Archwizard's Warframe Concept Compilation - (Update 07/19/17) New Dust Ability Stats

[Archwizard]

9 hours ago, Rhekemi said:

That and to have a quest tied to something that's still living and breathing (as opposed to Inaros and the dead and gone past, good quest though), is a bit more exciting.

Heh. It felt especially necessary to have Scathach simply be alive and well, given the mythology she comes from - she's a secluded immortal.
(If you read into the descriptions, she's not the only one.)

But I get what you mean, one of the things that bugs me about the storytelling in Warframe is that DE doesn't really agree with the "Show, don't tell" method. You hear at length that X frame did Y thing eons in the past, but Inaros aside (now that Chroma is no longer quest-limited), you never even get to SEE that frame - the NPCs just repeat "Mirage!" and "Limbo!" and "Titania!" at you until word association sets in, banking on you having already spoiled what the frame looks like for yourself through supplementary materials (or seeing people use the one they bought in public matches). Hek, most of the time the quests aren't even about the frame itself, rather about the other characters helping you unlock it.
I feel like the quests are a missed opportunity to not only discuss the frame's unique lore between the Old War and the present time, but to give you a taste of its power and show off what it's capable of before you commit to making or using it. So far only Inaros comes close there, and his "taste of power" is wildly inaccurate.

Which is why Dust's has you physically play as her during flashbacks, and the other quests have you fight alongside or against the frames in question.
I'll leave it up to you to figure out which one Scathach is.

Edited November 14, 2016 by Archwizard

[Rhekemi]

Couldn't agree more on DE's storytelling. That said, a lot of writers (especially speculative fiction, which Warframe falls under) tell more than they should.

There's the argument that it might be harder to get the character and quest out should they design each one like that, though. If it's more feasible (given the time they have to get new content deployed) to just tell the story, the lore, in that light it's understandable. 

Edited November 15, 2016 by Rhekemi

[Archwizard]

18 hours ago, Rhekemi said:

might be harder to get the character and quest out should they design each one like that, though. If it's more feasible (given the time they have to get new content deployed) to just tell the story, the lore, in that light it's understandable. 

Maybe. On the other hand, they already went out of their way with the last two frames to design entirely new tiles, encounters and mechanics just for their quests. One of whom was completely designed in the middle of the War Within crunch... 

Before that, they went with just telling the story and leaving it mechanics-lite, and it didn't really feel like a quest - just "repeat X mission 3 times till you get all the parts while Ordis tells bad jokes". People still find Limbo's the most frustrating one just because DE decided to balance out the lack of original content with artificial inflation mechanics.

If we do have quests, I don't want the show stolen by characters we've already met. Each of these concepts was designed with their own personalities, and I want them to have their moment in the spotlight.

[Archwizard]

So, a few thoughts for now:

• The next Warframe concept is basically completed, sans art and icons. Originally I wanted to have a bulk delivery with the icons, but I figured it was best to wait until The War Within hype died down a bit before I decided to bring him out. Wondering when a good time for that is now.
• A small part of me thinks it might be a good idea, now that Dust's passive includes an explicit effect for wielding Rapiers, to take the "2-second clock stopper" effect out of her passive and infuse it into the start of one of her abilities like Rewind, and then add a smaller effect like holstering speed to her passive. On the other hand, I feel like that'd just be adding more and more to her power set, and I'm not actually sure how well Rewind would combine with a time-freeze effect.
• On the lore-side, I've decided that Revenant was originally known as a Prometheus-class Warframe. I feel it's relevant to his overall theme; Prometheus returned to humanity bearing the fire of knowledge, while "revenant" literally means "the returned". His original purpose was to act as an amplifying lens for the Tenno's innate power, hence similarities such as the beam attack.

Edited November 19, 2016 by Archwizard

[Elydir]

On 11/14/2016 at 3:09 AM, Rosellaa said:

The first frame is giving me Saryn vibes

Same but just the collar. If she gets cloth physics then itll be beautiful.

