Overview of Early Concept Art for Solas
- Initial sketches reveal an alternate portrayal of Solas, suggesting a more vindictive deity aspect.
- Nick Thornborrow’s visual novel-inspired game contributed to the narrative development of The Veilguard.
- Transformations from concept art to the final product hint at a darker undertone in Solas’s agenda.
Recent concept sketches shared by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow offer intriguing insights into the character of Solas in the upcoming game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Unlike the familiar supportive role he’s known for, these early designs depict Solas in a potentially more menacing light, underscoring his duality as both an ally and adversary throughout the series.
First introduced as a playable companion in 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition, Solas provided magical expertise as the only Rift Mage. However, the narrative evolved dramatically, particularly in the game’s conclusion and the Trespasser expansion, where his true motives—creating a rift to dismantle the Veil—were revealed. This sets the stage for the forthcoming The Veilguard, where Solas’s intricate plotting continues to unfold.
Although Thornborrow departed from BioWare in April 2022, following a 15-year tenure, his contributions to The Veilguard were significant. He developed a visual novel game featuring branching storylines that informed the game’s conceptualization. His official website showcases over 100 sketches derived from this narrative exploration, revealing character designs and scenes that ultimately made it to the final game. However, it is noteworthy that Solas’s portrayal underwent significant alterations; his character role was reduced to an advisory figure throughout most of the gameplay, primarily manifesting through dreams.
Artistic Insights into Solas’s Development in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The initial sketches displayed mainly in black and white, occasionally accented with color—particularly highlighting The Veilguard’s distinctive lyrium dagger—illustrate a starkly different Solas. In these artworks, he often sheds his role as a benign advisor, emerging instead as a formidable, vengeful entity. Although some scenes like his attempt to breach the Veil seem to have maintained their essence, others portray him as an imposing shadowy figure, leaving players to speculate whether these interactions occur within Rook’s dreams or are manifestations of Solas’s power in the physical realm.
With nearly a decade separating the latest entries into the Dragon Age franchise and several notable shifts—such as the title transition from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to The Veilguard—the community actively anticipates revelations about the evolving storyline and character dynamics. Thornborrow’s insights provide a valuable glimpse behind the scenes, allowing fans to better understand the transformative journey of this beloved series.
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