Search for a star VFX Stage 2 brief submission

I wanted to create a fire aoe magic spell in the fine tradition of many games in the past. The base concept is going to involve some sort of thermal current or magical energy being sucked from the ground, up in to a fireball that will expand, and then explode. Fire is a classic staple of fantastic game effects, so I wanted to explore it from a slightly different angle, taking a 'geothermal' sort of angle on the work, and having the heat energy for the explosion pulled from the ground by an arcane force before it is expelled. I want to retain the magical, 'flashy' presentation that often comes with magic in games, but I also want to try and add a more ominous awe to the effect - I like the idea that magic is often dangerous, unknowable, and incredibly destructive if mishandled, so a certain element of danger to the effect is something I will try to engender. 

 The final piece itself is something I feel I can be proud of. I learned a lot about the workflow involved (the brief for this project was invaluable in helping me focus my efforts, so my hat off to the writer) and about the creative process in general, along with learning much about my own capabilities. I feel the effect delivers on what I set out to do, and that I did it to the best of my ability with my current skills, and the time I had to do it. 
 That said, if I were to have more time on it, there are some changes I would like to make. Firstly, I would spend more time on the impact effect, as I feel it could be executed more effectively to demonstrate the ‘fantasy’ it is trying to sell to the viewer. I think a few more texture passes, and some creative use of mesh based particles could really make it shine. There are a few things on the primary effect I would like to work on further too. I would like to make it so that the tendrils that draw power up to the sphere in the primary effect were more variable, and perhaps pick up speed as the effect progresses. I feel the explosive wave could do with some more polish too, involving texture tweaks to give it a cleaner look. 

I'm very proud of the time and work I put into this effect, and hope you enjoy it as much as I have!