Dragon Age has always been known for its companions, but sometimes these characters do not make it past the concept stage or off the cutting room floor. For example, Dragon Age: Origins would have made Jowan a permanent companion before that was cut, and Fiona was considered a possible companion for Dragon Age: Inquisition. These changes are very common in companion-based games and game development at large, with Dragon Age: The Veilguard being in a similar situation.
The recent release of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard art book, simply titled The Art of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, has seen a few details about scrapped and changed companions released in the wild. This includes new looks at beloved characters who made it into the game, from concept to final design, as well as the various environments, weapons, and armor. Perhaps the most interesting is seeing who, at one point, was considered to make it into the game.
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The art book shows concepts of Lace Harding, whose return seems to have been decided early in development, and she remains pretty similar at her core. However, it turns out that Taash was a rogue wearing “dragon skin” armor at one point, while Lucanis was supposed to be a Tevinter agent. An Antivan Crow dreamer companion was cut, with Lucanis seemingly taking her place. Perhaps Neve was born out of this, as it makes more sense to have a Mage represent Tevinter, but of course, that’s impossible to say. The art book also draws attention to one or two possible Qunari companions, including a Saarebas and/or a Saarebas turned “dapper spy.” And it seems two characters could have returned from Inquisition, this time as companions: Imshael and Calpernia.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Scrapped/Cut/Changed Companion
- Lace Harding’s return has been consistent based on this art book. Davrin has largely been consistent as well.
- Taash was originally a rogue wearing a “dragon skin” suit
- Imshael would have been a companion, a choice spirit in human form
- An Antivan Crow dreamer companion was conceptualized at one point
- A Cut Qunaari Saarebas
- Another Qunari companion was a Saarebas turned “dapper Qunari spy.” It is uncertain if this was the same character.
- Lucanis was originally a Tevinter agent
- Calpernia was originally set to return as a party member this time.
For those who don’t remember, Imshael calls itself a choice spirit, but it is also one of the Forbidden Ones and one of the first demons to come into contact with humanity. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, players can confront and defeat Imshael during the Emprise Du Lion side quest, Call Me Imshael. Meanwhile, Calpernia leads the Venatori for Corypheus, serving as his right-hand Mage. If players recruit the Mage, she is never encountered but is revealed to be cataloging artifacts for the Corypheus. She also appears in Magekiller.
While none of these characters, except perhaps Harding, made it into the final game, it’s still an interesting peek into Dragon Age: The Veilguard‘s development. For now, fans have seven fun companions to play alongside in the official release.