Open Cove
🟡 Updated this yearPreview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 6.5% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #58 of 97 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
This mod is a small labor of love. Some time ago, I discovered some out-of-bounds areas in the Hall of Valor that looked far too polished to never be seen by the player. I later learned that the view from at least one of these areas looks strikingly similar to a piece of concept art of Rivain. It seems the Hall was larger during development. I posted a mod Idea on the Nexus soon after discovering this, detailing my learnings. Something had to be done.
Several months after that post, after a great deal of trial and error, this mod was born! It is the first of a series of mods that grant access to out of bounds/unused/cut areas.
Areas featured in the mod include:
- A hallway, with seating overlooking the arena.
- A courtyard that houses a quaint bar, sheltered by a tarp tied to a palm tree. This spot has striking distant views that really should have been visible in the final game!
- A training yard behind the arena, featuring archery targets, training dummies and sheltered seating.
- A treasury, featuring a large elven statue.
The main unused areas form a rough crescent around the cove, divided into two main parts connected via hallways.
There are two access points. One is located in The Hilt - Lower Balcony, just up some stairs, past a chest. The other (which is available in v1. 3) is in the Lower Concourse, near the Hall Entryway.
Something interesting is that there is a scripted camera zoom when standing in a particular spot in the training yard and facing the giant hanging fish skeleton. The spot is a stone platform, accessible by jumping off the tarp covering the archery targets.
Please note that it is possible to fall into the arena from here (this does not begin combat). If this occurs, simply teleport to the Beacon next to Isabela.
Update, v1. 1
- Unblocked an archway in the training yard, removing the need to jump across beams to reach the path to the large courtyard.
Update, v1. 2
- Grants access to the lower level seen from The Hilt - Archives and Storage. The entrance is located behind an npc standing where Taash is encountered for a few bar scenes with Isabela. Due to the npc having collision, one has to press jump while moving to the right of them in order to pass.
Update, v1. 3
- Removed invisible collision from a number of locations. One can now jump into the courtyard with the bar from the hallway beside the arena!
- Removed rubble in the Lower Concourse that covered a direct path to the training yard behind the arena.
Special thanks to merrinla for providing insight regarding collision data in their fantastic mod Ossuary Arena Access. It incidentally turned out to be extremely helpful when making changes for the 1. 3 version of this mod!
Open Cove unlocks unused areas of the Hall of Valor map, adding explorable space to the game. With 62 endorsements and 955 downloads, it's a niche mod for players seeking to discover hidden parts of the map. Last updated May 2026.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Unlocks hidden map areas for exploration.
- Lightweight mod with a clear purpose.
- Recent update (May 2026) suggests active maintenance.
⚠️ Cons
- Low endorsement count (62) – niche appeal.
- May conflict with other map-altering mods.
For players who enjoy exploring every corner of the map and discovering hidden content. If you're a completionist or just curious about unused areas, this mod is for you. Skip if you prefer gameplay overhauls or don't care about map exploration.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Check if the mod requires a new save or works with existing ones.
- If you use other map mods, test for conflicts by loading the game after installation.
- Explore the new areas thoroughly – they may contain hidden loot or lore.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Dragonagetheveilguard Mods
- Author
- Wilderwoods
- Version
- 1.3
- Downloads
- 955
- Endorsements
- 62
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 7/21/2025
- Updated
- 5/29/2026
🔧 How to Install Dragon Age: The Veilguard Mods
Download from Nexus Mods.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Dragon Age: The Veilguard →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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