| Mavrickindigo |
Ok so I used the rules for increasing CR to decrease the CR of a monster. Problem is, as written, things don't go so well
Take the Thunderbird monster: http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/additionalMonsters/thunderbird.html#thun derbird
I made it a CR 2 using the CR table in the bestiary by knocking it down to a large-size creature with 3HD, problem is, this leaves me with this monster, which I believe to be way above a CR 2. My thought is that creatures, when being "unadvanced," should lose Special abilities, depending on how many HD it has and the number of special abilities it has. For instance, a Thunderbird has 3 special abilities and 14 HD, so every 4 or so HD, it gains one of its special abilities, and the CR 2, 3HD version has 0 special abilities, making it a much easier fight for characters of such a low level. Does this sound good? Do you have better alternatives I should try?
Thunderbird, Lesser CR 2
XP 600
N Large Magical Beast
Init +8; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, stormsight; Perception +
Aura Storm Aura (100 ft.)
DEFENSE
AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 17(+4 dex+1 dodge, +8 Natural, -1 size)
hp 19 (3d10+3)
Fort +4 Ref +7 Will +3
Immune Electricity, Sonic
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 120 ft. (good)
Melee 2 claws +3 (1d6 plus grab), bite -2 (1d8 )
Ranged thunderbolt +7 ranged touch (4d6 electricity and 4d6 sonic)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3)
At will-control weather
STATISTICS
Str 10 Dex 18 Con 12 Int 12 Wis 16 Cha 12
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 18
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative
Skills Acrobatics +8, Fly +8, Perception +7, Perform (sing) +5, Sense Motive +2
Languages Auran
ECOLOGY
Environment any hills or mountains
Organization solitary
Treasure none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Thunderbolt (Su) A lesser thunderbird can fire a ray of thunder and lightning from its outspread wings as a standard action. This attack has a range of 200 feet with no range increment, and requires a ranged touch attack to hit. A creature critically hit by a thunderbolt is stunned and deafened for 1 round if it fails a DC 12 Fortitude save. The save DC is Constitution-based
Storm Aura (Su) A lesser thunderbird is surrounded by a 100-foot-radius spread of severe winds that blow out from the center, dissipating swiftly at the limit of the aura’s range. In this area, ranged weapons (but not siege weapons) take a -4 penalty on attack rolls, Fly checks are made at a -4 penalty, and exposed flames are extinquished. Small creatures must make a DC 10 Strength check (if on the ground) or a DC 20 Fly check to move toward the lesser thunderbird, while Tiny or smaller creatures can be knocked back (1d4 x 10 feet if they are on the ground and fail a DC 15 Strength check). Creatures on the ground that are pushed back take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage per 10 feet, and flying creatures that are pushed back take 2d6 points of nonlethal damage regardless of the distance they are pushed. In addition, once every 1d4 rounds, a bolt of lightning strikes a random creature (other than the lesser thunderbird) within the area of its storm aura. This bolt of lightning deals 10d6 points of electricity damage (DC 12 reflex halves.) The save DC for the lighthing bolt is constitution-based, while those for resisting the wind effects are fixed.
Stormsight (Ex) A lesser thunderbird ignores all vision penalties and concealment from weather effects, including those created by fog cloud, obscuring mist, and similar spells