diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
index e305972679..47f7084f64 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixer.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ void broadcastAvatarData() {
             mixedAvatarByteArray.resize(numPacketHeaderBytes);
             
             AvatarMixerClientData* myData = reinterpret_cast<AvatarMixerClientData*>(node->getLinkedData());
-            glm::vec3 myPosition = myData->getPosition();
+            AvatarData& avatar = myData->getAvatar();
+            glm::vec3 myPosition = avatar.getPosition();
             
             // this is an AGENT we have received head data from
             // send back a packet with other active node data to this node
@@ -70,7 +71,8 @@ void broadcastAvatarData() {
                 if (otherNode->getLinkedData() && otherNode->getUUID() != node->getUUID()) {
                     
                     AvatarMixerClientData* otherNodeData = reinterpret_cast<AvatarMixerClientData*>(otherNode->getLinkedData());
-                    glm::vec3 otherPosition = otherNodeData->getPosition();
+                    AvatarData& otherAvatar = otherNodeData->getAvatar();
+                    glm::vec3 otherPosition = otherAvatar.getPosition();
                     float distanceToAvatar = glm::length(myPosition - otherPosition);
                     //  The full rate distance is the distance at which EVERY update will be sent for this avatar
                     //  at a distance of twice the full rate distance, there will be a 50% chance of sending this avatar's update
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ void broadcastAvatarData() {
                     if ((distanceToAvatar == 0.f) || (randFloat() < FULL_RATE_DISTANCE / distanceToAvatar)) {
                         QByteArray avatarByteArray;
                         avatarByteArray.append(otherNode->getUUID().toRfc4122());
-                        avatarByteArray.append(otherNodeData->toByteArray());
+                        avatarByteArray.append(otherAvatar.toByteArray());
                         
                         if (avatarByteArray.size() + mixedAvatarByteArray.size() > MAX_PACKET_SIZE) {
                             nodeList->writeDatagram(mixedAvatarByteArray, node);
@@ -110,7 +112,8 @@ void broadcastIdentityPacket() {
         if (node->getLinkedData() && node->getType() == NodeType::Agent) {
             
             AvatarMixerClientData* nodeData = reinterpret_cast<AvatarMixerClientData*>(node->getLinkedData());
-            QByteArray individualData = nodeData->identityByteArray();
+            AvatarData& avatar = nodeData->getAvatar();
+            QByteArray individualData = avatar.identityByteArray();
             individualData.replace(0, NUM_BYTES_RFC4122_UUID, node->getUUID().toRfc4122());
             
             if (avatarIdentityPacket.size() + individualData.size() > MAX_PACKET_SIZE) {
@@ -135,9 +138,10 @@ void broadcastIdentityPacket() {
 
 void broadcastBillboardPacket(const SharedNodePointer& sendingNode) {
     AvatarMixerClientData* nodeData = static_cast<AvatarMixerClientData*>(sendingNode->getLinkedData());
+    AvatarData& avatar = nodeData->getAvatar();
     QByteArray packet = byteArrayWithPopulatedHeader(PacketTypeAvatarBillboard);
     packet.append(sendingNode->getUUID().toRfc4122());
-    packet.append(nodeData->getBillboard());
+    packet.append(avatar.getBillboard());
     
     NodeList* nodeList = NodeList::getInstance();
     foreach (const SharedNodePointer& node, nodeList->getNodeHash()) {
@@ -190,12 +194,13 @@ void AvatarMixer::readPendingDatagrams() {
                     
                     if (avatarNode && avatarNode->getLinkedData()) {
                         AvatarMixerClientData* nodeData = reinterpret_cast<AvatarMixerClientData*>(avatarNode->getLinkedData());
-                        if (nodeData->hasIdentityChangedAfterParsing(receivedPacket)
+                        AvatarData& avatar = nodeData->getAvatar();
+                        if (avatar.hasIdentityChangedAfterParsing(receivedPacket)
                             && !nodeData->hasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames()) {
                             // this avatar changed their identity in some way and we haven't sent a packet in this keyframe
                             QByteArray identityPacket = byteArrayWithPopulatedHeader(PacketTypeAvatarIdentity);
                             
-                            QByteArray individualByteArray = nodeData->identityByteArray();
+                            QByteArray individualByteArray = avatar.identityByteArray();
                             individualByteArray.replace(0, NUM_BYTES_RFC4122_UUID, avatarNode->getUUID().toRfc4122());
                             
