Agree on displacement maps, a lot of work is for a base mesh and then the displacement does most of the work.

Take a space suit type of bodysuit for example.

The basesuit is made, then little dodahs are added, not too many as to make the mesh too high.

Now, you can play with displacment to add all those raised up areas etc. Those don't need to be modeled, they can be done in a graphics program.

Take a look at certain high res models of robots whenthey are untextured, there is hardly any modelling, most of the nice work is done via displacement.

All the best.

Great Uncle LROG

Who honors those we love for the very life we live?, Who sends monsters to kill us?, and at the same time sings that we will never die., Who teaches us whats real?, and how to laugh at lies?, Who decides why we live and what we'll die to defend?, Who chains us?, and Who holds the key that can set us free... It's You!, You have all the weapons you need., Now Fight!