I use the basics, but I set some lights and move them in a quick way only to see how atmosphere could be. I work on the lights after buying new Pc (graphicalcard)
If I test the lights and render and render my pc freeze....
In this way I can't learn to set lights. But the days are gone...and my new hardware brings me another big motivation..
This days now I build only the levels in a basic way and made textures, it needs enough time. And scripting sometimes.
Next screen I set only ambient light.

Take a look at the bugs-side. At 3rd party software is some information about S3/SavagePro - thats my.