CodeD,
If I were you I would learn to use Max properly and spend your money on Giles which is a package to light your work with.
Max is a fantastic programme, you just need to spend a little time getting to know what you can do with it. Look on 3Dcafe.com for tutorials, they are there and that is how I started.
To work with Max is only as complex as you make it yourself - I know this sounds stupid, but there are so many ways to use it and many, many more tools hidden inside Max which seem make it too complex but really once you get a method or process worked out, you'll fly through building levels. It is a really efficient programme, designed to make your life simpler. (No I don't work for Discreet! :) ). Also don't forget that Max can do other cool things which right now you don't care for, but later you might. Shockwave export for example. Character development, animation, video creation... the options are almost endless. Also there are plenty of people who use it on these forums who you can refer to for help.
There is no doubt about it, Quill 3D is good, but fiddly compared to Max and as you have Max already you should not consider another, simpler package.
With B3D Pipeline and Giles and perhaps Ultimate Unwrap 3d you have the perfect complimentary tools.
If you haven't seen Giles in action well get the demo - it is awesome. You can export .ASE which Giles can import (it can import a load of different formats again just check it out).
I hope this helps.
IPete2.
If I were you I would learn to use Max properly and spend your money on Giles which is a package to light your work with.
Max is a fantastic programme, you just need to spend a little time getting to know what you can do with it. Look on 3Dcafe.com for tutorials, they are there and that is how I started.
To work with Max is only as complex as you make it yourself - I know this sounds stupid, but there are so many ways to use it and many, many more tools hidden inside Max which seem make it too complex but really once you get a method or process worked out, you'll fly through building levels. It is a really efficient programme, designed to make your life simpler. (No I don't work for Discreet! :) ). Also don't forget that Max can do other cool things which right now you don't care for, but later you might. Shockwave export for example. Character development, animation, video creation... the options are almost endless. Also there are plenty of people who use it on these forums who you can refer to for help.
There is no doubt about it, Quill 3D is good, but fiddly compared to Max and as you have Max already you should not consider another, simpler package.
With B3D Pipeline and Giles and perhaps Ultimate Unwrap 3d you have the perfect complimentary tools.
If you haven't seen Giles in action well get the demo - it is awesome. You can export .ASE which Giles can import (it can import a load of different formats again just check it out).
I hope this helps.
IPete2.