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 departed BioWare in April 2022, contributed significantly to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype to explore plotlines. Over 100 sketches from this prototype depict various characters and scenes, many of which made it into the final game, albeit with significant alterations.

The contrast between the concept art and the released game is particularly striking regarding Solas. While his initial attempt to shatter the Veil remains largely consistent, other scenes depict him as a colossal, shadowy figure, far removed from his advisory role in the final product. This raises questions about the extent to which these scenes represent Rook's dreams or actual events within the game's narrative.

The concept art frequently portrays Solas as a vengeful deity, a stark contrast to his more nuanced portrayal in the finished game. This discrepancy, along with the game's title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, highlights the substantial narrative shifts that occurred during development. Thornborrow's contribution provides valuable insight into these changes, bridging the gap between the initial vision and the final product for fans. The images, primarily black and white with selective color accents, emphasize key elements like The Veilguard's lyrium dagger.