I find missile troops pretty decise at the moment. I limit myself to 4 foot missile troops per stack, otherwise my battles become more like musketry clashes. Perhaps that is the Eastern way of warfare, and I'm happy to top up my archery component with HA's if I ever playing a nomad faction.

I'm playing Baktria atm and I'm fielding a mix of foot archers with the occasional slinger thrown in. They are quite powerful enough, especially after earning their chervons decimating cataphracts from the walls of the capital.

I feel the balance is getting finer and finer with each version. EG elephants feel just a touch tougher in 1.1, not substantially but just a wee bit steadier. I will definitely be using them as they are no longer a bumbling Achille's heel, whereas before I'd build them for flavour (as a kind of good luck charm for my Baktrian FL) but they'd stay well behind the battle line.