texture troubles

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still unfinished...

looks fine in nifskope, but in game it's obvious my normal map is too bright!? especially when the sun hits it directly, the sunburn nearly washes everything out! the alpha channel seems unresponsive no matter what i do... it's possible that i'm being hyper critical, and just have no control over the ambient/diffuse lighting in game.

Nvidia photoshop plug-in + directX texture tool