[Fixed?] Character automatically turns in direction 7 during combat

[Xuri]

Using UOX3 0.98-3.6b, whenever I'm fighting something my character keeps automatically turning northwest (direction 7), no matter the actual direction my target is in.

[Grimson]

Using UOX3 0.98-3.6b, whenever I'm fighting something my character keeps automatically turning northwest (direction 7), no matter the actual direction my target is in.

Strange, combat doesn't change the direction of player chars at all, only the direction of NPCs is adjusted and that works here.

[giwo]

I have noticed that there is a client packet sent to automatically turn the character in the direction of its target. For some reason this target is not always the one you are hitting (standing right next to you).

For instance, I have my GM and player logged on. Player is in combat mode fighting an orc, but consistently turns SE facing away from the orc. The GM is to the SE of the character (though off the screen) and is not only invulnerable, but has done nothing but use the 'heal command on the player. Upon killing the orc I return the player to nearby the GM character and move around him in circles, no matter where the GM character is, player always turns to face him. Upon debugging this scenario, I noticed that the direction change was being instructed by the client, not by any automation within UOX3.

[Xuri]

Hm. My character keeps turning northwest shortly after entering combat mode no matter what I do. I restart the client, login and enter combat mode - and my character turns northwest.

I attack NPCs south, east, west, north of me - and my character turns northwest. I exit and re-enter combat mode, and my character turns northwest

Weird.

[giwo]

I have done some work on this and improved it a bit.

I did note one thing, for CombatTarget 0x00000000 is considered "invalid target" or what is responded when you DON'T have a target. So that would explain why the first character on a server would automatically be targeted by the client.

[Xuri]

Hm. When testing combat in 0.98-3.7b, both using my first character (with serial 0 0 0 0) and normal player character (with a higher serial), my character keeps switching direction (multiple times during a fight) between northwest and the direction of the target.

It does not switch direction towards target (or northwest) if the character is auto-defending against attack without entering combat mode. Not until entering combat-mode does he change direction, in other words.

[giwo]

Yeah, the change in direction only happens when you are in combat mode. I'm certain it's the client telling the server to change direction, just not sure why....

[Xuri]

Verified in 0.98-4.0 using Client 6.0.12.3.

My character occasionally turns toward the target, but then shortly after he turns to look northwest again.