diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.cpp
index 6c9fd0f52..cee015da0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.cpp
@@ -68,12 +68,14 @@ namespace MWGui
 
         for (int i = 0; i < ESM::Skill::Length; ++i)
         {
-            mSkillValues.insert(std::pair<int, MWMechanics::SkillValue >(i, MWMechanics::SkillValue()));
-            mSkillWidgetMap.insert(std::pair<int, MyGUI::TextBox*>(i, (MyGUI::TextBox*)NULL));
+            mSkillValues.insert(std::make_pair(i, MWMechanics::SkillValue()));
+            mSkillWidgetMap.insert(std::make_pair(i, std::make_pair((MyGUI::TextBox*)NULL, (MyGUI::TextBox*)NULL)));
         }
 
         MyGUI::Window* t = mMainWidget->castType<MyGUI::Window>();
         t->eventWindowChangeCoord += MyGUI::newDelegate(this, &StatsWindow::onWindowResize);
+
+        onWindowResize(t);
     }
 
     void StatsWindow::onMouseWheel(MyGUI::Widget* _sender, int _rel)
@@ -188,11 +190,32 @@ namespace MWGui
         }
     }
 
+    void setSkillProgress(MyGUI::Widget* w, float progress, int skillId)
+    {
+        MWWorld::Ptr player = MWMechanics::getPlayer();
+        const MWWorld::ESMStore &esmStore =
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
+
+        float progressRequirement = player.getClass().getNpcStats(player).getSkillProgressRequirement(skillId,
+            *esmStore.get<ESM::Class>().find(player.get<ESM::NPC>()->mBase->mClass));
+
+        // This is how vanilla MW displays the progress bar (I think). Note it's slightly inaccurate,
+        // due to the int casting in the skill levelup logic. Also the progress label could in rare cases
+        // reach 100% without the skill levelling up.
+        // Leaving the original display logic for now, for consistency with ess-imported savegames.
+        int progressPercent = int(float(progress) / float(progressRequirement) * 100.f + 0.5f);
+
+        w->setUserString("Caption_SkillProgressText", MyGUI::utility::toString(progressPercent)+"/100");
+        w->setUserString("RangePosition_SkillProgress", MyGUI::utility::toString(progressPercent));
+    }
+
     void StatsWindow::setValue(const ESM::Skill::SkillEnum parSkill, const MWMechanics::SkillValue& value)
     {
         mSkillValues[parSkill] = value;
-        MyGUI::TextBox* widget = mSkillWidgetMap[(int)parSkill];
-        if (widget)
+        std::pair<MyGUI::TextBox*, MyGUI::TextBox*> widgets = mSkillWidgetMap[(int)parSkill];
+        MyGUI::TextBox* valueWidget = widgets.second;
+        MyGUI::TextBox* nameWidget = widgets.first;
+        if (valueWidget && nameWidget)
         {
             int modified = value.getModified(), base = value.getBase();
             std::string text = MyGUI::utility::toString(modified);
@@ -202,8 +225,20 @@ namespace MWGui
             else if (modified < base)
                 state = "decreased";
 
-            widget->setCaption(text);
-            widget->_setWidgetState(state);
+            int widthBefore = valueWidget->getTextSize().width;
+
+            valueWidget->setCaption(text);
+            valueWidget->_setWidgetState(state);
+
+            int widthAfter = valueWidget->getTextSize().width;
+            if (widthBefore != widthAfter)
+            {
+                valueWidget->setCoord(valueWidget->getLeft() - (widthAfter-widthBefore), valueWidget->getTop(), valueWidget->getWidth() + (widthAfter-widthBefore), valueWidget->getHeight());
+                nameWidget->setSize(nameWidget->getWidth() - (widthAfter-widthBefore), nameWidget->getHeight());
+            }
+
+            if (value.getBase() < 100)
+                setSkillProgress(valueWidget, value.getProgress(), parSkill);
         }
     }
 
