Does the Rakshasa have a too-high CR?

[Arnwyn]

The Rakshasa does not need a "re-design".

It should be the same, with a CR of 8.

 

[NilesB]

Nope. I've already got Ogres, Hill Giants, and a lot of other creatures to be Hidimba.

Now a rakshasa that could be Ghatotkacha, I could really get behind. I want a BBEG who's going to get killed, expand to stretch miles in length and crush an army as he falls

I too would like to see a Rakasha that can, appropriately modified, model Ghatotkacha. Though I would argue as much of his power is inherited from his father as his mother.

I think we can both agree that if the Rakasha is to be revised, it should be done with at least a cursory familiarity with the major Hindu epics

One thing that I noticed in the Ramayana is that the Rakasha of particular power come to it mostly by mastering the same fighting techniques and magics as mighty humans and vanara do. I could get behind a lower base power rakasha DMs are encouraged to add class levels to.