• EffectType: If this contains an Effect or multiple subelements, then it is considered a dynamically created group of effects. If there is one subelement, then it becomes a simple effect creator. If there are none, then it becomes a Null creator.
  • UNID=
  • sound= [type_sound]
  • instance= [effect_instance]
    • “game”
    • “owner”
    • “creator”
  • 0 or 1 Effect
    • [All Subelements]
      • 0 or 1 Events
        • 0 or 1 GetParameters: Returns valid values for each of the parent element's attributes.
    • Beam
      • beamType= [beam_type]
        • “heavyblaster”
        • “jaggedBolt”
        • “laser”
        • “lightning”
        • “lightningBolt”
        • “particle”
        • “starblaster”
        • “greenParticle”
        • “blueParticle”
        • “blaster”
        • “greenLightning”
      • intensity= [whole number]
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
    • Bolt
      • length= [whole number]
      • width= [whole number]
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
    • Damage: Contains the same attributes and subelements as a Weapon
    • Ellipse
      • eccentricity= [whole number] between 0 and 100.
      • lineColor= [hex color]
      • lineStyle= [style_line]
        • “dashed”
        • “solid”
      • lineWidth= [whole number]
      • radius= [whole number]
      • rotation= [whole number] degrees
    • Flare
      • lifetime= [whole number]
      • radius= [whole number]
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
      • style= [style_flare]
        • “fadingBlast”
        • “flicker”
        • “plain”
    • Group: Same as Effect
    • Image
      • imageID= [Image type] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageX= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageY= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageWidth= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageHeight= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageFrameCount= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageTicksPerFrame= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • lifetime= [whole number]
      • randomStartFrame= [boolean]
      • rotateImage= [boolean]
      • rotationCount= [whole number]
      • imageVariants= [whole number]
    • ImageAndTail
      • imageID= [Image type] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageX= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageY= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageWidth= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageHeight= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageFrameCount= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageTicksPerFrame= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
      • imageVariants= [whole number]
      • randomStartFrame= [boolean]
      • length= [whole number]
      • width= [whole number]
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
    • ImageFracture: Used for the wreck destruction effect
      • Image: Same as ImageDesc
        • imageID= [Image type] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageX= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageY= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageWidth= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageHeight= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageFrameCount= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageTicksPerFrame= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
    • LightningStorm
      • intensity= [dice_range]
      • lifetime= [dice_range] ticks
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
      • style= [style_lightning_storm]
        • “”
        • “objectArcs”
    • MoltenBolt
      • length= [whole number]
      • width= [whole number]
      • growth= [whole number] Length increase per tick for the first 8 ticks?
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
    • Null
    • Orb
      • animate= [animate_orb]
        • blendMode= [blend_mode]
        • detail= [dice_range]
        • distortion= [dice_range]
        • lifetime= [dice_range]
        • intensity= [dice_range]
        • primaryColor= [hex_color]
        • radius= [dice_range]
        • secondaryColor= [hex color]
        • spikeCount= [dice_range]
    • Particle
      • style= [style_particle]
        • “plain”
        • “flame”
        • “smoke”
        • “line”
      • minWidth= [whole number]
      • maxWidth= [whole number]
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
    • ParticleCloud
      • drag= [integer]
      • cohesion= [whole_100]
      • emitDuration= [whole number] must be less than lifetime
      • emitRate= [dice range]
      • emitRotation= [integer]
      • emitSpeed= [dice range]
      • lifetime= [dice range]
      • particleCount= [dice range]