                             identityPacket.append(individualByteArray);
@@ -213,7 +218,8 @@ void AvatarMixer::readPendingDatagrams() {
                     
                     if (avatarNode && avatarNode->getLinkedData()) {
                         AvatarMixerClientData* nodeData = static_cast<AvatarMixerClientData*>(avatarNode->getLinkedData());
-                        if (nodeData->hasBillboardChangedAfterParsing(receivedPacket)
+                        AvatarData& avatar = nodeData->getAvatar();
+                        if (avatar.hasBillboardChangedAfterParsing(receivedPacket)
                                 && !nodeData->hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames()) {
                             // this avatar changed their billboard and we haven't sent a packet in this keyframe
                             broadcastBillboardPacket(avatarNode);
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp
index 388d6f6488..90088173a9 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.cpp
@@ -9,8 +9,15 @@
 #include "AvatarMixerClientData.h"
 
 AvatarMixerClientData::AvatarMixerClientData() :
+    NodeData(),
     _hasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames(false),
     _hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames(false)
 {
     
 }
+
+int AvatarMixerClientData::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
+    // compute the offset to the data payload
+    int offset = numBytesForPacketHeader(packet);
+    return _avatar.parseDataAtOffset(packet, offset);
+}
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h
index 7240288306..854e8172d3 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/avatars/AvatarMixerClientData.h
@@ -12,11 +12,14 @@
 #include <QtCore/QUrl>
 
 #include <AvatarData.h>
+#include <NodeData.h>
 
-class AvatarMixerClientData : public AvatarData {
+class AvatarMixerClientData : public NodeData {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
     AvatarMixerClientData();
+
+    int parseData(const QByteArray& packet);
     
     bool hasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames() const { return _hasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames; }
     void setHasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames(bool hasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames)
@@ -25,11 +28,14 @@ public:
     bool hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames() const { return _hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames; }
     void setHasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames(bool hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames)
         { _hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames = hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames; }
+
+    AvatarData& getAvatar() { return _avatar; }
         
 private:
    
     bool _hasSentIdentityBetweenKeyFrames;
     bool _hasSentBillboardBetweenKeyFrames;
+    AvatarData _avatar;
 };
 
 #endif /* defined(__hifi__AvatarMixerClientData__) */
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index 8c0d88658a..821ebc251b 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -189,55 +189,60 @@ static TextRenderer* textRenderer(TextRendererType type) {
     return displayNameRenderer;
 }
 
-void Avatar::render(bool forShadowMap) {
+void Avatar::render(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, bool forShadowMap) {
     // simple frustum check
     float boundingRadius = getBillboardSize();
-    if (Application::getInstance()->getViewFrustum()->sphereInFrustum(_position, boundingRadius) == ViewFrustum::OUTSIDE) {
+    if (Application::getInstance()->getViewFrustum()->sphereInFrustum(cameraPosition, boundingRadius) == ViewFrustum::OUTSIDE) {
         return;
     }
 
-    glm::vec3 toTarget = _position - Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->getPosition();
-    float lengthToTarget = glm::length(toTarget);
+    glm::vec3 toTarget = cameraPosition - Application::getInstance()->getAvatar()->getPosition();
+    float distanceToTarget = glm::length(toTarget);
    
     {
-        // glow when moving in the distance
-        
+        // glow when moving far away
         const float GLOW_DISTANCE = 20.0f;
-        Glower glower(_moving && lengthToTarget > GLOW_DISTANCE && !forShadowMap ? 1.0f : 0.0f);
+        Glower glower(_moving && distanceToTarget > GLOW_DISTANCE && !forShadowMap ? 1.0f : 0.0f);
 
         // render body
+        if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Avatars)) {
+            renderBody(forShadowMap);
+        }
         if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::RenderSkeletonCollisionProxies)) {
             _skeletonModel.renderCollisionProxies(0.7f);
         }
         if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::RenderHeadCollisionProxies)) {
             getHead()->getFaceModel().renderCollisionProxies(0.7f);
         }
-        if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Avatars)) {
-            renderBody();
-        }
 
