teklanika

I PM'd both of you, so we can talk much easier. I appreciate the help, but I have to say I'm still very confused. I just want to get the normal map to a state where it can be safely modified to add more detail. This talk of greyscale is confusing me, simply because when I look at the map it's neon, like all other _n files I've seen. Forgive my being naive, but I need much more detail if I'm ever going to figure this stuff out. :unsure:

Alright I understand now, thank you! Alright, so I will bump up the resolution of the texture and paint in the extra detail, then re-size the old map to fit the new texture. What is the best way to do option A---I'd like to get the deeper "grooves" and such, but I have no idea how to go about re-sizing the old map and creating such grooves without using said crappy plugin.

Can you elaborate a little more on that? 1. Should I increase the image size from 512x512 to 1024x1024, then paint in new detail? 2. So I DO require a higher poly model than the vanilla models? Bake a new normal map? :ermm:

I have a couple quick questions for the texture modders out there! I'm a modding veteran when it comes to The Elder Scrolls; I've been making them since Morrowind and Oblivion. However, most of the work I've done revolves around the Construction Set, which we---sadly---don't have access to at the moment. So I've turned my attention to textures, as I'd like to make Skyrim a more beautiful place to immerse ones self in. Modeling was never my forte; too complex for the amount of time I'm willing to dump into my little projects. So that leaves purely texture work, which I know I can do if I just had a little extra knowledge on the subject. So my questions are: 1. What is the best method for modifying existing textures to get higher detail and resolution? 2. How can I create an accurate normal map, like the default Bethesda maps? (I use Photoshop with the Nvidia .DDS tool, but whenever I attempt to create a normal map it's very fuzzy, in comparison to the Bethesda maps which are much more sharp. I know this has something to do with height templates but I can't seem to figure it out!) Let me give an example of what I'm trying to do here. I have a steelsword.dds file right here on my desktop, ready to go. I open it with Photoshop, and I know how to change the colors of individual pieces, etc. However, I want this sword to look INCREDIBLY detailed in game---high resolution, and with a very detailed normal map. I've read just about every guide I could find on normal maps and texturing, but I can't seem to find a simple answer to my problem here. Is the model simply too low poly count for a large texture to make a difference? I really just don't know! :( So... can anyone shed some light on how I can get a beautiful steel sword in Skyrim? :confused: I apologize if this has been addressed in another thread, I couldn't find anything after looking around for quite some time.

Hey guys, I've got a quick question for anyone who may have a solution: I just did a fresh re-install of Oblivion GOTY, the Steam version, and started it up. I have a couple simple mods installed (DarN UI, Elven map, and a couple of my own mods) and started Oblivion up just fine. However, footsteps make a strange half-sound, like it's cutting out. Also, people will do a greeting which I can hear, but if I talk directly to them the audio fails to initialize and they just mouth the words without any sound. Anyone know what the problem could be? I disabled all my mods just to see, and the issue persists. I deleted the sound/voice BSA's from Shivering Isles and Vanilla, and I'm re-downloading them now from Steam. It may or may not work----but if it doesn't, anyone else have some ideas? Edit: Fixed it by replacing sound files and restarting PC. You can delete this thread if you guys want. Or, if someone is having the same issues, they can try what I did and see if it helps!

Just got on after sleeping in haha, Thanks a bunch guys! I'm going to implement the armor/weapons/tapestries/door, and then release a demo. I'll drop the link right here after I'm done placing all of the new stuff :) Edit: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=E1RBJMJM - this is the new download, with custom door, tapestry, 4 sets of armor, 2 weapons, and NPC's added! Type "coc aaaMoragTongSanctuary" into the console to get there quickly. Or, go to Cheydinhal and look around, you'll find something new ;P If the textures don't show up on the models, it's probably because of how the file path is set in the NIF. I have my Oblivion on a different drive than default, so... you can change the file path in the NIF with NIFSkope if you want. Anyway, I added a few important NPC's and such, and they're wearing the appropriate armor/weapons. I also added the new tap/door, but their texture map needs fixing, light doesn't reflect off of them. Anyway, enjoy! It's in it's infancy, but you can still walk around and check it out haha. Edit #2: What's left to do is: add more clutter and such, more NPC's, create a book of rules, and then quests. Anything else, like armor and weapons, is completely extra, although still desirable.

Custom armor for the higher ups in Morag Tong rank http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/53/oblivion201006040017018.jpg

Custom armor, and weapon :) http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4343/oblivion201006032133159.jpg

I decided I would give re-texturing a shot! :) While you guys work on tapestries and doors and armor/weapons, I'm going to just retexture the DB armor to make it more rich and less... morbidly dark. We'll see how I do haha.

Okay all cells are completed. I'm awaiting the door, tapestries, and any armor/weapons you guys have ready. I'll toss it all in the mod, zip it up, and send you guys a beta! :D

Buddha man, that looks wicked awesome... too bad you're crashing out, I want to put that in the mod right this second lol. :P

Sounds good! :D The two new cells I'm working on should be done shortly as well, so once I get the door/tapestries, I'll add them in and release the beta to you guys, woot!

