Question

[Aelric]

I have a party of 4 adventures right now.2 Thief,2 Barbarian,Scholar1(Nature)/Borderer1,Soldier 1.What else would you put aginst them in a lost Citadel?Thus far they have fought some rats and a few skeletons.I have some Bandits inside this place using it as a hide-out and they heard the noise that they made.Chopped up a bed to make some torches.But I wanted to see what you all you would throw at them.

 

[Halfbat]

It depends on how you want to develop your campaign. It could be they encounter a chained demon of some kind (which might make them flee)... the demon could be the tamed guard of the BBEG who's put it there to protect one of his other creations or laboratories or whatever.

Alternatively, think of why the bandits are there. Were they chasing someone? Were they fleeing? Could there be a mix-up of identity between (say) the local lawful authorities chasing the bandits and finding the PCs? Could there be a mix-up between the Bandits mistaking the PCs for whatever it was they were really looking for? If it's in the Pictish wilderness all three groups coul dbe chased by Picts (and a shaman) looking to drive off these pesky invaders from _their_ demesne... and the Pictish shaman may well have a were- creature or a bonded animal of some kind (which can be _really_ annoying).

Whilst Conan found or encountered a fair few monsters, most of them were there for a reason which normally involved another human being, frequently one dealing with things he shouldn't be dealing with. Very often his worst foes were human beings or human-like (Chakan, etc).

Hope this helps as a starter for 10.

 

[urdinaran]

The above is some good advice.

Here is an idea:

The Citadel is rather expansive and the bandits have not had time to explore it in it's entirety. This is why they do not know about the Man-ape that inhabits the lower areas. Save this one for the final fight maybe.
A few days ago, the bandits kidnapped a nomadic warlord's daughter. The PCs will come across her and hopefully rescue her. Meanwhile, her father has sent his best men, who are on their way. How will they react to the PCs?

 

[argo]

The key to having a good sword 'n sorcery adventure is to try to have several different "factions" going at once. In your citadel example you could have the bandits, a trecherous bandit second-in-command plotting mutinuy, a detachment of the local law come hunting bandits (and anybody else there, the bounty pays by the number of ears returned, no need to check who the ears belonged to), a single big monster living in the forgotten depths or a small tribe of degenerate beast-men, some nasty beast that shows up to stalk the wilderness outside making the night dangerous or a wandering party of savage raiders who do the same thing.

You get the idea.

Then you take between three and seven of these "factions" toss them all in a sack with the PC's, shake it up good and see what falls out the other end. 8)

Hope that helps.

 

[Aelric]

Thanx for the Ideas they are all great and I will see which ones seem the best for and again thanx for all your help in this