-        // render voice intensity sphere for avatars that are farther away
-        const float MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE = 10.f * RADIANS_PER_DEGREE;
-        const float MIN_SPHERE_ANGLE = 1.f * RADIANS_PER_DEGREE;
-        const float MIN_SPHERE_SIZE = 0.01f;
-        const float SPHERE_LOUDNESS_SCALING = 0.0005f;
-        const float SPHERE_COLOR[] = { 0.5f, 0.8f, 0.8f };
-        float height = getSkeletonHeight();
-        glm::vec3 delta = height * (getHead()->getCameraOrientation() * IDENTITY_UP) / 2.f;
-        float angle = abs(angleBetween(toTarget + delta, toTarget - delta));
-        float sphereRadius = getHead()->getAverageLoudness() * SPHERE_LOUDNESS_SCALING;
-        
-        if (!forShadowMap && (sphereRadius > MIN_SPHERE_SIZE) && (angle < MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE) && (angle > MIN_SPHERE_ANGLE)) {
-            glColor4f(SPHERE_COLOR[0], SPHERE_COLOR[1], SPHERE_COLOR[2], 1.f - angle / MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE);
-            glPushMatrix();
-            glTranslatef(_position.x, _position.y, _position.z);
-            glScalef(height, height, height);
-            glutSolidSphere(sphereRadius, 15, 15);
-            glPopMatrix();
+        // quick check before falling into the code below:
+        // (a 10 degree breadth of an almost 2 meter avatar kicks in at about 12m)
+        const float MIN_VOICE_SPHERE_DISTANCE = 12.f;
+        if (distanceToTarget > MIN_VOICE_SPHERE_DISTANCE) {
+            // render voice intensity sphere for avatars that are farther away
+            const float MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE = 10.f * RADIANS_PER_DEGREE;
+            const float MIN_SPHERE_ANGLE = 1.f * RADIANS_PER_DEGREE;
+            const float MIN_SPHERE_SIZE = 0.01f;
+            const float SPHERE_LOUDNESS_SCALING = 0.0005f;
+            const float SPHERE_COLOR[] = { 0.5f, 0.8f, 0.8f };
+            float height = getSkeletonHeight();
+            glm::vec3 delta = height * (getHead()->getCameraOrientation() * IDENTITY_UP) / 2.f;
+            float angle = abs(angleBetween(toTarget + delta, toTarget - delta));
+            float sphereRadius = getHead()->getAverageLoudness() * SPHERE_LOUDNESS_SCALING;
+            
+            if (!forShadowMap && (sphereRadius > MIN_SPHERE_SIZE) && (angle < MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE) && (angle > MIN_SPHERE_ANGLE)) {
+                glColor4f(SPHERE_COLOR[0], SPHERE_COLOR[1], SPHERE_COLOR[2], 1.f - angle / MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE);
+                glPushMatrix();
+                glTranslatef(_position.x, _position.y, _position.z);
+                glScalef(height, height, height);
+                glutSolidSphere(sphereRadius, 15, 15);
+                glPopMatrix();
+            }
         }
     }
+
     const float DISPLAYNAME_DISTANCE = 10.0f;
-    setShowDisplayName(!forShadowMap && lengthToTarget < DISPLAYNAME_DISTANCE);
+    setShowDisplayName(!forShadowMap && distanceToTarget < DISPLAYNAME_DISTANCE);
     if (forShadowMap) {
         return;
     }
@@ -257,7 +262,6 @@ void Avatar::render(bool forShadowMap) {
         glm::vec3 chatAxis = glm::axis(chatRotation);
         glRotatef(glm::degrees(glm::angle(chatRotation)), chatAxis.x, chatAxis.y, chatAxis.z);
         
-        
         glColor3f(0.f, 0.8f, 0.f);
         glRotatef(180.f, 0.f, 1.f, 0.f);
         glRotatef(180.f, 0.f, 0.f, 1.f);
@@ -302,9 +306,12 @@ glm::quat Avatar::computeRotationFromBodyToWorldUp(float proportion) const {
     return glm::angleAxis(angle * proportion, axis);
 }
 
-void Avatar::renderBody() {    
+void Avatar::renderBody(bool forShadowMap) {    
     if (_shouldRenderBillboard || !(_skeletonModel.isRenderable() && getHead()->getFaceModel().isRenderable())) {
         // render the billboard until both models are loaded
+        if (forShadowMap) {
+            return;
+        }
         renderBillboard();
         return;
     }
@@ -632,11 +639,11 @@ void Avatar::setBillboard(const QByteArray& billboard) {
     _billboardTexture.reset();
 }
 
-int Avatar::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
+int Avatar::parseDataAtOffset(const QByteArray& packet, int offset) {
     // change in position implies movement
     glm::vec3 oldPosition = _position;
     
-    int bytesRead = AvatarData::parseData(packet);
+    int bytesRead = AvatarData::parseDataAtOffset(packet, offset);
     
     const float MOVE_DISTANCE_THRESHOLD = 0.001f;
     _moving = glm::distance(oldPosition, _position) > MOVE_DISTANCE_THRESHOLD;
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
index 4444a582e6..550523bcde 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public:
 
     void init();
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
-    void render(bool forShadowMap = false);
+    virtual void render(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, bool forShadowMap);
 
     //setters
     void setDisplayingLookatVectors(bool displayingLookatVectors) { getHead()->setRenderLookatVectors(displayingLookatVectors); }
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ public:
 
     void setShowDisplayName(bool showDisplayName);
     