Sounds good! :) I couldn't help myself, I'm adding two more cells to the Sanctuary, I'm just not sure what they'll contain, haha. We'll see, I'll post again in a bit to check up on you guys. :D

Yeah I'll wait for the door, tapestries, and your awesome armor/weapon before I release then :) I actually haven't been modding very long, but after making a simple shop mod, I was hooked. I made 3 more shops after that, and then decided I wanted to try scripting. I tried that, and hated it haha, so I decided I would then try QUEST making... I did that, and it was pretty fun, and then I went back to cell creation. There's something nostalgic and fun about walking into a mod YOU created, so that's what kept me going. Then, after spending an hour reading Morrowind lore out of boredom, I realized that adding the Morag Tong guild to Oblivion would be really fun. I did a tiny bit of research, but for the most part I just hopped right into it. I'll be honest, I didn't really think anyone would even help me with the textures, but here I am with two kind souls making stuff for a person they've never even met! Pretty awesome stuff, haha. So that's basically what happened... I just figured this would be a fun project for me to fill up the time while I wait for my Acura NSX to get shipped, and my college classes to start :P

I've completed every cell, now it's time to add lots of clutter and npc's and such. Quests and scripts will come later of course :P Buddha, TodaY, would you guys like a beta release now? Just to walk through the cells and find bugs/give feedback? :) I will also incorporate your door and new tapestry Buddha, if you want me to before I release the beta to you guys.

Yeah, a moon would look great, or a setting sun, or something of that nature. Go with whatever you think would look best, and then if you can, compile it into a dds and combine it with a tapestry model, so I can use it for the mod :) Edit: If you can't compile it, I have photoshop to make the texture a .dds, but I don't know what model to use for the tapestry and I don't have a BSA unpacker. So if you can get me the correct model and fit the texture, it would save me a lot of time haha.

Well, we can just use the tapestry without the black hand for now, it's no big deal. If you have any other ideas for making a custom, Morag Tong style* one, then by all means go for it. :) What else would look good on a custom Morag Tong tapestry?

That looks fantastic man! :D I can't wait to throw that door in the mod tonight, haha. This is really exciting, everything is beginning to come together. Thanks for the help Buddha, and I look forward to seeing the tapestries next. :)

I'll be back in a couple hours to see how you guys have been doing, I have to run some errands. The mod cells are just about done, and after I create the NPC's I'll release a beta to you guys! :)

TehBuddha, if you'd like to contribute I'd be more than happy to have you do some stuff for me :) At the moment, TodaY is working on armor and weapons I specified earlier (if you look back in the thread) but what I can have you do is the Dark Brotherhood tapestries and door. Do you know what I'm talking about? When you first walk into the DB sanctuary, that door that speaks to you has a hand on it, and then the tapestries when you walk in have a hand on them as well. If you could replace that hand with a Morag Tong seal (or just redo the whole tapestry/door for a totally custom look), It'd be much appreciated! It would also take some load off of TodaY, who is already doing 5 projects total :P If you don't think you can do this, you can go ahead and create some custom armors/weapons. Use Steel, Fine Steel, Silver, Mithril, Iron, Glass, and Leather as your mesh, and go from there. Anything you come up with can be posted here of course, and I'll more than likely implement it in my mod somehow :)

Lol yeah it's a nice axe isn't it? Anyway, I have now completed: House Basement Sanctuary Shrine Room Storage Room Training Room Living Quarters I have the vendor room left, and then it's on to the implementation of the new items, and NPC's! :) I just woke up though, it's 10:40 AM here, and I need to do my normal morning routine before I get started on more stuff :D

Your dedication definitely shows... that is an amazing looking weapon. I can't believe you can produce such awesome textures... I just hope my buildings and design can do your weaponry and armor justice! :) I tried texturing a while back, and I can honestly say I didn't have the patience for it, haha.

Oh of course, I don't mind anyone using the stuff just as long as it has nothing to do with our mod. :) (I'm including you and I as part of a team at this point haha) And yeah I mean as long as you're willing to make it work, feel free to put any sort of twist (like the tribal) on the armor/weapons/clutter. As long as you maintain a tasteful mindset at least :P How everything looks is completely based on how much effort you want to put forth. If you don't want to redo the normal maps, by all means don't. I'm happy you're helping me in the first place! However, if you don't mind redoing some things, and putting forth the effort, then feel free to do the best you can do :) Either way, I'll be happy. My goal was simply to have unique items in this mod, to make it worth the time to download, and worth the time for me to develop hehe. As for my part of the mod, I have added three more cells; a shrine room, storage room, and a black market! Of course, they aren't COMPLETE... but it's getting there haha :D

Oh don't worry about the helm either, I agree, it's awful... haha :P Edit: You can do flames or tribal, as long as it's classy and not overdone :) And yeah, some shininess would be awesome if it's not too much trouble! :D

Oh man that looks INCREDIBLE! :D I'm assuming by normal map you mean how the color pops on the armor? I think the best set to go with steel armor is either Fine Steel or Silver weaponry, but the choice is of course yours. You have great taste, so I'll leave it up to you. :)