Modular Armory is a project to completely overhaul the meshes and textures for all vanilla Skyrim weapons and armors in a consistent fashion that is close to vanilla but higher in quality. Its primary inspiration was Cathedral Armory which essentially does the same thing. However, Modular Armory allows you to pick and choose instead of presenting an all-in-one solution. It also does not cover clothing as I believe that Gamwich's RUSTIC CLOTHING as a full package is the ideal choice.

Just like Cathedral Armory, I have based my tweaks on the fantastic SkyRealism Shiny mod. MTichenor kindly gave me permission to use their assets and I have implemented their cubemaps and environment mapping tweaks as well as many of their retextures.

• Modular Armory is fully modular (duh). You can select any set or unique artifact you like in the FOMOD installer and skip the rest.
• All meshes are vanilla meshes extracted from the default BSAs except for those covered by the USSEP in which case those were used.
• Weapon meshes are from LeanWolf's Better-Shaped Weapons (usually without sheaths).
• Numerous meshes had environment mapping enabled and cubemaps / environment maps added if they were missing.
• Included various cubemaps from aMidianBorn and SkyRealism Shiny as well as some upscaled vanilla ones.
• Patches for Practical Female Armors and Armor Mesh Fix are available.
  

Note that the "shiny" effect added by the environment mapping is very difficult to show in screenshots. Light reflections, particularly subtle ones, are most apparent when the object is in motion.

My texture choices had to fit two criteria: they had to cover all items from the same set so they would all be consistent in style, and they also had to be consistent in quality. Additionally, metalness maps were required for some sets where vanilla does not have any. The reason I did not just use aMidianBorn for everything is because AMB is unfortunately incomplete, often covering only a few pieces of a certain set. In some cases I opted to simply use vanilla upscaled textures from IconicDeath's Project Clarity which, surprise, are honestly not terrible.

ENVIRONMENT MAPPING













MISC ARMORS

• Hide Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Hide and Studded Hide Armor. No meshes or cubemap included.
• Fur Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Fur Armor. No meshes or cubemap included.
• Leather Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Leather Armor. No meshes or cubemap included.
• Scaled Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Scaled Armor. No meshes or cubemap included.
• Steel Plate Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Steel Plate Armor. Meshes and cubemap included.
  

Alternatives: I recommend the Fur armor retexture (textures\clothes\bandit\) from RUSTIC CLOTHING which happens to be my personal favourite.


MISC WEAPONS

• Wooden Sword: I recommend the textures from Forgotten Retex Project.
• Shiv: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Executioner's Axe: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Long Bow: Using Project Clarity textures and the mesh from Better Shaped Longbows.
• Riekling Spears: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Scimitar: Using SkyRealism Shiny textures.
• Silver Swords: Using textures from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
• Nord Hero Weapons: Using textures from SkyRealism Shiny.
• Staves: Using aMidianBorn Book of Silence textures for Conjuration and Restoration, and Project Clarity textures for Illusion and Alteration.
• Dragon Priest Weapons: Using textures and meshes from Dragon Priest Weapons Improved.
• Giant's Club: Using textures from Project Clarity. Unplayable.
  

Alternatives: Another excellent retexture for the Silver swords is Frankly HD Silver Sword with meshes from the LeanWolf's Better-Shaped Weapons FOMOD. As an alternative for the Scimitar, you may want to look at the mesh and matching texture set from LeanWolf's Better-Shaped Weapons.


BASIC ARMORS

• Iron Set: Using textures from aMidianBorn Iron and Banded Armor.
• Steel Set: Using armor textures from aMidianBorn Steel Armor and weapon textures from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
• Ancient Draugr Set: Using textures from SkyRealism Shiny.
• Forsworn Set: I recommend RUSTIC ARMOR AND WEAPONS.
  

ADVANCED SETS

• Falmer Set: Using textures from HD Falmer Armor - Weapons - Huts - Everything - Glow.
• Dwarven Set: Using textures from CC's HD Dwemer Weapons and Armor.
• Elven Set: Using armor textures from aMidianBorn Elven Armor and weapon textures from SkyRealism Shiny.
• Orcish Set: Using textures from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
  

RARE SETS

• Glass Set: I recommend aMidianBorn Matching Armory - Glass Armor and Weapons.
• Ebony Set: Using armor textures from aMidianBorn Ebony and weapon textures from SkyRealism Shiny.
• Dragon Set: I recommend Frankly HD Dragonbone and Dragonscale with LeanWolf's Better-Shaped Weapons meshes.
• Daedric Set: Using textures from SkyRealism Shiny.
  

