diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
index 801f28c6f5..6522841dc5 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QRegularExpression>
 #include <QtCore/QTimer>
 #include <QtCore/QThread>
+#include <QtCore/QJsonDocument>
 
 #include <AABox.h>
 #include <AvatarLogging.h>
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@
 #include <SharedUtil.h>
 #include <UUID.h>
 #include <TryLocker.h>
+#include "../AssignmentDynamicFactory.h"
+#include "../entities/AssignmentParentFinder.h"
 
 const QString AVATAR_MIXER_LOGGING_NAME = "avatar-mixer";
 
@@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ AvatarMixer::AvatarMixer(ReceivedMessage& message) :
     ThreadedAssignment(message),
     _slavePool(&_slaveSharedData)
 {
+    DependencyManager::registerInheritance<EntityDynamicFactoryInterface, AssignmentDynamicFactory>();
+    DependencyManager::set<AssignmentDynamicFactory>();
+
     // make sure we hear about node kills so we can tell the other nodes
     connect(DependencyManager::get<NodeList>().data(), &NodeList::nodeKilled, this, &AvatarMixer::handleAvatarKilled);
 
@@ -69,6 +75,8 @@ AvatarMixer::AvatarMixer(ReceivedMessage& message) :
     packetReceiver.registerListener(PacketType::RequestsDomainListData, this, "handleRequestsDomainListDataPacket");
     packetReceiver.registerListener(PacketType::SetAvatarTraits, this, "queueIncomingPacket");
     packetReceiver.registerListener(PacketType::BulkAvatarTraitsAck, this, "queueIncomingPacket");
+    packetReceiver.registerListenerForTypes({ PacketType::OctreeStats, PacketType::EntityData, PacketType::EntityErase },
+        this, "handleOctreePacket");
 
     packetReceiver.registerListenerForTypes({
         PacketType::ReplicatedAvatarIdentity,
@@ -240,6 +248,10 @@ void AvatarMixer::start() {
 
         int lockWait, nodeTransform, functor;
 
+        {
+            _entityViewer.queryOctree();
+        }
+
         // Allow nodes to process any pending/queued packets across our worker threads
         {
             auto start = usecTimestampNow();
@@ -775,6 +787,7 @@ void AvatarMixer::sendStatsPacket() {
     slavesAggregatObject["sent_4_averageDataBytes"] = TIGHT_LOOP_STAT(aggregateStats.numDataBytesSent);
     slavesAggregatObject["sent_5_averageTraitsBytes"] = TIGHT_LOOP_STAT(aggregateStats.numTraitsBytesSent);
     slavesAggregatObject["sent_6_averageIdentityBytes"] = TIGHT_LOOP_STAT(aggregateStats.numIdentityBytesSent);
+    slavesAggregatObject["sent_7_averageHeroAvatars"] = TIGHT_LOOP_STAT(aggregateStats.numHeroesIncluded);
 
     slavesAggregatObject["timing_1_processIncomingPackets"] = TIGHT_LOOP_STAT_UINT64(aggregateStats.processIncomingPacketsElapsedTime);
     slavesAggregatObject["timing_2_ignoreCalculation"] = TIGHT_LOOP_STAT_UINT64(aggregateStats.ignoreCalculationElapsedTime);
@@ -882,13 +895,15 @@ AvatarMixerClientData* AvatarMixer::getOrCreateClientData(SharedNodePointer node
 void AvatarMixer::domainSettingsRequestComplete() {
     auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
     nodeList->addSetOfNodeTypesToNodeInterestSet({
-        NodeType::Agent, NodeType::EntityScriptServer,
+        NodeType::Agent, NodeType::EntityScriptServer, NodeType::EntityServer,
         NodeType::UpstreamAvatarMixer, NodeType::DownstreamAvatarMixer
     });
 
     // parse the settings to pull out the values we need
     parseDomainServerSettings(nodeList->getDomainHandler().getSettingsObject());
 
+    setupEntityQuery();
+
     // start our tight loop...
     start();
 }
@@ -976,3 +991,45 @@ void AvatarMixer::parseDomainServerSettings(const QJsonObject& domainSettings) {
         qCDebug(avatars) << "Avatars other than" << _slaveSharedData.skeletonURLWhitelist << "will be replaced by" << (_slaveSharedData.skeletonReplacementURL.isEmpty() ? "default" : _slaveSharedData.skeletonReplacementURL.toString());
     }
 }
+
+void AvatarMixer::setupEntityQuery() {
+    _entityViewer.init();
+    DependencyManager::registerInheritance<SpatialParentFinder, AssignmentParentFinder>();
+    DependencyManager::set<AssignmentParentFinder>(_entityViewer.getTree());
+    _slaveSharedData.entityTree = _entityViewer.getTree();
+
+    // ES query: {"avatarPriority": true, "type": "Zone"}
+    QJsonObject priorityZoneQuery;
+    priorityZoneQuery["avatarPriority"] = true;
+    priorityZoneQuery["type"] = "Zone";
+
+    _entityViewer.getOctreeQuery().setJSONParameters(priorityZoneQuery);
+}
+
+void AvatarMixer::handleOctreePacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer senderNode) {
+    PacketType packetType = message->getType();
+
+    switch (packetType) {
+    case PacketType::OctreeStats:
+        break;
+
+    case PacketType::EntityData:
+        _entityViewer.processDatagram(*message, senderNode);
+        break;
+
+    case PacketType::EntityErase:
+        _entityViewer.processEraseMessage(*message, senderNode);
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        qCDebug(avatars) << "Unexpected packet type:" << packetType;
+        break;
+    }
+}
+
+void AvatarMixer::aboutToFinish() {
+    DependencyManager::destroy<AssignmentDynamicFactory>();
+    DependencyManager::destroy<AssignmentParentFinder>();
+
+    ThreadedAssignment::aboutToFinish();
+}
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.h b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.h
index 2992e19b8f..9393ea6c56 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <PortableHighResolutionClock.h>
 
 #include <ThreadedAssignment.h>
+#include "../entities/EntityTreeHeadlessViewer.h"
 #include "AvatarMixerClientData.h"
 
 #include "AvatarMixerSlavePool.h"
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class AvatarMixer : public ThreadedAssignment {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
     AvatarMixer(ReceivedMessage& message);
+    virtual void aboutToFinish() override;
 
     static bool shouldReplicateTo(const Node& from, const Node& to) {
         return to.getType() == NodeType::DownstreamAvatarMixer &&
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ private slots:
     void handleReplicatedBulkAvatarPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message);
     void domainSettingsRequestComplete();
     void handlePacketVersionMismatch(PacketType type, const HifiSockAddr& senderSockAddr, const QUuid& senderUUID);
+    void handleOctreePacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message, SharedNodePointer senderNode);
     void start();
 
 private:
@@ -71,8 +74,13 @@ private:
 
     void optionallyReplicatePacket(ReceivedMessage& message, const Node& node);
 
+    void setupEntityQuery();
+
     p_high_resolution_clock::time_point _lastFrameTimestamp;
 