      • particleLifetime= [dice range]
      • radius= [whole]
      • ringWidth= [whole]
      • slowMotion= [whole number]
      • spreadAngle= [dice range]
      • style= [style_particle_cloud]
        • “cloud”
        • “exhaust”
        • “jet”
        • “ring”
        • “splash”
      • viscosity= [whole_100]
      • wakePotential= [whole_100]
      • ParticleEffect: Same as Effect
    • ParticleExplosion
      • particleCount= [dice_range]
      • particleSpeed= [dice_range]
      • particleLifetime= [dice_range]
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
      • Image: Same as ImageDesc
        • imageID= [Image type] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageX= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageY= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageWidth= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageHeight= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageFrameCount= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
        • imageTicksPerFrame= [whole number] Inherited from ImageDesc
    • ParticlePattern / ParticleComet
      • jitterLength=
      • length= [dice_range]
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
      • particleCount= [dice_range]
      • particleSpeed= [dice_range]
      • primaryColor= [hex color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex color]
      • spreadAngle= [dice_range]
      • style= [style_particle_pattern]
        • “”
        • “comet”
        • “jet”
      • width= [dice_range]
      • ParticleEffect: Same as Effect
    • ParticleSystem / ParticleJet
      • cohesion= [dice_range]
      • emitChance= [dice_range]
      • emitRate= [dice_range]
      • emitSpeed= [dice_range]
      • emitLifetime= [dice_range]
      • fixedPos= [boolean]
      • isTrackingObject=
      • particleLifetime= [dice_range]
      • radius= [dice_range]
      • spreadAngle= [dice_range]
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
      • style= [style_particle_system]
        • “”
        • “amorphous”
        • “comet”
        • “exhaust”
        • “jet”
        • “radiate”
        • “spray”
        • “writhe”
        • “brownian”
      • tangentSpeed= [dice_range]
      • wakePotential= [dice_range]
      • xformRotation= [dice_range]
      • xformTime= [dice_range]
      • ParticleEffect: Same as Effect
    • PlasmaSphere
      • spikeCount= [dice_range]
      • spikeLength= [dice_range]
      • primaryColor= [hex_color]
      • radius= [dice_range]
      • secondaryColor= [hex_color]
    • Polyflash
    • Ray
      • animate= [animate_ray]
      • animateOpacity= [animate_ray]
      • blendMode= [blend_mode]
      • intensity= [dice_range]
      • length= [dice_range]
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
      • primaryColor= [hex_color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex_color]
      • shape= [shape_ray]
      • style= [style_ray]
      • width= [dice_range]
      • xformRotation= [dice_range]
    • Sequencer: A sequence of simple effects
    • Shape
      • blendMode= [blend_mode]
        • “normal”
        • “multiply”
        • “overlay”
        • “screen”
        • “hardLight”
        • “composite”
      • scaleWidth= [integer]
      • scaleLength= [integer]
      • color= [hex_color]
      • opacity= [whole]
      • directional= [boolean]
      • scaleWidthInc= [integer]
      • scaleLengthInc= [integer]
      • Point
        • x= [integer]
        • y= [integer]
    • Shockwave
      • blendMode= [blend_mode]
      • fadeStart= [dice_range]
      • glowSize= [dice_range]
      • intensity= [dice_range]
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
      • primaryColor= [hex_color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex_color]
      • speed= [dice_range]
      • style= [style_shockwave]
      • width= [dice_range]
      • Image: Same as ImageDesc
    • SmokeTrail=
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
      • spread= [dice_range]
      • emitDuration= [dice_range]
      • particleLifetime= [dice_range]
      • emitRate= [dice_range]
      • emitSpeed= [dice_range]
      • rotation= [dice_range]
      • ParticleEffect: Same as Effect
    • Starburst
      • spikeCount= [dice_range]
      • spikeLength= [dice_range]
      • primaryColor= [hex_color]
      • secondaryColor= [hex_color]
      • style= [style_starburst]
        • ballLightning=
        • flare=
        • plain=
        • lightningStar=
        • morningStar=
      • lifetime= [dice_range]
    • Text
      • align= [align_horizontal]
        • “center”
        • “right”
        • “left”
      • font= [font]
      • opacity= [whole]
      • primaryColor= [hex_color]
      • text= [string]
    • Variants: Effect varies based on a value. Subelements must have the attribute maxValue

