Paper objects such as Map of Dragon Burials

[DanielCoffey]

I have been asked to retexture the Map of Dragon Burials that you find on Delphine's table and I would like to ask for thoughts on any other paper objects that have not yet been retextured.

 

Since the HQ Paper mod is not currently supported (last update in 2012, original mod assets have been lost), I can't ask for the author to include the Map of Dragon Burials in it but fortunately simple texture replacement mods are stand alone or can be combined easily.

 

What paper objects do you know of that still need redoing? I have covered the Treasure Maps in Book Covers Skyrim (including the Stahlrim Source Map) but I understand that there is a Hearthfire paper object too?

 

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1. Map of Dragon Burials

 

Source mesh : meshes/clutter/dragonmap/dragonparchment01.nif

Source texture : textures/clutter/dragonmap/dragonparchment_d.dds

Source normal : textures/clutter/dragonmap/blank_n.dds

 

Original : 512x256 with alpha. No normal map.

Proposed : 2048x1024 with alpha

 

I am proposing making the new texture quite large since it is a key plot item, only a single copy exists at any one time and it is scaled quite large on that table. You can also pick it up in the inventory so it needs to look good on the inventory screen.

 

Edited December 22, 2014 by DanielCoffey

[keithinhanoi]

Is battlemap01.dds also used for the Skyrim map loading screen?

 

Although I have HQ Skyrim map V2 installed, my map loading screen looks like crap.

[DanielCoffey]

I don't know how the loading screens are created but one way to check if the battlemap01.dds from that mod is being used is to check the lower left of the map. The HQ Skyrim Map V2 mod has a compass rose in the lower left next to the Province of Skyrim lettering.

[DanielCoffey]

I am about to release my retexture of the Map of Dragon Burials (000BBCD5) and thought I would show you how I approached the task since I have altered the texture slightly.

 

In the original, the texture was 512x256 and was a grey chalk rubbing of the Dragonstone with some markings in charcoal showing the burial sites along with the sequence of the opened ones. The HDDLC upped the texture to 1024x512. I have elected to make my new texture 2048x1024 since it is a large item of the Main Quest and only occurs once.

 

My first issue was that the creator of the original was right-handed and I am left-handed. This makes quite a difference dealing with stokes across a page. I tried for a whole evening to re-create the grey charcoal effect and had to admit defeat so switched to what I would call a walnut stain. In the original, the writing appeared to be in crayon and I have switched to ink.

 

The first two screenshots below are of my new 2048x1024 texture and the third is the original HDDLC 1024x512.

 

  

 

The mod will be a simple texture replacer containing a single DDS file and therefore will not need an installer. I also don't think it needs packing into a BSA (with dummy ESP) as long as I give clear instructions as to which file to delete in order to deinstall the mod.

 

Is there anything else you can think of before I release this?

[DanielCoffey]

 

Map of Dragon Burials is a new retexture of the rubbing of the Dragonstone that you will first encounter on Delphine's table.

 

This is a simple texture replacer that does not contain any meshes or ESP files so will not count towards your 256 mod limit.

[Aiyen]

Looks good! I also think you are safe in the amount of details to installation etc. 

In fact if you had made a bsa for this with a dummy .esp I would have been forced to slap you with the mace of overkill! :P 

 

The only thing I can think of that might make it better would be if the chalk looked a bit more worn and dirty/gritty. Considering the increased resolution it should be possible to get some more intricate wear and tear details into it as well. 

[DanielCoffey]

I did think about aging the rubbing and then thought... it is new. She has just made it. Sure she scrounged a piece of old parchment from Farengar but the rubbing itself would be fresh.

[Aiyen]

Guess I should elaborate a bit. 

 

When you look at the original you can see all the parts that are meant to show something look more iregular and less clean. Perhaps due to the blur of the lower res, but it does add a bit to it. On yours at a higher res the lines are all sharper and much more defined, which imo does not add up when you make a chalk of a stone tablet.. there should be some iregularities etc. 

 

Hope that made sense hehe! :)