Files
Commonwealth-Online-Public/protocol
andrewandCursor b9ea0ac8a7 docs: proxy animation investigation conclusive - animations not feasible
Investigation summary:
- Tested velocity-based animation triggering: graph variable writes, animation
  events, character controller velocity manipulation, and Move() API calls
- All approaches failed: animations do not play on SetPosition-backed proxy actors
- Root cause: Fallout 4's animation system requires active AIProcess-driven
  locomotion packages, which are incompatible with networked puppet actors
- Fallout 4's animation system fundamentally ties animation evaluation to the
  character controller's actual velocity AND active AI-driven locomotion state
- PlaceAtMe proxies updated via SetPosition cannot provide either requirement

Proxy actors currently work correctly for:
- Smooth position synchronization
- Heading/rotation updates
- Jump animations (via Z-position)
- Network sync and lifecycle

What remains impossible without deep engine access:
- Walk/run/sneak animation playback
- Animation graph variable manipulation affecting behavior
- Character controller velocity synthesis for puppets

Recommendation: Accept this architectural limitation and provide alternative
visual feedback (particles, glows, state indicators) instead of animations.

Files changed:
- plugin/src/F4TProxyActorController.cpp: Reverted to SetPosition-only approach
- docs/dev-log.md: Added comprehensive investigation summary and conclusions

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>
2026-06-03 14:33:48 +12:00
..
2026-05-30 18:13:54 +12:00
2026-05-30 18:13:54 +12:00

Protocol

This folder documents the planned network protocol for Fallout 4 Together.

The first protocol should be simple and focused on player transform sync.

First Packet Types

  • Welcome packet
  • Transform packet
  • Disconnect packet

Future Packet Types

  • Animation state packet
  • Fire weapon packet
  • Health packet
  • Chat packet
  • Cell change packet

Design Goals

The protocol should be:

  • Simple
  • Easy to debug
  • Versioned
  • Safe to extend
  • Clear enough to test outside Fallout 4

Early Testing

The protocol should be testable using fake clients before being connected to Fallout 4.