My First Steps in Dragon Age Veilguard: Jess Tries Games

I’m Jess—a writer, blogger, and someone who spends most of her time in Second Life. Over there, I’ve built businesses, friendships, and, honestly, a whole life. I have a very successful blog based around that world, and yet the time has come to try something new.

But gaming has never been my thing.

The only exception has been Final Fantasy 14. I play it religiously. It’s the one game that hooked me, and I’ve stuck to it like glue. Beyond that, gaming just never really seemed like something for me. I didn’t get the appeal or the hype. It felt like a world I didn’t belong in, and I was fine with that. Until now.

Recently, my good friend Bea started playing Dragon Age Veilguard, and her excitement got to me. It made me wonder what I’ve been missing—or if I’ve been missing anything at all. Either way, it seemed like the perfect time to shake things up, step out of my comfort zone, and maybe even find something new to love.

That’s why I decided to start this blog. It’s a place for me to explore this unfamiliar territory, away from the Second Life stuff that’s so deeply tied to who I am. A place to share what it’s like jumping headfirst into gaming when you’ve only ever known one game. And where better to start than with the one that sparked this whole idea?

Dragon Age Veilguard, you’re up first. I have no idea what’s waiting for me, but that’s the point. Let’s see where this takes me.

Meeting Varric and the Dread Wolf

Some weirdo called Varric started talking to me, and I swear I’m paying attention. He’s got that slick, storyteller feel, and while I can’t tell if I trust him yet, he’s definitely entertaining. He starts going on about something called the Dread Wolf, which sounds wicked as hell. Honestly, “Dread Wolf” is the kind of name that I might call my dog if I ever get one. Though cats are more my thing. Sign me up for the Dread Wolf fan club.

Then I hear about an ancient elven god tied to this whole mess. Hot. I don’t make the rules—ancient deities are just inherently attractive. And a Veil splitting our world from theirs? Extra hot. This game knows how to sell its lore.

But wait—plot twist. The Elves lost everything. Even their immortality. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live forever? Actually, scratch that. Forever might be overrated.

Oh here’s Solas. This guy is apparently planning to kill everyone to save the elves. Excuse me, what? That’s some twisted Santa Claus shit right there—“I’ll destroy the naughty list so only the nice ones get presents.” I’m already side-eyeing him.

The Character Creator Rabbit Hole

Oh no. There’s a character creator. I panicked immediately because I spent forever perfecting my Final Fantasy characters. But here it’s a whole different level. The options are endless, and I’m spiralling.

I know a little about classes and races from the research I did on games. Unlike Final Fantasy, where there aren’t any real advantages to a specific class, most games seem to have some stakes attached to those choices. So now I have decisions to make.

Let’s start with races. Qunari? Absolutely not. I’m already too horny for my own good; I don’t need horns on my head to drive the point home. Dwarves? Hard pass. If I can’t be thrown like a weapon, what’s the point? Humans? Boring. Elves? Now we’re talking. They’ve got the cute thing going for them, and I’m feeling it. Elf it is.

Then there’s the customization. Oh god. It’s so detailed I might actually be here for days. I can make my eyes bloodshot? Ok, that’s cool. Now my character looks like Bea when she’s stoned out of her mind—chef’s kiss.

After hours of tweaking, I finally land on a look I can live with. I kept reminding myself that this isn’t Second Life. I’m not spending real money here, so it doesn’t need to be that perfect. Oh wait, maybe this hair instead. Dammit.

Classy Choices: Picking My Playstyle

Next up: choosing my class. Warrior? No way. Tanking in Final Fantasy made me want to scream. Is that what a Warrior is here? Probably, so pass. Mage? I was a Black Mage for years in FF, and it lost its spark. Stand, cast, run—rinse and repeat. Rogue it is! Rogue just sounds mischievous, and let’s be honest, that’s very on-brand for me.

Factions are where things get spicy. I’ve got two choices that stand out.

First, the Shadow Dragons—an underground resistance fighting against corrupt rulers and slavery. They’re fighting for justice, which is noble, but maybe a bit predictable.

Then there’s the Mourn Watch. These necromancers hang out in Nevarra’s Grand Necropolis, dealing with life, death, and the undead. Uh, yes. Zombies? Necromancy? Weird spooky shit? Sign me up. I’m officially the defender of the dead, and it feels right.

