Gnolls for Horde.
No really, Playable Gnolls. The model skeleton exists, it is the Tauren one, just scale it down. They have -reason- to hate the Alliance, lets remember, The Kingdom of Stormwind is built on Gnoll Bones, Gnoll soil. Gnolls are clearly smart enough to work with others, we see them in many pirate crews, smart enough to band together with a clear hierarchy, and smart enough to if they wish, speak with perfect diction and clarity (Sayge)
If a RL culture was needed as a hook, in the way that we have for Dwarves, Gilneans, Tauren, Trolls etc, then why not that culture that has so many legends about Hyena’s anyway? Zulu and Masai culture.
Have three main social groupings of Gnolls,
Rainmakers. The Warriors and hunters of the Impi (Warband), (Rainmaker is an African nickname for Hyena’s, because of the tears they cause to fall, kinda the same as the western name ‘Widowmaker’)
Bonespeakers. The priests and Shamans, those of a more magical persuasion.
Marrow-Walkers. Those who crack to the centre of things, Rogues, Monks,
Their Religion? A Death Cult with a difference. They believe -everything- has value. What humans hear as horrible ululating laughter, and perceive as mockery as Gnolls charge them, is in fact a pre-emptive Prayer of Thanks to the soon to be dead human, for their bones will make weapons for the tribe, their sinew will make bowstrings for the tribe, their Skin will be tanned and make leather for the tribe, and yes, their flesh will be food for the tribe. Young Gnoll Cubs are cuffed around the ear if they do not utter thanks to the dead person whose skin makes the tent they live in, and famous enemies live on. “Listen cub, this is the Tent of Lieutenant Jonathan Parker, it is his skin that is the leather, look, here is his face! You will give thanks to Lieutenant Jonathan Parker, he died so that you are covered from the wind and rain!”
Basically, everything has value, living or dead, not in a financial way, but -value-, real material worth to the tribe.
Of course, humans will look at a Gnollish tent and recoil at the savagery of a tent with someone’s face in it, without realising this is an act of reverence, only to those who died well.
Racial Mounts could be those horrible old Desert Scavenger Lions, the ones that will eat anything, Less like Musafa, more like Skar!
Racial skills, hmm, I’d like it if they got the ability to skin humanoids the way Skinning works on animals. Gives a mats bonus which can be sold for cash.
Perhaps some sort of interrupt or even very brief fear effect by their ‘Laughter’, obviously with a cooldown.
But yeah, Playable Gnolls, thats where its at.