On 11/19/2016 at 1:56 PM, Archwizard said:

So, a few thoughts for now:

• The next Warframe concept is basically completed, sans art and icons. Originally I wanted to have a bulk delivery with the icons, but I figured it was best to wait until The War Within hype died down a bit before I decided to bring him out. Wondering when a good time for that is now.
• A small part of me thinks it might be a good idea, now that Dust's passive includes an explicit effect for wielding Rapiers, to take the "2-second clock stopper" effect out of her passive and infuse it into the start of one of her abilities like Rewind, and then add a smaller effect like holstering speed to her passive. On the other hand, I feel like that'd just be adding more and more to her power set, and I'm not actually sure how well Rewind would combine with a time-freeze effect.
• On the lore-side, I've decided that Revenant was originally known as a Prometheus-class Warframe. I feel it's relevant to his overall theme; Prometheus returned to humanity bearing the fire of knowledge, while "revenant" literally means "the returned". His original purpose was to act as an amplifying lens for the Tenno's innate power, hence similarities such as the beam attack.

I just wanna see the new frame.

I think clockstopper sounds like a better name for a passive than that bit of french.

Revenant thing sounds cool. What does Promethus-class mean though?

[Archwizard]

On 11/20/2016 at 7:06 PM, Annon5150 said:

I just wanna see the new frame.

I suppose I've waited long enough for TWW hype to die down.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you,

Enkidu, the Beastmaster.

[MokutoBunshi]

HOOO BOY, this is the MOTHER-LOAD of frame concepts :3 this will take a while to read!

 

]\'[

[(PSN)B_Psycho2]

I like Enkidu, but I feel as though a few things can be changed. 

Wild Call should summon A Kubrow and A Kavat. Because wolves no longer exist.

Passive: Natural Selection: AI controlled allies are marked as companions. Enemy animals fight for the Tenno, and are marked as companions.

All companions deal double damage, and have 150% health.

Waypoint- Enemy- Focus Fire- companions  all collectively mob the selected target (is now especially viable for capture and in some cases: Assassination)

Waypoint- Ally- Protect- All companions grant bonus damage reduction to the target: 50%, and are linked to the target for a bonus 50%. (Effect: Target only takes 10% damage. 40% Damage dealt to the target will be spread across companions. (Is now especially Viable for defense and rescue)

____

I think 2 could also be a part of his passive

Something like this All feral companions (kubrow, kavat, drahk, charger?, etc) consume corpses and grant the team extra health

[Archwizard]

On 11/20/2016 at 7:06 PM, Annon5150 said:

Revenant thing sounds cool. What does Promethus-class mean though?

It's the type of Warframe he was before he deteriorated. Like how Valkyr was originally Gersemi. 

Prometheus brought the fire of knowledge to civilization, the Warframe was a prototype intended to bring the Orokin knowledge of how to amplify the Tenno powers. Prometheus was punished with eternal suffering... and here, Revenant exists.

16 hours ago, (PS4)B_Psycho2 said:

Wild Call should summon A Kubrow and A Kavat. Because wolves no longer exist.

Wouldn't be the first time a frame was able to summon a unique entity, no?
I haven't decided whether the wolves should be physical entities like the Feral Kubrows, or "spirit wolves" produced by his abilities.
Even if they are physical wolves though? Atlas can make living rocks; I think that's slightly more improbable than bringing back the dodo (considering that's the kind of tech we're working on today, and they already have cloning in Warframe).

As far as the Kavat thing... I don't really think it fits his theme to be summoning Kavats. His ultimate ability literally turns him into a wolf, and I meant for his visual theme to invoke wolves as well. Enkidu is a wildman, but kavats are more calculating than kubrows.

Besides, there's a handful of good mythological names for a pair of wolves: Romulus and Remus for irony's sake, Skoll and Hati for more meaningful names...
... Not so much the case for a wolf and a cat.

