diff --git a/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp b/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp
index 4336870618..c8ab489311 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ void Agent::setIsAvatar(bool isAvatar) {
         connect(_avatarIdentityTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &Agent::sendAvatarIdentityPacket);
 
         // start the timers
-        _avatarIdentityTimer->start(AVATAR_IDENTITY_PACKET_SEND_INTERVAL_MSECS);
+        _avatarIdentityTimer->start(AVATAR_IDENTITY_PACKET_SEND_INTERVAL_MSECS);  // FIXME - we shouldn't really need to constantly send identity packets
 
         // tell the avatarAudioTimer to start ticking
         emit startAvatarAudioTimer();
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
index f3da74ce5e..05dbfee912 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
@@ -71,15 +71,10 @@ AvatarMixer::~AvatarMixer() {
 
 void AvatarMixer::sendIdentityPacket(AvatarMixerClientData* nodeData, const SharedNodePointer& destinationNode) {
     QByteArray individualData = nodeData->getAvatar().identityByteArray();
-
-    auto identityPacket = NLPacket::create(PacketType::AvatarIdentity, individualData.size());
-
     individualData.replace(0, NUM_BYTES_RFC4122_UUID, nodeData->getNodeID().toRfc4122());
-
-    identityPacket->write(individualData);
-
-    DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->sendPacket(std::move(identityPacket), *destinationNode);
-
+    auto identityPackets = NLPacketList::create(PacketType::AvatarIdentity, QByteArray(), true, true);
+    identityPackets->write(individualData);
+    DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->sendPacketList(std::move(identityPackets), *destinationNode);
     ++_sumIdentityPackets;
 }
 
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp
index 6e3dd150a4..2ad8bb58ed 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp
@@ -263,16 +263,8 @@ void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarData(const SharedNodePointer& node) {
                         // make sure we haven't already sent this data from this sender to this receiver
                         // or that somehow we haven't sent
                         if (lastSeqToReceiver == lastSeqFromSender && lastSeqToReceiver != 0) {
-                            // don't ignore this avatar if we haven't sent any update for a long while
-                            // in an effort to prevent other interfaces from deleting a stale avatar instance
-                            uint64_t lastBroadcastTime = nodeData->getLastBroadcastTime(avatarNode->getUUID());
-                            const AvatarMixerClientData* otherNodeData = reinterpret_cast<const AvatarMixerClientData*>(avatarNode->getLinkedData());
-                            const uint64_t AVATAR_UPDATE_STALE = AVATAR_UPDATE_TIMEOUT - USECS_PER_SECOND;
-                            if (lastBroadcastTime > otherNodeData->getIdentityChangeTimestamp() &&
-                                    lastBroadcastTime + AVATAR_UPDATE_STALE > startIgnoreCalculation) {
-                                ++numAvatarsHeldBack;
-                                shouldIgnore = true;
-                            }
+                            ++numAvatarsHeldBack;
+                            shouldIgnore = true;
                         } else if (lastSeqFromSender - lastSeqToReceiver > 1) {
                             // this is a skip - we still send the packet but capture the presence of the skip so we see it happening
                             ++numAvatarsWithSkippedFrames;
@@ -285,7 +277,7 @@ void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarData(const SharedNodePointer& node) {
         int avatarRank = 0;
 
         // this is overly conservative, because it includes some avatars we might not consider
-        int remainingAvatars = (int)sortedAvatars.size(); 
+        int remainingAvatars = (int)sortedAvatars.size();
 
         while (!sortedAvatars.empty()) {
             AvatarPriority sortData = sortedAvatars.top();
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 44c2918f9d..39a4b8ee7c 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -5216,11 +5216,7 @@ void Application::resettingDomain() {
 }
 
 void Application::nodeAdded(SharedNodePointer node) const {
-    if (node->getType() == NodeType::AvatarMixer) {
-        // new avatar mixer, send off our identity packet right away
-        getMyAvatar()->sendIdentityPacket();
-        getMyAvatar()->resetLastSent();
-    }
+    // nothing to do here
 }
 
