So, I've started several characters and can say that the early going is incredibly fun. Getting together a group of raw recruits and running down some looters and bandits to level up and get some decent gear is exhilarating. However, after a couple of hours everyone on the map goes to war (which means all the quest givers are running all over) and I've got a rather experienced warband that has a high upkeep. What am I supposed to do now?

I'm at that point too and what I've been doing is looting villages of enemy states to get money to pay for troops.  In addition to that, just hanging around hot spots for conflict and getting involved with my allies' battles.  I'm not really sure what to do either but I'm having fun doing it haha