[Scooby_Doo]

Rhino lets me modify and match symmetry with projection.
As far as UV mapping, the 3rd party apps always seem to be the way to get nicer tools than the interfaces which usually still come in under the price for Max. The usual problems come back though, file type conversions back and forth, but I got used to it and look at it as a means of backup.
Are greebles for animation?

Greebling creates small details... sorta like this: http://web.archive.org/web/20060223004620/battletech-movie.com/images/tutorials/comments_about_greebling/isd.jpg

[KewlToyZ]

Is that like an automated detail creation or individual items referenced in from other files or completely modeled geometry for a high poly model?

[Vasudan Admiral]

Adding numbers:

Not trying to get into this argument but...

1) Do either have a symetry modifier (and i'm not talking simple instance mirroring)? [Maya doesn't seem to]
2) Do either lock you on a object when your in subobject selection?[Maya doesn't seem to]
3) Do either have a unwrap UV where you break apart an object based on it's planar angle to another?
4) Can you manually view/copy and edit x/y/z locations view keyboard?  [absolutely required for precision work]
5) Does truespace have a node/stack/history, I know blender and maya do.
6) How good is their greebling tools, if any?  [The max plugin is kinda wonky at times]

Blender:
1) Yes - the mirror modifier can operate on multiple axes at once.
-> 2) Not quite sure what you mean here - lock you on an object in what way? view? editability? other operations?
3) Yes - smart projections does exactly that and fills the UV space as efficiently as it can with good tool flexibility.
4) Yes - the N key pops up the tranform properties dialogue, or you can enter numerical values for any tranformations as you perform them.
6) Yes - blender has an included autogreeble script called 'the discombobulator' which adds 'doodads' to things with full customisability. Eg: City and Death Star.

Truespace:
1) Yes...sorta. It can mirror model edits real time, but for things like UV maps and textures you must manually click 'update'. It won't auto apply when you export models either.
3) No - no UV mapping tools at all beyond cumbersome standard transformations.
4) Yes - object properties dialogue. Has a handy little feature where you can input simple math too, but it's problematic in that if used on object groups it won't affect the positions of lights, making FS hierarchy setups rely on manual rescaling.
5) No - it has an undo that works on some things but not others (it won't for example undo if you accidentally apply a UV projection to an entire mesh). There is no stack or node editor functionality.
6) Yes...kinda - no greebling tools exist in the program, but there is a plugin that can do limited greebles. It's fairly inflexible, but it is there.

[Scooby_Doo]

Thanks, just asking.  Maybe give the OP some ideas...

For the symmetry, in Max the symmetry modifier will create a mirror image along a defined plane.  The mirrored part is part of the original mesh and by default will get smoothed alongside the original.  Any changes to the orignal will occur with the mirrored copy, including trans/scale/rot.  Also if you want to center the pivot point, you can center it between both parts, because it's just one big object   With the mirror tool, it creates two separate objects that needs to get reattached to get the same result.

[Vasudan Admiral]

Is that like an automated detail creation or individual items referenced in from other files or completely modeled geometry for a high poly model?

The word greeble just refers to some kind of pointless detail object that exists for the sole purpose of eyecandy. Star destroyers are excellent examples of good usage of greebles. Scooby was referring to tools or plug-ins that can automatically add tons of greebles to a surface semi-intelligently within parameters the user specifies; hence the term autogreeble.

And Scoob - what did you mean by 2) ?

[Scooby_Doo]

For example in max when your doing edit poly or select poly you can enter vertex mode by hitting 1, edge by 2, border by 3, polygon by 4, element (subobject) by 5.
Once I'm in any one of those modes, I cannot accidently select another object.  Leaving the mode I can then select anything I want.

[Stormkeeper]

You can do that in maya.

[Scooby_Doo]

You can do that in maya.

How? It's been bugging me.

[Akalabeth Angel]

You can do that in maya.

How? It's been bugging me.

       Eh, I don't know about hotkeys. But if you only want to select edges or vertices hold the right mouse button over the object and while still holding it go over whatever type of type of object you want to select. This works for all types of modes, so if you're over a nurbs curve for example it'll give you like control points, add points, that sort of thing.

      I think . . . the Fkeys might be the shortcuts. I know I can hit F8 to get back to object mode. In Maya the 1-7 keys are used to display the model in different wayss (ie wireframe, shaded, textured, lighted, etcera)

[Stormkeeper]

The function keys in maya toggle your top most bar:
F2 - Animation
F3 - Polygons
F4 - Surfaces
F5 - Dynamics
F6 - Rendering

F1 starts the help. Not too sure what the other function keys do tho.

[pecenipicek]

i urge you all then to check out cinema4d then.

[Stormkeeper]

Are you a Cinemidian then?

[pecenipicek]

i prefer Maxonist.

[Vasudan Admiral]

Joke. Getting old fast.

[pecenipicek]

if it works, dont fix it.

[Scooby_Doo]

You can do that in maya.

How? It's been bugging me.

       Eh, I don't know about hotkeys. But if you only want to select edges or vertices hold the right mouse button over the object and while still holding it go over whatever type of type of object you want to select. This works for all types of modes, so if you're over a nurbs curve for example it'll give you like control points, add points, that sort of thing.

      I think . . . the Fkeys might be the shortcuts. I know I can hit F8 to get back to object mode. In Maya the 1-7 keys are used to display the model in different wayss (ie wireframe, shaded, textured, lighted, etcera)

That I already understand, problem is I go into my selected object, select lets say vertices, and accidently select another object, then I'll have to go back reselect my object and reactive vertex mode again.

[Akalabeth Angel]

That I already understand, problem is I go into my selected object, select lets say vertices, and accidently select another object, then I'll have to go back reselect my object and reactive vertex mode again.

      Just hit Undo (Z) or (CTRL-Z if you must)
      I do that all the time too.

      You could also add the objects you don't want to work on to a separate layer and make that layer reference so it shows up in wireframe but can't be selected. So create a layer, select those objects and do "add selected objects" when right clicking over the layer. And then I think hit the middle box and it'll toggle to like T or R or something.

[Colonol Dekker]

I'm still mastering the finer points of Max, as for Truespace, it's the daddy in my eyes, for modelling i can't fault it. So simple for my FreeSpace needs. Max is going to be used (when i learn it all) for interface art and command briefings.

[KewlToyZ]

I wish I could use TS better, but I'm stuck in my Rhino mentality,
(start charging ahead and forget why I was running )
Actually I'm just severly CAD oriented and its a subtle marriage between CAD and 3D design platforms.

[Colonol Dekker]

I got hold of a free version of Rhino from an old copy of PC Format years and years back. But i could never get to grips with it. Just goes to show, everybody has their own preferences and not everythings better or worse.... (except sketchup )