Quite agree with CBR - Arbs FTW

The only advantage Xbows have is lower tech requirements, to my mind. I generally try to have at least one bowyer's guild ready before High, but generally also have a handful of workshops too, at least to get Xbows out there in a pinch.

One final detail is the Arbs have a very slightly longer range than Pav Arbs - maybe a few yards, that's all - just enough to make a difference on a particularly wide river. I've had occasions where my pav arbs couldn't reach the enemy even when they were getting their feet wet, but moving plain arbs into the same position made them reachable.