diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
index f5bd434b1..5a5ae6f41 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
@@ -148,6 +148,39 @@ namespace MWClass
         return dynamic_cast<CustomData&> (*ptr.getRefData().getCustomData()).mCreatureStats;
     }
 
+
+    void Creature::attack(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const
+    {
+    }
+
+    void Creature::setActorHealth(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float health, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker) const
+    {
+        MWMechanics::CreatureStats &crstats = getCreatureStats(ptr);
+        float diff = health - crstats.getHealth().getCurrent();
+
+        if(diff < 0.0f)
+        {
+            // actor is losing health. Alert the character controller, scripts, etc.
+            // NOTE: 'attacker' may be empty.
+        }
+
+        bool wasDead = crstats.isDead();
+
+        MWMechanics::DynamicStat<float> stat(crstats.getHealth());
+        stat.setCurrent(health);
+        crstats.setHealth(stat);
+
+        if(!wasDead && crstats.isDead())
+        {
+            // actor was just killed
+        }
+        else if(wasDead && !crstats.isDead())
+        {
+            // actor was just resurrected
+        }
+    }
+
+
     boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Creature::activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr,
         const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp
index 356ecfb64..b90b07f3f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ namespace MWClass
             virtual MWMechanics::CreatureStats& getCreatureStats (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const;
             ///< Return creature stats
 
+            virtual void attack(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const;
+
+            virtual void setActorHealth(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float health, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker) const;
+
             virtual boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr,
                 const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const;
             ///< Generate action for activation
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index b6af9f0e5..0ba633df2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -288,6 +288,74 @@ namespace MWClass
         return dynamic_cast<CustomData&> (*ptr.getRefData().getCustomData()).mNpcStats;
     }
 
+
+    void Npc::attack(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const
+    {
+        // FIXME: Detect what was hit
+        MWWorld::Ptr victim;
+        if(victim.isEmpty()) // Didn't hit anything
+            return;
+
+        const MWWorld::Class &othercls = MWWorld::Class::get(victim);
+        if(!othercls.isActor() || othercls.getCreatureStats(victim).isDead())
+        {
+            // Can't hit non-actors, or dead actors
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Get the weapon used
+        MWWorld::LiveCellRef<ESM::Weapon> *weapon = NULL;
+        MWWorld::InventoryStore &inv = Npc::getInventoryStore(ptr);
+        MWWorld::ContainerStoreIterator iter = inv.getSlot(MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedRight);
+        if(iter != inv.end() && iter->getTypeName() == typeid(ESM::Weapon).name())
+            weapon = iter->get<ESM::Weapon>();
+
+        // TODO: Check weapon skill against victim's armor skill (if !weapon, attacker is using
+        // hand-to-hand, which damages fatique unless in werewolf form).
+        if(weapon)
+        {
+            float health = othercls.getCreatureStats(victim).getHealth().getCurrent();
+            // FIXME: Modify damage based on strength?
+            if(type == MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Chop)
+                health -= weapon->mBase->mData.mChop[1];
+            else if(type == MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Slash)
+                health -= weapon->mBase->mData.mSlash[1];
+            else if(type == MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Thrust)
+                health -= weapon->mBase->mData.mThrust[1];
+
+            othercls.setActorHealth(victim, std::max(health, 0.0f), ptr);
+        }
+    }
+
+    void Npc::setActorHealth(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float health, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker) const
+    {
+        MWMechanics::CreatureStats &crstats = getCreatureStats(ptr);
+        float diff = health - crstats.getHealth().getCurrent();
+
+        if(diff < 0.0f)
+        {
+            // 'ptr' is losing health. Play a 'hit' voiced dialog entry if not already saying
+            // something, alert the character controller, scripts, etc.
+            // NOTE: 'attacker' may be empty.
+        }
+
+        bool wasDead = crstats.isDead();
+
+        MWMechanics::DynamicStat<float> stat(crstats.getHealth());
+        stat.setCurrent(health);
+        crstats.setHealth(stat);
+
+        if(!wasDead && crstats.isDead())
+        {
+            // actor was just killed
+        }
+        else if(wasDead && !crstats.isDead())
+        {
+            // actor was just resurrected
+        }
+    }
+
+
     boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Npc::activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr,
         const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
index 2a73df593..15f715f14 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ namespace MWClass
             virtual MWWorld::InventoryStore& getInventoryStore (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const;
             ///< Return inventory store
 
+            virtual void attack(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const;
+
+            virtual void setActorHealth(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float health, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker) const;
+
             virtual boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> activate (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr,
                 const MWWorld::Ptr& actor) const;
             ///< Generate action for activation
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index db20807e3..07c1c1fe7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwmechanics/character.hpp"
+#include "../mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
 
 namespace MWRender
@@ -548,6 +549,14 @@ bool Animation::handleTextKey(AnimState &state, const std::string &groupname, co
         showWeapons(true);
     else if(evt.compare(off, len, "unequip detach") == 0)
         showWeapons(false);
+    else if(evt.compare(off, len, "chop hit") == 0)
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Chop);
+    else if(evt.compare(off, len, "slash hit") == 0)
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Slash);
+    else if(evt.compare(off, len, "thrust hit") == 0)
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Thrust);
+    else if(evt.compare(off, len, "hit") == 0)
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, -1);
 
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
index 6f420942b..b64b5119a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
@@ -77,6 +77,16 @@ namespace MWWorld
         throw std::runtime_error ("class does not have item health");
     }
 
+    void Class::attack(const Ptr& ptr, int type) const
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("class cannot attack");
+    }
+
+    void Class::setActorHealth(const Ptr& ptr, float health, const Ptr& attacker) const
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("class does not have actor health");
+    }
+
     boost::shared_ptr<Action> Class::activate (const Ptr& ptr, const Ptr& actor) const
     {
         return boost::shared_ptr<Action> (new NullAction);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
index eed100024..26ce65d0e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
@@ -105,6 +105,19 @@ namespace MWWorld
             ///< Return item max health or throw an exception, if class does not have item health
             /// (default implementation: throw an exceoption)
 
+            virtual void attack(const Ptr& ptr, int type) const;
+            ///< Execute a melee hit, using the current weapon. This will check the relevant skills
+            /// of the given attacker, and whoever is hit.
+            /// \a type - type of attack, one of the MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AttackType enums.
+            ///           ignored for creature attacks.
+            /// (default implementation: throw an exceoption)
+
+            virtual void setActorHealth(const Ptr& ptr, float health, const Ptr& attacker=Ptr()) const;
+            ///< Sets a new current health value for the actor, optionally specifying the object causing
+            /// the change. Use this instead of using CreatureStats directly as this will make sure the
+            /// correct dialog and actor states are properly handled when being hurt or healed.
+            /// (default implementation: throw an exceoption)
+
             virtual boost::shared_ptr<Action> activate (const Ptr& ptr, const Ptr& actor) const;
             ///< Generate action for activation (default implementation: return a null action).