Well I'm rather a noob (lvl 30 on my gen2), and noobs aren't very influential on game balance decision, and on the forum in general. This explains why c-rpg is heavily over-favoring the most experienced players :
- they've got super loomed gear
- they can pay for whatever upkeep (heavy cav at x1 multi is very costly)
- they level faster (higher gen)
- and they benefit from the banner balance, because most of them are members of a clan.
It's logical that experienced players are more likely to win, but it should be only because of their skill and teamplay. Having so many factors artificially re-inforcing their advantage is a game killer for the newcomers.
These last days The Greys are meeting on EU2 siege server. When you've got 15 Greys 2H monsters in one team, there is no way the other team can win. And of course they get valour (oh yeah, it was supposed to help skilled newbies on the losing side, quite the contrary in fact) ... I stopped playing EU siege at all until they move to another server, because this no fun at all. If you are lucky, you get 'balanced' in their team, and win w/o even playing.
I don't see the point of banner balance at all. Factions were mainly for strategus, what's the point of making the normal c-rpg server the playground of the happy-few ? On the other side, on strategus you never play against those of your clan, so normal servers would be a good occasion to confront your mates, no ?
TL;DR : kill banner balance, give noobs a little hope not to get crushed