I don't know how other players love to play as archer now (writing on the forums, some of them, very brave, but where the they in games?).
Now cavalry (like was in real Medieval aged) are the kings of the fields.
They (looking by 2 last days) fear nothing.
Earlier:3-4 battle lines:
1.shielders and suiciders
2.2H+Pole+Throwers+close_combat_Bow+Xbow
3.Long range bow and Xbow
4.Cavalry awaiting while battle starts, while Archers find targets and start shooting and became blind. And only then tried to attack.
Archer (from their side) keeping team back from horsed (soc 2-3 Bow = death to almost all horses except Cata and tougher).
Earlier - team waited while archer clean up the field from enemy Cava (at least from some of them) to attack and dont turn head around seeeking from where incomming enemy Cavalry to kill you.
Today:1. Cavalry rushing enemy resp (they have not any danger from infantry now)
2. Suicide player ^)
3. all other
Yes, footman's players can be happy. Now here is only fast slow bow.
Can be happy cavalry - they now have not any threat from "heavy" Bows (like before).
I'am mostly used Longbow and played on back line (far from front) to cover my team from Cavalry strikes from the back.
Now - when i see Cavalry and start nock (?) my bow sometimes they riding before me and riding away earler than my shoot ^).
So - existing situatuin in middle of bow line - looks .... From footman side - very nice.
When i runnung around with my 2H sword i even (for last week) never take a shiled (i have bastard sword and can take a shield).
Never. Because -
I don't fear arrow anymore. I only fear throwing weapon (but my shield can take only 1-2 hits... so for me itsn't important).
So - if (even) middle and middle-high line of bow are ok (not sure) - but exactly one model of bow need some attention (and some developers love
) - it's LONGBOW.
P.s. I am pretty sure - if decrease all stats by two time (divide by 2) to ANY weapon - here will be founded some players what will play with those weapon.
And play not bad. And even be in top of rating table. So - your personal records doesn't proof anything.
To analyze needed not 1-2 experiments, but need to look at all situation at all (total).