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 departed BioWare in April 2022 after 15 years, contributed to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype. This tool helped convey story ideas to the development team, resulting in over 100 sketches, many of which depict scenes that eventually made it into the game, albeit with significant alterations.
The contrast between the concept art and the final game is striking. While some scenes, such as Solas's attempt to breach the Veil, remain largely consistent, others show a drastically different portrayal. Concept art depicts Solas as a colossal, shadowy figure, far removed from his more subdued presence in the released game. The ambiguity surrounding these changes leaves room for speculation: are these scenes confined to Rook's dreams, or do they represent Fen'Harel's actions in the real world?
These discrepancies highlight the significant story revisions that occurred during The Veilguard's development. The game's title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf further underscores the extensive alterations. Thornborrow's shared sketches offer fans a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at this evolution, bridging the gap between initial concepts and the final product. The sketches, primarily black and white with strategically placed color accents (such as The Veilguard's lyrium dagger), emphasize Solas's vengeful nature, a stark contrast to his often-sympathetic portrayal in the game.