16 hours ago, (PS4)B_Psycho2 said:

Passive: Natural Selection: AI controlled allies are marked as companions. Enemy animals fight for the Tenno, and are marked as companions.

All companions deal double damage, and have 150% health.

Waypoint- Enemy- Focus Fire- companions  all collectively mob the selected target (is now especially viable for capture and in some cases: Assassination)

Waypoint- Ally- Protect- All companions grant bonus damage reduction to the target: 50%, and are linked to the target for a bonus 50%. (Effect: Target only takes 10% damage. 40% Damage dealt to the target will be spread across companions. (Is now especially Viable for defense and rescue)

____

I think 2 could also be a part of his passive

Something like this All feral companions (kubrow, kavat, drahk, charger?, etc) consume corpses and grant the team extra health

That's a LOT to have on a single passive. Besides, party members would quickly get annoyed by you marking every enemy/player AND ripping control of their pets away from them in the process. Plus, it removes half the point of adding similar commands to his first ability.

At best, your suggestions would fit better as augments.

[Krislen]

Enkidu looks like it's going to be Necro's worst nightmare to party with, unless "consuming" corpses doesn't make them despawn.

[Unus]

9 hours ago, Krislen said:

Enkidu looks like it's going to be Necro's worst nightmare to party with, unless "consuming" corpses doesn't make them despawn.

Mayhaps it can be made complimentary by makeing them eviscerate corpses as they get at the juicy innards and marrow in the manner of modern canids and faux-canids? Instead of less giblets, they create even more as they go about their business.

[Archwizard]

On 12/2/2016 at 11:05 AM, Krislen said:

Enkidu looks like it's going to be Necro's worst nightmare to party with, unless "consuming" corpses doesn't make them despawn.

Channeling doesn't despawn corpses for Desecration, it just hides them, but they're still viable targets. Same deal, basically.

Worst-case scenario, you can stack Desecrate with the Broken Scepter's effect, so I can't see why it would be an issue unless your team has 4 different people trying to consume corpses.

On 12/2/2016 at 8:08 PM, Unus said:

Mayhaps it can be made complimentary by makeing them eviscerate corpses as they get at the juicy innards and marrow in the manner of modern canids and faux-canids? Instead of less giblets, they create even more as they go about their business.

It's an option, but I was thinking it could take advantage of the same formula Desecrate uses and just count chopped bodies as separate.

[Elydir]

On 11/23/2016 at 11:58 AM, Archwizard said:

I suppose I've waited long enough for TWW hype to die down.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you,

Enkidu, the Beastmaster.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssss

Cant wait to see the art for him and his stransformation!

[Archwizard]

Sorry I haven't responded a lot to this thread recently - had to deal with finals.

But, now that the winter break has come, I can devote more time to this project!

Definitely want to start work on Enkidu's icons right away. Perhaps some visual aids to explain everyone's powers, too? My art skills are a bit lacking, but I'll do my best.

Edited December 19, 2016 by Archwizard

[Elydir]

So Reddit says theres a new pet that comes with nidus. Will Enkidus 4th ability augment have a new power for it?

[Archwizard]

Sorry it's been so long since an update! Things have been going slow on this end.

@arch111 has been hard at work on Enkidu's concept art and shown me some preliminary work, but we're still pounding it out.

I've been working on the icons for Enkidu's abilities and checking around for inspiration. Not feeling entirely comfortable with the place they're in, however.

On 12/30/2016 at 4:13 PM, Annon5150 said:

So Reddit says theres a new pet that comes with nidus. Will Enkidus 4th ability augment have a new power for it?

Absolutely yes! I was thinking of giving him Helminth Hunt since Huras doesn't get it... but Steve said that the Helminth Charger might get new abilities in the rework in order to function more as a reflection of and companion to Nidus, so that option is subject to change.

[Archwizard]

Just saw the devstream on the Limbo rework.

All the more appreciative now that Dust has no active powers that simply stop time. I'm sure most of the players writing Time Frame concepts are going to be rightly miffed in that regard.