Alternatives: You may also like Gamwich's textures for the Daedric set included in RUSTIC ARMOR AND WEAPONS.


DRAGONBORN SETS

• Chitin Armor: Using billyro's textures from Outlandish Chitin Armour.
• Bonemold Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Bonemold.
• Nordic Set: Using armor textures from aMidianBorn Nordic Carved and weapon textures from SkyRealism Shiny.
• Stalhrim Set: I recommend Stalhrim Refrozen.
  

Alternatives: Check out Remiros' Chitin Armor HD if you prefer a color scheme that's closer to the original vanilla one.








GUILDS

• Wolf Armor: Using aMidianBorn textures (brown fur) with SkyRealism Shiny cubemap.
• Blades Set: Using SkyRealism Shiny textures and cubemap for the Blades armor, sword, and shield.
• Shrouded Armor: I recommend Frankly HD Shrouded Armor.
• Thieves Guild Armor: I recommend Frankly HD Thieves Guild Armor.
• Nightingale Armor: I recommend Frankly HD Nightingale Armor and Weapons.
  

Alternatives: If you're a fan of Gamwich's style, you may prefer his retextures of the Shrouded Armor which is part of RUSTIC ARMOR AND WEAPONS.


MILITARY

• City Guard Armor: I recommend Frankly HD Stormcloak and City Guards.
• Stormcloak Armor: I recommend Frankly HD Stormcloak and City Guards.
• Stormcloak Officer Armor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Stormcloak Officer Armor.
• Imperial Set: I recommend Frankly HD Imperial Armor and Weapons.
• Dawnguard Set: I recommend Frankly HD Dawnguard Armor and Weapons.
  

COMPANIONS

• Wuuthrad: Using aMidianBorn textures.
• Shield of Ysgramor: Using aMidianBorn textures.
• Savior's Hide: Using aMidianBorn textures.
• Tsun's Armor: Using aMidianBorn textures.
  

Alternatives: If you prefer darker textures, you may be interested in Iconic's Ysgramor Shield Retexture and Iconic's Wuuthrad Retexture.


DWARVEN

• Keening: Using Project Clarity textures with LeanWolf's refractive mesh (which was slightly edited).
• Aetherial Set: Using CC's HD Dwemer Weapons and Armor and Project Clarity.
• Black Bow of Fate: Using texture from CC's HD Dwemer Weapons and Armor.
  

Alternatives: The only high quality alternative to the vanilla Aetherial Crown that I am aware of is Aetherial Crown by Saerileth. For Keening you may be interested in Keening Rework which has very detailed textures, a cool refractive effect for the crystal blade as well as a custom sheath.


DAEDRIC

• Nightingale Blade: Included with Frankly HD Nightingale Armor and Weapons.
• Nightingale Bow: Included with Frankly HD Nightingale Armor and Weapons.
• Skull of Corruption: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Sanguine Rose: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Mehrunes' Razor: Using textures from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
• Blade of Sacrifice: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Rueful Axe: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Volendrung: Using textures from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
• Dawnbreaker: Using textures from Remiros' Dawnbreaker HD with LeanWolf's meshes.
• Wabbajack: Using textures from Remiros' Wabbajack HD V2.
• Ebony Mail: Using textures from aMidianBorn Ebonymail.
• Ebony Blade: Using textures from Remiros' Ebony Blade HD.
  

OTHER

• Dragon Priest Masks: I recommend Masks of the Dovah Sonaak.
• Helm of Yngol: Using textures from aMidianBorn Helm of Yngol.
• Nettlebane: Using textures from Project Clarity.
• Targe of the Blooded: Using textures from aMidianBorn Targe of the Blooded.
• Chillrend: Using LeanWolf's refractive mesh. No textures. Install aMidianBorn Matching Armory - Glass Armor and Weapons.
• Blade of Woe: Using textures from aMidianBorn Blade of Woe.
• Staff of Magnus: Using textures from aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
• Jagged Crown: Included with Frankly HD Imperial Armor and Weapons.
  

