Killing the Horde HA...I think I've got the secret

[Geezer57]

Longbows are actually the best ranged killer in the game IMHO. They have a good range-hide them behind arms to reduce damage-AP and the fire rate of a normal bow.

Pav arbs will kill far, far more in the long run.

Whenever possible, I like to use them both in combination: a 2-deep line of pavs backed up by a unit of longbows. Put a couple of those side-by side and virtually nothing the AI can throw at you stands up.

I find the longbows (especially the Welsh Longbows in XL) better at decapitating the enemy army when their General comes within missle range - they have that high rate of fire. When you want to take out one specific target quickly, they're better than Pav Arbs. For sustained AP firepower, the pavs are better - they don't flush all their ammo all at once out at the enemy, and keep the negative morale factor going longer.

Since the pavs are highly resistant to enemy missle fire, and since the AI tends to target the closest unit, pavs out in front of the longbows help keep them both alive longer. They make a great team!