Instead of always search and destroy the settlers, why not burn the fields, steal the livestock?
Why not have a 'silent' raid, where one or two raiders enter the map, with then intent to steal sheep or crops. No notice, so if the players aren't aware, unprotected (walled) crops or livestock might disappear.
I'd also like to see a silent 'thief of renown' style raid once the settlement is the most significant in the region, then this thief would be there to steal gold (coins/bars/valuables) he would be able to move through all doors that are not locked to settlers.
#Give raiders different goals
humble oriole
thick crag
I like this, but feel like we need permissions/keys for locks, I want some settlers to be able to get through some doors but not others. A thief might have to steal a key to get into a lockbox or treasury
humble oriole
The fact that you can lock doors to keep everyone out implies keys. That a thief can move through doors that raider cannot, implies he can infiltrate to appear as a settler, but he cannot do what settlers cannot. I don't want him unstoppable, but locked doors are cumbersome for players to use. There is no in-game reason to protect piles of gold - raider will just walk on by.
So he may not get the gold coins, but he might get the gold bars you've smelted ...
hybrid pike
Well private rooms keys, some people want wealthier rooms. So a thief may go for them or you don’t want animals to haul stuff to and from a room and only let in a select few citizens or 1 citizen that you want to level up a certain job and don’t want a citizen that is better to do it. There are multiple reasons.
humble oriole
there are reasons, but currently there is no mechanism for this. If you add keys, then the thief has picks to counter.