1999 as the gateway to Tau?

[rhoenix]

So. During the quest, Entrati mentions that this is the step before going to Tau. Now, it's entirely possible this was Wally talking and not actually Entrati, and I grant this - nonetheless, it was still said.

Moreover - I didn't romance Lettie, but I did watch videos about what is said between you two if you do. Short version is that the Sentients' references to the old gods with what they do and call themselves freaks her right out.

The others are definitely curious about the Sentients, though - even if not on the same level as Lettie is. All of them talk about the Sentients at some point with you for some length.

Writing-wise, the above to me a is a giant Chekov's Gun - fairly strong (though subtle) hints about Tau being on the roster soon.

If so... I do wish we can bring Grandpa Hunhow and Natah/Lotus with us. Bonus points will be awarded if the Tenno call Hunhow "grandpa" around the Tau Sentients.

With all that said though, as anxious as I am to see Tau, I also definitely want to see 1999 expanded on. I think I can see where and how they plan on expanding, and I want to see if I'm right. Perhaps something like locating Entrati safehouses in Hollvania, which might contain a protoframe in a glass tank that you have to rescue, or even rescuing a captive of the Skaldra.

What are your thoughts for 1999, and being a potential gateway to Tau?

[MotherVicar]

Question: What do you think "tau" is?

[rhoenix]

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

Question: What do you think "tau" is?

The Tau star system referenced repeatedly in relation to the Sentients. I haven't seen suggestions in-game that might suggest it means something else.

[XianE]

While I'm very interested to see and interact with presumably a colony of potential ally Sentients; I'm very much open to them taking their time and putting more towards 1999. Treating each as what they are parallel timelines within a multiverse. Especially since I can't imagine the Sentient side of things having the same level of character investment/pull as is the case with Hex & 1999 side of things. I do love that they've essentially set up both Drifter and Operator as having their own unique things to explore their own stories though.

[Pakaku]

I'm very sure that Tau and Narmer are going to be focused on next, it's just a question of how soon is too soon

[[PMC] Portable Merc Collector]

Honestly if sentients are up next I'd be excited for that. Ally sentients or at least nonhostile ones could open up some pretty interesting stories!

1999 was just.. pointless for the most part outside of maybe some lore? Like, if all of this is an alternative timeline, it's not even relevant to the current game then. It's duviri all over again, big lore reveals, tons of attached baggage that just slows down actually getting to the fun stuff. I don't give a ♥♥♥♥ about the protoframes and their boring characters, just give me the things actually relevant to the current game! Not this alt timeline BS with the drifter n ♥♥♥♥.

At least it give us ground vehicle enemies alongside the reskinned grineer. So it had some interesting gameplay segments.

[Lord Commissar Terra]

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

Question: What do you think "tau" is?

They're dumbass space weabo commies

[MotherVicar]

Originally posted by rhoenix:

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

Question: What do you think "tau" is?

The Tau star system referenced repeatedly in relation to the Sentients. I haven't seen suggestions in-game that might suggest it means something else.

Right so, not to be a negative nancy but...why do you care?
It means absolutely nothing, it can be anything but what it will be in the end is just "new content" and if that is all you are looking forward to then fine, but why focus on "tau" when its just new content you want?

[rhoenix]

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

Right so, not to be a negative nancy but...why do you care?

Because I enjoy conjecture. *shrug*

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

It means absolutely nothing, it can be anything but what it will be in the end is just "new content" and if that is all you are looking forward to then fine, but why focus on "tau" when its just new content you want?

The road to Tau has been hinted at in this game for many moons now. It seemed clear from the lore and story both that the Tenno were going to Tau eventually - it was always merely a question of when and by what means.

The evidence I posted in the OP, scant and circumstantial though it may be, is the clearest hint about Tau we've received so far.

As my posts have implied, I look forward to Tau being another place we can visit, and I have for years now. Nonetheless, the 1999 update along with its character & worldbuilding details are intriguing enough that I'd like to see that expanded first.

[Gonger02]

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

Originally posted by rhoenix:

The Tau star system referenced repeatedly in relation to the Sentients. I haven't seen suggestions in-game that might suggest it means something else.

