Very Frustrated

[Quistess Alpha]

The free Ruth bodies also fit Maitreya pretty well, except around the butt. The one on the MP by Vlad Blackburn is the only one that comes with a presentable head IMO.

[Psyche Starling]

44 minutes ago, Rowan Amore said:

I was addressing your statement about looking like a Barbie crotch which is miles apart from the Ken crotch.  Every skin I've ever used had the outer details of a woman's nether regions nicely painted on the skin.  Men, on the other hand, have no such option.  

When putting together an initial avatar, female genitals are hardly a must have for most people.  

Yes, my base Maitreya has enough in the way of hoo-ha that I have camel toe in BOM pants unless I use the add-on parts, and if I'm not having SL sex, that's as much detail as I need. 

OP, get ye to the Free Dove, a lot of the clothes there have standard sizes in them and are free. And then don't delete the other sizes, so if you get a mesh body you have them handy. Not everything I've gotten there is my style, but they've been invaluable when I've switched bodies and needed a few things quickly.

secondlife://Gallii/129/35/33 

[TrophySpouse]

I second what @BookishMelinoe said about no deleting your other sizes.

Free Dove is a good place for free stuff. Ajuda SL Brasil is another good place for freebies. You can also hit up Coco for their freebies as well, some come in standard sizes, and if you go in the center of the store, you can find some more freebies in sizes made for brand name bodies with free group join.
 

Edited May 22, 2021 by TrophySpouse

[Psyche Starling]

1 hour ago, TrophySpouse said:

I second what @BookishMelinoe said about no deleting your other sizes.

Free Dove is a good place for free stuff. Ajuda SL Brasil is another good place for freebies. You can also hit up Coco for their freebies as well, some come in standard sizes, and if you go in the center of the store, you can find some more freebies in sizes made for brand name bodies with free group join.
 

Good call on Ajuda. There are a ton of standard sizes there, as in, I didn't discover it until I had my mesh body, liked a bunch of the clothes, and did considerable tinkering to be able to wear them anyway. (I have a shape in my inventory now called "Shape for Freebie 50s Dresses," LOL)

[animats]

Attention any Linden reading this: make sure the head of marketing and whomever is responsible for the new user experience reads this topic.

There are two big new user problems, well known to anyone who's spent an hour at a new user entry point: 1) What do I do now? 2) How do I fix this #$%^ clothing problem? Address those and new user retention will improve.

 

[Coffee Pancake]

3 hours ago, animats said:

2) How do I fix this #$%^ clothing problem? Address those and new user retention will improve.

Lindens' famously set up their avatar once and then never change it.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Coffee Pancake

[Rowan Amore]

1 hour ago, Coffee Pancake said:

Linden's famously set up their avatar once and then never change it.

Except for @Patch Linden

[Jordyn McGregor]

21 hours ago, Orwar said:

   Because Barbie crotches are so hot.

Don't forget those hotter than heck Ken spots!!!

[Istelathis]

My favorite is the mesh Ruth avatar, is listed here:
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Sweets-Ruth-20-BoM-Bento-Mesh-Body-w-Alpha-HUD/18832067

It includes an alpha layer, that you can configure by a HUD.  This avatar is also capable of BOM, which provides you a lot of options.  The cost is 1L.

Try it out, perhaps some of those outfits that you purchased will fit with a little tweaking.  It will not look as nice as the more expensive mesh avatars out there, but it is very flexible and in the right hands it can look amazing. 

[Chic Aeon]

In March of this year I did a five part series about the Newbie Onboarding experience.  There is plenty of information in there that might be helpful to new folks.   The first in that series is here and you can find the rests looking in the left sidebar in the first part of MARCH of this year or follow this link to see all the posts.  Best of all --- it was all free.     

 

Here is how she looked towards the end.    Agree with the "girl parts" thing; I am thirteen and have never had them and don't care.  

And since I didn't see anyone saying it loudly (I read quickly so may have missed it)  ---- DON'T BUY WITHOUT A DEMO.   That is our mantra here on the forums.   Always demo or don't complain if you fail to. 

 

[Karl Herber]

On 5/22/2021 at 2:51 PM, Rowan Amore said:

Does most Maitreya clothing fit as it says in the ad?  It really is a good deal and for someone new, probably the easiest and least expensive way to upgrade.  Over time, we all develop our own style and preferences. 

