It depends on which Age of Empires you are referring to
I was in an online game in AOE II a few years back, i had a small little town defended by a couple bombard towers and a castle or 2..
Anyway
The opposing team, the damn franks, came over to my base with 9 trebuchets and a whole crapload of archers.
Took down all my towers within 2 minutes, but i sent a slew of paladins monks after them
i converted all the trebuchets, and killed all the archers, turned around and completely obliterated the dude.
He said i cheated.