Getting a roblox custom proning system script up and running is one of those things that instantly levels up the feel of a tactical shooter or a gritty survival game. If you've spent any time on Roblox lately, you've probably noticed that the standard "jump and run" mechanics are fine for obbies, but they feel a bit hollow when you're trying to build something more immersive. A custom proning system doesn't just change how a character looks; it changes how the game is played. It adds a layer of stealth, allows for better use of cover, and quite frankly, just makes your project look way more professional.
The thing is, Roblox doesn't have a "prone" state built into the Humanoid object by default. You've got walking, running, jumping, and swimming, but "lying flat on your face" isn't exactly a native feature. To get this working, we have to get a little creative with scripting, animations, and some clever manipulation of the character's physical properties.
Why Bother with a Custom System?
You might wonder why you'd go through the trouble of writing a roblox custom proning system script when you could just find a free model in the Toolbox. Well, let's be honest—most free model scripts are a mess. They're either outdated, full of laggy code, or they don't quite fit the specific "vibe" of your game.
When you build your own system, you have total control over the details. You can decide exactly how fast the player crawls, how the camera behaves when they're close to the ground, and whether or not they can shoot while lying down. Plus, a custom script allows you to handle things like "collision height" properly. There's nothing more immersion-breaking than a player proning under a low gap only for their invisible standing hitbox to get stuck on the ceiling.
The Basic Logic Behind the Script
At its core, a proning script is a state machine. You're essentially telling the game: "When the player presses this key, check if they're already prone. If they aren't, put them in the prone state. If they are, stand them back up."
Most devs use the Z or Ctrl key for this. You'll need UserInputService to listen for those keystrokes. Once the input is detected, the script needs to do a few things simultaneously: 1. Play the transition animation (going from standing to prone). 2. Adjust the Humanoid's WalkSpeed (you can't exactly sprint while on your stomach). 3. Lower the HipHeight of the Humanoid so the character model actually sits on the floor. 4. Modify the CameraOffset so the player's view matches their new physical height.
It sounds like a lot, but when you break it down into small chunks, it's actually pretty manageable.
Handling the Animations
Animations are the soul of your roblox custom proning system script. Without a smooth crawl animation, your character will just look like a stiff board sliding across the baseplate. You'll need at least three animations: a "Going Down" transition, a "Prone Idle," and a "Prone Crawl."
When you're scripting the animation logic, make sure you set the animation priority to Action. If you leave it at Core or Idle, the default walking animations might override your prone movements, resulting in some very weird-looking leg glitches. It's also smart to use AdjustSpeed() on your crawl animation based on the player's actual movement speed to make it look more natural.
Dealing with the Hitbox Headache
This is where most people get stuck. In Roblox, the Humanoid has a fixed collision box based on the character's size. Even if your animation shows the character lying flat, the physics engine might still think the player is standing six feet tall.
To fix this in your roblox custom proning system script, you usually have to tweak the HipHeight property. By lowering the HipHeight, you're telling the engine that the "hip" of the character is much closer to the ground. However, for a true prone system where you can crawl under low obstacles, you might need to go a step further and physically rotate the LowerTorso or use a NoCollisionConstraint on certain body parts while the player is down. It's a bit of a balancing act to make sure the player doesn't clip through the floor.
The Camera and the "Feel"
A mistake I see all the time is forgetting about the camera. If you prone in real life (or in a triple-A game), your perspective shifts drastically. In your script, you should use TweenService to smoothly move the Humanoid.CameraOffset.
If you just snap the camera down instantly, it's jarring for the player. But if you tween it over about 0.3 seconds to a lower Y-value, it feels satisfying and weighted. It gives the player that tactical sense of "dropping into cover." Don't forget to reset it when they stand up, or they'll spend the rest of the game looking at everyone's kneecaps.
Making it Work on Mobile
We can't ignore mobile players. A huge chunk of the Roblox audience is on phones or tablets, and they don't have a Z key. To make your roblox custom proning system script truly universal, you'll want to use ContextActionService.
This service allows you to create an on-screen button that only appears for mobile users. You can bind the same proning function to that button. It's a small extra step, but it makes your game accessible to everyone, which is key if you want your player count to actually grow.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
One of the biggest bugs you'll run into is the "Standing Up in a Tight Space" glitch. Imagine a player crawls under a truck or into a small vent. If they press the prone key again to stand up, their head will clip through the geometry, and they might get flung across the map (thanks, Roblox physics!).
To prevent this, you should use a Raycast in your script. Before allowing the player to stand up, cast a ray from the character's torso straight up for about six studs. If the ray hits something, it means there's a ceiling in the way, and you should prevent the player from standing up. Maybe even pop up a little notification that says "Area too cramped!" It's these little polish details that separate a hobbyist script from a professional system.
Another thing to watch out for is network ownership and lag. Since movement is usually handled on the client for responsiveness, make sure your script handles the animations locally but tells the server about the state change. You don't want other players to see you gliding around in a standing pose while you think you're proning.
Final Thoughts on Implementation
Building a roblox custom proning system script is a fantastic way to learn more about how Humanoids and UserInputService interact. It's not just about the code; it's about understanding the player's experience. How does the transition feel? Is it too slow? Does it give an unfair advantage?
Once you have the basics down, you can start adding the "cool" stuff—like a stamina bar that drains while crawling, or a "stealth" multiplier that makes you harder for AI enemies to detect. The beauty of a custom script is that it's your foundation. You can keep building on it until it's exactly what your game needs.
So, grab your code editor, fire up the Animation Editor, and start experimenting. It might take a few tries to get the collision and the camera just right, but once you see your character smoothly diving into cover, you'll realize it was totally worth the effort. Happy developing!