Summary
- Early concept sketches depict Solas with a vengeful god persona, different from his final game portrayal.
- Nick Thornborrow's visual novel-style game was instrumental in developing story ideas for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
- Concept art reveals a darker, more sinister side to Solas's hidden agenda compared to the final game.
A former BioWare artist, Nick Thornborrow, has shared early concept sketches for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, offering new insights into the development of Solas, a pivotal character in the Dragon Age series. Known for his complex role as both friend and foe, Solas's journey is central to The Veilguard's narrative.
Solas first appeared as a playable companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014, serving as a Rift Mage and aiding the Inquisitor. However, the game's ending and the Trespasser DLC unveiled his true intentions as the mastermind behind the rift's breach, setting the stage for his role in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. His plan to tear down the Veil continues into the latest installment, driving the game's core premise.
Although Thornborrow left BioWare in April 2022, his contributions to The Veilguard's development are evident on his official website. He created a visual novel-style game with branching choices to help convey story ideas to the development team. Recently, he shared over 100 sketches from this visual novel, many of which made it into the final game. However, some sketches involving Solas have undergone significant changes. In the final version, Solas serves as an advisory figure, communicating with Rook through dreams. In contrast, earlier concept art portrayed him with a more overt and sinister hidden agenda.
Artist Shares Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Solas Sketches
The early sketches, primarily in black and white with strategic splashes of color highlighting key elements like The Veilguard's lyrium dagger, depict Solas shedding his sympathetic advisor persona. Instead, he is shown as a vengeful god, often veiled in shadow and appearing as an enormous being. While some scenes, such as his attempt to tear the Veil at the game's outset, remain consistent with the final product, others have evolved significantly. It's unclear whether these altered scenes occur in Rook's dreams or represent Solas's powers manifesting in the real world.
Given the nearly decade-long gap between Dragon Age entries and the recent name change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to The Veilguard, fans were already aware of significant story alterations during development. Thornborrow's shared sketches provide a valuable behind-the-scenes glimpse, helping fans better understand the evolution of the narrative and Solas's character.
