Getting Started With WoW Roleplay - Tauren

Fleshing Out Your RP Character In World of Warcraft

Jul 28, 2009

The Tauren were possibly the first race to settle in Azeroth and, despite their huge size, are a peaceful society with strong tribal and druidic ties to the land.

The Tauren, or shu'halo in their native language, are the largest playable race in World of Warcraft, standing between six and a half and nine feet tall. With a nomadic past and recently new settlements in Mulgore and the Barrens, there is plenty of scope for a role player to create an interesting character to explore Azeroth with.

Choosing A Name

The Tauren language, Taur-ahe, can be quite harsh, and these strong sounds are reflected in their names. First names are chosen by the Tauren's parents. Male names include Atepa, Cairn, Tal, Gom and Jorrag, with female examples being Agra, Magatha, Grenda, Sula and Halfa.

Last names are usually family names, handed down through generations, although they may also be tribal names – which may be the same as a family name. Occasionally a Tauren may perform some feat of bravery or daring and be awarded with a name reflecting that feat. Examples of surnames include Thunderhoof, Runetotem, Bloodhoof, Wildmane, Grimtotem and Spiritwalker.

Speech and language is a very important aspect of playing a Tauren. The bovine race has an oral history, meaning it has been passed down through stories, not by being written down, and so storytelling could provide an excellent outlet for creativity for a role player.

Tauren rarely speak unless there is a reason to, and their natural suspicion of other races means they are slow to warm to outsiders. As such, there is plenty of scope for role players to use their imaginations and be somewhat surly when first encountering new people.

Some words in the Taur-ahe language which can be used to create a more realistic character are:

It should be borne in mind that not all role players will understand these words, so some explanation in a whisper may be necessary.

Racial Quirks

It may be difficult for a beginner role player to get inside the head of a large cow, but by taking a look at the history of the race and its available classes a player can learn much about his or her character.

Players can be druids, hunters, shamans or warriors. With the exception of the warrior these classes are very much oriented around nature – a trait backed up by the location of the Taurens' homeland in the grassland of Mulgore. As such, a Tauren will have a strong regard for nature and the land, and even when killing a living creature, will do so with a sense of responsibility.

The Tauren are also a religious people and their stories are filled with tales of the gods and of the Earthmother, whom they venerate and often invoke in greetings and in stories.

No matter how well prepared a role player is, the very nature of the game means a player is likely to come across a situation that throws them and creates an unusual challenge for their character.

However, by sticking to the simple role playing rules, such a situation can become an interesting and fun experience, and role players should always be willing to try to work their way out of such situations while staying in character so that all the players involved have the best possible experience.

The copyright of the article Getting Started With WoW Roleplay - Tauren in Role-Playing Video Games is owned by Pam Griffin. Permission to republish Getting Started With WoW Roleplay - Tauren in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.