 void Application::nodeActivated(SharedNodePointer node) {
@@ -5256,6 +5252,13 @@ void Application::nodeActivated(SharedNodePointer node) {
     if (node->getType() == NodeType::AudioMixer) {
         DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>()->negotiateAudioFormat();
     }
+
+    if (node->getType() == NodeType::AvatarMixer) {
+        // new avatar mixer, send off our identity packet right away
+        getMyAvatar()->markIdentityDataChanged();
+        getMyAvatar()->sendIdentityPacket();
+        getMyAvatar()->resetLastSent();
+    }
 }
 
 void Application::nodeKilled(SharedNodePointer node) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index f29efb8c32..ce8ec44f6c 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -115,8 +115,6 @@ Avatar::Avatar(QThread* thread, RigPointer rig) :
 }
 
 Avatar::~Avatar() {
-    assert(isDead()); // mark dead before calling the dtor
-
     auto treeRenderer = DependencyManager::get<EntityTreeRenderer>();
     EntityTreePointer entityTree = treeRenderer ? treeRenderer->getTree() : nullptr;
     if (entityTree) {
@@ -510,12 +508,13 @@ static TextRenderer3D* textRenderer(TextRendererType type) {
 void Avatar::addToScene(AvatarSharedPointer self, const render::ScenePointer& scene, render::Transaction& transaction) {
     auto avatarPayload = new render::Payload<AvatarData>(self);
     auto avatarPayloadPointer = Avatar::PayloadPointer(avatarPayload);
-    _renderItemID = scene->allocateID();
-    transaction.resetItem(_renderItemID, avatarPayloadPointer);
-    _skeletonModel->addToScene(scene, transaction);
+    if (_skeletonModel->addToScene(scene, transaction)) {
+        _renderItemID = scene->allocateID();
+        transaction.resetItem(_renderItemID, avatarPayloadPointer);
 
-    for (auto& attachmentModel : _attachmentModels) {
-        attachmentModel->addToScene(scene, transaction);
+        for (auto& attachmentModel : _attachmentModels) {
+            attachmentModel->addToScene(scene, transaction);
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -1123,11 +1122,20 @@ void Avatar::setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL) {
 
 void Avatar::setModelURLFinished(bool success) {
     if (!success && _skeletonModelURL != AvatarData::defaultFullAvatarModelUrl()) {
-        qCWarning(interfaceapp) << "Using default after failing to load Avatar model: " << _skeletonModelURL;
-        // call _skeletonModel.setURL, but leave our copy of _skeletonModelURL alone.  This is so that
-        // we don't redo this every time we receive an identity packet from the avatar with the bad url.
-        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(_skeletonModel.get(), "setURL",
-                                  Qt::QueuedConnection, Q_ARG(QUrl, AvatarData::defaultFullAvatarModelUrl()));
+        const int MAX_SKELETON_DOWNLOAD_ATTEMPTS = 4; // NOTE: we don't want to be as generous as ResourceCache is, we only want 4 attempts
+        if (_skeletonModel->getResourceDownloadAttemptsRemaining() <= 0 ||
+            _skeletonModel->getResourceDownloadAttempts() > MAX_SKELETON_DOWNLOAD_ATTEMPTS) {
+            qCWarning(interfaceapp) << "Using default after failing to load Avatar model: " << _skeletonModelURL 
+                                    << "after" << _skeletonModel->getResourceDownloadAttempts() << "attempts.";
+            // call _skeletonModel.setURL, but leave our copy of _skeletonModelURL alone.  This is so that
+            // we don't redo this every time we receive an identity packet from the avatar with the bad url.
+            QMetaObject::invokeMethod(_skeletonModel.get(), "setURL",
+                Qt::QueuedConnection, Q_ARG(QUrl, AvatarData::defaultFullAvatarModelUrl()));
+        } else {
+            qCWarning(interfaceapp) << "Avatar model: " << _skeletonModelURL 
+                    << "failed to load... attempts:" << _skeletonModel->getResourceDownloadAttempts() 
+                    << "out of:" << MAX_SKELETON_DOWNLOAD_ATTEMPTS;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
index 585776b395..c4bcb67a16 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
@@ -213,10 +213,6 @@ void AvatarManager::updateOtherAvatars(float deltaTime) {
             }
         }
         avatar->animateScaleChanges(deltaTime);
-        if (avatar->shouldDie()) {
-            avatar->die();
-            removeAvatar(avatar->getID());
-        }
 
         const float OUT_OF_VIEW_THRESHOLD = 0.5f * AvatarData::OUT_OF_VIEW_PENALTY;
         uint64_t now = usecTimestampNow();
@@ -330,44 +326,12 @@ AvatarSharedPointer AvatarManager::newSharedAvatar() {
     return std::make_shared<Avatar>(qApp->thread(), std::make_shared<Rig>());
 }
 
