Solas's card looks more like The Hermit (covering cloak, flame/lamp, staff) to me. On page 442, Nika and manabloom both have good assessments of the card meaning in relation to Solas too.
Solas's card and The Hermit card, for quick comparison:
Spoiler
It depends on the deck, my mind immediately went to Thoth.
It depends on the deck, my mind immediately went to Thoth.
Spoiler
The Rider-Waite is the most well known so I assumed they used those, especially since Cassandra's is a dead ringer for Death from that deck. However, as SurelyForth mentioned above Dorian and the card you posted both have The Hierophant's hallmark two fingers raised, as well as the staff, so that looks like the more likely match.
I hope I can put Solas in a hood like on the card, because for a long time I thought the hooded guy in this concept was him:
I was disappointed when I found out that was the inquisitor.
The Rider-Waite is the most well known so I assumed they used those, especially since Cassandra's is a dead ringer for Death from that deck. However, as SurelyForth mentioned above Dorian and the card you posted both have The Hierophant's hallmark two fingers raised, as well as the staff, so that looks like the more likely match.
Cassandra's could also be Strength, given the animal heads in the background.
I thought of Thoth first because I use it, but also because I know at least one of the devs do, as well.
Cassandra's could also be Strength, given the animal heads in the background.
I thought of Thoth first because I use it, but also because I know at least one of the devs do, as well.
I see soldier's helmets in the background of Cassandra's card?
Fair enough but it doesn't look like that's where they took inspiration from to me. I'd rather not argue the point further, I'm sure someone will say who is on which card once the game's out.
I see soldier's helmets in the background of Cassandra's card?
Fair enough but it doesn't look like that's where they took inspiration from to me. I'd rather not argue the point further, I'm sure someone will say who is on which card once the game's out.
Just took another screencap on higher quality of her card, and oops, you're right those are soldiers. Which actually puts me back towards my initial thought for her card, the Chariot. (Though I agree that it bears similarity to some Death cards, I just don't see the association the way I can immediately put forth one for the others, or say, Solas as the Hermit, as I put forth in the original thread, and the Hierophant; or Cole as the Moon.)
I hadn't realised we were arguing. I was just tossing out my own observations for us to all have fun discussing and picking over, as we always have. It's an odd thought that this would be an argument, around here.
That is, in the old thread, when we had no clear view of Solas' card and people were looking at an obscured card guessing it was Solas' card in the promo picture for the Inquisitor's edition: Most folk thought that he was the Death Card. I felt the Hermit fit what we knew of him back then better, but I posted interpretations of both that could be used as arguments for either being his card.
Since I had already done that I didn't think to do it again and simply brought the new idea to the table given it was my first impression upon looking at the card from the screencap that we now know for a fact is his. The four quadrants with the symbols inside can easily be associated to the four guardians in the Thoth Hierophant card and it was this symbolism that lead me to think of it.
Further the Thoth Hierophant card is associated thusly: Taurus, spiritual master, teacher, advisor, initiate, inner guide, spiritual father; highest transformation
Indication: The search for the Self leads you into spiritual realms. This card can point to a meeting with a spiritual teacher or master. Be open!
Question: Is there any master of wisdom (past or present) to whom you feel attracted?
Suggestions: Involve yourself with the teachings of spiritual masters. Seak the presence of a master or teacher. Involve yourself in groups for personal growth. Be honest, open, and receptive in thee groups. Pay attention to the instructions of your heart.
Affirmation: There is only one voice worth listening to, the voice of my own heart.
Mainly the symbolism and Indication, but I included the Question, Suggestions, and Affirmation for OCD and anyone curious.
And actually, at least by the Thoth deck, I find Dorian fits the Magus, EXCELLENTLY:
Mercury; communication; playful dealings with all possible forms of communication; flexibility, brilliance
Indications: You have at your disposal brilliant capabilities which you should share with other people. One important task is to find or create the proper surroundings for your activities.
