Making an accurate CR monster "Okyanus Canavarı"

[Hathradiah Fomorii]

I've always been a fan of Linnorms from Monster Manual 2 but for most parties they are well out of reach CR wise. Also, in the instance of the Grey Linnorm, which is the subject of this thread, it has only 13 HD. That's the same as a juvenile black dragon which has a CR of 7. This looks kind of weak for a CR 20.

What I'm shooting for is something around the 10 - 12 CR range based of of the Grey Linnorm. "Okyanus Canavarı" is a sea monster so he looses his ability to fly already. Any suggestions? C & C more than welcome

 

[arcseed]

Just take out the spells and the shapechange (maybe the other spell-like abilities too) from the Linnorm. Maybe give him a few more HD. That should get you something in about the right range. Melee characters will have problems if they don't have freedom of movement or feats to optimize grapple defense, since he's big for his hd and has snatch.

If you really want him to still be a caster, make him cast as a cleric 9 or 11. The big reason for his high CR is that he has the high-level spells.

 

[Runestar]

Like many of the monsters in MM2, the linnorns are likely over-cr'ed. Don't be afraid to lower their cr by 2-8 to make them a more reasonable challenge for your PCs (eg: the cr28 one, I estimate to be no more than cr20?).

 

[Hathradiah Fomorii]

Thanks for the help guys. I've settled on getting rid of the casting all together and took away the "at-will" spell-likes. The poison and breath weapon were lowered just a hair and I've applied the Multi-headed creature template from Savage Species. I know SS is usually banned but it gives it 2 more HD and it fits the idea of the creature I want. Living in a region where the far plane has begun to melt into the prime material plane, nothing has been left untouched. Canavari looks like a normal linnorm but with horrible fleshy scars dividing his head. When nessesary he can split his head apart into two compleate heads, that look sort of like two face from the batman series.

Again thank you for helping out.

Cheers!