@@ -316,7 +351,7 @@ namespace MWGui
         coord2.top += sLineHeight;
     }
 
-    MyGUI::TextBox* StatsWindow::addValueItem(const std::string& text, const std::string &value, const std::string& state, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2)
+    std::pair<MyGUI::TextBox*, MyGUI::TextBox*> StatsWindow::addValueItem(const std::string& text, const std::string &value, const std::string& state, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2)
     {
         MyGUI::TextBox *skillNameWidget, *skillValueWidget;
 
@@ -340,7 +375,7 @@ namespace MWGui
         coord1.top += sLineHeight;
         coord2.top += sLineHeight;
 
-        return skillValueWidget;
+        return std::make_pair(skillNameWidget, skillValueWidget);
     }
 
     MyGUI::Widget* StatsWindow::addItem(const std::string& text, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2)
@@ -384,19 +419,9 @@ namespace MWGui
             int base = stat.getBase();
             int modified = stat.getModified();
 
-            MWWorld::Ptr player = MWMechanics::getPlayer();
             const MWWorld::ESMStore &esmStore =
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
 
-            float progressRequirement = player.getClass().getNpcStats(player).getSkillProgressRequirement(skillId,
-                *esmStore.get<ESM::Class>().find(player.get<ESM::NPC>()->mBase->mClass));
-
-            // This is how vanilla MW displays the progress bar (I think). Note it's slightly inaccurate,
-            // due to the int casting in the skill levelup logic. Also the progress label could in rare cases
-            // reach 100% without the skill levelling up.
-            // Leaving the original display logic for now, for consistency with ess-imported savegames.
-            int progressPercent = int(float(stat.getProgress()) / float(progressRequirement) * 100.f + 0.5f);
-
             const ESM::Skill* skill = esmStore.get<ESM::Skill>().find(skillId);
 
             std::string icon = "icons\\k\\" + ESM::Skill::sIconNames[skillId];
@@ -409,7 +434,7 @@ namespace MWGui
                 state = "increased";
             else if (modified < base)
                 state = "decreased";
-            MyGUI::TextBox* widget = addValueItem(MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->getGameSettingString(skillNameId, skillNameId),
+            std::pair<MyGUI::TextBox*, MyGUI::TextBox*> widgets = addValueItem(MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->getGameSettingString(skillNameId, skillNameId),
                 MyGUI::utility::toString(static_cast<int>(modified)), state, coord1, coord2);
 
             for (int i=0; i<2; ++i)
@@ -420,6 +445,7 @@ namespace MWGui
                 mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Caption_SkillDescription", skill->mDescription);
                 mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Caption_SkillAttribute", "#{sGoverningAttribute}: #{" + attr->mName + "}");
                 mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("ImageTexture_SkillImage", icon);
+                mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Range_SkillProgress", "100");
                 if (base < 100)
                 {
                     mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Visible_SkillMaxed", "false");
@@ -428,9 +454,7 @@ namespace MWGui
                     mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Visible_SkillProgressVBox", "true");
                     mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("UserData^Hidden_SkillProgressVBox", "false");
 
-                    mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Caption_SkillProgressText", MyGUI::utility::toString(progressPercent)+"/100");
-                    mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Range_SkillProgress", "100");
-                    mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("RangePosition_SkillProgress", MyGUI::utility::toString(progressPercent));
+                    setSkillProgress(mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i], stat.getProgress(), skillId);
                 } else {
                     mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("Visible_SkillMaxed", "true");
                     mSkillWidgets[mSkillWidgets.size()-1-i]->setUserString("UserData^Hidden_SkillMaxed", "false");
@@ -440,7 +464,7 @@ namespace MWGui
                 }
             }
 
