Blender vs. 3DS Max

[SlappyMeats]

What I wanna know is, what specifically are some of the advantages of using 3DS Max over Blender?

 

Obviously, 3DS Max is a commercial product, and therefore more robust, powerful, and well-supported than the free-to-all-comers Blender, used in schools with no budget for software. However, I'd like to know just what sort of things the big ol' boy would offer the power to do...

 

Automated functions? Renders more realistically? More usable? Easier UV mapping? Powered by pixie dust?

 

Basically, I wanna know the details so I can determine which one I should really be spending my time practicing with for mesh editing within Oblivion. I mean, it never hurts to know everything about the both of them, but if I want to start putting out decent meshes, I'm gonna have to get to a certain level with one or the other first.

[Tiberiu911]

I tried both, started off in Blender and then got Max later. 3ds Max is what you want, if you want to orientate yourself in a career as a game dev later on. From what I have noticed so far, 3ds Max is more advanced in everything it did over blender, modelling, animation, rendering, etc. If you can afford it, get 3ds Max.

 

Personally, I like Max alot more than Blender.

[Vagrant0]

I only use Max, so can't really comment on blender. The only problem with max is that it can be a beast to learn and use properly due to all the things you can do, but aren't applicable to oblivion modding. If you have the money, plan on doing meshing for a good while, and have alot of patience, and ability to learn by mistake, 3dsmax is a good option. Otherwise blender has more tutorials, is earier to learn, but doesn't have all the bells and whistles. It's really all about what you want to do, and what you can afford.