Any recommendation for an object modelling application (free+Linux support), or is Blender the only go-to? I want to do basic #lowpoly models and vertex colors as well (textureless, at least early on). Maybe (skeleton or vertex) animations?
In the tinkering stage now, currently have tried Raylib (have done stuff for 2D polygons but seems pretty limited, also note I want to use it with Nim-lang). I figure 3D might have better support here (due to the format), though maybe some other framework would be better too? Spyro is some inspiration/motivation here with vertex colors used for effects (also, vertex skybox).
Some type of gridmap editor (crocotile, cube 2:saurbraten) might be viable to make object models (unsure of for characters and vertex colors) but I haven't checked them out. Also looked at Gamefromscratch's stuff and didn't really find much. Dust3D is a thing but I don't think that's the type of workflow I want (maybe for an organic character).
#ps1graphics
Honestly Blender is going to be your best bet. It's got the largest array of third party plugins, it rivals Maya and 3DS Max. Just generally there's nothing even close to it. Have you looked at Wings 3D? That's the only one that I can even fathom would be of interest to you but it's old AF, and nowhere even in the galactic neighborhood of blender.
I've used Blender for simple models before, I was just thinking something simpler and more specific to low-poly might exist. But also in the past, I've not really enjoyed Blender (some of that might be personal hang-ups or bad experience egsuch as non-manifold geometry from modifiers, I liked the workflow and node-iness of Maya many years ago even though I definitely don't want something so expensive or bloated).
I've heard of it. I thought GFS might've done a video on it, though I did find Bloom3D in the browser instead, which seems like it might be another option (but the camera controls seem to suck) for some types of design. Maybe there's other similar simple CAD-like options?
@ExtraMedicated (for the top section)
If you're looking for CAD-like, try out CAD Sketcher addon for Blender. A youtuber by the channel name "Maker Tales" did a couple of tutorials on it, and it aims to bring parametric modeling to Blender in the way that it operates in more traditional cad programs.
Also try Plasticity. It's "CAD For Artists", and he doesn't do that stupid software-as-a-rent model. You buy it once (for a reasonable cost) and it's yours forever. 30 day trial to see if you like it; and it's cross platform, though not open source.
Well, it depends on how simple it is. I am not sure about how an add-on experience will be, but I've also heard of Bforartists but haven't evaluated it.
I have seen Plasticity, but honestly I don't want to deal with trials or even accounts really. And I likely am not going to create anything that justifies using paid tools.