Hey everyone! I wanted to share some ideas for Caliban augments, taking inspiration from his existing Razor Mortar augment. I'm really excited about the potential to expand on his kit and make him even more versatile. Let's dive into some concepts, and I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
Understanding Caliban's Current Kit and Razor Mortar
Before we jump into new augment ideas, let's quickly recap Caliban's abilities and how Razor Mortar currently enhances them. Caliban is a Sentient-themed Warframe, focusing on area control, damage, and team support. His abilities are:
- Passive - Adaptive Armor: Caliban gains increasing damage resistance to the last damage type he suffered, making him tankier over time. This passive encourages adaptability and strategic play, as players need to be mindful of the enemy composition and damage output.
- 1st Ability - Razor Gyre: Caliban spins in a vortex, dealing damage to enemies he touches. This is a straightforward damage ability with decent crowd control, especially against weaker enemies. Razor Gyre allows Caliban to quickly traverse the battlefield, making him a mobile threat capable of engaging enemies from multiple angles. The ability's range and damage scale with mods, making it a viable option for both early and late-game content. However, its effectiveness can be limited against heavily armored or shielded enemies, requiring players to rely on other abilities or weapons to deal with such threats.
- 2nd Ability - Sentient Wrath: Caliban sends out waves of energy that strip enemy armor and shields. This is a crucial ability for team support, significantly increasing the damage output against tougher enemies. Sentient Wrath not only weakens enemies but also provides a form of crowd control by staggering them, creating openings for Caliban and his allies to capitalize on. The ability's range and the amount of armor/shield stripped can be further enhanced with mods, making it an indispensable tool for high-level missions.
- 3rd Ability - Lethal Progeny: Caliban summons three Sentient Conculyst allies to fight alongside him. These allies provide additional damage output and can draw enemy fire, making them valuable distractions. Each Conculyst has unique abilities and attack patterns, adding depth to Caliban's gameplay. They also benefit from Caliban's Adaptive Armor passive, making them surprisingly resilient in combat. Players can strategically position the Conculysts to maximize their effectiveness, creating a formidable fighting force that can overwhelm enemy defenses.
- 4th Ability - Fusion Strike: Caliban slams the ground, creating a massive explosion that damages and knocks down enemies. This is his ultimate ability, capable of dealing significant damage in a wide area. Fusion Strike is especially effective against large groups of enemies, making it ideal for clearing rooms or defending objectives. The ability's damage scales with power strength mods, allowing players to tailor it to their preferred playstyle. Additionally, the knockdown effect provides valuable crowd control, giving Caliban and his team a tactical advantage in chaotic combat situations.
Razor Mortar, the existing augment for Fusion Strike, enhances the ability by creating lingering energy mortars after the initial explosion. These mortars continue to deal damage over time, providing sustained area denial. This augment significantly increases Fusion Strike's utility, transforming it from a burst damage ability into a persistent threat that enemies must actively avoid.
The key aspects we can draw from Razor Mortar are:
- Area Denial: The augment adds a lingering effect that controls enemy movement.
- Sustained Damage: The mortars provide damage over time, increasing overall damage output.
- Synergy with Base Ability: The augment enhances the existing ability without drastically changing its core function.
Keeping these aspects in mind, let's brainstorm some augment ideas for Caliban's other abilities.
Augment Concepts for Razor Gyre
With Razor Gyre, we can explore augments that enhance its damage, crowd control, or mobility. Here are a few ideas:
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Razor Tempest: Razor Gyre leaves behind a trail of energy that deals damage over time. This augment would add an area denial aspect to Razor Gyre, similar to Razor Mortar. Imagine spinning through a group of enemies, leaving a swirling vortex of energy that continues to damage them even after you've moved on. This would make Razor Gyre more effective against groups of enemies and provide a tactical advantage in chokepoints. It also synergizes well with Caliban's passive, allowing him to build up damage resistance while controlling the battlefield.
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This augment focuses on the area denial aspect, leaving a damaging trail. This would significantly improve Razor Gyre's crowd control capabilities and make it a more versatile ability. The damage over time effect would also increase Caliban's sustained damage output, making him a formidable opponent in prolonged engagements. Guys, think about the possibilities! You could use Razor Gyre to create escape routes, funnel enemies into kill zones, or simply whittle down their health while staying mobile. The trail could also apply status effects, such as viral or radiation, further enhancing its utility.
