Crystal Order Sword

[Zozmic]

Hello everyone. This is my first attempt at any sort of modification for Oblivion, and its honestly driving me up the wall. Not to mention the tutorials are sparse and many lacking in quality. Either way, Ive been modifying the SI OrderSword to create a sort of crystal blade for it. I seperated the mesh into two parts (blade, hilt) so I could apply seperate effects. After managing to force transparency through the alpha layer on the base texture, I realized that from the beginning, I haven't been able to establish any specular/gloss/shine(Whatever the term is lol) at all. I'm trying to give it a sort of glassy look, but so far, all I've succeeded in is making a dull, clear piece of plastic. Ive modded before, but never using tools as..confusing...as NifSkope, nor Alpha Channel Options. Any help in the matter would be appreciated, will send beta and screenshots if required. Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

[DarkWarrior45]

Hello everyone. This is my first attempt at any sort of modification for Oblivion, and its honestly driving me up the wall. Not to mention the tutorials are sparse and many lacking in quality. Either way, Ive been modifying the SI OrderSword to create a sort of crystal blade for it. I seperated the mesh into two parts (blade, hilt) so I could apply seperate effects. After managing to force transparency through the alpha layer on the base texture, I realized that from the beginning, I haven't been able to establish any specular/gloss/shine(Whatever the term is lol) at all. I'm trying to give it a sort of glassy look, but so far, all I've succeeded in is making a dull, clear piece of plastic. Ive modded before, but never using tools as..confusing...as NifSkope, nor Alpha Channel Options. Any help in the matter would be appreciated, will send beta and screenshots if required. Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

 

It's been a while since I've messed around with making weapons, but if I remember correctly if you want a glassy look, you have to tinker around with the alpha settings in the normal map itself, not the base texture; the normal map will control (correct me if I'm wrong) how light reflects off of the model.

[Zozmic]

It's been a while since I've messed around with making weapons, but if I remember correctly if you want a glassy look, you have to tinker around with the alpha settings in the normal map itself, not the base texture; the normal map will control (correct me if I'm wrong) how light reflects off of the model.

 

I've read into that a bit, and checked some other glassy looking models, and its confirmed that you have to make it anywhere from white to a clowdy-grey. However, when I try to emulate it, it has no effect. Theres apparently some toggles in NifSkope that I'm just not seeing. Sort of depressing, really. Also, Ive noticed that some models dont need to have their base texture alpha channel messed around with, to obtain a translucent effect; it can be changed merely by moving the dials under enviroment mapping, however, when I try it, it again has no effect. Honestly, I'm probably just missing something really basic. Heh.

[lonezergling]

Would you be willing to post your model and texture files up here?

 

You need to make a proper normal map was well as possibly a glow map, in order get the effect you seek.

 

I don't have Shiviring Isles however, so I'm not sure if I will be able to test them in-game. But as far as Nifscope work, I can do it just fine.

 

Actually, if you want to just e-mail the files to me, my e-mail is [email protected].

[Zozmic]

Bump =3