DAWNGUARD

• Dawnguard Rune Axe: Included in Frankly HD Dawnguard Armor and Weapons.
• Dawnguard Rune Hammer: Included in Frankly HD Dawnguard Armor and Weapons.
• Dawnguard Rune Shield: Included in Frankly HD Dawnguard Armor and Weapons.
• Harkon's Sword: Using meshes and textures from Harkon's Sword - HD Retexture (version with scabbard).
• Ancient Falmer Armor: Using textures from Remiros' Ancient Falmer Armor.
• Auriel's Set: Using textures by Alana and a unique quiver mesh by Ghosu.
  

DRAGONBORN

• Hrothmund's Axe: Using textures from Remiros' Hrothmund's Axe HD. Unplayable.
• Champion's Cudgel: Included with Frankly HD Imperial Armor and Weapons.
• Bloodskal Blade: Using textures from Remiros' Bloodskal Blade HD.
• Miraak's Gloves: I recommend Frankly HD Miraak.
• Miraak's Robes: I recommend Frankly HD Miraak.
• Miraak's Boots: I recommend Frankly HD Miraak.
• Miraak's Sword: Using meshes and textures from Aevrigheim - Miraak's Sword and Staff Replacer as well as textures from Project Clarity.
• Miraak's Staff: Using meshes and textures from Aevrigheim - Miraak's Sword and Staff Replacer as well as textures from Project Clarity.
  

MALE HORNS FOR FEMALE IRON HELMET

The Iron Helmet is quite possibly the most iconic and recognisable item from Skyrim which makes it all the more frustrating that it is only available for male Dragonborn. On female characters, the horns are curled forward instead for ... some reason. Thankfully, Parapets fixed that. I uploaded edited versions of their meshes for consistency with Modular Armory (env mapping was enabled and the proper cubemap / envmask was added). Please note that you do not need this if you are using WACCF + ACE which integrates the two helmet meshes as separate variants ingame.

This is not a patch. The original file is not required.


UNIQUE NETTLEBANE MESH

By default, Nettlebane is using the Ebony Dagger mesh which is changed via plugin to Nettlebane's textures (this is called a texture set). Unfortunately, it is not possible to change environment mapping strength within a plugin and I found Nettlebane to be odd looking with the tweaked Ebony dagger mesh. Hence I decided to simply copy the original mesh, rename it, and assign it to Nettlebane. There is now a meshes\weapons\nettlebane\nettlebane.nif and meshes\weapons\nettlebane\1stpersonnettlebane.nif as well as a plugin to make the necessary changes. Ingame the visual difference is admittedly minor but it bothered me so there you go. The mesh is LeanWolf's but without the sheath (which has textures matching the Ebony weapons). The plugin contains all USSEP / WACCF changes but doesn't necessarily require either.


UNIQUE ZEPHYR

In vanilla, the unique bow Zephyr has the appearance of a generic Dwarven bow. This was fixed by Nazenn who used the Dwarven Recurve bow mesh by jet4571 with tweaked textures. His mod was then ported to SE by Ray84. Upon checking the assets, I discovered that the texture for the bow has the same shape as the regular Dwarven bow texture but is very low in quality. I changed the texture to use ClearanceClarence textures and assigned ReGenBot03's desaturated golden cubemap to the mesh. I also ESL-ified the plugin.

This is not a patch. The original file is not required.


UNIQUE TROLLSBANE

Trollsbane is a hammer with a unique enchantment that you can find on Solstheim. Unfortunately, it simply uses the default Steel Warhammer model. I instead replaced it with the warhammer from Ghosu's awesome Horker Weapon Pack and added Jokerine's High Resolution Horker Tusk texture for good measure (changed the directory so it only affects Horksbane).


UNIQUE HORKSBANE

Horksbane is a mace with a unique enchantment that you can find on Solstheim. Unfortunately, it simply uses the default Steel Mace model. I instead replaced it with the mace from Ghosu's awesome Horker Weapon Pack and added Jokerine's High Resolution Horker Tusk texture for good measure (changed the directory so it only affects Horksbane).


