I don't have a problem with cats being an effective unit counter, even if it isn't technically accurate. The one thing that scares me more than anything else is allowing aoe to become anything like aok. excluding the interface and on-land trading, I hate every change aok has done.
Definately don't tone down anything, just help the weak units (rax are not weak, except clubbers) That means weak civs and maybe lower priest cost. Powerful units means powerful and exciting wars, and toning them down and balancing them is aok. Even the names and look of aok units are boring. BTW, I have a copy of aok, and it is collecting dust somewhere, I don't know where for sure or really even care...
Stronger walls would be nice, because then it would require siege to tear them down anytime soon. But not tool age walls, just iron and maybe bronze a little. They should be worth more than just a warning.
wedsaz, I totally disagree with you on the use of only a few units. A lot of rookies and some inters do that, but an expert uses everyting his civ has to offer. When playing good players, I have often come up against cav, hcav, phalanxes, regular archers, horse archers, rax, elles, and even priests. The main reason poorer players only use these units is because that is the trend these days, and it is too complicated for them to produce a balanced army.
[This message has been edited by HonoredMule (edited 05-13-2000).]