So I'm currently fiddling around with the offsets on a short character and I'm noticing that sometimes changing an offset inexplicably does nothing. An example I see often is with the foot ParentOffset variable. Sometimes it actually moves the foot; other times I can change X to -50 and nothing happens. I've also encountered this issue with IdleOffset, which I have never noticed changing anything even though I know what it's supposed to do. Does anyone have any advice about what I might be missing from this picture?

idleoffset doesnt do much if there is a limbpath acting on the leg. also, parentoffset doesnt work for feet, because of the extendedoffset and contractedoffset variables.
you have to line extendedoffset up with the end of your leg when its extended and contractedoffset up with the same point when the leg is contracted.

Ah, okay. Thanks, I appreciate the help.

So suppose that I have the legs animating fine and the are more or less detached and floating a short ways underneath the legs... what would be the simplest way to get those feet back to the body without fludging up all of the offset fine-tuning I've done so far?

make the X extendedoffset smaller.

Blargh, no luck. The foot doesn't budge a pixel. For giggles I cranked the X ExtendedOffset to -50 and the leg simply contracted with still no change to the foot. A positive extreme produces the same result.