-void AvatarManager::processAvatarDataPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode) {
-    PerformanceTimer perfTimer("receiveAvatar");
-    // enumerate over all of the avatars in this packet
-    // only add them if mixerWeakPointer points to something (meaning that mixer is still around)
-    while (message->getBytesLeftToRead()) {
-        AvatarSharedPointer avatarData = parseAvatarData(message, sendingNode);
-        if (avatarData) {
-            auto avatar = std::static_pointer_cast<Avatar>(avatarData);
-            if (avatar->isInScene()) {
-                if (!_shouldRender) {
-                    // rare transition so we process the transaction immediately
-                    const render::ScenePointer& scene = qApp->getMain3DScene();
-                    render::Transaction transaction;
-                    avatar->removeFromScene(avatar, scene, transaction);
-                    if (scene) {
-                        scene->enqueueTransaction(transaction);
-                    }
-                }
-            } else if (_shouldRender) {
-                // very rare transition so we process the transaction immediately
-                const render::ScenePointer& scene = qApp->getMain3DScene();
-                render::Transaction transaction;
-                avatar->addToScene(avatar, scene, transaction);
-                if (scene) {
-                    scene->enqueueTransaction(transaction);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 void AvatarManager::handleRemovedAvatar(const AvatarSharedPointer& removedAvatar, KillAvatarReason removalReason) {
     AvatarHashMap::handleRemovedAvatar(removedAvatar, removalReason);
 
     // removedAvatar is a shared pointer to an AvatarData but we need to get to the derived Avatar
     // class in this context so we can call methods that don't exist at the base class.
-    Avatar* avatar = static_cast<Avatar*>(removedAvatar.get());
-    avatar->die();
+    auto avatar = std::static_pointer_cast<Avatar>(removedAvatar);
 
     AvatarMotionState* motionState = avatar->getMotionState();
     if (motionState) {
@@ -403,14 +367,11 @@ void AvatarManager::clearOtherAvatars() {
             if (avatar->isInScene()) {
                 avatar->removeFromScene(avatar, scene, transaction);
             }
-            AvatarMotionState* motionState = avatar->getMotionState();
-            if (motionState) {
-                _motionStatesThatMightUpdate.remove(motionState);
-                _motionStatesToAddToPhysics.remove(motionState);
-                _motionStatesToRemoveFromPhysics.push_back(motionState);
-            }
+            handleRemovedAvatar(avatar);
+            avatarIterator = _avatarHash.erase(avatarIterator);
+        } else {
+            ++avatarIterator;
         }
-        ++avatarIterator;
     }
     scene->enqueueTransaction(transaction);
     _myAvatar->clearLookAtTargetAvatar();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
index 6eabbd081f..45f1a597eb 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
@@ -98,9 +98,6 @@ public slots:
     void setShouldShowReceiveStats(bool shouldShowReceiveStats) { _shouldShowReceiveStats = shouldShowReceiveStats; }
     void updateAvatarRenderStatus(bool shouldRenderAvatars);
 
-protected slots:
-    void processAvatarDataPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode) override;
-
 private:
     explicit AvatarManager(QObject* parent = 0);
     explicit AvatarManager(const AvatarManager& other);
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index f4f078c9e5..7bc961c654 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -412,9 +412,7 @@ void MyAvatar::update(float deltaTime) {
         Q_ARG(glm::vec3, (getPosition() - halfBoundingBoxDimensions)),
         Q_ARG(glm::vec3, (halfBoundingBoxDimensions*2.0f)));
 
