What Defines a "Boss Monster"?

[CampbellMC]

Talking in my clan's IRC, I said that I was killing the Giant Mole "Boss" at the time and saying how it was quite simple to kill solo, easier than with a team. One of the other members of the clan replied that the Giant Mole was not a boss. So I started thinking, what defines a boss? Before some of the more recent high leveled monsters it was an easy distinction. A boss was simply a very high leveled creature, which was not generally used for training on. This definition held true for many of the first "Bosses" in Runescape, such as King Black Dragon, Kalphite Queen and Chaos Elemental. A few different aspects of bosses have been mentioned so I want to look at them, and then see if we can come up with a real definition of what should be considered a "Boss Monster."

 

 

 

Level: In the past most monsters that were over 200 combat were considered boss monsters. Jagex did not release a high level creature for a long time unless it had a Unique drop and some difficulty to killing. But when they started wanting to make new items drop, they had to release high level monsters to ensure there would be rarity to the item. So a monster such as the Mithril Dragons would be added to make the Dragon Full Helmet drop available, but these were not considered to be a "Boss" by most people because they were a monster which you had to solo and there were an abundance of them. So level alone can not define a boss, although all bosses are high leveled, every high leveled monster is not a boss.

 

 

 

Drops: Many monsters which people consider bosses have unique drops. Even the first real "boss" in Runescape dropped the Dragon Medium Helm which everybody longed for at the time. Bosses in the God Wars Dungeon drop their respective Hilts, weapons and armour. Kalphite Queen can drop Dragon Chainbody and Dragon 2H, Chaos Elemental drops Dragon 2H, Tormented Demons drop Dragon Claws and Ruined Dragon Pieces. Nearly every boss monster at the time of it's release drops a unique item. But over time these items can be added to other monsters and lessen the rarity of the drop. Dragon Medium Helm for example is dropped by most high leveled monsters in runescape now, dragon chain is a drop of Dust Devils and of Kalphite Queen, and Chaos Elementals drop of the Dragon 2H sword was also added to the Kalphite Queen. So many monsters that are considered bosses have either unique drops, or atleast an increased chance at certain rare drops.

 

 

 

Risk: Most monsters that are considered bosses are not something that you can just sit back and train on and reap the benefits. If you are with a small team as most people prefer, there is always a chance of dying at a boss. The more people, the less risk. This is where "Soloing" comes in, as most people like the risk and/or prestige of soloing a boss monster. For the most part, bosses attack with multiple combat styles, so decent armour and knowledge of the boss is required in order to survive. Every monster that I personally consider a boss uses multiple combat styles except the Giant Mole.

 

 

 

Scarcity: Bosses for the most part only have 1 spawn, only 1 of each boss can be found in Runescape. The only monster which I consider a boss which there is multiple of would be Tormented Demons, other than that I believe every other boss only has one spawn point. Other high leveled monsters such as Metal Dragons, Black Dragons or Dark Beasts, even though they have unique drops, are found in multiple places, and have many spawns. These monsters are also mostly in Non-Multi Combat areas.

 

 

 

Location: Boss monsters are usually Isolated, this may be to ensure that people do not accidentally wander into them (The Chaos Elemental is the opposite, but it is found in deep wilderness which is meant to be dangerous). Most boss monsters have their own special areas, decorated to suit them, and away from other monsters. KBD has its own lair, Giant Mole has its own lair, Godwars Bosses each have their own rooms, Kalphite Queen has a lair, and every other boss has it's own isolated place. Although there are other high leveled monsters than have their own places aswell, Mithril Dragons, Steel Dragons, Iron Dragons, Black Demons, Dark Beasts, Black Dragons, anything high leveled is usually isolated, so bosses just follow this pattern.

 

 

 

These are the main points that I have come up with. Usually a boss monster will fall under all 5 of these categories, that would make it completely a boss monster. After saying that though, some of the bosses only fall under 4 categories, so should they still be considered bosses?

