Best way to replicate animation from server to client?

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

In my game there are NPCs that have their walking, jumping, idle, etc. animations controlled by the server. I want to replicated it to all the clients instead. Here is the reason:

When the NPC walks, the walking animation’s speed depends upon the NPC humanoid’s walk speed. If the humanoid walk speed is high, the walking animation will also be fast.

The NPCs animation in my game are currently handled from the server. Walking animation does speed up and slow down, but the adjusted speed is not controlled by the server. Here is the script, it is copied from the default Roblox Rig’s “Animate” Local Script.

-- humanoidAnimateR15Moods.lua

local Character = script.Parent
local Humanoid = Character:WaitForChild("Humanoid")
local pose = "Standing"

local userNoUpdateOnLoopSuccess, userNoUpdateOnLoopValue = pcall(function() return UserSettings():IsUserFeatureEnabled("UserNoUpdateOnLoop") end)
local userNoUpdateOnLoop = userNoUpdateOnLoopSuccess and userNoUpdateOnLoopValue

local userAnimateScaleRunSuccess, userAnimateScaleRunValue = pcall(function() return UserSettings():IsUserFeatureEnabled("UserAnimateScaleRun") end)
local userAnimateScaleRun = userAnimateScaleRunSuccess and userAnimateScaleRunValue

local function getRigScale()
	if userAnimateScaleRun then
		return Character:GetScale()
	else
		return 1
	end
end

local AnimationSpeedDampeningObject = script:FindFirstChild("ScaleDampeningPercent")
local HumanoidHipHeight = 2

local EMOTE_TRANSITION_TIME = 0.1

local currentAnim = ""
local currentAnimInstance = nil
local currentAnimTrack = nil
local currentAnimKeyframeHandler = nil
local currentAnimSpeed = 1.0

local runAnimTrack = nil
local runAnimKeyframeHandler = nil

local PreloadedAnims = {}

local animTable = {}
local animNames = { 
	idle = 	{	
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507766666", weight = 1 },
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507766951", weight = 1 },
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507766388", weight = 9 }
	},
	walk = 	{ 	
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507777826", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	run = 	{
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507767714", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	swim = 	{
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507784897", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	swimidle = 	{
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507785072", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	jump = 	{
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507765000", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	fall = 	{
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507767968", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	climb = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507765644", weight = 10 } 
	}, 
	sit = 	{
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=2506281703", weight = 10 } 
	},	
	toolnone = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507768375", weight = 10 } 
	},
	toolslash = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=522635514", weight = 10 } 
	},
	toollunge = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=522638767", weight = 10 } 
	},
	wave = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507770239", weight = 10 } 
	},
	point = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507770453", weight = 10 } 
	},
	dance = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507771019", weight = 10 }, 
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507771955", weight = 10 }, 
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507772104", weight = 10 } 
	},
	dance2 = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507776043", weight = 10 }, 
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507776720", weight = 10 }, 
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507776879", weight = 10 } 
	},
	dance3 = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507777268", weight = 10 }, 
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507777451", weight = 10 }, 
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507777623", weight = 10 } 
	},
	laugh = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507770818", weight = 10 } 
	},
	cheer = {
		{ id = "http://www.roblox.com/asset/?id=507770677", weight = 10 } 
	},
}

-- Existance in this list signifies that it is an emote, the value indicates if it is a looping emote
local emoteNames = { wave = false, point = false, dance = true, dance2 = true, dance3 = true, laugh = false, cheer = false}

math.randomseed(tick())

function findExistingAnimationInSet(set, anim)
	if set == nil or anim == nil then
		return 0
	end

	for idx = 1, set.count, 1 do 
		if set[idx].anim.AnimationId == anim.AnimationId then
			return idx
		end
	end

	return 0
end

function configureAnimationSet(name, fileList)
	if (animTable[name] ~= nil) then
		for _, connection in pairs(animTable[name].connections) do
			connection:disconnect()
		end
	end
	animTable[name] = {}
	animTable[name].count = 0
	animTable[name].totalWeight = 0	
	animTable[name].connections = {}

	local allowCustomAnimations = true

	--local success, msg = pcall(function() allowCustomAnimations = game:GetService("StarterPlayer").AllowCustomAnimations end)
	--if not success then
	--	allowCustomAnimations = true
	--end

