UE5-Modular-Game-Framework/docs/blueprints/02-player/11_BPC_MovementStateSystem.md

11 — Movement State System (BPC_MovementStateSystem)

Purpose

Tracks the player's current movement mode and posture state. Acts as a central query point for other systems (animations, stamina, audio, camera) to react to how the player is moving. Does not control movement input — only reports and reacts to state changes.

Dependencies

• Requires: FL_GameUtilities (tag queries)
• Required By: ABP_GASP (animations), BPC_StaminaSystem (regen blocking), BPC_CameraStateLayer (FOV changes), BPC_AudioManager (footstep type), BPC_InteractionDetector (range scaling)
• Engine/Plugin Requirements: GameplayTags, GASP (ground/animation/strafing platform)

Class Info

Property	Value
Parent Class	ActorComponent
Class Type	Blueprint Component
Asset Path	Content/Framework/Player/BPC_MovementStateSystem
Implements Interfaces	None

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1. Enums

E_PostureState

Value	Description
Standing = 0	Full height, normal locomotion
Crouching = 1	Reduced height, slower speed
Prone = 2	Fully prone, crawling (horror immersion)
Sliding = 3	Transient — while sliding downhill or under obstacles
Climbing = 4	Ledge or ladder climbing
Vaulting = 5	Transient — while vaulting over obstacles

E_MovementMode

Value	Description
Idle = 0	Standing still
Walking = 1	Slow, careful movement
Jogging = 2	Normal movement speed
Sprinting = 3	Fast movement, stamina drain
CrouchWalk = 4	Slow crouch movement
Sneaking = 5	Ultra-slow, near-silent movement (special)

E_StanceTransition

Value	Description
Instant = 0	Immediate transition (no animation blend)
Smooth = 1	Smooth blend over TransitionBlendTime
Forced = 2	External force (knocked down, pushed)

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2. Structs

S_MovementSettings

Field	Type	Description
MovementMode	E_MovementMode	Which mode this applies to
MaxWalkSpeed	Float	Max speed in this mode (cm/s)
Acceleration	Float	Acceleration rate
Deceleration	Float	Deceleration rate
GroundFriction	Float	Friction modifier
bCanSprint	Boolean	Can the player sprint from this mode?
bCanCrouch	Boolean	Can the player crouch from this mode?
StaminaDrainMultiplier	Float	Multiplier on stamina drain while in this mode

S_FootstepProfile

Field	Type	Description
SurfaceType	EPhysicalSurface	Surface being stepped on
MovementMode	E_MovementMode	Player's current movement mode
SoundSoft	SoundBase	Footstep sound at low velocity
SoundHard	SoundBase	Footstep sound at high velocity
VelocityThreshold	Float	Speed at which to switch from Soft to Hard
Decal	MaterialInterface	Footprint decal (mud, snow, blood)

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3. Variables

Configuration (Instance Editable, Expose On Spawn)

Variable	Type	Default	Category	Description
MovementSettings	Map<E_MovementMode, S_MovementSettings>	all modes	Movement Config	Speed/accel values per movement mode
TransitionBlendTime	Float	0.2	Movement Config	Blend duration for smooth stance transitions
bApplyMovementPenalties	Boolean	true	Movement Config	Allow stress/health to affect movement speed
CrouchHeight	Float	60.0	Movement Config	Capsule half-height while crouching
ProneHeight	Float	30.0	Movement Config	Capsule half-height while prone
StandingHeight	Float	96.0	Movement Config	Capsule half-height while standing
bUseVelocityBasedFootsteps	Boolean	true	Movement Config	Auto-select footstep sound based on velocity
DefaultFootstepProfile	S_FootstepProfile	-	Movement Config	Fallback footstep when no surface match

Internal (Private / Protected, No Expose)

Variable	Type	Default	Category	Description
CurrentPosture	E_PostureState	Standing	Movement State	Current posture
PreviousPosture	E_PostureState	Standing	Movement State	Previous posture (for transition detection)
CurrentMovementMode	E_MovementMode	Idle	Movement State	Current movement mode
PreviousMovementMode	E_MovementMode	Idle	Movement State	Previous movement mode
bIsOnGround	Boolean	true	Movement State	Whether the player is grounded
bIsMoving	Boolean	false	Movement State	Whether the player is currently moving
CurrentSpeed	Float	0.0	Movement State	Current character speed (cm/s)
bIsClimbing	Boolean	false	Movement State	Whether currently climbing
LastValidFloorNormal	Vector	(0,0,1)	Movement State	Last valid ground normal
CapsuleRef	UCapsuleComponent	None	Movement State	Cached reference to capsule component