Questions: In what areas lie your talents? With what methods, and in what surroundings can you pass them on or share them?
Suggestion: Visualize your ideal area of activity. Describe it.
Affirmation: The full expression of my creative potential fulfills me and makes me happy and satisfied.
But, again, this is all just conjecture and fun. You can take it as more information to mull over, or not.
Apologies to everyone for being two pages late on the discussion.
Yup definitely The Hermit, I think I had him pegged as that when the original conversation about the cards happened.
Personality wise he reminds me of a good friend of mine, introverted and eccentric but very very wise and exceptionally talented with magic. I always associate The Hermit with him too.
Just took another screencap on higher quality of her card, and oops, you're right those are soldiers. Which actually puts me back towards my initial thought for her card, the Chariot. (Though I agree that it bears similarity to some Death cards, I just don't see the association the way I can immediately put forth one for the others, or say, Solas as the Hermit, as I put forth in the original thread, and the Hierophant; or Cole as the Moon.)
I hadn't realised we were arguing. I was just tossing out my own observations for us to all have fun discussing and picking over, as we always have. It's an odd thought that this would be an argument, around here.
That is, in the old thread, when we had no clear view of Solas' card and people were looking at an obscured card guessing it was Solas' card in the promo picture for the Inquisitor's edition: Most folk thought that he was the Death Card. I felt the Hermit fit what we knew of him back then better, but I posted interpretations of both that could be used as arguments for either being his card.
Since I had already done that I didn't think to do it again and simply brought the new idea to the table given it was my first impression upon looking at the card from the screencap that we now know for a fact is his. The four quadrants with the symbols inside can easily be associated to the four guardians in the Thoth Hierophant card and it was this symbolism that lead me to think of it.
Further the Thoth Hierophant card is associated thusly: Taurus, spiritual master, teacher, advisor, initiate, inner guide, spiritual father; highest transformation
Indication: The search for the Self leads you into spiritual realms. This card can point to a meeting with a spiritual teacher or master. Be open!
Question: Is there any master of wisdom (past or present) to whom you feel attracted?
Suggestions: Involve yourself with the teachings of spiritual masters. Seak the presence of a master or teacher. Involve yourself in groups for personal growth. Be honest, open, and receptive in thee groups. Pay attention to the instructions of your heart.
Affirmation: There is only one voice worth listening to, the voice of my own heart.
Mainly the symbolism and Indication, but I included the Question, Suggestions, and Affirmation for OCD and anyone curious.
And actually, at least by the Thoth deck, I find Dorian fits the Magus, EXCELLENTLY:
Mercury; communication; playful dealings with all possible forms of communication; flexibility, brilliance
Indications: You have at your disposal brilliant capabilities which you should share with other people. One important task is to find or create the proper surroundings for your activities.
Questions: In what areas lie your talents? With what methods, and in what surroundings can you pass them on or share them?
Suggestion: Visualize your ideal area of activity. Describe it.
Affirmation: The full expression of my creative potential fulfills me and makes me happy and satisfied.
But, again, this is all just conjecture and fun. You can take it as more information to mull over, or not.
Apologies to everyone for being two pages late on the discussion.
Interesting! I don't have anything to add to the discussion as my knowledge of the Tarot is pretty shaky... I began a 'modern' interpretation of the tarot back in college as a end-of-semester project, but, that was... oh, almost ten years ago? I remember filling a two-inch binder - this was back when bad Geocities sites (anyone remember those!?) were the only source of info online on such things - with research notes and stuff I'd xeroxed from books. I remember there being different decks which used different symbols and that meant slightly different things - all very fascinating and complex! Unfortunately I only did 15 of the cards, and looking back am only really happy with the one, still, years later. I have been toying with the idea of revisiting it, however, in an attempt to smash some recent artist's block.
I agreed with what people were saying about Solas being the hermit card - particularly the bit about returning from solitude to share knowledge gained seemed to fit Solas very well. The version of the heirophant you referred to does as well. I could see it maybe applying to Dorian though too? I guess mostly the being open-minded and following your heart bit. To me that describes a shift based on one's emotions and instincts - Dorian rejecting the 'Tevinter way' and doing what he feels is right and wanting to bring about change as a result could be an example of this. Then again mercury (associated with the Magus card) is all about change and being open to it... hmmm...
Regardless of which it is, I do love that they used the Tarot to represent the characters. And the art is absolutely amazing. Mark Rhodes actually talked about it a bit in the Twitter thread and mentioned the artists involved... I'll see if I can go find it.
Here:
I'm glad these are finally starting to make an appearance. These cards (and many, many, many, many more) appear throughout the UI and will also be made into the tarot deck that comes with the "Inquisitor's edition". As these were all lovingly painted by members of the concept team, I wanted to toot their horn for them. Specifically:
Nick Thornborrow
http://nthornborrow.tumblr.com/
Casper Konefal
http://theworkofcasp...al.blogspot.ca/
Ramil Sunga
(and I did a couple)
The 'many many many more' part makes me wonder if companions and advisors (and maybe some other major characters as well) will have more than one card associated with them? Also, an interview with some of the writers was posted on the DA site I think yesterday. No mentions or Solas or anything, but a neat look into writing villains, with some talk about how concept art can further help conceptualize characters in the games (which is why I thought of it).
http://www.dragonage...s=1408189884540
I love that it has ear holes! My Inquisitor would definitely wear such a hood! Just, not anywhere cold.../raises both arms in the airWELL WHATEVER HE's SUPPOSED TO BE HAVE A PIC OF WHATEVER HE's WEARING IN that card kinda sorta yeah I wonder it has ear holes...
Here:
The 'many many many more' part makes me wonder if companions and advisors (and maybe some other major characters as well) will have more than one card associated with them? Also, an interview with some of the writers was posted on the DA site I think yesterday. No mentions or Solas or anything, but a neat look into writing villains, with some talk about how concept art can further help conceptualize characters in the games (which is why I thought of it).
We know there's an entire deck in the Inquisitor's Edition of the game. So that means 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana (er, apparently it's 72 cards? Maybe not all of the Minor Arcana then). How many companions are used for is up in the air but it looks like Cassandra and Solas have two, at least.
Eep! This is so exciting, coming back to find all this discussion of tarot... This kind of stuff is very important to my day-to-day life but the last time I ever heard anyone talk about it was when I was still home in Massachusetts... Which was, you know. Getting on five years ago. So this is awesome!! My little Pagan heart is going to explode with glee, aha.
Anyway, I didn't bother to look at any other cards because... Solas! But I will say, I'm a little confused about the choice of The Hierophant? Isn't it usually a card of things like order and structure? ...But I suppose, as usual and like all things, it's all in how it's viewed... (Which is why you don't need to feel bad for disagreeing, Levi! We all see things differently. I know it can feel like people are about to scream at you, but I think people here on this thread are nicer than that and appreciate that differences are interesting instead of bad. ...You know, like Solas seems to! 
)
Regardless though, I totally agree with you about Cass, Cat Lance! Her as Death...? I mean, it does seem to be almost a mirror image for that one deck... And I guess even throughout the course of DA2 she did some changing... Went in with a black and white view, came out with more gray... And iirc Gaider's interview about her, he did say something about how she has to come to terms with the fact that the world isn't how she saw it or something? So, I guess Death does sort of make sense... And I imagine it will cause her some sorrow and pain to see what she believed in (the Divine and the attempt at peace they were making) go up in flames at the beginning of the game... But I don't know. I feel like I'm squinting to make a match.
The Chariot, on the other hand, seems almost effortless. Struggle and victory? Determination and control? It's hard to even pick a few words to list because they all fit so well. But hell, if they all have two cards, maybe she's both. Maybe one for character traits, one for... plot arch? That would be cool, now that I think about it. But maybe I should stop talking about Cassandra, 'cause this is the Solas thread, hah.
It makes me wonder, though, if there really are multiples for each, what's the other one for Solas?? Hmm. I've stated before how I generally try not to speculate more than a passing "I wonder," because you can convince yourself of anything if you think hard enough... that, and I have this dumb fear of being wrong. 
I do look forward to finding out, though! And if anyone is more ambitious than me and feels like taking some shots in the dark, I am very much on board for more comparisons and discussions.
A dev on twitter mentioned card designs changing. So it's highly possible that the design we previously saw for Cass' card is no longer valid.We know there's an entire deck in the Inquisitor's Edition of the game. So that means 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana (er, apparently it's 72 cards? Maybe not all of the Minor Arcana then). How many companions are used for is up in the air but it looks like Cassandra and Solas have two, at least.
We have always had lots of fun tossing out a ton of ideas for the speculating!
sorry for the double post answering from my phone is troublesome. >. <Eep! This is so exciting, coming back to find all this discussion of tarot... This kind of stuff is very important to my day-to-day life but the last time I ever heard anyone talk about it was when I was still home in Massachusetts... Which was, you know. Getting on five years ago. So this is awesome!! My little Pagan heart is going to explode with glee, aha.
Anyway, I didn't bother to look at any other cards because... Solas! But I will say, I'm a little confused about the choice of The Hierophant? Isn't it usually a card of things like order and structure? ...But I suppose, as usual and like all things, it's all in how it's viewed... (Which is why you don't need to feel bad for disagreeing, Levi! We all see things differently. I know it can feel like people are about to scream at you, but I think people here on this thread are nicer than that and appreciate that differences are interesting instead of bad. ...You know, like Solas seems to!
Regardless though, I totally agree with you about Cass, Cat Lance! Her as Death...? I mean, it does seem to be almost a mirror image for that one deck... And I guess even throughout the course of DA2 she did some changing... Went in with a black and white view, came out with more gray... And iirc Gaider's interview about her, he did say something about how she has to come to terms with the fact that the world isn't how she saw it or something? So, I guess Death does sort of make sense... And I imagine it will cause her some sorrow and pain to see what she believed in (the Divine and the attempt at peace they were making) go up in flames at the beginning of the game... But I don't know. I feel like I'm squinting to make a match.
The Chariot, on the other hand, seems almost effortless. Struggle and victory? Determination and control? It's hard to even pick a few words to list because they all fit so well. But hell, if they all have two cards, maybe she's both. Maybe one for character traits, one for... plot arch? That would be cool, now that I think about it. But maybe I should stop talking about Cassandra, 'cause this is the Solas thread, hah.
It makes me wonder, though, if there really are multiples for each, what's the other one for Solas?? Hmm. I've stated before how I generally try not to speculate more than a passing "I wonder," because you can convince yourself of anything if you think hard enough... that, and I have this dumb fear of being wrong.
Dammit! Now I really wish that I had the money for the Inquisitor's edition! The fortune-telling, palm reading pagan in me is getting oddly aroused, not gonna lie.
If anyone here feels like buying the edition and just slipping the cards my way, I will love you forever. Just saying.
/raises both arms in the air
WELL WHATEVER HE's SUPPOSED TO BE HAVE A PIC OF WHATEVER HE's WEARING IN that card kinda sorta yeah I wonder it has ear holes...
Totally late on this but oh my god Carpool, this is absolutely gorgeous! Amazing, amazing work! Every time you draw something, I marvel at your talent and save save save. Save it immediately. I have a little collection of your Solas stuff in my fanart folder. I hope that's not weird. 
Spoiler
It makes me wonder, though, if there really are multiples for each, what's the other one for Solas?? Hmm. I've stated before how I generally try not to speculate more than a passing "I wonder," because you can convince yourself of anything if you think hard enough... that, and I have this dumb fear of being wrong.
I think Cassandra's world is likely to be most shaken by the breach, so I could see her being Death. I don't think any of the others are a particular good match for it, except maybe the Inquisitor.
I have a "best guess" list going (it'll be fun to come back to it after playing the game and see what I would change, I think). Temperance might be a good one for Solas based on what we know.
*snip*
There is, of course, always the chance that they will go their own way with regard to definitions and symbolism and possibly even card titles and we could chase or tails around in circles and be totally off. Lol
*snip*
Entirely possible! But it doesn't hurt to speculate in the meantime. It's something to do while we wait, at least.
User
I love this! Cards for our companions in #dragonageinquisition makes me want my tarot cards from my Uber Edition!
Ryan Treadwell @Ryan_Treadwell 23h
I didn't know we had shown this! Neat!
User
So these are the same cards as in the Inquisitor's Edition?
Ryan Treadwell @Ryan_Treadwell
Some of them! We're still working on stuff so things may change, of course.
User
I'm most excited about the tarot cards and that sketchbook
Ryan Treadwell @Ryan_Treadwell
For me it's the cards and the map markers. They are my favorite props from the game.
User
Ryan, might I ask a tarot related question, that is, does the DA:I deck use traditional Major Arcana?
User
Cause so far I got Varric=Justice; Cass(?)=Chariot/Strength?; Cole=TheMoon; Solas=TheHierophant
Ryan Treadwell @Ryan_Treadwell
Not in the game. Not 100% sure about the physical cards.
More on the Tarot! (Not usually in the habit of re-posting from the Twitter thread unless it's Solas related, but it does relate to the current discussion, so, hope you guys don't mind!)
Edit: 'Lightning' shots in ultra-high res! (Read - more clearly visible Solas). Spoilered, because huge:
Spoiler
That's true. Like I said, I have a ton of different decks, so while there are interpretations that are strictly religious there are also some are just general spirituality... So I just try to meet in the middle and regard it as a symbol of order in general and then take in details as to what kind later. Either way, though, I'm a huge fan of Solas in the guide role! And hah, yeah. We could definitely be off no matter how much we analyze it... The woes of not actually having the game. Is it November yet??? 
Agreed about Cass though. I suppose she could develop that way. So while she's totally a Chariot as we last saw her, I guess she's got the potential to develop into a Death. Which is why I wondered if maybe they'll have a card for base character and one for plot development, sort of a before and after. I think that'd be really neat!
I think Cassandra's world is likely to be most shaken by the breach, so I could see her being Death. I don't think any of the others are a particular good match for it, except maybe the Inquisitor.
I have a "best guess" list going (it'll be fun to come back to it after playing the game and see what I would change, I think). Temperance might be a good one for Solas based on what we know.
Yeah, I can see that. Like I said above, from what we know of her right now...? I can't see a match. BUT if she develops down a certain path and change ends up being a major arc for her, then yeah. And from where she stands it totally could end up being like that, since atm she's a pretty... rigid person, hah.
I bet it'll be silly to look back on all the speculation after we actually know. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. Sometimes I think back to when we didn't even know the companions and how people were so sure of things that never came to be, like Cullen as a party member and Sera as Dalish and there being a second dwarf. It's amusing how much can change in just a few months.
*snip*
Yeah, I can see that. Like I said above, from what we know of her right now...? I can't see a match. BUT if she develops down a certain path and change ends up being a major arc for her, then yeah. And from where she stands it totally could end up being like that, since atm she's a pretty... rigid person, hah.
I bet it'll be silly to look back on all the speculation after we actually know. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. Sometimes I think back to when we didn't even know the companions and how people were so sure of things that never came to be, like Cullen as a party member and Sera as Dalish and there being a second dwarf. It's amusing how much can change in just a few months.
Maybe instead of saying "Cass doesn't fit" we should be wondering why she does fit, since people who know more than we do chose to give her Death's imagery?
Naturally. But with three months still to go and a serious desire to keep talking about this game, what else is there to do?
I wish there was an option to buy the Game+tarot cards. I think I have a crush on dem cards :|
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