What's the best way to do this?

Ok this is going to be complicated to explain but here goes... OK I want to have my FPS player be able to pickup some dynamite, So far I have that bit worked out. But I want him to be able to use the dynamite to blast some rocks clear that will be blocking a pathway leading to the game level exit.

Now I'm not sure if it's best to just pile some rocks across the path and somehow have him plant or place the dynamite, set if off on a timer... Don't know how to do that???

Or to make a pile of rocks in 3D Studio Max, animate an explosion and somehow have the placement of the dynamite execute that explosion animation?

Dunno how to do that either???

in any event I'm sort of at a bit of a loss for a good way to do this?? I thought maybe even to just have it execute a cut scene... but have never done cut scenes and have no idea how to approach that sort of thing eigher...??

You see ideally, I would like my FPS player to be able to pick up 2 items needed to blast the rocks clear. First the Dynamite and then the Detonator or plunger box, you know that box-like device with the handle that sets off the dynamite. And have him plant the dynamite, move back a safe distance and detonate the dynamite using the plunger box/detonator... Not sure if any of that makes sense.

Any thoughts or ideas on a really cool way to do this??

I recommend the 3Ds Max way... It'll give you more control on how everything happens...

For cutscenes, I'd imagine it be along the lines of: You have the character you're playing's camera disable, and enable the other camera for the cut scene, then act as if you're the person who's actually moving the camera around and what not through scripts (Theirs some cool things in the Community Wiki if you check the pre made scripts... You can make like a line that it follows and what not, its like Spline something lol). But you'd do that way...

So,

if player has tnt and detonator, and pushes the f key, place the dynamite...

if player has placed the dynamite, and pushes the f key again, blow up, play animation, do cutscene, disable/enable the cameras.

if player is within __ distance of the blow up, kill player/give damage.

Does this make sense? If not comment back =).