Special Effect Contest #4 - Path to Mastery

[Vinz]

Contestants must create three versions of an effect of their choosing,
each one a more masterful form than the last.

---

• No submission may violate any of the site rules.
• All submissions must follow the current theme. If any model does not fit, a moderator will tell you as soon as possible as to avoid confusion.

• The post containing your final submission must also contain the following:
• • An in-game screenshot showing your submission in action.
    
  • All files in their appropriate formats - including any textures you might have made.

• You must show at least one unfinished preview of your submission, as proof it is yours.
• Custom textures that aren't edits of in-game ones must be at least 60% freehand. Contestants must present at least one WIP of said textures.
  
• Your submission may not be started/made before the official launch of the contest. This includes any animation, meshes, or textures made by other users before the official launch of the contest and material made by users not participating in the contest.

• Judges may not participate.
• Your final submission must work in-game and be bug-free.
• For convenience, you may isolate certain animation phases of your effect (see Death Coil Missile and Death Coil Special Art).

• Feel free to ask if you have any questions regarding the rules.

If a submission does not follow the model submission rules the creator will be disqualified.
Breaking any of these rules may lead to punishment in the judgement score, up to disqualification from the contest, depending on the weight of the issue. In case of doubts towards a certain rule you are very encouraged to discuss it in the contest thread so others and judges may help with sorting it out.

---

• Your entry may be a combination of effect types. For instance, the first effect could be a buff; the second one a small-scale ability; and the final one an ultimate.

---

• 1st place: 40 reputation points.
• 2nd place: 25 reputation points.
• 3rd place: 10 reputation points.
• Entry: 5 reputation points.
• Judge: 5 reputation points.

The three winners will receive an award icon representing the winning entry.

​

---

• blink
• Edy
• Judge 3

---

Aesthetics	Are the effects impressive, and made in good measure? Are the animations fluid?	/15
Creativity	How inventive and original are the ideas?	/15
Integration	How well do the models work in-game? Do they have fitting sounds? Are they excessive to the point of hindering visibility?	/15
Theme	How well do the effects fit the theme? Are they cohesive?	/15
		/60

Results calculation

• Judgement: 70%
• Poll: 30%

FinalScore = (30*Reached_Votes/POSSIBLE_VOTES) + (70*JudgeScore/100)

​

---

The contest shall begin on 15th October 2019 and conclude on 5th November 2019 GMT (day is included).

---

Assigned Staff: Heinvers

The Poll | Results

 

[Vinz]

Contestant	WIP	Entry
The_Spellweaver	Click	Click
Veronnis	Click	Click
John Melvic	Click	Click
xYours Trulyx	Click	Forest Blessing
Directive255	Click	Prism Ray
Mythic	Click	Voidfall
Retera	Click	Fel Arrows

 

[Yours Truly]

Yeaaaa.
I think we all know who the winner is.

 

[The_Spellweaver]

Why do you think he's posting the contest if not to win then?
Uhh write my name in there I guess.

I love the idea because it forces us to create new sfx content which is sparse

 

[FeelsGoodMan]

I can't wait until entries starts pouring in! Special effects are my favorite kind of custom resource

 

[Veronnis]

I only have Magos which makes for some rough content creation, but since Mythic invited me here I will consider it.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Excited to see an SFX Contest; it's been a long time!

 

[Veronnis]

Not necessarily a submission, but just playing around to see what I can do that'd be worth submitting

 

[Vinz]

Not necessarily a submission, but just playing around to see what I can do that'd be worth submitting

Fantastic!

 

[WhiteFang]

Not necessarily a submission, but just playing around to see what I can do that'd be worth submitting

Looking good

 

[Veronnis]

Hey Mythic, just curious, what programs do you typically use in special effect or model creation?

 

[Vinz]

Mostly Magos'. Sometimes mdlvis is involved.

 

[Veronnis]

Mostly Magos'. Sometimes mdlvis is involved.

I'm impressed, I had thought you had access to something better. I admire your work even more now. If you've got a minute how do you create rotations over time in magos? I always have trouble getting a plane to make a full 360 rotation over 1 second without looking weird.

 

[Heinvers]

Hi there guys.

The idea seems appealing thus far. I'd ask though if you can see this taking off and ending in success @Mythic ?

 

[Vinz]

I'm impressed, I had thought you had access to something better. I admire your work even more now. If you've got a minute how do you create rotations over time in magos? I always have trouble getting a plane to make a full 360 rotation over 1 second without looking weird.

That's where mdlvis comes in for me. Rotation input is in Quaternion, not degrees, so I either do the rotation with mdlvis, or use an online Euler-to-Quaternion calculator.

I'd ask though if you can see this taking off and ending in success @Mythic ?

I do.