UNIQUE AMRENS FAMILY SWORD

So even if you probably only see Amren's Family Sword for the few minutes it takes to complete the associated fetch quest, I thought it was kinda boring that this Redguard dude's family heirloom was a regular Iron Sword. It turned out Farinelli had the same idea. I always loved their "Robin" scimitar with the stylised bird hilt, but wasn't too keen on the rest of the mod. So here's just the sword for Amren plus some edits to the mesh.

Extra special shoutout to KernalsEgg for Log Inventory Item Rotation which made fixing the mesh super easy.


PRACTICAL FEMALE ARMORS MESHES

Let's be honest, some of the armors in Skyrim have pretty egregious boob plates for their female variants. Some are arguably worse than others. For those of us who dislike this there is Practical Female Armors by JZBai and Practical Female Blades Armor by Kadraeus which have been staples in my mod order for a long time. Now un-boobified armors are finally coming to Modular Armory.

DammApple recently started doing matching edits for CC armors which I have now included with the appropriate edits to cubemaps and env mapping. Thanks for leaving the permissions open!

If you feel the desperate need to leave a comment about pseudo-realism, go watch this.

However, I don't dislike the female versions of all armors, so I only patched the ones that I thought were particularly ridiculous (and a few others for which I already had patches lying around for). The following armors are covered and can be selected in the FOMOD installer:

• Steel Plate
• Wolf Armor
• Ancient Draugr
• Elven Armor
• Elven Light Armor
• Blades Armor
• Ebony Armor
• Ebony Mail
• Nordic Armor
• CC Iron Plate
• CC Steel Soldier
• CC Elven Hunter
• CC Ebony Plate
  

This is not a patch. The original file is not required.

1.1 Fixed the Ebony Mail module (idk what went wrong there, man)
1.1 Added CC Iron Plate
1.1 Added CC Ebony Plate
1.2 Added env maps to Wolf armor meshes
1.2 Added CC Steel Soldier
1.2 Added CC Elven Hunter


ARMOR MESH FIXES PATCH

Where necessary, I edited the meshes from Armor Mesh Fix for consistency with Modular Armory (enabled or tweaked environment mapping and added or changed cubemaps). Through the FOMOD installer you can pick exactly which armor sets you would like patched. You still need to install the main file and place the Modular Armory patch below.

This is a patch. The original file is required.

1.1 Fixed env mapping on the female Iron Helmet mesh.
1.1 Cut env mapping scale on Orcish armor meshes in half.
1.1 Changed cubemap from orcish_e.dds to ore_orich_e.dds for Orcish armor meshes.
1.2 Added env maps to Wolf Armor (MA does not have env maps, but Xavbio's retexture does).
1.3 Added option to choose between env-mapped / non env-mapped meshes in the FOMOD.
1.3 Fixed silly copy-paste error in the Wolf Armor helmet meshes.


RELIQUARY OF MYTH PATCH

This includes a tweaked mesh for the one-handed Ebony Blade from Reliquary of Myth. I removed the sheath and added the AMBEbonyGold_e.dds cubemap for consistency with MA's regular Ebony Blade. Remiros' textures will also apply to the one-handed version. Since ROM's assets are packaged in a BSA, the included meshes and textures for the Ebony Blade will always be overwritten by the loose assets from MA and this patch.

Otherwise, ROM does not require patches for Modular Armory. There will be some conflicts as ROM changes the meshes for Keening and Chillrend, and I recommend leaving ROM's BSAs packed so Modular Armory can overwrite.

This is a patch. The original file is required.


MASKS OF THE DOVAH SONAAK PATCH

This is a mesh patch for Masks of the Dovah Sonaak where I assigned new cubemaps to many of the meshes (such as the AMBEbony_e.dds cubemap to the Ebony and Acolyte masks). I recommend using this with the green opal_e.dds cubemap from aMidianBorn Matching Armory - Glass Armor and Weapons which I assigned to Otar (the malachite mask). I also highly recommend Frankly HD Miraak for the beautiful gold cubemap for Miraak's mask.

This is a patch. The original file is required.


XAVBIO RETEXTURES PATCHES

Recently, mod author Xavbio started publishing a series of comprehensive texture packs for various armor sets in the game which cover more than Modular Armory so far did. Going forward, I will largely be using their textures. However, since they are not (usually) providing modified meshes, Modular Armory is not entirely redundant and I created patches with my usual mesh edits for consistent cubemaps and environment mapping. This includes modified meshes for CC armors, based on USCCCP meshes where available.

