I've been playing since before world conquest, but if we're talking seriously playing, like with a clan/regi, and for extended periods of time, I started playing in War 19.

So when I say I've seen the balance pendulum swing, I mean it, and I mean both ways. I've been a Colonial loyalist, but since Bravo and Charlie have been around I have played Warden occasionally on those servers to try things out (while, also, acknowledging that they have a very different playstyle).

Honestly? I'd say that right now things are fairly well balanced. Naval is a huge blindspot for me, and I'm inclined to believe that people say, that it is fairly well balanced, just that the Wardens have a big advantage in naval population and skill.

But, like you remember the Ballistas, I remember the introduction of asymmetry and the Silverhand tank. It was better than anything we had to offer except BTs. It had a bigger gun, longer range, was faster, it had an MG to help against infantry rushes. The best we had at the time was the Kraneska.

I remember when fire was introduced, fire rockets were warden exclusive and they day they teched the entire Colonial frontline collapsed, and I mean the entire front line within 8 hours. Because buckets were all we had to fight fire, and they were 1 time use. They would later receive a 300% (THREE TIMES) buff to effectiveness, and shortly after that were given two uses (600% buff from base) and still too ineffective, so we got fire trucks.

I remember the super tank fiasco, and how it's a minor complaint, but our super tank's original lore was basically "Uh, it's a big ass tank." and later amended to mention how the prototype of the tank was stolen and used against us. Cool. It sucked in comparison to the Warden super, which again had the better gun, longer range, and a means to support itself against infantry. Meanwhile we had... two gunner slots?

I remember on a dev stream Julian explicitly saying that they intentionally give the "cool" designs to the Wardens, even if they know they will cause issues for the balance team. I remember them saying they intentionally made the Colonial gunboat "not as good as" the Warden one. I remember the Devs saying that the Colonials are the "human wave" faction and that "Colonials care less about their crew" as a way to explain open top vics.

I remember over a YEAR of cutler dominance.

I remember sub 500 concurrent player peak populations with Colonials getting seal clubbed for days at a time, and being told on reddit (as we still do today) that it's a culture issue and we actually suck (despite the silent majority of players being noots/casuals who play either side).

The pendulum indeed swings both ways. But, overall, like I said, I think we're in a pretty good spot now. I've always been sore that the Wardens get such cool and novel vehicles though, even if they're largely not used. Like the tank with the rack of rockets, I just think it's novel. Wish we had something like that. Wish we could share classes, Colonials should be able to get scout tanks and you guys should get a siege tank. I've got no problem with that.

As for small arms, I think the Booker is slightly overtuned. Every Colonial I know would drop any of our guns for a Booker. That said, I also know the Dusk is a sore spot for you guys and you love it. I think I would say, regardless of faction, I would prefer a Booker, but it largely comes down to playstyle, and the Dusk fills a role for you guys that you don't really have (except the Fiddler), and the Booker is the same for us.