Digital Extremes can sure pack a bunch of good stuff in its Warframe Twitch shows, and July 26th’s devstream #129 was no exception. But one particular little clip caught my attention, and then my breath: Live Operations and Community Producer Rebecca Ford started playing an instrument in game! Say what?! If there is one thing that I champion at every turn, it’s player music systems in games. And here is Ford, plunking away at various strings and frets on a guitar-like shawzin. I can’t even express how giddy this small snippet of stream has made me.
Honestly, I did a double take — but neither my eyes nor my ears were deceiving me. While it was a tease, it was a tease of things to come; it wasn’t some dev sorcery of impossible dreams but rather actual content currently in development that will become available in game soon. Soon my friends. (But not soon enough!) Soon we’ll be there will be a playable instrument in Warframe, and impromptu jam sessions will start springing up across the universe. I cannot wait! And I hope this is only the beginning of more player instruments and more music to come.
The story of the shawzin
There’s a story behind this Warframe-specific stringed instrument. Don’t worry, I am not going to spoil the actual story. I couldn’t even if I wanted to because I don’t know it yet! But the fact that it has a story, or at least a prominent place in the story, is so cool. I love that it fits in the Warframe universe. In case you want to delve into it yourself, I know that the shawzin presents itself in The Sacrifice story mission, and I remember seeing it in the background of a trailer. I know I am even more eager to play through The Sacrifice as soon as I can now.
Warning: I am a little sad I was spoiled a tiny bit when I went in to get myself a shawzin. Now I’ve got the basics of the origin and even know of a ballad composed for it, though how it all fits in The Sacrifice I don’t know yet. I’ll let you in on what little I learned, if you want.
Click to reveal brief shawzin description spoiler!
Own now, play later
Does the idea of having a shawzin excite you, too? You don’t have to wait for the musical feature to be added to game before owning your very own. While you can’t play it yet, there is a decorative version that allows players to place one (or more) in your personal orbiter or clan dojo. Acquiring one is easy: You can buy one in the market in-game for 40 platinum. Or you can join us for the OPTV stream at 8 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 9th, and try to win one!
If you buy some and haven’t gotten to the story in game yet and didn’t spoil yourself with the information above, just remember my warning above: Try not to read the description — it does have spoilers.
Get to grooving
Right now, the shawzin is still in the middle of development, so you’ll have to wait to play. During the stream, the devs stressed that the notes are not final, and hand animations are still being created. None of those facts diminished the excitement of watching someone play it live, but I can’t wait to play it myself! The question is, how will it work?
Plans are that owners of the physical shawzin decoration will be granted an emote that will allow them to play. Notes will be played with the number keys (currently 1, 2, and 3), and players can change between three frets by using the left mouse button, the center mouse wheel, and the right mouse button.
Want to play with friends? You can! So far players will be able to jam together in squads, but it is currently not set to work in relays. That latter might change, which would allow larger musical performances like in Lord of the Rings Online, which would be absolutely awesome! I really hope that becomes possible (but definitely include the option to turn it off for others!).
Please be just the beginning
You can’t tell how excited I am for this, can you? But as much as I am eagerly anticipating the shawzin, I am even more excited for the prospect of a more fully fledged music system. Now I am not saying that Warframe should get up to the level of LOTRO, but wouldn’t it be great to have the ability to play multiple instruments? And what about playing preset ABC files you make and upload (instead of the live clicking)? And what about playing those multiple instruments with uploaded ABC files together in a synced fashion with others? Heck yeah! That would be AMAZING! Everyone could get in on the dance parties.
So what other instruments would fit in the Warframe universe? Of course a guitar is fitting to the feel of the game and community as well as works well in its lore. I am pretty sure drums would easily work. The most fitting in my mind would be a woodwind instrument, specifically a flute of sorts. Just imagine the haunting melodies you could make with it. What about a sax? A harp is a personal favorite of mine, and while I can see it working into the ancient lore, would it be fitting for the community? About that, I am not sure. Personally, the Scottish in me would even go for bagpipes. Just no cowbell, please.
I have hope for an expanded musical instrument system because there is already a working system in place for Octavia, the music-weilding ‘Frame. Players can create and upload songs to play while her ultimate the Mandachord is going. I delved into this world when I came across a Baby shark version.
Someone gave me a copy of Baby Shark to use on my Mandachord in #Warframe I'm very pleased with the results. pic.twitter.com/kwynyxuo49
— 🦊Vtuber Silta🦊 (@SiltaYT) July 24, 2019
But that’s not the only one — not by a long shot. There are so many more players have been doing. One poster on the official forums, Reborn, has a huge songlist of created Mandachord tunes available for folks to listen to. Reborn even takes requests! DEfinitely worth checking out.
And we don’t even have to wait for this feature to start an in-game band. There already is a full Octavia band you can listen to! Not kidding. And it is amazing! You absolutely have to check out the DNexus channel on YouTube. I can’t embed all of them, so go give them a listen. Here’s an original composition to get you started:
Honestly, I hope this music feature is well-received so we can get even more instruments and more abilities. I am beyond stoked for what is coming, and even more for the possibilities that may come later. I am already planning jam sessions and dance parties in my mind. And I am totally bent on getting Octavia now as fast as I can.
What would you like to see instrument-wise in Warframe? What songs would you like to hear played? Have you already played Octavia? Share your thoughts with me as we anticipate this new feature together.
Pick a ‘Frame, any ‘Frame! The Warframe galaxy is in danger, Tenno, and Space Mom needs help to combat it. Are you in the right Warframe of Mind to join in? MJ Guthrie has enlisted; she suits up in her favorite ‘Frames biweekly to fight the good fight, blasting the Grineer and Infected into smithereens.