-    uint64_t now = usecTimestampNow();
-    if (now > _identityPacketExpiry || _avatarEntityDataLocallyEdited) {
-        _identityPacketExpiry = now + AVATAR_IDENTITY_PACKET_SEND_INTERVAL_MSECS;
+    if (getIdentityDataChanged()) {
         sendIdentityPacket();
     }
 
@@ -1258,7 +1256,7 @@ void MyAvatar::useFullAvatarURL(const QUrl& fullAvatarURL, const QString& modelN
         setSkeletonModelURL(fullAvatarURL);
         UserActivityLogger::getInstance().changedModel("skeleton", urlString);
     }
-    _identityPacketExpiry = 0; // triggers an identity packet next update()
+    markIdentityDataChanged();
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::setAttachmentData(const QVector<AttachmentData>& attachmentData) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index 74af44c99a..a201ee54c9 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -701,8 +701,6 @@ private:
     std::mutex _holdActionsMutex;
     std::vector<AvatarActionHold*> _holdActions;
 
-    uint64_t _identityPacketExpiry { 0 };
-
     float AVATAR_MOVEMENT_ENERGY_CONSTANT { 0.001f };
     float AUDIO_ENERGY_CONSTANT { 0.000001f };
     float MAX_AVATAR_MOVEMENT_PER_FRAME { 30.0f };
diff --git a/interface/src/main.cpp b/interface/src/main.cpp
index 39b37e3d19..99dbb1a28e 100644
--- a/interface/src/main.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/main.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,25 @@ int main(int argc, const char* argv[]) {
         instanceMightBeRunning = false;
     }
 
+    QCommandLineParser parser;
+    QCommandLineOption checkMinSpecOption("checkMinSpec", "Check if machine meets minimum specifications");
+    QCommandLineOption runServerOption("runServer", "Whether to run the server");
+    QCommandLineOption serverContentPathOption("serverContentPath", "Where to find server content", "serverContentPath");
+    QCommandLineOption allowMultipleInstancesOption("allowMultipleInstances", "Allow multiple instances to run");
+    parser.addOption(checkMinSpecOption);
+    parser.addOption(runServerOption);
+    parser.addOption(serverContentPathOption);
+    parser.addOption(allowMultipleInstancesOption);
+    parser.parse(arguments);
+    bool runServer = parser.isSet(runServerOption);
+    bool serverContentPathOptionIsSet = parser.isSet(serverContentPathOption);
+    QString serverContentPathOptionValue = serverContentPathOptionIsSet ? parser.value(serverContentPathOption) : QString();
+    bool allowMultipleInstances = parser.isSet(allowMultipleInstancesOption);
+
+    if (allowMultipleInstances) {
+        instanceMightBeRunning = false;
+    }
+
     if (instanceMightBeRunning) {
         // Try to connect and send message to existing interface instance
         QLocalSocket socket;
@@ -137,18 +156,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char* argv[]) {
         }
     }
 
-    QCommandLineParser parser;
-    QCommandLineOption checkMinSpecOption("checkMinSpec", "Check if machine meets minimum specifications");
-    QCommandLineOption runServerOption("runServer", "Whether to run the server");
-    QCommandLineOption serverContentPathOption("serverContentPath", "Where to find server content", "serverContentPath");
-    parser.addOption(checkMinSpecOption);
-    parser.addOption(runServerOption);
-    parser.addOption(serverContentPathOption);
-    parser.parse(arguments);
-    bool runServer = parser.isSet(runServerOption);
-    bool serverContentPathOptionIsSet = parser.isSet(serverContentPathOption);
-    QString serverContentPathOptionValue = serverContentPathOptionIsSet ? parser.value(serverContentPathOption) : QString();
-
     QElapsedTimer startupTime;
     startupTime.start();
 
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index 90f2fb5342..ad65ba4410 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -1473,7 +1473,22 @@ QStringList AvatarData::getJointNames() const {
 void AvatarData::parseAvatarIdentityPacket(const QByteArray& data, Identity& identityOut) {
     QDataStream packetStream(data);
 