+    // Attach to entity tree for avatar-priority zone info.
+    EntityTreeHeadlessViewer _entityViewer;
+
     // FIXME - new throttling - use these values somehow
     float _trailingMixRatio { 0.0f };
     float _throttlingRatio { 0.0f };
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp
index b7d2f5cdf8..e24d48a9ed 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 
 #include <DependencyManager.h>
 #include <NodeList.h>
+#include <EntityTree.h>
+#include <ZoneEntityItem.h>
+
+#include "AvatarLogging.h"
 
 #include "AvatarMixerSlave.h"
 
@@ -62,7 +66,7 @@ int AvatarMixerClientData::processPackets(const SlaveSharedData& slaveSharedData
 
         switch (packet->getType()) {
             case PacketType::AvatarData:
-                parseData(*packet);
+                parseData(*packet, slaveSharedData);
                 break;
             case PacketType::SetAvatarTraits:
                 processSetTraitsMessage(*packet, slaveSharedData, *node);
@@ -80,7 +84,38 @@ int AvatarMixerClientData::processPackets(const SlaveSharedData& slaveSharedData
     return packetsProcessed;
 }
 
-int AvatarMixerClientData::parseData(ReceivedMessage& message) {
+namespace {
+    using std::static_pointer_cast;
+
+    // Operator to find if a point is within an avatar-priority (hero) Zone Entity.
+    struct FindPriorityZone {
+        glm::vec3 position;
+        bool isInPriorityZone { false };
+        static bool operation(const OctreeElementPointer& element, void* extraData) {
+            auto findPriorityZone = static_cast<FindPriorityZone*>(extraData);
+            if (element->getAACube().contains(findPriorityZone->position)) {
+                const EntityTreeElementPointer entityTreeElement = static_pointer_cast<EntityTreeElement>(element);
+                entityTreeElement->forEachEntity([&findPriorityZone](EntityItemPointer item) {
+                    if (item->getType() == EntityTypes::Zone 
+                        && item->contains(findPriorityZone->position)
+                        && static_pointer_cast<ZoneEntityItem>(item)->getAvatarPriority()) {
+                            findPriorityZone->isInPriorityZone = true;
+                    }
+                });
+                if (findPriorityZone->isInPriorityZone) {
+                    return false;  // For now, stop at first hit.
+                } else {
+                    return true;
+                }
+            } else {  // Position isn't within this subspace, so end recursion.
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+}  // Close anonymous namespace.
+
+int AvatarMixerClientData::parseData(ReceivedMessage& message, const SlaveSharedData& slaveSharedData) {
     // pull the sequence number from the data first
     uint16_t sequenceNumber;
 
@@ -90,9 +125,33 @@ int AvatarMixerClientData::parseData(ReceivedMessage& message) {
         incrementNumOutOfOrderSends();
     }
     _lastReceivedSequenceNumber = sequenceNumber;
+    glm::vec3 oldPosition = getPosition();
 
     // compute the offset to the data payload
-    return _avatar->parseDataFromBuffer(message.readWithoutCopy(message.getBytesLeftToRead()));
+    if (!_avatar->parseDataFromBuffer(message.readWithoutCopy(message.getBytesLeftToRead()))) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    auto newPosition = getPosition();
+    if (newPosition != oldPosition) {
+//#define AVATAR_HERO_TEST_HACK
+#ifdef AVATAR_HERO_TEST_HACK
+        {
+            const static QString heroKey { "HERO" };
+            _avatar->setPriorityAvatar(_avatar->getDisplayName().contains(heroKey));
+        }
+#else
+        EntityTree& entityTree = *slaveSharedData.entityTree;
+        FindPriorityZone findPriorityZone { newPosition, false } ;
+        entityTree.recurseTreeWithOperation(&FindPriorityZone::operation, &findPriorityZone);
+        _avatar->setPriorityAvatar(findPriorityZone.isInPriorityZone);
+        //if (findPriorityZone.isInPriorityZone) {
+        //    qCWarning(avatars) << "Avatar" << _avatar->getSessionDisplayName() << "in hero zone";
+        //}
+#endif
+    }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 void AvatarMixerClientData::processSetTraitsMessage(ReceivedMessage& message,
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h
index 843f19cf22..98c8d7e15b 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QJsonObject>
 #include <QtCore/QUrl>
 
-#include <AvatarData.h>
+#include "MixerAvatar.h"
 #include <AssociatedTraitValues.h>
 #include <NodeData.h>
 #include <NumericalConstants.h>
@@ -45,11 +45,12 @@ public:
     using HRCTime = p_high_resolution_clock::time_point;
     using PerNodeTraitVersions = std::unordered_map<Node::LocalID, AvatarTraits::TraitVersions>;
 
-    int parseData(ReceivedMessage& message) override;
-    AvatarData& getAvatar() { return *_avatar; }
-    const AvatarData& getAvatar() const { return *_avatar; }
-    const AvatarData* getConstAvatarData() const { return _avatar.get(); }
-    AvatarSharedPointer getAvatarSharedPointer() const { return _avatar; }
+    using NodeData::parseData;  // Avoid clang warning about hiding.
+    int parseData(ReceivedMessage& message, const SlaveSharedData& SlaveSharedData);
+    MixerAvatar& getAvatar() { return *_avatar; }
+    const MixerAvatar& getAvatar() const { return *_avatar; }
+    const MixerAvatar* getConstAvatarData() const { return _avatar.get(); }
+    MixerAvatarSharedPointer getAvatarSharedPointer() const { return _avatar; }
 
     uint16_t getLastBroadcastSequenceNumber(NLPacket::LocalID nodeID) const;
     void setLastBroadcastSequenceNumber(NLPacket::LocalID nodeID, uint16_t sequenceNumber)
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ private:
     };
     PacketQueue _packetQueue;
 
-    AvatarSharedPointer _avatar { new AvatarData() };
+    MixerAvatarSharedPointer _avatar { new MixerAvatar() };
 
     uint16_t _lastReceivedSequenceNumber { 0 };
     std::unordered_map<NLPacket::LocalID, uint16_t> _lastBroadcastSequenceNumbers;
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp
index 6b039e2c03..a38553ddeb 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.cpp
@@ -281,7 +281,34 @@ AABox computeBubbleBox(const AvatarData& avatar, float bubbleExpansionFactor) {
     return box;
 }
 
+namespace {
+    class SortableAvatar : public PrioritySortUtil::Sortable {
+    public:
+        SortableAvatar() = delete;
+        SortableAvatar(const MixerAvatar* avatar, const Node* avatarNode, uint64_t lastEncodeTime)
+            : _avatar(avatar), _node(avatarNode), _lastEncodeTime(lastEncodeTime) {
+        }
+        glm::vec3 getPosition() const override { return _avatar->getClientGlobalPosition(); }
+        float getRadius() const override {
+            glm::vec3 nodeBoxScale = _avatar->getGlobalBoundingBox().getScale();
+            return 0.5f * glm::max(nodeBoxScale.x, glm::max(nodeBoxScale.y, nodeBoxScale.z));
+        }
+        uint64_t getTimestamp() const override {
+            return _lastEncodeTime;
+        }
+        const Node* getNode() const { return _node; }
+        const MixerAvatar* getAvatar() const { return _avatar; }
+
+    private:
+        const MixerAvatar* _avatar;
+        const Node* _node;
+        uint64_t _lastEncodeTime;
+    };
+
+}  // Close anonymous namespace.
+
 void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarDataToAgent(const SharedNodePointer& node) {
+    const float AVATAR_HERO_FRACTION { 0.4f };
     const Node* destinationNode = node.data();
 
     auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
@@ -314,8 +341,9 @@ void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarDataToAgent(const SharedNodePointer& node)
     int identityBytesSent = 0;
     int traitBytesSent = 0;
 