 

[The_Spellweaver]

I basically copy paste the same 4 key frames in all rotations.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Who defines "success", and how? And more importantly, since when does that matter? think.gif

 

[The_Spellweaver]

I have a rules question.
I want to make a missile but I want the birth to be a charge-up. Since it's a bit tricky to add a negative x translation during birth, can I just leave the missile and the casting/charge effect as separate models?

 

[Vinz]

For convenience, you may isolate certain animation phases of your effect (see Death Coil Missile and Death Coil Special Art).

 

[The_Spellweaver]

Yiiss thank uou

 

[Heinvers]

Approved! Best of luck.

Edit: Noticed added.

 

[blink]

This is my first time judging something XD. I wish you guys the best

 

[Veronnis]

Hey I've got a question, I can't remember; If I take a picture of a cool light reflection am I allowed to use that in my model or are models limited to 75% or more freehand?

 

[Veronnis]

Enhanced fire / burn effect.

 

[Vinz]

Custom textures that aren't edits of in-game ones must be at least 60% freehand. Contestants must present at least one WIP of said textures.

 

[Vinz]

 

[Palette]

It's my first time doing effects and this is too simple but I think I can still make improvements for it.

 

[Palette]

Wait what's the theme again?

 

[Vinz]

Good to have you. If that's a particle, you can try making it an XY Quad (at least 1 speed and latitude is required). Sprinkling a bit of color, rings, and smaller particles wouldn't hurt. You could raise quads to minimize ground clipping.

Your entry can be anything, it just has to reflect this:

Contestants must create three versions of an effect of their choosing,
each one a more masterful form than the last.

 

[Palette]

Good to have you. If that's a particle, you can try making it an XY Quad (at least 1 speed and latitude is required). Sprinkling a bit of color, rings, and smaller particles wouldn't hurt. You could raise quads to minimize ground clipping.

Your entry can be anything, it just has to reflect this:

it's not a particle, it's actually just one billboarded plane and an omni light :>

But thank you though and I want to participate in this event just for the fun of it :v

 

[Yours Truly]

So what's gonna happen to the contest if there is no valid entry?

 

[Palette]

So what's gonna happen to the contest if there is no valid entry?

Same question

 

[Vinz]

The contest will be taken down, and I will be spanked for disturbing the peace.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Sign me up (for spanking, not SFX creation)

 

[Yours Truly]

I think I want to give a try on this. Gonna do a nature themed aura, despite my newbie sfx skills.

So, how does it look? This is the first one out of three, so it's supposed to be underwhelming.

 

[Vinz]

Sign me up (for spanking, not SFX creation)

Yes daddy!

I think I want to give a try on this. Gonna do a nature themed aura, despite my newbie sfx skills.

View attachment 336305

So, how does it look? This is the first one out of three, so it's supposed to be underwhelming.

Dude, that's a cool start! The static center could probably slowly rotate as well to give it a living feel.

 

[Yours Truly]

I'll try that, thanks.

Also, you got my name wrong in the entry list.

 

[Yours Truly]

Second WIP, I guess. I decided to tone down the first SFX to be even more underwhelming, so that the other 2 forms looks better.

First form and second form.

 

[Cherrymage]

Alright, gonna give this a try. I've decided to try making a laser projectile.

Here's a WIP of the first one :

Needs more polishing, though

 

[Cherrymage]

Some more WIPs (the top/first one being an earlier version) :

*

 

[Yours Truly]

Here's my entry. It's called Forest Blessing. I made 2 separate effects for the ultimate form. One for the start effect and one for buff.

Ultimate Preview

 

[Vinz]

@Directive255 Cool. I suggest you make your Tier 2 stronger and more distinctive.

@xYours Trulyx that's gorgeous!

Remember, guys:

 

[Yours Truly]

I uploaded mine on the Model Section.

 

[Cherrymage]

I have uploaded as well.

Link : Prism Ray (3-Tiered)

 

[Vinz]

Good stuff, guys.

My first WIP:

 

[Cherrymage]

@Mythic

omg
this is breathtaking!

 

[Veronnis]

Sorry my friends, between overtime and going to Blizzcon I will not have a qualifying entry for this contest. Good luck to those who do!

 

[chopinski]

Not necessarily a submission, but just playing around to see what I can do that'd be worth submitting

Damn that looks really good!

 

[Vinz]

Sorry my friends, between overtime and going to Blizzcon I will not have a qualifying entry for this contest. Good luck to those who do!

Such a shame. I was looking forward to a yuge fiery tornado. Hope you had a good time at Blizzcon, at least!

 

[Retera]

Hey! I was having some fun playing with a last minute WIP for this. Not sure where it will end up, but I was playing with putting a bunch of ribbons and particles in a circle, maybe to make some kind of fel orb.
We'll see where it ends up.