26 replies to this topic

[Imdrar]

FXParticleSystem BalrogFlameSmoke
System
Priority = ALWAYS_RENDER
Shader = ALPHA
ParticleName = EXCloud06HiRes.tga
Lifetime = 80 80
SortLevel = 1
BurstDelay = 3 3
BurstCount = 1 1
End
Color = DefaultColor
Color1 = R:236 G:136 B:0 0
Color2 = R:58 G:58 B:58 40
Color3 = R:58 G:58 B:58 150
End
Alpha = DefaultAlpha
Alpha2 = 0.35 1 5
Alpha3 = 1 0 150
End
Update = DefaultUpdate
SizeRate = 12 14
SizeRateDamping = 0.85 0.9
AngleZ = 0 5
AngularRateZ = -0.01 0.01
AngularDamping = 1 1
AngularDampingXY = 1 1
End
Physics = DefaultPhysics
VelocityDamping = 0.95 0.95
DriftVelocity = X:0 Y:0 Z:0.95
End
EmissionVelocity = OrthoEmissionVelocity
End
EmissionVolume = PointEmissionVolume
IsHollow = Yes
End
Draw = DefaultDraw
End
Wind = DefaultWind
WindMotion = PingPong
WindStrength = 0.1
WindAngleChangeMin = 0.149924
WindAngleChangeMax = 0.449946
WindPingPongStartAngleMax = 0.785398
WindPingPongEndAngleMin = 5.49779
WindPingPongEndAngleMax = 6.28319
End
End

It's a variant of the smoke emitted by the chimney of Angmar's Dark Iron Forge. I took it's basis from RotWK, but I believe the particle is already given in original BFME 2.
After the fine tuning, this is what I got:

[Lauri]

The smoke rising from that is too damn high. Or atleast too thick.

[Imdrar]

Well, it depends on how one likes it. For my own taste, I wanted him to be almost entirely shrouded, so I attached the particle to a high number of bones. Also, if the particle's lifetime is reduced, the tail of dark smoke should appear shorter / less high.
This is just my version of it, I assume Nazgûl is going to use the same thing different.

[Lauri]

I can see where you're coming from, but at daylight, or in any light, it just seems like he's burning up rubber or something. In Moria in the movies, it's pitch-dark, so the surroundings create that extra 'darkness' to the FX.

Just my view of course.

[Ridder Blauw]

My main dislike on how it looks is that the smoke doesn't really enshroud the Balrog, it just seems to be a big ball of it following the Balrog.

[njm1983]

I would agree with RB on this, the smoke has no shape to it other than a giant ball. I think if it was thick from the body and lighter from his appendages it would look better. I do believe that the orange and greyish color are more screen accurate.

[Nazgûl]

Thanks Imdrra, for the reply, even though the topic was really old =) And yes, I won't copy work work, I was merely curious about the orange color parts as they do look a bit more movie accurate than solely black smoke. I'll experiment some more as this is the fortress monument creature and Ring Hero for the Moria faction in SEE =)