fort_character: Reading the Player Behind the Avatar

Overview

fort_character is the core interface that represents a Fortnite player's in-world avatar. It is not a device you place — it is a runtime object you obtain from an agent reference (usually delivered by a device event). Once you have it you can:

• Query state: IsOnGround, IsCrouching, IsActive
• Read view direction: GetViewLocation, GetViewRotation
• React to lifecycle events: EliminatedEvent, JumpedEvent, CrouchedEvent, SprintedEvent
• Convert back to agent with GetAgent (needed by any device method that takes an agent)

Reach for fort_character whenever you need to inspect or react to what the player's body is doing, rather than just that a player exists.

API Reference

fort_character

Main API implemented by Fortnite characters.

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Fortnite.digest.verse).

fort_character<native><public> := interface<unique><epic_internal>(positional, healable, healthful, damageable, shieldable, game_action_instigator, game_action_causer):

character_device

Used to configure a single interactive mannequin, that can visualize characters, clothing, and perform emotes.

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Fortnite.digest.verse).

character_device<public> := class<concrete>(creative_device_base):

Events (subscribe a handler to react):

Methods (call these to make the device act):

hud_message_device

Used to show custom HUD messages to one or more agents.

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Fortnite.digest.verse).

hud_message_device<public> := class<concrete><final>(creative_device_base):

Events (subscribe a handler to react):

Methods (call these to make the device act):

team

Full public surface, resolved verbatim from the live Epic digest (Verse.digest.verse).

team<native><public> := class<unique><epic_internal>:

Walkthrough

Scenario — The Cove Lookout: A cel-shaded pirate cove has a weathered mannequin standing on the dock. When a player walks up and interacts with it, the mannequin plays a wave emote and a personalised HUD message appears: "Ahoy, Sailor! Mind your step on the dock." If the player is already crouching (sneaking), the message changes to "Sneaky one, aren't ye?"

Place these devices in UEFN:

• Character Device — the dockside mannequin (DockMannequin)
• HUD Message Device — for the personalised greeting (GreetingHUD)

using { /Fortnite.com/Characters }
using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }

# Localised message helpers
AhoyMessage<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

cove_lookout_device := class(creative_device):

    # The interactive mannequin standing on the dock
    @editable
    DockMannequin : character_device = character_device{}

    # HUD message device — set to target Specific Agent in its properties
    @editable
    GreetingHUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        # Subscribe to the mannequin's interaction event
        DockMannequin.InteractedWithEvent.Subscribe(OnPlayerInteracted)

    # Called whenever an agent interacts with the dockside mannequin
    OnPlayerInteracted(Agent : agent) : void =
        # Play the wave emote on the mannequin
        DockMannequin.PlayEmote()

        # Obtain the fort_character so we can query body state
        if (FortChar := Agent.GetFortCharacter[]):
            # Pick the greeting based on whether the player is sneaking
            var GreetText : message = AhoyMessage("Ahoy, Sailor! Mind your step on the dock.")
            if (FortChar.IsCrouching[]):
                set GreetText = AhoyMessage("Sneaky one, aren't ye?")

            # Show the personalised message to exactly this agent
            GreetingHUD.Show(Agent, GreetText, ?DisplayTime := 4.0)

Line-by-line breakdown:

Common patterns

Pattern 1 — Hide the mannequin until a player jumps off the clifftop

The mannequin starts hidden. The moment the player's character jumps, it reveals itself as a surprise NPC.

using { /Fortnite.com/Characters }
using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Fortnite.com/Playspaces }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }

clifftop_reveal_device := class(creative_device):

    # Mannequin hidden by default in its device properties
    @editable
    SurpriseNPC : character_device = character_device{}

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        # Grab every player currently in the playspace and listen for their jump
        AllPlayers := GetPlayspace().GetPlayers()
        for (P : AllPlayers):
            if (FortChar := P.GetFortCharacter[]):
                FortChar.JumpedEvent().Subscribe(OnAnyoneJumped)

    OnAnyoneJumped(Jumper : fort_character) : void =
        # Reveal the hidden clifftop NPC the first time anyone leaps
        SurpriseNPC.Show()
        SurpriseNPC.Enable()

Key point: JumpedEvent() is a method that returns a listenable(fort_character), so the handler receives the fort_character directly — no unwrapping needed.

