Dragon Age: Unveiling Solas' Origins Through Concept Art

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Solas: From Vengeful God to Dream Advisor – A Look at Early Concept Art

Early concept sketches for Dragon Age: The Veilguard reveal a significantly different portrayal of Solas, hinting at a more overtly vengeful god-like persona than his final in-game representation. Former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow, whose visual novel prototype aided The Veilguard's development, recently unveiled over 100 sketches showcasing this evolution.

Solas, initially introduced in Dragon Age: Inquisition as a helpful companion, later revealed his treacherous plan to destroy the Veil. This plan forms the core narrative of The Veilguard. However, Thornborrow's art depicts a stark contrast between the conceptual Solas and the final game iteration.

While the final game largely confines Solas to a dream-based advisory role for protagonist Rook, the concept art portrays him far more directly as a menacing figure. Many sketches depict him as a colossal, shadowy entity, a far cry from his relatively subdued in-game presence. Some scenes, like his initial attempt to shatter the Veil, remain consistent between concept and final product. However, other scenes are drastically different, leaving ambiguity as to whether these more powerful depictions represent events within Rook's dreams or actual occurrences in the real world.

The stylistic shift from concept art to the finished game is notable. The early sketches, primarily in black and white with strategically placed color accents (like The Veilguard's lyrium dagger), emphasize Solas's vengeful nature. This stark contrast highlights the significant narrative changes The Veilguard underwent during development.

Considering the nearly ten-year gap between Inquisition and The Veilguard, along with the last-minute title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, substantial narrative alterations were expected. Thornborrow's released concept art offers valuable insight into these developmental shifts, bridging the gap between the initial vision and the final product, providing fans with a richer understanding of Solas's character arc.