Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a Darker Solas
Early concept sketches by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow offer a glimpse into the evolution of Solas's character in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These sketches, showcased on Thornborrow's website, reveal a more overtly vengeful and god-like Solas than the advisor role he ultimately plays in the final game.
Thornborrow, who left BioWare in April 2022, contributed significantly to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype to explore story possibilities. Over 100 sketches from this prototype have been released, highlighting significant differences between initial concepts and the final product.
While Solas's pivotal role in tearing down the Veil remains consistent, his portrayal in the sketches is markedly different. He's depicted less as a subtle manipulator and more as a powerful, shadowy figure, almost a vengeful deity. Some scenes show him as an enormous being shrouded in darkness, a far cry from his more restrained presence in the released game. The ambiguity surrounding these scenes leaves open the question of whether they represent events within Rook's dreams or manifestations of Fen'Harel's power in the real world.
The discrepancy between the concept art and the final game underscores the significant narrative shifts that occurred during The Veilguard's development. The change in the game's title from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf further highlights the extensive evolution the story underwent. Thornborrow's contribution provides valuable insight into this creative process, bridging the gap between initial visions and the final narrative.
