Another 'how do I...' thread

[XpYtZ]

Well as usual I want to flex my artistic abbilities but have no idea how to do just what I want to do. (that\'s a confusing sentance...)

I want to learn how to make effects, like when a spell is cast, a rune touched, a special abbility used, a creature explodes, yada yada yada.
I have no idea where to start, but with my abblility to learn new computer stuff and my wife and sister each able to draw cool looking stuff I figure what better way for all three of us to contribue (neither of them play \'yet\' and I want to suck them in *diabolical laugh*) So...How do I do it, or where do I start, or...come on someone has to know somehting other than *shrugs* you edit the sprites...I don\'t even know what I sprite really is (I think it is a two dimentional object made of vector pixles...?)
See why I am lost.
Helpfull information are Glossarys of terms.
Programs.
Tutorials.
The E-mail of someone who wants to teach me...
Anything I could use to learn how to do this.

Oh, I prefer windows for now since my Lynx box is freaking out...again..(man if it ain\'t one it\'s the other.)
Thanks everyone.

[ArcaneFalcon]

What you are looking for is particles.  Go to this web page (LWoW downloads) and grab the 3ds max to PS exporter guide.  Then go in and look at the directions on exporting particles.

:emerald:

Edit: A sprite is a 1 face mesh that always rotates to face the viewer.  Remember in those really old video games with the flat monsters?  Those are sprites.  They are what we use now for spell effects (only we use lots of them).  You can look stuff like this up in the Polycount glossary - see my 2D/3D contributing guide thread for a link.  In fact, most of that stuff you need help with can be found in my contributing guide.  I\'ll add a section on sprites in later (exactly what I just told you).  

:emerald:

[XpYtZ]

Thanks for your response Arcane, the problem is I do not have 3dsMAX. Is there a free alternitave...Will \'gmax\' work, or do I need to do the investment thing to see if I really want to get into this?
I seem to remember you posting something about it not really working with the exporter.
I have read your article and it is quite good but it -as you well know- did not, at the time, answer this question.

[Adeli]

GMax as a free program, does not have an exporter, so you will be stuck without it.
My advice, buy 3dsmax, it\'s well and truly worth it.

[XpYtZ]

Since I\'m broke as a pig in a poke right now I\'ll try it with Blender untill I can scrape together the money for 3dsMAX.
Thanks

[Adeli]

That\'s a good idea. It\'s a pity it\'s so expensive... and to think, there are two copies in this house... heh, and I\'ll want 7 sooner or later.

Whee, 400th post.

[ArcaneFalcon]

Heh, a correction on the definition of \"sprite.\"  The PolyCount glossary gave me the above definition, however I came across this one while reading the CS exporter guide for PS:

\"Used to export objects that can be moved in the level (i.e. not static ones) like swords, bottles, pieces of armor, etc... Those are called \'sprites\' in our terminology.
This script is NO MORE USED to export characters. We use cal3d instead.\"

I guess it depends on who you talk to (or maybe I\'m just an idiot).

[XpYtZ]

I think that, that is more of CrystalSpace using the term in a different context, not that the other is wrong.
I had a hell of a time with Blender so I went back to Lightwave, while I am aware there is no exporting utility for it I am sure that someone would be willing to convert and export them after I do the Export>.3ds option...if they turn out being any good.
No one has pointed me to a Particles for Games tutorial/article yet. That might help me.
I can usually learn how to do anything after I have read some basics and Polycount\'s glossary of terms has been helping me wade through the jargon.

[ArcaneFalcon]

You didn\'t read that section of the CS exporter manual that I pointed you to did you?  If you did, you wouldn\'t be asking that question again.  All that is required for particles in PS is a 2d texture and a point put into the level with the proper attributes.  When the level is exported and run the point will begin emitting the chosen texture as a particle according to the specified attributes.  That portion of the manual explains that, as well as all the attributes.  To test your particles you will need to be able to export entire levels and test them with the CS walktest.

About lightwave, I need to add something into my contribution manual about it not working well with 3ds max.  I think there are .lwo importers for max, so it may not be a problem, but going the other way around is virtually impossible (at least without getting the mesh really screwed up).  And just so you know, depending on what you are exporting to CS format, it can take a bit to get the export set up correctly so you may not find a whole lot of people willing (I\'d be willing so long as it is relatively simple).

:emerald:

Edit: Kid can\'t even read (referring to me).

while I am aware there is no exporting utility for it I am sure that someone would be willing to convert and export them after I do the Export>.3ds option...if they turn out being any good.

Yeah, if they\'re in .3ds then I guess max won\'t need the .lwo importer will it.  The only thing about .3ds is that it unwelds all the vertices.  It\'s just annoying to have to play with the padding until you get them all rewelded without messing up.

:emerald:

[XpYtZ]

Actually I did read it and it helped me a little. I even printed it so I could re-read it a couple three times I\'ll catch on in a short, I all ways do
Thanks so much for all your help thus far