An effect element is an element that defines how to paint something on the screen. For example, weapons use an <Effect> element to define how to paint a projectile. Not all effect elements are called <Effect>. For example, weapons also have a <FireEffect> element that describes how to paint the muzzle-flash for the weapon.

In all cases, an effect element contains 0 or more sub-elements called painters. Each painter defines a particular type of paint effect. For example, an <Image> painter is used to paint a bitmap. If more than one painter is specified, they are painted in order, one of top of the other.

Suggesstion for laser colors.

The following painters exist:

Version: 1.06 and above.

beamType= Choose from one of many styles (list taken from TSE\SFXBeam.cpp)

• laser
• lightning
• heavyblaster
• starblaster
• particle
• greenparticle
• blueparticle
• blaster
• greenlightning

primaryColor= Hexidecimal for the primary color.

secondaryColor= Hexidecimal for the secondary color.

intensity= Increases beam width (discovered by Hatsya)

length= The length of the bolt in pixels.

width= The width of the bolt in pixels.

primaryColor= The primary color.

secondaryColor= The secondary color.

style= One of the following:

• fadingBlast

radius= The radius in pixels.

lifetime= The lifetime of the effect in ticks.

imageID= UNID of the image to use.

imageX= X-coordinate of the upper-left of the image to use.

imageY= Y-coordinate of the upper-left of the image to use.

imageWidth= Width of the image in pixels.

imageHeight= Height of the image in pixels.

lifetime= Ticks to show image.

imageFrameCount= Number of animation frames in the image. If the effect lasts longer than the number of frames then the animation starts again from the beginning.

imageTicksPerFrame= Ticks to show each frame (valid only if imageFrameCount is non-zero).

randomStartFrame= If true, then start at a random frame (valid only if imageFrameCount is non-zero).

rotationCount= Number of rotation frames.

Same attributes as <Image> plus the following additional attributes:

length= Length of the tail in pixels.

width= Width of the tail in pixels.

primaryColor= Primary color of the tail.

secondaryColor= Secondary color of the tail.

length= Length of the bolt in pixels.

width= Width of the bolt in pixels.

growth= If non-zero, the length of the bolt will increase by this number of pixels on each tick (up to a maximum of 8 ticks).

primaryColor= Primary color of bolt.

secondaryColor= Secondary color of bolt.

This painter is used for weapons of type=particles.

style= One of:

• flame
• plain
• line
• smoke

minWidth= The minimum width of the particle in pixels.

maxWidth= The maximum width of the particle in pixels.

primaryColor= The primary color of the particle.

secondaryColor= The secondary color of the particle.

Version: 1.08 and above.

This painter creates a cloud of particles with various shapes and behaviors.

style= One of:

• cloud
• splash
• jet
• ring

lifetime= The lifetime of the effect in ticks (expressed as a dice range). The value -1 means that the effect is immortal (lasts forever).

emitDuration= The amount of time during which the effect will create new particles. For immortal effects this is expressed as a number of ticks. For effects with a limited lifetime, this is expressed as a % of the total lifetime.

emitRate= The number of new particles to create per tick (expressed as a dice range).

emitSpeed= The speed of a newly created particle (as a percent of light speed, expressed as a dice range).

particleCount= The number of particles initially created; these will appear immediately when the effect starts. The position and velocity of the initially created particles depends on the style. This property is a dice range.

particleLifetime= The lifetime a particle in the cloud in ticks. A value of -1 means that particles live forever. This property is a dice range.

radius= For cloud effects, this is the maximum radius of the cloud. For ring effects this is the radius of the ring. (expressed in pixels).

ringWidth= For ring effects, this is the radius of the ring in pixels.

cohesion= This is a value from 0 to 100 specifying the cohesion of the particles. Higher values accelerate the particles towards the center of the effect.

viscosity= This is a value from 0 to 100 specifying the tendency of the particles to move out of their designated shape (either cloud or ring). With higher values, particles tend to stay within the effect's shape.

wakePotential= This is a value from 0 to 100 specifying the tendency of the particles to be affected by objects (such as ships) moving through them.

<ParticleEffect> This sub-element defines the effect to use to paint each particle. You may use any valid painter (or set of painters), but the <Particle> painter is the most efficient.

width= Width of the comet in pixels.

length= Length of the comet in pixels.

particleCount= Number of particles in the comet.

primaryColor= Primary color of the particles.

particleCount= The number of particles in the explosion (this is a dice range).

particleSpeed= The speed of each particle in % of light-speed.

particleLifetime= The lifetime of each particle (in ticks).

lifetime= The lifetime of the effect (expressed as a dice range).

