realms-in-ruin-dev/Documentation/Archaeology/10-AnimationDependencies.md

10 — Animation Dependencies

Status: Draft

• Scope: Animation Blueprints, Montages, AnimNotify Blueprints for playable characters (Pass 8) plus enemy AnimBP/montage findings required by Pass 9 combat archaeology.
• Last completed pass: Pass 9 (Batch 4C) — enemy animation seed
• Next pass expected to contribute: Pass 4 / Pass 10 when authorized

Draft tracking

Completed sections

• Per-character AnimBP architecture table (playables)
• Per-ability Montage + notify tables
• AnimNotify/callback inventory (AN_Ability_001–004, AN_AttackComplete)
• Resolved UseAbility* callers
• Pass 6 reclassification table
• Cleanup via AN_AttackComplete → SetIsAttacking
• Networking/authority static notes
• Wizard / Gunslinger animation dependency confirmation
• Pass 9: ABP_Skeleton locomotion/Death; Anim_SkeletonAttackMontage orphan; SetIsDead(false) every Update

Pending sections

• Exact notify trigger times / track indices (Requires Manual Editor Inspection)
• Montage section names / blend / root-motion flags
• ABP_Skeleton Death transition rule pin details

Evidence still required

• Manual editor confirmation of notify timing windows
• Whether interrupted montages skip AN_AttackComplete (static risk only)
• Gunslinger mesh AnimClass assignment on CDO (data-only; deps show no AnimBP)

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Shared animation → ability architecture

flowchart TD
  Begin[Server_Ability_N_Begin] --> MC[Multicast_PlayMontage]
  MC --> Play[PlayMontage Mesh]
  Play --> AN1[AN_Ability_00N]
  Play --> ANC[AN_AttackComplete]
  AN1 --> BPI[BPI UseAbility00N]
  BPI --> Auth[SwitchHasAuthority]
  Auth --> FX[ApplyDamage / Heal / Spawn]
  ANC --> SetAtk[BPI SetIsAttacking]
  SetAtk --> Clear[CurrentlyAttacking false]

Observed Implementation: Multicast_PlayMontage on BP_PlayerCharacterBase plays the montage with OnCompleted / OnBlendOut / OnInterrupted unwired. Attack-window gameplay and CurrentlyAttacking cleanup for notify-driven abilities depend on embedded AnimNotify Blueprints, not montage delegates.

Shared notify Blueprints (/Game/_Main/Blueprints/Characters/PlayerCharacters/PlayerCharacterRelated/):

Notify BP	Received_Notify body	Classification
AN_Ability_001	Abilities|UseAbility001(GetOwner(MeshComp))	Observed Implementation
AN_Ability_002	UseAbility002(GetOwner)	Observed Implementation (Cleric agent + deps)
AN_Ability_003	UseAbility003(GetOwner)	Observed Implementation (Cleric agent + deps)
AN_Ability_004	UseAbility004(GetOwner)	Observed Implementation (Paladin/Cleric agents + deps)
AN_AttackComplete	BPIPlayerCharacter|SetIsAttacking(GetOwner(MeshComp))	Observed Implementation (read_graph_dsl)

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1. Per-character animation architecture

Character	AnimBP	Skeleton	Relevant state machines	Montage slots	Ability callbacks	Death path	Confidence
Paladin	/Game/_Main/Animations/PlayerCharacters/Human/CharacterClasses/Paladin/ABP_Paladin	SKEL_Hu_M	Locomotion: Idle, Walk/Run, Charge, Block, Death	UpperBody (montages)	None in ABP — notifies call character BPI	IsDead → Death state; DeathIndex random	High
Amazonian	/Game/_Main/Animations/PlayerCharacters/Human/CharacterClasses/Amazon/ABP_Amazon	SKEL_Hu_F	Locomotion: Idle, Walk/Run, Death	UpperBody	None in ABP	IsDead → Death	High
Cleric	/Game/_Main/Animations/PlayerCharacters/Human/CharacterClasses/Cleric/ABP_Cleric	Male (SKEL_Hu_M family)	Locomotion: Idle, Walk/Run, Divine Circle, Death	UpperBody	None in ABP; reads DivineCircleActive? from Cleric	IsDead → Death	High
Wizard	/Game/_Main/Animations/PlayerCharacters/Human/CharacterClasses/Wizard/ABP_Wizard	SKEL_Hu_M	Locomotion: Idle, Walk/Run, Death	None used by abilities	None — no ability montages in Wizard folder	Death anims in deps	High
Gunslinger	None (deps = base only; IsDataOnly)	Unknown / inherited	N/A	N/A	None	Inherited base death only	Medium

