Half-Fiend Dragons

[RickSummon]

The Pathfinder Bestiary says that the half-fiend template adds +3 to the CR of a creature with 11 HD or more. However, I think it would make sense to reduce this to +2 for a half-fiend dragon. If you start out with a young adult black dragon, for example, you'll see that the dragon already has many of the abilities that the template grants, such as bite, claws, spell resistance, and flight. (I also think the template should only improve maneuverability of such a dragon to average instead of good.) So, a young adult black dragon has CR 10, and a half-fiend version should have CR 12. Do you think that makes sense?

[meabolex]

RickSummon wrote:

Do you think that makes sense?

It might be less than +2. The templates are meaningless if they don't provide substantial bonuses. The CR should only increase if benefits justify the increase.

[David Fryer]

RickSummon wrote:

Do you think that makes sense?

I think it makes sense, so long as the template abilities don't grant a better bonus to things like flight and claws and such.

[Void Munchkin]

Roll/buy stats, add both the Half-Dragon and Half-Fiend templates.