-            mSkillWidgetMap[skillId] = widget;
+            mSkillWidgetMap[skillId] = widgets;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.hpp
index 2cf4ca819..1fe3cb68d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/statswindow.hpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace MWGui
             void addSkills(const SkillList &skills, const std::string &titleId, const std::string &titleDefault, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2);
             void addSeparator(MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2);
             void addGroup(const std::string &label, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2);
-            MyGUI::TextBox* addValueItem(const std::string& text, const std::string &value, const std::string& state, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2);
+            std::pair<MyGUI::TextBox*, MyGUI::TextBox*> addValueItem(const std::string& text, const std::string &value, const std::string& state, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2);
             MyGUI::Widget* addItem(const std::string& text, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord1, MyGUI::IntCoord &coord2);
 
             void setFactions (const FactionList& factions);
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ namespace MWGui
 
             SkillList mMajorSkills, mMinorSkills, mMiscSkills;
             std::map<int, MWMechanics::SkillValue > mSkillValues;
-            std::map<int, MyGUI::TextBox*> mSkillWidgetMap;
+            std::map<int, std::pair<MyGUI::TextBox*, MyGUI::TextBox*> > mSkillWidgetMap;
             std::map<std::string, MyGUI::Widget*> mFactionWidgetMap;
             FactionList mFactions; ///< Stores a list of factions and the current rank
             std::string mBirthSignId;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp
index 566aa5f11..f01c8d219 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwinput/inputmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -1487,6 +1487,10 @@ namespace MWInput
         ret.push_back(A_QuickKey8);
         ret.push_back(A_QuickKey9);
         ret.push_back(A_QuickKey10);
+        ret.push_back(A_CycleSpellLeft);
+        ret.push_back(A_CycleSpellRight);
+        ret.push_back(A_CycleWeaponLeft);
+        ret.push_back(A_CycleWeaponRight);
 
         return ret;
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index 3aa7a27e6..5316c255f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -1137,6 +1137,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
             timerUpdateAITargets += duration;
             timerUpdateHeadTrack += duration;
+            timerUpdateEquippedLight += duration;
 
             // Looping magic VFX update
             // Note: we need to do this before any of the animations are updated.
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 3d1485fb2..669c60162 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -338,22 +338,16 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 }
             }
 
-            bool update = false;
-
             //Loop over ESM::Skill::SkillEnum
             for(int i = 0; i < ESM::Skill::Length; ++i)
             {
                 if(stats.getSkill(i) != mWatchedSkills[i] || mWatchedStatsEmpty)
                 {
-                    update = true;
                     mWatchedSkills[i] = stats.getSkill(i);
                     winMgr->setValue((ESM::Skill::SkillEnum)i, stats.getSkill(i));
                 }
             }
 
-            if(update)
-                winMgr->updateSkillArea();
-
             winMgr->setValue("level", stats.getLevel());
 
             mWatchedStatsEmpty = false;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/objects.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/objects.cpp
index 139825c21..a15b4cba4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/objects.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/objects.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ void Objects::addObject(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
     removeObject(ptr);
 
     MWRender::Animation *anim = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getAnimation(ptr);
-    if(anim) mObjects.insert(std::make_pair(ptr, new CharacterController(ptr, anim)));
+    if (anim && anim->hasAnimSources())
+        mObjects.insert(std::make_pair(ptr, new CharacterController(ptr, anim)));
 }
 
 void Objects::removeObject(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.cpp
index 9be34495e..5167f6ef0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "actor.hpp"
 
-#include <BulletCollision/CollisionShapes/btCylinderShape.h>
+#include <BulletCollision/CollisionShapes/btCapsuleShape.h>
 #include <BulletCollision/CollisionShapes/btBoxShape.h>
 #include <BulletCollision/CollisionDispatch/btCollisionWorld.h>
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
 
