One of the most iconic figures in medieval legend is Robin Hood. One of the most iconic moments of the Robin Hood legend is the archery contest.
Archery exists in the game as an option for combat, but unlike jousting and swordplay has no skill linked with it. This in turn takes away a lot of fun from anyone leading an archer unit. Unlike infantry or cavalry they have no opportunity for skill improvement on the battlefield therefore their time spent at war counts for nothing at tournament. This either deters players from using archers, or from attending tournaments, both of which are supposed to be their inalienable rights.
Many nations throughout history prided themselves on the skill of their archers. Some battle master realms may boast especially powerful archer units, however when it comes to representing themselves at a tournament they have no way of showing off what for them should be a source of national pride.
In conclusion I feel an archery skill makes sense for the sake of role-play, medieval flavor, game balance, and diversity of player choices.