-    // max number of avatarBytes per frame
-    int maxAvatarBytesPerFrame = int(_maxKbpsPerNode * BYTES_PER_KILOBIT / AVATAR_MIXER_BROADCAST_FRAMES_PER_SECOND);
+    // max number of avatarBytes per frame (13 900, typical)
+    const int maxAvatarBytesPerFrame = int(_maxKbpsPerNode * BYTES_PER_KILOBIT / AVATAR_MIXER_BROADCAST_FRAMES_PER_SECOND);
+    const int maxHeroBytesPerFrame = int(maxAvatarBytesPerFrame * AVATAR_HERO_FRACTION);  // 5555, typical
 
     // keep track of the number of other avatars held back in this frame
     int numAvatarsHeldBack = 0;
@@ -339,34 +367,21 @@ void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarDataToAgent(const SharedNodePointer& node)
     const float MY_AVATAR_BUBBLE_EXPANSION_FACTOR = 4.0f; // magic number determined emperically
     AABox nodeBox = computeBubbleBox(avatar, MY_AVATAR_BUBBLE_EXPANSION_FACTOR);
 
-    class SortableAvatar: public PrioritySortUtil::Sortable {
-    public:
-        SortableAvatar() = delete;
-        SortableAvatar(const AvatarData* avatar, const Node* avatarNode, uint64_t lastEncodeTime)
-            : _avatar(avatar), _node(avatarNode), _lastEncodeTime(lastEncodeTime) {}
-        glm::vec3 getPosition() const override { return _avatar->getClientGlobalPosition(); }
-        float getRadius() const override {
-            glm::vec3 nodeBoxScale = _avatar->getGlobalBoundingBox().getScale();
-            return 0.5f * glm::max(nodeBoxScale.x, glm::max(nodeBoxScale.y, nodeBoxScale.z));
-        }
-        uint64_t getTimestamp() const override {
-            return _lastEncodeTime;
-        }
-        const Node* getNode() const { return _node; }
-
-    private:
-        const AvatarData* _avatar;
-        const Node* _node;
-        uint64_t _lastEncodeTime;
-    };
-
     // prepare to sort
     const auto& cameraViews = nodeData->getViewFrustums();
-    PrioritySortUtil::PriorityQueue<SortableAvatar> sortedAvatars(cameraViews,
-            AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientSize,
-            AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientCenter,
-            AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientAge);
-    sortedAvatars.reserve(_end - _begin);
+
+    using AvatarPriorityQueue = PrioritySortUtil::PriorityQueue<SortableAvatar>;
+    // Keep two independent queues, one for heroes and one for the riff-raff.
+    enum PriorityVariants { kHero, kNonhero };
+    AvatarPriorityQueue avatarPriorityQueues[2] =
+    {
+        {cameraViews, AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientSize, 
+            AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientCenter, AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientAge},
+        {cameraViews, AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientSize,
+            AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientCenter, AvatarData::_avatarSortCoefficientAge}
+    };
+
+    avatarPriorityQueues[kNonhero].reserve(_end - _begin);
 
     for (auto listedNode = _begin; listedNode != _end; ++listedNode) {
         Node* otherNodeRaw = (*listedNode).data();
@@ -446,10 +461,11 @@ void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarDataToAgent(const SharedNodePointer& node)
 
         if (!shouldIgnore) {
             // sort this one for later
-            const AvatarData* avatarNodeData = avatarClientNodeData->getConstAvatarData();
+            const MixerAvatar* avatarNodeData = avatarClientNodeData->getConstAvatarData();
             auto lastEncodeTime = nodeData->getLastOtherAvatarEncodeTime(avatarNode->getLocalID());
 
-            sortedAvatars.push(SortableAvatar(avatarNodeData, avatarNode, lastEncodeTime));
+            avatarPriorityQueues[avatarNodeData->getPriorityAvatar() ? kHero : kNonhero].push(
+                SortableAvatar(avatarNodeData, avatarNode, lastEncodeTime));
         }
         
         // If Avatar A's PAL WAS open but is no longer open, AND
@@ -475,115 +491,132 @@ void AvatarMixerSlave::broadcastAvatarDataToAgent(const SharedNodePointer& node)
 
     // loop through our sorted avatars and allocate our bandwidth to them accordingly
 
-    int remainingAvatars = (int)sortedAvatars.size();
+    int remainingAvatars = (int)avatarPriorityQueues[kHero].size() + (int)avatarPriorityQueues[kNonhero].size();
     auto traitsPacketList = NLPacketList::create(PacketType::BulkAvatarTraits, QByteArray(), true, true);
 
     auto avatarPacket = NLPacket::create(PacketType::BulkAvatarData);
     const int avatarPacketCapacity = avatarPacket->getPayloadCapacity();
     int avatarSpaceAvailable = avatarPacketCapacity;
     int numPacketsSent = 0;
+    int numAvatarsSent = 0;
     auto identityPacketList = NLPacketList::create(PacketType::AvatarIdentity, QByteArray(), true, true);
 
-    const auto& sortedAvatarVector = sortedAvatars.getSortedVector(numToSendEst);
-    for (const auto& sortedAvatar : sortedAvatarVector) {
-        const Node* otherNode = sortedAvatar.getNode();
-        auto lastEncodeForOther = sortedAvatar.getTimestamp();
+    for (PriorityVariants currentVariant = kHero; currentVariant <= kNonhero; ++((int&)currentVariant)) {
+        const auto& sortedAvatarVector = avatarPriorityQueues[currentVariant].getSortedVector(numToSendEst);
+        for (const auto& sortedAvatar : sortedAvatarVector) {
+            const Node* otherNode = sortedAvatar.getNode();
+            auto lastEncodeForOther = sortedAvatar.getTimestamp();
 
-        assert(otherNode); // we can't have gotten here without the avatarData being a valid key in the map
+            assert(otherNode); // we can't have gotten here without the avatarData being a valid key in the map
 
-        AvatarData::AvatarDataDetail detail = AvatarData::NoData;
+            AvatarData::AvatarDataDetail detail = AvatarData::NoData;
 
