Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals Early Plans for Solas

Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a Darker Solas

Early concept sketches by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow offer a fascinating 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 contributed to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype to explore plot points, shared over 100 sketches. While many scenes align with the released game, significant deviations exist in Solas's portrayal. The concept art depicts Solas less as a subtle manipulator and more as a powerful, shadowy figure, sometimes depicted as an enormous being. This contrasts with his largely dream-based advisory role in the final product.

The discrepancy between concept art and the finished game highlights the significant changes The Veilguard underwent during development. While the core plot point – Solas's attempt to tear down the Veil – remains consistent, the execution and the visual representation of Solas's actions differ considerably. The ambiguity surrounding some sketches leaves open the question of whether these powerful displays of Solas's abilities occur in Rook's dreams or within the game's reality.

These revelations provide valuable context for players, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and the significant evolution of Solas's character from initial conception to final implementation. The differences underscore the substantial story revisions that occurred between the game's early development and its eventual release, bridging the gap between initial ideas and the final narrative. The shift from the initially planned, more direct portrayal of Solas's power to his more subtle role in the finished game offers intriguing food for thought for fans.