Auto-attack: next target, melee/ranged rule after arts; chain range = cast range

- autoattack: when the target dies, the nearest enemy within close range
  (contact distance + a step) takes over; after an art the hero auto-attacks
  if the art was melee (walked up / cast close by), or ranged with a ranged
  weapon, or ranged with an enemy already in melee range; measured action
  codes and weapon classes in game/engine/orders.h
- chainlightning: jumps reach Blitzschlag's cast range (20 ray segments of
  30, the art code's hit check) via the shared NearestHostile search
- guards: burning bone render hook had the wrong signature (device plus a
  4x4 matrix by value, ret 0x44) and corrupted the stack when fire arrows hit
- crash reports follow the ebp chain before the raw stack scan

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/auto-attack.md

@@ -52,3 +52,36 @@ wind-up, 0.64 s attack, 0.43 s recovery).
   with a held button; the tick only restarts the attack after casts.
 - Self / ally arts pointed at an enemy lose their target
   (`src/mods/arttarget.cpp`) and therefore do not start auto-attack.
+
+## Next target, and auto-attack after arts (2026-10-16)
+
+User requests: when the target dies, go on with the next enemy close by;
+after a melee art always auto-attack, after a ranged art only with a ranged
+weapon.
+
+Measured with a temporary log (distance hero → target when the hero started
+the swing or cast, battlemage with a staff):
+
+- +0x150 low word: 1 walking (also walking up to a target), 3 weapon attack,
+  4 casting a spell. The "1 art" above was the walk up; 8 (seen after it on
+  2026-10-15) is presumably a combat move. Names in `game/engine/orders.h`.
+- Weapon swings started at 117..149 after walking up from up to 1382: the
+  game's contact distance (`0x4dbaa0`, mean of both body radii by object
+  type; heroes 110 with a weapon, 80 without).
+- Spells (Blitzschlag 0x21, art 5) started at once from 647..803: no walk-up.
+  Their cast limit, if any, is beyond that.
+
+Rules (`autoattack.cpp`):
+
+- Close range = `ContactDistance(hero, hero) + 100` (≈ 210) with a melee
+  weapon; 600 with a ranged one (TODO: measure a ranged hero). Ranged weapon =
+  weapon class (`0x546df0`) 6 throwing, 7 bow, 12 crossbow, 13 pistol.
+- The target died: the nearest living hostile creature within close range
+  (`game::NearestHostile`) becomes the target, else auto-attack stops.
+- An art order (not a buff / ally / corpse art) is watched until the hero
+  starts it (action 4 or 8). It is melee if the hero walked first, ranged if
+  it starts farther away than contact distance + 100, else as remembered for
+  that art (default melee). Melee: auto-attack its enemy target, or the
+  nearest enemy close by. Ranged: the same with a ranged weapon; with a melee
+  weapon only an enemy already in close range (the art's target if it is,
+  else the nearest), otherwise auto-attack stops. Until the art starts, no attack orders are sent.

docs/chain-lightning.md

@@ -55,3 +55,15 @@ ends (a lone enemy is hit once). Two enemies: it bounces between them.
 
 First version (bolts copied for every jump, not using the game's chain)
 replaced the same day: it doubled the jumps.
+
+## Jump range = cast range (2026-10-16)
+
+User request: a jump reaches as far as a cast. Blitzschlag's hit check is in
+the art code (cCreature art switch `0x5222c0`, case 0x21): the ray from the
+caster towards the target is laid out in segments of 30, at most 20, each on
+passable ground (`0x636b60`); the bolt is created on the target only if the
+ray reaches it, otherwise the visible ray just stops. So the cast range is
+20 × 30 = 600. `CastRange()` in `chainlightning.cpp` returns it for every jump
+(also the first hop of extra chains), instead of the game's jump search radius
+(squared 100000, about 316). It is the one place to make the range dynamic
+later. Jumps do not check the ground in between.

src/game/engine/orders.cpp

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "game/engine/objects.h"
 #include "re/hook.h"
 
 namespace game {
@@ -33,4 +34,33 @@ void __fastcall Creature_ReceiveOrder(void* self, void* edx, CreatureOrder* orde
     Creature_ReceiveOrder_original(self, edx, order);
 }
 
