The Issue:

The Grunt - Aralakh Commander textures do not apply to EGM or Project Variety files, resulting in Grunt wearing his vanilla armor in some scenes.


The Fix:

This tutorial will walk you through extracting and applying the proper textures to EGM and Project Variety.

Note: This tutorial assumes you have installed all your desired mods (including Grunt - Aralakh Commander mod) and ALOT. If you have not, you need to do so before completing these steps.


Things you'll need:


Grunt -Aralakh Commander

Note: Version 1.0 was used for this tutorial.


ME3Explorer

Note: Version 3.0 was used for this tutorial.


GIMP (Version 2.8 required) - Needed to generate mipmaps for Diff textures and Spec maps after extraction

You can download version 2.8 from here

Note: In order to manipulate DDS format files you'll need a separate plugin for GIMP. At the time of writing this tutorial, only version 2.8 was
compatible with the required plugin. Dowload the DDS plugin here. Download either the 32 or 64 bit version (dependent on your system). Follow the
included readme file, included in the zip file, to properly install plugin.


Part 1
Extracting Textures:

This section will explain how to extract textures from Grunt -Aralakh Commander for Part 2 of this tutorial.

1.   Using ME3 Explorer's Texplorer tool, locate the following Aralakh Commander textures:

Note: you'll notice there are two sets. One vanilla version of the textures and one Aralakh Commander version of the textures. Make sure to extract the Aralakh versions.

 BIOG_KRO_ARM_GNT_R > GNTA > TEXTURES
KRO_ARM_GNTa_Diff
KRO_ARM_GNYa_Spec 

3.   Select the thumbnail image of the desired textures one at a time
4.   Click the word "Extract" in the lower left corner of the Texplorer central pane
5.   Select a folder you want to export the file(s) to and accept

6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each of the above mentioned texture file(s)

Part 2
Preparing Textures:

This section will explain how prepare the textures you extracted so you can apply them in Part 3 of this tutorial. This is a required step for this tutorial.

7.   Using GIMP, open each of the following file(s) one at a time

Note: Do not use GIMP for any of the normal map textures. Even with a plugin, it can not open or save them properly for our purpose.

KRO_ARM_GNTa_Diff         <DXT1>
KRO_ARM_GNYa_Spec      <DXT5>

8.   A pop window will open with 3 boxes already checked. Uncheck the "load mipmaps" tic box and click "ok"
9.   Open the "File" tab at the top left of the screen and select "Export as..." from the drop down menu
10.  At the bottom of the "export image" window, click the "Select File Type (By extension)" to reveal another drop down menu
11   Select the  "DDS image" option
12. Either overwrite the existing file or pick another location to save the new texture file to
13. Click the "Export" button in the lower right corner of the "export image" window
14. A "Save as DDS" window will pop up with a few options
15. Select the appropriate compression from the drop down as specified above in this color
16. Select "Generate mipmaps" in the "Mipmaps" drop down menu
17. Click "ok"

18. Repeat steps 7-17 for all of the above mentioned texture files in step 36

Part 3
Applying Textures:

This section will explain on how to apply the Aralakh Commander textures to EGM and Project Variety.

*******CAUTION*********
Complete the following instructions AFTER appropriate pcc file(s), ALOT, and desired tpf file(s) are installed
This should be your last step after implementing any of my tutorials 
If you need to use any more of my tutorials, do so now and complete this step afterwards

Always back up the texture files you plan to replace so you can revert easily should you make a mistake

You have been warned!
**************************

!!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!
Apply these texture file(s) to the vanilla textures only 
Check only desired pcc file(s) before saving changes
You may have to vanilla your game if you screw this up
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19. Using ME3 Explorer's Texplorer tool, replace the following vanilla/ALOT Norm map with the Buff Shep Tank version.

 BIOG_KRO_ARM_GNT_R > GNTA > TEXTURES
KRO_ARM_GNTa_Diff
KRO_ARM_GNYa_Spec 

Note: You do NOT need to replace the Norm file

20. Click on the thumbnail image of each texture, one at a time, and check the appropriate pcc box(es) mentioned above
21. 6 tabs will appear at the bottom of the central window
22.  Click on the "Change" tab and specify the appropriate file you extracted/edited earlier in this tutorial

23. Repeat steps 20-22 for each of the above specified textures

24. Save Changes

25. Run AutoToc via ME3 Mod Manager