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 through a visual novel prototype used to brainstorm story ideas, shared over 100 sketches. While many scenes closely resemble their in-game counterparts, several depictions of Solas differ significantly. The final game portrays Solas primarily interacting with the protagonist, Rook, through dreams. However, the concept art presents a far more active and menacing Solas, sometimes depicted as a colossal, shadowy figure. This raises questions about the extent to which these scenes represent Rook's dreams or actual events within the game's narrative.

The contrast between the concept art and the final game highlights the significant changes The Veilguard underwent during development. Solas's initial portrayal as a vengeful deity contrasts sharply with his more subdued role in the released version. This shift, coupled with the game's title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, underscores the extensive evolution of the story throughout its production.

The release of these sketches provides fans with a unique behind-the-scenes perspective, bridging the gap between the game's initial vision and its final form. The stark differences in Solas's portrayal offer intriguing speculation about the potential darker elements that may have been trimmed from the final cut. The images, primarily black and white with selective color accents (such as The Veilguard's lyrium dagger), effectively emphasize the dramatic shift in Solas's presentation.

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