ABP parent class (all inspected): stock Engine.AnimInstance — Observed Implementation.

Paladin ABP drivers (EventGraph): per-frame reads IsCharging, IsBlocking, IsDead, velocity→IsMoving from Paladin REF. Block/Charge/Death transitions driven by those booleans — Observed Implementation.

Cleric ABP drivers: DivineCircleActive? ← GetDivineCircleActive on Cleric REF; IsDead; speed/moving — Observed Implementation (read_graph_dsl).

Amazonian / Wizard ABP: locomotion + death only — no Block/Charge/DivineCircle states — Observed Implementation.

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2. Per-ability Montage table

Character	Slot/system	Caller	Montage	Section	Notifies	Callback target	Gameplay consequence	Cleanup dependency	Evidence status
Paladin	Ability 001	Server_Ability_001_Begin → Multicast	.../Paladin/AnimMontages/Attack_{A,B,C,D}_Fast_Montage (random)	Default (single segment); name Unknown	AN_Ability_001, AN_AttackComplete (+ sound on A)	UseAbility001; SetIsAttacking	Authority BoxOverlap ApplyDamage	AN_AttackComplete → clear CurrentlyAttacking	Observed Implementation
Paladin	Ability 002	Begin/End set IsBlocking	No Montage	—	—	ABP Block state	Presentation only	End clears IsBlocking	Observed Implementation
Paladin	Ability 003	Charge + Client_Charge	No Montage (ChargeTimeline)	—	—	—	ChargeBox ApplyDamage	Timeline/End paths (not notify)	Observed Implementation
Paladin	Ability 004	Server_Ability_004_Begin → Multicast	.../Paladin/AnimMontages/Abilities/Paladin_Ability004_Montage	Unknown	AN_Ability_004, AN_AttackComplete, Niagara NS_Paladin_Ability004	UseAbility004; SetIsAttacking	Authority SphereOverlap ApplyDamage + SFX	AN_AttackComplete	Observed Implementation
Amazonian	Ability 001 / melee	Server_Ability_001_Begin → Multicast	.../Amazon/AnimMontages/A_Hu_F_Combat_2H_Attack{01,02,_Base,_}_Montage	Unknown	AN_Ability_001, AN_AttackComplete	UseAbility001; SetIsAttacking	Authority BoxOverlap ApplyDamage	AN_AttackComplete	Observed Implementation + Observed Runtime Behavior
Amazonian	002–004	Inherited stubs	None	—	—	—	PrintString	—	Observed Implementation
Cleric	Ability 001	Server_Ability_001_Begin → Multicast	.../Cleric/AnimMontages/Cleric_PrimaryAttack_* (4)	Unknown	AN_Ability_001, AN_AttackComplete	UseAbility001 (unimplemented on Cleric)	No hit — dead notify	AN_AttackComplete still clears attacking	Observed Implementation
Cleric	Ability 002	Begin → Multicast	.../Cleric/AnimMontages/Abilities/Cleric_Ability002_Montage	Unknown	AN_Ability_002, AN_AttackComplete (+ Niagara/sound deps)	UseAbility002 (implemented)	Authority heal Players	AN_AttackComplete	Observed Implementation
Cleric	Ability 003	ConcentrateHandle timer plays montage	.../Cleric/AnimMontages/Abilities/Cleric_Ability003_Montage	Unknown	AN_Ability_003 (dead), AN_AttackComplete	UseAbility003 unimplemented; damage in timer	ApplyDamage in ConcentrateHandle	EndConcentrate (not notify)	Observed Implementation
Cleric	Ability 004	Begin → Multicast	.../Cleric/AnimMontages/Abilities/Cleric_Ability004_Montage	Unknown	AN_Ability_004, AN_AttackComplete	UseAbility004 (broken spawn)	SpawnActor empty class	AN_AttackComplete	Observed Implementation
Wizard	001–004	Inherited stubs	No montages in Wizard anim folder	—	—	—	PrintString	—	Observed Implementation
Gunslinger	001–004	Inherited stubs	None	—	—	—	PrintString	—	Observed Implementation

