Why is it good to "-only build Fortress 1 on the plains"?
Is good to build minimally Fortress 1, if you don't like to be attacked from cavaliers only (who are fast)
Then, looking that every fortress level gives 10% production boost, i prefer to go minimally for level 4 (warrior), but you can go to even to 7 (farmer).
So, i dont understand the word "Only". Maybe he means at the beginning. After, you MUST build higher levels.