press w to go into move mode, then press d to enter edit pivot mode, and then choose where you want the pivot point to go. hold down v and move the yellow pivot point onto one of the vertices of the shape.
snap to grid
snap to vertices / point. (v)
here, i created my name in maya by editing the pivot point of a cube to be on a vertex, and then duplicated the cube and snapped to vertice several times to arrange the duplicated cubes into my name. it was accurate because i used the snap to point tool. (my name isn’t ale)
extruding
vertices mode allows you to select the vetices of an object.
edge mode allows tou to select an object’s edges.
face mode allows you to select the faces of an object.
using these types of selection, you can select certain parts of the object to move or rotate and change the shape of the object.
i created a basic lightsaber style hilt, as well as a few other shapes using the extrude tool.
you can use the multi cut tool to create edgeloops.