Modding the Arch Mage's Robe

[invertedpanda]

So, I've decided that, most definitely, the Arch Mage robe sucks as far as aesthetics go. I figured I'd retexture it myself, rather than wait for someone else to do something visually appealing.

 

I've had some experience doing video game skins (mostly back in the Unreal 1 days, but also a bit for Morrowind), and was curious if anybody has any bits of wisdom to share when doing it for Skyrim. I know I'll need NVMM to extract the BSAs, and a plugin for Photoshop (hoping it works on version 6, as that's all I have, and I hate using The GIMP). Doing the override shouldn't be a problem. Mostly, I was wondering if there was any easy way to preview the skin without launching Oblivion; I plan on doing the work on my laptop at a local coffee shop tonight (my girlfriend is working there tonight, and I always chill out there while she works in the evenings.. damn social life getting in the way of Skyrim :P), but my laptop isn't beef enough to run Skyrim.

 

Also, any suggestions as far as aesthetics go are appreciated. I have a few ideas, just haven't settled yet, though. Just a simple re-tex, nothing fancy.

[elvinkun]

Well. It looks like something my dead great-great grandmother would like to wear.

But i think it would need remodel, rather than retext, the whole cape-thing (which also continues on back) is rather weird. Also if you play argonian/khajiit, it makes your head look like cooking pot covered in cloth and clips with tail.

[invertedpanda]

Yeah, but I don't have the time to do a new model, and looking at the current model, I think it COULD be made attractive.

[gagugu]

i replaced the meshes with the thalamor ones, which i kind of like

but since its a hooded robe and the thalamor hood is meant to be a headgear replacing hood (not just cosmetic like the archmage one) theres minor clipping problems with circlets

disabling the hood altogether would be my preferred solution, but i have no idea how to do that without cs

 

i personally left the modified robe in the closet after all and went with a generic master robe

i like it plain

[invertedpanda]

Having a hard time finding the arch mage robes in the BSA file. The ones named "archmage" aren't the actual arch mage robes.

[gagugu]

huh? sure they are

 

meshes\clothes\archmage\

textures\clothes\archmage\

 

.\f\ for female

.\m\ for male

[invertedpanda]

yeah, realized after I took a second look that I didn't quite look closely enough :) Working em' over now. May post something this weekend. Right now I'm just messing with it.

[wesside0yes]

Well. It looks like something my dead great-great grandmother would like to wear.

But i think it would need remodel, rather than retext, the whole cape-thing (which also continues on back) is rather weird. Also if you play argonian/khajiit, it makes your head look like cooking pot covered in cloth and clips with tail.

 

There is actually a hoodless version already in the game files, you can only get it via console commands though.

[Vannus]

There is actually a hoodless version already in the game files, you can only get it via console commands though.

This would have been infinitely more helpful if you had included the actual console command:

 

player.additem 0007c932 1

 

Hooded: 0010F570

Boots: 0007C92E not tried this one myself and don't know what it is, but it was mentioned before in relation to this, so i'm including it

[Beriallord]

Any plans to actually make the robe useful? I dunno at least give it some more - cost and some extra magicka regen. I was using a master Destruction robe over the archmage one. And the Archmage robe also takes up a head slot, which is the biggest problem I got with it. It should have better magical effects to make up for the fact it takes more equipment slots.