here are a few hints:

1. Get one member of your team to learn max and inventor really well....if one person knows then they can teach the other people...also space it out...let one group do cad, then let the other group do animating....it really saves time and its more organized

2. practice practice practice...at sharingfirst u can dl cad models from Ed Sparks...he has excellent models and they can be good practicing items..

3. Plan a storyboard way ahead of competition time...once the game is ready and ur robot is designed u could get the animation partially done like intro and credits....add the robot and other items in when ready and u should be good...basically in other words..dont waste storyboard time after Kickoff on Jan 5...

4. If your local library has books about max....borrow them..if not most bookstores have like 3ds Max for dummies or the 3ds Max Bible...that helps too.

To summarize this ....have a few people learn it really well organize the team, practice, plan ahead, and read...

Hope this helps

D.J. T45