This game does rock a lot. It’s pretty sweet. You get to adventure around and kick butt, as wel as building yourself and army. Right now I have a 60-man army of mounted seagents (they aren’t called that, but it’s what they are) and some desert bedouins (likewise). And I’m building my peasant women into killer Sword Sisters.
You can also swear allegiance to a king, get fiefs, start rebellions, and even untis the lands under your own banner! I started as a commoner, but I’ve become a nobleman through service to the Sarranid Sultanate. I may not break me vassalization, forfeit my fief, and leave for the Vaegir (Russian) kingdom. It would be easier to defend and that’s where the tough warrior chick I’m pursuing lives.
Oh yeah, you can get married, hold feasts, win tournaments (after betting lots of $$ on yourself fopr big bucks, get yourself nigh-invincible with super-armor, and so forth. And trade for more cash, and build an army from all kinds of soldiers, and so on.