Haven't checked this in a while - a lot to read an unpack haha.
Yeah In my game the way I've been running it has a huge emphasis on Courtly Process and Battles - adventuring isn't a huge part of how we've been playing - it's been mainly the party being separate in their own lands until they're all united at Courts or any Musters that they're required to come to. I've got Six Players now - It's all their first time playing this system but they're all really enjoying the way i've been running it. I've found the book and all the supplements can be a bit overhwelming and dense at times - so I've been slowly adding in additional rules as we play - rather than having my players bone up on all the books prior to starting our campaign.
I started them off with Estates worth 50 - based on the starting 10 librum manors - Woodford, Tisbury etc and I have it kinda done in a way where Roderick commands the largest personal portion of all his eschilles - and the rest is commanded by a few of the player knights (a few were awarded with the title of banneret by King Uther for capturing King Octa) Sir Hywel, Sir Elad and Sir Amig. They're basically my games 'Council of Knight Lords' who have heavy political swing at court when it comes to decisions of Salisbury. Roderick ofc, makes all the decisions at the end of the day - and I'm using this as sort of a tutorial for my players so that when the anarchy hits they'll be more political and leadership focused to help fill the gap.
I'm expecting a full player wipe when the big ol' poison-fest kicks in(couple sessions away now) - and following that I've written a few fun ideas where their lands are in heavy dispute - between their Heir character, and Jealous Knights who want to seize their power in this time of weakness.