-    int parseData(const QByteArray& packet);
+    int parseDataAtOffset(const QByteArray& packet, int offset);
 
     static void renderJointConnectingCone(glm::vec3 position1, glm::vec3 position2, float radius1, float radius2);
 
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ protected:
     float getPelvisToHeadLength() const;
 
     void renderDisplayName();
+    virtual void renderBody(bool forShadowMap);
 
 private:
 
@@ -190,7 +191,6 @@ private:
     bool _shouldRenderBillboard;
     bool _modelsDirty;
 
-    void renderBody();
     void renderBillboard();
     
     float getBillboardSize() const;
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
index 88ce2b4399..29b23e1f5b 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void AvatarManager::renderAvatars(bool forShadowMapOrMirror, bool selfAvatarOnly
                             "Application::renderAvatars()");
     bool renderLookAtVectors = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::LookAtVectors);
     
-  
+    glm::vec3 cameraPosition = Application::getInstance()->getCamera()->getPosition();
 
     if (!selfAvatarOnly) {
         foreach (const AvatarSharedPointer& avatarPointer, _avatarHash) {
@@ -85,17 +85,13 @@ void AvatarManager::renderAvatars(bool forShadowMapOrMirror, bool selfAvatarOnly
             if (!avatar->isInitialized()) {
                 continue;
             }
-            if (avatar == static_cast<Avatar*>(_myAvatar.data())) {
-                _myAvatar->render(forShadowMapOrMirror);
-            } else {
-                avatar->render(forShadowMapOrMirror);
-            }
+            avatar->render(cameraPosition, forShadowMapOrMirror);
             avatar->setDisplayingLookatVectors(renderLookAtVectors);
         }
-        renderAvatarFades(forShadowMapOrMirror);
+        renderAvatarFades(cameraPosition, forShadowMapOrMirror);
     } else {
         // just render myAvatar
-        _myAvatar->render(forShadowMapOrMirror);
+        _myAvatar->render(cameraPosition, forShadowMapOrMirror);
         _myAvatar->setDisplayingLookatVectors(renderLookAtVectors);
     }
 }
@@ -118,13 +114,15 @@ void AvatarManager::simulateAvatarFades(float deltaTime) {
     }
 }
 
-void AvatarManager::renderAvatarFades(bool forShadowMap) {
+void AvatarManager::renderAvatarFades(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, bool forShadowMap) {
     // render avatar fades
     Glower glower(forShadowMap ? 0.0f : 1.0f);
     
     foreach(const AvatarSharedPointer& fadingAvatar, _avatarFades) {
         Avatar* avatar = static_cast<Avatar*>(fadingAvatar.data());
-        avatar->render(forShadowMap);
+        if (avatar != static_cast<Avatar*>(_myAvatar.data())) {
+            avatar->render(cameraPosition, forShadowMap);
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -150,14 +148,11 @@ void AvatarManager::processAvatarMixerDatagram(const QByteArray& datagram, const
 void AvatarManager::processAvatarDataPacket(const QByteArray &datagram, const QWeakPointer<Node> &mixerWeakPointer) {
     int bytesRead = numBytesForPacketHeader(datagram);
     
-    QByteArray dummyAvatarByteArray = byteArrayWithPopulatedHeader(PacketTypeAvatarData);
-    int numDummyHeaderBytes = dummyAvatarByteArray.size();
-    int numDummyHeaderBytesWithoutUUID = numDummyHeaderBytes - NUM_BYTES_RFC4122_UUID;
-    
     // enumerate over all of the avatars in this packet
     // only add them if mixerWeakPointer points to something (meaning that mixer is still around)
     while (bytesRead < datagram.size() && mixerWeakPointer.data()) {
         QUuid nodeUUID = QUuid::fromRfc4122(datagram.mid(bytesRead, NUM_BYTES_RFC4122_UUID));
+        bytesRead += NUM_BYTES_RFC4122_UUID;
         
         AvatarSharedPointer matchingAvatar = _avatarHash.value(nodeUUID);
         
@@ -173,16 +168,9 @@ void AvatarManager::processAvatarDataPacket(const QByteArray &datagram, const QW
             qDebug() << "Adding avatar with UUID" << nodeUUID << "to AvatarManager hash.";
         }
         
-        // copy the rest of the packet to the avatarData holder so we can read the next Avatar from there
-        dummyAvatarByteArray.resize(numDummyHeaderBytesWithoutUUID);
-        
-        // make this Avatar's UUID the UUID in the packet and tack the remaining data onto the end
-        dummyAvatarByteArray.append(datagram.mid(bytesRead));
-        
         // have the matching (or new) avatar parse the data from the packet
-        bytesRead += matchingAvatar->parseData(dummyAvatarByteArray) - numDummyHeaderBytesWithoutUUID;
+        bytesRead += matchingAvatar->parseDataAtOffset(datagram, bytesRead);
     }
-
 }
 
 void AvatarManager::processAvatarIdentityPacket(const QByteArray &packet) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
index c690dfa966..455153b92a 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/AvatarManager.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ private:
     void processKillAvatar(const QByteArray& datagram);
 
     void simulateAvatarFades(float deltaTime);
-    void renderAvatarFades(bool forShadowMap);
+    void renderAvatarFades(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, bool forShadowMap);
     
