[Warframe Ability Mechanic Concept] Toggle Attacks, Toggle ON to Store and Gain - Toggle OFF to Attack

[FoxFX]

LINK TO THE REDDIT VERSION

INTRODUCTION

This concept is about an experimental ability-type design specifically for Damage-Type Warframe Powers such as Channeling, Instant-Cast and Holding-Down. I am posting this to entertain the idea of a new category that could be integrated into current/future Warframe powers.

 

THE GENERAL IDEA

There are a few Warframe powers that fall in a similar design in which I am presenting: Pyrocastic Flow Augment, Afterburn Augment, and Mend and Maim. The idea is to show how current Warframe powers could fall into a similar design. But first, a little description on the concept of "Toggle Attacks."

 

[THE "TOGGLE ATTACK" WARFRAME ABILITY MECHANIC]

The idea is rather simple:

• Toggle Attacks are applied to Warframe Powers that are categorized as Damage Type Abilities See here how Warframe Powers are categorized and how the Corpus Combas block them

• [WHEN TOGGLED ON] The Ability drains Energy but grants the Warframe itself a buff(s) which would stack/remains while the toggle is on. Toggling on could also offer other buffs when a specific condition is triggered or could create a specific aura. Thematically, toggling on the ability is meant to perceive the Warframe storing power for a very devastating attack. The longer the ability is stored, the stronger the attack would be once released.

• [When TOGGLED OFF] The Ability's attack is unleashed and it would consume a buff or stacks of a buff it was collecting while toggled on. Doing so would mean the loss of the passive buffs gained when the ability is toggled on, but this would result in a trade-off for a devastating attack.

• [When DOWNED while TOGGLED ON] The Ability could auto-activate upon the Warframe being downed as a bit of a surprise gimmick.

[HOW THIS ABILITY MECHANIC COULD WORK WITH CERTAIN WARFRAMES]

Much like how Equinox's Mend & Maim works, there are several Warframes that could benefit from this type of ability-style:

 

EMBER

• World on Fire
  • [TOGGLED ON]: Enters a state which improves the effectiveness of Ember's Fireball and Fire Blast damage. Each time the two abilities are activated, they stack a {Thermal} buff to Ember granting + Heat Damage to the next Fireball or Fire Blast. There is also a percentage indicator which shows that the Energy required to activate Fireball and Fire Blast will increase if the percentage reaches 100%. Toggling on will not drain Energy
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Unleashes the World on Fire attack (although stationary). This ability will Toggle Off if Ember is downed while World on Fire is toggled on.

 

EXCALIBUR

• Radial Javelin
  • [TOGGLED ON]: While Toggled On, Radial Javelin offers Excalibur infinite duration to Combo Counters on melee ad Exalted Blade. This ability drains energy while active and could reuce the damage blocked by melee parry.
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Unleashes Radial Javelin which increases in damage based on the Combo Counters currently active.

 

MESA

•  Ballistic Battery
  • [TOGGLED ON]: While Toggled On, Ballistic Battery offers Mesa a Multishot buff to her Primary and Secondary Weapons. Toggled on will also keep the portions of damage dealt as stored damage for Mesa's Toggle Attack Ballistic Battery.
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Ballistic Battery unleashes all the stored damage firing with her Peacemaker with a conical burst attack.

 

ZEPHYR

•  Air Burst
  • [TOGGLED ON]: Stacks in damage overtime and passively grants Zephyr infinite double jumping while toggled on
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Air Burst unleashes its attack and can also come with increased range if the toggle is held on long enough before release.

 

NEKROS

•  Soul Punch
  • [TOGGLED ON]: While on, it stacks a buff for each enemy killed nearby Nekros. (A maximum amount of this stack can be set in)
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Unleashes the attack. If enough stacks are collected, the ability could instead be a Finisher Attack with Impact AOE.

 

NOVA

•  Null Star
  • [TOGGLED ON]: Creates the antimatter particles which revolve around Nova. Overtime, the particles revolve around Nova increasing in speed allowing a chance to block enemy projectile attacks.
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Fires off all the antimatter particles of in the direction of the reticle. This attack could also home in on enemies affected by Molecular Prime for increased damage.

CONCLUSION

This is merely an idea to toy with especially for Warframes that are more damage oriented. Abilities much like Nezha's Divine Spears and Banshee's Sound Quake or Silence could come with a unique pattern which would fall in their playstyle. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this.

Edited February 17, 2018 by FoxFX

[FoxFX]

ZEPHYR

•  Air Burst
  • [TOGGLED ON]: Stacks in damage overtime and passively grants Zephyr infinite double jumping while toggled on
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Air Burst unleashes its attack and can also come with increased range if the toggle is held on long enough before release.

[FoxFX]

NOVA

•  Null Star
  • [TOGGLED ON]: Creates the antimatter particles which revolve around Nova. Overtime, the particles revolve around Nova increasing in speed allowing a chance to block enemy projectile attacks.
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Fires off all the antimatter particles of in the direction of the reticle. This attack could also home in on enemies affected by Molecular Prime for increased damage.

[FoxFX]

NEKROS

•  Soul Punch
  • [TOGGLED ON]: While on, it stacks a buff for each enemy killed nearby Nekros. (A maximum amount of this stack can be set in)
  • [TOGGLED OFF]: Unleashes the attack. If enough stacks are collected, the ability could instead be a Finisher Attack with Impact AOE.

[FoxFX]

I would like to bring this concept over to the feedback section especially when it comes to Ember's current kit. The options for this type of function I feel can still work.

[FoxFX]

I've made some strides to post an article on feedback section to draw in the possibility of Warframe abilities following similar suits.