User:Minionman/Tauren military

Before the orc's arrival, the Tauren did not have an organized military as such. Most knew how to hunt, or otherwise wrestle and fight with various animals or each other, and most of the time these skills, plus the Tauren's strength, worked well for defending against raids, wild animals, or the very rare fights amongst groups of Tauren. Unfortunately, the Centaurs arriving in the barrens were much more experienced fighters, having warred amongst each other for thousands of years, and the Tauren defenders. While Tauren proved tough and powerful fighters when working with orcs in the various wars associated with the Burning Legion's invasion, the Tauren recognized how valuable a more organized group of fighters would be for protecting themselves.

The Tauren's major advantage in battle is their strength, toughness, and warstomp. Their hunting skills, shamans, and recently, druids, have also continued to be useful in combat. Mainly, the Tauren's military development has involved developing and learning ot use new weapons, and training in battle tactics and related combat skills.

Close Combat
In the wars related to the Burning Legion's arrival, the Tauren used large logs and axes as weapons, while relying on their long reach, toughness, and leather clothing to protect themselves. Warstomps were also used routinely in battle, these stomps were powerful enough to even stun some large demons. The Tauren were certainly powerful fighters in that war, fighter for fighter they were the most feared by the horde's adversaries, but many recognized improvements that could be made in the Tauren's abilities.

In the War against Daelin Proudmoore, the most Tauren fought the same way as in the burning legion related battles, but a few were able to get some metal armor and metal weapons from the orcs. These Tauren recognized the advantages offered by the metal equipment, though some equipment broke after some time from the force of these Tauren's swings. On returning to Kalimdor, the Tauren began to develop more specialized weapons and armor for themselves. These pieces of equipment were often much heavier and stronger than equivalent equipment of other races, even orcs or Draenei, and are designed more for brute force use than more complex fighting.

Metal armor made for Tauren warriors is extremely thick, almost nothing can penetrate it. Dwarves describe this armor as being almost as strong as armor for their siege engines. Weapons used by Tauren are generally designed to be simple to use but hit hard, large metal clubs are common. Various types of poleaxe or halberd type weapons are also commonly used, though are often much heavier than equivalent human type weapons. These are build in various lengths, and are often used against Centaurs or against abominations in the plaguelands, though many are used in other types of fighting as well. Many of these weapons have a "Shock club" on the back, that is used to strike the ground to produce a directed shockwave. Combined with warstomps, this can kill swarming groups of enemies that get too close to the Tauren fighting.

Tauren close combat warriors have proved their worth many times in the horde's battles, and among some enemies have a reputation for being impossible to kill without using magic. In the plaguelands, well equipped centaur warriors have outmatched abominations almost every time, and small groups of ghouls have proven easy to defeat as well. If centaurs see a group of well equipped Tauren warriors, they will run away unless several centaur shamans can be brought with the raid.

The Tauren at first did not use zeppelin equipment out of suspicion of the blood elves, after a year of it's use among the orcs, the Tauren saw the advantages of such equipment, they began using it regularly. About half the Tauren's warriors are equipped with zeppelin equipment.

Hunting/Ranged Combat
The Tauren have always had a strong hunting tradition, and this tradition has transferred effectively into warfare. Almost all Tauren ranged fighters use guns or bows, a few use thrown rocks, javalins, or similar weapons. Bows used by Tauren tend to be quite large and powerful, and can pierce quite thick armor, or shoot quite far. Guns also tend to be quite large, Tauren guns in general are more powerful but less accurate than other types of guns. For close combat, Tauren gunmen bring bayonets, Archers use clubs or other such weapons.

Tauren Magic
Tauren have a long shamanistic tradition. Unlike orc shamanism, which focuses more on direct elemental powers, Tauren shamans tend to focus more on spiritual powers, though there is still much overlap. Tauren shamans also tend to focus more on benefiting and healing allies, while orc shamans tend to focus more on aggressive spells. Skilled Tauren shamans can resurrect allies, protect many allies from being hurt, and interfere with enemies through spiritual powers.

Recently, Tauren have been allowed to study in Moonglade ot become druids. Many tauren have taken quite easily to this role, and Tauren druids now assist wider horde society in many ways, including combat. Due to the different terrain where they live, and the different fighting styles of the horde and nigth Elves, tauren druids to to have a slightly different focus to their shapeshifting and spellcasting. Tauren druids are known to control powerful tornadoes and dust storms, and tend to shapeshift into fast moving barrens predators or flyers. They are also important healers.

Outside of combat, the Tauren shamans and druids have been heavily involved in attempts to heal and regrow the plaguelands and Quel'thalas.