An easy way to increase nord str and rhodok should be raising thier stats, mainly agility, If they atack faster they can become really strong.
In EG 2 some untis have a high atack speed , part because their weapons and part because their agility, and they are really annoying.
Maybe creating a nord longbow men with a two handed axe and increasing agility and atlechis of top tier units can balance the game better.
Affter all they are foot troops, they have to run after horses! They MUST have more agility than those lazy swadians that ride and drink all day and use heavy armors.