-        // NOTE: Here's where we determine if we are over budget and drop remaining avatars,
-        // or send minimal avatar data in uncommon case of PALIsOpen.
-        int minimRemainingAvatarBytes = minimumBytesPerAvatar * remainingAvatars;
-        auto frameByteEstimate = identityBytesSent + traitBytesSent + numAvatarDataBytes + minimRemainingAvatarBytes;
-        bool overBudget = frameByteEstimate > maxAvatarBytesPerFrame;
-        if (overBudget) {
-            if (PALIsOpen) {
-                _stats.overBudgetAvatars++;
-                detail = AvatarData::PALMinimum;
-            } else {
-                _stats.overBudgetAvatars += remainingAvatars;
-                break;
+            // NOTE: Here's where we determine if we are over budget and drop remaining avatars,
+            // or send minimal avatar data in uncommon case of PALIsOpen.
+            int minimRemainingAvatarBytes = minimumBytesPerAvatar * remainingAvatars;
+            auto frameByteEstimate = identityBytesSent + traitBytesSent + numAvatarDataBytes + minimRemainingAvatarBytes;
+            bool overBudget = frameByteEstimate > maxAvatarBytesPerFrame;
+            if (overBudget) {
+                if (PALIsOpen) {
+                    _stats.overBudgetAvatars++;
+                    detail = AvatarData::PALMinimum;
+                } else {
+                    _stats.overBudgetAvatars += remainingAvatars;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            bool overHeroBudget = currentVariant == kHero && numAvatarDataBytes > maxHeroBytesPerFrame;
+            if (overHeroBudget) {
+                break;  // No more heroes (this frame).
+            }
+
+            auto startAvatarDataPacking = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+
+            const AvatarMixerClientData* otherNodeData = reinterpret_cast<const AvatarMixerClientData*>(otherNode->getLinkedData());
+            const MixerAvatar* otherAvatar = otherNodeData->getConstAvatarData();
+
+            // Typically all out-of-view avatars but such avatars' priorities will rise with time:
+            bool isLowerPriority = sortedAvatar.getPriority() <= OUT_OF_VIEW_THRESHOLD;
+
+            if (isLowerPriority) {
+                detail = PALIsOpen ? AvatarData::PALMinimum : AvatarData::MinimumData;
+                nodeData->incrementAvatarOutOfView();
+            } else if (!overBudget) {
+                detail = distribution(generator) < AVATAR_SEND_FULL_UPDATE_RATIO ? AvatarData::SendAllData : AvatarData::CullSmallData;
+                nodeData->incrementAvatarInView();
+
+                // If the time that the mixer sent AVATAR DATA about Avatar B to Avatar A is BEFORE OR EQUAL TO
+                // the time that Avatar B flagged an IDENTITY DATA change, send IDENTITY DATA about Avatar B to Avatar A.
+                if (otherAvatar->hasProcessedFirstIdentity()
+                    && nodeData->getLastBroadcastTime(otherNode->getLocalID()) <= otherNodeData->getIdentityChangeTimestamp()) {
+                    identityBytesSent += sendIdentityPacket(*identityPacketList, otherNodeData, *destinationNode);
+
+                    // remember the last time we sent identity details about this other node to the receiver
+                    nodeData->setLastBroadcastTime(otherNode->getLocalID(), usecTimestampNow());
+                }
+            }
+
+            QVector<JointData>& lastSentJointsForOther = nodeData->getLastOtherAvatarSentJoints(otherNode->getLocalID());
+
+            const bool distanceAdjust = true;
+            const bool dropFaceTracking = false;
+            AvatarDataPacket::SendStatus sendStatus;
+            sendStatus.sendUUID = true;
+
+            do {
+                auto startSerialize = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+                QByteArray bytes = otherAvatar->toByteArray(detail, lastEncodeForOther, lastSentJointsForOther,
+                    sendStatus, dropFaceTracking, distanceAdjust, myPosition,
+                    &lastSentJointsForOther, avatarSpaceAvailable);
+                auto endSerialize = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+                _stats.toByteArrayElapsedTime +=
+                    (quint64)chrono::duration_cast<chrono::microseconds>(endSerialize - startSerialize).count();
+
+                avatarPacket->write(bytes);
+                avatarSpaceAvailable -= bytes.size();
+                numAvatarDataBytes += bytes.size();
+                if (!sendStatus || avatarSpaceAvailable < (int)AvatarDataPacket::MIN_BULK_PACKET_SIZE) {
+                    // Weren't able to fit everything.
+                    nodeList->sendPacket(std::move(avatarPacket), *destinationNode);
+                    ++numPacketsSent;
+                    avatarPacket = NLPacket::create(PacketType::BulkAvatarData);
+                    avatarSpaceAvailable = avatarPacketCapacity;
+                }
+            } while (!sendStatus);
+
+            if (detail != AvatarData::NoData) {
+                _stats.numOthersIncluded++;
+                if (otherAvatar->getPriorityAvatar()) {
+                    _stats.numHeroesIncluded++;
+                }
+
+                // increment the number of avatars sent to this receiver
+                nodeData->incrementNumAvatarsSentLastFrame();
+
+                // set the last sent sequence number for this sender on the receiver
+                nodeData->setLastBroadcastSequenceNumber(otherNode->getLocalID(),
+                    otherNodeData->getLastReceivedSequenceNumber());
+                nodeData->setLastOtherAvatarEncodeTime(otherNode->getLocalID(), usecTimestampNow());
+            }
+
+            auto endAvatarDataPacking = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
+            _stats.avatarDataPackingElapsedTime +=
+                (quint64)chrono::duration_cast<chrono::microseconds>(endAvatarDataPacking - startAvatarDataPacking).count();
+
+            if (!overBudget) {
+                // use helper to add any changed traits to our packet list
+                traitBytesSent += addChangedTraitsToBulkPacket(nodeData, otherNodeData, *traitsPacketList);
+            }
+            numAvatarsSent++;
+            remainingAvatars--;
+        }
+
+        if (currentVariant == kHero) {  // Dump any remaining heroes into the commoners.
+            for (auto avIter = sortedAvatarVector.begin() + numAvatarsSent; avIter < sortedAvatarVector.end(); ++avIter) {
+                avatarPriorityQueues[kNonhero].push(*avIter);
             }
         }
-
-        auto startAvatarDataPacking = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-
-        const AvatarMixerClientData* otherNodeData = reinterpret_cast<const AvatarMixerClientData*>(otherNode->getLinkedData());
-        const AvatarData* otherAvatar = otherNodeData->getConstAvatarData();
-
-        // Typically all out-of-view avatars but such avatars' priorities will rise with time:
-        bool isLowerPriority = sortedAvatar.getPriority() <= OUT_OF_VIEW_THRESHOLD;
-
-        if (isLowerPriority) {
-            detail = PALIsOpen ? AvatarData::PALMinimum : AvatarData::MinimumData;
-            nodeData->incrementAvatarOutOfView();
-        } else if (!overBudget) {
-            detail = distribution(generator) < AVATAR_SEND_FULL_UPDATE_RATIO ? AvatarData::SendAllData : AvatarData::CullSmallData;
-            nodeData->incrementAvatarInView();
-
-            // If the time that the mixer sent AVATAR DATA about Avatar B to Avatar A is BEFORE OR EQUAL TO
-            // the time that Avatar B flagged an IDENTITY DATA change, send IDENTITY DATA about Avatar B to Avatar A.
-            if (otherAvatar->hasProcessedFirstIdentity()
-                && nodeData->getLastBroadcastTime(otherNode->getLocalID()) <= otherNodeData->getIdentityChangeTimestamp()) {
-                identityBytesSent += sendIdentityPacket(*identityPacketList, otherNodeData, *destinationNode);
-
-                // remember the last time we sent identity details about this other node to the receiver
-                nodeData->setLastBroadcastTime(otherNode->getLocalID(), usecTimestampNow());
-            }
-        }
-
-        QVector<JointData>& lastSentJointsForOther = nodeData->getLastOtherAvatarSentJoints(otherNode->getLocalID());
-
-        const bool distanceAdjust = true;
-        const bool dropFaceTracking = false;
-        AvatarDataPacket::SendStatus sendStatus;
-        sendStatus.sendUUID = true;
-
-        do {
-            auto startSerialize = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-            QByteArray bytes = otherAvatar->toByteArray(detail, lastEncodeForOther, lastSentJointsForOther,
-                sendStatus, dropFaceTracking, distanceAdjust, myPosition,
-                &lastSentJointsForOther, avatarSpaceAvailable);
-            auto endSerialize = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-            _stats.toByteArrayElapsedTime +=
-                (quint64)chrono::duration_cast<chrono::microseconds>(endSerialize - startSerialize).count();
-
-            avatarPacket->write(bytes);
-            avatarSpaceAvailable -= bytes.size();
-            numAvatarDataBytes += bytes.size();
-            if (!sendStatus || avatarSpaceAvailable < (int)AvatarDataPacket::MIN_BULK_PACKET_SIZE) {
-                // Weren't able to fit everything.
-                nodeList->sendPacket(std::move(avatarPacket), *destinationNode);
-                ++numPacketsSent;
-                avatarPacket = NLPacket::create(PacketType::BulkAvatarData);
-                avatarSpaceAvailable = avatarPacketCapacity;
-            }
-        } while (!sendStatus);
-
-        if (detail != AvatarData::NoData) {
-            _stats.numOthersIncluded++;
-
-            // increment the number of avatars sent to this receiver
-            nodeData->incrementNumAvatarsSentLastFrame();
-
-            // set the last sent sequence number for this sender on the receiver
-            nodeData->setLastBroadcastSequenceNumber(otherNode->getLocalID(),
-                otherNodeData->getLastReceivedSequenceNumber());
-            nodeData->setLastOtherAvatarEncodeTime(otherNode->getLocalID(), usecTimestampNow());
-        }
-
-        auto endAvatarDataPacking = chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
-        _stats.avatarDataPackingElapsedTime +=
-            (quint64) chrono::duration_cast<chrono::microseconds>(endAvatarDataPacking - startAvatarDataPacking).count();
-
-        if (!overBudget) {
-            // use helper to add any changed traits to our packet list
-            traitBytesSent += addChangedTraitsToBulkPacket(nodeData, otherNodeData, *traitsPacketList);
-        }
-
-        remainingAvatars--;
     }
 
