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Game Development

Roblox Studio Movement, Collision, and Scripting Basics

Set up Roblox Studio collision groups, script character movement in Lua, and verify the result in Play mode. This guide focuses on the exact panels, script types, and in-game checks you need to connect physics with a working character controller.

GuideKit EditorialEditorial team
5 min read
Roblox Studio shows a live play session with a blocky character standing on a gray baseplate under a blue sky, with two game views side by side.
Roblox Studio displays a live game scene with the character standing on the baseplate in two viewports. — footage: PlaasBoer

Set up collision groups in Roblox Studio, assign your workspace parts to the right group.

Start with the collision setup in the workspace

Set up separate collision groups so different objects in your scene can interact or pass through each other as intended. This will define how the player character and parts collide.

Roblox Studio is open with the Collision Groups Editor panel on the left, showing the Default collision group in the list, while the 3D workspace with a green sphere is visible on the right.

Roblox Studio shows the Collision Groups Editor with the Default group listed beside the workspace. — PlaasBoer

steps

  1. Open the Collision Groups Editor in Roblox Studio to view and manage collision groups.
  2. Create a new group for each set of parts that should have unique collision behavior.
  3. Assign the intended workspace parts to their respective group using the editor.
  4. Adjust the group settings to control which groups will collide and which will ignore each other.

Check how collision groups affect player movement

Roblox Studio is open with the Collision Groups Editor on the left and a Play window on the right showing white ramp-like parts around red and green spheres on a gray baseplate.

Roblox Studio shows the Collision Groups Editor and a Play window with red and green spheres beside white ramp-like parts on a gray baseplate. — PlaasBoer

Add a Lua script for character movement

Scripts let you create or control movement beyond the default controls in Roblox Studio.

Roblox Studio shows the 3D workspace on the left and the Explorer panel on the right with services like Workspace, Players, and ServerScriptService listed.

Roblox Studio displays the workspace beside the Explorer panel with the object hierarchy expanded. — PlaasBoer

steps

-- Example Roblox Lua movement script
local player = game.Players.LocalPlayer
local character = player.Character or player.CharacterAdded:Wait()
local humanoid = character:WaitForChild("Humanoid")

-- Move the character forward on command
function onMoveForward()
    humanoid:Move(Vector3.new(0, 0, -1), false)
end

-- Connect to an input event for actual movement (optional)
-- Example: Bind to a UI button or use ContextActionService for real input

Use touch events and physics to react to contact

You can connect behaviors to physical contact between the player character and world objects using Roblox events tied to parts.

steps

Script around the humanoid and server script flow

Roblox Studio is open with a script editor on the left and the Explorer panel on the right showing ServerScriptService and a script named DisablePlayerCollisions.

Roblox Studio shows a script open beside the Explorer panel with ServerScriptService expanded. — PlaasBoer

Choose where your movement and collision scripts run

Verify the finished movement and collision result in game

Two Roblox Studio game viewports show a blocky character standing on a tiled gray plane under a blue sky, with a duplicated overlapping character visible in the right view and a large shadow on the left.

Two Roblox Studio play views show a character standing on a tiled plane with visible overlapping movement and collision results. — PlaasBoer

FAQ

how to script movement in Roblox Studio

Create a Lua script that references the character or humanoid, and place your movement logic in it. Attach the script so it runs automatically in Play mode, and test it in the live game window to confirm it works.

Roblox Studio collision tutorial

Set up collision groups in the workspace, assign parts to those groups, and adjust which groups collide with each other. Test your configuration by running the game to see how player and parts interact.

Roblox Lua beginner movement guide

Start with a basic Lua script placed in the game, get a reference to the humanoid, and use scripting methods to move the player. Confirm the movement by playing the game and watching the effect.

Roblox character controller tutorial
Roblox Studio physics and collisions

Physics and collision in Roblox Studio are handled by the engine as defined by your group settings and part assignments. Correct setup is confirmed when, in Play mode, objects interact physically as you expect.

Roblox Studio scripting basics

Official reference: Roblox Creator documentation.

Related guides

Sources

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