Warframe Embraces Tabletop Gaming with a Unique RPG Experience

Dungeons & Dragons vibes are buzzing at Digital Extremes as they roll out a new minigame for Warframe: a “legally distinct” RPG titled Fables & Frontiers.

Veteran players will recognize this name from the fantasy tabletop game that Amir, one of the 1999 expansion protoframes, has longed to play with the rest of the Hex. Now, Amir’s dream of gaming with his friends is finally coming to life.

“This mini adventure is here to stay as a permanent addition to the Hex,” said Warframe’s creative director. “As we move further from 1999, it’s crucial to keep this alive.”

Warframe: 1999 marked the first expansion to introduce a human cast, bringing in protoframes to defend humanity against an alien threat. Plus, you can even kiss them! The narrative is now shifting toward a new star system with the upcoming Tau expansion, but the protoframes remain cherished characters whose stories resonate with the community.

“For a long time, people have been asking, ‘When will Amir get to play […] Fables & Frontiers?’” noted the community director. “This is a heartfelt nod to the community.”

A special area in the Höllvania Mall will be transformed into Amir’s F&F campaign room, featuring maps, game pieces, and the ability to summon Amir at will. The minigame itself is a text-based adventure integrated into the K.I.M. messaging system, which players already use to connect with the Hex.

Fables & Frontiers has become a playable minigame within Warframe because tabletop RPGs are a genuine passion for the team at Digital Extremes.

“It’s been a lifelong hobby for many of us,” the creative director shared. “We used to play Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, and it evolved into a community team activity.”

Fables & Frontiers was initially referenced in the 1999 expansion as a nod to “verisimilitude.” The campaign concept emerged when the team decided to create a Nightwave focused on 1999, adding some unique flavor.

In line with this, the free Nightwave battle pass will be taken over by Amir this August in an event called Amir’s Shockwave. This event will feature themed daily and weekly quests with fresh rewards, including the new On-Lyne track, “Running Late.” Against this backdrop, players will dive into Fables & Frontiers.

The D&D influence doesn’t stop there, as renowned DM and voice actor Matthew Mercer will join the Warframe cast with the Tau expansion, portraying the detective-themed Warframe Brysko.

Get ready, Tenno and Envoys!