I was a AOK player and have now I seem to be addicted to this one. I mean no offense to the great minds on these forums, but everyone seems to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Every other post is someone freaking out about something being overpowered.
When I saw Q win the ladder tourny, I'll admit I was worried about the power of his German merc rush, so I looked for threads about stopping the strat or discussing it's strengths and weaknesses.
Instead people just yell OP, that the game designers messed up and it cannot be beaten. After a while the discussion starts and people begin looking at the strat. Many times counters are found when people stop yelling 'OP' and start thinking.
You remember the frenzy about the french? I saw a post today in which someone thought they weren't even in the top 3 civs at higher levels.
Native rush unstopable? It can be countered, and not only that it's easy to see coming. It is mean though.
For the old timers remember the tower rush in AOK?
As a dutch player getting POUNDED by FFs, I understand people's concern about unequal balance. But we should all be slower to blame the loss on the game designers and quicker thinking, testing, and trying counters.
Also a comment on the Turks, watch out with nurfing them.
The Abus(e) guns are really only OPered in the 2nd age IMHO. You pros know better than I, but once the game gets to the 3rd age, I can't remember when I lost to otto. The civ already has the BIG drawbacks, if you slow down their rush too much then they are in a world of hurt.
Be slow to declare OP, be slower to nerf.
(except those damn FFs, they are KILLING me)