     // virtual override
     AvatarHash::iterator erase(const AvatarHash::iterator& iterator);
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index f9a53854f6..961ab5b431 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -457,68 +457,14 @@ void MyAvatar::renderDebugBodyPoints() {
 
 
 }
-void MyAvatar::render(bool forShadowMapOrMirror) {
+
+// virtual
+void MyAvatar::render(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, bool forShadowMapOrMirror) {
     // don't render if we've been asked to disable local rendering
     if (!_shouldRender) {
         return; // exit early
     }
-
-    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Avatars)) {
-        renderBody(forShadowMapOrMirror);
-    }
-    // render body
-    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::RenderSkeletonCollisionProxies)) {
-        _skeletonModel.renderCollisionProxies(0.8f);
-    }
-    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::RenderHeadCollisionProxies)) {
-        getHead()->getFaceModel().renderCollisionProxies(0.8f);
-    }
-    setShowDisplayName(!forShadowMapOrMirror);
-    if (forShadowMapOrMirror) {
-        return;
-    }
-    renderDisplayName();
-
-    if (!_chatMessage.empty()) {
-        int width = 0;
-        int lastWidth = 0;
-        for (string::iterator it = _chatMessage.begin(); it != _chatMessage.end(); it++) {
-            width += (lastWidth = textRenderer()->computeWidth(*it));
-        }
-        glPushMatrix();
-
-        glm::vec3 chatPosition = getHead()->getEyePosition() + getBodyUpDirection() * CHAT_MESSAGE_HEIGHT * _scale;
-        glTranslatef(chatPosition.x, chatPosition.y, chatPosition.z);
-        glm::quat chatRotation = Application::getInstance()->getCamera()->getRotation();
-        glm::vec3 chatAxis = glm::axis(chatRotation);
-        glRotatef(glm::degrees(glm::angle(chatRotation)), chatAxis.x, chatAxis.y, chatAxis.z);
-
-        glColor3f(0.f, 0.8f, 0.f);
-        glRotatef(180.f, 0.f, 1.f, 0.f);
-        glRotatef(180.f, 0.f, 0.f, 1.f);
-        glScalef(_scale * CHAT_MESSAGE_SCALE, _scale * CHAT_MESSAGE_SCALE, 1.0f);
-
-        glDisable(GL_LIGHTING);
-        glDepthMask(false);
-        if (_keyState == NO_KEY_DOWN) {
-            textRenderer()->draw(-width / 2.0f, 0, _chatMessage.c_str());
-
-        } else {
-            // rather than using substr and allocating a new string, just replace the last
-            // character with a null, then restore it
-            int lastIndex = _chatMessage.size() - 1;
-            char lastChar = _chatMessage[lastIndex];
-            _chatMessage[lastIndex] = '\0';
-            textRenderer()->draw(-width / 2.0f, 0, _chatMessage.c_str());
-            _chatMessage[lastIndex] = lastChar;
-            glColor3f(0.f, 1.f, 0.f);
-            textRenderer()->draw(width / 2.0f - lastWidth, 0, _chatMessage.c_str() + lastIndex);
-        }
-        glEnable(GL_LIGHTING);
-        glDepthMask(true);
-
-        glPopMatrix();
-    }
+    Avatar::render(cameraPosition, forShadowMapOrMirror);
 }
 
 void MyAvatar::renderHeadMouse() const {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
index dfc114d952..3544fb1a61 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.h
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ public:
     void simulate(float deltaTime);
     void updateFromGyros(float deltaTime);
 
-    void render(bool forShadowMapOrMirror = false);
+    void render(const glm::vec3& cameraPosition, bool forShadowMapOrMirror = false);
+    void renderBody(bool forceRenderHead);
     void renderDebugBodyPoints();
     void renderHeadMouse() const;
 
@@ -120,7 +121,6 @@ private:
     bool _billboardValid;
 
 	// private methods
-    void renderBody(bool forceRenderHead);
     void updateThrust(float deltaTime);
     void updateHandMovementAndTouching(float deltaTime);
     void updateCollisionWithAvatars(float deltaTime);
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index 21de041343..8ed0ce51ec 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ using namespace std;
 QNetworkAccessManager* AvatarData::networkAccessManager = NULL;
 