Replicated (if multiplayer)

Variable	Type	Condition	Description
CurrentPosture	E_PostureState	RepNotify	Replicated posture state
CurrentMovementMode	E_MovementMode	RepNotify	Replicated movement mode

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4. Functions

Public Functions

SetMovementMode → void

• Description: Sets the current movement mode and applies corresponding movement settings to the CharacterMovementComponent.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  NewMode	E_MovementMode	Desired movement mode
  Transition	E_StanceTransition	How to handle the transition

• Blueprint Authority: Server (if MP), Any (single-player)
• Flow:
  1. If NewMode == CurrentMovementMode: return
  2. PreviousMovementMode = CurrentMovementMode
  3. CurrentMovementMode = NewMode
  4. Apply MovementSettings[NewMode] to CharacterMovementComponent
  5. Fire OnMovementModeChanged
  6. If transition is Forced: apply impulse or knockback
  7. Notify ABP_GASP via interface or direct cast

SetPosture → void

• Description: Sets the current posture and adjusts capsule size accordingly.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  NewPosture	E_PostureState	Desired posture
  Transition	E_StanceTransition	How to handle the transition

• Flow:
  1. If NewPosture == CurrentPosture: return
  2. If NewPosture == Prone and CurrentPosture == Standing: must go through Crouching first
  3. PreviousPosture = CurrentPosture
  4. CurrentPosture = NewPosture
  5. Update capsule height based on NewPosture
  6. Fire OnPostureChanged
  7. Notify ABP_GASP

GetCurrentSpeedNormalised → Float [0.0 - 1.0]

• Description: Returns speed as fraction of CurrentMovementMode's MaxWalkSpeed.
• Flow: Return CurrentSpeed / MovementSettings[CurrentMovementMode].MaxWalkSpeed

CanTransitionToPosture → Boolean

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  TargetPosture	E_PostureState	Desired posture

• Flow:
  1. Check ceiling clearance for upright transitions
  2. Check if MovementSettings allows this posture from current mode
  3. Return clearance OK and setting allows

SetSprinting → void

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  bSprinting	Boolean	Whether to sprint

• Flow:
  1. If bSprinting and CanSprint(): SetMovementMode(Sprinting)
  2. If !bSprinting: restore previous movement mode
  3. Fire OnSprintStateChanged

SetCrouching → void

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  bCrouching	Boolean	Whether to crouch

• Flow:
  1. If bCrouching: SetPosture(Crouching), SetMovementMode(CrouchWalk)
  2. If !bCrouching: SetPosture(Standing), restore previous walk mode

ApplyMovementPenalty → void

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  Multiplier	Float	Speed multiplier [0.0 - 1.0]
  Duration	Float	How long the penalty lasts
  PenaltyTag	GameplayTag	Identifier (e.g. Injury, Fear, SlowEffect)

• Flow:
  1. Modify current MovementSettings[CurrentMovementMode].MaxWalkSpeed *= Multiplier
  2. Start timer for Duration
  3. On timer end: restore original MaxWalkSpeed for this mode

Protected / Private Functions

OnMovementUpdated (Tick) → void

• Description: Called each tick. Updates speed tracking, detects movement start/stop, checks ground state.
• Flow:
  1. Get velocity from CharacterMovementComponent
  2. CurrentSpeed = velocity.Size()
  3. OldMoving = bIsMoving
  4. bIsMoving = CurrentSpeed > 10.0
  5. If bIsMoving != OldMoving: fire OnMovementStart or OnMovementStop
  6. Check bIsOnGround from movement component

CalculateFootstep → S_FootstepProfile

• Description: Selects the correct footstep sound based on surface and movement mode.
• Flow:
  1. Perform line trace from foot location downward
  2. Get surface type from physical material
  3. Look up S_FootstepProfile matching SurfaceType and CurrentMovementMode
  4. If no match: return DefaultFootstepProfile

