Does anyone know how i can achieve this:
my character has this sword, i animate something like a sword fight and then he sheathes his sword, or maybe drops it.
In other words is there a way i can automate parenting/unparenting bones in realtime like picking up a sword then at a certain time (using timer property) the sword drops (unparented).
Sorry if i dont make much sense right about now, im a bit groggy, about to go to sleep…
Howdy!!!
Im not sure of any un-paranting type manouvers you could do, but i have done a simmilar animation.
I had a bee flying carrying a bucket of honey, he stops and lands and sets his bucket down to do a little dance with a flower, then picks the bucket back up and flys away.
Now, how i did that… I moved the bucket (seperate mesh) by hand every frame (like 800 or something)!!! It worked, but took me bloody ages, the result looked good tho!!! 
Dont know if that helps you none, its most likley that someone else has a better solution, one i wouldn’t mind knowing either!!!
Matt
Blend on, and blend well!!!
Thanx for the reply bapsis. I’ll give that a try if there isnt any other way.
Anyone else?
try the realtime engine forum, that’s where most of the people who can answer your question will see it.
Have a look at these 2 topics
https://blenderartists.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7817
https://blenderartists.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7681
Riskbreaker…
Just had another thought, if you do wind up having to animate the sword for every sceen by hand, you might want to make 2 versions of your character and sword.
One with the sword parented, and another without, then just switch between the 2 on what the particular sceen calls for.
Just an idea, hopefully you can still find an easier way!!!
Matt
Blend on, and blend well!!!
thanx for the reply folks, i’ll try them out too.