will get to work and see how it goes.   as for the life based staff is there an actual white bolt particle effect?  spell name? etc

EDIT:
hmmm so the incineration staff uses
            <GameModifier>
                <ModType>Unit</ModType>
                <Attribute>UnlockRangedAction</Attribute>
                <StrVal>BowAttack_Flaming</StrVal>
                <Provides>Ranged attack</Provides>
            </GameModifier>
how would i go about changing that to the shadowbolt fx...

You have to make a spell called...

<SpellDef InternalName="BowAttack_Shadow">
    ...
    Copy the shadowbolt spell for the effects, change a few things for your staff unless you want it to act exactly like the shadowbolt.
    ...
</SpellDef>

That is what makes the look for the attack.

Model it after the flaming bow attack with the spell effect (look portion) of the spell shadowbolt.

I don't know of a good one of the pre-designed versions. But looking at these particle effect it doesn't seem too difficult to make a ball of light somehow. I recommend doing maybe a rainbow effect, I think that would look neat as it traveled through the air. But really it is up to you, I just thought it would be nice to make a light side equivalent to your dark side staff.

Guess i should post the final "test" code of the said staff i was working on to get the concept down (havnt made any official items yet using what i learned..  right now its ALL trial and error for me and never used xml before so learning a lot and fast)  eventually i'll either do a guide post or just post my final mod pack with pickables that you can use in your own mod folder or not  

but anyways for the test run i took the Spell Staff model since it was a melee staff and and purply with purple glow lol.  and added a ranged shadowbolt to it..  i just used the same stats as the Enchanter's Leht Staff so more like a basic shooter staff and not a staff that fires actual shadowbolts though i can do that as well now that i got the idea of it, maybe as a super rare item drop or something in final mod, so it wasnt over powered or anything, which none of my mod will be, once i learned this stuff and get what i want set up i'll be doin extensive balance testing to make sure it flows well...

here is the SpellDef that needs to be added

    <SpellDef InternalName="BowAttack_Shadow">
        <DisplayName>Bow Attack</DisplayName>
        <Description>Attack a unit from a distance with a single arrow from your bow.</Description>
        <Image>Action_BowArrow.png</Image>
        <IconFG>Action_BowArrow.png</IconFG>
        <IconBG>Action_BowArrow.png</IconBG>
        <IconColor>255,255,255</IconColor>
        <SpellBookSortCategory>Unit</SpellBookSortCategory>
        <SpellBookSortSubCategory>UnitDamage</SpellBookSortSubCategory>
        <SpellType>Tactical</SpellType>
        <SpellClass>Offensive</SpellClass>
        <SpellSubClass>Damage</SpellSubClass>
        <SpellTargetType>EnemyUnit</SpellTargetType>
        <HideInHiergamenon>1</HideInHiergamenon>
        <IsCastable>0</IsCastable>
        <IsRangedAttack>1</IsRangedAttack>
        <GameModifier>
            <ModType>Unit</ModType>
            <Attribute>DefendableDamage</Attribute>
        </GameModifier>
        <AIData AIPersonality="AI_General">
            <AIPriority>5</AIPriority>
        </AIData>
        <HitSoundFX>Spell_FlameDart_01</HitSoundFX>
        <SpellCastSoundFX>Spell_FlameDartTravel_01</SpellCastSoundFX>
        <SpellCastEffectName>T_ShadowBolt_Particle</SpellCastEffectName>
        <SpellCastEffectScale>0.3</SpellCastEffectScale>
        <SpellCastProjectile>1</SpellCastProjectile>
        <SpellCastProjectileSpeed>800</SpellCastProjectileSpeed>
    </SpellDef>

and this is the actual Item code, I did have an issue with Stormwold.  kept trying to give it to an Undead Champ and it was just vanishing, so tried tossing in the code for the factions, which i just fired up a new game and saw a goblin champ hired and tossed the staff on and it worked. so if someone can explain how the SupportedUnitModel code works, might help me out for future projects, also if i put NO supported units in the item code does the game read it as any unit? 

