Summary
- Skipping Trespasser in Dragon Age: Inquisition is a mistake as it holds essential story elements for The Veilguard.
- Trespasser dives deep into Solas' motivations and lore, revealing his creation of the Veil and setting the stage for The Veilguard.
- Even though it's intended to be accessible to new fans, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is sure to take a lot from the Trespasser DLC.
It can take over a hundred hours to complete a single playthrough of Dragon Age: Inquisition's base game. For players who want to complete a playthrough before the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard this fall, it may be tempting to skip Dragon Age: Inquisitio n's final DLC, Trespasser, because of the game's long runtime. But Trespasser remains the most essential part of the story, and will put much of Dragon Age: The Veilguard into context.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's developer has stated that new players will be able to dive right into the game without playing any of the previous games. However, players who have played Dragon Age games without playing Trespasser will be at a disadvantage because they'll be going in without a lot of the context needed to understand the premise of Solas' plan, and the changes to Dragon Age's lore that Trespasser revealed.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain's Lore Explained
The Evanuris will get a spotlight in Dragon Age: The Veilguard and, even with incomplete legends, previous Dragon Age games show some truth.
Trespasser's Story and Pacing Contrasts with Dragon Age: Inquisition
Unlike Dragon Age: Inquisition's base game and Jaws of Hakkon, Trespasser is a mission-based DLC that sends the Inquisitor out into certain areas in story-based fashion. This is very similar to how Dragon Age: The Veilguard's game and world design are described. Notably, Trespasser was led by lead writer Trick Weekes and creative director John Epler for the first time in their new roles for the Dragon Age series, and could be a good indicator of what Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be like.
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser Explained
Trespasser takes the player through the story of the rebellion against the ancient elven gods and the eventual fall of the elven empire. The framing of this story is a Qunari plot to invade all of Thedas because of the Breach. All the while, the Inquisition is under pressure to disband from both Orlais and Ferelden. Aside from the important lore information, the story itself is incredibly compelling, with tight pacing and rising stakes.
Players who weren't invested in Corypheus as an antagonist will find redemption for Dragon Age: Inquisition here. The Vidassala is a charismatic figure whose fanatical adherence to the Qun commands respect. The threat of the Qunari feels very real, and brings a new relevance to a group that will likely be a major player in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Uncovering Solas' Motivations for Dragon Age: The Veilguard
At the heart of Trespasser lies Solas. Despite only being mentioned and appearing for fifteen minutes near the end of the DLC, Solas casts a long shadow over the entirety of Trespasser. The Inquisitor is always only a few steps behind as he puts them on the path to find him, and they see the effects of his actions on the world through the magic he casts, the spirits who follow him, the writings his followers and enemies wrote, and the frescoes he painted thousands of years ago. Players who don't understand Sola s, or want a window into his motivations, will find some insight just by playing Trespasser's story long before speaking to Solas.
Solas casts a long shadow over the entirety of Trespasser.
The lore revealed in Trespasser changes much of what was previously understood about magic, spirits, and history in Thedas. The biggest revelation is that Solas created the Veil, which caused the collapse of the Elvhen Empire. The fact that the Veil was created, and is not a natural phenomenon, has massive implications for mages, spirits and demons, and the world of Dragon Age at large. Trespasser takes this a step further and guides the player in understanding why Solas created the Veil, and why he wants to destroy it, leading to the events of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.
Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
- Engine
- Frostbite
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- RPG
