Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Solas: From Vengeful God to Dream Advisor – A Look at Early Concept Art
Early concept sketches for Dragon Age: The Veilguard reveal a significantly different portrayal of Solas, hinting at a more overtly vengeful god-like persona than what ultimately appeared in the final game. These sketches, shared by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow, offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Solas's character arc.
Thornborrow, who departed BioWare in April 2022 after 15 years, played a key role in The Veilguard's development. He created a visual novel prototype featuring branching narratives to help shape the game's story. Recently unveiled on his website, over 100 sketches from this prototype provide valuable insight. While many scenes match the final game, several depicting Solas show striking differences.
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, Solas debuted as a helpful companion, only later revealing his treacherous plan to shatter the Veil. This plan forms the core of The Veilguard. The final game largely portrays Solas as a dream-based advisor to the protagonist, Rook. However, the concept art paints a far more sinister picture.
Early sketches depict Solas abandoning his guise of a sympathetic advisor, instead presenting him as a powerful, vengeful god. While scenes like his initial attempt to tear the Veil remain largely consistent, others are drastically altered. These alternative scenes often depict Solas as a colossal, shadowy figure, raising questions about whether these powerful displays occurred in Rook's dreams or in the real world.
The discrepancies between concept art and the final game highlight the significant changes The Veilguard underwent during development. This is unsurprising given the nearly ten-year gap between entries in the series and the last-minute name change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's behind-the-scenes look offers fans a unique perspective on the game's creative process and the evolution of Solas's character.