 Actor::Actor(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, osg::ref_ptr<const Resource::BulletShape> shape, btCollisionWorld* world)
   : mCanWaterWalk(false), mWalkingOnWater(false)
-  , mCollisionObject(0), mForce(0.f, 0.f, 0.f), mOnGround(false)
+  , mCollisionObject(0), mForce(0.f, 0.f, 0.f), mOnGround(true), mOnSlope(false)
   , mInternalCollisionMode(true)
   , mExternalCollisionMode(true)
   , mCollisionWorld(world)
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ Actor::Actor(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, osg::ref_ptr<const Resource::BulletShape>
     // Use capsule shape only if base is square (nonuniform scaling apparently doesn't work on it)
     if (std::abs(mHalfExtents.x()-mHalfExtents.y())<mHalfExtents.x()*0.05 && mHalfExtents.z() >= mHalfExtents.x())
     {
-        // Could also be btCapsuleShapeZ, but the movement solver seems to have issues with it (jumping on slopes doesn't work)
-        mShape.reset(new btCylinderShapeZ(toBullet(mHalfExtents)));
+        mShape.reset(new btCapsuleShapeZ(mHalfExtents.x(), 2*mHalfExtents.z() - 2*mHalfExtents.x()));
     }
     else
         mShape.reset(new btBoxShape(toBullet(mHalfExtents)));
@@ -180,6 +179,11 @@ void Actor::setOnGround(bool grounded)
     mOnGround = grounded;
 }
 
+void Actor::setOnSlope(bool slope)
+{
+    mOnSlope = slope;
+}
+
 bool Actor::isWalkingOnWater() const
 {
     return mWalkingOnWater;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.hpp
index a0bf5bfc0..9c0144b9d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/actor.hpp
@@ -124,6 +124,13 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             return mInternalCollisionMode && mOnGround;
         }
 
+        void setOnSlope(bool slope);
+
+        bool getOnSlope() const
+        {
+            return mInternalCollisionMode && mOnSlope;
+        }
+
         btCollisionObject* getCollisionObject() const
         {
             return mCollisionObject.get();
@@ -160,6 +167,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
 
         osg::Vec3f mForce;
         bool mOnGround;
+        bool mOnSlope;
         bool mInternalCollisionMode;
         bool mExternalCollisionMode;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
index 2d0964f25..0ab636865 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwphysics/physicssystem.cpp
@@ -250,6 +250,8 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             }
             else
             {
+                actor->setOnGround(true);
+
                 // Check if we actually found a valid spawn point (use an infinitely thin ray this time).
                 // Required for some broken door destinations in Morrowind.esm, where the spawn point
                 // intersects with other geometry if the actor's base is taken into account
@@ -266,11 +268,13 @@ namespace MWPhysics
                         ( (toOsg(resultCallback1.m_hitPointWorld) - tracer.mEndPos).length2() > 35*35
                         || !isWalkableSlope(tracer.mPlaneNormal)))
                 {
-                    actor->setOnGround(isWalkableSlope(resultCallback1.m_hitNormalWorld));
+                    actor->setOnSlope(isWalkableSlope(resultCallback1.m_hitNormalWorld));
                     return toOsg(resultCallback1.m_hitPointWorld) + osg::Vec3f(0.f, 0.f, 1.f);
                 }
-
-                actor->setOnGround(isWalkableSlope(tracer.mPlaneNormal));
+                else
+                {
+                    actor->setOnSlope(isWalkableSlope(tracer.mPlaneNormal));
+                }
 
                 return tracer.mEndPos;
             }
@@ -322,12 +326,10 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             {
                 velocity = (osg::Quat(refpos.rot[2], osg::Vec3f(0, 0, -1))) * movement;
 
-                if (velocity.z() > 0.f && physicActor->getOnGround())
+                if (velocity.z() > 0.f && physicActor->getOnGround() && !physicActor->getOnSlope())
                     inertia = velocity;
-                else if(!physicActor->getOnGround())
-                {
+                else if(!physicActor->getOnGround() || physicActor->getOnSlope())
                     velocity = velocity + physicActor->getInertialForce();
-                }
             }
 
