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What is a mount? Webster's Dictionary describes a mount as:
1 : an act or instance of mounting; specifically : an opportunity to ride a horse in a race
2 : FRAME, SUPPORT: as a : the material (as cardboard) on which a picture is mounted b : a jewelry setting c (1) : an undercarriage or part on which a device (as a motor or an artillery piece) rests in service (2) : an attachment for an accessory d : a hinge, card, or acetate envelope for mounting a stamp e : a glass slide with its accessories on which objects are placed for examination with a microscope
3 : a means of conveyance; especially : SADDLE HORSE
... to which we all can nod understandingly at before giving up and saying, "What?"
The mount we're referring to is not quite what the above description as, erm, described, but more rather, in layman's terms, an animal your character sits on and uses to move. What's special about this method of transportation is that, being player controlled transportation it helps to get anywhere, and not just from one certain place to another certain place.
Different races get different mounts. For instance, Humans ride horses, while Orcs gets wolves instead. Using a mount requires level 40. With enough work you can also get a mount not normally available to your race. Your faction is based on quests you do at each races homeland. Increase faction to open up the option of purchasing a mechano-stryder for your Night-Elf, a pony for your Gnome, or a Kodo for your Orc.
These mounts grow and shrink so that you can fit them in your pocket while not in use. Additionally it costs 100 gp to purchase a mount, not a small amount of money.
Additionally, Blizzard has mentioned that there will be rare mounts to discover in WoW, so who knows what will be announced next. Already available are epic mounts for 1000 gp. These horses are also faster than the normal undead horse.
Alliance Mounts
Human Mounts
To the well-known, real-life humans go the well-known, real-life horses. These horses, however, aren't show horses, bred to look pretty and frolic about. These are war horses, bred to move quickly and for a long time and to aid its rider in beating the stuffing out of everyone else. They look every bit like a horse fit for a knight to enter battle on, minus the armor. Their coat is dirty, their body lean, muscles showing, all it needs is a saddle and some chain mail and your foes will cower before you.
While mounts cannot be used in Combat, These horses certainly look ready for it. Horses are a good choice for the Human looking to distinguish himself from the lower level peasents.
Horses can be bought at a stable, for a price.
Dwarf Mounts
Although Dwarves look humanlike, their size and stature obviously differentiate them,
thus they would have a hard time trying to ride a horse. Instead, the dwarves
chooses to ride the smaller and more trustworthy battle rams. These might not be
as fast as horses, but are more sturdy and skilled at manouvering about the
mountainside. There will be steam tanks in the game, but these will be static and dwarves wont be able to ride them.
Night Elf Mounts
Night Elves rides, just like they
do in Warcraft 3, nightsaber tigers. These mighty beasts are fast and
dexterious, not to mention their ability to hide from enemies, given that the
rider is trained in shadowmelding. Just like horses and wolves, nightsabers will
shrink when dismounted, so that the rider can carry it in his/hers pocket, thus
they cannot engange in combat.
Night Elf Hunters will be able to
tame wild nightsabers for combat though, but these cannot be mounted.
Gnome Mounts
What better mount for the race best at creating new inventions than to ride on a Mechano-Strider. Sure, you may still suffer from being short, but at least you make up for it in style. I think Blizzard gave them such a silly mount (riding on the back of a chicken?) to make up for their best of the best dancing animation. The best part though, it's a convertible. Chicks dig convertibles.
Horde Mounts
Orc Mounts
Orcs are more brutal than Humans and thus deserve a more brutal mount, so to them go the wolves. Wolves are more fearsome than horses and have teeth used for ripping the flesh out of whoever/whatever it wants to. Wolves are more aggressive than horses, but Blizzard, in their infinite wisdom, decided that, as of now, mounts won't help you in battle, so the wolves can bare their teeth all they like, they still don't give any advantage besides movement speed.
Wolves are essentially the Orc version of the horse, if slightly modified here and there. In any case, it main point is to get you places. Other, not quite as important points may include showing off and wishing running through the battlefield with your other mounted friends in hopes of scaring the enemy.
Tauren Mounts
Tauren are able to purchase Kodos for their mount. These huge beasts, native to Kalimdor, have ever been a best friend of the Tauren people. They are also just about the only creatures that can withstand the robust weight of a man-cow.
This picture does not do the superior size of the Kodo justice. Tauren are already very large creatures and hard to miss in the battle field, but with the additional girth and height of the massive beastly Kodos you may feel them coming before you see them.
Undead Mounts
No living beast would be able to stand the horrors that is the life of an Undead (without probably spending some skill points that is). Therefore as an Undead player you will use an Undead Horse. These function exactly the same as every other mount, except they're dead. And what better way to impress your fellow rotting friends than to ride up on the back of a rotting horse!
Troll Mounts
Ever since watching Jurrasic Park, Chief Jum-Jum made a decree that all Trolls would find a way to tame raptors (the coolest dinosaur) or die trying! Now, while others may claim otherwise, I personally believe this to be the reason for the decline and fall of the great troll empire. This guy eats other mounts for breakfast. Yaa-Mon!
Class Specific Mounts
Warlock Mounts
Summoned from the powers of the Burning Legion, The Warlock Mount appears to be a horse, but closer inspection reveals it's fiery nature. Unlike other mounts, the Warlock's Mount is available to all of the races capable of becoming a Warlock (Human, Gnome, Orc and Undead). Warlock's attain their mount through a spell. At a cost of only 2gp 60 Silver, it is definatly a good bargain.
Paladin Mounts
Like classic medieval knights, the Paladins of Warcraft also find themselves mounted upon gallant steeds. Chargers will be available to any Paladin able to perform a certain quest(minimum level of 40), and they will receive their faithful steed as their reward. This gives them a benefit of not having to pay 100gp like the other classes.
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