Solas' Origins Exposed: Dragon Age Concept Art Unveiled

Early Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Reveals a More Vengeful 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 after 15 years, contributed significantly to The Veilguard's development by creating a visual novel prototype. This interactive storyboarding tool helped convey plot ideas to the development team. The over 100 sketches released recently are presumably from this prototype.

While many scenes depicted in the sketches closely resemble the final game, Solas's portrayal differs significantly. The final game presents Solas primarily through Rook's dreams, but the concept art shows a much more direct and sinister presence. Some sketches depict Solas as a colossal, shadowy figure, far removed from his advisory role in the released game. The ambiguity surrounding these scenes leaves open the question of whether they represent events within Rook's dreams or actual manifestations of Fen'Harel's power.

The contrast between the concept art and the final game underscores the significant changes The Veilguard underwent during development. This is further evidenced by the game's title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf shortly before its release. Thornborrow's contribution provides valuable insight into these alterations, bridging the gap between the initial vision and the final product. The sketches highlight a potentially darker, more powerful Solas, hinting at a more significant role for the vengeful god persona initially conceived.