 

 

 

My Definition: For a monster to be completely considered a boss it must fill 5 requirements:

• 
   
  [*:42o0lsac]It must be high leveled.
   
  [*:42o0lsac]It must drop unique, rare items, or have an increased chance of rare drops.
   
  [*:42o0lsac]There must be risk involved in killing the monster.
   
  [*:42o0lsac]They must have only 1 spawn per world.
   
  [*:42o0lsac]They must be in an isolated location, designed for the boss.

 

If a monster meets only 4 of the 5 requirements, then it is a person-to-person basis whether or not the monster should be considered a boss.

[la la la]

Wow, great read.

 

 

 

As to your point about a single spawn point defining a boss monster, I completely agree. I will even go as far as to say that, partly due to this, I find that the tormented demon is not a boss monster. If mithril dragons are not considered boss monsters, which they aren't in your judgment, tormented demons can't be considered boss monsters. Both have multiple spawns, very high risk, are relatively easy to solo, and have unique drops.

[999134]

Wow, great read.

 

 

 

As to your point about a single spawn point defining a boss monster, I completely agree. I will even go as far as to say that, partly due to this, I find that the tormented demon is not a boss monster. If mithril dragons are not considered boss monsters, which they aren't in your judgment, tormented demons can't be considered boss monsters. Both have multiple spawns, very high risk, are relatively easy to solo, and have unique drops.

 

ah mith dragons dragon full helm is not unique to them now is it....

[yuriqiu]

Nice read.

 

 

 

A boss in my opinion should fit all 5 categories you described. Tormented Demon in my opinion is the new strongest non boss monster. Whereas mithril dragon is now bumped to 2nd strongest. The scarcity of a boss is what makes it special. The Giant Mole is still a boss. It is a weak boss but a boss nontheless. Do not forget, many lower levels still look forward to the giant mole as a boss kill. It has a unique behavior in which it is able to teleport throughout its lair.

[Krampell]

Pretty much what you said about the definition Campu.

 

Must be high level.

 

Must have a unique drop (well atleast when first released, like the KQ)

 

Must only spawn at one place in each world

 

Must be isolated in a certain room/area.

[Dire_Wolf]

There's two criterias as far as i know:

 

- One of kind monster

 

- Damages alot

 

 

 

 

 

Mole fits both Criterias.

[Danqazmlp]

Nice read.

 

 

 

A boss in my opinion should fit all 5 categories you described. Tormented Demon in my opinion is the new strongest non boss monster. Whereas mithril dragon is now bumped to 2nd strongest. The scarcity of a boss is what makes it special. The Giant Mole is still a boss. It is a weak boss but a boss nontheless. Do not forget, many lower levels still look forward to the giant mole as a boss kill. It has a unique behavior in which it is able to teleport throughout its lair.

 

 

 

Personally, i find demons much easier and weaker than mith drags.

 

 

 

Also, mith dragons do have a unique drop even if it isn't worth anything. That is chewed bones, and maybe also torn pages.

[999134]

A boss needs to have more than one attack style and pose some danger to the player.

 

I can one 1item kill the mole with a dds praying...

[CampbellMC]

A boss needs to have more than one attack style and pose some danger to the player.

 

I can one 1item kill the mole with a dds praying...

 

 

 

A level 40 can kill the KBD with range if they know how, doesnt mean it is efficient. I make over 300k an hour at mole, lets see you do that with a dds.

[TheValeyard]

I'd define it as a monster you wouldn't train on, and one that you would have to make preparations to fight.

[CampbellMC]

I'd define it as a monster you wouldn't train on, and one that you would have to make preparations to fight.

 

 

 

Yah my original definition in the IRC was "A high leveled monster that is killed primarily for profit, rather than for experience."

[Sir_Redhead]

I agree with your system. Monsters like mith drags shouldn't be considerd boss monsters.

[Big_Stingman]

http://www.tip.it/runescape/?page=monster_hunting.htm

 

 

 

I consider them to be da bosses. And Jad.

