Boss Monsters - Revision history

Staffan Björk at 12:01, 20 March 2018

2018-03-20T12:01:34Z

Staffan Björk at 13:35, 21 July 2016

2016-07-21T13:35:25Z

Staffan Björk at 21:36, 4 July 2015

2015-07-04T21:36:26Z

Staffan Björk at 15:09, 30 October 2014

2014-10-30T15:09:36Z

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2014-07-29T09:22:41Z

‎Relations

Staffan Björk at 13:43, 30 June 2014

2014-06-30T13:43:52Z

Staffan Björk at 19:53, 14 October 2011

2011-10-14T19:53:00Z

Staffan Björk: /* Using the pattern */

2011-07-19T08:07:49Z

‎Using the pattern

Staffan Björk at 08:25, 1 July 2011

2011-07-01T08:25:30Z

Staffan Björk: /* Relations */

2011-06-22T19:04:49Z

‎Relations

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === Narrative Aspects ===
-Although [[Boss Monsters]] may be randomly encountered in games - the [[Left 4 Dead series]] is an example - they can be, and often are, used as integral parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by providing finales to [[Instances]], [[Levels]], and [[Quests]] (as less often [[Game Boards]]) . When used for this purpose, [[Automated Responses]] such as [[Cutscenes]] can be added right before they are confronted through [[Game Element Insertion]] and right after [[Combat]] has ended to frame the encounter within the [[Narration Structures]] of the games. Due to these confrontations being specifically planned and the [[Cutscenes]] surrounding them being produced, [[Boss Monsters]] are more likely to enforce that the goals to [[Overcome]] or [[Eliminate]] them are [[Mandatory Goals]] (ordinary [[Enemies]] can often be avoided without negatively affecting any [[Narration Structures]]). This is especially true when the goals are part of [[Goal Hierarchies]] linked to games' [[Predetermined Story Structures]].
+Although [[Boss Monsters]] may be randomly encountered in games - the [[Left 4 Dead series]] is an example - they can be, and often are, used as integral parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by providing finales to [[Instances]], [[Levels]], and [[Quests]] (as less often [[Game Boards]]) . When used for this purpose, [[Automated Responses]] such as [[Cutscenes]] can be added right before they are confronted through [[Game Element Insertion]] and right after [[Combat]] has ended to frame the encounter within the [[Narration Structures]] of the games. Due to these confrontations being specifically planned and the [[Cutscenes]] surrounding them being produced, [[Boss Monsters]] are more likely to enforce that the goals to [[Overcome]] or [[Eliminate]] them are [[Enforced Goals]] (ordinary [[Enemies]] can often be avoided without negatively affecting any [[Narration Structures]]). This is especially true when the goals are part of [[Goal Hierarchies]] linked to games' [[Predetermined Story Structures]].
 When the [[Boss Monsters]] are also the driving forces for causing the events in [[Predetermined Story Structures]], there is often a need to create them as [[Non-Player Characters]] to define their nature, history, abilities, and even appearance so that their behavior is part of the games' [[Thematic Consistency]].
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 [[Challenging Gameplay]],
 [[Eliminate]],
 [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]],
 [[Overcome]],
 [[Predetermined Story Structures]],