The Ancient Nord patch contains the armor meshes with pants from the original FOMOD.

The Carved Nordic patch contains the modified bow mesh from the original FOMOD.

The Glass patch includes one mesh from Staves (Creations) - Minor Fixes. Thanks to cool531 for leaving the permissions open!

The original file(s) is/are required.

Patches are so far available for:

• Iron Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Ancient Nord Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Steel Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Wolf Armors and Weapons Retexture
• Blades Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Silver Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Dwemer Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Elven Armors and Weapons Retexture
• Orcish Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Carved Nordic Armors and Weapons
• Glass Armors and Weapons Retextures
• Ebony Armors and Weapons Retextures
  

Orcish Armor and Weapons Retextures Patch - Changelog:

1.1 Fixed filepaths in some of the CC meshes (thanks, bdip!).
1.2 Reduced env mapping scale on the vanilla armors to blend better with the weapons and CC armors.


HELMET PATCHES

Patches for Improved Closefaced Helmets and Creation Club Open Helmets were created by aljo. Thank you!






FUTURE PLANS

• More screenshots for the mod page.
• Obtain permissions to include more textures.
• Reduce env mapping scale for Iron and Steel armors.
• Edit the loadscreen models so they're consistent with their ingame counterparts.
• Unique Uniques module (to cover modded assets for uniques that have a generic appearance in vanilla).
• Patch for Practical Female Armors. --- Done.
• Patch for aMidianBorn Armor Variants Lite. --- Done.
• Patch for Armor Mesh Fixes. --- Done.
  

PERMISSIONS

See permissions tab.


CREDITS

• Thanks to Asator and Dusky for teaching me the NifSkope basics!
• Thanks to zilav for the absolutely invaluable SNIFF tool (my mouse arm says thank you).
• Thanks to the Unofficial Patch team for the corrected armor and weapon meshes.
• Thanks to garthand for corrected Creation Club meshes.
• Thanks to RenaPG for Armor Mesh Fixes.
• Thanks to cool531 for Staves (Creation) - Minor Fixes.
• Thanks to MTichenor for the cubemaps and retextures from SkyRealism Shiny.
• Thanks to kartoffel for their upscaled cubemaps.
• Thanks to the Cathedral team for Cathedral - Armory inspiration and texture tweaks.
• Thanks to IconicDeath for their improved vanilla textures from Project Clarity.
• Thanks to Cabal and the other contributors for aMidianBorn Book of Silence.
• Thanks to ClearanceClarence for CC's HD Dwemer Weapons and Armor.
• Thanks to ReGenBot03 for their Dwarven metal cubemap.
• Thanks to xTxVxTx for HD Falmer Armor - Weapons - Huts - Everything - Glow.
• Thanks to Alana12 for the textures and meshes for Auriel's set and Harkon's Sword.
• Thanks to Ghosu for the unique mesh for Auriel's Quiver.
• Thanks to billyro for Outlandish Chitin and Dragon Priest Weapons Improved.
• Thanks to Humus and billyro for creating and porting the cubemap for Hrothmund's Axe.
• Thanks to Remiros for the assets for the Ebony Blade, Wabbajack, Dawnbreaker, Ancient Falmer Armor, Bloodskal Blade, and Hrothmund's Axe.
• Thanks to Vilidran for Aevrigheim - Miraak's Sword and Staff Replacer.
• Thanks to LivewareCascade for the Better Shaped Longbows mesh.
• Thanks to LeanWolf for the Better-Shaped Weapon meshes.
• Thanks to JZBai for the Practical Female Armor meshes.
• Thanks to 747823 for Less Sexualised Female Armor which PFA was based on.
• Thanks to Kadraeus for the Practical Female Blades Armor meshes.
• Thanks to DammApple for PFA edits to CC armors.
• Thanks to Parapets for the female iron helmet meshes.
• Thanks to Ghosu for their Horker Weapon Pack.
• Thanks to Jokerine for their High Resolution Horker Tusk retexture.
• Thanks to farinelli for Hammerfell Armory.
• Thanks to KernalsEgg for Log Inventory Item Position.