Creating RPGish stylized spell / spark effects

#1

I am trying to find tutorials on creating the effects found in games like Final Fantasy XIV or other RPGs with somewhat stylized spark / special effects. I know they combine particles and sprites but I am somewhat lost when it comes to how to combine everything together to make a nice looking effect.

I have tried messing around with the particle emitter and using the instancer to mix in random sprite planes but they look nothing like these spells at the moment. I also experimented with FumeFX but only created very realistic explosions which is not exactly what I needed.

Does anyone know where I can find some tutorials or can give me some guidance as to how to go about creating this? I think I will need to find out how to create the 2D textures / sprites too in addition to having everything play out nicely in 3D afterwards.

I want to create effects like below:



I found a blog with some 3DS Max tutorials on how to produce similar effects but it’s in Chinese which I cannot read, but it does not specify how to generate the 2D sprites originally. http://jackie584.blog.163.com/blog/static/17368620201089111413617/

#2

Game effects are the simplified version of realistic effects, they are done in particle editor, which means you only need mesh and sprite spawn them at the right time and correct location. This is way different from making effects in 3D software package. But it doesn’t mean it cannot be done, same rule, only mesh and sprite, its just way difficult than using particle editors. Just go check UDK or Cryengines, I’m sure you will find something easy to start.

#3

Thanks. If the game I am working on is going to use pre-rendered sprites exported out from the 3D program anyway, does it matter if I use actual particle 3D effects or sprite-based ‘game’ effects? Is it easier to make stylized / simplified effects using the sprite-based approach? I have looked through many tutorials and all of the full 3D particles are a bit too realistic for what I am going for.

Someone on another forum suggested I try using Krakatoa but I couldn’t find many tutorials on that (mainly as far as Youtube is concerned).