Completing the Veilguard Concept Art: Solving Calpernia’s Cut Companion

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard could have been a very different game, potentially with a different title, if it had released in earlier drafts. During its development, the team created several versions, and you can see hints of the Veilguard characters in the early concept art.

One companion we see in this art who did not make it to the final version is Calpernia. Her name might ring a bell because she appears in Dragon Age: Inquisition if you choose to recruit the Templars. We already knew she was considered as a companion, but now we have artwork showing her with the Veilguard crew, implying she was part of the story for a long time.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Concept Art Shows Calpernia And Early Versions Of The Companions

This artwork was shared by Dragon Age artist Matt Rhodes, who often posts discarded concepts for the next Dragon Age game. Here, we see earlier versions of characters like Davrin, Taash, Lucanis, and possibly Lace Harding. The figure resembling Calpernia matches the version from another piece of art.

What stands out is her prosthetic leg. This suggests her design might have been reused for Neve, who also has a similar prosthetic.

Previous concept art revealed other companions who were not included in the game, but it’s interesting that Calpernia appears alongside those who were intended to be in The Veilguard. This indicates she was part of at least one draft of the story, likely the first one, which was canceled when BioWare decided to make Dragon Age 4 a live-service game. Rhodes claims this art dates back to 2016, just a year before the original concept was dropped.

During the development of the live-service version, the game would have had limited options for world state imports, possibly leaving out characters like Calpernia. Her background and choices from Inquisition would affect her role in The Veilguard, which might explain her removal. Alternatively, the writers may have wanted a different Tevinter mage, as Calpernia and Neve have very different histories.

This concept art has revealed more than just characters. Recently, Rhodes showcased a design for a submarine that would have served as the party camp.