This is not completely worked through, but I'm gonna throw it out there to see if anyone likes it...
Characters have control characteristics as defined in Domains at War (with slight modifications):
Leadership: As in Domains at War. Basically, maximum number of henchmen.
Zone of Control: (2 x Level x Leadership Ability) in feet
Strategic Ability: As defined in DoW.
Morale modifier: As defined in DoW
In addition to their other traits, npcs have a "listening to" trait. npcs who are "listening to" someone use the base initiative roll of that person, modified by dexterity (as usual) and the strategic ability of their commander. NPCs who are not listening to anyone at the moment will fight (as morale allows) if engaged by an enemy, but will otherwise hesitate around the edges of the battle. Taking damage or not being commanded in one round will cause the npc to stop listening to their commander until the commander reestablishes the connection.
Characters attempting to control npcs on their side of the battle may do so at a cost of APs, assuming the npc hasn't already acted. They have a number of APs equal to their leadership ability with which to command henchmen and mercenaries.
AP Cost to command:
1 AP: command unengaged npc of lower level who is listening to you and in your ZoC.
+1 AP: npc is outside ZoC
+1 AP: npc is not currently listening to you (this will change them to listening to you. If they have already acted, this is all it will do)
+1 AP: npc is engaged by the enemy
+1 AP: commander is engaged by the enemy
+1 AP: npc is of equal or higher level
-1 AP: npc is your henchman
npcs can also be "grouped together" into teams. A commander may command teams of size up to 2^level members. (1st level = 2 member teams, 2nd level = 4 member teams, 3rd level = 8 member teams, etc. This extends up to 5th level = 32 member teams/platoons, 7th level = 128 member teams/battalions, etc) These teams can be commanded as one npc, except
+1 AP: per factor of 2 team is larger than natural command size for level.
I like this, except maybe for the "engaged" penalties. Anybody find this interesting?
(also, I seem to be having trouble with posts being moderated out of existence... I'm a real, good person.. honest!)