Idea: Reworking Siege Tower

DISCLAIMER: I have not played Age of Empires 2 in quite a while, and my understanding might be outdated. I also do not claim for these ideas to be perfect/ideal. Please take these ideas with a pinch of salt.

I have heard a number of complaints about the Siege Tower, in AoE2, and had a few ideas for how to potentially make it more useful in the game.

• Mobile Towers

One idea to improve the ST, is to emphasize the Tower aspect of them. Being the idea that archers are able to shoot out of them, at enemy units. Maybe with improved range, damage, or fire rate (though, if one is boosted, maybe it should come at the cost of something else). Or maybe when garrisoned, they gain the LoS of an Outpost? What if archers can fire out of the ST independent of its movement, but cannot be directed to target specific units.

• Pack/Unpack Structure Inhibitor

Another idea, is to give more structures for the siege tower to have an effect on, simply by touching, or locking onto, as opposed to just walls. Perhaps, if a siege tower is connected with an enemy gate, that gate will be stuck open, and the enemy can't lock it? Alternatively, a tower becomes inactive/hindered, while a garrisoned Siege Tower is on it? Reducing fire rate/damage/LoS? Maybe units garrisoned inside of the target structure are forced to fight the units within the ST, shifting the range advantage into one for melee? This would probably need a sort of cooldown mechanic, for balance. Kind of like how a trebuchet has to pack & unpack.

Bear in mind, the systems for defensive structures in AoE2 aren't as robust as those in Stronghold, and arguably shouldn't be.

• Mobile Hospital/Priest Tower

One last, crazy idea is to draw from the mobile tower concept, but applying to Monks & priests. Where the Monk can possibly move faster, and heal targets on the go. However, as a trade off, they can't take relics into them.

So, what do you folks think? Think there's potential in these ideas? Think these are insane? Think Siege Towers are already fine? I certainly agree with the second one. But please, let me know what you think! Feedback is always appreciated!