Game Night - The Written Version

Game Night finally has a written format!  This short story can be found here on AO3.

 I was going to put this off until later, but I sat down and it poured out in three days.  You can't resist the muse when it strikes.

I will also be uploading it to oneluckyelf.com in a beta ereader format.  

It is based on Second Life, but I have changed things to avoid copyright issues.  I hope you find it enjoyable.

How To Make Your Own Shape in Second Life

In Second Life, you can alter your shape to look however you wish (with some limitations.)  The controls for this are stored in several places. The main one is a shape file that you wear, and covers both head and body. Look for the purple image with a tiny head and shoulders in your inventory.

Unlike other items, you always have to wear a shape of some kind. Most mesh bodies and heads come with a shape designed to show off their features to the best advantage, but they don't always work with other bodies. Some are editable, some are not. If they are editable, wear them, right click on the file in your inventory, and select 'edit.' You can also right click on your avatar and select 'edit shape' from that menu.

 You don't need to buy a new shape.  All's you need is time, patience, and the instructions below to create your own.

The 'New Shape' Menu

In the Firestorm viewer:

Firstly, head into your inventory. 

Click the plus sign towards the bottom of the window.

Select 'New Body Parts.'

Select 'New Shape.'  This will create a new shape object in your inventory.

Name your new shape. I usually give it the name of the mesh head and body I'm wearing, and the date.

Now, right click on that freshly named new shape and select 'wear.'

You're probably going to look weird.  It's OK, we're about to fix that.

Right click on that shape file again and select 'edit.'

The new window that pops up is full of tabs and sliders.  Find the various body parts you want to change, and click and drag the slider indicators, moving them back and forth until it looks right.  You can also input specific numbers to get a specific look.

Generally it's left to make things smaller, right to make them bigger. Try everything out to see what controls which part.  Some descriptions are kind of vague!

There are limitations to how to change things, based both on the body skeleton and the design of the mesh head and body. Some things just aren't going to work out right, and you might need to try out a different head or body to get the look you want.  Always test editing your shape when trying out a demo head or body!

**Note that there are two save buttons.  The save button at the top saves the current file, the save as button allows you to rename it.  However, if you're not paying attention, you'll end up with half a dozen files called new body shape (new)(new)(new).

The Eyebrow Menu

The shape menu does not cover all the body parts.  Oddly enough, if you want to change the shape of your eyebrows and eyes even further, you have to head into the archaic 'Hair' section.  This is a leftover from the system body, and most of it isn't relevant anymore, but the eyebrow section is still usable.

Go to Inventory, click the plus sign, New Body Parts, and this time, 'New Hair.' Name your new Hair, right click on it in your inventory, and select  'Wear.'  Then right click on it again and select 'Edit.'

Click on the tab labeled 'Eyebrows,' play with the sliders, and click on Save at the top of the window when you're done. Make sure you wear this hair object along with your shape.  This is another item that the system thinks you MUST always wear, but in this case, it's possible to go without. 

This item is tricky to take off again.  Usually you have to strip everything off.  I have an 'invisible' body that I wear to events that overheat my laptop, usually just popping that on will clear off the hair.

Note: You may end up with a weird helmet looking thing. This is hair, very, very old hair.  To get rid of it, click on the Style tab, and size everything down so it hides inside your head. Then click on the Texture image and select 'transparent' from the window that pops up, then 'OK.' 

Exporting and Importing Shapes

Perhaps you have finally perfected your head's shape, but want to wear it on a different body (which requires different settings.  Or maybe you want to share a shape with a friend or an alt?  You could write down all the numbers and then input them in again, one at a time, in the new shape's editor, but this is time consuming and frustrating.  There's an easier way!

This requires you to have the Developer Menu active.  Here's how to do that first:

Go to Avatar, Preferences, and click on the Advanced tab. Check the box for 'Show Developer Menu (use at your own risk!).' Don't panic, trust me, just click OK.  

Back on your main screen, you'll see a new Developer tab across the top of your screen.  

Click on that, go to 'Avatar,' 'Character Tests,' and 'Appearance to XML.'  

