Questions about subdivision

#1 I am just starting in on blender, but doesn't subdivision kinda defeat the idea of having it be low poly.

#2 Sub-D *can* get you a better model, but it only adds to your polycount, not subtracts. If you want to play around and see if you can develop low-poly models like that, it's doable, but like Cameron said, it defeats the purpose.

You're probably better off box-modelling a low-poly model from scratch...

#3 Ted speaks truth. It is good to know as many modelling techniques as possible, as they all have their uses, but sub-d is not a good way to get high quality low poly models.

Don't trust me on this, I'm a coder. ;)

#4 Sub-d isn't good for torque, from my experiences. Sub-d is taking one polygon and dividing it several times to get a more smooth look, so no matter what you do you will always end up with more polygons in the end.

Im not familiar with blender, but, you could make a model using sub-d then use some kind of polygon reducing tool, but as ted said you might as well just box model.

#5 The only way sub-d modelling can help your low poly modelling is if you use it to smooth out your model and go backwards from there. You can often get a better shape from a sub-d model, but you add alot of time/effort to the process because you have to "undo" all the extra polys just so you can have a little improvement elsewhere.

#6 Nooo way... never use sub-d for low poly models

all it will do is pump your model full of pointless pollies that you will probobly remove if you optimise it anyways

your better off adding/extruding the poly's that you will need the mesh will be much cleaner and better trust me