...is everything else secondary?

Hmm, you're right, having a castle nearby is great for role-playing.
And what, wolves play too.
I'm sitting in my forest and playing Heroes of Might and Magic V online.
And I don't need a zoo with a labyrinth.

Added 1 minute ago
Let's go wage war on the neighboring kingdom. Just for fun, after all, a real fantasy kingdom should be at war with someone all the time.