	-- check for config values
	local config = script:FindFirstChild(name)
	if (allowCustomAnimations and config ~= nil) then
		table.insert(animTable[name].connections, config.ChildAdded:connect(function(child) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
		table.insert(animTable[name].connections, config.ChildRemoved:connect(function(child) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))

		local idx = 0
		for _, childPart in pairs(config:GetChildren()) do
			if (childPart:IsA("Animation")) then
				local newWeight = 1
				local weightObject = childPart:FindFirstChild("Weight")
				if (weightObject ~= nil) then
					newWeight = weightObject.Value
				end
				animTable[name].count = animTable[name].count + 1
				idx = animTable[name].count
				animTable[name][idx] = {}
				animTable[name][idx].anim = childPart
				animTable[name][idx].weight = newWeight
				animTable[name].totalWeight = animTable[name].totalWeight + animTable[name][idx].weight
				table.insert(animTable[name].connections, childPart.Changed:connect(function(property) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
				table.insert(animTable[name].connections, childPart.ChildAdded:connect(function(property) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
				table.insert(animTable[name].connections, childPart.ChildRemoved:connect(function(property) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
			end
		end
	end

	-- fallback to defaults
	if (animTable[name].count <= 0) then
		for idx, anim in pairs(fileList) do
			animTable[name][idx] = {}
			animTable[name][idx].anim = Instance.new("Animation")
			animTable[name][idx].anim.Name = name
			animTable[name][idx].anim.AnimationId = anim.id
			animTable[name][idx].weight = anim.weight
			animTable[name].count = animTable[name].count + 1
			animTable[name].totalWeight = animTable[name].totalWeight + anim.weight
		end
	end

	-- preload anims
	for i, animType in pairs(animTable) do
		for idx = 1, animType.count, 1 do
			if PreloadedAnims[animType[idx].anim.AnimationId] == nil then
				Humanoid:LoadAnimation(animType[idx].anim)
				PreloadedAnims[animType[idx].anim.AnimationId] = true
			end				
		end
	end
end

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

function configureAnimationSetOld(name, fileList)
	if (animTable[name] ~= nil) then
		for _, connection in pairs(animTable[name].connections) do
			connection:disconnect()
		end
	end
	animTable[name] = {}
	animTable[name].count = 0
	animTable[name].totalWeight = 0	
	animTable[name].connections = {}

	local allowCustomAnimations = true

	local success, msg = pcall(function() allowCustomAnimations = game:GetService("StarterPlayer").AllowCustomAnimations end)
	if not success then
		allowCustomAnimations = true
	end

	-- check for config values
	local config = script:FindFirstChild(name)
	if (allowCustomAnimations and config ~= nil) then
		table.insert(animTable[name].connections, config.ChildAdded:connect(function(child) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
		table.insert(animTable[name].connections, config.ChildRemoved:connect(function(child) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
		local idx = 1
		for _, childPart in pairs(config:GetChildren()) do
			if (childPart:IsA("Animation")) then
				table.insert(animTable[name].connections, childPart.Changed:connect(function(property) configureAnimationSet(name, fileList) end))
				animTable[name][idx] = {}
				animTable[name][idx].anim = childPart
				local weightObject = childPart:FindFirstChild("Weight")
				if (weightObject == nil) then
					animTable[name][idx].weight = 1
				else
					animTable[name][idx].weight = weightObject.Value
				end
				animTable[name].count = animTable[name].count + 1
				animTable[name].totalWeight = animTable[name].totalWeight + animTable[name][idx].weight
				idx = idx + 1
			end
		end
	end

	-- fallback to defaults
	if (animTable[name].count <= 0) then
		for idx, anim in pairs(fileList) do
			animTable[name][idx] = {}
			animTable[name][idx].anim = Instance.new("Animation")
			animTable[name][idx].anim.Name = name
			animTable[name][idx].anim.AnimationId = anim.id
			animTable[name][idx].weight = anim.weight
			animTable[name].count = animTable[name].count + 1
			animTable[name].totalWeight = animTable[name].totalWeight + anim.weight
			-- print(name .. " [" .. idx .. "] " .. anim.id .. " (" .. anim.weight .. ")")
		end
	end