     if (nodeData->getNumAvatarsSentLastFrame() > numToSendEst) {
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.h b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.h
index 91bb02fd55..8c5ad6b181 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerSlave.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public:
     int numIdentityPacketsSent { 0 };
     int numOthersIncluded { 0 };
     int overBudgetAvatars { 0 };
+    int numHeroesIncluded { 0 };
 
     quint64 ignoreCalculationElapsedTime { 0 };
     quint64 avatarDataPackingElapsedTime { 0 };
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ public:
         numIdentityPacketsSent = 0;
         numOthersIncluded = 0;
         overBudgetAvatars = 0;
+        numHeroesIncluded = 0;
 
         ignoreCalculationElapsedTime = 0;
         avatarDataPackingElapsedTime = 0;
@@ -80,6 +82,7 @@ public:
         numIdentityPacketsSent += rhs.numIdentityPacketsSent;
         numOthersIncluded += rhs.numOthersIncluded;
         overBudgetAvatars += rhs.overBudgetAvatars;
+        numHeroesIncluded += rhs.numHeroesIncluded;
 
         ignoreCalculationElapsedTime += rhs.ignoreCalculationElapsedTime;
         avatarDataPackingElapsedTime += rhs.avatarDataPackingElapsedTime;
@@ -90,9 +93,13 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
+class EntityTree;
+using EntityTreePointer = std::shared_ptr<EntityTree>;
+
 struct SlaveSharedData {
     QStringList skeletonURLWhitelist;
     QUrl skeletonReplacementURL;
+    EntityTreePointer entityTree;
 };
 
 class AvatarMixerSlave {
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/MixerAvatar.h b/assignment-client/src/avatars/MixerAvatar.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4781fdee1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/MixerAvatar.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//
+//  MixerAvatar.h
+//  assignment-client/src/avatars
+//
+//  Created by Simon Walton Feb 2019.
+//  Copyright 2019 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+// Avatar class for use within the avatar mixer - encapsulates data required only for
+// sorting priorities within the mixer.
+
+#ifndef hifi_MixerAvatar_h
+#define hifi_MixerAvatar_h
+
+#include <AvatarData.h>
+
+class MixerAvatar : public AvatarData {
+public:
+    bool getPriorityAvatar() const { return  _bPriorityAvatar; }
+    void setPriorityAvatar(bool bPriorityAvatar) { _bPriorityAvatar = bPriorityAvatar; }
+
+private:
+    bool _bPriorityAvatar { false };
+};
+
+using MixerAvatarSharedPointer = std::shared_ptr<MixerAvatar>;
+
+#endif  // hifi_MixerAvatar_h
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
index e993bea358..477d3dd612 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
@@ -1203,7 +1203,8 @@ void OctreeServer::beginRunning() {
     auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
 
     // we need to ask the DS about agents so we can ping/reply with them
-    nodeList->addSetOfNodeTypesToNodeInterestSet({ NodeType::Agent, NodeType::EntityScriptServer });
+    nodeList->addSetOfNodeTypesToNodeInterestSet({ NodeType::Agent, NodeType::EntityScriptServer,
+        NodeType::AvatarMixer });
 
     beforeRun(); // after payload has been processed
 
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
index 199fae77bf..7848c46eee 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/OtherAvatar.cpp
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ void OtherAvatar::handleChangedAvatarEntityData() {
                 // then set the the original ID for the changes to take effect
                 // TODO: This is a horrible hack and once properties.constructFromBuffer no longer causes
                 // side effects...remove the following three lines
+
                 const QUuid NULL_ID = QUuid("{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000005}");
                 entity->setParentID(NULL_ID);
                 entity->setParentID(oldParentID);
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
index 5da1c05aa2..d9614a0918 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 #include "EntitySimulation.h"
 #include "EntityDynamicFactoryInterface.h"
 
+//#define WANT_DEBUG
 
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(EntityItemPointer);
 int entityItemPointernMetaTypeId = qRegisterMetaType<EntityItemPointer>();
@@ -95,6 +96,8 @@ EntityPropertyFlags EntityItem::getEntityProperties(EncodeBitstreamParams& param
     requestedProperties += PROP_LAST_EDITED_BY;
     requestedProperties += PROP_ENTITY_HOST_TYPE;
     requestedProperties += PROP_OWNING_AVATAR_ID;
+    requestedProperties += PROP_PARENT_ID;
+    requestedProperties += PROP_PARENT_JOINT_INDEX;
     requestedProperties += PROP_QUERY_AA_CUBE;
     requestedProperties += PROP_CAN_CAST_SHADOW;
     requestedProperties += PROP_VISIBLE_IN_SECONDARY_CAMERA;
@@ -502,6 +505,7 @@ int EntityItem::readEntityDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLef
     }
 