-    packetStream >> identityOut.uuid >> identityOut.skeletonModelURL >> identityOut.attachmentData >> identityOut.displayName >> identityOut.sessionDisplayName >> identityOut.avatarEntityData;
+    packetStream >> identityOut.uuid 
+            >> identityOut.skeletonModelURL 
+            >> identityOut.attachmentData 
+            >> identityOut.displayName 
+            >> identityOut.sessionDisplayName 
+            >> identityOut.avatarEntityData
+            >> identityOut.updatedAt;
+
+#ifdef WANT_DEBUG
+    qCDebug(avatars) << __FUNCTION__
+        << "identityOut.uuid:" << identityOut.uuid
+        << "identityOut.skeletonModelURL:" << identityOut.skeletonModelURL
+        << "identityOut.displayName:" << identityOut.displayName
+        << "identityOut.sessionDisplayName:" << identityOut.sessionDisplayName;
+#endif
+
 }
 
 static const QUrl emptyURL("");
@@ -1484,6 +1499,12 @@ QUrl AvatarData::cannonicalSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& emptyURL) const {
 
 void AvatarData::processAvatarIdentity(const Identity& identity, bool& identityChanged, bool& displayNameChanged) {
 
+    if (identity.updatedAt < _identityUpdatedAt) {
+        qCDebug(avatars) << "Ignoring late identity packet for avatar " << getSessionUUID() 
+                << "identity.updatedAt:" << identity.updatedAt << "_identityUpdatedAt:" << _identityUpdatedAt;
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (_firstSkeletonCheck || (identity.skeletonModelURL != cannonicalSkeletonModelURL(emptyURL))) {
         setSkeletonModelURL(identity.skeletonModelURL);
         identityChanged = true;
@@ -1513,24 +1534,35 @@ void AvatarData::processAvatarIdentity(const Identity& identity, bool& identityC
         setAvatarEntityData(identity.avatarEntityData);
         identityChanged = true;
     }
-    // flag this avatar as non-stale by updating _averageBytesReceived
-    const int BOGUS_NUM_BYTES = 1;
-    _averageBytesReceived.updateAverage(BOGUS_NUM_BYTES);
+
+    // use the timestamp from this identity, since we want to honor the updated times in "server clock"
+    // this will overwrite any changes we made locally to this AvatarData's _identityUpdatedAt
+    _identityUpdatedAt = identity.updatedAt;
 }
 
 QByteArray AvatarData::identityByteArray() const {
     QByteArray identityData;
     QDataStream identityStream(&identityData, QIODevice::Append);
-    const QUrl& urlToSend = cannonicalSkeletonModelURL(emptyURL);
+    const QUrl& urlToSend = cannonicalSkeletonModelURL(emptyURL); // depends on _skeletonModelURL
 
     _avatarEntitiesLock.withReadLock([&] {
-        identityStream << getSessionUUID() << urlToSend << _attachmentData << _displayName << getSessionDisplayNameForTransport() << _avatarEntityData;
+        identityStream << getSessionUUID() 
+                << urlToSend 
+                << _attachmentData 
+                << _displayName 
+                << getSessionDisplayNameForTransport() // depends on _sessionDisplayName
+                << _avatarEntityData
+                << _identityUpdatedAt;
     });
 
     return identityData;
 }
 
 void AvatarData::setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL) {
+    if (skeletonModelURL.isEmpty()) {
+        qCDebug(avatars) << __FUNCTION__ << "caller called with empty URL.";
+    }
+
     const QUrl& expanded = skeletonModelURL.isEmpty() ? AvatarData::defaultFullAvatarModelUrl() : skeletonModelURL;
     if (expanded == _skeletonModelURL) {
         return;
@@ -1539,6 +1571,7 @@ void AvatarData::setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL) {
     qCDebug(avatars) << "Changing skeleton model for avatar" << getSessionUUID() << "to" << _skeletonModelURL.toString();
 
     updateJointMappings();
+    markIdentityDataChanged();
 }
 
 void AvatarData::setDisplayName(const QString& displayName) {
@@ -1548,6 +1581,7 @@ void AvatarData::setDisplayName(const QString& displayName) {
     sendIdentityPacket();
 
     qCDebug(avatars) << "Changing display name for avatar to" << displayName;
+    markIdentityDataChanged();
 }
 