	-- preload anims
	for i, animType in pairs(animTable) do
		for idx = 1, animType.count, 1 do 
			Humanoid:LoadAnimation(animType[idx].anim)
		end
	end
end

-- Setup animation objects
function scriptChildModified(child)
	local fileList = animNames[child.Name]
	if (fileList ~= nil) then
		configureAnimationSet(child.Name, fileList)
	end	
end

script.ChildAdded:connect(scriptChildModified)
script.ChildRemoved:connect(scriptChildModified)

-- Clear any existing animation tracks
-- Fixes issue with characters that are moved in and out of the Workspace accumulating tracks
local animator = if Humanoid then Humanoid:FindFirstChildOfClass("Animator") else nil
if animator then
	local animTracks = animator:GetPlayingAnimationTracks()
	for i,track in ipairs(animTracks) do
		track:Stop(0)
		track:Destroy()
	end
end

for name, fileList in pairs(animNames) do 
	configureAnimationSet(name, fileList)
end	

-- ANIMATION

-- declarations
local toolAnim = "None"
local toolAnimTime = 0

local jumpAnimTime = 0
local jumpAnimDuration = 0.31

local toolTransitionTime = 0.1
local fallTransitionTime = 0.2

local currentlyPlayingEmote = false

-- functions

function stopAllAnimations()
	local oldAnim = currentAnim

	-- return to idle if finishing an emote
	if (emoteNames[oldAnim] ~= nil and emoteNames[oldAnim] == false) then
		oldAnim = "idle"
	end

	if currentlyPlayingEmote then
		oldAnim = "idle"
		currentlyPlayingEmote = false
	end

	currentAnim = ""
	currentAnimInstance = nil
	if (currentAnimKeyframeHandler ~= nil) then
		currentAnimKeyframeHandler:disconnect()
	end

	if (currentAnimTrack ~= nil) then
		currentAnimTrack:Stop()
		currentAnimTrack:Destroy()
		currentAnimTrack = nil
	end

	-- clean up walk if there is one
	if (runAnimKeyframeHandler ~= nil) then
		runAnimKeyframeHandler:disconnect()
	end

	if (runAnimTrack ~= nil) then
		runAnimTrack:Stop()
		runAnimTrack:Destroy()
		runAnimTrack = nil
	end

	return oldAnim
end

function getHeightScale()
	if Humanoid then
		if not Humanoid.AutomaticScalingEnabled then
			-- When auto scaling is not enabled, the rig scale stands in for
			-- a computed scale.
			return getRigScale()
		end

		local scale = Humanoid.HipHeight / HumanoidHipHeight
		if AnimationSpeedDampeningObject == nil then
			AnimationSpeedDampeningObject = script:FindFirstChild("ScaleDampeningPercent")
		end
		if AnimationSpeedDampeningObject ~= nil then
			scale = 1 + (Humanoid.HipHeight - HumanoidHipHeight) * AnimationSpeedDampeningObject.Value / HumanoidHipHeight
		end
		return scale
	end	
	return getRigScale()
end

local function rootMotionCompensation(speed)
	local speedScaled = speed * 1.25
	local heightScale = getHeightScale()
	local runSpeed = speedScaled / heightScale
	return runSpeed
end

local smallButNotZero = 0.0001
local function setRunSpeed(speed)
	local normalizedWalkSpeed = 0.5 -- established empirically using current `913402848` walk animation
	local normalizedRunSpeed  = 1
	local runSpeed = rootMotionCompensation(speed)

	local walkAnimationWeight = smallButNotZero
	local runAnimationWeight = smallButNotZero
	local walkAnimationTimewarp = runSpeed/normalizedWalkSpeed
	local runAnimationTimerwarp = runSpeed/normalizedRunSpeed

	if runSpeed <= normalizedWalkSpeed then
		walkAnimationWeight = 1
	elseif runSpeed < normalizedRunSpeed then
		local fadeInRun = (runSpeed - normalizedWalkSpeed)/(normalizedRunSpeed - normalizedWalkSpeed)
		walkAnimationWeight = 1 - fadeInRun
		runAnimationWeight  = fadeInRun
		walkAnimationTimewarp = 1
		runAnimationTimerwarp = 1
	else
		runAnimationWeight = 1
	end

