Race

Race is a term used in World of Warcraft to split various unique creatures into separate groups. Numerous races populate Azeroth including elves, trolls, human, orcs, gnomes, and murlocs, among many others. Many races can interbreed including humans, high elves, night elves, ogres, orcs, and draenei — producing offspring often called half-breeds.
The Warcraft universe is inhabited by many sentient and sapient beings. These races speak many different languages, have different homelands and racial traits, and can pursue different classes. Though most races are native to the world of Azeroth, some have arrived from other worlds, such as Draenor. The armies of the Burning Legion are culled from many worlds throughout the Twisting Nether.
==Definition==
Blizzard occasionally interchanges the terms species and race, giving them roughly the same meaning.The Warcraft Encyclopedia/High Elves and Blood Elves Though species is usually reserved for non-sapient creatures such as wolves, or non-humanoid creatures like dragons, the term is occasionally used to refer to races like elves, dwarves, humans, orcs, draenei, ogres, goblins, tauren, etc.The Dark Portal and the Fall of StormwindRise of the Horde, pg. 251 Such uses are rare, however, and entirely absent in newer material such as World of Warcraft: Chronicle. Only the non-canon Warcraft RPG uses "species" with any consistency.
==In the RPG==
In Warcraft lore, race is often used interchangeably with species.Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 38 Occasionally, within a race/species are groups called subspecies/subracesAlliance & Horde Compendium, 22World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 50Horde Player's Guide, 10 Note that use of race may not always denote separate species however (and may refer to ethnicities/subraces/subspecies within species).
==="Subraces"===
Subraces (aka subspecies) are generally considered smaller groups within a main race/species. However, even these subgroups can be considered separate races or species themselves in some cases.
*Dwarf sub-races can include Wildhammer, Ironforge, or Dark Iron dwarves.Alliance Player's Guide, 82, 86
*The various types of trolls are usually considered separate subraces, though occasionally separate races.The Last Guardian, ??Manual of Monsters, ??Horde Player's Guide, 143 The terms appear to be interchangeable to Blizzard.
*Aesir and vanir are considered two of the Giant's various subraces.Tribunal of Ages, 107
==See also==
*Choosing a race
*Race origins
*Future race ideas
*Seed race
===Lists===
*Creatures - all species (including non-sapient)
*Factions
*Languages
*Racial traits
*Mounts
*Small Pets
==References==
 
Category:Game terms
Category:Lore
Category:Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game
Category:Alliance & Horde Compendium
Category:World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game
Category:Horde Player's Guide
Category:Alliance Player's Guide
Category:Shadows & Light
es:Raza
fr:Catégorie:Race jouable
pl:Rasa
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