+uint32_t NearestHostile(void* attacker, void* from, double maxDistance, uint32_t except, const uint32_t* avoid,
+                        size_t avoidCount) {
+    uint32_t best = 0;
+    uint32_t bestDistance = 0;
+    bool bestFresh = false;
+    const int count = NearbyCreatureCount();
+    for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
+        const uint32_t id = NearbyCreatureId(i);
+        if (id == except || IsPlayerHeroId(id) || !IsHostileTo(attacker, GetCreature(id))) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        const uint32_t distance = DistanceTo(from, id);
+        if (distance > maxDistance) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        bool fresh = true;
+        for (size_t k = 0; k < avoidCount; ++k) {
+            fresh = fresh && avoid[k] != id;
+        }
+        if (best && ((bestFresh && !fresh) || (bestFresh == fresh && distance >= bestDistance))) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        best = id;
+        bestDistance = distance;
+        bestFresh = fresh;
+    }
+    return best;
+}
+
 } // namespace game

src/game/engine/orders.h

@@ -67,9 +67,20 @@ void OnCreatureOrder(CreatureOrderFn callback);
 constexpr size_t kCreatureId = 0xc;
 constexpr size_t kCreatureX = 0x1c;
 constexpr size_t kCreatureY = 0x20;
-// +0x150: low word the current action (0 none, 1 art, 3 attack, 8 ...), high
+// +0x150: low word the current action, high word its phase; 0x10000 when
-// word its phase; 0x10000 when standing idle.
+// standing idle. Measured on the hero: 1 walking (also up to a target),
+// 3 weapon attack, 4 casting a spell (2026-10-16), 6 dying, 8 an art seen
+// after walking up (2026-10-15, presumably a combat move).
 constexpr size_t kCreatureAction = 0x150;
+enum CreatureAction : int32_t {
+    kActionIdle = 0,
+    kActionWalk = 1,
+    kActionAttack = 3,
+    kActionCastSpell = 4,
+    kActionDying = 6,
+    kActionCombatMove = 8,
+};
+inline int32_t CurrentAction(const void* creature);
 
 // cCreature::IsAlive (0x548ef0): not dying (+0x150 == 6), not dead (+0xfc ==
 // 9), health (+0x4d8) left.
@@ -96,4 +107,37 @@ inline int32_t CreatureField(const void* creature, size_t offset) {
     return *reinterpret_cast<const int32_t*>(static_cast<const uint8_t*>(creature) + offset);
 }
 
+inline int32_t CurrentAction(const void* creature) {
+    return CreatureField(creature, kCreatureAction) & 0xffff;
+}
+
+// The distance at which two creatures touch (0x4dbaa0 on one, (the other)):
+// the mean of their body radii by object type (heroes 110 with a weapon, 80
+// without; monsters 70..480). A melee attacker swings from about there
+// (measured: heroes started swings at 117..149).
+inline int ContactDistance(void* creature, void* other) {
+    using Fn = int(__fastcall*)(void*, void*, void*);
+    return reinterpret_cast<Fn>(0x004dbaa0)(creature, nullptr, other);
+}
+
+// The creature's weapon class (0x546df0, (0)): from the weapons in its hands
+// (+0x1d4 / +0x1d8, item type +0x1e), in the order of the motion sets:
+// 0 bare hands, 1 one-handed, 2 two-handed, 3 two-handed axe, 4 staff,
+// 5 dagger, 6 throwing, 7 bow, 8 two weapons, 9 / 10 blades, 11 whip,
+// 12 crossbow, 13 pistol.
+inline int WeaponClass(void* creature) {
+    using Fn = short(__fastcall*)(void*, void*, int);
+    return reinterpret_cast<Fn>(0x00546df0)(creature, nullptr, 0);
+}
+inline bool HasRangedWeapon(void* creature) {
+    const int c = WeaponClass(creature);
+    return c == 6 || c == 7 || c == 12 || c == 13;
+}
+
+// The nearest living creature hostile to `attacker` within `maxDistance` of
+// `from` (a creature), other than `except` and other player heroes; one not
+// in `avoid` if there is any. 0 if none.
+uint32_t NearestHostile(void* attacker, void* from, double maxDistance, uint32_t except = 0,
+                        const uint32_t* avoid = nullptr, size_t avoidCount = 0);
+
 } // namespace game

src/mods/autoattack.cpp

@@ -8,13 +8,22 @@
 // becomes the hero's combat target if it is a living creature and not an ally.
 // Every engine tick in which the hero is idle, no mouse button and no skill
 // key is held, the attack order a left click sends goes to the target again.
-// A walk order (mouse move, WASD, stop) or the target's death ends it.
+// A walk order (mouse move, WASD, stop) ends it. When the target dies the
+// hero takes the nearest enemy within close range (weapon reach and a step).
+// After an art: a melee art (the hero walked up to cast it, or casts it from
+// close by) always leads to auto-attacking (its target, else the nearest
+// enemy close by); a ranged art (cast from beyond close range) only with a
+// ranged weapon, or with a melee weapon when an enemy is in melee range. Which arts are ranged is seen when the hero starts them and
+// remembered per art. User requests of 2026-10-16.
 // Between swings the hero does not go idle at all: the end-of-swing check for
 // a held mouse button is answered "held" for the auto-attack target.
 // Measured with an order log, see docs/auto-attack.md.
 
