Warframe References

Visual Warframe references in roughly 4k.

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I will not post here anymore. Maybe I will upload the references that I have already screenshotted, but I will not create any new ones.

The game has been a huge disappointment for me in the last months. The only design I liked was Follie's. Everything else made me, someone who used to be a professional in the art and character design space, angry. Warframe is further removing itself from what made it so great visual wise.

I hate the protoframes, I hated a lot of the deluxe skins (especially Grendel's) and I loathe the designs for Orion and Sirius. They look like cheap knock offs of a mobile gacha game.

The fact that the quest released in pride month is a continuation of Jade Shadows, aka edgy straight teenager from the nineties power fantasy, is gross.

I will keep this blog up for archive purposes.

Sorry, I would have loved to continue helping artists in this fandom, but looking at the game just makes me mad at tge moment.

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Nekros

As his theme is death, Nekros is made to resemble a grim reaper. His helmet includes a hood, covering a metallic skull. His feet resemble those of mummified corpses. In general he is gaunt, his hip bones clearly visible and the darker growths on his chest resembling ribs.

Nekros is polydactyl, having an additional sixth finger, which may symbolise a connection to the supernatural or a sixth sense, which in popular culture often is connected to the ability to sense spirits.

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Mirage

An illusionist and harlequin, mirage includes quite a few familiar elements in her design; a two tone, split outfit with a checker-like pattern, flat dance shoes, with tights underneath (although they extend into a wider design, maybe mimicking loose fit clown outfits).

Her helmet seems to be inspired by a jester's cap and a cuttlefish, which use shifting patterns in their camouflage and mating rituals, creating optical illusions. She has the traditional "clownwhite" face, with the black part mimicking the black masks harlequins are sometimes depicted with. (Alternatively it could resemble slicked black hair underneath the cap).

Sorry for the long break, was diagnosed with ADHD and had to adjust to my meds.

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Mesa

A gunslinger, looking for a challenge. Mesa is blindfolded to make her fights more challenging (confirmed in DevStream 41). Her outfit includes a shoulder cape/bolero jacket, shoes with dirt protectors and spurs. It is "decorated" with ammo pouches and belts.

The little silver metal part sticking out of her head could mimick a feather.

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Mag

Being all about magneticism, Mag has a simple design that features electrical coils on her arms (very closely resembling the way they are shown in diagrams) and feet that form the classic horseshoe shape.

The sparks in her helmet mimick the way iron shavings behave/cluster when magnetised.

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Loki

This warframe is based on the norse trickster god, which makes it a bit difficult to find references in his design, since the appearance of the god Loki is barely described.

The asymmetry in his outfit and the horn like protrusions could hint at him being influenced by a jester (with the horns mimicking a jester's hat), who are often used to symbolize trickery and mischieve. Or the asymmetry could hint to the original Loki being a shapeshifter, giving him an unsteady appearance.

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Limbo

Limbo is clearly inspired by a stage magician, featuring a top hat, coat tails, white gloves and wide dress pants. This matches his theme of someone who wanders between realities.

There is an interpretation on the wiki that likens him to Baron Samedi, but I feel not comfortable to make this comparison, as this crosses into a real life religion, so if someone with more knowledge wants to give their opinion, please do.

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Lavos

His theme is alchemy, represented by snakes and his 'outfit' resembling that of the mad scientist archetype. It features oversized lab gloves with a wide brim and a back part that mimicks a labcoat.

The snakes can be found wrapped around his arms but also on his chest, the connection points of the tubes looking similar to a snakw head with its tongue out.

The right side of its helmet looks like itvwas eroded by chemicals and it looks like he is wearing either a surgeon's mask or a gasmask.

The pale green of his original color scheme is not only fitting for a snake, but also commonly used for medical protective clothing.

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Kullervo

As the "complementary" Warframe to Duviri, his design is mostly rooted in its lore. His helmet resembles Dominus Thrax, his body mirroring the Dax enemies encountered on Duviri. His helmet also reminds me of a Schandmaske, metal masks accused would have to wear to shame them publically.

The daggers piercing him mimick the drifters fate in Duviri.

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Koumei

Koumei was revealed at the TokyoGamesShow and fittingly features a design inspired by japanese culture. Her clothes resemble those of a shrine maiden, including the striking red and white color combination. Underneath the body of a marionette can be seen, including ball joints. Her midsection is blackened like rotten wood, fitting her lore of her coming out of Cetus' ocean.

Despite her idle animation featuring marionette strings, her fourth ability is named after Bunraku, a type of japenese marionette, that was not controlleemd via strings but three people working together.

Her fleshy hair resembles twin tails, a popular hairstyle for cute characters in manga and anime and her face features two large 'eye cavities', grotesquely mimicking the large eyes that manga are known for.

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Khora

Khora is based on an arachnid, according to the wiki, making her the original spider frame. Due to her metal spikes, she resembles an orbweaver spider.

Her skirt mimicks the abdomen of the spider and spidernet lines cover the black parts of her body. She also has eight (or six, if you do not count the very small ones) glowing spots on her head, resembling eyes.

(Also the back of her helmet reminds me of an african hairstyle, which I could not find the origin region or name for because my reference book sucks)

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Jade

Jade is obviously inspired by angels, but her pregnancy theme can be found beyond her translucent belly. The white parts of her dress, especially in her 'open form' resemble vintage maternity dresses.

Her helmet features a half-halo. The fleshy-ness of her "feathers" aldo have something unfinished or embryonic about them.

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The ass running this blog.*

Lur is a cephalon of unknown origins. He is puppeteering a fake body made to resemble an orokin. It is not quite clear what materials were used to create the body, but it feels and looks uncanny. Its mouth often lags behind when he is talking and it generally moves slowly.

Lur is a collector of all things he considers beautiful and that ranges from artifacts to some random potted plants. He is very curious and can be quite obnoxious, since he likes to demand answers to his questions.

He may let a tenno have a look at his collection, but this serves mostly to boost his own ego.

Lur owns multiple exotic pets, most of them from Venus.

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Ivara

Ivara resembles the classic rogue marksman from medieval fantasy, with a hood and pointed shoes.

She also has elements of poisonous animals; poison dart frogs and jellyfish, mainly her color scheme, the translucent parts around her hip and the tendrils coming out of her hood.

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Inaros

Clearly based on the mummy of a pharao, Inaros has a gaunt, dried-to-the-bones body, complete with pronounced hip bones. He has a ceremonial beard (a fake beard a pharao would wear).

The elongated part of his helmet resembles a Hedjet, an egyptian crown, although he color also makes it look similar to a Khepresh, another type of crown.

The parts on his behind resemble a scarab.

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Hildryn

Her name is based on the name of the Valkyrie Hildr, who was able to resurrect the dead, fitting for a Warframe that can protect allies.

Sadly, her design focuses mainly on her body type; at least I could not find any clear references to her shield maid theme.