It will open a new window to save a .xml file to your hard drive.  I recommend you put it somewhere easy to find, like your documents folder, otherwise it may bury it deep within your Second Life program folders.  Give it a name and click save. 

To import that file, create a new shape, using the same directions above.  Wear it again and go into the Edit menu.  At the bottom of that window is an Import button. Click on that and select the file you just saved. All of the settings in that file will be applied to your new shape.  Be sure to click Save!

Sharing

Only you can access that xml file, since it's on your hard drive. Since you created the new shape and imported it, you have the ability to share it with others.  Right click on the new shape and select 'Properties' to alter the rights for the next owner.  You can give or take away the rights to modify it, copy, or transfer the item under the 'Next Owner' section.  Then right click on the new shape again and select 'Share.'  You'll have several options available for finding the person you want to share it with.  

Camera Issues

When you initially go into the edit mode, your body assumes the classic T position, and the camera zooms around to give you a full view of your body. Sometimes it messes up, and you'll end up staring at the back of your head. It's easy enough to swivel it back around.  Click on ctrl and alt on your keyboard, and hold them down while clicking and dragging your mouse until you have the view you want.  

If you don't want your body frozen like that, or want a different position, you can turn the feature off.

Go into the Avatar menu, choose Preferences, and click on 'Move & View' tab.  In there, uncheck 'Appearance' under 'Automatically Pose Avatar During (select one or more), and click OK.  (I usually have all of these options unchecked. Other people don't need to see I'm editing something!)

For a different position, go to Avatar and Pose Stand.  It'll give you a variety of poses to choose from.  I like this mode when I'm trying to adjust my body shape, and want to keep my arms from being too long, etc.  Which leads to the final topic . . . .

Body Proportions

Just what should your body shape BE?  It's both an art and a science, but there are some free tools available to get a realistic look. The simplest is Bumper Girl's Proportion Park.  They offer a free posing tool area and some textures that are set up behind you, so you can adjust your body according to the classic proportion diagrams on them.  

**Note: It's in an Adult sim. If you don't have access to it, you can buy your own copy for 1L on Marketplace.  A search for 'Proportions' will also turn up a number of helpful tools. Check them out and see what might work best for you.  

Mesh Bodies - Female Edition

Once you decide to buy a mesh body in Second Life, you quickly run into a problem.

WHERE ARE THEY?

Most vendors don't list them on Marketplace or pay for in game search advertisements.  If you do happen to know the maker's name, your search will mostly turn up clothing made specifically for the bodies. It's like you have to know someone who knows someone who can get you in.

Don't worry, I got you.  Below is a list of top mesh body makers with in game links, valid as of January 2026. I will update and post a new date as time passes.

When you click on the links below, they will take you to a teleport browser window, which will want to open your game viewer when you click on the second teleport button. 

Be sure to get a demo to try out before you buy.  Also, some places have sales, especially in late November, so plan accordingly!

Female (Human) Bodies

Budget Bodies

I'll be honest, your best option is the new Legacy Basic body available in your SL Library folder, mostly because there are not a lot of clothes made that fit the budget bodies like Ruth. Legacy Basic does not have an alpha HUD, (see FAQ below for explanation) so you will need to find or make wearable alphas for any clothes that give you body show-through issues.

Senra is also available in your inventory's Library folder.  There are multiple clothing options available with it, but not a lot of vendors design for this body. 

Ruth was made for The Mesh Project (TMP), a free open source body which never really got much traction with clothing vendors.  It's older, and there are multiple vendors reselling it.  One is Sweet's Ruth Body. Head not included, but it has an alpha HUD.

Lucybody  Atenea is free, but you have to click on the Midnight Madness sign and wait for it to reach the right number of clicks.  It does not come with an Alpha HUD or BOM options (see FAQ below), but you can buy a HUD  for 250L (directly below the Midnight Madness sign. Head not included, The body can wear most Maitreya clothes (shoes not so much).

Note: Legacy used to offer a free Classic Meshbody option, but they removed it when the Legacy Basic body arrived.  This body cannot wear clothing rigged for the Legacy body.  You will see clothing available for it, but as far as I can tell, the body is no longer available.  Same for SLink bodies and clothing. You can still buy the clothes, but not the body.

