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

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Solas: From Vengeful God to Dream Advisor – Early Concept Art Reveals a Darker Vision

Early concept sketches for Dragon Age: The Veilguard offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Solas, revealing a drastically different portrayal than the one seen in the final game. Former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow's contributions, including a visual novel used to brainstorm the game's narrative, showcase a more overtly vengeful and powerful Solas.

Solas, initially introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a helpful companion, later revealed his treacherous plan to shatter the Veil. This plan forms the core of The Veilguard's storyline. While Thornborrow departed BioWare in 2022, his website displays over 100 concept sketches, many depicting key moments from the game.

However, these sketches paint a far more sinister picture of Solas than the advisory role he ultimately plays in the finished product. Many depict him as a colossal, shadowy figure, a far cry from the character who primarily communicates with the protagonist, Rook, through dreams. Some scenes, like his initial attempt to rend the Veil, remain largely consistent, but others are dramatically altered. The ambiguity surrounding these differences leaves open the question of whether these scenes take place within Rook's dreams or manifest in the real world.

The stark contrast between the concept art and the final game highlights the significant changes The Veilguard underwent during development. This is further underscored by the late name change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's release of these behind-the-scenes materials offers fans valuable insight into the creative process and the potential darker narrative elements that were ultimately refined or removed. The sketches hint at a potentially more powerful and directly antagonistic Solas, a vengeful god actively wielding his power, rather than the more subtle, dream-bound presence in the final game.