 AvatarData::AvatarData() :
-    NodeData(),
     _handPosition(0,0,0),
     _bodyYaw(-90.f),
     _bodyPitch(0.0f),
@@ -89,23 +88,6 @@ QByteArray AvatarData::toByteArray() {
     // Body scale
     destinationBuffer += packFloatRatioToTwoByte(destinationBuffer, _targetScale);
 
-    // Head rotation (NOTE: This needs to become a quaternion to save two bytes)
-    destinationBuffer += packFloatAngleToTwoByte(destinationBuffer, _headData->getTweakedYaw());
-    destinationBuffer += packFloatAngleToTwoByte(destinationBuffer, _headData->getTweakedPitch());
-    destinationBuffer += packFloatAngleToTwoByte(destinationBuffer, _headData->getTweakedRoll());
-    
-    
-    // Head lean X,Z (head lateral and fwd/back motion relative to torso)
-    memcpy(destinationBuffer, &_headData->_leanSideways, sizeof(_headData->_leanSideways));
-    destinationBuffer += sizeof(_headData->_leanSideways);
-    memcpy(destinationBuffer, &_headData->_leanForward, sizeof(_headData->_leanForward));
-    destinationBuffer += sizeof(_headData->_leanForward);
-
-    // Hand Position - is relative to body position
-    glm::vec3 handPositionRelative = _handPosition - _position;
-    memcpy(destinationBuffer, &handPositionRelative, sizeof(float) * 3);
-    destinationBuffer += sizeof(float) * 3;
-
     // Lookat Position
     memcpy(destinationBuffer, &_headData->_lookAtPosition, sizeof(_headData->_lookAtPosition));
     destinationBuffer += sizeof(_headData->_lookAtPosition);
@@ -178,14 +160,11 @@ QByteArray AvatarData::toByteArray() {
         }
     }
         
-    // hand data
-    destinationBuffer += HandData::encodeData(_handData, destinationBuffer);
-    
     return avatarDataByteArray.left(destinationBuffer - startPosition);
 }
 
-// called on the other nodes - assigns it to my views of the others
-int AvatarData::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
+// read data in packet starting at byte offset and return number of bytes parsed
+int AvatarData::parseDataAtOffset(const QByteArray& packet, int offset) {
 
     // lazily allocate memory for HeadData in case we're not an Avatar instance
     if (!_headData) {
@@ -197,9 +176,8 @@ int AvatarData::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
         _handData = new HandData(this);
     }
     
-    // increment to push past the packet header
     const unsigned char* startPosition = reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char*>(packet.data());
-    const unsigned char* sourceBuffer = startPosition + numBytesForPacketHeader(packet);
+    const unsigned char* sourceBuffer = startPosition + offset;
     
     // Body world position
     memcpy(&_position, sourceBuffer, sizeof(float) * 3);
@@ -213,28 +191,6 @@ int AvatarData::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
     // Body scale
     sourceBuffer += unpackFloatRatioFromTwoByte(sourceBuffer, _targetScale);
     
-    // Head rotation (NOTE: This needs to become a quaternion to save two bytes)
-    float headYaw, headPitch, headRoll;
-    sourceBuffer += unpackFloatAngleFromTwoByte((uint16_t*) sourceBuffer, &headYaw);
-    sourceBuffer += unpackFloatAngleFromTwoByte((uint16_t*) sourceBuffer, &headPitch);
-    sourceBuffer += unpackFloatAngleFromTwoByte((uint16_t*) sourceBuffer, &headRoll);
-    
-    _headData->setYaw(headYaw);
-    _headData->setPitch(headPitch);
-    _headData->setRoll(headRoll);
-    
-    //  Head position relative to pelvis
-    memcpy(&_headData->_leanSideways, sourceBuffer, sizeof(_headData->_leanSideways));
-    sourceBuffer += sizeof(float);
-    memcpy(&_headData->_leanForward, sourceBuffer, sizeof(_headData->_leanForward));
-    sourceBuffer += sizeof(_headData->_leanForward);
-    
-    // Hand Position - is relative to body position
-    glm::vec3 handPositionRelative;
-    memcpy(&handPositionRelative, sourceBuffer, sizeof(float) * 3);
-    _handPosition = _position + handPositionRelative;
-    sourceBuffer += sizeof(float) * 3;
-    
     // Lookat Position
     memcpy(&_headData->_lookAtPosition, sourceBuffer, sizeof(_headData->_lookAtPosition));
     sourceBuffer += sizeof(_headData->_lookAtPosition);
@@ -288,13 +244,13 @@ int AvatarData::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
     // joint data
     int jointCount = *sourceBuffer++;
     _jointData.resize(jointCount);
-    unsigned char validity = 0; // although always set below, this fixes a warning of potential uninitialized use
+    unsigned char validity = 0;
     int validityBit = 0;
     for (int i = 0; i < jointCount; i++) {
         if (validityBit == 0) {
             validity = *sourceBuffer++;
         }   
-        _jointData[i].valid = validity & (1 << validityBit);
+        _jointData[i].valid = (bool)(validity & (1 << validityBit));
         validityBit = (validityBit + 1) % BITS_IN_BYTE; 
     }
     for (int i = 0; i < jointCount; i++) {
@@ -304,12 +260,6 @@ int AvatarData::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
         }
     }
     