    <GameItemType InternalName="MyStaff_Shadow">
        <DisplayName>Shadow Staff</DisplayName>
        <Description>A staff filled with Dark Energies.</Description>
        <Type>Weapon</Type>
        <Type>Defense</Type>
        <WeaponType>Staff</WeaponType>
        <CanBeEquipped>1</CanBeEquipped>
        <AdditionalTrainingTurns>18</AdditionalTrainingTurns>
        <ShopValue>150</ShopValue>
        <ProductionRequirement>
            <Type>Resource</Type>
            <Attribute>RefinedCrystal</Attribute>
            <Value>3</Value>
        </ProductionRequirement>
        <GameModifier>
            <ModType>Unit</ModType>
            <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>
            <StrVal>UnitStat_Attack_Fire</StrVal>
            <Value>12</Value>
        </GameModifier>
        <GameModifier>
            <ModType>Unit</ModType>
            <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>
            <StrVal>UnitStat_CombatSpeed</StrVal>
            <Value>-6</Value>
        </GameModifier>
        <GameModifier>
            <ModType>Unit</ModType>
            <Attribute>AdjustUnitStat</Attribute>
            <StrVal>UnitStat_CurrentWeight</StrVal>
            <Value>0</Value>
        </GameModifier>
            <GameModifier>
                <ModType>Unit</ModType>
                <Attribute>UnlockRangedAction</Attribute>
                <StrVal>BowAttack_Shadow</StrVal>
                <Provides>Ranged attack</Provides>
            </GameModifier>
        <IsAvailableForSovereignCustomization>0</IsAvailableForSovereignCustomization>
        <Likelihood>200</Likelihood>
        <RarityDisplay>UltraRare</RarityDisplay>
        <Prereq>
            <Type>RestrictedAbilityBonusOption</Type>
            <Attribute>NoRangedWeapons</Attribute>
            <Target>Player</Target>
        </Prereq>
        <AIData AIPersonality="AI_General">
            <AIPrefType>AIPrefType_BLUNT</AIPrefType>
            <AIPriority>168</AIPriority>
        </AIData>
        <ArtDef>Staff_Spell_ArtDef</ArtDef>
        <GameItemTypeArtDef InternalName="Staff_Spell_ArtDef">
            <GameItemTypeModelPack InternalName="Staff_Spell_Default">
                <IconFile>W_Staff_Spellstaff_Icon_01.png</IconFile>
                <TintR>0</TintR>
                <TintG>0</TintG>
                <TintB>0</TintB>
                <AttackSFX>Hit_WoodSpear1</AttackSFX>
                <EquipSFX>Equip_WoodenItem_01</EquipSFX>
                <EquipSFX>Equip_WoodenItem_02</EquipSFX>
                <EquipSFX>Equip_WoodenItem_03</EquipSFX>
                <OnHitParticleName>Staff_Attack</OnHitParticleName>
                <SoundPack>SoundPack_Staff_Fire</SoundPack>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>Goblin</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>LizardmanFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>DeathLegion</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>Golem</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>ElfFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>ElfMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>LivingStone</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>AmarianFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>AmarianMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>EmpireFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>HenchmanMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>EmpireMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>Undead</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>FallenFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>FallenMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>LizardmanMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>IroneerFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>IroneerMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>KingdomFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>KingdomMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>ShadowMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>ShadowFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>MancerFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>MancerMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>QuendarFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>QuendarMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>SlaveMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>TarthanFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>TarthanMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>UrxenFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>UrxenMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>WraithFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>WraithMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>DwarfFemale</SupportedUnitModelType>
        <SupportedUnitModelType>DwarfMale</SupportedUnitModelType>
                <GameItemTypeModel>
                    <ModelFile>gfx/hkb/weapons/w_spell_staff_mesh_01.hkb</ModelFile>
                    <Texture_All>W_Club_Texture_01.png</Texture_All>
                    <Attachment>hand_right_Lcf</Attachment>
                    <Color_Clothing1>150, 29, 200</Color_Clothing1>
                    <Color_Metal>84,78, 90</Color_Metal>
        <EffectAttachment>
            <Attachment>Effect_Loc_04</Attachment>
            <EffectName>A_Spellstaff_Particle</EffectName>
            <EffectPosition>0,0,-5</EffectPosition>
            <EffectRotation>0,0,0</EffectRotation>
            <EffectScale>0.3</EffectScale>
        </EffectAttachment>
                </GameItemTypeModel>
            </GameItemTypeModelPack>
        </GameItemTypeArtDef>
    </GameItemType>

Essentially each unitmodeltype implies unique 3d models in general for the unit and its equipment. Mostly they are the same but sometimes they are different.

For weapons you generally want to add all the unitmodeltypes that have been used.

More info here https://forums.elementalgame.com/437295