     #ifdef WANT_DEBUG
+    {
         quint64 lastEdited = getLastEdited();
         float editedAgo = getEditedAgo();
         QString agoAsString = formatSecondsElapsed(editedAgo);
@@ -515,6 +519,7 @@ int EntityItem::readEntityDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data, int bytesLef
         qCDebug(entities) << "    age=" << getAge() << "seconds - " << ageAsString;
         qCDebug(entities) << "    lastEdited =" << lastEdited;
         qCDebug(entities) << "    ago=" << editedAgo << "seconds - " << agoAsString;
+    }
     #endif
 
     quint64 lastEditedFromBuffer = 0;
@@ -1099,7 +1104,7 @@ void EntityItem::simulate(const quint64& now) {
         qCDebug(entities) << "    hasGravity=" << hasGravity();
         qCDebug(entities) << "    hasAcceleration=" << hasAcceleration();
         qCDebug(entities) << "    hasAngularVelocity=" << hasAngularVelocity();
-        qCDebug(entities) << "    getAngularVelocity=" << getAngularVelocity();
+        qCDebug(entities) << "    getAngularVelocity=" << getLocalAngularVelocity();
         qCDebug(entities) << "    isMortal=" << isMortal();
         qCDebug(entities) << "    getAge()=" << getAge();
         qCDebug(entities) << "    getLifetime()=" << getLifetime();
@@ -1111,12 +1116,12 @@ void EntityItem::simulate(const quint64& now) {
             qCDebug(entities) << "        hasGravity=" << hasGravity();
             qCDebug(entities) << "        hasAcceleration=" << hasAcceleration();
             qCDebug(entities) << "        hasAngularVelocity=" << hasAngularVelocity();
-            qCDebug(entities) << "        getAngularVelocity=" << getAngularVelocity();
+            qCDebug(entities) << "        getAngularVelocity=" << getLocalAngularVelocity();
         }
         if (hasAngularVelocity()) {
             qCDebug(entities) << "    CHANGING...=";
             qCDebug(entities) << "        hasAngularVelocity=" << hasAngularVelocity();
-            qCDebug(entities) << "        getAngularVelocity=" << getAngularVelocity();
+            qCDebug(entities) << "        getAngularVelocity=" << getLocalAngularVelocity();
         }
         if (isMortal()) {
             qCDebug(entities) << "    MORTAL...=";
@@ -1738,7 +1743,7 @@ bool EntityItem::contains(const glm::vec3& point) const {
         // the above cases not yet supported --> fall through to BOX case
         case SHAPE_TYPE_BOX: {
             localPoint = glm::abs(localPoint);
-            return glm::any(glm::lessThanEqual(localPoint, glm::vec3(NORMALIZED_HALF_SIDE)));
+            return glm::all(glm::lessThanEqual(localPoint, glm::vec3(NORMALIZED_HALF_SIDE)));
         }
         case SHAPE_TYPE_ELLIPSOID: {
             // since we've transformed into the normalized space this is just a sphere-point intersection test
@@ -2652,13 +2657,23 @@ bool EntityItem::matchesJSONFilters(const QJsonObject& jsonFilters) const {
     // ALL entity properties. Some work will need to be done to the property system so that it can be more flexible
     // (to grab the value and default value of a property given the string representation of that property, for example)
 
-    // currently the only property filter we handle is '+' for serverScripts
+    // currently the only property filter we handle in EntityItem is '+' for serverScripts
     // which means that we only handle a filtered query asking for entities where the serverScripts property is non-default
 
     static const QString SERVER_SCRIPTS_PROPERTY = "serverScripts";
+    static const QString ENTITY_TYPE_PROPERTY = "type";
 
-    if (jsonFilters[SERVER_SCRIPTS_PROPERTY] == EntityQueryFilterSymbol::NonDefault) {
-        return _serverScripts != ENTITY_ITEM_DEFAULT_SERVER_SCRIPTS;
+    foreach(const auto& property, jsonFilters.keys()) {
+        if (property == SERVER_SCRIPTS_PROPERTY && jsonFilters[property] == EntityQueryFilterSymbol::NonDefault) {
+            // check if this entity has a non-default value for serverScripts
+            if (_serverScripts != ENTITY_ITEM_DEFAULT_SERVER_SCRIPTS) {
+                return true;
+            } else {
+                return false;
+            }
+        } else if (property == ENTITY_TYPE_PROPERTY) {
+            return (jsonFilters[property] == EntityTypes::getEntityTypeName(getType()) );
+        }
     }
 
     // the json filter syntax did not match what we expected, return a match
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
index bd1977f053..3fbfde6b24 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.h
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ public:
     QUuid getLastEditedBy() const { return _lastEditedBy; }
     void setLastEditedBy(QUuid value) { _lastEditedBy = value; }
 
-    bool matchesJSONFilters(const QJsonObject& jsonFilters) const;
+    virtual bool matchesJSONFilters(const QJsonObject& jsonFilters) const;
 
     virtual bool getMeshes(MeshProxyList& result) { return true; }
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
index 5ae9b30869..d1a79c613d 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.cpp
@@ -617,6 +617,7 @@ EntityPropertyFlags EntityItemProperties::getChangedProperties() const {
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_FLYING_ALLOWED, flyingAllowed);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_GHOSTING_ALLOWED, ghostingAllowed);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_FILTER_URL, filterURL);
+    CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, avatarPriority);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_KEY_LIGHT_MODE, keyLightMode);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_AMBIENT_LIGHT_MODE, ambientLightMode);
     CHECK_PROPERTY_CHANGE(PROP_SKYBOX_MODE, skyboxMode);
@@ -1426,7 +1427,11 @@ EntityPropertyFlags EntityItemProperties::getChangedProperties() const {
  * @property {string} filterURL="" - The URL of a JavaScript file that filters changes to properties of entities within the 
  *     zone. It is periodically executed for each entity in the zone. It can, for example, be used to not allow changes to 
  *     certain properties.<br />
+ *
+ * @property {boolean} avatarPriority=false - If <code>true</code> avatars within this zone will have their movements distributed to other
+ *     clients with priority over other avatars. Use, for example, on a performance stage with a few presenters.
  * <pre>
+ *
  * function filter(properties) {
  *     // Test and edit properties object values,
  *     // e.g., properties.modelURL, as required.
@@ -1755,6 +1760,7 @@ QScriptValue EntityItemProperties::copyToScriptValue(QScriptEngine* engine, bool
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_FLYING_ALLOWED, flyingAllowed);
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_GHOSTING_ALLOWED, ghostingAllowed);
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_FILTER_URL, filterURL);
+        COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, avatarPriority);
 
