Ok so I downloaded Wile's new garand mostly for the normal map because my computer doesn't do phong. Now I know that it's possible to have phong and a normal map working on the same model, but is it possible to have the alpha channel and the normal map work together as well? Phong doesn't work for me so the next best thing is using the alpha channel. When I set up the .vmt file for alpha along with the bumpmap variable, the engine seems to completely ignore the alpha mask rendering the garand completely shiny.

Is it possible to use an alpha channel as well as a normal map on the same model? If so, how?

MY BAD

I misread your first post. I thought you were trying to get phong shaders and enviroment map at the same time.

ignore what I said

Hmm well I looked at the Valve Wiki and saw that to mask a reflection with a normal map (alpha+normal), "$normalmapalphaenvmapmask" 1 has to be in the .vmt. Along with that you need the alpha masking in the normal map instead of the regular map.

I've followed what the Wiki says and have tested it out in-game and no results.

I'm either doing something wrong or Wile was telling the truth lol I guess I don't no for an answer too well.