I don’t play games, which is the whole point of this blog. But I’m not afraid of a challenge. So, I landed on the Underdog difficulty, figuring my FFXIV skills might give me a fighting chance. It’s a risky move, but what’s the worst that could happen?

Fifty years later, I’m finally ready to play the fucking game.

Varric pops up again, still charming, still talking about stopping the Dread Wolf. We need a local expert, apparently.

Oh wait, that’s not me. Bummer.

But then the game proves I’m a badass anyway. I literally threw someone out of a door. Just a straight-up fucking power move. I’m already obsessed. This game lets me be the bad bitch I’ve always wanted to be. Let’s go.

Meeting Neve and the Big WTF Moments

So, apparently, this Neve person is the best detective Varric has ever met. Bold claim, my dude. I’m already side-eyeing it. Let’s see if she lives up to the hype.

Oh. My. God. The graphics. I wasn’t ready for this. This game is gorgeous—like, I-don’t-even-want-to-play gorgeous. I just want to sit here and soak it all in.

Look at it!
LOOK AT IT!

This is an environment that makes you forget you’re supposed to do things. You’re supposed to move. You’re supposed to actually play. But nope, I’m just sitting here, slack-jawed, staring at the screen.

Wait. Is that an alien spaceship? No way. Oh shit, it is an alien spaceship. Or maybe it’s a castle? A weird mix of both? Whatever it is, it’s creepy and cool as hell.

Alright, now we’re helping someone freaked out by this giant white light. Honestly, fair. That thing looks like it could either vaporize us or beam us up. Varric, you’re right—this feels like bad news.

Oh crap, the ritual has started? Perfect. Just what we needed. RUN.

And then—fire dogs. Big flaming beasts that turn out to be demons. I’ll admit, for a second, I thought we’d wandered into some Final Fantasy crossover event. Big scary monsters? Check. Weird energy that feels a little too familiar? Check. Is this void energy?

ARE WE IN THE THIRTEENTH???

The Veil Is Fucked, and So Are We

Apparently, this ritual is doing more than just causing chaos—it’s messing with the Veil. Fantastic. Now we’ve got demons pouring out, and it’s pretty clear we’re not winning “best day ever” awards.

But hey, silver lining—I get to learn the combat system now. Oh right, this is a game! I forgot for a second because the cutscenes and world-building are so immersive it felt more like a movie.

Combat was easy enough to get the hang of, though those demons looked suspiciously like voidscent from Final Fantasy. Can’t unsee it now.

Oh, and the best discovery of the day? There’s an in-game photo tool. I’m absolutely living for this. No more dodgy screenshots or low-res gyazos. This tool is about to become my best friend. If I don’t stop to take a thousand pictures of this alien castle-spaceship-ritual chaos, am I even playing the game?

Venatori, Gold, and A Lot of Chaos

These Venatori are assholes. Seriously, what’s your deal? Just let us through. But no, they had to make it a thing. Ok, guess you die now. Problem solved.

Oh, hey! Gold! I’ve got 29 now and counting. This feels promising—and also ominous. If there’s gold, there’s definitely going to be stuff to buy later. I swear, if this game tempts me with an overpriced weapon or fancy armour, I’m going to spiral. But ooh, more gold. Damn it.

Also, I just wiped out like eight Venatori in one go. Not to brag, but I might actually be good at this.

Then there’s this barrier. It’s not Venatori magic—it’s Neve’s. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted her. Called it.

Oh wait, there she is! And… ok, fine, she’s stunning. Like, unfairly gorgeous. Can I have her weapon though? Please? Do I have to kill her for it? Because honestly, I’m ok with that. Whatever it takes.

Turns out Neve has picked up on traces of ancient magic that you’d find in ancient elven ruins. That’s a lead I can get behind. Also, did I mention this game is ridiculously beautiful? Because it is.

So, Solas is the Dread Wolf. That checks out. I feel like the game hinted at it earlier, but I didn’t quite catch on. Now it’s obvious, and I’m here for the drama.

Varric casually drops that he calls the Dread Wolf “Chuckles,” and I lost it. Like, actual laugh-out-loud lost it.

