I would still recommend downloading the 1.2 patch. The horse archer problem is fixable. The friendly fire improvements are definitely worthwhile, and troops marching now get credit for their shields when under missile fire. There is also the pri/sec bug repair. This was found in the nick of time by a modder, and delayed the patch slightly. The pri/sec bug was resulting in all missile units getting credit for their primary (missile) attack in melee, when they should have been using secondary. Chief beneficiary for the bug was Rome...with all pila units effectively getting +4 attack prior to 1.2 if memory serves. Other beneficiaries were skirmishers and archers. On the strategic map the insanely large navies are gone, the AI will blockade. The AI will now do more with its armies in a turn like chasing down rebel armies that formerly escaped repeatedly. Skirmishers work much better than before, although still have some issues related to the narrow difference between effective range, and flee range.

The biggest new negative is the difficulty level change. Both the human and AI now get the same attack bonus (+4 for hard, and +7 for very hard as best we can tell.) The AI also seems to get a morale bonus that the human doesn't. Kill rate was already a problem, but it is FUBAR on VH now. So VH is rather unfun. Hard or medium would be better choices. In effect instead of difficulty levels, they are combat speed levels now.