata.tags[index] = tag;
-		this.props.onChange(this.props.metadata);
-	},
-	editTag : function(index){
-		const tagContext = this.state.tagContext.map((context, i)=>{
-			context.editing = index === i;
-			return context;
-		});
-		this.setState({ tagContext, updateTag: this.props.metadata.tags[index] });
-	},
-	handleTagInputKeyDown : function(event, index){
-		if(event.key === 'Enter') {
-			const tagPattern = /^(?:(?:group|meta|system|type):)?[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9 /.:\-]+$/;
-			if(!!event.target.value.match(tagPattern)) {
-				if(!!index) {
-					this.updateTag(event.target.value, index);
-					const tagContext = this.state.tagContext;
-					tagContext[index].editing = false;
-					this.setState({ tagContext, updateTag: '' });
-				} else {
-					this.addTag(event.target.value);
-					this.setState({ temporaryTag: '' });
-				}
-			} else {
-				console.log('does not match');
-			}
-		}
-	},
-
-	renderTags : function(){
-		const tagElements = Object.values(this.state.tagContext).map((context, i)=>context.editing
-			? <input type='text' className='value' autoFocus
-					 value={this.state.updateTag}
-					 key={i}
-					 onKeyDown={(e)=>{ this.handleTagInputKeyDown(e, i); }}
-					 onChange={(e)=>{ this.setState({ updateTag: e.target.value }); }}/>
-			: <div className='badge' key={i} onClick={()=>{ this.editTag(i); }}>{context.tag}&nbsp;
-				<i className='fa fa-times' onClick={()=>this.removeTag(context.tag)}/>
-			  </div>
-		);
-
-		return <div className='field tags'>
-			<label>tags</label>
-			<div className='list'>
-				{tagElements}
-				<input type='text' className='value'
-					   value={this.state.temporaryTag}
-					   onKeyDown={(e)=>{ this.handleTagInputKeyDown(e); }}
-					   onChange={(e)=>{ this.setState({ temporaryTag: e.target.value }); }}/>
-			</div>
-		</div>;
-	},
-
 	render : function(){
 		return <div className='metadataEditor'>
 			<div className='field title'>
@@ -289,7 +198,10 @@ const MetadataEditor = createClass({
 				{this.renderThumbnail()}
 			</div>
 
-			{this.renderTags()}
+			<StringArrayEditor label='tags' valuePatterns={[/^(?:(?:group|meta|system|type):)?[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9 \/.\-]+$/]}
+				placeholder='add tag' unique={true}
+				values={this.props.metadata.tags}
+				onChange={(e)=>this.handleFieldChange('tags', e)}/>
 
 			{this.renderAuthors()}
 
diff --git a/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.less b/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.less
index 31de998ce..d4fe62397 100644
--- a/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.less
+++ b/client/homebrew/editor/metadataEditor/metadataEditor.less
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+@import 'naturalcrit/styles/colors.less';
 
 .metadataEditor{
 	position         : absolute;
@@ -109,30 +110,74 @@
 		line-height    : 1.5em;
 	}
 
-	.tags.field .list {
-		display   : flex;
-		flex-wrap : wrap;
+	.field .list {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-wrap: wrap;
 
-		>* {
-			flex : 0 0 auto;
+		> * {
+			flex: 0 0 auto;
 		}
 
-		.badge {
-			background-color : #444;
-			border-radius    : .5em;
-			color            : white;
-			font-size        : .9em;
-			margin           : 2px;
-			padding          : .3em;
+		#groupedIcon {
+			#backgroundColors;
+			display: inline-block;
+			border-radius: 0 0.5em 0.5em 0;
+			height: ~"calc(100% + 0.6em)";
+			position: relative;
+			top: -0.3em;
+			right: -0.3em;
+			cursor: pointer;
+			min-width: 20px;
+			text-align: center;
+			color: white;
 
-			i.fa-times {
-				cursor: pointer;
+			i {
+				position: relative;
+				top: 50%;
+				transform: translateY(-50%);
 			}
 		}
 