<Image> A sub-element that defines the image to use for each particle.

spikeCount= The number of spikes, expressed as a dice range. The number of spikes is computed on each frame.

spikeLength= The length of each spike, in pixels, expressed as a dice range. Each spike's length is computed independently on each frame.

primaryColor= The primary color of the sphere.

secondaryColor= The secondary color of the sphere.

This painter paints a muzzle-flash. It has no attributes.

This painter draws a filled polygon defined by the <Point> sub-elements.

width= The width of the polygon in pixels

length= The length of the polygon in pixels.

widthInc= Each tick, the width is increased by this number of pixels.

lengthInc= Each tick, the length is increased by this number of pixels.

color= The color of the polygon.

opacity= The opacity of the polygon (0 = transparent; 255 = opaque).

directional= If true, then the polygon is oriented along the appropriate direction (e.g., the direction in which the projectile was fired).

The <Point> sub-element determines a corner of the shape you are making. It consists only of an x and y value. Negative values are declared by placing a minus (-) sign before the value; the game will treat the value as positive otherwise.

x= The vertical location of the point. Positive value: up; negative value: down.

y= The horizontal location of the point. Positive value: left; negative value: right.

<Point x="0" y="0"/>
<Point x="-35" y="50"/>
<Point x="-100" y="0"/>
<Point x="-35" y="-50"/>

The <Point> sub-elements must be declared in clockwise or anti-clockwise order for the shape to look right. In the above example, the <Point> sub-elements are declared in a clockwise manner, creating a diamond shape.

style= One of the following:

• glowRing
• image

speed= The speed with which the shockwave expands (as % of light-speed).

lifetime= The lifetime of the shockwave in ticks.

fadeStart= The point at which the shockwave begins to fade (expressed as a percent of lifetime).

This style paints an expanding, glowing ring. It includes the following attributes:

primaryColor= The primary color of the ring.

secondaryColor= The secondary color of the ring.

width= The width of the ring in pixels (i.e., the thickness of the ring).

glowWidth= The width of the glowing part of the ring in pixels (generally greater than the width).

This style using an image to paint the shockwave.

<Image> An element describing the image to use.

lifetime= The lifetime of the effect in ticks.

spread= The width of the particle spray (expressed as units proportional to the angular spread). This is a dice range.

emitDuration= The amount of time that new particles are being emitted (expressed as a percentage of total lifetime).

emitRate= The number of particles emitted on each tick. This is a dice range.

emitSpeed= The speed of each particle, as a percent of light-speed. This is a dice range.

particleLifetime= The lifetime (in ticks) of an individual particle expressed as a dice range.

<ParticleEffect> This sub-element defines the effect to use to paint each particle. You may use any valid painter (or set of painters), but the <Particle> painter is the most efficient.

style= One of the following:

• flare
• lightningStar
• morningStar
• plain

lifetime= The lifetime of the effect in ticks.

spikeCount= The number of spikes to paint (this is a dice range computed on every tick).

spikeLength= The length of each spike in pixels (this is a dice range computed for each spike on every tick).

primaryColor= The primary color.

secondaryColor= The secondary color.

(Taken from here)
Lasers: red, green, or purple (in ascending order of strength)
Kinetic: gray
Particle: green, with particulate texture
Blast: flame
Ion: cyan
Thermo: flame/orange
Positron: yellow, with particulate texture
Plasma: yellow
Antimatter: yellow
Nano: various (gray/green/etc) but with complex texture
Graviton: purple/violet
Singularity: black/white/violet
Dark Acid: teal
Dark Steel: gray-green
Dark Lightning: blue
Dark Fire: red

For lasers, we should probably avoid yellow and blue (to avoid confusion with positron/antimatter and ion). If you want to create new laser styles I recommend mixing in more white (to make the beam whiter). For example, I imagine a gamma-ray laser could be white with fringes of violet/purple.

From wolfy's post.
Beam types

lightning
lightningBolt
heavyblaster
greenparticle
blueparticle
blaster
starblaster
greenlightning
jaggedBolt

Ray types

fade
diamond
oval
straight
tapered
cone
wavy
smooth
jagged
grainy

Source: http://forums.kronosaur.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6731&p=59534#p59526

<HitEffect>
   <Null/>
</HitEffect>