Search Within Book
There are times when I know what book I want to look for something in. For example, I was recently looking for general info in the DMG regarding the frequency of short and long term rests. I can search for "rest" on the site and then filter by "Compendium." But, it would be nice to be able to further search within individual compendium items/books.
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This is definitely an absolute necessity for me. The search in general is kind of a pain to use, but especially so because I can't filter by book - only by category of result (e.g. Magic Item or Compendium). Sometimes I know exactly what I'm looking for, but don't know where in the book it is - and since each chapter is displayed on a separate page in DDB, I can't easily just Ctrl+F to find it.
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This is a major frustration point for me. Being able to search within a single source is hugely important for keeping the game moving and arbitrating things quickly. This feels like a fairly easy change to implement, and would help significantly.
Alongside this, I'd like the ability to search for a printed page number within a source as well, as many of my players prefer printed text to digital.
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I don't know when it became available, but you can now filter search at least on the website by each sourcebook (advanced filter). As written, I think that answers your ask, but then other commenters have pointed out that DnDB content doesn't have page numbers. I think that might be a separate ask though.
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This is my single biggest complaint with D&D Beyond. The search functionality needs the ability to filter by book. Alternatively, let me search in a book, from that books table of contents.
I bought the legendary bundle, but I hate Rick & Morty (I'm sorry) and have no intention of ever doing anything with that book. Yet, when I search, there it is. You show the source that the search result is from, let us filter by the book.
Page numbers won't work, as the source books are updated with errata.
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Yeah. Search within a book, or at least make better filters for the search.
If for example I need to check how the flanking works, I search for the keyword and get a lot of results from the adventure modules, which are totally irrelevant. Give me a filter to only search within the rulebooks!
P.S. there seems to be no rule for the flanking, which is a bit odd in my opinion.
I had to browse quite a lot (as new player) to find the right place in the books, when the search didn't give any results from flanking or backstabbing, but finally found that you get advantage when the enemy cannot see you when you attack. So a sneak attack from behind while the rest are going head on should do the trick, right?
P.P.S. Just found out that backstabbing is now actually sneak attack :D -
@Mikko
DMG ch. 8: Optional rule: Flanking on Squares. When a creature and at least one of its allies are adjacent to an enemy and on opposite sides or corners of the enemy’s space, they flank that enemy, and each of them has advantage on melee attack rolls against that enemy.
(The flanking rule has been largely replaced in 5e by feats and features that grant advantage--or another benefit-- while an ally is standing within 5 feet of a target (e.g.: pack tactics). For that reason, not many DMs use it afaik, or nerf it to a +2 attack bonus).
Also, I invite you to check out The Mega Index on the DMs Guild if you're coming to 5e from an older edition. One version of the index includes the old terminology, so will make it easier to find stuff. -
One more voice to join the chorus requesting this feature. A couple of examples:
- I recalled an instance of a monster using telepathy in an adventure, but could not narrow the search results for “telepath*” to the one source book.
- I wanted to find a lowish-CR monster that could cast spells. As there is no filter on this ability within the monster database, I needed to search for the ubiquitous word “spells” just within the Monster Manual, but could not.
- The electronic books we are purchasing have no indices, which makes search-within-book particularly important.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
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How is it possible this has been requested over 3 years ago, and there is not a search option at all yet on the DND site to search within all source books for specific phrases?
Example: I wanted to search for Cleric Grave Domain. I can't! Totally not a big D&D player, so not sure where to even look. Or am I missing something here? This is beyond ridiculous. -
It's great that after 4 years one can now search within a book in the D&D Beyond mobile app. The website search still is terrible. I still cannot search within a book. In fact, below is a screenshot of searching the site using the 'compendium' filter for the word "concentration". None of the 35 results is the "Casting a spell" section from the PHB. If it's on the mobile app, why isn't it available on the site? You have advanced searches for items, equipment, but not for compendium content.
What good is 12k pages of source material when you can't reliably search it? I see an accessibility thread in the forum, this search is also an accessibility issue.
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