I have the Kalhene body and most Maitreya clothing fits well. The only issue is with high-waisted pants; the Kalhene body is much slimmer in the waist than Maitreya.

On 5/21/2021 at 9:56 PM, AngieHawk said:

I have waisted so much money on Second life on Out Fits, Everything I buy won't fit my avatar I have tried everything, I have tried Belleza Venus, Isis, Freya, Maitreya Lara, Slink Physique,  and Hourglass sizes. nothing works on my avatar, waste of money all these outfits are in my inventory collecting dust because they won t work on me.  Don't anyone make just plain outfits that fit everyone. Or on Just plain avatars at least. I am about ready to quit I am so frustrated and my 2 sisters are the same.  I have purchased alpha layers and they are worthless as well not enough choices to layer on the body If anyone can help please comment. Thank You.

You need to look for clothes labelled to fit "Classic" or "Standard sizes".  Most of it will be older stuff, not many creators make these any more. They will have their own special alpha layers included.

Don't throw away the clothing you've already bought though. One day you'll almost certainly buy a mesh body that fits at least some of them. 

[Marianne Little]

This is not to pile on the OP, because now she knows she has to demo first.

The two avatars she bought did not have a demo. But how could she know this was a big, flashing NO - NO sign? I write this in case another newbie read it. Hopefully before they waste over 2000 L on... old, outdated stuff that is almost worthless.

It is no control on the Marketplace. Old stuff is not pulled off. The expensive avatar had reviews from 2011 and the newest from 2014. That is OLD - Super old in Second life. Buyer beware, should be printed when you log into the Marketplace.

[Cecilia Dallas]

On 5/21/2021 at 8:51 PM, Rowan Amore said:

And you don't really NEED private parts as a female regardless of what any male may tell you.

This. I'm a nude dancer and escort and do very very well with a standard Maitreya body, without spending extra L on upgrading my lady bits. Most guys are not at all paying attention to (or even able to see) the quality of the specific female genitalia when I'm wrapped all around them and texting some of the lovliest, sensual words in a chat. Trust me, the look of your privates is the last thing they are, or should be, focused on.

Edited May 23, 2021 by Bastet Aurelia

[Karl Herber]

Just now, Marianne Little said:

This is not to pile on the OP, because now she knows she has to demo first.

The two avatars she bought did not have a demo. But how could she know this was a big, flashing NO - NO sign? I write this in case another newbie read it. Hopefully before they waste over 2000 L on... old, outdated stuff that is almost worthless.

It is no control on the Marketplace. Old stuff is not pulled off. The expensive avatar had reviews from 2011 and the newest from 2014. That is OLD - Super old in Second life. Buyer beware, should be printed when you log into the Marketplace.

This makes me think that the MP ought to include the upload date of the item. A lot of stuff on the MP has no reviews at all.

[AdminGirl]

@AngieHawk I spent my first months only using freebies and store gifts. You can get a free mesh body that fits Maitreya clothes from LucyBODY. Go to their inworld store and click on the Midnight Madness board.

You can also get a free mesh head from Genus store. It is a group gift. It was still there when I checked a month ago.

Free skins - there are group gifts at Lara Hurley.

And hair gifts - visit Navy+Copper store.

There are many others but this is just on the top of my head. Sorry I didn't post landmarks, I'm on my phone.

I wouldn't recommend spending on anything in your early days. Wait till you're comfortable with sl first. Learn the basics, go out and discover, then you'll know what to buy and what not to buy. Most things I bought early on I later regretted but at the time, I didn't know better.

[Kathlen Onyx]

I totally agree with the "upload date" idea and have no idea why it's not on there except that it would deter people from buying things and possibly look like LL is favorizing those newer items.  

As far as demo's go, if I was totally new and clueless I might think a demo is like a trial period in case you don't like the item.  I might think, well I love this outfit I don't know why I would want a demo. Looking at it from the perspective of someone who just doesn't know.  

I remember in the beginning I bought a whole bunch of mesh clothing and tried getting it to fit on my system avatar like Maitreya clothes fit on people.  The only way I found out was by googling and reading and doing research. Even then I looked for a month before I realized you can't buy Maitreya on the MP, you have to go to the store. I finally wore Larry jeans for the better part of 4 months.