	currentAnimTrack:AdjustWeight(walkAnimationWeight)
	runAnimTrack:AdjustWeight(runAnimationWeight)
	currentAnimTrack:AdjustSpeed(walkAnimationTimewarp)
	runAnimTrack:AdjustSpeed(runAnimationTimerwarp)
end

function setAnimationSpeed(speed)
	if currentAnim == "walk" then
		setRunSpeed(speed)
	else
		if speed ~= currentAnimSpeed then
			currentAnimSpeed = speed
			currentAnimTrack:AdjustSpeed(currentAnimSpeed)
		end
	end
end

function keyFrameReachedFunc(frameName)
	if (frameName == "End") then
		if currentAnim == "walk" then
			if userNoUpdateOnLoop == true then
				if runAnimTrack.Looped ~= true then
					runAnimTrack.TimePosition = 0.0
				end
				if currentAnimTrack.Looped ~= true then
					currentAnimTrack.TimePosition = 0.0
				end
			else
				runAnimTrack.TimePosition = 0.0
				currentAnimTrack.TimePosition = 0.0
			end
		else
			local repeatAnim = currentAnim
			-- return to idle if finishing an emote
			if (emoteNames[repeatAnim] ~= nil and emoteNames[repeatAnim] == false) then
				repeatAnim = "idle"
			end

			if currentlyPlayingEmote then
				if currentAnimTrack.Looped then
					-- Allow the emote to loop
					return
				end

				repeatAnim = "idle"
				currentlyPlayingEmote = false
			end

			local animSpeed = currentAnimSpeed
			playAnimation(repeatAnim, 0.15, Humanoid)
			setAnimationSpeed(animSpeed)
		end
	end
end

function rollAnimation(animName)
	local roll = math.random(1, animTable[animName].totalWeight) 
	local origRoll = roll
	local idx = 1
	while (roll > animTable[animName][idx].weight) do
		roll = roll - animTable[animName][idx].weight
		idx = idx + 1
	end
	return idx
end

local function switchToAnim(anim, animName, transitionTime, humanoid)
	-- switch animation		
	if (anim ~= currentAnimInstance) then

		if (currentAnimTrack ~= nil) then
			currentAnimTrack:Stop(transitionTime)
			currentAnimTrack:Destroy()
		end

		if (runAnimTrack ~= nil) then
			runAnimTrack:Stop(transitionTime)
			runAnimTrack:Destroy()
			if userNoUpdateOnLoop == true then
				runAnimTrack = nil
			end
		end

		currentAnimSpeed = 1.0

		-- load it to the humanoid; get AnimationTrack
		currentAnimTrack = humanoid:LoadAnimation(anim)
		currentAnimTrack.Priority = Enum.AnimationPriority.Core

		-- play the animation
		currentAnimTrack:Play(transitionTime)
		currentAnim = animName
		currentAnimInstance = anim

		-- set up keyframe name triggers
		if (currentAnimKeyframeHandler ~= nil) then
			currentAnimKeyframeHandler:disconnect()
		end
		currentAnimKeyframeHandler = currentAnimTrack.KeyframeReached:connect(keyFrameReachedFunc)

		-- check to see if we need to blend a walk/run animation
		if animName == "walk" then
			local runAnimName = "run"
			local runIdx = rollAnimation(runAnimName)

			runAnimTrack = humanoid:LoadAnimation(animTable[runAnimName][runIdx].anim)
			runAnimTrack.Priority = Enum.AnimationPriority.Core
			runAnimTrack:Play(transitionTime)		

			if (runAnimKeyframeHandler ~= nil) then
				runAnimKeyframeHandler:disconnect()
			end
			runAnimKeyframeHandler = runAnimTrack.KeyframeReached:connect(keyFrameReachedFunc)	
		end
	end
end

function playAnimation(animName, transitionTime, humanoid) 	
	local idx = rollAnimation(animName)
	local anim = animTable[animName][idx].anim

	switchToAnim(anim, animName, transitionTime, humanoid)
	currentlyPlayingEmote = false
end

function playEmote(emoteAnim, transitionTime, humanoid)
	switchToAnim(emoteAnim, emoteAnim.Name, transitionTime, humanoid)
	currentlyPlayingEmote = true
end

