Transmog By Race Part II: Tauren

Welcome to the second part of my series, suiting up each race based on the classes available to them and the roles that I envision them in.  As promised, today I’m tackling my favourite race in the game: the Tauren.

Part I: Dwarves

Having a half-dozen classes available to them (again I’m only using the Death Knight with the Forsaken), the nomadic race offers everything except Warlocks, Mages, and Rogues…none of which should be a surprise when you think about it logistically.

In gameplay, Paladins are new to Taurens (being just over a year of availability) but I picture them as Warriors who are simply more devoted to the sun than their brethren, that’s all.  They also strike me as more of a defensive type, protecting others.  So, when I designed my Sunwalker I kept all of those things in mind and here you have the end result.

• Glorious Headdress
• Heroes’ Redemption Spaulders
• Heroic Judicator’s Chestguard
• Gauntlets of the Soothed Soul
• Lofty Belt
• Immolation Legguards
• Blue’s Greaves of the Righteous Guardian
• Restorative Mace
• Chromie’s Mirror

The other new class for the Tauren was the Priest.  Now, I had a tough time with the Priest because I believe primarily that the healers within the race are the Shamans and Druids.  But, seeing the Paladins as slightly more devoted, I looked at the Priests as being more disciplined in their mind and body at a slight sacrifice to their mental devotion to the Earth Mother.  I honestly had no idea what I was going to do for an outfit, and then I stumbled upon the chestpiece.  After that, it was easy.

• Brutal Gladiator’s Mooncloth Hood
• Elder Wizard’s Mantle
• Pennant Cloak
• Highborne Robes
• Soulcloth Gloves
• Ruthless Gladiator’s Cord of Accuracy
• Ogre Mage Staff

Tauren Hunters don’t strike me as nearly as diverse as, say, their Dwarven counterparts.  You’ll have a hard time convincing me they would ever hunt game purely for the sport.  Hunters to me embody the whole “Circle of Life” Mufasa was talking about.  They kill only what they need to and don’t waste a scrap, embodying the “take only what you need” and knowing in the end they’ll return it all to the earth.  So from that standpoint, my Hunter needed an outfit that suggested being made entirely from scratch without being extravagant.

• Stormforged Shoulders
• Protector Breastplate
• Pillager’s Gloves
• Sash of Prophecy
• Electrostatic Legguards
• Soldier’s Boots
• Drakkari Hunting Bow

Hamuul Runetotem has shown that regardless of what a Druid looks like, they can be as diverse as two different days on two different sides of the world.  So at first I aimed to create multiple outfits for the spec (not Lunar/Solar as Go Mog Yourself so beautifully did), but then decided just a single outfit would do the job.

• Ruffled Chaplet
• Ravenwing Pauldrons
• Pridelord Cape
• Shroud of Nature’s Harmony
• Thunder Bluff Doublet
• Forest Leather Gloves
• Forest Leather Belt
• Nature-Stitched Kilt
• Explorer’s Walking Stick

Like other races, Tauren Warriors fit many roles and archetypes.  I decided on creating two of my own.  This one wasn’t what I started out making, but it slowly came together.  Also, I thought a Gladiator would be something a bit different but still likely for a Tauren.

• Vicious Pyrium Helm
• Westguard Epaulets
• Vicious Pyrium Breastplate
• Vicious Pyrium Gauntlets
• Legplates of Redeemed Blood
• Necropolis Sabatons
• Rugged Polearm

The other Warrior I decided on was someone more decorated.  I refer to them as a Chieftain’s Warrior, but the idea would be someone who excelled in battle to the point the tribe decorated them rewardingly.

• Spaulders of Manifold Eyes
• Lifeforge Breastplate
• Holy Flame Gauntlets
• Triton Legplates
• Baron Silverlaine’s Greaves
• Hewing Axe of the Marsh

I saved what I considered the race’s prime class until the end.  The Shaman sums up everything about the Tauren, slightly more than Druids (in my opinion) and I started out with two designs in mind but ended up with three.  The first is what I would consider another type of Warrior, but heavily Elements based (Enhancement anyone?).  Unfortunately, MogIt wouldn’t let me preview the axe in both hands.

• Cataclysm Shoulderguards
• Mail of Crimson Coins
• Warmonger’s Gauntlets
• Lightning Well Belt
• Lightning Well Legguards
• Blackrock Boots
• Ice Pick

Second is the outfit I never planned on until I saw the mask.  I immediately got the idea for a Sage or Oracle type of Shaman.  A visionary like the precogs in Minority Report.  The trick was making the outfit like I envisioned it.  I think the final result gives off the exact feeling I wanted when I thought it out.

• Cataclysmic Gladiator’s Ringmail Helm
• Cyclone Shoulderpads
• Lich Wrappings
• Skyshatter Breastplate
• White Swashbuckler’s Shirt
• Cataclysmic Gladiator’s Linked Gauntlets
• Belt of the Blood Pit
• Warmaul of Infused Light

The final outfit I came up with was for a Tauren Elder.  I wanted something that suggested wise, but with that something that wasn’t extravagant.  Someone who would pass on wisdom would no doubt suggest elaborate wasn’t necessary to share knowledge.

• Earthcaller’s Headdress
• Masterwork Pauldrons
• Ghostworld Chestguard
• Deadly Gladiator’s Ringmail Gauntlets
• Waistband of Hexes
• Sanctified Frost Witch’s Kilt
• Stoneflower Staff

A total of nine outfits for my favourite race.  I can see at least one of my toons ending up in one of them as well once they attain high enough level.  Now, I wasn’t sure which race I was going to tackle in part three but I had intended on going with another Horde one.  That is, until someone started chirping away.  So, needless to say I will be doing a Gnomeregan role call in the coming days.