 #include <atomic>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <unordered_map>
+
+#include <windows.h>
 
 #include "game/engine/arts.h"
 #include "game/engine/events.h"
@@ -30,11 +39,27 @@ namespace {
 // After an attack order, wait this many ticks for the hero to start it before
 // sending another one (it takes about 2 ticks).
 constexpr int kStartTicks = 5;
-constexpr int32_t kActionAttack = 3;  // +0x150 low word
+// "Close range": where the hero touches a creature (game::ContactDistance,
+// heroes swing from 117..149) plus a step.
+constexpr int kStep = 100;
+// TODO(measure): the reach of ranged weapons (no ranged hero measured yet).
+constexpr int kRangedWeaponReach = 600;
+// An art order that has not started after this long is forgotten.
+constexpr DWORD kCastStartMs = 5000;
 
 std::atomic<uint32_t> g_target{0};
 int g_waitTicks = 0;
 
+// The hero's last art order until the hero starts it.
+struct CastWatch {
+    uint16_t art = 0;
+    uint32_t target = 0;  // an enemy, or 0
+    bool walked = false;
+    DWORD since = 0;
+};
+CastWatch g_cast;
+std::unordered_map<uint16_t, bool> g_artRanged;
+
 bool IsEnemy(void* hero, uint32_t id) {
     if (id == 0 || id == static_cast<uint32_t>(game::CreatureField(hero, game::kCreatureId))) {
         return false;
@@ -43,20 +68,90 @@ bool IsEnemy(void* hero, uint32_t id) {
 }
 
 bool Idle(void* creature) {
-    return (game::CreatureField(creature, game::kCreatureAction) & 0xffff) == 0;
+    return game::CurrentAction(creature) == game::kActionIdle;
+}
+
+// How far the hero looks for its next target.
+double CloseRange(void* hero) {
+    if (game::HasRangedWeapon(hero)) {
+        return kRangedWeaponReach;
+    }
+    return game::ContactDistance(hero, hero) + kStep;
+}
+
+uint32_t NearestCloseEnemy(void* hero, uint32_t except) {
+    return game::NearestHostile(hero, hero, CloseRange(hero), except);
+}
+
+// The hero started the watched art: decide what it auto-attacks afterwards.
+void OnCastStarted(void* hero) {
+    const CastWatch cast = g_cast;
+    g_cast = {};
+    void* target = cast.target ? game::GetCreature(cast.target) : nullptr;
+    bool ranged = false;
+    if (cast.walked) {
+        g_artRanged[cast.art] = false;
+    } else if (target && static_cast<int>(game::DistanceTo(hero, cast.target)) >
+                             game::ContactDistance(hero, target) + kStep) {
+        g_artRanged[cast.art] = ranged = true;
+    } else {
+        const auto known = g_artRanged.find(cast.art);
+        ranged = known != g_artRanged.end() && known->second;
+    }
+    if (ranged && !game::HasRangedWeapon(hero)) {
+        // A ranged art with a melee weapon: auto-attack only what is in melee
+        // range already (its target if that close, else the nearest enemy).
+        const bool targetClose = target && game::DistanceTo(hero, cast.target) <= CloseRange(hero);
+        g_target = targetClose ? cast.target : NearestCloseEnemy(hero, 0);
+        return;
+    }
+    g_target = target ? cast.target : NearestCloseEnemy(hero, 0);
+}
+
+void WatchCast(void* hero) {
+    if (!g_cast.since) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (GetTickCount() - g_cast.since > kCastStartMs) {
+        g_cast = {};
+        return;
+    }
+    switch (game::CurrentAction(hero)) {
+    case game::kActionWalk:
+        g_cast.walked = true;
+        break;
+    case game::kActionCastSpell:
+    case game::kActionCombatMove:
+        OnCastStarted(hero);
+        break;
+    default:
+        break;
+    }
 }
 