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The duration and damage of the energy trail could be affected by mod stats such as duration and power strength, allowing for further customization. For example, increasing duration would make the trail last longer, providing extended area denial, while increasing power strength would boost the damage per tick. This flexibility would allow players to tailor the augment to their specific playstyle and mission requirements. Furthermore, the visual effects of the trail could be designed to be distinct and easily recognizable, providing clear feedback to both the player and their teammates about the area's danger zone.
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To balance the augment, there could be a limit to the number of trails that can be active simultaneously, preventing players from completely covering the battlefield in damaging energy. This would encourage strategic placement of the trails and require players to think carefully about their movement and ability usage. Additionally, the damage of the trail could be adjusted to ensure that it's effective but not overpowered, maintaining the balance of Caliban's kit. Imagine the synergy with other Warframes, like Vauban, who could trap enemies in the trails! It's a crazy good concept!
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Razor Vortex: Enemies caught in Razor Gyre are pulled towards Caliban. This augment would enhance Razor Gyre's crowd control, making it easier to group enemies for follow-up attacks. Think of it like a miniature black hole, sucking enemies closer as you spin through them. This would be incredibly useful for setting up combos with other abilities or weapons, such as Fusion Strike or a well-placed grenade. The augment could also create opportunities for melee attacks, allowing Caliban to quickly dispatch groups of enemies with his weapon.
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The pulling force could scale with power strength, allowing players to fine-tune the ability's crowd control potential. This would provide a meaningful choice for players who prioritize crowd control over other aspects of Caliban's kit. The augment could also interact with environmental hazards, such as fire or electric traps, pulling enemies into them for additional damage. This would add another layer of tactical depth to Caliban's gameplay, encouraging players to think creatively about their surroundings and how they can use them to their advantage.
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To prevent the augment from being too disruptive, the pulling force could have a limited range and a short duration. This would ensure that enemies are only pulled in while they are actively caught in Razor Gyre, preventing them from being pulled from across the map. Additionally, the augment could have a diminishing returns effect, reducing the pulling force on enemies that have been repeatedly pulled in. This would prevent players from infinitely pulling enemies and ensure that the augment remains balanced and engaging.
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The visual effects of Razor Vortex could be designed to be visually appealing and informative, clearly indicating the area of effect and the strength of the pulling force. This would allow players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the visual spectacle of a swirling vortex of enemies being pulled towards Caliban – it would be absolutely amazing!
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Razor Ricochet: Razor Gyre bounces off walls, allowing Caliban to travel further and hit enemies in enclosed spaces. This augment would increase Razor Gyre's mobility and make it more effective in tight corridors and rooms. This is perfect for those tight corridor missions! The bouncing effect would also add an element of unpredictability to the ability, making it harder for enemies to anticipate Caliban's movements. This could be particularly useful in PvP situations, where mobility and positioning are crucial.
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The number of bounces and the distance traveled could be affected by mod stats, allowing players to customize the augment to their preferred playstyle. For example, increasing range would allow Caliban to bounce further, while increasing duration would allow him to bounce more times. This flexibility would allow players to tailor the augment to their specific needs and preferences. The augment could also interact with environmental objects, such as crates and barrels, allowing Caliban to bounce off them for added mobility and tactical options.
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To prevent the augment from being too chaotic, the bouncing angle could be limited to a certain range, preventing Caliban from bouncing in unpredictable directions. This would ensure that the ability remains controllable and that players can accurately predict where they will end up. Additionally, the augment could have a slight delay before each bounce, allowing enemies to react and reposition themselves. This would add a layer of tactical depth to the ability, requiring players to think carefully about their movements and positioning.
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The visual effects of Razor Ricochet could be designed to be visually striking and informative, clearly indicating the bouncing trajectory and the number of remaining bounces. This would allow players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the excitement of bouncing around a room, slicing through enemies with Razor Gyre – it would be incredibly exhilarating!
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Augment Concepts for Sentient Wrath
Sentient Wrath is a fantastic armor and shield stripping ability, so augments could focus on enhancing its debuff, adding additional effects, or improving its range and targeting. Here are some ideas:
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Sentient Siphon: Enemies affected by Sentient Wrath heal Caliban and his allies for a percentage of the damage they take. This augment would add a healing component to Sentient Wrath, making it a valuable support ability. Imagine weakening enemies and simultaneously healing your team as they are damaged! This would be particularly useful in high-level missions where survivability is crucial.