 QVector<AttachmentData> AvatarData::getAttachmentData() const {
@@ -1566,6 +1600,7 @@ void AvatarData::setAttachmentData(const QVector<AttachmentData>& attachmentData
         return;
     }
     _attachmentData = attachmentData;
+    markIdentityDataChanged();
 }
 
 void AvatarData::attach(const QString& modelURL, const QString& jointName,
@@ -1695,7 +1730,6 @@ void AvatarData::sendAvatarDataPacket() {
 
 void AvatarData::sendIdentityPacket() {
     auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
-
     QByteArray identityData = identityByteArray();
 
     auto packetList = NLPacketList::create(PacketType::AvatarIdentity, QByteArray(), true, true);
@@ -1709,6 +1743,7 @@ void AvatarData::sendIdentityPacket() {
         });
 
     _avatarEntityDataLocallyEdited = false;
+    _identityDataChanged = false;
 }
 
 void AvatarData::updateJointMappings() {
@@ -2245,10 +2280,12 @@ void AvatarData::updateAvatarEntity(const QUuid& entityID, const QByteArray& ent
             if (_avatarEntityData.size() < MAX_NUM_AVATAR_ENTITIES) {
                 _avatarEntityData.insert(entityID, entityData);
                 _avatarEntityDataLocallyEdited = true;
+                markIdentityDataChanged();
             }
         } else {
             itr.value() = entityData;
             _avatarEntityDataLocallyEdited = true;
+            markIdentityDataChanged();
         }
     });
 }
@@ -2262,6 +2299,7 @@ void AvatarData::clearAvatarEntity(const QUuid& entityID) {
     _avatarEntitiesLock.withWriteLock([&] {
         _avatarEntityData.remove(entityID);
         _avatarEntityDataLocallyEdited = true;
+        markIdentityDataChanged();
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
index e05bdce162..545a5f1f8c 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
@@ -110,9 +110,7 @@ const char LEFT_HAND_POINTING_FLAG = 1;
 const char RIGHT_HAND_POINTING_FLAG = 2;
 const char IS_FINGER_POINTING_FLAG = 4;
 
-const qint64 AVATAR_UPDATE_TIMEOUT = 5 * USECS_PER_SECOND;
-
-// AvatarData state flags - we store the details about the packet encoding in the first byte, 
+// AvatarData state flags - we store the details about the packet encoding in the first byte,
 // before the "header" structure
 const char AVATARDATA_FLAGS_MINIMUM = 0;
 
@@ -531,6 +529,7 @@ public:
         QString displayName;
         QString sessionDisplayName;
         AvatarEntityMap avatarEntityData;
+        quint64 updatedAt;
     };
 
     static void parseAvatarIdentityPacket(const QByteArray& data, Identity& identityOut);
@@ -547,7 +546,10 @@ public:
     virtual void setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL);
 
     virtual void setDisplayName(const QString& displayName);
-    virtual void setSessionDisplayName(const QString& sessionDisplayName) { _sessionDisplayName = sessionDisplayName; };
+    virtual void setSessionDisplayName(const QString& sessionDisplayName) { 
+        _sessionDisplayName = sessionDisplayName; 
+        markIdentityDataChanged();
+    }
 
     Q_INVOKABLE QVector<AttachmentData> getAttachmentData() const;
     Q_INVOKABLE virtual void setAttachmentData(const QVector<AttachmentData>& attachmentData);
@@ -565,7 +567,6 @@ public:
 
     void setOwningAvatarMixer(const QWeakPointer<Node>& owningAvatarMixer) { _owningAvatarMixer = owningAvatarMixer; }
 
-    int getUsecsSinceLastUpdate() const { return _averageBytesReceived.getUsecsSinceLastEvent(); }
     int getAverageBytesReceivedPerSecond() const;
     int getReceiveRate() const;
 
@@ -601,9 +602,6 @@ public:
         return _lastSentJointData;
     }
 
-
-    bool shouldDie() const { return _owningAvatarMixer.isNull() || getUsecsSinceLastUpdate() > AVATAR_UPDATE_TIMEOUT; }
-
     static const float OUT_OF_VIEW_PENALTY;
 
     static void sortAvatars(
@@ -620,11 +618,15 @@ public:
     static float _avatarSortCoefficientCenter;
     static float _avatarSortCoefficientAge;
 
