If there's two things about Mount & Blade Warband that I can tell to anyone that wants to play the game, here they are:
1) Enlist Vaegir dudes and train them to be Knights. You can beat, on open field, an army 3 times your size easily with Vaegir Knights. (I'd throw some Nord Infantary in your army, 50/50, to balance in case things go south).
2) Join some (any) faction for the beginning of the game, until you can raid Castles by yourself (usually that happens when you can have an army of 100 soldiers) and you have the Right to Rule (it's a message that shows up on your log. More information here: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Right_to_rule ). The moment you're comfortable and have the right to rule, renounce your king, attack some jarls of some faction (maybe not the only you were affiliated with, since everybody likes you there), and capture a Castle. You'll become a ruler of a new faction. Then just capture more stuff and give them castles/villages to Jarls of your kindgom (you can even use those Fiefs to bring those Jarls that liked you on the other faction). Keep everybody happy and enjoy a smooth sailing.
... I guess you should also install Diplomacy (http://www.mbrepository.com/file.php?id=1887), a kickass mod that adds more options and makes everything easier. Also, going to every main city in the beginning of the game (where not that much people hate you yet) and buying shops/factories (Dyeworks, Tannery, Meadery...) is a good thing: Endless income during the rest of the game, even when you're not associated with anybody.
Edit: And if you need money (for those shops/factories), don't be afraid to loot/plunder villages that your faction is at war against. Every village has valuables (silk, honey, leather) that can't be bought and only show up when you plunder it. Those sell for big coins on any big city.
1) Enlist Vaegir dudes and train them to be Knights. You can beat, on open field, an army 3 times your size easily with Vaegir Knights. (I'd throw some Nord Infantary in your army, 50/50, to balance in case things go south).
2) Join some (any) faction for the beginning of the game, until you can raid Castles by yourself (usually that happens when you can have an army of 100 soldiers) and you have the Right to Rule (it's a message that shows up on your log. More information here: http://mountandblade.wikia.com/wiki/Right_to_rule ). The moment you're comfortable and have the right to rule, renounce your king, attack some jarls of some faction (maybe not the only you were affiliated with, since everybody likes you there), and capture a Castle. You'll become a ruler of a new faction. Then just capture more stuff and give them castles/villages to Jarls of your kindgom (you can even use those Fiefs to bring those Jarls that liked you on the other faction). Keep everybody happy and enjoy a smooth sailing.
... I guess you should also install Diplomacy (http://www.mbrepository.com/file.php?id=1887), a kickass mod that adds more options and makes everything easier. Also, going to every main city in the beginning of the game (where not that much people hate you yet) and buying shops/factories (Dyeworks, Tannery, Meadery...) is a good thing: Endless income during the rest of the game, even when you're not associated with anybody.
Edit: And if you need money (for those shops/factories), don't be afraid to loot/plunder villages that your faction is at war against. Every village has valuables (silk, honey, leather) that can't be bought and only show up when you plunder it. Those sell for big coins on any big city.