Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Mask View Post
While there are problems of the latter's nature, I still thought too strongly of poor fortifications, I feel.
Even if they weren't too sure of what they were doing, there's a difference between poor construction and poor design.

You could have the best quality construction but if the design is poor, then the fort is still going to get over-run.
Poor design could result from anything like a crappy architect (structural flaws and/or poor layout), to being unable/unaware to adapt to technological advances (the change from square to rounded towers with the advent of cannon for example).

An Iceni hill fort, designed to hold off infantry and chariots, is going to look particularly crude to a Roman legion, who would probably do their equivalent of 'LOL' before cracking it open with catapaults and other siege weaponry.