Sword not colliding with static shapes

#1 In weapon.cs, I am using this line of code to apply damage to the barrel:

%object.applyDamage(%damage);

where %object is the handle of the barrel. I have used echo statements to confirm this is detecting the barrel properly.

Now here is the code that would destroy the barrel if I shot it with a crossbow:

function BarrelA::Damage(%theDatablock,%aBarrel,%sourceObject,%pos,%damage,%damagetype)
{
%aBarrel.applyDamage(%damage);
echo("damage to barrel detected");
if(%aBarrel.getDamageLevel() >= %theDatablock.maxDamage)
%theDatablock.Explode( %aBarrel ,%pos);
echo("called barrelA::Damage");
}


function BarrelA::Explode(%theDatablock, %aBarrel, %position)
{
echo("called barrelA::Explode");
echo("theDatablock is " @ %theDatablock @ "aBarrel is " @ %aBarrel @ "position is " @ %position);
if(%aBarrel.exploded)
return;
%aBarrel.exploded = true;
%boom = new Explosion()
{
datablock = FuelExplosion;
position = %position;
sourceObject = %aBarrel.sourceObject;
sourceSlot = %aBarrel.sourceSlot;
client = %aBarrel.client;
};
MissionCleanup.add(%boom);
radiusDamage(%aBarrel,%position,%theDatablock.damageRadius,
%theDatablock.radiusDamage,%source.damageType,%theDatablock.damageImpulse);
%aBarrel.schedule(500, "delete");
}


I understand that the applyDamage() method and the BarrelA::Damage() method are different methods, but wouldn't the two be connected? If I'm causing damage with the %object.applyDamage() method to the barrel, wouldn't that be good enough? And I still don't understand why the OnCollision callback works with the crossbow, but whenever I try to set that up for the sword, it fails.

#2 Well the way it works for dealing damage to players, you should NOT call applyDamage directly. You need to call the Player::Damage or PlayerData::Damage methods. It looks like the BarrelA::Damage is what determines when its time for the barrel to explode. So you call applyDamage, it might be at -200 health but it will not explode...