Well, I believe DAZ has many creators using different aps. But I think Vic, Mic..other characters were made using a high end 3D software....maybe 3DS Max (I am guessing). My favorite modelling app I am using is Wings3D, then once you know that, other apps will come with ease. You will also need a UVmapper. Wings3D has its own mapping, and the thing is I got to comfortable with UVmapper, that I do not know how to use Wings3D mapping.

Here is a MadCat (Battletech), before for poser which is ok. But I wanted more. So I took it into wings3D. Removed some faces, and created new ones, which is a cockpit (interior). Removed the missles, so missles can be individually added. Instead of attached to the mesh. When animating, you can not animate missles, so they have to be removed and created indivually. I dunno why people do this (add missles to mesh). I made the toes movable in poser and other features. This was a heavy project, and did take a toll on me, but was very well worth it.  Image example.