Dragon Age: The Veilguard will offer more than just dialogue flavor with its factions, as Rook's choice of background will also impact gameplay, regardless of the player's class. Compared to the franchise's origins, Dragon Age: The Veilguard marks a bold departure towards a more action-oriented style of combat. This decision has been a notable source of controversy, as not all players are on board with The Veilguard's overall direction. That being said, the core elements of Dragon Age still seem to be present, even if its intricate talent trees are now in service of a different type of gameplay altogether.

There are nine unique class specializations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and all are designed with the game's narrative and setting in mind. For example, Rook's connection to the Veil makes him ill-suited to be a Blood Mage, while Tevinter's Templars famously lack the magic-suppressant powers of their southern cousins. Each class (Warrior, Mage, and Rogue) has access to three specializations, which are unlocked by engaging with the factions found in Northern Thedas.

In a recent GameInformer interview, John Elper reveals that each specialization is connected to a specific faction in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. For example, the Mourn Watch of Nevarra will likely teach Rook the ways of the Reaper or Death Caller, depending on the player's chosen class. The Reaper is a brand-new specialization in the Dragon Age franchise, which uses "night blades" instead of a classic Warrior weapon, whereas the Death Caller focuses on necromancy. Players will choose their faction during character creation, and this not only dictates their backstory and identity but also their non-combat outfit when lounging about in the Lighthouse.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Classes And Specializations

Warrior
Reaper – a dark fighter who drains the life of the enemy and risks death to gain unnatural powers. Slayer – an expert who specializes in two-handed weaponry. Champion – the sword-and-board tactician who focuses on defense.

Mage
Evoker – an elemental mage who wields the powers of fire, ice, and lightning. Death Caller – a necromancer who casts advanced spirit magic. Spellblade – a close-quarters version of the mage who uses magic-infused melee attacks.

Rogue
Duelist – a dashing rogue who wields two blades to deal swift, precise strikes. Saboteur – an ingenious expert in trips, traps, and explosives. Veil Hunter – a purely ranged fighter who uses lightning magic and a bow.

While it remains to be seen if a player's chosen background will determine the specializations initially available to Rook, it seems that the overall narrative in Dragon Age: The Veilguard will have each of the six factions play a major role. Rook's chosen faction will grant them three unique traits that affect gameplay both in and out of combat. Players who choose the Lords of Fortune will deal increased damage against mercenaries, perform takedowns more easily, and gain extra reputation when dealing with the faction. Though players can change their appearance by interacting with the Mirror of Transformation in the Lighthouse, their background, lineage, and class in The Veilguard are immutable.

One thing that The Veilguard is looking to avoid is sending players on dull errands, a critique that has plagued its predecessor. Dragon Age: The Veilguard won't feature an open world, but will instead lean into the mission structures that made past BioWare games a success. Though it remains to be seen whether the design choices made for The Veilguard will pay off, players won't have to wait long to find out, as the next Dragon Age game is scheduled to launch in Fall 2024.