It was mentioned that Limbo is now a frame who manipulates both Space and Time; I think of him more like the Chroma of the set bearing general powers in each field, with Dust as more of a Time specialist while Aether (considering a new name, actually - how's "Fathom" sound? A unit of measurement for water depth, on a frame who takes some Lovecraftian influence...?) is more of a Space specialist.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Archwizard

[MokutoBunshi]

2 hours ago, Archwizard said:

Just saw the devstream on the Limbo rework.

All the more appreciative now that Dust has no active powers that simply stop time. I'm sure most of the players writing Time Frame concepts are going to be rightly miffed in that regard.

It was mentioned that Limbo is now a frame who manipulates both Space and Time; I think of him more like the Chroma of the set bearing general powers in each field, with Dust as more of a Time specialist while Aether (considering a new name, actually - how's "Fathom" sound? A unit of measurement for water depth, on a frame who takes some Lovecraftian influence...?) is more of a Space specialist.

WHAAAAAT????? I GOT TO WATCH!!!!

 

]\'[

[Archwizard]

One year anniversary of the thread and I missed it by a day!

On 1/29/2017 at 11:45 AM, Archwizard said:

I was thinking of giving him Helminth Hunt since Huras doesn't get it... but Steve said that the Helminth Charger might get new abilities in the rework in order to function more as a reflection of and companion to Nidus, so that option is subject to change.

Now the question is whether to give it Helminth Hunt Trample as a Rhino Charge, or Proboscis as a Rip Line.

[Archwizard]

Oberon's passive is getting changed, but still maintains the druidic aspect. Considering that Enkidu's would still share the same burden as Oberon's presently does - being useless in some missions and potentially game-breaking in others - I will likely just change the line to "Enkidu inherits Oberon's passive".

Meanwhile, the upcoming Priest Warframe was recently datamined. While DE has policies against discussing datamined information on the forums, I will just make a note that _{^{(ignoring the very Nekros-like parts...)}} his advertised description on-stream of "sacrificing for his allies" definitely brought Revenant to mind.

Edited April 22, 2017 by Archwizard

[Archwizard]

I apologize for not keeping this thread as active as I should have. School has been keeping me busy.

@arch111 sent me several pieces of concept art for Enkidu. I'm still not 100% on a design for him yet, but I added the piece that I thought was most fitting to his character to the OP.

I officially renamed Aether to (the much more fitting, in my opinion) "Fathom" today.

I also addressed one complaint about Revenant's design, allowing him to extend the benefits of Torment to allies. I'd been fascinated by the idea of Ash's Blade Storm marking mechanism (if not too thrilled about the ability's actual execution), and decided it fit Revenant's Torment ability quite well; in case that seems too limiting, I also added a new augment to Torment that will push it back towards its original effect.

Edited May 17, 2017 by Archwizard

[Bondsmagi]

"Enkidu inherits Oberon's passive". But adds the option to tell them to Stay or Follow. Would be my only idea to offer.

[Archwizard]

Just now, Bondsmagi said:

"Enkidu inherits Oberon's passive". But adds the option to tell them to Stay or Follow.

Part of his 1!

_{^{Although in fairness, being able to do [X] on your own pet as any Warframe would be a better alternative for the system as a whole.}}

[Bondsmagi]

Ah I read that but didn't think it added to the non summoned allies. Like I wouldn't expect them to be able to make other players pets stay or follow ect. Though that idea sounds pretty cool, people don't like sharing sometimes.

Edited May 17, 2017 by Bondsmagi

[Archwizard]

On 3/25/2016 at 11:47 AM, Archwizard said:

-          Command whistles will alter the AI of unhindered wolves under Enkidu’s control, as well as Enkidu’s non-Sentinel companion and enemy units controlled by Enkidu’s passive. Command whistles will not affect Sentinels, Specters, Rescue/Defense targets, Syndicate allies, or the companions of other Tenno.

Good thing you pointed that out, forgot to alter a few details of his kit.