I wonder how many people realise that an Ottoman player doesn't actually need Abus Guns for his early rush, unless he's playing:
A. Another Ottoman.
B. French with early Skirmishers.
C. Dutch.
An Ottoman player can knock out civs other than those above simply with masses of Janissaries and some Grenadiers before 6:45.
Janissaries laugh at Crossbows and Longbows, as these units can't hit 'n run as you just press the Janissaries right into their face.
Abus Guns are horrible vs villagers (in the actual proto file, they have 0.25x multiplier against them), pretty bad vs buildings (15 seige is nothing) and decent vs cavalry if ignored (if not, they're dead). If not for the ability to hit villagers while staying outside TC/Outpost firing range, there would be no reason to make them early at all. But even so, another 10 Janissaries will simply take down those Outposts and then the TC, with alittle help from their Grenadier friends.
So that typical "10 Jannisary & 5 Abus Guns" so called rush, is actually significantly worse than a 20 Janissary + 3 Hussar "rush" at the same point or 30 seconds later. By making those 5 Abuse Guns, you're sinking 250 food and 500 gold into something that really doesn't help you all that much to knock your opponent out.
You need seige power, as much of it as early as possible. But you also need protection from cavalry. The Janissary + Grenadier combination in a 3:1 ratio is perfect for that.All you need is 20 Jannissary and 5-10 Grenadiers by 6:00 to help take down the TC before your opponent (usually Spanish or German) successfully gets to Fortress. Abus Guns don't even enter the equation until much later, when people bring out light infantry Mercs and Falconets.
So nerfing Abuse Guns will make Ottomans weaker in the mid-late game, but it will barely even affect their rush, unless they're fighting French, Dutch or another Ottoman.
"One wants to be loved, failing that admired, failing that feared, failing that hated and despised. One wants to instill in other people some form of emotion. The soul shudders before emptiness and wants contact, no matter the cost."
[This message has been edited by Ender_Ward (edited 01-12-2006 @ 06:04 PM).]