diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp
index d5f9e30cd..f31241bdb 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ namespace MWBase
             /// Check if \a observer is potentially aware of \a ptr. Does not do a line of sight check!
             virtual bool awarenessCheck (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& observer) = 0;
 
+            /// Makes \a ptr fight \a target. Also shouts a combat taunt.
+            virtual void startCombat (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& target) = 0;
+
             enum OffenseType
             {
                 OT_Theft, // Taking items owned by an NPC or a faction you are not a member of
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index bf02a8c30..c3957f72f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -206,8 +206,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
                     if (LOS)
                     {
-                        creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiCombat(MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayerPtr()), ptr);
-                        creatureStats.setHostile(true);
+                        MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(ptr, player);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -784,15 +783,16 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                     if (ptr.getClass().isClass(ptr, "Guard"))
                         creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiPursue(player.getClass().getId(player)), ptr);
                     else
-                        creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiCombat(player), ptr);
-                        creatureStats.setHostile(true);
+                    {
+                        MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(ptr, player);
+                    }
                 }
             }
             // if I didn't report a crime was I attacked?
+            // TODO: this is incorrect, getAttacked also triggers if attacked by other non-player actors.
             else if (creatureStats.getAttacked() && !creatureStats.isHostile())
             {
-                creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiCombat(player), ptr);
-                creatureStats.setHostile(true);
+                MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(ptr, player);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1073,6 +1073,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             if(!stats.isDead() && stats.getAiSequence().getTypeId() == AiPackage::TypeIdCombat)
             {
                 MWMechanics::AiCombat* package = static_cast<MWMechanics::AiCombat*>(stats.getAiSequence().getActivePackage());
+                // TODO: This is wrong! It's comparing Ref IDs with Ogre handles. The only case where this (coincidentally) works is the player.
+                // possibly applies to other code using getTargetId.
                 if(package->getTargetId() == actor.getCellRef().mRefID)
                     list.push_front(*iter);
             }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 396e710be..e69f39a19 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/player.hpp"
 
+#include "../mwmechanics/aicombat.hpp"
+
 #include <OgreSceneNode.h>
 
 #include "spellcasting.hpp"
@@ -1007,6 +1009,14 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return (roll >= target);
     }
 
+    void MechanicsManager::startCombat(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &target)
+    {
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getDialogueManager()->say(ptr, "attack");
+        ptr.getClass().getCreatureStats(ptr).getAiSequence().stack(MWMechanics::AiCombat(target), ptr);
+        if (target == MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayerPtr())
+            ptr.getClass().getCreatureStats(ptr).setHostile(true);
+    }
+
     void MechanicsManager::getObjectsInRange(const Ogre::Vector3 &position, float radius, std::vector<MWWorld::Ptr> &objects)
     {
         mActors.getObjectsInRange(position, radius, objects);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp
index 1c9bab25e..dcd12ee14 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             /// Check if \a observer is potentially aware of \a ptr. Does not do a line of sight check!
             virtual bool awarenessCheck (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& observer);
 
+            /// Makes \a ptr fight \a target. Also shouts a combat taunt.
+            virtual void startCombat (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& target);
+
             /**
              * @brief Commit a crime. If any actors witness the crime and report it,
              *        reportCrime will be called automatically.
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp
index 43da111bf..e53b53e58 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "../mwmechanics/aifollow.hpp"
 #include "../mwmechanics/aitravel.hpp"
 #include "../mwmechanics/aiwander.hpp"
-#include "../mwmechanics/aicombat.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
@@ -435,12 +434,8 @@ namespace MWScript
                     std::string targetID = runtime.getStringLiteral (runtime[0].mInteger);
                     runtime.pop();
 
-                    MWMechanics::CreatureStats& creatureStats = actor.getClass().getCreatureStats(actor);
-                    
-
-                    creatureStats.setHostile(true);
-                    creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(
-                        MWMechanics::AiCombat(MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(targetID, true) ), actor);
+                    MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(targetID, true);
+                    MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(actor, target);
                 }
         };