 void OnTick(uint8_t* engine) {
-    const uint32_t id = g_target.load();
+    void* hero = game::ControlledCreature(engine);
+    if (!hero) {
+        g_target = 0;
+        return;
+    }
+    WatchCast(hero);
+    if (g_cast.since) {
+        return;  // the art decides once it starts
+    }
+    uint32_t id = g_target.load();
     if (!id) {
         return;
     }
-    void* hero = game::ControlledCreature(engine);
     void* target = game::GetCreature(id);
-    if (!hero || !target || !game::IsAlive(target)) {
+    if (!target || !game::IsAlive(target)) {
-        g_target = 0;
+        id = NearestCloseEnemy(hero, id);
+        g_target = id;
+        target = id ? game::GetCreature(id) : nullptr;
+        if (!target) {
             return;
         }
+    }
     if (!Idle(hero)) {
         g_waitTicks = 0;
         return;
@@ -129,7 +224,7 @@ char __fastcall AttackHeld(void* cursor, void*) {
     const uint32_t id = g_target.load();
     void* hero = game::GetPlayerHero();
     if (!id || !hero || mods::skillkeys::KeyHeld() ||
-        (game::CreatureField(hero, game::kCreatureAction) & 0xffff) != kActionAttack) {
+        game::CurrentAction(hero) != game::kActionAttack) {
         return 0;
     }
     void* target = game::GetCreature(id);
@@ -161,12 +256,17 @@ void OnOrder(void* creature, const game::CreatureOrder& order, void*) {
             g_target = static_cast<uint32_t>(order.a);
         }
         break;
-    case game::kOrderUseArt:
+    case game::kOrderUseArt: {
-        if (IsEnemy(hero, order.target)) {
+        // Buffs and the like (aimed at the hero or an ally) leave the target.
-            g_target = order.target;
+        const auto launch = game::ArtLaunchType(static_cast<uint16_t>(order.art));
-        }
+        if (launch == game::LaunchType::SelfOrAlly || launch == game::LaunchType::Corpse) {
             break;
         }
+        g_cast = {static_cast<uint16_t>(order.art), IsEnemy(hero, order.target) ? order.target : 0u, false,
+                  GetTickCount()};
+        break;
+    }
+    }
 }
 
 struct OrderRegistration {

src/mods/chainlightning.cpp

@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
 //
 // This mod keeps all of that and decides:
 // - hits per chain N = 3 + level / 5: the first bolt's [14];
-// - the next target: the nearest enemy within the game's range that this
+// - the next target: the nearest enemy within Blitzschlag's cast range (see
+//   below; the game's own jump search used about 316) that this
 //   chain has not hit yet; else another enemy; else the current target again
 //   (a lone enemy takes all N hits);
 // - chains B = 1 + level / 10: B - 1 more chains start at the first target,
@@ -43,7 +44,16 @@ namespace {
 constexpr uint32_t kBoltObjectType = 0x368;  // 872
 constexpr uint32_t kJumpSearchCall = 0x005b469f;  // in the bolt update
 constexpr uint32_t kFindJumpTarget = 0x006005d0;  // cObjectManager::FindJumpTarget
-constexpr uint32_t kJumpRange = 100000;  // the game's argument (a squared distance)
+// Blitzschlag's cast range: the art code (cCreature art switch 0x5222c0,
+// case 0x21) lays the ray from the caster towards the target in segments of
+// 30, at most 20, each on passable ground (0x636b60); only if the target is
+// reached is the bolt created on it. A jump may go as far as a cast. One place,
+// so it can become dynamic (levels, attributes) later.
+constexpr double kRaySegmentLength = 30.0;
+constexpr int kRaySegments = 20;
+double CastRange() {
+    return kRaySegmentLength * kRaySegments;
+}
 constexpr size_t kObjectOwnerPlayer = 0x39;  // u8, copied from the caster like the game does
 constexpr size_t kCreaturePosition = 0x18;  // 4 dwords, as effects are placed
 constexpr size_t kEventHitsLeft = 14;
@@ -84,44 +94,10 @@ unsigned ArtLevel(void* creature, uint16_t art) {
     return entry ? entry[game::kCooldownLevel] + entry[game::kCooldownBonusLevels] : 0;
 }
 
