diff --git a/scenes/player.tscn b/scenes/player.tscn
index 3ed62ee..644b9f1 100644
--- a/scenes/player.tscn
+++ b/scenes/player.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=56 format=3 uid="uid://d3y1iqmpknpyo"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=57 format=3 uid="uid://d3y1iqmpknpyo"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://d3hp5rjoph7hg" path="res://scripts/player.gd" id="1_3vyb7"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://dr3rp5hv7rexv" path="res://graphics/animations/Player Idle 48x48.png" id="2_g2els"]
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://bgp8oow6hgh5o" path="res://graphics/animations/player run 48x48.png" id="4_qlg0r"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://dadvc8tsvmkb6" path="res://graphics/animations/Player Running Shooting 48x48.png" id="5_tuyoq"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://crll0t2wjtsly" path="res://graphics/animations/player shoot 2H 48x48.png" id="6_fjrip"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://bo1v353uh33hx" path="res://scenes/state_machine.gd" id="8_smehm"]
 
 [sub_resource type="CapsuleShape2D" id="CapsuleShape2D_3vyb7"]
 radius = 6.0
@@ -381,6 +382,16 @@ metadata/_edit_group_ = true
 shape = SubResource("CapsuleShape2D_3vyb7")
 debug_color = Color(0.521569, 0.572549, 0, 1)
 
+[node name="PlayerSprite" type="AnimatedSprite2D" parent="."]
+sprite_frames = SubResource("SpriteFrames_3vyb7")
+animation = &"punch"
+autoplay = "idle"
+frame = 7
+frame_progress = 1.0
+
+[node name="StateMachine" type="Node" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("8_smehm")
+
 [node name="RightCast" type="RayCast2D" parent="."]
 target_position = Vector2(50, 0)
 collision_mask = 6
@@ -395,13 +406,6 @@ position = Vector2(16, -7)
 [node name="LeftSpawn" type="Marker2D" parent="."]
 position = Vector2(-16, -7)
 
-[node name="PlayerSprite" type="AnimatedSprite2D" parent="."]
-sprite_frames = SubResource("SpriteFrames_3vyb7")
-animation = &"punch"
-autoplay = "idle"
-frame = 7
-frame_progress = 1.0
-
 [node name="Camera2D" type="Camera2D" parent="."]
 offset = Vector2(0, -50)
 
diff --git a/scenes/state_machine.gd b/scenes/state_machine.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b4b00b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scenes/state_machine.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+class_name StateMachine
+extends Node
+## Node-based Finite State Machine (FSM) for the player
+
+# Called when the node enters the scene tree for the first time.
+func _ready() -> void:
+	pass # Replace with function body.
+
+
+# Called every frame. 'delta' is the elapsed time since the previous frame.
+func _process(delta: float) -> void:
+	pass
diff --git a/scenes/state_machine.gd.uid b/scenes/state_machine.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11c1ebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scenes/state_machine.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://bo1v353uh33hx