Being an artist focused on stills rather than animation, I think V8 Complete would give me most of the tools I want.  However when I compare complete vs. Infinite, I see a few tools Inf. has that look like they could give you a lot of power and save time.  For example the paint on materials tool.  Would this be a fast way to paint snow over the top of everything (including buildings etc.) that would be harder to do in Complete?  Granted, you can paint ecosystems with complete.  Not sure how to do a snow or water drop ecosystem (which actually would be better in some regards than a just a  material).  I have tried to use metablobs as an ecosystem in V6I and it crashes everytime. 

Also there are a few more tools in the terrain editor in Inf that I may want.  You guys have been great at feedback on my hardware questions.  I'm just wondering, since complete comes with a heck of a toolbox and content kit already, would I benefit enough from spending an additional $300 for Inf - especially since there is no upgrade path.  I figure I'll spend from $1100 to $1400 already to build another system.  What's my goal?  Well right now it's to improve my compositional eye and skill with a development package I enjoy using, and also make images to bolster my Zazzle store (and maybe my stock images on Dreamstime etc.).  I'm not a big time seller, but I have a few fans.  It would be fun to take it to the next level.

I like the power and features of Vue, I just don't like all the crashing I've experienced with V6I; don't like my limited 32 bit OS - Vista (hogging memory and not playing nice with various software); do like the new tools and upgrades in V8.

If you have any input you'd like to add, feel free.

P.S. have you seen the little animation I did (remember animation is NOT typical for me) to promote the mod I made for Neverwinter Nights?   www.youtube.com/watch Don't ask how long I spent making that mod!  It was lots o' fun though.  I used Vue for the island approach and castle approach sequences and Daz Studio for the simple character animation.  Pay attention to the approach to the castle, that 5 seconds took like 8hrs to render.  I think I chose the wrong lighting (could have chose a faster lighting and maybe used bake to polygons).  I have a lot to learn to really grasp the tools I already have :blink:

Cool promo!  I am chief kook and bottle knasher of a nwn1 pw :)

I'd go with Infinite.  There are a few things it can do that Complete can't.  Baking to polygons is one - great if you use lots of displacement.  Multipass options are also important if you do a lot of postwork.

Quote - Cool promo!  I am chief kook and bottle knasher of a nwn1 pw :)

Nice.  If you're interested in playing a single player PNP conversion with a lot of detail here it is: nwvault.ign.com/View.php