Quote Originally Posted by The Stranger
i nver build the upgrades, like motte, bailey, ballista towers etc. cuz i never figured out why they were useful. i just upgrade all the way to fortress and than build the cannons. does it matter in the end if i build those previous upgrades?
No, it doesn't. In fact, I seldom build them because they are a waste of money unles you are expecting a castle attack or a siege (IIRC they also add supplies). However, if you want to add some protection and are unable or unwilling to fully upgrade the castle they are a simple and cheap solution.