If you combined my previous post with the ability to perform other various economic functions yourself it could provide a good alternative route to gain influence and power. Other functions include:
- Finding buyers and establishing purchase contracts at favorable terms. Including price, volume, length of contract, and any stipulations.
- Same for suppliers/supplier contracts
- Establishing profitable trade routes for distribution outside of aforementioned large buyers
- Compete with other productive enterprises throughout Calradia. Would require a defined regional/overall market so market share could be calculated and actions directly effect who buys from and supplies to you. You could either subvert competitors by interfering with suppliers, through covert operations (hiring local bandits?), or by simply selling your product for cheap in their geographic markets.
If these were implemented, you could secure considerable power through eventually controlling the supply of arms and food IF you are successful. You also wouldn't necessarily need to be associated with any major faction, your clan could be neutral. You would effectively dictate the winners of wars through economic means and profit immensely in the process. This would also make it very unlikely that a faction would declare war on you as you have never showed any militaristic aggression. Only the most egregious cases of favoritism or gouging would put you at risk for war. I would personally love this.
Edit: Not at the expense of increasing development time. Mod/DLC is fine.