Present but Unconnected montage: /Game/_Main/Animations/PlayerCharacters/Human/CharacterClasses/Cleric/AnimMontages/Cleric_Hu_M_Spell_Staff_Up_Impact_Montage — references AN_Ability_004 / AN_AttackComplete; 0 referencers.

Play rate: Multicast path uses rate 1 (Pass 6 / Amazonian agent). Start position: Unknown. Root motion: Unknown — Tool Limitation.

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3. AnimNotify / callback table

Notify or callback	Asset	Character	Ability	Receiver	Downstream path	Authority observation	Connection status
AN_Ability_001	.../PlayerCharacterRelated/AN_Ability_001	Paladin, Amazonian	001	Character via BPI UseAbility001	Authority overlap ApplyDamage	Multicast montage → notify all machines; damage Authority-only	Connected
AN_Ability_001	same	Cleric	001	BPI UseAbility001	No implementation on Cleric/base	Notify fires; no gameplay	Notify Present; Receiver Unimplemented
AN_Ability_002	.../AN_Ability_002	Cleric	002	UseAbility002	Authority heal	Same multicast pattern	Connected
AN_Ability_003	.../AN_Ability_003	Cleric	003	UseAbility003	Unimplemented; damage is timer	Vestigial	Notify Present; Receiver Unimplemented
AN_Ability_004	.../AN_Ability_004	Paladin	004	UseAbility004	Authority AoE damage	Multicast + Authority	Connected
AN_Ability_004	same	Cleric	004	UseAbility004	Broken SpawnActor	Multicast + Authority	Connected (broken body)
AN_AttackComplete	.../AN_AttackComplete	Paladin, Amazonian, Cleric (all listed montages)	001/002/004 (+ Cleric primary)	BPI SetIsAttacking	Base Authority: CurrentlyAttacking=false, CanMove true	Multicast notify; state Authority-only	Connected
PerformingWhirlwind	N/A animation	Amazonian	—	Character EventAnyDamage Get only	No AnimBP/montage Set	—	Present but Unconnected setter
Divine Circle state	ABP_Cleric	Cleric	003 presentation	Reads DivineCircleActive	Locomotion state	Cosmetic	Connected (presentation)

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4. Pass 6 reclassification table

Character	Slot	Previous status	Revised status	New evidence	Reason
Paladin	001	Implemented	Implemented (qualified)	AN_Ability_001 → UseAbility001; cleanup AN_AttackComplete	Animation connectivity confirmed; status unchanged
Paladin	002	Partial	No change	ABP Block driven by IsBlocking	Presentation path confirmed; hit absorb still untraced
Paladin	003	Implemented	No change	No Montage; ChargeTimeline	Animation pass does not alter charge path
Paladin	004	Implemented	Implemented (qualified)	AN_Ability_004 → UseAbility004	Connectivity confirmed; empty particle remains
Amazonian	001	Implemented	No change	Full notify → damage → cleanup chain	Confirms known working melee path
Amazonian	002–004	Stub	No change	No montages/notifies	—
Amazonian	Whirlwind	Partial / unconnected setter	No change	Not in ABP or montages	Still Get-only on character
Cleric	001	Partial (montage only)	Partial (qualified: dead notify)	AN_Ability_001 present; UseAbility001 unimplemented	Notify does not add gameplay
Cleric	002	Partial	Partial (qualified: notify-driven heal)	AN_Ability_002 → UseAbility002	Heal path confirmed animation-timed; FX hole remains
Cleric	003	Implemented	Implemented (qualified: timer + vestigial notify)	Damage in ConcentrateHandle; AN_Ability_003 dead; ABP Divine Circle state	Notify not required for damage
Cleric	004	Partial / defect	No change (qualified: notify-timed)	AN_Ability_004 → broken UseAbility004	Spawn defect unchanged
Wizard	001–004	Stub	No change	ABP locomotion only; zero Wizard montages	—
Gunslinger	001–004	Stub	No change	No AnimBP; deps = base only	—

