Thanks for the input Tim270. I have already seen those tutorials and stuff you linked. The donald phan ambient occlusion is a great one. I don't know where you heard about making your spec map so soon... seeing as how you use your diffuse map as a starter for the spec and tweaking it... Do you have any links to a tutorial for texturing the way your talkin about?
I have always seen it done by making your base materials and grunge layers and then duplicating them to the spec (with level changes and what not added)
The way you explained it seems rushed almost. Maybe i'm not understanding exactly what your saying. I do agree with the materials needing to be changed but i'm not there just yet. I have normally done my specular in the later stages because it's a lot easier to control EVERYTHING in clumps ie... base metal diffuse layers over to base metal spec layers and then tweaking them...grunge diffuse layers over to grunge spec layers and then tweaking them... etc etc etc... i tend to have the good ol' ADD and need to see some big changes or i just get bored
I do see a point in what your saying that getting a good base for diffuse and spec at the same time could come in handy.... kinda makes me think now that i'm typing it all... maybe i'll give that a shot when I texture the scar light... seems like it could come in handy