-
+    bool getIdentityDataChanged() const { return _identityDataChanged; } // has the identity data changed since the last time sendIdentityPacket() was called
+    void markIdentityDataChanged() {
+        _identityDataChanged = true;
+        _identityUpdatedAt = usecTimestampNow();
+    }
 
 signals:
     void displayNameChanged();
-    
+
 public slots:
     void sendAvatarDataPacket();
     void sendIdentityPacket();
@@ -779,6 +781,9 @@ protected:
     quint64 _audioLoudnessChanged { 0 };
     float _audioAverageLoudness { 0.0f };
 
+    bool _identityDataChanged { false };
+    quint64 _identityUpdatedAt { 0 };
+
 private:
     friend void avatarStateFromFrame(const QByteArray& frameData, AvatarData* _avatar);
     static QUrl _defaultFullAvatarModelUrl;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarHashMap.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarHashMap.h
index e944c7c887..21ea8081c7 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarHashMap.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarHashMap.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public slots:
 protected slots:
     void sessionUUIDChanged(const QUuid& sessionUUID, const QUuid& oldUUID);
 
-    virtual void processAvatarDataPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode);
+    void processAvatarDataPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode);
     void processAvatarIdentityPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode);
     void processKillAvatar(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode);
     void processExitingSpaceBubble(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer sendingNode);
diff --git a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/ModelCache.h b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/ModelCache.h
index f23cba04a0..6a1cc4c466 100644
--- a/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/ModelCache.h
+++ b/libraries/model-networking/src/model-networking/ModelCache.h
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ public:
     void setResource(GeometryResource::Pointer resource);
 
     QUrl getURL() const { return (bool)_resource ? _resource->getURL() : QUrl(); }
+    int getResourceDownloadAttempts() { return _resource ? _resource->getDownloadAttempts() : 0; }
+    int getResourceDownloadAttemptsRemaining() { return _resource ? _resource->getDownloadAttemptsRemaining() : 0; }
 
 private:
     void startWatching();
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/Node.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/Node.cpp
index 033f4bbaa8..60227eeaa1 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/Node.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/Node.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ Node::Node(const QUuid& uuid, NodeType_t type, const HifiSockAddr& publicSocket,
     NetworkPeer(uuid, publicSocket, localSocket, parent),
     _type(type),
     _connectionSecret(connectionSecret),
-    _isAlive(true),
     _pingMs(-1),  // "Uninitialized"
     _clockSkewUsec(0),
     _mutex(),
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/Node.h b/libraries/networking/src/Node.h
index 28afb8b943..d1bbffd817 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/Node.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/Node.h
@@ -54,9 +54,6 @@ public:
     NodeData* getLinkedData() const { return _linkedData.get(); }
     void setLinkedData(std::unique_ptr<NodeData> linkedData) { _linkedData = std::move(linkedData); }
 
-    bool isAlive() const { return _isAlive; }
-    void setAlive(bool isAlive) { _isAlive = isAlive; }
-
     int getPingMs() const { return _pingMs; }
     void setPingMs(int pingMs) { _pingMs = pingMs; }
 
@@ -92,7 +89,6 @@ private:
 
     QUuid _connectionSecret;
     std::unique_ptr<NodeData> _linkedData;
-    bool _isAlive;
     int _pingMs;
     qint64 _clockSkewUsec;
     QMutex _mutex;
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp
index 02cb58fb2d..2c5a11334b 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ReceivedMessage.cpp
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ ReceivedMessage::ReceivedMessage(const NLPacketList& packetList)
       _sourceID(packetList.getSourceID()),
       _packetType(packetList.getType()),
       _packetVersion(packetList.getVersion()),
-      _senderSockAddr(packetList.getSenderSockAddr()),
-      _isComplete(true)
+      _senderSockAddr(packetList.getSenderSockAddr())
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
index 7ae75b9538..f9694f1cd9 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
@@ -627,8 +627,6 @@ void Resource::init() {
     }
 }
 
