Here's me doing more than just being the OP:
I finally brought myself to suggest using the ELH for non-epic play. It seems the templates are the most useful part. +11 for
paragon or +13 for
psuedonatural (cross reference page 155 with MM1). A
Worm that Walks is at LA+4 isn't that TO if added at ECL 15, giving the same 40% chance (assuming an int of 24) that the example creature had.
Its a shame that not even bloodlines will let you be a +8 LA demi-lich pre-epic.
It's also too bad that the -23LA for the hunefer still makes it epic and therefore a no-no to play in order to first level drain it for hilariousness.
Assuming that the LA for the younger forms is atleast not greater than the older forms, you could play a force dragon wyrmling for an ECL20 1-shot. Immunity to force effects!
Btw a ruin swarm isn't really epic and would be funny versus an ECL 16 party