roblox-characters Checked

local function clearCharacter()

generation += 1

for _, connection in connections do connection:Disconnect() end

table.clear(connections)

currentCharacter = nil

end

local function bindCharacter(character: Model)

-- Guard BEFORE teardown. A stale invocation (see the CharacterAdded/defer race below) must not

-- clear a binding that is already current, or nothing ends up bound at all.

if player.Character ~= character then return end

clearCharacter()

currentCharacter = character

local thisGeneration = generation

local humanoid = character:WaitForChild("Humanoid", 10)

local root = character:WaitForChild("HumanoidRootPart", 10)

-- Re-check after the yields: a respawn during WaitForChild bumps generation and makes this call stale.

if not humanoid or not root or generation ~= thisGeneration then return end

table.insert(connections, humanoid.Died:Connect(function()

if generation ~= thisGeneration then return end

setCharacterUiEnabled(false)

end))

attachCurrentCharacterSystems(character, humanoid, root)

end

player.CharacterRemoving:Connect(function(character)

if currentCharacter == character then clearCharacter() end

end)

player.CharacterAdded:Connect(bindCharacter)

if player.Character then task.defer(bindCharacter, player.Character) end

Use the project's cleanup utility when one exists; do not introduce a new framework for three
connections. Server systems repeat this binding per `Player` and clear player-scope tables on
`PlayerRemoving`.

## Pattern: animation through Animator and markers

local animation = Instance.new("Animation")

animation.AnimationId = "rbxassetid://1234567890"

local track = animator:LoadAnimation(animation)

local markerConnection = track:GetMarkerReachedSignal("Commit"):Connect(function(parameter)

playLocalSwingEffect(parameter) -- presentation; server still validates any hit

end)

track:Play(0.1)

-- On character teardown:

markerConnection:Disconnect()

track:Stop(0.1)

animation:Destroy()

For rigs without a `Humanoid`, use an `AnimationController` with an `Animator`. Do not use the
deprecated convenience path as a substitute for owning the actual Animator and track lifecycle.

## Movement and rig rules

- Do not hardcode R15 limb names if R6 is supported. Prefer attachments, tags, or a rig-type
  adapter; branch on `Humanoid.RigType` only where topology materially differs.
- `HumanoidRootPart` is the usual character assembly root, not a universal guarantee for every
  custom model. Define the custom rig contract and validate it at spawn.
- Prefer `Humanoid:Move()`/standard controls for ordinary avatar locomotion. Directly changing
  `AssemblyLinearVelocity` is an instantaneous physical action; use forces/constraints or impulses
  when continuous or instantaneous physics is the real intent.
- To rebind movement/jump or add actions like sprint, prefer the Input Action System
  (`InputContext`/`InputAction`/`InputBinding`, defined at edit time and cross-device)
  over hooking `UserInputService` directly. Default player and character control scripts
  run on this system when `Workspace.PlayerScriptsUseInputActionSystem` is enabled,
  exposing default `PlayerScripts` contexts; give your own `InputContext` a higher
  `Priority` (and `Sink`) to take precedence over the default bindings. See the
  `roblox-ui` input and navigation reference for the UI-focus side of this.
- Never grant damage or movement authority because a client owns its character physics. Validate
  cross-player consequences on the server.
- Tools move between Backpack and Character during equip; listen to lifecycle/state rather than
  assuming one fixed parent. Modify accessories/appearance through current character APIs and
  preserve an up-to-date applied `HumanoidDescription` when editing avatar appearance.

## Common failures

| Symptom | Likely cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| works once, breaks after reset | cached character/Humanoid/root | rebuild per `CharacterAdded`; clear on removal |
| callbacks fire twice after deaths | old character connections survived | character-scoped cleanup and generation/current checks |
| delayed load edits wrong rig | async work outlived spawn | compare current Character/generation after every yield |
| animation visible only locally or not at all | wrong Animator/context/asset ownership | inspect rig Animator, execution side, permissions, and replication |
| hit marker awards impossible hit | animation marker trusted as authority | use marker for timing/presentation; server validates combat state |
| R6/custom rig errors | R15 names assumed | define rig contract; attachments/adapter; test each supported rig |
| tool disappears from system | fixed Backpack/Character parent assumed | handle equip/unequip ancestry and character replacement |
| custom force fights Humanoid | two controllers own motion | choose one movement authority per state and restore cleanly |

## Resources

- Read `references/lifecycle-and-animation.md` for server binding, death vs removal, rig and
  animation verification, custom characters, and the lifecycle stress matrix.

## Related skills

- `roblox-physics` — forces, constraints, assemblies, collision, and network ownership.
- `roblox-networking` — server validation of character actions and stale requests.
- `input-systems` — action mapping and responsive movement intent.
- `camera-systems` — camera behavior following replaceable characters.

## Primary references

- `https://create.r