I always played an infantry shielder and i think that New archery nerf just made game unrealistic. Too unrealistic!!!
Long bows with bodkins had problems penetrating plate unless within 20 yards, and even then had lackluster performance.
Anyway Arrows, Spears and Shields were the main power in all kind of battles in history.
In what time period? 1150? Sure. 1450? Not the coldest chance in hell. From 1300-1400 and forward warfare changed drastically in what was used. Pikes were dominant, heavy armour was normal, and shields fell to the wayside for two handed weaponry. Crossbows, though outlawed by the Catholic Church for use against Christans, were rather popular especially in the Italian regions as time progressed. As Feudal armies owned by lords were quickly replaced by Armies of the State, shields were pretty much uncommon or simply rare.
In the renaissance, the "medieval" period was renamed the dark ages to try and promote some sort of propaganda in how "great" society had become, and polluted further tales, making Knights all use swords and shields and shiny plate even before they had it, use exaggerated codes of chivalry, and even corrupted tales with nonsense (such as the fabrication of Sir Lancelot, who was not part of the original tales of King Arthur).
You will find that proper medieval warfare evolved quickly, and is not at all what the renaissance nor what Hollywood has portrayed it to be.