-    // hand data
-    if (sourceBuffer - startPosition < packet.size()) {
-        // check passed, bytes match
-        sourceBuffer += _handData->decodeRemoteData(packet.mid(sourceBuffer - startPosition));
-    }
-    
     return sourceBuffer - startPosition;
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
index 067fadd8b1..c7a93daef5 100755
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ typedef unsigned long long quint64;
 
 #include <CollisionInfo.h>
 #include <RegisteredMetaTypes.h>
-#include <NodeData.h>
 
 #include "HeadData.h"
 #include "HandData.h"
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ class QNetworkAccessManager;
 
 class JointData;
 
-class AvatarData : public NodeData {
+class AvatarData : public QObject {
     Q_OBJECT
 
     Q_PROPERTY(glm::vec3 position READ getPosition WRITE setPosition)
@@ -97,7 +96,7 @@ class AvatarData : public NodeData {
     Q_PROPERTY(QString billboardURL READ getBillboardURL WRITE setBillboardFromURL)
 public:
     AvatarData();
-    ~AvatarData();
+    virtual ~AvatarData();
 
     const glm::vec3& getPosition() const { return _position; }
     void setPosition(const glm::vec3 position) { _position = position; }
@@ -106,7 +105,11 @@ public:
     void setHandPosition(const glm::vec3& handPosition);
 
     QByteArray toByteArray();
-    int parseData(const QByteArray& packet);
+
+    /// \param packet byte array of data
+    /// \param offset number of bytes into packet where data starts
+    /// \return number of bytes parsed
+    virtual int parseDataAtOffset(const QByteArray& packet, int offset);
 
     //  Body Rotation (degrees)
     float getBodyYaw() const { return _bodyYaw; }
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp
index ca3a5c5c8a..b6d417cf57 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.cpp
@@ -110,123 +110,6 @@ _owningHandData(owningHandData)
     setTrailLength(standardTrailLength);
 }
 
