The “Island for One” scenario.

Yes, it's worth installing patches, as they positively affect the game's balance. Plus, they add variety to the gameplay (instead of simply gathering skeletons, you have to decide which units to resurrect and whether it's worth doing so, which changes attack priorities). Judging by the phrase "600 archers and 18 dragons, the rest 100-200 each," it seems that patch 1.5 is installed, or the archers are in a very bad state, and it's unclear where they've gone.