As it stands right now there is only one narrow path to move along the tech tree, improve your villagers and compete with the enemy NPC combatants. That is to liberate towns, grind renown, grind village standing. Then you are able to access villagers with 'jobs' up till that point getting to tier 2, is entirely useless other then a select few items. Even then there are overlaps in the crafting system and bottle necks there, where for example most items in the blacksmithing and weaver tree require rawhide.... rawhide requires a laborer. So at least 2-3 villages to arm up your critters, that is not even to mention food.
This current system of narrow choke points with no other way around them leads to frustration, and from what I have seen and read a simple feeling of 'Game is not fun'. It is in effect after the player puts in effort to collect some people, start a village, put in effort into the game, they are not rewarded they are presented with the next one way gate to get past.
It would be suggested to either remove the requirement of village level, and liberation and work villagers only with a renown system. As you as the player are already going to be making progress and liberating villages in order to in effect win the scenario. You will then have to gather renown, deal with moral issues, and already present bandit raids, brigand attacks, food issues. Easing the stress load and making things a bit more fun.
As an alternative putting in other methods to allow access to technology allowing the player to enjoy investing in being prepared for combat situations would ease some of the strain already present in this game.