For collision with the ground, the template scripts do not use the model's hull, but just measure the distance of it's feet to the ground. Therefore the model must normally keep the same distance to the ground in all his animation cycles. This is done by imagining a 'ground plane' the model stands on. The 'ground plane' is an imaginary plane parallel to the X-Y plane set beneath the origin by the min_z value of the model - i.e. the lowest vertex of its first frame.

To determine your ground plane look at the first frame of animation (probably 'stand0') and find the lowest point in one of the bottom two view windows (side or front). If you imagine a line that runs through this point and is parallel to the bottom of the window, you have the base 'ground plane'.

The Ground Plane

It is important that you remember where this plane is for the rest of the states.

Its also important to remember that the height of your model's origin above this ground plane determines how well your model will be able to climb steps and slopes. If the origin is high above the ground plane your model will be able to climb over walls, if it is beneath the ground plane the model will not be able to move on solid ground at all.

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