well i got a 100 reputation built up with Ravenstern and around 70 with king witch for me is much 
, also aint feeling so brave to go alone in this dark world just yet 
. Gonna wait till he gives me one castle... conquered 5 allready(some twice) all given to count drako.. and then lost couse i stop caring about them
That's why I stay independent. I usually work as a mercenary. You get the bonus relations for helping in battle, you can do jobs for lords, you can release Lords you capture in battle, and you get a decent chunk of your weekly payments taken away. The loot from battles increases your money too.
It's a mega win situation. I just don't help in sieges whatsoever. I'm not gonna risk the lives of my cavalry just so a faction can get stronger. It's also far easier to keep the factions under your thumb. If one is getting too strong, go enlist with the faction they are fighting with, and cripple the too-strong faction. Then choose a target after you think you're ready, and capture a castle.
It's worked every time for me. And when you have lords almost clamoring to be under your banner, what's not to love?
