Every Dragon Age game has taken a different approach to crafting its protagonist, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard is no different, offering faction-specific backgrounds for the main character, Rook. Each of these backgrounds comes with a small story attached to help shape that version of Rook and tie them to the chosen faction. However, some have more flexibility than others and lend themselves better to roleplay.

Set approximately a decade after the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition and around 22 years after Origins, The Veilguard picks up the thread left dangling in Trespasser. After tracking down Solas with Varric and Harding, everything goes wrong when two powerful elven gods are released from the Fade. New hero Rook must put together a team made up of people from the various factions The Veilguard introduces.

How Do Backgrounds Work In Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

Faction Backgrounds Provide Brief Context For Rook

Unlike previous Dragon Age games where race strongly influenced the protagonist’s background, The Veilguard ties Rook’s background to specific factions. In fact, race matters much less in The Veilguard, with the majority of special dialogue options linked to Rook’s faction. There are six factions to choose from during character creation, with a mixture of well-established groups such as the Grey Wardens and Antivan Crows alongside newer ones like the Shadow Dragons of Minrathous and the Veil Jumpers.

Any race can be a member of any of the six factions, and once selected, a short story will be displayed to explain Rook’s history with the chosen faction. Each of the six has a unique story to describe how Rook came to be working with Varric and Harding, usually involving them displeasing those in charge in some way and having to step away from their life before. Along with a brief background, the factions also have mechanical benefits, such as Grey Warden’s having more health or Antivan Crows gaining an extra potion slot.

Which Background Is The Best For Roleplay?

Each Faction Offers A Different Backstory Structure Along With A Surname

Looking at each of the six backgrounds provided for Rook, it is clear that some immediately present easier options for roleplay and the creation of custom backstories than others. When crafting a character for an RPG, some players enjoy working within the confines of an established history for the character and will adapt their own additions to match. However, others may prefer more open options with less clearly defined backgrounds to give them as much freedom as possible when creating their characters.

For those who prefer a more structured approach to character creation, the Mourn Watch and Shadow Dragon backgrounds are great. Both mention Rook’s childhood, offering hints about their upbringing before the events of The Veilguard, which could shape what kind of person Rook would be. A Mourn Watch Rook was found mysteriously as a child inside the Grand Necropolis and raised by necromancers, while a Shadow Dragon Rook was adopted by a well-respected Tevinter general before joining the Shadow Dragons faction.

Looking at past favorites can be an excellent source of inspiration when creating a backstory for RPG characters. There are some great examples in the community of backgrounds for Rook drawn from past Dragon Age characters, such as having an Anitivan Crow Rook related to Zevran, a Grey Warden Rook connected to Anders, or even a Veil Jumper being Merrill or Velanna in disguise.

Those looking for more freedom in their approach to crafting their Rooks will be much happier with the Grey Wardens, Antivan Crows, Lords of Fortune, and Veil Jumper backgrounds. Each makes no mention of Rook’s childhood or past before they joined the faction, instead focusing solely on how Rook became estranged from the group. This flexibility allows for the creation of a fully formed custom background that won’t step on any canon toes, letting headcanons flourish and providing leeway when playing the game.

Rook Has A Set Personality

Rook Is A Different Type Of Dragon Age Protagonist

However, one of the criticisms leveled at The Veilguard is that Rook is already a fully formed character regardless of background. As Rook progresses through the story, it becomes clearer with each interaction that they have a set personality, and any headcanons fans may wish to adopt will have to adapt to this. Unlike the Warden of Origins or the Inquisitor, Rook isn’t truly a blank slate for players to play with, and they aren’t as flexible as Dragon Age 2‘s Hawke.

Despite having a fixed backstory as a refugee from Lothering, Hawke still allowed for a fantastic amount of roleplaying in Dragon Age 2. Each of their dialogue choices felt different, with a purple sarcastic Hawke having a clear difference in personality to a more reasonable green Hawke or an aggressive red Hawke. However, Rook’s dialogue choices can feel very much like saying the same thing in slightly different tones at times, with no real options for a ‘bad’ or ‘evil’ playthrough. Rook is Rook. All that truly changes is their surname and which faction they have allegiance to.

Having a fixed personality for a protagonist isn’t necessarily bad when done well or overtly, as seen in games like The Witcher series, where Geralt will always act in a way that is true to him. The problem is that The Veilguard isn’t upfront about Rook being a character with an established personality, giving the illusion of freedom for roleplay, then drip-feeding information about them to flesh them out, in some cases overriding any ideas a player may have had. The result is that roleplaying in Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t impossible, but it isn’t as fluid as past installments.