Quote: "Low detail models maybe having around 7,000 triangles"
How much?!! 7k is by no means "high detail" but low detail generally doesn't go over 3k. I suppose the suggested maximum triangle count really depends on what type of object it is. A player character model I would normally keep to about 2.5k. Usable objects, like weapons, keys or other utilities; 1000 is usually detailed enough.
Quote: "It also depends on what kind of pc (specs) you want to run it...."
This is very true. If you're writing for specs of Quake 3's time, you'd bee looking at 1000 for a player, 250 for a weapon, about 4000 for a level.
No more than 12 players:
12 players: 12 * 1000 = 12000
each player's weapon they are currently holding: 12 * 250 = 3000 (15000 total)
about 10 weapons and 2 powerups for players to pick up: 12 * 3000 = 3000 (18000 total)
The level itself: 1 * 4000 = 4000 (22000 total)
22000 sounds like a lot of triangles sounds like a lot, but a decent computer these days should be able to manage about 250000 no problem, of course, that is however, an estimate, not rock solid proof.
