Monsters, monsters and more...

That seems to be the topic of the day. What is a monster and what is not?

It seems easy enough to classify some things as monsters. Giants, Stegadons, Dragons, Shaggoths (I still hate that name), Wyverns, Hyrdas, Carnisaur, Griffons, Pegasus, Chaos Dragons, Rhinox, Treemen, etc..

But there are a few that bring up questions:
1. Greater Daemons
2. Daemon Princes
3. Slaans
4. Salamanders
5. Rat Ogres
6. Shaggoth champions
7. Treeman Ancients
etc...

So are these considered monsters and what difference does it make?

The big problem is that certain magic items, like the Rune of the True Beast, and many spells like Beast Cowers and Wolf Hunts to name two, specifically name monsters as a target for the spell.

Can you imagine the big 650 point Blood Thirster runs into the wargor with the 30 point rune of the true beast and the BT just stands there looking silly.

One problem was that in the description of character it said very large characters also followed the rules for monsters. Then in the errata they changed it to say they followed SOME of the monster rules, but then did not clarify which those were. Many assume it is for movement only, but there is nothing that specifically states that.

The prevailing argument/line of thinking is that each model in the game falls into one classification, Character, Monster, infantry, cavalry, etc...
Therefore a model cannot be both a monster and a character at the same time. So Treemen Ancients and blood thirsters get off the hook with monster affecting items/spells.

I'm still not 100% sure I like this solution, but I can live with it.
So that leaves 2. The salamander and the Rat Ogre. Both are on 40mm bases and are driven by packmasters. (Both definitions of monsters), but both can also be joined by characters, and you can have more than 1 in a unit. Thus violating the rules of monsters. So these also seem to steer clear of the -monster- label.

The one I have the biggest trouble accepting is the salamander. Mainly because it even makes a monster reaction roll when the handlers die. This just speaks monster all over it. But it has been pointed out that in the Chronicles 2004, they defined the salamander as a ogre sized infantry model. Even though it has 4 legs (which seems to qualify it for cavalry not infantry). So with that definition, salamanders and crew can enter a building, since their max size is US 18. Well below the max of 30. And the salamander (US 3) could spit out of the building at 1 salamander per floor in the building.

I hope this clears / muddys the waters for you.