Archery can still be done.
Proof 1:
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5534/paris1q.jpgEvidence 2:
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1671/paris2c.jpgand 3:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2999/paris3g.jpgNote, that this was only a testing char to see whats the truth about archery.
I went straight for the 18 str 6 power draw, and had only about 110 wpf in archery.
I played as pure archer, that means all kills were archery kills, no poleaxe/ 2h spam.
Also, the char was low level, obviously, I dont have the time to grind to level 31 just to show you how its meant to be played.
If you seek advice, okay, thats what forums are for. But stop whining. It can be done. Practice a bit more, gain experience, then the kills come naturally.
Also, an archer can stay back, so in my opinion he doesnt deserve it to be on top of the scoreboard anyway.
But noone cares about my opinion anyway, so archery will always be easy to play.
Advice: If you want to be an archer, start with power draw 3. Not more. You will be able to score way more hits than with power draw 6, and you will be able to injure and even kill enough people that wear no armor and dont carry a big shield. Then go for agi, weapon master, all wpf in archery. When the aiming gets really easy, then, perhaps go for more power draw. When its easy for you with power draw 4, then 5.
NOT the other way around. I did it, because it was for testing, and I have some experience in this game. You shouldnt do that. But meh, make your own mistakes.
What more can I say? Athletics, athletics, athletics. It is important that you can outrun melee infantry, it is important to "dodge" cav and bolts and throwing weapons. You need the agi for weapon master anyway, so use it for athletics, too.
Do not go for archery-melee-hybrid. This is the way for the "pros", for average players its better to focus on one thing.
Build an alt for melee if you want to fight in melee. As archer, play a real one that can run.
On upkeep: Compare archery with other classes. Upkeep is so low, its only a problem for heavy cavalry. For archers, its not. My test char was obviously a generation 1, it didnt take much time to get the cash for warbow and bodkin arrows. Thats all an archer needs. Some light armor perhaps, thats it. Not a problem.