[Obtaurian]

Very good read, Campy. I agree with your definitions, though I consider Tormented Demons to be more along the lines of Mithril Dragons.

[Esper_Jones]

Just a note, the King Black Dragon never had a unique drop until the Heads were introduced. Dragon Mediums were always dropped by Black Demons, Black Dragons, and Fire Giants as well as the KBD.

[CampbellMC]

http://www.tip.it/runescape/?page=monster_hunting.htm

 

 

 

I consider them to be da bosses. And Jad.

 

 

 

That says that Iron and Steel dragons are a boss, but tormented demons are not there.

 

 

 

Just a note, the King Black Dragon never had a unique drop until the Heads were introduced. Dragon Mediums were always dropped by Black Demons, Black Dragons, and Fire Giants as well as the KBD.

 

 

 

KBD had dragon medium helm as a semi-rare drop instead of a rare drop, even today usually during a normal team trip you get atleast one.

[JRD111]

well to be a boss monster they have to...

 

 

 

Talk to corporate (like a boss)

 

Approve memos (like a boss)

 

Read a workshop (like a boss)

 

Remember birthdays (like a boss)

 

Direct work-flow (like a boss)

 

My own bathroom (like a boss)

 

Micro-manage (like a boss)

 

Promote synergy (like a boss)

 

 

 

\

[T. Skill]

well to be a boss monster they have to...

 

 

 

Talk to corporate (like a boss)

 

Approve memos (like a boss)

 

Read a workshop (like a boss)

 

Remember birthdays (like a boss)

 

Direct work-flow (like a boss)

 

My own bathroom (like a boss)

 

Micro-manage (like a boss)

 

Promote synergy (like a boss)

 

 

 

\

 

 

 

I see what you did there.

 

 

 

But yes, I am in complete agreement that I would only classify a monster as a "boss" if they meet all 5 requirements as you have laid out. Which means that Tormented Demons and Mithril Dragons do not fall into the "boss monster" category.

[Lemeja]

well to be a boss monster they have to...

 

 

 

Talk to corporate (like a boss)

 

Approve memos (like a boss)

 

Read a workshop (like a boss)

 

Remember birthdays (like a boss)

 

Direct work-flow (like a boss)

 

My own bathroom (like a boss)

 

Micro-manage (like a boss)

 

Promote synergy (like a boss)

 

 

 

\

 

 

 

I see what you did there.

 

 

 

But yes, I am in complete agreement that I would only classify a monster as a "boss" if they meet all 5 requirements as you have laid out. Which means that Tormented Demons and Mithril Dragons do not fall into the "boss monster" category.

 

 

 

Beat me to it D:

[Ned]

http://www.tip.it/runescape/?page=monster_hunting.htm

 

 

 

I consider them to be da bosses. And Jad.

 

 

 

That says that Iron and Steel dragons are a boss, but tormented demons are not there.

 

Wait a few more days :)

 

 

 

On topic, this was a nice read. The 4 out of 5 criteria system works well, especially since many quest bosses, like the Balance Elemental, don't have any drops.

[Kata_Phfract__the_slayer]

a good read, it makes you think.

 

 

 

but about the tormented demon's, thay are still a boss in my eye's.

 

one thing ya have to think about is that the 2 demons are efectively one battle, one fight... one monster.

 

you dont just fight one, you kill one wile lureing the other or something like that, so it could be sayd that the demon's still fit all 5.

[Ned]

They fit 4 of the 5 criteria so I think we're considering them a boss :).

[siim]

Corp beast plx?

[Hedgehog]

According to google, a boss is something exceptionally good at something, better than anyone else of its kind. This would mean there has to be one to be considered a boss.

[Returned3]

Coporal Beast best suits your 5 requirements. It is impossible to solo, located only deep in the Spirit World, uses more than 1 style of attack, has only 1 spawn and drops the legendary 4 shield additions.