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === Narrative Aspects ===
-Although [[Boss Monsters]] may be randomly encountered in games - the [[Left 4 Dead series]] is an example - they can be, and often are, used as integral parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by providing finales to [[Instances]], [[Levels]], and [[Quests]]. When used for this purpose, [[Automated Responses]] such as [[Cutscenes]] can be added right before they are confronted through [[Game Element Insertion]] and right after [[Combat]] has ended to frame the encounter within the [[Narration Structures]] of the games. Due to these confrontations being specifically planned and the [[Cutscenes]] surrounding them being produced, [[Boss Monsters]] are more likely to enforce that the goals to [[Overcome]] or [[Eliminate]] them are [[Mandatory Goals]] (ordinary [[Enemies]] can often be avoided without negatively affecting any [[Narration Structures]]). This is especially true when the goals are part of [[Goal Hierarchies]] linked to games' [[Predetermined Story Structures]].
+Although [[Boss Monsters]] may be randomly encountered in games - the [[Left 4 Dead series]] is an example - they can be, and often are, used as integral parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by providing finales to [[Instances]], [[Levels]], and [[Quests]] (as less often [[Game Boards]]) . When used for this purpose, [[Automated Responses]] such as [[Cutscenes]] can be added right before they are confronted through [[Game Element Insertion]] and right after [[Combat]] has ended to frame the encounter within the [[Narration Structures]] of the games. Due to these confrontations being specifically planned and the [[Cutscenes]] surrounding them being produced, [[Boss Monsters]] are more likely to enforce that the goals to [[Overcome]] or [[Eliminate]] them are [[Mandatory Goals]] (ordinary [[Enemies]] can often be avoided without negatively affecting any [[Narration Structures]]). This is especially true when the goals are part of [[Goal Hierarchies]] linked to games' [[Predetermined Story Structures]].
 When the [[Boss Monsters]] are also the driving forces for causing the events in [[Predetermined Story Structures]], there is often a need to create them as [[Non-Player Characters]] to define their nature, history, abilities, and even appearance so that their behavior is part of the games' [[Thematic Consistency]].
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 == Consequences ==
-[[Boss Monsters]] are a form of [[Enemies]], and given that they differ from these encountering them may be [[Surprises]] to players. When placed at closure points, e.g. the end of [[Instances]] or [[Levels]], [[Boss Monsters]] ensure [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] and [[Thematic Consistency]]. They are quite likely to be used in conjunction to possible resolutions of [[Rescue]] goals since they can balance the diegetic importance of those that are to be rescued. Regardless of where they are placed in [[Game Worlds]], [[Instances]], or [[Levels]], the presence of [[Boss Monsters]] can cause [[Tension]] to a higher degree than other [[Enemies]] and also [[Anticipation]] if foreshadowed by [[Cutscenes]] or other narrative means.
+[[Boss Monsters]] are a form of [[Enemies]], and given that they differ from these encountering them may be [[Surprises]] to players. When placed at closure points, e.g. the end of [[Instances]] or [[Levels]], [[Boss Monsters]] ensure [[Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses]] and [[Thematic Consistency]]. They are quite likely to be used in conjunction to possible resolutions of [[Rescue]] goals since they can balance the diegetic importance of those that are to be rescued. Regardless of where they are placed in [[Game Boards]], [[Game Worlds]], [[Instances]], or [[Levels]], the presence of [[Boss Monsters]] can cause [[Tension]] to a higher degree than other [[Enemies]] and also [[Anticipation]] if foreshadowed by [[Cutscenes]] or other narrative means.
 [[Puzzle Solving]] can emerge from [[Boss Monsters]] with [[Achilles' Heels]] if this is the only way to defeat them, or if players are made aware that the [[Boss Monsters]] have [[Vulnerabilities]] but have not been told exactly what they are. Somewhat paradoxically, the use of [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Invulnerabilities]] may make [[Combat]] less likely to be solutions to [[Boss Monsters]] than for other types of [[Enemies]]. Due to this, trying to [[Overcome]] them are likely to result in [[Varied Gameplay]] for players, as is coping with any [[Privileged Abilities]] the [[Boss Monsters]] may have. This possible variation, and the simple fact that [[Boss Monsters]] are more difficult [[Enemies]], make them suitable devices for creating [[Challenging Gameplay]] - at least for specific parts of games.
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 === Can Modulate ===
 [[Instances]],
 [[Levels]],