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5. Event Dispatchers

Dispatcher	Parameters	Bind Access	Description
OnMovementModeChanged	E_MovementMode OldMode, E_MovementMode NewMode	Public	Fired when movement mode changes
OnPostureChanged	E_PostureState OldPosture, E_PostureState NewPosture	Public	Fired when posture changes
OnMovementStart	none	Public	Fired when the player starts moving from idle
OnMovementStop	none	Public	Fired when the player stops moving
OnSprintStateChanged	bool bIsSprinting	Public	Fired when sprint state toggles
OnJumped	none	Public	Fired when the player jumps
OnLanded	float FallVelocity	Public	Fired when the player lands after a fall
OnClimbStarted	AActor ClimbableActor	Public	Fired when climbing begins
OnClimbEnded	none	Public	Fired when climbing ends
OnFootstep	E_MovementMode Mode, EPhysicalSurface Surface	Public	Fired on each footstep for audio

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6. Overridden Events / Custom Events

Event: BeginPlay

• Description: Initialises state, caches references, binds to owner's character movement events.
• Flow:
  1. Get Owner as Character
  2. Cache CharacterMovementComponent and CapsuleComponent
  3. Bind to Character's OnJumped and OnLanded delegates
  4. Set initial MovementMode = Idle, Posture = Standing
  5. Apply default MovementSettings to movement component

Event: Tick (if enabled)

• Description: Updates speed tracking and detects transitions.
• Flow:
  1. Call OnMovementUpdated
  2. Check for automatic posture transitions (e.g., falling -> standing on land)

Custom Event: OnTakeDamageAffectsMovement

• Description: Listener bound to BPC_HealthSystem.OnDamageTaken.
• Flow:
  1. If damage was significant (> 20% health): apply brief movement penalty
  2. Penalty severity scales with damage amount

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7. Blueprint Graph Logic Flow

flowchart TD
    A[SetMovementMode called] --> B{Valid transition?}
    B -->|No| C[Return]
    B -->|Yes| D[Store PreviousMode]
    D --> E[Set CurrentMode = NewMode]
    E --> F[Apply MovementSettings to CharMoveComp]
    F --> G[Fire OnMovementModeChanged]
    G --> H{NewMode == Sprinting?}
    H -->|Yes| I[Notify BPC_StaminaSystem: StartContinuousDrain]
    H -->|No| J{PreviousMode == Sprinting?}
    J -->|Yes| K[Notify BPC_StaminaSystem: StopContinuousDrain]
    J -->|No| L[Update ABP_GASP blend values]
    I --> L
    K --> L

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8. Communication Matrix

Who Talks	How	What Is Sent
BPC_MovementStateSystem	Dispatcher	OnMovementModeChanged -> ABP_GASP, BPC_StaminaSystem, BPC_CameraStateLayer
BPC_MovementStateSystem	Dispatcher	OnPostureChanged -> ABP_GASP, BPC_InteractionDetector, BP_AudioManager
BPC_MovementStateSystem	Dispatcher	OnFootstep -> BP_AudioManager (footstep SFX)
BPC_MovementStateSystem	Dispatcher	OnJumped / OnLanded -> BPC_StaminaSystem (landing drain)
BPC_MovementStateSystem	Dispatcher	OnSprintStateChanged -> BPC_StaminaSystem, BPC_CameraStateLayer (FOV)
External (Input)	Direct	PC_PlayerController calls SetMovementMode / SetPosture
BPC_MovementStateSystem	Listener	Binds to BPC_HealthSystem.OnDamageTaken for injury penalties

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9. Validation / Testing Checklist

• Movement mode changes correctly apply speed/accel values to CharacterMovementComponent
• Posture changes correctly adjust capsule height and collision
• Prone requires crouch intermediate transition
• Sprinting auto-stops when stamina hits 0 (via stamina listener)
• Movement penalties correctly modify MaxWalkSpeed and restore after duration
• OnMovementStart/OnMovementStop fire correctly at speed thresholds
• Footstep profile selection works for all surface types
• Edge case: Forced transition (knockback) applies impulse regardless of state
• Edge case: CanTransitionToPosture returns false when ceiling is too low
• Edge case: Rapid mode switching does not cause animation glitches (blend time enforced)

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10. Reuse Notes

• This component is the central "movement oracle" — other systems query posture/mode instead of polling the CharacterMovementComponent.
• Footstep profiles should be defined in a Data Asset (DA_FootstepProfileTable) for easy content team iteration.
• The component does NOT handle input — that remains in PC_PlayerController.
• For AI characters, a simplified version can expose only Walking and Sprinting modes with no posture system.
• GASP integration: set GASP-specific variables (bStrafing, bSprinting) in the AnimationBlueprint on each mode change.

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Blueprint Spec: Movement State System. Conforms to TEMPLATE.md v1.0 — part of the UE5 Modular Game Framework.