I would suggest not joining a faction.
When you join a faction you have only minor advantages.
I say, "Go it alone".
Once you get 50 high level troops following you, you can take over the world.
At that point your faction just gets in the way.
The King doesn't always grant you title to the castles/cities you siege and capture.
That is no fun.
Your fellow lords don't always help or aid you when and how you want them to.
That's frustrating.
The King can ask you to join him in a siege and then never uses you.
That's infuriating.