I think LL could do a better job at directing people where to find basic information on avatar creation and clothing but I also think that people can do a better job of finding out the information they need. You can literally type in a question in google and find almost any answer or at least get very close. 

Edited May 23, 2021 by Sam1 Bellisserian

[Coffee Pancake]

2 hours ago, Karly Kiyori said:

This makes me think that the MP ought to include the upload date of the item. A lot of stuff on the MP has no reviews at all.

Upload date got me thinking ... 

 

[Orwar]

3 hours ago, Bastet Aurelia said:

Trust me, the look of your privates is the last thing they are, or should be, focused on.

   I didn't know there were correct things to get aroused or interested by, I was living in this vivid delusion of people having different preferences in all sorts of things in life. And since women have been whinging about guys with freenises for years, I just find it funny how little introspective reflection is made by women on how their virtual privates are presented. 

   I should make myself a BOM bit to pop on when next I have an encounter wherein someone flashes me a barbie crotch. 

[Kathlen Onyx]

47 minutes ago, Orwar said:

   I didn't know there were correct things to get aroused or interested by, I was living in this vivid delusion of people having different preferences in all sorts of things in life. And since women have been whinging about guys with freenises for years, I just find it funny how little introspective reflection is made by women on how their virtual privates are presented. 

   I should make myself a BOM bit to pop on when next I have an encounter wherein someone flashes me a barbie crotch. 

I'm not into the va ja ja opening or closing which I think is very weird because in order for it to be realistic you have to open and close it with each um...stroke. LOL I found the one I have has this feature but it looks more like when a woman has a baby.  Come to think of it maybe that's what it is for..shrugs.

BUT the V by sessions is the only one that actually fit perfectly with my Maitreya body and looks ultra realistic in the closed position or very slightly open. The skin and detail is impeccable in a close up view.

4 hours ago, Bastet Aurelia said:

This. I'm a nude dancer and escort and do very very well with a standard Maitreya body, without spending extra L on upgrading my lady bits. Most guys are not at all paying attention to (or even able to see) the quality of the specific female genitalia when I'm wrapped all around them and texting some of the lovliest, sensual words in a chat. Trust me, the look of your privates is the last thing they are, or should be, focused on.

I'm a little confused here. You don't ever RP having the guy have oral sex with you?  Why bother getting nude at all if they should be focusing on your lovely words in chat?  Are you saying that you charge 4000L hour and you use only your Maitreya body?  No add-on's at all?  If I was a guy and paying 4000L an hour the girl better have all the newest, best looking parts they sell but that's me. 

[Rowan Amore]

2 hours ago, Orwar said:

   I didn't know there were correct things to get aroused or interested by, I was living in this vivid delusion of people having different preferences in all sorts of things in life. And since women have been whinging about guys with freenises for years, I just find it funny how little introspective reflection is made by women on how their virtual privates are presented. 

   I should make myself a BOM bit to pop on when next I have an encounter wherein someone flashes me a barbie crotch. 

I wasn't saying everyone needs or doesn't need one. I have one and wear it on occasion.  If I do, it's more for the other person's benefit and not mine as I'm more interested in what is said rather than what the bits are doing.

 

30 minutes ago, Sam1 Bellisserian said:

I'm a little confused here. You don't ever RP having the guy have oral sex with you?  Why bother getting nude at all if they should be focusing on your lovely words in chat?  Are you saying that you charge 4000L hour and you use only your Maitreya body?  No add-on's at all?  If I was a guy and paying 4000L an hour the girl better have all the newest, best looking parts they sell but that's me. 

I agree.  If someone were paying, I'd want to present the most realism possible.  On the other hand, I've also known men who use only text based ERP and have no interest in any bits.

 

My main point was in regards to new female avatars.  Adding lady parts is in no way necessary.  

True story.  When I was new, some guy asked if I had lady parts then proceeded to tell me I couldn't have SLex without them.  He wasn't all that new either.  Maybe LL should think about having an adult option male avatar to avoid the whole freenis debacle.

Edited May 23, 2021 by Rowan Amore

[Tazzie Tuque]

With regards to add on private parts for females.  I am sure everyone has their preferences and ideas on whether or not these are useful.  I have been in SL for almost 16 years and never ever purchased or used any add on private parts.  And I have had a few long term relationships as well, and none of the men ever even mentioned the need for these parts.  It just was not an issue.  In my humble opinion, unless you plan on activities that might require these parts such as noted in some of the comments here.  Then the average avatar in SL simply does not need them.  One expense, I have never even considered nor ever needed, a good well detailed skin is all I have ever needed..  Just saying.

