What it would be nice to see here: Explanations of all the different buttons along with how/when to use them, how to handle knights, how to handle lords, how to handle relationship with Ruler/realm, what to do with all that shiny, shiny new gold you have.
Read up on what Vellos wrote here (http://forum.battlemaster.org/index.php/topic,530.0.html) first.
As a Duke, the most important thing to establish is your right of power. You must have recognition in the realm and among most lords and other dukes in order to be successful. Securing food supplies comes second to establishing your stance and following in the realm, as all else comes from that.
I was hoping we would have differing viewpoints! I will approach the role of Duke with the fundamental assumption that it is your duty to make the duchy as productive as possible. You After all, under the BM feudal system, Dukes have no more authority to behave independently than do Counts. You are a caretaker of nobles, land, and production.
I think if both of those perspectives are presented (Dukes are primarily concerned with securing personal hegemony vs. Dukes are primarily concerned with ducal productivity) it could be very interesting, but most useful if a detailed discussion of mechanics comes first.
I use both perspectives. I use the well-being and prosperity of my duchy to exert political power :P
I assumed that the well being of his Duchy would be a natural consequence of being in command of the duchy, just like restoring his region should be the foremost concern for a lord. :P