Thanks Excessus,

Alas, From what I understand, the stage feature is only for post processing
effects, re using the "render target" to do full view effects like adding bloom
or blur to shadow mapping.

The A7 shadow mapping "must" use a material on the camera. The manual states
that such a view material "overrides all other material parameters or effects
of all objects in the scene." So I cant normal map a scene object and have
shadow mapping in the same render. And it seems I cant combine all the shaders
I want to use.

Hmmm... ????