The game has no set goals and zero plot beyond a little tutorial mission at the beginning, so if you need a framework to play within this is probably not for you. If, on the other hand, you are content to make up your own narrative to the tune of ringing steel, pounding horse hooves and swishing arrows, make yourself comfortable: you'll be here for a while.
The long-term empire management bogs down the gameplay a little, the interface is clunky-ish and, yes, there are days when I simply don't feel like doing the same x-amount of activities that the game has to offer... But I've had this installed for a goodly while and I keep coming back to it. There is simply nothing better for large-scale, medieval combat.