-const int MAX_ATTEMPTS = 8;
-
 void Resource::attemptRequest() {
     _startedLoading = true;
 
@@ -746,14 +744,17 @@ bool Resource::handleFailedRequest(ResourceRequest::Result result) {
             // Fall through to other cases
         }
         case ResourceRequest::Result::ServerUnavailable: {
+            _attempts++;
+            _attemptsRemaining--;
+
+            qCDebug(networking) << "Retriable error while loading" << _url << "attempt:" << _attempts << "attemptsRemaining:" << _attemptsRemaining;
+
             // retry with increasing delays
             const int BASE_DELAY_MS = 1000;
-            if (_attempts++ < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
+            if (_attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
                 auto waitTime = BASE_DELAY_MS * (int)pow(2.0, _attempts);
-
                 qCDebug(networking).noquote() << "Server unavailable for" << _url << "- may retry in" << waitTime << "ms"
                     << "if resource is still needed";
-
                 QTimer::singleShot(waitTime, this, &Resource::attemptRequest);
                 willRetry = true;
                 break;
@@ -761,9 +762,10 @@ bool Resource::handleFailedRequest(ResourceRequest::Result result) {
             // fall through to final failure
         }
         default: {
-            qCDebug(networking) << "Error loading " << _url;
+            _attemptsRemaining = 0;
+            qCDebug(networking) << "Error loading " << _url << "attempt:" << _attempts << "attemptsRemaining:" << _attemptsRemaining;
             auto error = (result == ResourceRequest::Timeout) ? QNetworkReply::TimeoutError
-                                                              : QNetworkReply::UnknownNetworkError;
+                                                                : QNetworkReply::UnknownNetworkError;
             emit failed(error);
             willRetry = false;
             finishedLoading(false);
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
index 3a28c6c313..d4c7d63ee5 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
@@ -395,6 +395,9 @@ public:
     
     const QUrl& getURL() const { return _url; }
 
+    unsigned int getDownloadAttempts() { return _attempts; }
+    unsigned int getDownloadAttemptsRemaining() { return _attemptsRemaining; }
+
 signals:
     /// Fired when the resource begins downloading.
     void loading();
@@ -483,7 +486,9 @@ private:
     
     int _lruKey{ 0 };
     QTimer* _replyTimer{ nullptr };
-    int _attempts{ 0 };
+    unsigned int _attempts{ 0 };
+    static const int MAX_ATTEMPTS = 8;
+    unsigned int _attemptsRemaining { MAX_ATTEMPTS };
     bool _isInScript{ false };
 };
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.cpp
index 863f1bfda6..bd30cdd29c 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ PacketVersion versionForPacketType(PacketType packetType) {
         case PacketType::AvatarData:
         case PacketType::BulkAvatarData:
         case PacketType::KillAvatar:
-            return static_cast<PacketVersion>(AvatarMixerPacketVersion::StickAndBallDefaultAvatar);
+            return static_cast<PacketVersion>(AvatarMixerPacketVersion::IdentityPacketsIncludeUpdateTime);
         case PacketType::MessagesData:
             return static_cast<PacketVersion>(MessageDataVersion::TextOrBinaryData);
         case PacketType::ICEServerHeartbeat:
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
index 87af3513b5..d312427ca7 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
@@ -231,7 +231,8 @@ enum class AvatarMixerPacketVersion : PacketVersion {
     ImmediateSessionDisplayNameUpdates,
     VariableAvatarData,
     AvatarAsChildFixes,
-    StickAndBallDefaultAvatar
+    StickAndBallDefaultAvatar,
+    IdentityPacketsIncludeUpdateTime
 };
 
 enum class DomainConnectRequestVersion : PacketVersion {
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
index 62e045a3c1..5899ccf6b5 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
@@ -252,6 +252,8 @@ public:
 
     void renderDebugMeshBoxes(gpu::Batch& batch);
 
+    int getResourceDownloadAttempts() { return _renderWatcher.getResourceDownloadAttempts(); }
+    int getResourceDownloadAttemptsRemaining() { return _renderWatcher.getResourceDownloadAttemptsRemaining(); }
 
 public slots:
     void loadURLFinished(bool success);