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The healing percentage could scale with power strength, allowing players to fine-tune the ability's healing potential. This would provide a meaningful choice for players who prioritize support over other aspects of Caliban's kit. The augment could also have a limited range, encouraging players to stay close to their allies to maximize the healing effect. This would add a layer of tactical depth to Caliban's gameplay, requiring players to think carefully about their positioning and team coordination.
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To prevent the augment from being too overpowered, the healing could have a cap on the amount of health that can be restored, preventing players from becoming invulnerable. This would ensure that the augment remains balanced and that players still need to rely on other healing sources. Additionally, the healing could be distributed among all allies in range, preventing one player from receiving the majority of the healing. This would encourage teamwork and ensure that everyone benefits from the augment.
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The visual effects of Sentient Siphon could be designed to be visually appealing and informative, clearly indicating the healing effect and the amount of health being restored. This would allow players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the satisfaction of keeping your team alive while simultaneously weakening enemies – it would be incredibly rewarding!
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Sentient Surge: Sentient Wrath applies a status effect vulnerability to enemies, increasing the chance of applying status effects. This augment would further enhance Sentient Wrath's debuff capabilities, making it easier to inflict status effects on enemies. This is great for those builds that rely on status procs! The status effect vulnerability would synergize well with weapons and abilities that inflict status effects, such as the Ignis Wraith or Saryn's Spores. This would make Caliban a valuable asset in team compositions that focus on status damage.
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The status effect vulnerability percentage could scale with power strength, allowing players to fine-tune the ability's debuff potential. This would provide a meaningful choice for players who prioritize status damage over other aspects of Caliban's kit. The augment could also have a limited duration, requiring players to reapply Sentient Wrath periodically to maintain the vulnerability. This would add a layer of tactical depth to Caliban's gameplay, requiring players to think carefully about their ability usage and timing.
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To prevent the augment from being too overpowered, the status effect vulnerability could have a cap on the maximum increase, preventing players from achieving 100% status chance. This would ensure that the augment remains balanced and that players still need to invest in status chance mods. Additionally, the augment could have diminishing returns on subsequent applications, reducing the vulnerability percentage each time Sentient Wrath is cast. This would prevent players from stacking the vulnerability indefinitely and ensure that the augment remains engaging.
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The visual effects of Sentient Surge could be designed to be visually striking and informative, clearly indicating the status effect vulnerability on affected enemies. This would allow players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the devastation you could unleash with a status-focused build combined with Sentient Surge – it would be absolutely incredible!
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Sentient Spread: Sentient Wrath chains to additional enemies, increasing its range and the number of targets affected. This augment would improve Sentient Wrath's range and targeting, making it more effective against spread-out enemies. Think of it like a lightning bolt, jumping from enemy to enemy! This would be particularly useful in open-world environments or against enemies that tend to scatter.
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The number of chains and the range of each chain could be affected by mod stats, allowing players to customize the augment to their preferred playstyle. For example, increasing range would allow the chains to travel further, while increasing duration would allow the chains to persist for longer. This flexibility would allow players to tailor the augment to their specific needs and preferences. The augment could also prioritize enemies with higher armor and shields, ensuring that the debuff is applied to the most threatening targets.
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To prevent the augment from being too chaotic, the chains could have a limited range and a maximum number of targets that can be affected. This would ensure that the ability remains controllable and that players can accurately predict which enemies will be debuffed. Additionally, the chains could have a slight delay between each jump, allowing enemies to react and reposition themselves. This would add a layer of tactical depth to the ability, requiring players to think carefully about their positioning and ability usage.
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The visual effects of Sentient Spread could be designed to be visually striking and informative, clearly indicating the chains and the enemies that are being debuffed. This would allow players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the visual spectacle of Sentient Wrath arcing between enemies, weakening them all in a chain reaction – it would be absolutely stunning!
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Augment Concepts for Lethal Progeny
Lethal Progeny summons three Sentient Conculysts, so augments could focus on enhancing their survivability, damage output, or behavior. Here are some ideas:
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Progeny Preservation: Caliban's Conculysts inherit a percentage of his armor and shield values. This augment would significantly improve the survivability of the Conculysts, making them more resilient in combat. Imagine your Conculysts becoming mini-tanks, soaking up damage while you focus on dealing it! This would be particularly useful in high-level missions where Conculyst survivability is a concern.
