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 reveal a significantly different portrayal of Solas, hinting at a more vengeful, god-like persona than his final in-game depiction. Former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow, whose visual novel prototype aided in shaping the game's narrative, has unveiled over 100 sketches showcasing this evolution.

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. However, Thornborrow's concept art presents a stark contrast to Solas's largely advisory role in the final game, where he communicates with the protagonist, Rook, primarily through dreams.

The sketches, primarily monochrome with strategic color accents, depict Solas shedding his guise of a sympathetic advisor. He's portrayed as a far more overtly vengeful god figure. While scenes mirroring his Veil-shattering attempt in the released game remain largely consistent, other scenes are drastically altered. These show Solas as a colossal, shadowy entity, raising questions about whether these moments occur within Rook's dreams or manifest in the real world.

The discrepancy between concept art and the final product underscores the significant narrative shifts The Veilguard underwent during development. This is further evidenced by the game's late title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Thornborrow's contribution provides valuable insight into these changes, offering fans a glimpse into the game's original, darker vision of Solas. The contrast between the initial vengeful god concept and the final advisory role adds another layer of intrigue to Solas's complex character and hidden motives.