A Gentlemanly AO
[click for larger image - one of Posture is Everything's original stand animations]
While clothes may make the man, an inappropriate Animation Override (AO) may negate any desired impression one wishes to give and I therefore attribute to an AO a very close second in terms of importance after clothes. The default walk we are born into this world with makes us appear as though we are comprised of popsicle sticks bound together with electrical tape, and the recently added male walk is not much improved.
[click for larger image - one of VISTA's stand animations]
For the new to SL, I suggest the acquisition of a single new walk before spending money on a complete AO system. Abranimations has an extensive selection of cost effective and acceptable walking animations. Once someone has been in SL a sufficient enough time to determine their character or the impression they wish to give, then forge ahead with researching an appropriate AO.
[click for larger image - one of Posture is Everything's stand animations]
If one is searching for an AO that would befit a gentlemen, the choices become increasingly limited. There is much available if one wishes to be a “boy in the ‘hood”, neko, casual or even a sexually charged muscular dynamo, but the selection of AOs geared towards the gentleman are very few and far between.
[click for larger image - one of VISTA's ground sit animations]
The general rule of thumb that “you get what you pay for” almost always applies for AOs. I have purchased a fair number during the past couple of years and by and large have discovered quality is usually proportional to price, so do not waste your Lindens on an AO for less than about L$1,000. However, buyer beware, and anything exceeding the aforementioned should be trialed by way of an animation display stand.
[click for larger image - one of Posture is Everything's hover animations]
For a couple of years, the only truly gentleman’s inspired AO was created by Kamilah Hauptmann of Posture Is Everything. Her first incarnation of the Gentleman Jim AO was superb with an easy to use HUD interface. The animations were few, but well crafted with the animated stands cycling seamlessly.
[click for larger image - Posture is Everything's tail end typing animation]
Recently, Miss Hauptmann released the second generation of the Gentleman Jim AO. Unfortunately, despite having animated stands for those of us sporting a walking stick (which I do most of the time), I was a little less impressed with aspects of it. The typing animation which makes me appear as though I am delivering a sermon or pleading for relief from some ruffians can be disabled through the HUD, which is helpful (although the initial typing animation is quite nice and it is a loss). Nicely done, one can load either the regular Gentleman Jim AO or the Gentleman Jim AO for use with a walking stick – most useful. Now included are some elegant hovers, a hat tip and sits as well. No one offers up gentlemanly animations as well as Miss Hauptmann.
[click for larger image - one of VISTA's walking animations (hands behind the back and one of my favourites)]
Desirous, however, of a more complete AO with increasing options, particularly suiting a gentleman, I set out on another search. As previously mentioned, the world is replete with AOs for the overtly masculine, the casual man, and the neko boy, while quality elegance is nigh impossible to find. I did, however, find an AO (Irresistible Male 1.5 by Vista Barnes of VISTA Animations) that offered a retinue of options and high quality animations quite suitable for the gentleman (with some flexibility for the gentleman who likes to take a walk along darker alleyways on occasion). While the price tag may be prohibitive to some, a quality AO is a sound investment and unless you enjoy swapping out new AOs regularly, the purchase should last a long time (I had used the same AO for about two years quite contentedly before I felt a need for a little change).
[click for larger image - one of Posture is Everything's new cane stand animations]
The VISTA AO’s HUD is the most complete of any I’ve seen and extremely easy to use. One can select their default pre-jump, jump, flight, sit, ground sit and much more from several available. One can even add one’s own animations acquired elsewhere (which is what I intend to do as Miss Hauptmann’s animations still hold great appeal to myself). Easily remove the stands and other animations you do not desire. Creating a custom AO with the Irresistible Male as a basis, highlighted with Miss Hauptmann’s latest Gentleman Jim AO will provide you with an AO that suits your gentlemanly image.
[click for larger image - one of VISTA's sitting animations]
Naturally, if I had my druthers, I would like to see additional animation variations for the gentleman by either of the above mentioned creators, but the Gentleman Jim and Irresistible Male AO are the most compatible I have thus far found.
[click for larger image - Kheph777 Enoch's Gentlemen's Fancy Clear Cane animation overriding the AO]
One final mention, as a lover of walking sticks; most canes provide their own series of animations (one or more), and these will sometimes override an AO’s stand or vice versa. It is an imperfect world, but for the extremely fastidious, having one AO to use with a cane and one without is likely the best solution. Time consuming, but then again, your image is everything in a virtual world.
[click for larger image - Kheph777 Enoch's Gentlemen's Fancy Clear Cane animation being overriden by the AO]
My suggestion is as follows:
For new residents: Locate an acceptable walk at Abranimations.
For residents awaiting their fortune: Acquire the Gentleman Jim.
For residents who come in to some wealth: Acquire the Irresistible Male.
For residents who have amassed their fortune: Acquire both the Gentleman Jim and the Irresistible Male, combining them as desired for your personalized gentlemanly projection.
/me tips his cane in your general direction.
Other Details:
Shirt – King Of Hearts Suit Shirt White by Azriel Demain of Falln
Cuffs – King Of Hearts Suit Cuffs White by Azriel Demain of Falln
Jabot – Elric Suit Jabot White by Azriel Demain of Falln
Trousers, socks and waistcoat – Lord Edward Baroque Suit Chocolate by Nicky Ree of Designing Nicky Ree
Shoes – b_Montgolfier shoe (buckle retextured and shoe retinted) by Arundelain Dumart of Arundel Design
Gloves – FORTISSIMO Gloves, White by Nix Sands of XNT
Cane – Gentlemen’s Fancy Clear Cane by Kheph777 Enoch of Kheph’s Creations
Monocle – GC-Monokel (Dark-Knight clock) by Grazioso Alekseev of Guild of Crie Eyewear
Photos taken in My Photosphere
Fox avatar
- Avatar – Arctic Fox by Cheetah Kitty
- Hair – The Dauphin (Blonde) by Siyu Suen of Illusions
One question re Irresistible male: have you figured out how to make him do the “crouch walk”? I cannot seem to find this control.
Hello, Harrison. Unfortunately, no, but I presumed that was in part to my not using a computer conventionally. I cannot use a normal mouse and use a pen tabled and trackball, which means I skipped over learning how to do certain things in SL. I wish I could be of more assistance.