after you imported your model succesfully inside 3ds max (i recommend fbx for import) you have to do:

FOR THE OBJECT: - preparing well edges for ingame usage -- select your object (you can always press (Z) to move the camera directly to your selected object) -- go to 'Modify' > open dropdown list > select Nel Convert (this will add 'Rykol Patchmesh Convert') - check for material ID -- add 'Edit Poly' (not 'Editable Poly') from dropdown list, press (5) to enter the element mode, select all of your object (strg + a) and in the Meterial ID box the ID has to be between 1 and 100 in generell or it will not be supported well later, so change it to 1 when no mat ID is necessary - auto smooth your object -- (still in element mode and with everything selected) scroll down to 'Polygon: Smoothing Groups' and select 'Auto Smooth' with a generell value of 45,0 - if this won't work fine enough for your model, use the numbers of poly groups - resetting XForm (this is important to export your model as a .shape later) -- go to 'Utilities' (hammer icon) > Reset XForm > Reset Selected -- go back to 'Modify' (second icon) > Right click on XForm > Collapse All (this should now end in 'Editable Poly')

FOR THE MATERIAL: (press (M) to open the material editor) - right click in the view and add: -- Materials > Nel Material -- Bitmap > Your texture file --- combine your bitmap with the Nel Materials 'fTexture_1' -- Bitmap > Your specular file --- combine your bitmap with the Nel Materials 'fTexture_2' - preparing Nel Material for ingame usage -- in Nel Basic Parameters: --- changing Ambient and Diffuse color to 'white' and Opacity to '100' --- changing Specular color to 'white', Level: '2', Glossiness: '9' -- in Nel Material --- change Shaders Type to 'Specular' --- unmark (disable!) 'Enable water splash' - Please don't ask me why it is autmatically enabled. Maybe they were just water junkies :-) -- in Nel Textures --- recheck all texture files are fine --- check (enable) 'SpecularMap' - make your texture/shader shown in 3ds Max -- right click on your texture or shader in the VIEW-Screen and select 'Show Shaded Material in Viewport'

EXPORT:

- go to 'Utilities' -- select 'More...' > 'Nel Export' (a new list appeared called 'Parameters') -- make sure you have selected your model and choose 'Export model' -- give your file a good name and save it as a NeL shape file (*.shape)