Best way to draw weapon effects?

[Abraxas)]

Hello, I'm working on a strategy game and currently I'm looking at doing weapon effects. For example, if I fire a laser weapon, I would want a texture that spans the distance fired, plus some kind of particle/lightning effect.

Should I be using billboards for this? put down a billboard that spans the two ships, texture it, add some particles and light nodes and put them all on a timer?

any opinions/advice?

[christianclavet]

Most engine use some kind of billboard with animated textures. The effect you mention is the muzzle flash effect?