-bool Contains(const std::vector<uint32_t>& ids, uint32_t id) {
+// The nearest living enemy of `caster` within the cast range of `from`, not
-    for (uint32_t i : ids) {
+// `current`; one not in `avoid` if there is any.
-        if (i == id) {
+uint32_t Nearest(void* caster, void* from, uint32_t current, const std::vector<uint32_t>& avoid) {
-            return true;
+    return game::NearestHostile(caster, from, CastRange(), current, avoid.data(), avoid.size());
-        }
-    }
-    return false;
-}
-
-bool IsTarget(void* caster, uint32_t id) {
-    return !game::IsPlayerHeroId(id) && game::IsHostileTo(caster, game::GetCreature(id));
-}
-
-// The nearest living enemy of `caster` within `range` (squared) of `from`, not
-// `current`; one not in `avoid` if there is any. 0 if none.
-uint32_t Nearest(void* caster, void* from, uint32_t range, uint32_t current, const std::vector<uint32_t>& avoid) {
-    uint32_t best = 0;
-    double bestDistance = 0.0;
-    bool bestFresh = false;
-    const int count = game::NearbyCreatureCount();
-    for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
-        const uint32_t id = game::NearbyCreatureId(i);
-        if (id == current || !IsTarget(caster, id)) {
-            continue;
-        }
-        const double d = static_cast<double>(game::DistanceTo(from, id));
-        if (d * d > static_cast<double>(range)) {
-            continue;
-        }
-        const bool fresh = !Contains(avoid, id);
-        if (best && ((bestFresh && !fresh) || (bestFresh == fresh && d >= bestDistance))) {
-            continue;
-        }
-        best = id;
-        bestDistance = d;
-        bestFresh = fresh;
-    }
-    return best;
 }
 
 void Forget() {
@@ -194,7 +170,7 @@ void BeforeFxEvent(uint8_t* fx, uint32_t* event) {
     // More chains: each starts with a bolt at its own first jump target.
     std::vector<uint32_t> taken{target};
     for (unsigned c = 1; c < chains && hits > 1; ++c) {
-        const uint32_t next = Nearest(caster, first, kJumpRange, target, taken);
+        const uint32_t next = Nearest(caster, first, target, taken);
         const uint32_t branchTarget = next ? next : target;
         taken.push_back(branchTarget);
         auto branch = std::make_shared<Chain>();
@@ -252,7 +228,7 @@ uint32_t __fastcall NextTarget(void* manager, void*, const int32_t* position, ui
         return 0;
     }
     const std::shared_ptr<Chain> chain = it->second.chain;
-    uint32_t next = Nearest(casterCreature, from, range, current, chain->hit);
+    uint32_t next = Nearest(casterCreature, from, current, chain->hit);
     if (!next) {
         next = current;  // nobody else: hit the same enemy again
     }

src/mods/guards.cpp

@@ -13,9 +13,13 @@ namespace game {
 // pressed while walking; Windows reported sacred.exe+0x374e39). Who renders
 // it without a device is not known yet (sacred_re_crash.txt will tell). With
 // no device there is nothing to draw.
-void __fastcall BurningBone_Render(void* self, void* edx, void* device);
+// (device, a 4x4 matrix by value; ret 0x44).
+struct Matrix4 {
+    float m[16];
+};
+void __fastcall BurningBone_Render(void* self, void* edx, void* device, Matrix4 transform);
 RE_HOOK(0x00774e10, BurningBone_Render);
-void __fastcall BurningBone_Render(void* self, void* edx, void* device) {
+void __fastcall BurningBone_Render(void* self, void* edx, void* device, Matrix4 transform) {
     if (!device) {
         static bool logged = false;
         if (!logged) {
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ void __fastcall BurningBone_Render(void* self, void* edx, void* device) {
         }
         return;
     }
-    BurningBone_Render_original(self, edx, device);
+    BurningBone_Render_original(self, edx, device, transform);
 }
 
 } // namespace game

src/re/crash.cpp

@@ -62,7 +62,23 @@ void WriteReport(EXCEPTION_POINTERS* info) {
     }
     fprintf(file, "eax %08lx ebx %08lx ecx %08lx edx %08lx esi %08lx edi %08lx ebp %08lx esp %08lx\n", c.Eax, c.Ebx,
             c.Ecx, c.Edx, c.Esi, c.Edi, c.Ebp, c.Esp);
-    fprintf(file, "return addresses on the stack (innermost first):\n");
+    // Frame pointer chain (our debug build and most of sacred.exe keep ebp).
+    fprintf(file, "frames (ebp chain):\n");
+    uintptr_t frame = c.Ebp;
+    for (int i = 0; i < 64 && frame; ++i) {
+        MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION mem;
+        if (!VirtualQuery(reinterpret_cast<void*>(frame), &mem, sizeof(mem)) || mem.State != MEM_COMMIT) {
+            break;
+        }
+        const auto* slots = reinterpret_cast<const uintptr_t*>(frame);
+        DescribeAddress(slots[1], where, sizeof(where));
+        fprintf(file, "  %s\n", where);
+        if (slots[0] <= frame) {
+            break;
+        }
+        frame = slots[0];
+    }
+    fprintf(file, "code addresses on the stack (innermost first; may include data):\n");
     const auto* stack = reinterpret_cast<const uintptr_t*>(c.Esp);
     int found = 0;
     for (int i = 0; i < 4096 && found < 48; ++i) {