I'm trying to decide whether it is worth it to buy the Pro Pack or to wait and see what Poser 5 brings. Any thoughts?

AFAIK the pro pack & poser 5 will stay totally separate entities. However, if you model your own characters, need poser to interface with one or more of the 'high-end' 3D programs, are interested in python scripting, or exporting poser to flash presentations, then the pro pack will be of definite advantage

I second what cooler said!

I plan to model my own characters, props, etc. using Carrara and ZBrush (now that's a fun program). I have no current plans to move up to 3DS Max or Lightwave because the cost is more than I can justify for what currently amounts to a hobby. Still, I may move up to Lightwave in the next 12-18 months, particularly as I concentrate more and more on the animation aspects. The python scripting sounds interesting, but few people are really able to describe the advantages it provides. All-in-all, it sounds like I should just sit tight unless and until I need the plugins for Lightwave. Thanks.

Attached Link: http://www.poserpython.com/

You may wind up accelerating your timetable with lightwave. Newtek regularly runs some very attractive sales (the last one IIRC was LW & Aura for $995.00 US) As someone who has produced a couple of poser props & characters, I can tell you that the pro pack is invaluable if you plan on articulation. Once you 'get your head around' how the bone creation/placement process works it's amazingly easy especially with the ability to use 1,2,3, or 4 pane window views. For more info on python scripting & some free examples, just follow the link to Bushis' site.

Thanks for the link and advice, cooler. At the moment, I'm not certain that I need the Pro Pack for boning because Carrara 2.0 now provides that functionality. The multiple panes of the Pro Pack are of interest, though, as are the animation sets and motion blur.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Carrara boneing can be transferred to Poser bones.

Poser 5 will be out, but we don't know quite when. You can get the ProPack now, or you can wait a bit longer for P5. Upgrading depends upon your own timetable (are you the sort who stands outside the software store at midnight? Or do you wait a couple of weeks to see what the buzz is like?) for when you need certain capabilities. I have the ProPack and really like it. Boning is a major advantage (even just learning about how a mesh is deformed when a body part is moved will help a modeler). I haven't really used its animation capabilities to the fullest (nothing like some people here who are making movies). You will find that the python scripts automate a lot of drudgework. Making a body white, removing all lights, that sort of stuff is just about a click away. Check Bushi's site, and Traveler's MorphWorld for python scripts (other people have made scripts, but those stick in memory). If the scripts will save you time and frustration (especially if you have a project with deadlines) it might be worth upgrading to ProPack now; if you aren't under deadline, you might want to wait. If they have a demo of the ProPack, you can take a look at it. I like the variety of file types it will accept as textures, and other neat things. ProPack came with some extra content, but I don't do cartoons, so the cartoon characters are not worth anything to me. Your mileage may vary, as they say. Different people will want it for different reasons. :) Carolly

I'd really recommend bushi's scripts, I bought his face shaper script a few weeks ago and the only problems I've had with it we're caused by me not reading the instructions properly. Rob