[Wulfie Reanimator]

13 hours ago, Marianne Little said:

It is no control on the Marketplace. Old stuff is not pulled off. The expensive avatar had reviews from 2011 and the newest from 2014. That is OLD - Super old in Second life. Buyer beware, should be printed when you log into the Marketplace.

If the merchant is inactive and the products aren't being bought, they will be unlisted.

 

Edited May 24, 2021 by Wulfie Reanimator

[AngieHawk]

On 5/22/2021 at 7:55 AM, Jaylinbridges said:

I have a few Alts that still use the Body & Soul system avatars.  Most come with at least one outfit and a couple skins.  With a system body you can wear mesh clothing, but you usually use the sizes that do not have the designer's name such as Maitreya or Belleza etc, but the sizes that just say L, M S, XS, XXS, XL, XXL or some equivalent. When you wear mesh clothing or attached clothing on a system body, you will need the correct alpha layer for that clothing part.  Unfortunately when Mesh took off, the designers often left out system sizes, and even worse their alpha layers.   But now most Mesh bodies use BOM (Baked On Mesh), which can use the same system clothing that you can, so there is more new BOM with alpha layers.   

You can find all kinds of older Mesh designed for the system body shapes, and even older system clothing, sold on the marketplace and at Freebie shops.  

And because of BOM, the Mesh designers selling system items are including the alpha layers again.

Some of the B&S system heads are quite attractive and well designed.  While they dont have all the fancy materials effects and animations of Mesh Bento heads, they are much better than any of the default avatars that are in the Linden library, imo.

You can also wear a modern Bento Mesh BOM head and a system body, and look just fine if you wear clothing other than a bikini.  The Mesh bodies mainly smooth out the chunky parts of the body and have realistic hands and feet. You'll need to spend about 3000 Lindens to get a decent Mesh Bento body that includes the feet and hands, but does not include a head.  You can still use your system head as you try demos and learn more about SL.

And yeah, some will say you need 15,000 L to get started - but for a beginner, that is not necessary..

Check out the SLINK Redux & Classic Body Bundle, that includes hands and feet, and both BOM and regular mesh bodies.  They make a slimmer Original, and the Hourglass body shape bundle too.  It's a shame the most popular body designers have taken over to the point many clothing designers no longer provide outfits for the Slink body sizes.  But it is still a good place to start, and they are in no way inferior to the overpriced popular brands.  SLINK was also the first to make mesh hands and feet, and they still have the best BOM mesh body system.

Bento mesh heads sometime show up free or for $1 as promotions around Holidays.  The last one was a $6000 L head for $1.  And for Thanksgiving a $5000 head for 0$L.

Now everyone's alts look the same.

It's really hard to figure SL out without a mentor.  We lose most newbies just because of your first experiences.

 

 

 

I just bought another body, by mayreal it is a backed on mesh says it fits slink clothes.....no it wont.  I am still looking for the makers of clothes that have the different sizes included very few and far between. Still frustrated but I have learned so much more.

[AngieHawk]

On 5/23/2021 at 3:43 PM, Rowan Amore said:

I wasn't saying everyone needs or doesn't need one. I have one and wear it on occasion.  If I do, it's more for the other person's benefit and not mine as I'm more interested in what is said rather than what the bits are doing.

 

I agree.  If someone were paying, I'd want to present the most realism possible.  On the other hand, I've also known men who use only text based ERP and have no interest in any bits.

 

My main point was in regards to new female avatars.  Adding lady parts is in no way necessary.  

True story.  When I was new, some guy asked if I had lady parts then proceeded to tell me I couldn't have SLex without them.  He wasn't all that new either.  Maybe LL should think about having an adult option male avatar to avoid the whole freenis debacle.

About the lady parts I was being a smart Arss, lol trying to make a point.

[Rowan Amore]

29 minutes ago, AngieHawk said:

I just bought another body, by mayreal it is a backed on mesh says it fits slink clothes.....no it wont.  I am still looking for the makers of clothes that have the different sizes included very few and far between. Still frustrated but I have learned so much more.

Do you have the link from the marketplace for what you bought so we could help?