I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but on my commercial trips I hire peasants in the cities where I pass, and basically I have a multinational army, Sturgian and Empire infantry, cavalry of what appears, usually hired prisoners, Khuzait horse archers, and archers of the Empire or Valand. Don't you think there should be limits to that? What does it mean to choose the faction? Basically we do and we recruit what we want. And in late game after figth one faction for so many battles and recruit the prisoners, my army becomes their army. It's fun, but should have limits.
I usually recruit kuzhait horsearchers and aserai footmen. I usually wander back and forth through the two areas (Steppe/Desert).