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE_GETTER(PROP_KEY_LIGHT_MODE, keyLightMode, getKeyLightModeAsString());
         COPY_PROPERTY_TO_QSCRIPTVALUE_GETTER(PROP_AMBIENT_LIGHT_MODE, ambientLightMode, getAmbientLightModeAsString());
@@ -2118,6 +2124,7 @@ void EntityItemProperties::copyFromScriptValue(const QScriptValue& object, bool
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(flyingAllowed, bool, setFlyingAllowed);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(ghostingAllowed, bool, setGhostingAllowed);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(filterURL, QString, setFilterURL);
+    COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE(avatarPriority, bool, setAvatarPriority);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE_ENUM(keyLightMode, KeyLightMode);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE_ENUM(ambientLightMode, AmbientLightMode);
     COPY_PROPERTY_FROM_QSCRIPTVALUE_ENUM(skyboxMode, SkyboxMode);
@@ -2398,6 +2405,7 @@ void EntityItemProperties::merge(const EntityItemProperties& other) {
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(flyingAllowed);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(ghostingAllowed);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(filterURL);
+    COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(avatarPriority);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(keyLightMode);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(ambientLightMode);
     COPY_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(skyboxMode);
@@ -2784,6 +2792,7 @@ bool EntityItemProperties::getPropertyInfo(const QString& propertyName, EntityPr
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_FLYING_ALLOWED, FlyingAllowed, flyingAllowed, bool);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_GHOSTING_ALLOWED, GhostingAllowed, ghostingAllowed, bool);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_FILTER_URL, FilterURL, filterURL, QString);
+        ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, AvatarPriority, avatarPriority, bool);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_KEY_LIGHT_MODE, KeyLightMode, keyLightMode, uint32_t);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_AMBIENT_LIGHT_MODE, AmbientLightMode, ambientLightMode, uint32_t);
         ADD_PROPERTY_TO_MAP(PROP_SKYBOX_MODE, SkyboxMode, skyboxMode, uint32_t);
@@ -3191,6 +3200,7 @@ OctreeElement::AppendState EntityItemProperties::encodeEntityEditPacket(PacketTy
                 APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_SKYBOX_MODE, (uint32_t)properties.getSkyboxMode());
                 APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_HAZE_MODE, (uint32_t)properties.getHazeMode());
                 APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_BLOOM_MODE, (uint32_t)properties.getBloomMode());
+                APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, properties.getAvatarPriority());
             }
 
             if (properties.getType() == EntityTypes::PolyVox) {
@@ -3650,6 +3660,7 @@ bool EntityItemProperties::decodeEntityEditPacket(const unsigned char* data, int
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_FLYING_ALLOWED, bool, setFlyingAllowed);
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_GHOSTING_ALLOWED, bool, setGhostingAllowed);
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_FILTER_URL, QString, setFilterURL);
+        READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, bool, setAvatarPriority);
 
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_KEY_LIGHT_MODE, uint32_t, setKeyLightMode);
         READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(PROP_AMBIENT_LIGHT_MODE, uint32_t, setAmbientLightMode);
@@ -4033,6 +4044,7 @@ void EntityItemProperties::markAllChanged() {
     _bloom.markAllChanged();
     _flyingAllowedChanged = true;
     _ghostingAllowedChanged = true;
+    _avatarPriorityChanged = true;
     _filterURLChanged = true;
     _keyLightModeChanged = true;
     _ambientLightModeChanged = true;
@@ -4622,6 +4634,9 @@ QList<QString> EntityItemProperties::listChangedProperties() {
     if (filterURLChanged()) {
         out += "filterURL";
     }
+    if (avatarPriorityChanged()) {
+        out += "avatarPriority";
+    }
     if (keyLightModeChanged()) {
         out += "keyLightMode";
     }
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h
index 00a93dd129..be4a25054f 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItemProperties.h
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ public:
     DEFINE_PROPERTY(PROP_FLYING_ALLOWED, FlyingAllowed, flyingAllowed, bool, ZoneEntityItem::DEFAULT_FLYING_ALLOWED);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY(PROP_GHOSTING_ALLOWED, GhostingAllowed, ghostingAllowed, bool, ZoneEntityItem::DEFAULT_GHOSTING_ALLOWED);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY(PROP_FILTER_URL, FilterURL, filterURL, QString, ZoneEntityItem::DEFAULT_FILTER_URL);
+    DEFINE_PROPERTY(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, AvatarPriority, avatarPriority, bool, ZoneEntityItem::DEFAULT_AVATAR_PRIORITY);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF_ENUM(PROP_KEY_LIGHT_MODE, KeyLightMode, keyLightMode, uint32_t, (uint32_t)COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF_ENUM(PROP_SKYBOX_MODE, SkyboxMode, skyboxMode, uint32_t, (uint32_t)COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT);
     DEFINE_PROPERTY_REF_ENUM(PROP_AMBIENT_LIGHT_MODE, AmbientLightMode, ambientLightMode, uint32_t, (uint32_t)COMPONENT_MODE_INHERIT);
@@ -681,6 +682,8 @@ inline QDebug operator<<(QDebug debug, const EntityItemProperties& properties) {
     DEBUG_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(debug, properties, GhostingAllowed, ghostingAllowed, "");
     DEBUG_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(debug, properties, FilterURL, filterURL, "");
 
+    DEBUG_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(debug, properties, AvatarPriority, avatarPriority, "");
+
     DEBUG_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(debug, properties, EntityHostTypeAsString, entityHostType, "");
     DEBUG_PROPERTY_IF_CHANGED(debug, properties, OwningAvatarID, owningAvatarID, "");
 
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h b/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h
index 0326268f55..6d1c3a1df8 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityPropertyFlags.h
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ enum EntityPropertyList {
     PROP_DERIVED_28,
     PROP_DERIVED_29,
     PROP_DERIVED_30,
+    PROP_DERIVED_31,
 
     PROP_AFTER_LAST_ITEM,
 
@@ -276,6 +277,8 @@ enum EntityPropertyList {
     PROP_SKYBOX_MODE = PROP_DERIVED_28,
     PROP_HAZE_MODE = PROP_DERIVED_29,
     PROP_BLOOM_MODE = PROP_DERIVED_30,
+    // Avatar priority
+    PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY = PROP_DERIVED_31,
 
     // Polyvox
     PROP_VOXEL_VOLUME_SIZE = PROP_DERIVED_0,
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp
index 7b0491dbc0..ebe7046812 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ EntityItemProperties ZoneEntityItem::getProperties(const EntityPropertyFlags& de
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(flyingAllowed, getFlyingAllowed);
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(ghostingAllowed, getGhostingAllowed);
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(filterURL, getFilterURL);
+    COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(avatarPriority, getAvatarPriority);
 
