diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
index 30d84abc2..003eb1d14 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ namespace MWClass
     }
 
 
-    void Creature::attack(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const
+    void Creature::hit(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const
     {
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp
index b90b07f3f..a15128ac7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.hpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ 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 hit(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const;
 
             virtual void setActorHealth(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float health, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker) const;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 229954dac..b19544f86 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ namespace MWClass
     }
 
 
-    void Npc::attack(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const
+    void Npc::hit(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const
     {
         // FIXME: Detect what was hit
         MWWorld::Ptr victim;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
index 15f715f14..05c4b1e8f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.hpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ 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 hit(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, int type) const;
 
             virtual void setActorHealth(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float health, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker) const;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index 54e199059..8d6a47e5e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -538,13 +538,13 @@ void Animation::handleTextKey(AnimState &state, const std::string &groupname, co
     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);
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).hit(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Chop);
     else if(evt.compare(off, len, "slash hit") == 0)
-        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Slash);
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).hit(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Slash);
     else if(evt.compare(off, len, "thrust hit") == 0)
-        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Thrust);
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).hit(mPtr, MWMechanics::CreatureStats::AT_Thrust);
     else if(evt.compare(off, len, "hit") == 0)
-        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).attack(mPtr, -1);
+        MWWorld::Class::get(mPtr).hit(mPtr);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
index b64b5119a..c30fb51c1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.cpp
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
         throw std::runtime_error ("class does not have item health");
     }
 
-    void Class::attack(const Ptr& ptr, int type) const
+    void Class::hit(const Ptr& ptr, int type) const
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("class cannot attack");
+        throw std::runtime_error("class cannot hit");
     }
 
     void Class::setActorHealth(const Ptr& ptr, float health, const Ptr& attacker) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
index 26ce65d0e..2f5ac3ec8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/class.hpp
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ 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;
+            virtual void hit(const Ptr& ptr, int type=-1) 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.
+            /// \param 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;