Belleza retired their old styles of bodies - Freya, Venus, and Isis - and they are on sale at 625L each, or 1125L for all three. You can find them in their main store if you head upstairs. Note that there are two sections, one is for the 'FULL' versions of the bodies.

Best Sellers:

Belleza offers 3 bodies in their GenX line, Dainty, Classic, and Curvy, for 1750L. They also have 3 add-on breast options for 300L.  Heads are not included.

Maitreya has the LaraX body, with the older Lara body included in the extras box, for 2750L.  They also have the LaraX Petite option and the Flat Chest version, which can be bought as an add on to the LaraX body for 599L, or as a full body for 2750L.  Head into the store with the curved wall in the front, the bodies are on the wall by the raised platform - on the opposite side of the stairs.

Legacy carries the Pinup (includes pushup and bombshell breast sizes), Perky, Special Edition, and Pregnancy bodies, all at 5,000L each. Heads are not included.

Ebody - The Reborn body is 3500L and has breast and belly addons between 500 and 750L.

More Options

Signature has the Alice body for 2800L.  Head not included.  Please note I haven't seen too many vendors design for this body, so you may not find a lot of clothing for it.

Altamura has the Sofia body for 1250L, and a variety of body+head combos for 2450L. 

Inthium  Look for the female teleport links, the bodies are in rooms on either side of the room you land in.  The Kupra body comes in a variety of breast styles for 3000L each, the Khara body is 3500L.  heads are not included.

Peach: very detailed body with lots of addon options, 3999L. They have a petite version for 2899L.

Star: Complete body with two mesh heads, and even a body deformer that lets you wear clothes for other bodies.  4500L.

Rebirth has the Eden body for 3650L, which can be male, female, or child. Head included, it looks like. 

FAQ

What's BOM?  

BOM stands for Bakes-On Mesh.  Your body has an external layer that shows the skin texture.  BOM allows you to add additional textures to that skin layer.  It's like getting extra skin layers.  Makeup, tattoos, freckles, scars, hairbases, and even clothing can be BOM.  It's great for things like stockings, underwear, and when you want to wear additional clothing layers that might otherwise show through your other clothing.

Second Life's system bodies (the original, non mesh bodies, as in, what you see when you remove everything you're wearing) were designed for this, so in the beginning, ALL clothing was BOM.  It took a while for newer mesh bodies and heads to develop this same feature, so you may see some things for sale really hyping up the fact that it's BOM capable.

What's Alpha? 

See BOM above to get an idea of how the skin layer on mesh bodies works.  Alpha is the opposite, it hides the skin layer.  So if your elbows are showing through your sleeves, you can 'alpha out' your body's elbows and they will no longer be visible. Some varieties of men's clothing can be worn on bodies it wasn't made for without looking odd using alphas. 
Most mesh bodies come with this feature installed, and you can find a body map in the included HUD menu that does this for you.
Some vendors also make alphas customized for their clothes that you have to add to your body.  Some include auto-alpha scripts in the clothing itself so that when you put it on, it automatically hides the skin underneath it.  It will (usually) reset your skin when you remove the article of clothing. 

You can also buy premade general alphas to cover all or part of the basics.

What's a HUD?

HUD stands for 'heads up display,' originally used in aircraft.  It's a menu that will operate specific things.  You usually have to 'add it' in order to use it. (right click on the object in your inventory and select 'add'.  You can do 'wear', too but that often will knock off another object being worn.)  These menus can be used for a wide variety of things, from changing textures to customizing the shape of your hands.

What's Bento?

Bento is basically a mesh body skeleton.  It controls how you move, with a ton of options for the face and hands.  Your body will usually come with Bento hand options in the HUD.  Mesh heads usually have facial expressions.  You can buy all these things separately as well.

What's an Applier?

An applier is a HUD menu that was used to bridge the gap between pre-BOM ready mesh bodies and textures.  I admit I missed this time period in Second Life and don't know much about them. They're still out there, but pretty much all mesh bodies purchased today are BOM capable, and appliers are not needed.  Some makeup, nail, and eye colors come with appliers that will work with modern heads - they will provide a list of what they will work with.