Maybe this has been addressed, or is completely out of place here, but since it seems to be a material issue, ill try here. What I understand normal mapping to be is:
a bump map generated from a high poly model, in zbrush or something like that, which is then to be applied to a low poly model at render time(like in an engine).
If this is true, then woudl you be able to simply select a model, and then navigate to a normal map to be applied, and let the engine do the rest?
Thanks and sorry im so new.
Jarrett