-// static
-int HandData::encodeData(HandData* hand, unsigned char* destinationBuffer) {
-    if (hand) {
-        return hand->encodeRemoteData(destinationBuffer);
-    }
-    // else encode empty data: 
-    // One byte for zero hands
-    // One byte for error checking.
-    *destinationBuffer = 0;
-    *(destinationBuffer + 1) = 1;
-    return 2;
-}
-
-int HandData::encodeRemoteData(unsigned char* destinationBuffer) {
-    const unsigned char* startPosition = destinationBuffer;
-
-    unsigned int numPalms = 0;
-    for (unsigned int handIndex = 0; handIndex < getNumPalms(); ++handIndex) {
-        PalmData& palm = getPalms()[handIndex];
-        if (palm.isActive()) {
-            numPalms++;
-        }
-    }
-    *destinationBuffer++ = numPalms;
-
-    for (unsigned int handIndex = 0; handIndex < getNumPalms(); ++handIndex) {
-        PalmData& palm = getPalms()[handIndex];
-        if (palm.isActive()) {
-            destinationBuffer += packFloatVec3ToSignedTwoByteFixed(destinationBuffer, palm.getRawPosition(), fingerVectorRadix);
-            destinationBuffer += packFloatVec3ToSignedTwoByteFixed(destinationBuffer, palm.getRawNormal(), fingerVectorRadix);
-
-            unsigned int numFingers = 0;
-            for (unsigned int fingerIndex = 0; fingerIndex < palm.getNumFingers(); ++fingerIndex) {
-                FingerData& finger = palm.getFingers()[fingerIndex];
-                if (finger.isActive()) {
-                    numFingers++;
-                }
-            }
-            *destinationBuffer++ = numFingers;
-
-            for (unsigned int fingerIndex = 0; fingerIndex < palm.getNumFingers(); ++fingerIndex) {
-                FingerData& finger = palm.getFingers()[fingerIndex];
-                if (finger.isActive()) {
-                    destinationBuffer += packFloatVec3ToSignedTwoByteFixed(destinationBuffer, finger.getTipRawPosition(), fingerVectorRadix);
-                    destinationBuffer += packFloatVec3ToSignedTwoByteFixed(destinationBuffer, finger.getRootRawPosition(), fingerVectorRadix);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-    // One byte for error checking safety.
-    size_t checkLength = destinationBuffer - startPosition;
-    *destinationBuffer++ = (unsigned char)checkLength;
-
-    // just a double-check, while tracing a crash.
-//    decodeRemoteData(destinationBuffer - (destinationBuffer - startPosition));
-    
-    return destinationBuffer - startPosition;
-}
-
-int HandData::decodeRemoteData(const QByteArray& dataByteArray) {
-    const unsigned char* startPosition;
-    const unsigned char* sourceBuffer = startPosition = reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char*>(dataByteArray.data());
-    unsigned int numPalms = *sourceBuffer++;
-    
-    for (unsigned int handIndex = 0; handIndex < numPalms; ++handIndex) {
-        if (handIndex >= (unsigned int)getNumPalms())
-            addNewPalm();
-        PalmData& palm = getPalms()[handIndex];
-        
-        glm::vec3 handPosition;
-        glm::vec3 handNormal;
-        sourceBuffer += unpackFloatVec3FromSignedTwoByteFixed(sourceBuffer, handPosition, fingerVectorRadix);
-        sourceBuffer += unpackFloatVec3FromSignedTwoByteFixed(sourceBuffer, handNormal, fingerVectorRadix);
-        unsigned int numFingers = *sourceBuffer++;
-        
-        palm.setRawPosition(handPosition);
-        palm.setRawNormal(handNormal);
-        palm.setActive(true);
-        
-        //  For received data, set the sixense controller ID to match the order initialized and sent - 0 Left, 1 Right
-        palm.setSixenseID(handIndex);
-        
-        for (unsigned int fingerIndex = 0; fingerIndex < numFingers; ++fingerIndex) {
-            if (fingerIndex < (unsigned int)palm.getNumFingers()) {
-                FingerData& finger = palm.getFingers()[fingerIndex];
-                
-                glm::vec3 tipPosition;
-                glm::vec3 rootPosition;
-                sourceBuffer += unpackFloatVec3FromSignedTwoByteFixed(sourceBuffer, tipPosition, fingerVectorRadix);
-                sourceBuffer += unpackFloatVec3FromSignedTwoByteFixed(sourceBuffer, rootPosition, fingerVectorRadix);
-                
-                finger.setRawTipPosition(tipPosition);
-                finger.setRawRootPosition(rootPosition);
-                finger.setActive(true);
-            }
-        }
-        // Turn off any fingers which weren't used.
-        for (unsigned int fingerIndex = numFingers; fingerIndex < palm.getNumFingers(); ++fingerIndex) {
-            FingerData& finger = palm.getFingers()[fingerIndex];
-            finger.setActive(false);
-        }
-    }
-    // Turn off any hands which weren't used.
-    for (unsigned int handIndex = numPalms; handIndex < getNumPalms(); ++handIndex) {
-        PalmData& palm = getPalms()[handIndex];
-        palm.setActive(false);
-    }
-    
-    // One byte for error checking safety. Last byte contains the expected length (less itself)
-    // actualLength less expected byte = (sourceBuffer - startPosition)
-    // expectedLength less expected byte = (*sourceBuffer)
-    assert((unsigned char)(sourceBuffer - startPosition) == (unsigned char)(*sourceBuffer));
-    sourceBuffer++; // skip the trailing byte which is expected length
-
-    return sourceBuffer - startPosition;
-}
-
 void HandData::setFingerTrailLength(unsigned int length) {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < getNumPalms(); ++i) {
         PalmData& palm = getPalms()[i];
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
index 050888f2f6..9ebdc8dcf6 100755
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
@@ -63,12 +63,6 @@ public:
     void setFingerTrailLength(unsigned int length);
     void updateFingerTrails();
 
-    static int encodeData(HandData* hand, unsigned char* destinationBuffer);
-
-    // Use these for sending and receiving hand data
-    int encodeRemoteData(unsigned char* destinationBuffer);
-    int decodeRemoteData(const QByteArray& dataByteArray);
-
     /// Checks for penetration between the described sphere and the hand.
     /// \param penetratorCenter the center of the penetration test sphere
     /// \param penetratorRadius the radius of the penetration test sphere
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/PacketHeaders.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/PacketHeaders.cpp
index eccfa4fefa..307453d8bf 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/PacketHeaders.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/PacketHeaders.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ int packArithmeticallyCodedValue(int value, char* destination) {
 PacketVersion versionForPacketType(PacketType type) {
     switch (type) {
         case PacketTypeAvatarData:
-            return 1;
+            return 2;
         case PacketTypeParticleData:
             return 1;
         case PacketTypeDomainList: