Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been praised and condemned since its release for its portrayal of Taash, and while these complaints may have some merit, Taash and their story are essential to the progress of gaming as an industry. Representation is always a tough issue in games; everyone's journey with their identities are personal and unique, so telling a story that's sensitive while also being realistic is a tall order. Unfortunately, Veilguard misses the mark in a few ways, but thankfully knocks it out of the park in others.

When players first meet Taash, they use female pronouns, but through some self-reflection, they realize that they don't quite fit the label that was given to them at birth. This is a very real journey that people across the globe have gone through, but the way it was translated into Veilguard leaves something to be desired. While the journey itself is unique to each person who experiences it, the way the story is written loses some of its potency due to some unfortunate details that are out of place.

Nonbinary Is An Odd Term To Hear In Thedas

Though This Is A Common, Modern Label To Use, It's Out Of Place

One of the biggest pieces of Taash's story that sticks out as not-quite-right is the vocabulary that they use to describe their experiences. In the real world, questioning one's gender comes from a feeling of not fitting into the role and/or body, and this applies to Taash as well, but using the term "nonbinary" to describe what they're feeling doesn't make sense for a few reasons.

Instead of taking into the differences between real-world and Thedan society when coming up with a term for Taash to use to describe their gender experience and identity, the writers chose to use one from the modern world.

The primary reason this term is less likely to have developed in Thedas is that the gender binary is just not that strict, at least from what players can see. The distinction between man and woman in Dragon Age seems to be largely relegated to sex; with women in positions of power and well respected as leaders and individuals, the divide between genders is much closer than in the real world. This makes the commentary Taash makes about being oppressed as a woman feel a bit out of left field.

Interestingly, the first time Rook and Taash talk about gender, it's regarding their physical body not being "womanly" enough, indicating that Taash's discomfort with being seen as a woman comes from others' perception of them and how they feel in their body rather than their role in society.

The use of the term nonbinary in the real world stems from the experience of being outside the gender binary, or spectrum, that exists between men and women. This spectrum consists of societal expectations, roles, and socialized behaviors that people are taught as they grow up both intentionally and ively, and in a world like Thedas, where this divide is smaller and society operates differently, is this even a term that's relevant? Based on player response, even from trans and nonbinary players, it sticks out as feeling off.

Instead of taking into the differences between real-world and Thedan society when coming up with a term for Taash to use to describe their gender experience and identity, the writers chose to use one from the modern world. This term sticks out as wrong in the fantastical world of Thedas, and this is likely the cause of some of the complaints that cry Veilguard is full of "HR speak." Despite this failure on the part of the writers, there are some parts of Taash's story that are powerfully well-done.

The feeling that something isn't quite right with some of Taash's dialogue is reflected in the interactions between other characters as well, leaving the party dynamic feeling odd.

Taash's Journey And Relationship With Their Mother Is Excellently Done

The Meal With Their Mother Is One Many Trans People Can Relate To

About halfway through their personal quest, Taash requests Rook have dinner with their mother, Shathaan, so they can talk to her about being nonbinary. The encounter begins with Taash's mother criticizing the food they're serving, already setting up the expectation of disapproval. This puts Taash on the defensive; they're expecting to be rejected by their mother going into the conversation.

When they come out, Shathaan immediately responds by questioning Taash. To a Taash primed for rejection, this is a worst-case scenario. For many trans and nonbinary people, this interaction isn't uncommon; when someone has to constantly defend who they are and who they want to be, even neutral questioning can feel like discouragement. That's not to say either party is in the wrong, but rather to display how complicated the conversation really is. There's more at play than just one conversation's worth of pain.

Fear and frustration cause people to react irrationally, even when it's a reaction to someone they love.

The miscommunication here is also foundational for understanding Taash and Shathaan's relationship. Shathaan is not a mother at heart, she's a scholar, and the Qun keeps these roles pretty separate. She tells Rook that she never had the skills necessary to connect with Taash emotionally, and seems incapable of displaying empathy or acceptance in the way Taash is looking for here.

Dorian has a similar conversation with his father in Dragon Age: Inquisition, though that's one of few places where the two Dragon Age games are similar.

Despite this miscommunication, Shathaan does love Taash, and Taash's reaction to the presumed rejection shows that Taash loves her as well. Frustrated with not being met with the enthusiastic love and approval they were seeking, Taash doesn't seem to know how to talk to their mother without feeling condescended to. Fear and frustration cause people to react irrationally, even when it's a reaction to someone they love. These are feelings almost every LGBTQ+ person is intimate with, making this scene extremely relatable.

Despite Its Flaws, Taash's Representation Is Essential To Progress

Exploring Real Identities And Struggles Is What Art And Media Are About

Though Taash's writing and story beats leave something to be desired, their existence within a franchise as huge as Dragon Age is foundational to creating a welcoming scene for any and all types of players. For ages, anyone who wasn't a cisgender, heterosexual person rarely saw themselves represented in games as anything more than a villain or the butt of a joke. Thanks to characters like Taash, the bar gets raised just a bit higher for what games should be doing.

The only way for gaming to expand as a hobby and as an industry is to welcome more types of people into its fold. As the industry expands, so too should the standard for what is seen in games. It's also important for people to learn that the existence of those unlike them isn't "forcing representation," it's just the way the world works.

Games have always been a way for people to explore their own lives, problems, and struggles through interactivity, with games like Dragon Age: Origins paving the way for the discussion of complex social and political questions. As time goes on, Veilguard has stepped up the plate to tackle the concept of gender identity and what it can mean for individuals. This allows for those who are questioning or have gone through this struggle to see their struggles highlighted and discussed.

In "A Little Dragon Hatches," Rook and Taash talk about Taash's gender and what it means to them. Taash expresses that they've felt wrong their whole life, not fitting anything their mother expected them to be as a Qunari, Rivaini, or even a daughter. Thousands of trans, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ people have gone through this same struggle, and seeing a game of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's caliber approach this topic sincerely and without mockery has had an immeasurably positive impact. While the DA franchise has stepped away from issues like racism, it's refreshing to see another, traditionally under-represented community have some time in the sun.