Summary
The recent BioWare Q&A revealed plenty of interesting details aboutDragon Age: The Veilguard, such as its take on character progression, the number of combat abilities, and the return of a transmogrification and crafting system. Though the initial reaction toDragon Age: The Veilguardwas somewhat mixed, fans are cautiously excited that the next chapter in Thedas will see BioWare return to form.The Veilguardwill feature seven unique companions, six origins for the player character, and a rich narrative that spans the Tevinter Imperium, Arlathan, The Deep Roads, Rivain, and the Anderfels.
However, this ambitious vision comes with a few quirks: for the first time inDragon Agehistory, players won’t be able to control theircompanions inThe Veilguarddirectly. Coupled with a reduced party size of three, the combat inDragon Age: The Veilguarddraws inspiration from theMass Effectgames instead. This action-based take onDragon Agewill no doubt be controversial, but a majority of those who have had a chance to previewThe Veilguardfirsthand have expressed a favorable impression of its combat.
In an effort to answer the burning questions of theDragon Agecommunity, BioWare held a Q&A session on Discord, where it revealedclass specializations inThe Veilguard, and sadly confirmed that Rook would be barred from using Blood Magic due to narrative reasons. The Veilguard is expected to cap at Level 50, and its talent system is inspired by JRPG titles such asFinal Fantasy 10. Despite the way its combat appears at first glance, the developers are adamant that it features a deep progression system, and will also have difficulties that cater to hardcore players.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Will Feature A Complex Skill System, Crafting, and Transmogrification
The Q&A confirmed thatDragon Age: The Veilguardwould feature three active combat abilities that players can equip when heading out on a mission. On top of this loadout, Rook will also have an ultimate skill, as well as one extra ability defined by their gear. Considering that action-based gameplay separates basic abilities such as dodging, light or heavy attacks, there’s plenty of room for thecombat inThe Veilguardto be meaningful and exciting. A recent example isDragon’s Dogma 2, which was widely praised for having great gameplay, despite only allowing players four abilities to work with.
The developers also hinted that a mysterious character would drive the crafting system inThe Veilguard, and confirmed that transmogrification would be featured in the game. Furthermore, Rook will be able to wear outfits inspired by theirfaction inThe Veilguard, such as the Antivan Crows or the Grey Wardens. Characters will also address them by their last name in certain circumstances, which will be decided by some combination of their chosen race and origin. The dialogue will have plenty of opportunities for Rook to define a backstory and reasons for joining a faction, and will often take their race into account – such as playing as a dwarf member of the Mortalitasi.