-		.value {
-			width     : 7.5vw;
-			min-width : 75px;
+		.badge {
+			background-color: #dddddd;
+			border-radius: .5em;
+			font-size: .9em;
+			margin: 2px;
+			padding: .3em;
+
+			.icon {
+				#groupedIcon
+			}
+		}
+
+		.input-group {
+			height: ~"calc(.9em + 4px + .6em)";
+
+			input {
+				border-radius: .5em 0 0 .5em;
+			}
+
+			input:last-child {
+				border-radius: .5em;
+			}
+
+			.value {
+				width: 7.5vw;
+				min-width: 75px;
+				height: 100%;
+			}
+
+			.invalid:focus {
+				background-color: pink;
+			}
+
+			.icon {
+				#groupedIcon;
+				height: 97%;
+				font-size: .8em;
+				right: 1px;
+				top: -.54em;
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/client/homebrew/editor/stringArrayEditor/stringArrayEditor.jsx b/client/homebrew/editor/stringArrayEditor/stringArrayEditor.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c29f2e4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/homebrew/editor/stringArrayEditor/stringArrayEditor.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+const React = require('react');
+const createClass = require('create-react-class');
+const _     = require('lodash');
+
+const StringArrayEditor = createClass({
+	displayName     : 'StringArrayEditor',
+	getDefaultProps : function() {
+		return {
+			label         : '',
+			values        : [],
+			valuePatterns : null,
+			placeholder   : '',
+			unique        : false,
+			cannotEdit    : [],
+			onChange      : ()=>{}
+		};
+	},
+
+	getInitialState : function() {
+		return {
+			valueContext : !!this.props.values ? this.props.values.map((value)=>({
+				value,
+				editing : false
+			})) : [],
+			temporaryValue : '',
+			updateValue    : ''
+		};
+	},
+
+	componentDidUpdate : function(prevProps) {
+		if(!_.eq(this.props, prevProps)) {
+			this.setState({
+				valueContext : !!this.props.values ? this.props.values.map((newValue)=>({
+					value   : newValue,
+					editing : this.state.valueContext.find(({ value })=>value === newValue)?.editing || false
+				})) : []
+			});
+		}
+	},
+
+	handleChange : function(value) {
+		this.props.onChange({
+			target : {
+				value
+			}
+		});
+	},
+
+	addValue : function(value){
+		this.handleChange(_.uniq([...this.props.values, value]));
+		this.setState({
+			temporaryValue : ''
+		});
+	},
+
+	removeValue : function(index){
+		this.handleChange(this.props.values.filter((_, i)=>i !== index));
+	},
+
+	updateValue : function(value, index){
+		const valueContext = this.state.valueContext;
+		valueContext[index].value = value;
+		valueContext[index].editing = false;
+		this.handleChange(valueContext.map((context)=>context.value));
+		this.setState({ valueContext, updateValue: '' });
+	},
+
+	editValue : function(index){
+		if(!!this.props.cannotEdit && this.props.cannotEdit.includes(this.props.values[index])) {
+			return;
+		}
+		const valueContext = this.state.valueContext.map((context, i)=>{
+			context.editing = index === i;
+			return context;
+		});
+		this.setState({ valueContext, updateValue: this.props.values[index] });
+	},
+
+	valueIsValid : function(value) {
+		const matchesPatterns = !this.props.valuePatterns || this.props.valuePatterns.some((pattern)=>!!(value || '').match(pattern));
+		const uniqueIfSet = !this.props.unique || !this.props.values.includes(value);
