i think it all matters with that your looking for, if your going to mod warcraft, then i guess you could use 3dsmax if you have the money for it, or you could use other ways of getting it that are not excepted in communities. If your are looking to mod multiple games or none at all, id look at different programs and try out the trial versions to see if you like them. I personally use Blender and i love it but its all about what you feel more comfortable with, some people use 3dsmax, some use Blender, some Lightwave 3d, some Maya, etc....
im basically saying look at different programs and find out which one you feel more comfortable using...and for the need help of an expert to learn... youtube and google are your friends, you can find just about any tutorial on the net to help you learn