How To Get Started With WoW Roleplay - Trolls
Fleshing Out Your RP Character In World of Warcraft
The playable troll race in World of Warcraft is the Darkspear tribe, but there is no reason why a role-player couldn't choose to play as a member of another tribe, for example the Shatterspear or Revantusk tribes, which are both allied with the Darkspears.
The Darkspear trolls have also formed a close alliance with the orcs of Orgrimmar. They are also a member group of the Horde, along with the Forsaken, Tauren and Sin'dorei.
Choosing A Name
Both jungle and forest trolls share naming conventions of not giving young trolls a name until they have earned one in battle. The names are usually monosyllabic to allow for titles to be added to the names easily. Examples of male names are Voone, Vol, Sen, Ros, Gal and Maz. Female Names include Hexx, Shi, Mith, Arn, Din and Mak.
Trolls do not have family names but may use the name of their tribe as a last name. Other variations on names include the use of prefixes and suffixes which can add meaning to a name.
Prefixes include zul, which describes a voodoo master, and zufli, which means 'baby witch' and is sometimes taken on by female witch doctors as a mark of pride.
Suffixes include 'jin', refering to the tribal chief or elder, and 'fon', which means 'loner' and is used to describe someone who has deliberately taken himself out of troll society and its obligations. 'Fon' would generally be used as a derogatory term.
Speech and Language
Trolls of all types speak Zandali, named for the Zandalar Tribe which is the ancestral home of the trolls, and also understand Common, although some trolls have descended so far into barbarism they have forgotten Zandali and use Low Common instead.
Some words in the Zandali language which can be used by role players to create a more realistic character are:
- Juju = a charm or amulet used by some tribes, or the power associated with it
- E'chuta! = an expletive
- Mojo = a magic spell, hex, or charm
- Mon = man
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
All trolls share remarkable healing qualities, and can reportedly regenerate lost limbs and recover from any injury that doesn't kill them outright. This healing power is the reason many healing potions are named 'troll's blood'.
However, players should be cautious about exaggerating these healing abilities too much when role playing. Even with its enhanced healing abilities an injured troll will still take some time to recover from a serious injury, and will not be completely unstoppable on the battlefield. Role-playing a virtually indestructable character will be looked at unfavourably, and may even be compared to 'god-modding'.
Have Fun!
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.
RES101
A Troll Male
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A Troll Priestess
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