Pattern 2 — Broadcast a crew-wide HUD alert when a player is eliminated near the lagoon

When any player goes down, flash a message to everyone and clear it after a moment.

using { /Fortnite.com/Characters }
using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Fortnite.com/Playspaces }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }

CrewAlert<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

lagoon_alert_device := class(creative_device):

    @editable
    CrewHUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        AllPlayers := GetPlayspace().GetPlayers()
        for (P : AllPlayers):
            if (FortChar := P.GetFortCharacter[]):
                FortChar.EliminatedEvent().Subscribe(OnEliminated)

    OnEliminated(Result : elimination_result) : void =
        # Show a broadcast message to all players for 5 seconds
        CrewHUD.Show(CrewAlert("A crew member has fallen in the lagoon!"), ?DisplayTime := 5.0)

        # After the round, clear the slate
        CrewHUD.ClearAllMessages()

Key point: EliminatedEvent() delivers an elimination_result struct containing both EliminatedCharacter and an optional EliminatingCharacter. The no-agent Show(Message, ?DisplayTime) overload broadcasts to all players.

Pattern 3 — Disable the mannequin interaction once used, re-enable after a delay

Prevents players from spamming the dock mannequin interaction.

using { /Fortnite.com/Characters }
using { /Fortnite.com/Devices }
using { /Verse.org/Simulation }

CooldownMsg<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"

dock_cooldown_device := class(creative_device):

    @editable
    DockNPC : character_device = character_device{}

    @editable
    CooldownHUD : hud_message_device = hud_message_device{}

    OnBegin<override>()<suspends> : void =
        DockNPC.InteractedWithEvent.Subscribe(OnInteracted)

    OnInteracted(Agent : agent) : void =
        # Lock the mannequin immediately
        DockNPC.Disable()

        # Tell the interacting player how long to wait
        CooldownHUD.Show(Agent, CooldownMsg("The sailor needs a moment to rest..."), ?DisplayTime := 3.0)

        # Re-enable after the cooldown on a background task
        spawn { ReEnableAfterDelay() }

    ReEnableAfterDelay()<suspends> : void =
        Sleep(5.0)
        DockNPC.Enable()

Key point: Disable() / Enable() on character_device control whether the mannequin accepts interactions. Sleep requires a <suspends> context, so we spawn a separate async task.

Gotchas

1. GetFortCharacter[] is failable — always wrap in if

agent.GetFortCharacter[] uses the [] failable-call syntax. If you call it without an if (or block) guard the compiler will reject it. NPCs and spectators may not have a fort_character, so the guard is semantically correct too.

# WRONG — compile error
FortChar := Agent.GetFortCharacter[]

# CORRECT
if (FortChar := Agent.GetFortCharacter[]):
    # safe to use FortChar here

2. State queries like IsCrouching[] are also failable

They succeed only when the condition is true. Use them inside if — don't expect a bool return.

# WRONG — IsCrouching[] returns void on success, not bool
IsCrouching := FortChar.IsCrouching[]

# CORRECT
if (FortChar.IsCrouching[]):
    # player is crouching

3. message ≠ string — use a localised wrapper

hud_message_device.Show and SetText take a message, not a raw string. Declare a thin localisation helper:

MyMsg<localizes>(S : string) : message = "{S}"
# then pass: MyMsg("Hello, sailor!")

There is no StringToMessage function in Verse.

4. JumpedEvent() is a method, not a property

Note the parentheses: FortChar.JumpedEvent() — calling it returns the listenable. Omitting () is a type error.

5. EliminatedEvent() is also a method

Same pattern: FortChar.EliminatedEvent().Subscribe(Handler). The handler receives an elimination_result struct, not an agent.

6. DisplayTime := 0.0 means persistent

Passing ?DisplayTime := 0.0 to hud_message_device.Show keeps the message on screen indefinitely. Call Hide(Agent) or ClearAllMessages() explicitly to remove it.

7. character_device ≠ fort_character

character_device is the placed prop/mannequin device. fort_character is the runtime player avatar interface. They are completely separate types — don't try to cast one to the other.