24/15 will be almost exactly the same as before if you go 1h/shield. Shields all got an armor (resistance) buff recently, but most lost a little weight as well (so easier to crushthrough). You won't get as much WPF for 1h if you have 5 WM now versus before (6 WM is the "break even" point for the most part if you put WPF into one proficiency). But you will have almost as much as before.
Archery got fucked over with looms (not sure specifics) but they basically made it so loomed bows and arrows were not much better than the non-loomed versions. People still cry about them being OP (which they are weaker than they've ever been), but when in numbers people still rage and cry about them (what's new, there will be people crying about ranged until all throwing, xbows and bows are removed).
Welcome back, I think servers are (were up til yesterday) still giving out double XP, at least on battle and siege (not dtv).