Yea, I just felt it was a little weak compared to just playing the game as a vassal to another nation. I think having better management of your vassals, as well as the ability to split your party up without having taken a castle yet would go a long way. Taking that first castle always made starting up a faction really annoying. If you could have a companion lead it's own party under your command it would make the entry a lot better. Then more ways to interact with the existing factions so that it isn't just "at war with, neutral, at peace with".