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The percentage of inherited armor and shields could scale with power strength, allowing players to fine-tune the augment's defensive capabilities. This would provide a meaningful choice for players who prioritize Conculyst survivability over other aspects of Caliban's kit. The augment could also grant the Conculysts additional status effect resistance, further enhancing their resilience. This would make them less susceptible to crowd control abilities and allow them to stay in the fight longer.
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To prevent the augment from being too overpowered, the maximum amount of armor and shields that the Conculysts can inherit could be capped, preventing them from becoming completely invulnerable. This would ensure that the augment remains balanced and that players still need to be mindful of their Conculysts' health. Additionally, the inherited armor and shields could decay over time, requiring players to recast Lethal Progeny periodically to maintain their defensive capabilities. This would add a layer of tactical depth to Caliban's gameplay, requiring players to think carefully about their ability usage and timing.
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The visual effects of Progeny Preservation could be designed to be visually subtle but informative, clearly indicating the increased armor and shield values of the Conculysts. This would allow players to quickly assess their Conculysts' health and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the confidence you would have knowing that your Conculysts are nearly as durable as you are – it would be incredibly empowering!
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Progeny Fury: Caliban's Conculysts deal increased damage and have a higher attack speed. This augment would significantly boost the damage output of the Conculysts, making them more formidable attackers. Imagine your Conculysts unleashing a flurry of attacks, tearing through enemies with incredible speed and ferocity! This would be particularly useful in missions where damage is paramount.
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The damage increase and attack speed bonus could scale with power strength, allowing players to fine-tune the augment's offensive capabilities. This would provide a meaningful choice for players who prioritize Conculyst damage over other aspects of Caliban's kit. The augment could also grant the Conculysts additional critical chance and critical damage, further enhancing their damage potential. This would make them even more effective at dispatching enemies quickly.
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To prevent the augment from being too overpowered, the maximum damage increase and attack speed bonus could be capped, preventing the Conculysts from becoming excessively powerful. This would ensure that the augment remains balanced and that players still need to rely on their own weapons and abilities. Additionally, the augment could have a diminishing returns effect on subsequent casts, reducing the damage increase and attack speed bonus each time Lethal Progeny is cast. This would prevent players from stacking the bonus indefinitely and ensure that the augment remains engaging.
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The visual effects of Progeny Fury could be designed to be visually striking and intimidating, clearly indicating the increased damage and attack speed of the Conculysts. This would allow players to quickly assess their Conculysts' offensive capabilities and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the sheer power of your Conculysts tearing through enemies with incredible speed and ferocity – it would be absolutely terrifying for your opponents!
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Progeny Protocol: Caliban can direct his Conculysts to attack specific targets. This augment would give Caliban more control over his Conculysts, allowing him to strategically target enemies. Imagine being able to command your Conculysts to focus fire on high-priority targets, such as Eximus units or bosses! This would significantly improve Caliban's tactical flexibility and make him a more valuable asset in team compositions.
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The targeting system could be implemented through a simple radial menu or a context-sensitive action, allowing players to quickly and easily direct their Conculysts. The augment could also allow Caliban to set priorities for his Conculysts, such as attacking enemies with the highest armor or shields. This would further enhance Caliban's tactical capabilities and allow him to adapt to different combat situations.
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To prevent the augment from being too cumbersome, the targeting system could have a limited range, requiring players to be within a certain distance of their Conculysts to issue commands. This would ensure that the augment remains balanced and that players still need to be mindful of their positioning. Additionally, the Conculysts could have a slight delay before responding to commands, preventing players from micromanaging them too closely. This would add a layer of tactical depth to Caliban's gameplay, requiring players to think carefully about their commands and timing.
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The visual effects of Progeny Protocol could be designed to be visually clear and informative, clearly indicating the targeted enemies and the Conculysts' current orders. This would allow players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions about their next move. Guys, imagine the strategic possibilities of being able to command your Conculysts with precision – it would be incredibly empowering!
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Final Thoughts
These are just a few ideas for Caliban augments, and I'm sure there are many other possibilities. The goal is to enhance his existing abilities while maintaining his core identity as a versatile and adaptable Warframe. I'm really excited to see what the future holds for Caliban and his augments. What do you guys think? Which of these concepts do you like the most, and what other ideas do you have? Let's discuss in the comments!