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Networking and authority (static)

Observation	Classification
Montage started via Multicast → notifies evaluate on server and clients	Observed Implementation / Inferred (UE montage notify semantics)
UseAbility* / SetIsAttacking bodies use SwitchHasAuthority	Observed Implementation (Pass 6)
Duplicate damage prevented by Authority gate if notify fires everywhere	Inferred static risk mitigation — Requires Runtime Inspection
Gameplay depends on cosmetic Multicast montage evaluating notifies on the server	Observed Implementation — static risk: if server skips animation evaluation, hit windows may not fire
Missing AN_AttackComplete (interrupt) leaves CurrentlyAttacking true	Inferred — PlayMontage interrupt pins unwired
No client-authoritative ApplyDamage in notify receivers	Observed Implementation

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Answers to Pass 8 known questions (compact)

1. UseAbility callers:* AN_Ability_001–004 AnimNotify BPs (not AnimBP EventGraph).
2. Paladin 001 damage: Yes — via AN_Ability_001 during montage.
3. Paladin block: No Montage; ABP Block state from IsBlocking; End clears flags.
4. Paladin charge cleanup: Not Montage-callback; ChargeTimeline / ability logic.
5. Amazonian melee path: Begin → Multicast montage → AN_Ability_001 → UseAbility001 → Authority damage; AN_AttackComplete clears attacking.
6. Weapon collision notifies: Not observed on inspected montages (overlap queries inside UseAbility*).
7. PerformingWhirlwind: Never set by animation; still unconnected.
8. Cleric 001 hidden gameplay: No — notify dead (UseAbility001 unimplemented).
9. Cleric 002/003/004: 002/004 notify-driven; 003 timer-driven; Divine Circle ABP presentation.
10. Wizard spell assets via anim: No Wizard montages; no notify chain to unwired NS/GE/projectile.
11. Gunslinger shared AnimBP/Montage: No — no AnimBP dependency.
12. CurrentlyAttacking clear: Via AN_AttackComplete for notify-driven attacks; interrupt cleanup Unknown.
13. Death anims: ABP Death state from IsDead; destruction/respawn remain character PlayerDeath (not notify-driven).
14. Client-only gameplay timing: Damage Authority-gated; presentation may diverge — Requires Runtime Inspection.

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Pass 9 — Enemy animation dependencies

Character	AnimBP	Skeleton	Relevant state machines	Montage slots	Ability callbacks	Death path	Confidence
Skeleton enemy	/Game/_Main/Animations/Enemies/Skeleton/ABP_Skeleton	UE4_Mannequin_Skeleton (deps)	Locomotion: Idle/Walk/Run, Death	None used by combat	GetEnemyREF cache only	Death state + Anim_Monster_Dead_1..4; SetIsDead(false) every Update	High

Asset	Notify/callback	Character	Ability	Receiver	Downstream	Connection status
Anim_SkeletonAttackMontage	Unknown (unplayed)	Skeleton	Attack	None	None	Present but Unreferenced (0 referencers)
ABP_Skeleton Update	SetIsDead(false)	Skeleton	Death	Self	Blocks death flag	Connected but Incomplete

No enemy AnimNotify → ApplyDamage path observed. Full enemy AI: 09-EnemyAI-StaticAnalysis.md.