Roleplaying: Going Against the Racial Stereotypes of Gnomes, Tauren, and Orcs

While the jokes, /flirt emotes, and dances each race has are fun to use, and often add a bit of fun to an hour or two of play, they are often an odd, if not contradictory addition to roleplaying sessions. This is because roleplaying focuses so intently on building your character’s own unique personality, their likes, dislikes, history, and raison d’etre. Often, the stylized, predictable and sometimes downright weird canned phrases that each character comes with seem false and generic.

But, perhaps even more important in a roleplaying environment, the basic character emotes provided by /silly or /flirt embody Blizzard’s stereotype of what each character race is. And in the vastly diverse realm of roleplaying, where your only limitations should be your own imagination, stereotypes are the last thing your character needs.

Not every Gnome is happy-go-lucky, and not every Troll says “ya, mon.” This multi-part roleplaying guide will cover some of the more pervasive racial stereotypes in the game and points players towards some NPC characters who contradict that stereotype and should therefore be good for researching and preparing to play a character who goes against the grain. Today, we focus on Tauren, Gnomes, and Orcs.

Stereotype: The Back-to-Basics Tauren. When your only class choices are druid, hunter, warrior, or shaman, it’s to be expected that you’re the earthy type. Perhaps more than any other race, Tauren are depicted as being at one with nature, and living within the cycle of what they call the Great Hunt. Even the infamous Grimtotem clan fall into this stereotype – they are corrupt but use the forces of nature to achieve their ends. And the racial attributes of the Tauren further reinforce that point:

1. Tauren receive +15 to their Herbalism skill. That’s right – they’re naturally better at picking flowers than any other race.
2. Tauren receive a 2% hit resistance against all Nature damage spells.

But what if you want to play a Tauren who is more technological than spiritual? What if you’re more mercenary than the average cow, and would rather use your skills for profit than feel your place in the great continuum of nature? If you’re looking to play a Tauren who goes against the granola, take a look at some interesting NPCs Blizzard has introduced to the game:

• Fleet Master Seahorn: This loyal second to Baron Revilgaz not only looks good in a pirate hat, he leads the navy of the Blackwater Raiders, a position which suggests more cunning than spirituality.
• Mr. Smite: First mate under Captain Greenskin, this evil Tauren patrols the docks of the hidden Defias Brotherhood fleet in the Deadmines. Clearly, he is not in his position to commune with the Earth Mother.
• Magatha Grimtotem: Inscrutable and irascible, Magatha is the Elder Crone and leader of the nefarious Grimtotem clan, despite which she makes her home in Thunder Bluff and is an advisor to Cairne Bloodhoof. There’s a huge can of worms right there for any aspiring Tauren looking to distinguish themselves.

Stereotype: The Goofy Gnome. Let’s face it: on the surface, it looks like most gnomes are in the game for comic relief. Until patch 3.0.x they were the only race with pigtails (sorry, but the shaved-head Orc boar tails don’t count). They have shrill, tinny voices, and jokes which talk about chicken nuggets. Even though they have a level 80+ boss leading their civilization, they still haven’t been able to take back their home city of Gnomeregan, which was overrun by level 30 mobs. It’s no secret that for many, Gnomes are the laughing stock of WoW. But the things most people forget about Gnomes are right there in the starting racial characteristics:

1. Gnomes are incredibly intelligent. They get a 5% racial bonus to intelligence, making them the smartest playable race in the game.
2. Gnomes have natural mechanical aptitude. Engineering is one of the hardest professions in the game, and Gnomes are the best of the best at it. They receive +15 to their engineering skill.

The picture these two attributes paint is one of a highly aware, technological culture, and one far more advanced than the weirdly-colored hairstyles on the character creation screen, or the goofy jokes /silly would have us believe. If you want to play a Gnome who is more cunning than cute and more discerning than delicate, you might start by taking a look at some of these less-well-known Gnome NPCs:

• Sicco Thermaplug: Mad inventor, devious politico, self-proclaimed High Tinker of Gnomeregan, Sicco Thermaplug is anything but endearing. His shrewd mechanical mind was responsible for the downfall of the Gnomes’ home city by flooding Gnomeregan with radiation, and, some say, letting the Troggs in in the first place. Try patting this Gnome on the head and telling him he’s cute.
• Chromie: It is probably no coincidence that when this particular member of the Bronze Dragonflight chose to manifest in humanoid form, she picked the intelligence and understanding of a Gnome. Short for Chronormu, Chromie the Gnome/dragon is sworn to preserve the timeline of Azeroth and keep it safe from the Scourge. She can be found in the Ruins of Andorhal, Western Plaguelands.
• Silas Darkmoon: Founder of the Darkmoon Faire, Silas is more cunning businessman than obsessed tinkerer, and more slick entertainer than goofy joker. And he seems to be successful – after all, the Darkmoon Faire is called the Greatest Show on Azeroth.

Stereotype: The Bloodthirsty Orc. There is a huge difference between the blood-crazed, furious Orcs who were goaded by the Burning Legion into destroying Draenor, and the face of the New Horde today. Thrall himself is a perfect example of an intelligent, spiritual Orc, whose thoughtfulness is so pervasive that it is regarded as a fault by some of his companions, like Garrosh Hellscream. In roleplaying a modern Orc, players have a difficult balancing act to perform. How can you balance the obvious bloody heritage which is reflected in your racial abilities...

1. Blood Fury, which sends the Orc into a rage, increasing all attack power and spell power for 15 seconds.
2. Axe specialization, which increases Axe weapon skill by 5, probably left over from the days the Orcs spent chopping down elvish forests in the second and third wars.

...with the spiritual grace and noble bearing employed by Thrall and his fellow shaman, spiritual leaders, and chief warriors in the New Horde? For a look at Orc NPCs who embody the old Horde ideals of savage blood fury, look here:

• Garrosh Hellscream: Headstrong, even foolhardy, Garrosh challenged Thrall to a fight when the Warchief refused to enact a more aggressive plan and immediately make war against the Scourge in Northrend. He believes in quick and immediate action, despite warnings from Thrall and High Overlord Saurfang that strategy is just as important to the New Horde as strength in winning a war.
• Gul’Dan: Once-apprentice to Ner’Zhul, who went on to become the Lich King, Gul’Dan is credited with being the very first Orc warlock, and responsible for introducing the Blood of Mannoroth to the Horde and opening the Dark Portal to Azeroth. Players can see Gul’Dan’s shade in Shadowmoon Valey at the Altar of Damnation.

And for a closer peek at one of the more spiritual, and perhaps lesser-known Orcs of the New Horde, look here:

• Greatmother Geyah: Thrall’s grandmother Geyah is the spiritual leader of the Mag’har, the last uncorrupted Orcs remaining on Draenor.

Stay tuned as we debunk other racial and class stereotypes next week!