             // dead actors underwater will float to the surface, if the CharacterController tells us to do so
@@ -440,13 +442,14 @@ namespace MWPhysics
             }
 
             bool isOnGround = false;
+            bool isOnSlope = false;
             if (!(inertia.z() > 0.f) && !(newPosition.z() < swimlevel))
             {
                 osg::Vec3f from = newPosition;
                 osg::Vec3f to = newPosition - (physicActor->getOnGround() ?
                              osg::Vec3f(0,0,sStepSizeDown+2.f) : osg::Vec3f(0,0,2.f));
                 tracer.doTrace(colobj, from, to, collisionWorld);
-                if(tracer.mFraction < 1.0f && isWalkableSlope(tracer.mPlaneNormal)
+                if(tracer.mFraction < 1.0f
                         && tracer.mHitObject->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup != CollisionType_Actor)
                 {
                     const btCollisionObject* standingOn = tracer.mHitObject;
@@ -460,6 +463,8 @@ namespace MWPhysics
                         newPosition.z() = tracer.mEndPos.z() + 1.0f;
 
                     isOnGround = true;
+
+                    isOnSlope = !isWalkableSlope(tracer.mPlaneNormal);
                 }
                 else
                 {
@@ -483,7 +488,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
                 }
             }
 
-            if(isOnGround || newPosition.z() < swimlevel || isFlying)
+            if((isOnGround && !isOnSlope) || newPosition.z() < swimlevel || isFlying)
                 physicActor->setInertialForce(osg::Vec3f(0.f, 0.f, 0.f));
             else
             {
@@ -497,6 +502,7 @@ namespace MWPhysics
                 physicActor->setInertialForce(inertia);
             }
             physicActor->setOnGround(isOnGround);
+            physicActor->setOnSlope(isOnSlope);
 
             newPosition.z() -= halfExtents.z(); // remove what was added at the beginning
             return newPosition;
@@ -989,41 +995,10 @@ namespace MWPhysics
         return !result.mHit;
     }
 
-    // physactor->getOnGround() is not a reliable indicator of whether the actor
-    // is on the ground (defaults to false, which means code blocks such as
-    // CharacterController::update() may falsely detect "falling").
-    //
-    // Also, collisions can move z position slightly off zero, giving a false
-    // indication. In order to reduce false detection of jumping, small distance
-    // below the actor is detected and ignored. A value of 1.5 is used here, but
-    // something larger may be more suitable.  This change should resolve Bug#1271.
-    //
-    // TODO: There might be better places to update PhysicActor::mOnGround.
     bool PhysicsSystem::isOnGround(const MWWorld::Ptr &actor)
     {
         Actor* physactor = getActor(actor);
-        if(!physactor)
-            return false;
-        if(physactor->getOnGround())
-            return true;
-        else
-        {
-            osg::Vec3f pos(actor.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
-
-            ActorTracer tracer;
-            // a small distance above collision object is considered "on ground"
-            tracer.findGround(physactor,
-                              pos,
-                              pos - osg::Vec3f(0, 0, 1.5f), // trace a small amount down
-                              mCollisionWorld);
-            if(tracer.mFraction < 1.0f) // collision, must be close to something below
-            {
-                physactor->setOnGround(true);
-                return true;
-            }
-            else
-                return false;
-        }
+        return physactor->getOnGround();
     }
 
     bool PhysicsSystem::canMoveToWaterSurface(const MWWorld::ConstPtr &actor, const float waterlevel)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index cdbeffa19..976d83a8f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -565,6 +565,11 @@ namespace MWRender
         }
     }
 
+    bool Animation::hasAnimSources() const
+    {
+        return !mAnimSources.empty();
+    }
+
     void Animation::clearAnimSources()
     {
         mStates.clear();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
index f765a7a40..2ea369ea7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
@@ -341,6 +341,8 @@ public:
     Animation(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> parentNode, Resource::ResourceSystem* resourceSystem);
     virtual ~Animation();
 
+    bool hasAnimSources() const;
+
     MWWorld::ConstPtr getPtr() const;
 
     /// Set active flag on the object skeleton, if one exists.