Right so, not to be a negative nancy but...why do you care?
It means absolutely nothing, it can be anything but what it will be in the end is just "new content" and if that is all you are looking forward to then fine, but why focus on "tau" when its just new content you want?

what_

[Mooman]

To get to Tau you have to cross the void. The void feeds off emotion (insert Ghostbusters reference here). The Drifter getting their emotions in check after Duviri is ready to cross that void.

However, the Zariman is stuck in the hole... Like a dog sticking their head in a drain, their ears got stuck... To cross to Tau The Zariman will have to be removed.

The crossing made Sentients sterile. Jade had a baby despite the void exposure. Sentients and Tenno will solve the infertility problem and Lotus can have a baby (shark jump moment).

Tenno and Sentients will become a hybrid race and face off against another enemy, the infestation or something.

The universe will be saved. Climate change will be averted (in Tau, Origin system is still stuffed). The Power Rangers will have a pizza party and yell "Cowabunga!". Roll credits...

[The Big Brzezinski]

Originally posted by rhoenix:

Originally posted by Snowmaniacal:

Question: What do you think "tau" is?

The Tau star system referenced repeatedly in relation to the Sentients. I haven't seen suggestions in-game that might suggest it means something else.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Ceti

[rhoenix]

Originally posted by The Big Brzezinski:

Originally posted by rhoenix:

The Tau star system referenced repeatedly in relation to the Sentients. I haven't seen suggestions in-game that might suggest it means something else.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Ceti

True, that is its real-life analogue star and corresponding system. In the game lore though, it rarely if ever brings up the "Ceti" part of the name.

[The Big Brzezinski]

Originally posted by rhoenix:

Originally posted by The Big Brzezinski:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Ceti

True, that is its real-life analogue star and corresponding system. In the game lore though, it rarely if ever brings up the "Ceti" part of the name.

https://warframe.fandom.com/wiki/Ceti_Lacera

Originally a reward for Operation: Scarlet Spear, in which players battled the vanguard Sentient forces from Tau.

[rhoenix]

Originally posted by The Big Brzezinski:

Originally posted by rhoenix:

True, that is its real-life analogue star and corresponding system. In the game lore though, it rarely if ever brings up the "Ceti" part of the name.

https://warframe.fandom.com/wiki/Ceti_Lacera

Originally a reward for Operation: Scarlet Spear, in which players battled the vanguard Sentient forces from Tau.

Good one! I'd forgotten about that weapon, and you're right that it includes the "Ceti" inference to Tau Ceti in the name.

Nonetheless, it is one of the very few times it comes up. Most often, especially in relation to Sentients, the system is simply referred to as "Tau."

[Ashyrae]

The Drifter's storyline (and Warframe at-large) is directly influenced by Robert Chambers' The King In Yellow collection - particularly all things Entrati, Duviri, and Void. Give it a read - it contextualizes the inspirations (and potential implications) for the Drifter's significance in the Warframe timeline (and what exactly enables them in the place of the Operator to accomplish even greater feats in regards to *bending space-time*).

As for the Sentients - the continued evocation of ancient myths, legends, and tales large and small - reignited in the form of the Warframes - is a staple of the game lore. With 1999, it's less an implication and more explicitly *resurrection* of these gods through the Orokin's works (which Ballas pompously credits himself for in the Prime trailers).

Eleanor's references to Hastur (when Arthur falls through the floor fighting the tank) & Lettie's references to Xipe Totec and the Sentients quoting the Mayan creation myth indicate that the Orokin were perhaps tapping too deeply into Old Earth's mythologies, and that it's not endemic to the energy of the Void. We also are being told directly that Sol and Lua were revered as deities in Warframe's timeline, putting the Sentients (Praghasa, particularly) in an extremely interesting place.

DE seems to be signaling that the Indifference is not, in fact, Warframe's only true deity. There are other candidates out there, potentially including the Operator & the Drifter together. And it seems that all answers to that question are tied to Tau, which is universally pursued by practically every faction at this rate.

Fingers crossed we see it by 2026.