Ok, here are some basic tips and tricks with reskinning. Just have in mind that my knowledge is limited, and I dont have much experience with Photoshop or even Gimp. Still using Paint.Net, because is simple to learn and has clear interface. If you CAN use something more advanced than this, i recommend you to use it instead. I'll try to explain things in general, so you can apply them with any painting program. Let's begin:

Tip #1 - Extracting the .TEX file you want to edit from the .ARC archive

You can use several programs to do that:

ARC Explorer
ARZ Explorer
ARC Unpack

You can find all 3 here:
https://mega.nz/#F!ALAwVQaD!EQB8u085VJZwGIuQuVq2Nw

ARC and ARZ Explorer work in the same way, but I recommend using ARZ Explorer - it has all features from the first one, but can also extract the game's records (.ARZ)
To use it, run the program, browse to the .ARC file containing the file you want to edit and load it. Now you have two options. First one is to extract the entire .ARC archive. To do it, go to "Extract"> All Files". The second option is to extract only the .TEX file you need. To do it, browse to it's location in ARZ Explorer, select it, and then go to "Ëxtract > Selected File". A window will pop, where you can choose a location to save it to.



ARC Unpack works in a different way. To use it, copy or drag the .ARC you want to extract and place it/copy it over the ArcUnpack.exe. It will be extracted automatically in the same location you copied it from. OR, if you dont want to do this every time: right click on any ARC file > choose "Open with...", tick "Always open with this program", then browse to ArcUnpack.exe and click on it. From now on all .ARC files will unpack automatically when you double click on them. I personally prefer this method.



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Tip #2 - Extracting the .TEX file itself

You can use two different programs to extract .TEX files:

1. Texture Viewer:
https://mega.nz/#!1fBwUAbZ!IM9tjs8J0kIB3qJXTXIT8qOUJzbZI0pECalbDi-mZzE

2. TQ Texture Tools:
https://mega.nz/#!pPJ10C7D!d4c1smzJp0BOzU7igreZv_3cmIkDEUQtghT-Y4GxqfU

Each of these programs has it's own advantages, I recommend you to use both for different cases.

Texture Viewer - To use it, run the exe and browse to a .TEX file you have extracted from an .ARC, then open it. It will show the texture. Then go to "File > Export", choose a file format for the extracter file (TGA, JPG or PSD) and save it where you want.



TQ Texture Tools - It works similar to ArcUnpack in the previous tip. To use it, copy or drag one or multiple .TEX files over TQ.Texture.Extract.exe. It will unpack them automatically in .DDS format. OR, if you dont want to do this every time: right click on any TEX file > choose "Open with...", tick "Always open with this program", then browse to TQ.Texture.Extract.exe and click on it. From now on all .TEX files will unpack automatically when you double click on them.
The disandvantage of TQ Texture Tools is it adds a background when unpacking bitmaps (like the item pics for inventory), and extracts only to .DDS (not a readable format from the game). Its advantage is the .DDS texture can be loaded in MeshView over a mesh. The other advantage is that the DDS can be quickly recompiled back to TEX with TQ.Texture.Compile.exe with drag and drop, without building in ArtManager.

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Tip #3 - Extracting the model's grid for texturing

There are two programs that can do it:

1. TQ Grid Extractor:
https://mega.nz/#!1GIUgA6I!f10UHD6B6bZx0Ngu9-s2tcWcWjZ7TYX0Wz7oY0TGU2c
To extract the grid, drag and drop a .MSH file over the TQ Grid Extractor.exe, like in the previous tips.

2. MeshView
https://mega.nz/#!oXYiQKQC!4jz-4ITdfWTOBjLA8A-GuTXMzy4zvIpJkg6pvY-ZdLk
MeshView can also extract the grid:



To do it, open your chosen mesh in MeshView and go to "Mesh > Mesh(v10/11) > Draw Call" and on the right click on "Save Grid". Name your grid and after the name put a .PNG extension, then save.



In your image editing sofware, place the extracted grid on another layer over the texture, if you want to see easily it's borders end.



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Agreed the 'godly aspect' is missing.. but damn he still looks mean! Nice work bro wish I could re-texture items lol I'm sure I could but just haven't tried as yet

Check the textures section later, i'll post some tricks, if you ever have the time to try

Quote from: soa on 02 March 2019, 21:29:22

In various concepts Ares has a cloak, which is lacking here, but I don't know any specific item

There is Alexander's Cuirass which has a cloak and is very greek-themed.  I'm not very familiar with Ragnarok items though so possibly could be something better there.

A thought I had Nargil is that perhaps he also needs a Pauldron (shoulder guard) to help attain the more badass look? Some Suggestions for this;
Ferrus Gnosi Armor - golden twin Lion shoulder guards
Razorback Harness - huge pauldron and has a gladiator look to it

Also maybe try another helm but re-colour to suit... I've always thought Dieneke's Helm looked super agressive -
https://www.tq-db.net/equipment/dienekes-shade

Also, man you are a machine! Seems like you've been doing a lot if work on Deities.  The new custom UI art looks awesome, especially Hecate 

You read my thoughts bro I was just trying Dienekes helm and its exactly what i need!
About the half armors - ferrus gnosi or its lite version - Odysseus armor maybe will do the trick. Diomedes armor is heavier but also fits, only needs retex. Razorback harness, or maybe Exotic Arachnos armor... Alexander cuirass - maybe ill use that for Athena.
Here is what i was able to collect by now:

Dont mind the spear/shield being invisible.

My first attempt to make Ares was a fail. I tried with Leonidas armor, to make something like this:
http://www.eliasillustration.com/product/ares-god-of-war-canvas-print/

But here is the result ingame:


He looks somehow... peaceful? Spartoi are way more badass and aggressive than him, ah he is their god, lol.
I think half of the problem is animation. I'll try to combine something between human and machae.
The other half i think is equipment. I'm open for suggestions here. If you've seen a cool concept of Ares on the net or you know an item you think that will fit him, let me know. I'm ready to try alot of gear combos - he MUST look cooler than his minions.

Thanks sauruz, Hecate is one of my favorite deities, always wanted to see her ingame

After some manual tweaks, here is the filtered picture, as it will look in the mastery screen:

Original description of MeshView by Tamschi:

Improved Satyr brute quest monster


Thanks for the trick nargil

It reminds me of the Butcher boss from the first Diablo

Tamchi's MeshView. A quick tip: Convert the texture to DDS or PNG while you are still working on it and load it on Meshview (because it cant preview TGA's). Every time when you add some changes, save it in your image editor and reload the texture in the lowest "Textures" group. I don't know if this is the best way, it's just how i do it.