diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/cast/CharacterSprite.java b/src/java/com/threerings/cast/CharacterSprite.java
index 59995d82e..e6dc06d32 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/cast/CharacterSprite.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/cast/CharacterSprite.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: CharacterSprite.java,v 1.22 2002/03/04 22:47:06 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: CharacterSprite.java,v 1.23 2002/03/08 22:35:55 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.cast;
 
@@ -29,6 +29,18 @@ public class CharacterSprite
         _orient = NORTH;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Reconfigures this sprite to use the specified character descriptor.
+     */
+    public void setCharacterDescriptor (CharacterDescriptor descrip)
+    {
+        // keep the new descriptor
+        _descrip = descrip;
+
+        // reset our action which will reload our frames
+        setActionSequence(_action);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Specifies the action to use when the sprite is at rest. The default
      * is <code>STANDING</code>.
@@ -53,6 +65,10 @@ public class CharacterSprite
      */
     public void setActionSequence (String action)
     {
+        // keep track of our current action in case someone swaps out our
+        // character description
+        _action = action;
+
         // get a reference to the action sequence so that we can obtain
         // our animation frames and configure our frames per second
         ActionSequence actseq = _charmgr.getActionSequence(action);
@@ -162,6 +178,9 @@ public class CharacterSprite
     /** A reference to the character manager that created us. */
     protected CharacterManager _charmgr;
 
+    /** The action we are currently displaying. */
+    protected String _action;
+
     /** The animation frames for the active action sequence in each
      * orientation. */
     protected MultiFrameImage[] _frames;