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' 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 contributed to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype to explore story possibilities, shared over 100 sketches. While many scenes closely resemble the final product, Solas' depiction shows significant divergence. The concept art portrays him as a far more imposing and sinister figure, sometimes depicted as an enormous, shadowy being. This contrasts with his largely dream-based advisory role in the released game.
The sketches highlight a potentially darker, more active role for Solas in earlier development stages. While the Veil-tearing scene remains largely consistent, other scenes suggest a more direct and powerful intervention from Solas, blurring the lines between dream sequences and real-world events. The ambiguity leaves open the question of whether these dramatic depictions represent Rook's dreams or actual events.
These revelations provide valuable context for the game's development, particularly considering the significant changes from the initial Dragon Age: Dreadwolf concept to the final The Veilguard release. The shift in Solas' portrayal underscores the substantial narrative evolution during the game's production. Thornborrow's contribution provides fans with a unique behind-the-scenes perspective, bridging the gap between initial vision and the final product.
