I know the game is still in development and this may be a stretch, but just an idea but, have 2 different in game modes, Creator mode, the basic Stonehearth, tell citizens what to do, then Player Mode where you play as a citizen (who starts out as just the leader of the group) and slowly progresses to being the king, allowing you to join your Footmen in battle and search through dungeons and such in the MMORPG version of the 3rd person character controlling aspect. just a thought