I am after effects like whirlpools so if player goes on one the ship will be damaged etc and wondering is it better to make a particle system or do a image on plane to show the whirlpool or is there a better way.
It would probably depend on what style your aiming for. For a more simple cartoony style a whirlpool image on a spinning plane would work fine.
Im after a near real/fantasy look
particles probably ?
Anybody has made a whirlpool before?
FWIW, Particle Playground has a whirlpool attractor.