It looks like those scenarios would have mostly human antagonists. If that's the case, and you aren't specifically trying to keep it like that, I'd suggest throwing in either a sorcerer(s), some demons, and/or strange beasts, as side enemies if nothing else.

If I recall, Just about every original Conan story had some element of dark magic or time-lost beast/demon/animated statues, this would also vary the combat a little. 

Think about fitting some sort of betrayal in the story. Maybe a mutiny of their (rabble-level) defenders, or a trusted companion (NPC) lets enemies in through a secret tunnel. Esepcially if the betrayal isn't obvious or telegraphed, it can be really fun.

I hope that helps a little.

You're welcome, it sounds like a fun outline. I might use some of those ideas in my own game. 

Ah...the time-worn stele....

A nice touch and worth developing. Assuming all goes well, the PCs carry on building up the defences of the keep and training a local local militia, as outlined in Sigulf's post. But there is a strange undercurrent to at least some of the threats to the garrison's domain. A passing scholar could visit the garrison (or a soldier in a new draft sent to increase the garrison is a 'gentleman ranker'  - a man of some education) and notice that some of the worn carving on the stele is in an old, near-forgotten language only used and studied nowadays by scholars...and sorcerors.

Some of the carvings are seen to glow at night/certain phases of the moon/etc, and an attempt is later made to deface the carvings (lucky the scholar made a rubbing). Then the scholar/soldier is killed. And outside the keep, the gathering dark grows. Raiders now avoid the area, as do wild animals, and the horses are always nervy. And the locals become reclusive and now shun the garrison.

Drip feed this slowly into your sessions, and then finally spring the undead mage, dead god cult, vampire, whatever on the PCs and their few loyal NPCs - as the lich's zombie army trys to take the keep to recover the foul treasure within... They must NEVER be allowed to recover it!

More S&S Horror in feel, but that is hardly unusual in the genre. Probably inspired by me re-reading some Kane stories recently.

Last edited by Gruntfuttock (9/09/2014 11:28 pm)