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".

You could become a joint faction type thing. If you were really good friends with another faction and became a lord you could help in a siege and at the end you could ask if you had control of that castle.

I think that applies to the normal version I was playing the Europe mod.

Rulers of factions could grant you rights over cities, castles, and villages if you are a vassal to them, your right to rule and standing among fellow lords was high enough, alongside a bonus if you yourself conducted the siege against the captured point. Women characters had higher requirements to be considered for owning anything.