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 === Narrative Aspects ===
-Although [[Boss Monsters]] may be randomly encountered in games - the [[Left 4 Dead series]] is an example - they can be, and often are, used as integral parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by providing finales to [[Instances]], [[Levels]], and [[Quests]]. When used for this purpose, [[Cutscenes]] can be added right before they are confronted through [[Game Element Insertion]] and right after [[Combat]] has ended to frame the encounter within the [[Narration Structures]] of the games. Due to these confrontations being specifically planned and the [[Cutscenes]] surrounding them being produced, [[Boss Monsters]] are more likely to enforce that the goals to [[Overcome]] or [[Eliminate]] them are [[Mandatory Goals]] (ordinary [[Enemies]] can often be avoided without negatively affecting any [[Narration Structures]]). This is especially true when the goals are part of [[Goal Hierarchies]] linked to games' [[Predetermined Story Structures]].
+Although [[Boss Monsters]] may be randomly encountered in games - the [[Left 4 Dead series]] is an example - they can be, and often are, used as integral parts of [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by providing finales to [[Instances]], [[Levels]], and [[Quests]]. When used for this purpose, [[Automated Responses]] such as [[Cutscenes]] can be added right before they are confronted through [[Game Element Insertion]] and right after [[Combat]] has ended to frame the encounter within the [[Narration Structures]] of the games. Due to these confrontations being specifically planned and the [[Cutscenes]] surrounding them being produced, [[Boss Monsters]] are more likely to enforce that the goals to [[Overcome]] or [[Eliminate]] them are [[Mandatory Goals]] (ordinary [[Enemies]] can often be avoided without negatively affecting any [[Narration Structures]]). This is especially true when the goals are part of [[Goal Hierarchies]] linked to games' [[Predetermined Story Structures]].
 When the [[Boss Monsters]] are also the driving forces for causing the events in [[Predetermined Story Structures]], there is often a need to create them as [[Non-Player Characters]] to define their nature, history, abilities, and even appearance so that their behavior is part of the games' [[Thematic Consistency]].
@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 === Can Be Modulated By ===
 [[Achilles' Heels]],
 [[Cutscenes]],
 [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]],

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 When the [[Boss Monsters]] are also the driving forces for causing the events in [[Predetermined Story Structures]], there is often a need to create them as [[Non-Player Characters]] to define their nature, history, abilities, and even appearance so that their behavior is part of the games' [[Thematic Consistency]].
-While [[Boss Monsters]] may be placed in [[Levels]], they typically define [[Scenes]] so the latter pattern modulates [[Boss Monsters]] by allowing narrative focus to be placed on them.
+While [[Boss Monsters]] may be placed in [[Levels]], they typically define [[Scenes]] so the latter pattern modulates [[Boss Monsters]] by allowing narrative focus to be placed on them. [[Levels]] can center upon specific [[Boss Monsters]] when they are [[Finale Levels]].
 == Consequences ==
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 [[Cutscenes]],
 [[Diegetically Outstanding Features]],
 [[Game Element Insertion]],
 [[Invulnerabilities]],

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 [[Mandatory Goals]],
 [[Overcome]],
 [[Surprises]],
 [[Tension]],

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 == Using the pattern ==
-A primary design choice for [[Boss Monsters]] is if they should be based on types of [[Enemies]] that can be encountered or if they should be unique [[Enemies]]. Basing [[Boss Monsters]] on other [[Enemies]] and then making them more difficult is done through adding specific [[Invulnerabilities]] or abilities that are either [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[Privileged Abilities|Privileged]]. These are often then somewhat balanced by adding [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]] although the overall difficulty should be increased to distinguish the [[Enemies]] as [[Boss Monsters]]. Unique [[Boss Monsters]] are typically designed as some form of [[Non-Player Characters]].
+A primary design choice for [[Boss Monsters]] is if they should be based on types of [[Enemies]] that can be encountered or if they should be unique [[Enemies]]. Basing [[Boss Monsters]] on other [[Enemies]] and then making them more difficult is done through adding specific [[Invulnerabilities]] or abilities that are either [[Improved Abilities|Improved]] or [[Privileged Abilities|Privileged]] (simply adding more [[Health]] does rarely change gameplay enough to make the encounter qualitatively distinctive). These are often then somewhat balanced by adding [[Achilles' Heels]] or [[Vulnerabilities]] although the overall difficulty should be increased to distinguish the [[Enemies]] as [[Boss Monsters]]. Unique [[Boss Monsters]] are typically designed as some form of [[Non-Player Characters]].
 One pattern which rarely are used with ordinary [[Enemies]] but may work with [[Boss Monsters]] is [[Lives]]. Used for example in some fights between Mario and Bowser in the [[Super Mario Series]], basically this means that players have to defeat the [[Boss Monsters]] several times either through depleting their [[Health]] or through exploiting [[Achilles' Heels]].

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 [[Puzzle Solving]]
-==== with [[Improved Abilities]] or [[Privileged Abilities]] ====
+==== with [[Privileged Abilities]] ====
 [[Varied Gameplay]]