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 vastly different portrayal of Solas, showcasing a more overtly vengeful god-like persona than his final in-game representation. 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 crucial role in The Veilguard's development. He created a visual novel prototype featuring branching storylines, which served as a storytelling tool for the development team. Over 100 sketches from this prototype, recently added to his website, depict various characters and scenes, many of which appear in the final game, albeit with significant alterations.
Solas, initially introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a helpful companion, later revealed his treacherous plans. The Veilguard builds upon this, showcasing his ambition to destroy the Veil. However, the concept art paints a much darker picture. While scenes depicting his initial attempt to shatter the Veil remain largely consistent, other sketches present a dramatically different Solas. Instead of the advisory role he holds in the final game (primarily appearing to Rook through dreams), the early concepts portray him as a colossal, shadowy figure, wielding his power with far greater overtness and menace. Whether these more dramatic scenes represent events within Rook's dreams or actual occurrences in the real world remains ambiguous.
The discrepancies between concept art and the final game are not surprising, given the nearly ten-year gap between installments and the significant production changes, including the game's title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf shortly before release. Thornborrow's behind-the-scenes insights provide fans with a valuable opportunity to understand the significant evolution of Solas's character and the narrative itself. The contrast highlights the creative process and the adjustments made during The Veilguard's development.
