It sounds pretty much like MTW. Pavs rule the archer stakes, some factions are disadvantaged by their unit abilities and a unit stat spreadsheet, recently published that will result in certain factions being used.
Archers should not be disadvantaged in Early or High and definitely not by a unit that should take ages to reload.
If HRE have an option that they can ignore due to there being adequate other options, yet some factions struggle for choice, it seems the factions are unbalanced

.....Orda