Pre-rendered explosions

This is about using avi’s of explosions in your scene.

Make a cone and convert to editable poly. Remove the face so you have what looks like a filter for coffee. Put on a planar UVW map.

This is the material. It uses an avi. Sometimes Max supplies one in the tutorials, or you can make one with the fire effect.

A light aims directly into the cone and directs a projector map into the cone. This is an added level of work that increases the illusion.