Below are a list of different types of creatures that can be found in the world.
There are three broad classifications of monsters; Minion, Elite and Boss. These are purely a mechanical classification and are simply here to help define a creatures role in a combat encounter.
Minions are the meat-shields or disposable grunts of an encounter. They are often far weaker than a PC and are intended to be used to fill out an encounter and make a front line to protect more important back lines. However some Minions can be considerable damage dealers and should be used carefully to overwhelm a fragile party.
Minions tend to only have one pool of health; Armor Points, Hit Points or Wounds. They rarely will have more than two.
Minions often can be assigned the following roles in an encounter:
This minions job is to block the advance of the party and absorb attacks, often rather durable
This minion exists to die, to be killed fast and easily. They often are used in overwhelming numbers
These minions are often more organized and can have ranged attacks. They tend to be the most dangerous minion role.
Elites are the specialists and damage dealers in most encounters. They can often be more powerful than an individual PC and normally fill more specialized roles in an encounter.
Elites tend to have both Hit Points and Wounds, as well as often having Armor Points in addition.
Elites often can be assigned the following roles in an encounter:
Powerful melee specialists that tend to be more fragile in exchange for more damage
Powerful ranged specialists that tend to be more fragile in exchange for more damage
Intended to hold the line and are very durable, often at the expense offense
Often mages that deal in AoE magic or some form of debuffs.
Often mages that bolster their allies
Bosses are very powerful creatures that should be powerful enough to fight an entire party of PCs by themselves. While not always the leader of an encounter, they are often the most powerful monster on the field.
They have both Hit Points and Wounds; in addition they often have Armor Points as well.
In addition they have access to Villain Points, which are analogs to Hero Points; which let them perform villainous deeds.