If you start your nation no one will wait for you to build your army. Also it is not like in Warband where AI is stupid. If you have experience in warband it will help with game def. If you look for mod that will give you gameplay for XXX hours playing proper Game of Thrones instead of clunky warband shit.

Like Metro said this mod is not for everyone. Completely new map which alone is better looking and better designed than any other mod or vanilla game. When you start your kingdom you can for example make out of your companion lord. If you are not Noble when you earn enough fame some ruler may hear about you and try to give you noble title (allying you with him).

Sure you can start as noble thus getting easily first fief but imo best start is from 0 when you scrap your first gear, earn fame and so on. 5 Main nations + 2 nomadic nations, ton of knighthood orders and each of them has their own agenda (for example you can be enemy of some order for your actions like giving running heretics place in your village), various companies, mercenary bands, raiders and so on and each of those factions can be your friends or enemies. If you don't want both then you can start mercenary company and be employed to various rulers. Moreover if you don't want actually make a new nation you can create Knighthood, equip your knight and so on. Unique gear that can be looted from mentioned cultist like snake cult swords, armors and so on. Just plate armors have like 30 different models + their quality. And player build nation is actually your own nation compared to vanilla warband so you have your own troops compared to other nations, gear and so on. Each faction is very distinct with their own gear. PoP took some lessons from CK2 in that regard. You can do all sorts of things with different lords, earn their trust in more ways. Also world has factions that are in opposition to everybody like Noldor (elves like people) who have OP gear but they don't have nation. Mind you it is tasteful content not some angel demons and shit. Also in comparison to normal warband this is low scifi setting which means you will encounted cultist, snake cult and other factions that may have in them otherwordly troops. Rich lore, worthwhile companions with their agenda, much better factions than vanilla warband or any other mod out there.

PoP feels like proper full game, not like some mod.

Best mount and blade warband mods