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

local toolAnimName = ""
local toolAnimTrack = nil
local toolAnimInstance = nil
local currentToolAnimKeyframeHandler = nil

function toolKeyFrameReachedFunc(frameName)
	if (frameName == "End") then
		playToolAnimation(toolAnimName, 0.0, Humanoid)
	end
end


function playToolAnimation(animName, transitionTime, humanoid, priority)	 		
	local idx = rollAnimation(animName)
	local anim = animTable[animName][idx].anim

	if (toolAnimInstance ~= anim) then

		if (toolAnimTrack ~= nil) then
			toolAnimTrack:Stop()
			toolAnimTrack:Destroy()
			transitionTime = 0
		end

		-- load it to the humanoid; get AnimationTrack
		toolAnimTrack = humanoid:LoadAnimation(anim)
		if priority then
			toolAnimTrack.Priority = priority
		end

		-- play the animation
		toolAnimTrack:Play(transitionTime)
		toolAnimName = animName
		toolAnimInstance = anim

		currentToolAnimKeyframeHandler = toolAnimTrack.KeyframeReached:connect(toolKeyFrameReachedFunc)
	end
end

function stopToolAnimations()
	local oldAnim = toolAnimName

	if (currentToolAnimKeyframeHandler ~= nil) then
		currentToolAnimKeyframeHandler:disconnect()
	end

	toolAnimName = ""
	toolAnimInstance = nil
	if (toolAnimTrack ~= nil) then
		toolAnimTrack:Stop()
		toolAnimTrack:Destroy()
		toolAnimTrack = nil
	end

	return oldAnim
end

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- STATE CHANGE HANDLERS

function onRunning(speed)
	local heightScale = if userAnimateScaleRun then getHeightScale() else 1

	local movedDuringEmote = currentlyPlayingEmote and Humanoid.MoveDirection == Vector3.new(0, 0, 0)
	local speedThreshold = movedDuringEmote and (Humanoid.WalkSpeed / heightScale) or 0.75
	if speed > speedThreshold * heightScale then
		local scale = 16.0
		playAnimation("walk", 0.2, Humanoid)
		setAnimationSpeed(speed / scale)
		pose = "Running"
	else
		if emoteNames[currentAnim] == nil and not currentlyPlayingEmote then
			playAnimation("idle", 0.2, Humanoid)
			pose = "Standing"
		end
	end
end

function onDied()
	pose = "Dead"
end

function onJumping()
	playAnimation("jump", 0.1, Humanoid)
	jumpAnimTime = jumpAnimDuration
	pose = "Jumping"
end

function onClimbing(speed)
	if userAnimateScaleRun then
		speed /= getHeightScale()
	end
	local scale = 5.0
	playAnimation("climb", 0.1, Humanoid)
	setAnimationSpeed(speed / scale)
	pose = "Climbing"
end

function onGettingUp()
	pose = "GettingUp"
end

function onFreeFall()
	if (jumpAnimTime <= 0) then
		playAnimation("fall", fallTransitionTime, Humanoid)
	end
	pose = "FreeFall"
end

function onFallingDown()
	pose = "FallingDown"
end

function onSeated()
	pose = "Seated"
end

function onPlatformStanding()
	pose = "PlatformStanding"
end

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

function onSwimming(speed)
	if userAnimateScaleRun then
		speed /= getHeightScale()
	end
	if speed > 1.00 then
		local scale = 10.0
		playAnimation("swim", 0.4, Humanoid)
		setAnimationSpeed(speed / scale)
		pose = "Swimming"
	else
		playAnimation("swimidle", 0.4, Humanoid)
		pose = "Standing"
	end
end

function animateTool()
	if (toolAnim == "None") then
		playToolAnimation("toolnone", toolTransitionTime, Humanoid, Enum.AnimationPriority.Idle)
		return
	end

