I'm an absolute newbie & am interested in using the A7 for writing a 3rd person game similar in layout to Diablo II. Of course it won't be this complex
I hate to say that but that will not work. That is too complex for the beginning. I would suggest to start with something much much simpler
This seems to mean a figure size of about 200 pixels in size
A 3D character doesn't get measured in pixels. That's a 2D character then.
figures should change appearance when putting on armor or clothes, or taking them off.
This means loots of extra work. I doubt that you know how much.
I understand that one has to use Med for the figure modeling. What's all this talk of Maya or 3DS Max? When I checked those programs cost several thousand dollars each. I do not have the budget to spend $4,000. for a good modeling software: does this mean I'll be "very" limited in what models I can create?
Good modeling does the artist, not the software.
There is nevertheless a big difference if you make your graphics with MED or Max/Maya. The difference is all the neat tools that allows you to model, texture, rig and animate in an accurate manner
It doesn't need to be the expensive ones by the way. There is freeware like Blender or trueSpace.
It needs months up to years to make somehow useful graphics though. No matter what you use. 3D graphics is a very complex area. And an artistic one too.