Gold, Suspicion, and an Eluvian

Gold is everywhere in this game, and I can’t decide if it’s a blessing or a setup. It’s like the game wants me to think I’m rich, but I’m lowkey expecting to find out I’m broke when I try to buy something important. Thanks for the false hope, I guess.

Then we come across an Eluvian. I’ve always wanted to see one—or at least I think I have? Wait, what even is an Eluvian? Oh, an ancient elven doorway. Nice. That’s… pretty cool.

Now we’re in Arlathan Forest, and Neve is losing it over this ritual. She says she’s never seen anything like it. That’s… not comforting.

Oh look! More voidscent! Yes, I’m calling them voidscent because that’s exactly what they look like, and you can’t convince me otherwise.

(Inserts an image of voidscent for reference)

And the music? Absolutely incredible. It’s got such a big, epic feel to it that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of something important.

Oh shit. That’s a big voidscent. And apparently, we’ve got to stop it quickly. Sure, no pressure. Let me just bring my totally inexperienced ass into this boss fight and see how it goes.

But hey, turns out it’s not so bad. The AOE markers are familiar—thank you, Final Fantasy, for teaching me how not to die in glowing red circles. A few moves later, and boom, it’s dead. Not so scary after all.

The path is clear, the voidscent is down, and it’s time to confront Solas. Let’s do this.

The Confrontation with Solas

There he is—Solas, the smug bastard. He’s over there talking about “precautions to minimize the damage,” as if that somehow makes everything better. No. You’re still an idiot.

Varric tries pleading with him, which is honestly heartbreaking. And what does Solas do? He destroys Varric’s weapon. Just smashes it like it’s nothing. This guy is way too powerful, and now I’m not even sure we’ve got a real plan.

Oh wait, we do have a plan. And it’s… to break scaffolding and make a giant statue fall on him. That’s the big idea? Cool. Guess it’s my job to make it happen.

Neve is coming with me on this little adventure. I’ve decided she’s my new best friend. She’s cool, she’s capable, and honestly, I need someone I can count on when things go sideways.

Now we’re sprinting through these bizarre caves and tunnels, and of course, Varric and Solas are still arguing. The tension is real, but wow, this game is absolutely stunning.

Taking Down the Statue

KAPOW! The scaffolding is down! I did it! Solas, you’re not going to like this one bit.

But wait—before the statue falls, there’s this weirdly emotional exchange between Varric and Solas. Heartfelt might be the wrong word because Solas basically says, “We were friends once, but also, fuck you.” Well that was warm and fuzzy, right?

And then, BOOM! The statue crashes down. Solas is furious, and I’m feeling pretty proud of myself. Sucks to be you, Solas.

Oh shit. Did Solas just kill Varric? WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK.

Game, you better not. You better not. I like Varric. You can’t do this to me. And now, on top of everything, the whole place is crumbling.

I can’t believe this. I wasn’t ready for this kind of emotional sabotage. And now my character has passed out. Great. Just great.

Cue the Dragon Age logo. I guess that was just the intro? What an intro.

Welcome to the Netherworld

Now I’m in some creepy netherworld, having a chat with Solas via blood magic. The irony here is rich because apparently, he hates blood magic. Sure you do, buddy.

And eh… this is somehow my fault? Uhm, no. Excuse me, my guy, but this is 100% on you. Not me.

Oh, and to make things even worse, the Elven Gods are free now. Apparently, thanks to me. Solas swears he was trying to stop them from escaping, not to set them loose. Sure, okay. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Chuckles.

Just as I’m about to spiral into despair, I find out Varric is only “hurt.” He’s alive. Thank god. Seriously, I couldn’t handle losing him this early in the game.

But then Solas drops this bomb—it’s my responsibility now. Cool. I signed up to play a game, not to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. Thanks for that, Solas.

First Impressions

Alright, I’m in. The graphics, the music, the story—it’s all incredible. This game has already pulled me in harder than I expected.

First impressions? I like it. I’m excited to keep playing, even if Solas is a pain in the ass and the Elven Gods are probably going to make my life miserable. And no, I’m not going to write every single post like this about every single detail of the game. But wow.

Just wow.

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Jess

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