Currently due to their dps, and tendency to target front line troops, instead of the intended target, javelins are fairly lacklustre. They either require an excessive amount of micro to avoid shooting the wrong targets and overkill, as well as not synergising well with archers due to their inability to stutter step at the same pace due to a slower ROF.
I thought that perhaps losing the ranged trait might simultaneously buff them, and lean into the hybrid unit theme that malians have (sofa being better anti infantry than knights, scouts having more utility, ranged donsos etc)
This primarily affects fights vs horsemen, that will still do decent damage, and mangonels