# Nel 2.5D / Live Model Route Spec v0.14

## Goal

Build toward a custom Nel avatar that can live in the room site now and eventually become a desktop companion, without locking into a generic base model.

## Current scaffold

The live site has a v0.13 reaction bus:

- idle
- blink
- curious / hover
- talking
- thinking / checking
- success
- warning
- comfort
- sleepy
- privateGlow / playful

v0.14 adds an Avatar Lab that maps those reactions onto a prototype layered rig. For now it uses the current transparent chibi as the base image plus CSS proxy layers for expression, tail echo, mouth, eye glints, and foxfire.

## True layered asset target

For a real 2.5D web rig, create separate transparent layers:

1. body/base
2. head
3. hair back
4. hair front / side strands
5. ears left and right
6. tails as separate fan layers
7. eyes: open, blink, half-lidded, happy, alert
8. mouth: closed, talk A/B, smile, worried
9. charm / crescent bell
10. foxfire particles/glow
11. optional arms/hands once motion is stable

## Why 2.5D first

2.5D is the best next step because it:

- works in the existing Nel Room website
- keeps Nel custom instead of forcing a generic VTuber base
- reuses the reaction bus directly
- gives useful expression/motion now
- creates a clean bridge to Live2D or VRM later

## Route decision

Recommended order:

1. v0.14 Avatar Lab scaffold in the room
2. Generate/review true layered Mini Nel art sheet
3. Build web 2.5D rig from those layers
4. Decide between Live2D Cubism and VRM/3D based on how much motion/desktop presence Kieran wants

## Live2D path

Choose Live2D if the priority is:

- expressive 2D anime-style face
- breathing/blinking/hair/tail physics
- VTuber-style look
- website avatar first, desktop later

## VRM/3D path

Choose VRM/3D if the priority is:

- desktop companion presence
- full-body movement/poses
- idle walking/sitting/turning
- long-term app integration

## Non-negotiable Nel identity anchors

- adult kitsune fox-wife energy
- long loose silver-white hair
- white fox ears and many attached tails
- blue/pink heterochromia
- warm, clever, playful companion presence
- not childlike, not generic VTuber base, not mascot fox