	if (toolAnim == "Slash") then
		playToolAnimation("toolslash", 0, Humanoid, Enum.AnimationPriority.Action)
		return
	end

	if (toolAnim == "Lunge") then
		playToolAnimation("toollunge", 0, Humanoid, Enum.AnimationPriority.Action)
		return
	end
end

function getToolAnim(tool)
	for _, c in ipairs(tool:GetChildren()) do
		if c.Name == "toolanim" and c.className == "StringValue" then
			return c
		end
	end
	return nil
end

local lastTick = 0

function stepAnimate(currentTime)
	local amplitude = 1
	local frequency = 1
	local deltaTime = currentTime - lastTick
	lastTick = currentTime

	local climbFudge = 0
	local setAngles = false

	if (jumpAnimTime > 0) then
		jumpAnimTime = jumpAnimTime - deltaTime
	end

	if (pose == "FreeFall" and jumpAnimTime <= 0) then
		playAnimation("fall", fallTransitionTime, Humanoid)
	elseif (pose == "Seated") then
		playAnimation("sit", 0.5, Humanoid)
		return
	elseif (pose == "Running") then
		playAnimation("walk", 0.2, Humanoid)
	elseif (pose == "Dead" or pose == "GettingUp" or pose == "FallingDown" or pose == "Seated" or pose == "PlatformStanding") then
		stopAllAnimations()
		amplitude = 0.1
		frequency = 1
		setAngles = true
	end

	-- Tool Animation handling
	local tool = Character:FindFirstChildOfClass("Tool")
	if tool and tool:FindFirstChild("Handle") then
		local animStringValueObject = getToolAnim(tool)

		if animStringValueObject then
			toolAnim = animStringValueObject.Value
			-- message recieved, delete StringValue
			animStringValueObject.Parent = nil
			toolAnimTime = currentTime + .3
		end

		if currentTime > toolAnimTime then
			toolAnimTime = 0
			toolAnim = "None"
		end

		animateTool()		
	else
		stopToolAnimations()
		toolAnim = "None"
		toolAnimInstance = nil
		toolAnimTime = 0
	end
end

-- connect events
Humanoid.Died:connect(onDied)
Humanoid.Running:connect(onRunning)
Humanoid.Jumping:connect(onJumping)
Humanoid.Climbing:connect(onClimbing)
Humanoid.GettingUp:connect(onGettingUp)
Humanoid.FreeFalling:connect(onFreeFall)
Humanoid.FallingDown:connect(onFallingDown)
Humanoid.Seated:connect(onSeated)
Humanoid.PlatformStanding:connect(onPlatformStanding)
Humanoid.Swimming:connect(onSwimming)


if Character.Parent ~= nil then
	-- initialize to idle
	playAnimation("idle", 0.1, Humanoid)
	pose = "Standing"
end

-- loop to handle timed state transitions and tool animations
while Character.Parent ~= nil do
	local _, currentGameTime = wait(0.1)
	stepAnimate(currentGameTime)
end

Edit:
Restating the problem if anyone doesn’t understand:

For some reason (ask roblox why), the function AdjustSpeed() does NOT replicate.
That means, when I call AdjustSpeed() from the server, the client doesn’t see anything. It still sees the old speed.

[DEVLocalPlayer (LocalPlayer)]

Why don’t you just put the code in a local script instead? Or does that not work?

[SkrubDaNub (ComradeSkrub)]

Like @DEVLocalPlayer said, why not local scripts? Animations run by the client automatically replicate to other players.

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

Because they are NPCs, so they are controlled by the server. If I use a local script, (which would solve the problem) it doesn’t run because it’s parented under workspace, and local scripts don’t run under workspace unless it’s under their own character. But the NPCs are not the player’s character.

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

@SkrubDaNub

Animations run by the client automatically replicate to other players.

That only happens if the animation is run on that player’s character. But in my case, they are NPCs

[DEVLocalPlayer (LocalPlayer)]

Then you can use a module script to control all of them through one local script placed in StarterPlayerScripts. That’s what I do too.

[SkrubDaNub (ComradeSkrub)]

@Spellwastaken

adjusted speed

If the NPCs are controlled by the server I’m assuming that means the networkownership() is already owned by the server. Why wouldn’t the speed be controlled by the server?

