HOME | DD
StallordD — Warframe - Alt Shadow Stalker Spawn Animation
#animation #sentient #shadowstalker #stalker #warframe #hunhow
Published: 2016-03-18 07:03:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 14733; Favourites: 68; Downloads: 28
Redirect to original
Description
An idea for an alternate entrance animation for the Shadow Stalker. This was drawn in Photoshop, entirely on 1s because I'm a fucking idiot, except for the last "20" frames which were done on 2s, hence the stutter. Afterwards, I applied a pixel motion blur preset which makes it look super fluid. I like the way it looks, but it was a fucking nightmare and was REALLY dragging me down, so I didn't bother going back and adding his armor for the last 40-ish frames. 2D is fun, but I think I'm gonna stick with 3D from now on.Now I DID put a lot of thought into this beyond just "it looks cool" so let me explain my reasoning from start to finish.
Because at this point in the story, the Stalker has given up his old code of honorable "kneel and rise" combat for a decisive one-shot duel, opting instead for an actual "standard boss fight" style of combat, I figured he should be a bit more "imposing" and just downright blatant with his entrance.
He begins by arriving like other Sentients, descending from the skies with the cry of Hunhow in the background, carrying war in tow, this clearly displays his new allegiances.
He eyes the Tenno, observing us. His pose is meant to evoke a feeling of "entrapment" as if he is nothing more than a prisoner to War which bobs and looms just behind him.
After observing us, he clutches his head in agony, both from the pain of his learning about his true past, and from the very nature of Hunhow's gift.
In a huge burst of energy, he dons the Pakal armor, accepting what he has done, knowing it is the only way to avenge the empire. This energy burst also has FUNCTIONAL purpose. I've always felt it's rather silly how the players can just look at him and take aim before he even is ready. This burst will not DAMAGE players, but will stun them and knock them back, giving him time to get into "ready" mode.
He then grabs War and "powers it up" giving an extremely notable visual and auditory cue of the "channeling" effect, letting players know very clearly that he is now ready to fight.
Any players within range will finish recovering from their stuns at the exact same time he is mobile, and enemies OUT of range will of course be fair game for his pull-teleport ability. The animation here is not necessarily representative of how long said stun should last, but I think it would be crucial that the stun and the Stalker's invuln period end at the same time to put players and the Stalker on semi-even footing.
I think this animation is both evocative of what we saw in the Second Dream cinematics, AND thematically appropriate given what occurs in said quest.
Related content
Comments: 7
When Pakal armour and War make it to SFM, this deserves to be in one of your future vids. DE should really imprint this into Warframe somewhere, if the player has the Gift in full (sword and Pakal set, Excal) then they should be given an animset simply titled 'Shadow'; spawning and things would take on the Stalker's animations, where possible.
On the other hand, I have ideas that may flow into gameplay as yours do, and variations of his entrance (and, if not considered, exit).
I think this would occur, but with a group of not 4, but 6 Conculysts, 2 Battalysts between the furthest 4 Conculysts would arrive for a brief moment with the Shadow-Stalker's arrival, and would immediately kill any non-Tenno (except Stalker) in one hit, and would be immune to Tenno harm (although they will not harm the Tenno back; they prioritize anything like Infested, Corpus, Grineer) until the Shadow-Stalker either wins or loses. This instance only happens on the Moon and open-sky maps.
When S-Stalker is at 10%, pre-defeated outdoors, all the Sentient drones retreat. When S-Stalker is down, the Pakal set falls off and glues onto War, becoming a miniature Hunhow, and would cradle the S-Stalker before it shoots off. If you look up at this moment, you'll see Hunhow himself, with a displeased expression in his voice saying "My Shadow, this is not your fault.".
If you face him again on the same day, he appears only with the Pakal cloak (which is already mounted), descending like he does as you depict, but when he 'explodes', he grabs Dread, Despair appears on his hips from the cloak, and Broken-War is on his back, and would drop to the ground, a little hunched, tilting his head before engaging in combat.
This time, when he is defeated, a Conculyst and Battalyst arrive, pick him up, and leave with him cradled, with a distorted version of Hunhow's voice coming from the two.
As for indoors, S-Stalker would appear sat on War, and he'd do a backflip, War will now be infront of him, then he 'explodes' into life, with War in both hands in the ready stance immediately after; the supporting drones would be there but in fewer numbers (2 Conculysts).
If S-Stalker is defeated indoors (his items drop as usual), he would end up holding onto War as it zooms off into a nearby (open) door, which closes behind him; they despawn when a Sentient teleporting sound plays.
Variations of the indoor arrival include, if Corpus tileset and in a window-room:
He arrives in with a stylish kick, War literally disintegrating the window upon impact, he then does a forward roll before hovering in the air, 'exploding' into life as usual.
If he comes again on the same day, he simply happens to've appeared from a random door, with a Sentient drone just dropping him and then returning to hide behind the door; S-Stalker then stumbles unceremoniously into his ready position, tired and battered.
His defeat would result in him just slumping onto his knees with some ragdolling involved, before disappearing as he used to.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Basically reuse the revive animation, make it longer, edit a little bit at the end, put some edgy effects and make his equipment swirl and equip on him. I don't think it looks cool for him to Fall first and then explode, it would be better if he appeared out of nowhere exploding.
Is this prntscr.com/agulde frame a little nod at the sentients? Like, their arms. Either way, looks good.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
