Next best thing?

[iron_warrior]

Sadly, I no longer have 3ds max 5, only 7. However, I'd like to do some Wc3 Modeling, so I wonder, what is the next best program (free, like Gmax) I could get? Also, could I technically make models in 3ds Max, export them using some sort of filetype, import them into another program that uses the Art Tools, and finish it there?

Thanks in advance,

iron_warrior.

EDIT: Aaaaaaaaaand I got the Model ingame with animations. Thanks to everyone who helped, and yeah it's a pain animating in Milkshape, but it's far better than nothing. RDZ Clearly helped the most.

 

[squishy-1]

i say oinkerwinkles if u dont wanna spend 25 $ to get milkshape

 

[iron_warrior]

Could you expand a little?

 

[squishy-1]

milkshape animates and allows models, but you can get oinker winkles for free i think the links are in the modelling section

 

[Kimbo]

Oinkerwinkles is a model EDITING tool, although olof and such has utilized the program well to make some nice meshes.

I use max 5/8 (i dont get art tools or dope sheet at all) to make the mesh and unwrap, so i then export to .3ds, import it in milkshape ($25eur, 30 free day trial though). I then rig and animate there,then I export. A hassle... that isnt bug free but its a away around things.
http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ = milkshape
http://wc3campaigns.net/showthread.php?t=86308 = milky to wc3,exporter

 

[iron_warrior]

Alright, thanks Werewulf!

Alright, got a model and a texture ingame, now on to animations...

 

[camel's_hump]

You can animate with warshape, I don't think it works ever so well though. Nasrudin worked out some of its issues though. You can find it here.

If you try to animate in gmax I am pretty sure the exporters are buggy.

You could animate in Milkshape, the exporters for that are getting better. This tutorial has a brief part about animating. Look at this tutorial also.

 

[Rao Dao Zao]

Correction:

You could animate in Milkshape, the exporters for that are flawless.