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

The process of “controlling” them is gonna be quite complicated though, because the walking/running/jump/idle animations are handles by the Default “Animate” script by roblox which is VERY long, and they are full of “AdjustSpeed”, “AdjustWeight”, “Stop”, “LoadAnimation”, and basically a ton of other animation actions. Do I just use remote events to fire for every singel of those actions every time?

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

@SkrubDaNub

Why wouldn’t the speed be controlled by the server?

The speed IS controlled by the server. The walk speed is controlled by the server, the walk animation speed is also controlled by the server. But because it is controlled by the server, the animation speed wasn’t replicated to the client and so on the client, the animation is played slower and it stutters every second because of the difference in animation speed.

[SkrubDaNub (ComradeSkrub)]

AdjustSpeed() not correctly replicating to other clients

Hello everyone, Im currently working on a fighting tool but my animations seem to be a bit broken. Im loading them on the client but when i fire them, sometimes they work and sometimes, they only work correctly on the client. On other clients, AdjustSpeed is not working and the Animation ends and is gone. I think there might be an issue with AdjustSpeed() not replicating correctly. I already checked AnimationPriority. One little part of the ClientsCode: tool.Equipped:Connect(function(mouse) …

^^ take a read from this. Might have something useful for you

[DEVLocalPlayer (LocalPlayer)]

You don’t have to fire any remote though. If every player has their own local script they will already see the changes correctly on their client (it’s actually better since the animations would correctly sync with the walkspeed/velocity they see). I was suggesting using a local script not only cause of the replication issues but also to improve performance on the server.

[Forummer]

NPCs are supposed to be animated on the server.

If an Animator is a descendant of a Humanoid or AnimationController in a Player’s Character then animations started on that Player’s client will be replicated to the server and other clients.

If the Animator is not a descendant of a player character, its animations must be loaded and started on the server to replicate.

Animator | Documentation - Roblox Creator Hub

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

@DEVLocalPlayer

they will already see the changes correctly on their client

but the thing is right now the client isn’t seeing any changes…

The server used AdjustSpeed() on the animation track, but the client doesn’t see the change.

[DEVLocalPlayer (LocalPlayer)]

I’m talking about changes like the NPC’s walkspeed. AdjustSpeed will be perfectly synced with what the client is seeing if you use a local script.

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

@DEVLocalPlayer

if you use a local script

That’s the issue. “AdjustSpeed()” does not replicated from server to client. “AdjustSpeed()” is currently called on the server because it’s an NPC. When I use a local script, the local script will not run because the local script will be parented under workspace.

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

Yes, that is how it is currently in my game. But AdjustSpeed() is not replicated to the client, so from the client the animation looks very goofy. How can I properly replicate the animation track to the client?

[Forummer]

Could you send a reproduction file so we can investigate further?

[treebee63]

@Spellwastaken

The server used AdjustSpeed() on the animation track, but the client doesn’t see the change.

I haven’t tested myself but assuming this is true…

1. Try sending the new speed value and the animation track to the client.

-- SERVER SIDE
local walkAnim = NPC.Humanoid.Animator:LoadAnimation(WalkAnimation)
walkAnim:Play()

RemoteEvent:FireAllClient(walkAnim, 2) -- set the walk anim speed to 2

-- CLIENT SIDE
RemoteEvent.OnClientEvent:Connect(function(anim: AnimationTrack, speed: number)
	anim:AdjustSpeed(speed)
end)

2. Play the animation locally instead. The NPC’s Humanoid state changes are replicated to the client. You should be able to get away with making a local script of the NPC’s animator and letting it run like normal (assuming there’s no serverside dependency).

Basically just set the server animation control script to the client’s using roblox’s new RunContext system.

[lgotanintendoswitch (isle)]

I’m pretty sure you’d need to create a manual animation controller on each client, or you’d need to implement some sort of way to detect the npc’s animations playing.

[Spellwastaken (Spell)]

@treebee63

1. Try sending the new speed value and the animation track to the client.

Yes, I’ve tried this. But when animation track is sent to the client, the client can’t read it (it’s nil)