+		return matchesPatterns && uniqueIfSet;
+	},
+
+	handleValueInputKeyDown : function(event, index) {
+		if(event.key === 'Enter') {
+			if(this.valueIsValid(event.target.value)) {
+				if(index !== undefined) {
+					this.updateValue(event.target.value, index);
+				} else {
+					this.addValue(event.target.value);
+				}
+			}
+		} else if(event.key === 'Escape') {
+			const valueContext = this.state.valueContext;
+			valueContext[index].editing = false;
+			this.setState({ valueContext, updateValue: '' });
+		}
+	},
+
+	render : function() {
+		const valueElements = Object.values(this.state.valueContext).map((context, i)=>context.editing
+			? <React.Fragment key={i}>
+				<div className='input-group'>
+					<input type='text' className={`value ${this.valueIsValid(this.state.updateValue) ? '' : 'invalid'}`} autoFocus placeholder={this.props.placeholder}
+						value={this.state.updateValue}
+						onKeyDown={(e)=>this.handleValueInputKeyDown(e, i)}
+						onChange={(e)=>this.setState({ updateValue: e.target.value })}/>
+					{this.valueIsValid(this.state.updateValue) ? <div className='icon steel'><i className='fa fa-check fa-fw' onClick={(e)=>{ e.stopPropagation(); this.updateValue(this.state.updateValue, i); }}/></div> : null}
+				</div>
+			</React.Fragment>
+			: <div className='badge' key={i} onClick={()=>this.editValue(i)}>{context.value}
+				{!!this.props.cannotEdit && this.props.cannotEdit.includes(context.value) ? null : <div className='icon steel'><i className='fa fa-times fa-fw' onClick={(e)=>{ e.stopPropagation(); this.removeValue(i); }}/></div>}
+			</div>
+		);
+
+		return <div className='field values'>
+			<label>{this.props.label}</label>
+			<div className='list'>
+				{valueElements}
+				<div className='input-group'>
+					<input type='text' className={`value ${this.valueIsValid(this.state.temporaryValue) ? '' : 'invalid'}`} placeholder={this.props.placeholder}
+						value={this.state.temporaryValue}
+						onKeyDown={(e)=>this.handleValueInputKeyDown(e)}
+						onChange={(e)=>this.setState({ temporaryValue: e.target.value })}/>
+					{this.valueIsValid(this.state.temporaryValue) ? <div className='icon steel'><i className='fa fa-check fa-fw' onClick={(e)=>{ e.stopPropagation(); this.addValue(this.state.temporaryValue); }}/></div> : null}
+				</div>
+			</div>
+		</div>;
+	}
+});
+
+module.exports = StringArrayEditor;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/homebrew/navbar/navbar.less b/client/homebrew/navbar/navbar.less
index 95cc04c7a..39fbfaf5c 100644
--- a/client/homebrew/navbar/navbar.less
+++ b/client/homebrew/navbar/navbar.less
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 				&:nth-of-type(2){ background-color: darken(@purple, 30%); }
 			}
 			.item{
-				#backgroundColors;
+				#backgroundColorsHover;
 				.animate(background-color);
 				position         : relative;
 				display          : block;
diff --git a/client/homebrew/pages/editPage/editPage.jsx b/client/homebrew/pages/editPage/editPage.jsx
index f8ac70a5d..d28968df7 100644
--- a/client/homebrew/pages/editPage/editPage.jsx
+++ b/client/homebrew/pages/editPage/editPage.jsx
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ const EditPage = createClass({
 		if(htmlErrors.length) htmlErrors = Markdown.validate(text);
 
