Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s best sidequest puts gender identity front and center

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When creating my Rook at the beginning of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I was happy to see options for the non-binary gender and preferred pronouns. Features like that are always a welcome addition to RPGs that are all about creating and embodying a character. I didn’t expect to see those identity decisions pop up much in the actual story, and they didn’t for over 10 hours. Characters would no doubt address me with the correct pronouns, but Rook is clearly a vessel and the personal growth is reserved for your companions.

The presence of inclusivity options to any extent is worth celebrating, so I wasn’t holding it against the game if it didn’t take the idea any further. Then I hit a mission that left my team’s confidence rattled. My main objectives were to speak to three specific characters. I was on my way to talk to Lucanis when I interrupted two other characters having a conversation. Neve, a mage who had been with me from the start, was discussing fashion with Taash, a dragonslayer I had only recently recruited and hadn’t even taken out on a mission since meeting. What appeared to be one of many casual conversations between companions that give the world and people a bit of flavor ended up showing just how important it was for BioWare to highlight the subject of identity. It moves a little quickly for the weight of what it is trying to convey, but still feels genuine and inspiring.

If you only see one companion’s sidequests through to the end in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, make it Taash’s.

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This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

You must struggle with who you are

Taash is a Qunari dragon hunter who makes a bloody introduction by slaughtering foes with dual-axes. They are strong, capable, and an unabashed