PolyBoost is the bomb, imo.
Although all of the tools it has are great I abuse the poly draw tool. Essentially you can draw your polys right on top of any existing mesh, thus creating your own topology., 
So hit Zbrush and be creative, then import that to Max and poly draw. You can get as dense/high poly or low poly as you want.
Max isn't bad, you just have to scream at it until you both reach an understanding.

Comitted to excellence through art.