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew       : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, { text: text }),
+			brew       : { ...prevState.brew, text: text },
 			isPending  : true,
 			htmlErrors : htmlErrors
 		}), ()=>this.trySave());
@@ -122,14 +122,17 @@ const EditPage = createClass({
 
 	handleStyleChange : function(style){
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew      : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, { style: style }),
+			brew      : { ...prevState.brew, style: style },
 			isPending : true
 		}), ()=>this.trySave());
 	},
 
 	handleMetaChange : function(metadata){
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew      : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, metadata),
+			brew : {
+				...prevState.brew,
+				...metadata
+			},
 			isPending : true,
 		}), ()=>this.trySave());
 
@@ -213,11 +216,11 @@ const EditPage = createClass({
 		history.replaceState(null, null, `/edit/${this.savedBrew.editId}`);
 
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, {
+			brew : { ...prevState.brew,
 				googleId : this.savedBrew.googleId ? this.savedBrew.googleId : null,
 				editId 	 : this.savedBrew.editId,
 				shareId  : this.savedBrew.shareId
-			}),
+			},
 			isPending : false,
 			isSaving  : false,
 		}));
diff --git a/client/homebrew/pages/homePage/homePage.jsx b/client/homebrew/pages/homePage/homePage.jsx
index 6947eb031..c70894093 100644
--- a/client/homebrew/pages/homePage/homePage.jsx
+++ b/client/homebrew/pages/homePage/homePage.jsx
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ const HomePage = createClass({
 	},
 	handleTextChange : function(text){
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, { text: text })
+			brew : { ...prevState.brew, text: text }
 		}));
 	},
 	renderNavbar : function(){
diff --git a/client/homebrew/pages/newPage/newPage.jsx b/client/homebrew/pages/newPage/newPage.jsx
index ae57039b5..c47e38dc2 100644
--- a/client/homebrew/pages/newPage/newPage.jsx
+++ b/client/homebrew/pages/newPage/newPage.jsx
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ const NewPage = createClass({
 		if(htmlErrors.length) htmlErrors = Markdown.validate(text);
 
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew       : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, { text: text }),
+			brew       : { ...prevState.brew, text: text },
 			htmlErrors : htmlErrors
 		}));
 		localStorage.setItem(BREWKEY, text);
@@ -120,14 +120,14 @@ const NewPage = createClass({
 
 	handleStyleChange : function(style){
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, { style: style }),
+			brew : { ...prevState.brew, style: style },
 		}));
 		localStorage.setItem(STYLEKEY, style);
 	},
 
 	handleMetaChange : function(metadata){
 		this.setState((prevState)=>({
-			brew : _.merge({}, prevState.brew, metadata),
+			brew : { ...prevState.brew, ...metadata },
 		}));
 		localStorage.setItem(METAKEY, JSON.stringify({
 			// 'title'       : this.state.brew.title,
diff --git a/shared/naturalcrit/nav/nav.less b/shared/naturalcrit/nav/nav.less
index f84d11733..43eaa0819 100644
--- a/shared/naturalcrit/nav/nav.less
+++ b/shared/naturalcrit/nav/nav.less
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ nav{
 		}
 	}
 	.navItem{
-		#backgroundColors;
+		#backgroundColorsHover;
 		.animate(background-color);
 		padding          : 8px 12px;
 		cursor           : pointer;
diff --git a/shared/naturalcrit/styles/colors.less b/shared/naturalcrit/styles/colors.less
index 340fb38a7..30a7610a2 100644
--- a/shared/naturalcrit/styles/colors.less
+++ b/shared/naturalcrit/styles/colors.less
@@ -23,6 +23,29 @@
 @grey        : #7F8C8D;
 
 #backgroundColors {
+  &.tealLight{ background-color : @tealLight };
+  &.teal{ background-color : @teal };
+  &.greenLight{ background-color : @greenLight };
+  &.green{ background-color : @green };
+  &.blueLight{ background-color : @blueLight };
+  &.blue{ background-color : @blue };
+  &.purpleLight{ background-color : @purpleLight };
+  &.purple{ background-color : @purple };
+  &.steelLight{ background-color : @steelLight };
+  &.steel{ background-color : @steel };
+  &.yellowLight{ background-color : @yellowLight };
+  &.yellow{ background-color : @yellow };
+  &.orangeLight{ background-color : @orangeLight };
+  &.orange{ background-color : @orange };
+  &.redLight{ background-color : @redLight };
+  &.red{ background-color : @red };
+  &.silverLight{ background-color : @silverLight };
+  &.silver{ background-color : @silver };
+  &.greyLight{ background-color : @greyLight };
+  &.grey{ background-color : @grey };
+}
+
+#backgroundColorsHover {
   &.tealLight:hover{ background-color : @tealLight };
   &.teal:hover{ background-color : @teal };
   &.greenLight:hover{ background-color : @greenLight };