Which do you need –
3ds max or Autodesk VIZ (or both)?

Autodesk VIZ has all the modeling capabilities of 3ds max, including

• Poly modeling
• Patch or Surface Tools Modeling
• NURBS Modeling

3ds max has the following not in VIZ3 or VIZ4

• Special Effects – Smoke, etc.
• Animation capabilities including Sub-object animation and Particle Systems
• Character Animation features include Bones and Skin
• Ability to use add-ons like Character Studio, which contains Physique, Biped, and the new Crowd.

Autodesk VIZ has the following not in 3ds max

• File Link Manager – link to AutoCAD drawings
• AEC Parametric Objects, under AEC extended, can build parametric Terrain, Foliage, Railing, Wall Doors, and Windows
• RPC plug-in – trees, shrubbery, people, and soon to come: cars
• Panorama Exporter plug-in for Parametric Rendering
• Radiosity – Global illumination – lighting defined by vendor