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(keyLightMode, getKeyLightMode);
     COPY_ENTITY_PROPERTY_TO_PROPERTIES(ambientLightMode, getAmbientLightMode);
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ bool ZoneEntityItem::setSubClassProperties(const EntityItemProperties& propertie
     SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(skyboxMode, setSkyboxMode);
     SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(hazeMode, setHazeMode);
     SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(bloomMode, setBloomMode);
+    SET_ENTITY_PROPERTY_FROM_PROPERTIES(avatarPriority, setAvatarPriority);
 
     somethingChanged = somethingChanged || _keyLightPropertiesChanged || _ambientLightPropertiesChanged ||
         _skyboxPropertiesChanged || _hazePropertiesChanged || _bloomPropertiesChanged;
@@ -192,6 +194,7 @@ int ZoneEntityItem::readEntitySubclassDataFromBuffer(const unsigned char* data,
     READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_SKYBOX_MODE, uint32_t, setSkyboxMode);
     READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_HAZE_MODE, uint32_t, setHazeMode);
     READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_BLOOM_MODE, uint32_t, setBloomMode);
+    READ_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, bool, setAvatarPriority);
 
     return bytesRead;
 }
@@ -211,6 +214,7 @@ EntityPropertyFlags ZoneEntityItem::getEntityProperties(EncodeBitstreamParams& p
     requestedProperties += PROP_FLYING_ALLOWED;
     requestedProperties += PROP_GHOSTING_ALLOWED;
     requestedProperties += PROP_FILTER_URL;
+    requestedProperties += PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY;
 
     requestedProperties += PROP_KEY_LIGHT_MODE;
     requestedProperties += PROP_AMBIENT_LIGHT_MODE;
@@ -256,6 +260,7 @@ void ZoneEntityItem::appendSubclassData(OctreePacketData* packetData, EncodeBits
     APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_SKYBOX_MODE, (uint32_t)getSkyboxMode());
     APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_HAZE_MODE, (uint32_t)getHazeMode());
     APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_BLOOM_MODE, (uint32_t)getBloomMode());
+    APPEND_ENTITY_PROPERTY(PROP_AVATAR_PRIORITY, getAvatarPriority());
 }
 
 void ZoneEntityItem::debugDump() const {
@@ -269,6 +274,7 @@ void ZoneEntityItem::debugDump() const {
     qCDebug(entities) << "   _ambientLightMode:" << EntityItemProperties::getComponentModeAsString(_ambientLightMode);
     qCDebug(entities) << "         _skyboxMode:" << EntityItemProperties::getComponentModeAsString(_skyboxMode);
     qCDebug(entities) << "          _bloomMode:" << EntityItemProperties::getComponentModeAsString(_bloomMode);
+    qCDebug(entities) << "     _avatarPriority:" << getAvatarPriority();
 
     _keyLightProperties.debugDump();
     _ambientLightProperties.debugDump();
@@ -463,3 +469,16 @@ void ZoneEntityItem::fetchCollisionGeometryResource() {
         _shapeResource = DependencyManager::get<ModelCache>()->getCollisionGeometryResource(hullURL);
     }
 }
+
+bool ZoneEntityItem::matchesJSONFilters(const QJsonObject& jsonFilters) const {
+    // currently the only property filter we handle in ZoneEntityItem is value of avatarPriority
+
+    static const QString AVATAR_PRIORITY_PROPERTY = "avatarPriority";
+
+    if (jsonFilters.contains(AVATAR_PRIORITY_PROPERTY)) {
+        return (jsonFilters[AVATAR_PRIORITY_PROPERTY].toBool() == _avatarPriority);
+    }
+
+    // Chain to base:
+    return EntityItem::matchesJSONFilters(jsonFilters);
+}
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h
index 11c85dab89..acf3cfdddf 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/ZoneEntityItem.h
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ public:
     QString getCompoundShapeURL() const;
     virtual void setCompoundShapeURL(const QString& url);
 
+    virtual bool matchesJSONFilters(const QJsonObject& jsonFilters) const override;
+
     KeyLightPropertyGroup getKeyLightProperties() const { return resultWithReadLock<KeyLightPropertyGroup>([&] { return _keyLightProperties; }); }
     AmbientLightPropertyGroup getAmbientLightProperties() const { return resultWithReadLock<AmbientLightPropertyGroup>([&] { return _ambientLightProperties; }); }
 
@@ -96,6 +98,9 @@ public:
     QString getFilterURL() const;
     void setFilterURL(const QString url); 
 
+    bool getAvatarPriority() const { return _avatarPriority; }
+    void setAvatarPriority(bool value) { _avatarPriority = value; }
+
     bool keyLightPropertiesChanged() const { return _keyLightPropertiesChanged; }
     bool ambientLightPropertiesChanged() const { return _ambientLightPropertiesChanged; }
     bool skyboxPropertiesChanged() const { return _skyboxPropertiesChanged; }
@@ -123,6 +128,7 @@ public:
     static const bool DEFAULT_FLYING_ALLOWED;
     static const bool DEFAULT_GHOSTING_ALLOWED;
     static const QString DEFAULT_FILTER_URL;
+    static const bool DEFAULT_AVATAR_PRIORITY = false;
 
 protected:
     KeyLightPropertyGroup _keyLightProperties;
@@ -147,6 +153,9 @@ protected:
     bool _ghostingAllowed { DEFAULT_GHOSTING_ALLOWED };
     QString _filterURL { DEFAULT_FILTER_URL };
 
+    // Avatar-updates priority
+    bool _avatarPriority { DEFAULT_AVATAR_PRIORITY };
+
     // Dirty flags turn true when either keylight properties is changing values.
     bool _keyLightPropertiesChanged { false };
     bool _ambientLightPropertiesChanged { false };
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ThreadedAssignment.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ThreadedAssignment.cpp
index bdba47f0ed..012ac242ab 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ThreadedAssignment.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ThreadedAssignment.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ void ThreadedAssignment::checkInWithDomainServerOrExit() {
 
         // increase the number of queued check ins
         _numQueuedCheckIns++;
+        if (_numQueuedCheckIns > 1) {
+            qCDebug(networking) << "Number of queued checkins = " << _numQueuedCheckIns;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
index 4229a4a152..1489f8e16c 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/udt/PacketHeaders.h
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ enum class EntityVersion : PacketVersion {
     MissingWebEntityProperties,
     PulseProperties,
     RingGizmoEntities,
+    AvatarPriorityZone,
     ShowKeyboardFocusHighlight,
     WebBillboardMode,
     ModelScale,
diff --git a/scripts/system/assets/data/createAppTooltips.json b/scripts/system/assets/data/createAppTooltips.json
index 4c78da7306..7e5f2c8659 100644
--- a/scripts/system/assets/data/createAppTooltips.json
+++ b/scripts/system/assets/data/createAppTooltips.json
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@
     "bloom.bloomSize": {
         "tooltip": "The radius of bloom. The higher the value, the larger the bloom."
     },
+    "avatarPriority": {
+        "tooltip":  "Avatars in this zone will have a higher update priority."
+    },
     "modelURL": {
         "tooltip": "A mesh model from an FBX or OBJ file."
     },
diff --git a/scripts/system/edit.js b/scripts/system/edit.js
index 9d807264aa..67a789c266 100644
--- a/scripts/system/edit.js
+++ b/scripts/system/edit.js
@@ -382,7 +382,8 @@ const DEFAULT_ENTITY_PROPERTIES = {
             },
         },
         shapeType: "box",
-        bloomMode: "inherit"
+        bloomMode: "inherit",
+        avatarPriority: false
     },
     Model: {
         collisionShape: "none",
diff --git a/scripts/system/html/js/entityProperties.js b/scripts/system/html/js/entityProperties.js
index c1a8f363b5..062b9a392a 100644
--- a/scripts/system/html/js/entityProperties.js
+++ b/scripts/system/html/js/entityProperties.js
@@ -428,6 +428,12 @@ const GROUPS = [
                 propertyID: "bloom.bloomSize",
                 showPropertyRule: { "bloomMode": "enabled" },
             },
+            {
+                label: "Avatar Priority",
+                type: "bool",
+                propertyID: "avatarPriority",
+            },
+
         ]
     },
     {