If anyone has any good webpages bookmarked that can explain basic topology I’d love to see them. Things like splitting a quad in an arm to have enough edges to flow into the hand without using tris? Properly merging an edge into the topology without using tris? I’ve never properly studied this and would like to know the basic things I would’ve learned in school. Any help would be appreciated.
Good post! Unleashed: that last link doesn’t work!
Thanks for both of those sites. The second one worked this morning, but doesnt seem to be working anymore. strange. It was good though! 
Maybe its just down for a bit.
works for me now
Unleashed; Thanks for your link tip! That was one hell of a thread I must say. I know that I was once trying to “cover up” some different scenarios but after skimming through the post I noticed lots of different situation.
I wasn’t surpriced actually, because “in real life” there are lots more topoogical issues than you can think of.
I would like to sneak in some tips though. Since there isn’t really a right or wrong in 3d modelling but rather several methods that are taken from experience, there is a little tip that could help you either practice yourself or maybe come up with own experiences.
Since each model differs from another and also there are different reasons for different kind of topology designs depending on why you model in a specific way (An example is the flow around the mouth. This is to help you make working mouth movements. Another example is to make a correct flow to help you sculpt the shape in its natural flow).
So what you could do to explore the possibilities is to take your mesh into Zbrush for example and then do “topology paintovers” (eg using Projection master). In other words, you draw the lines where you would expect the polygon edges to be.
You will surpriec yourself how hard it can be but on the other hand, you can easily erase the lines and “correct” the topology to become really good.
And finally, a tip to a cool upcoming software: http://www.topogun.com