Clan and IS Mechs are balanced, and so are ballistics. But they come from different environments so they can't be compared one to another directly.
Yes, IS ballistics are better. No arguing about it. But to boat them well, one has to take XL and be really slow. That is when "weaker" Clan ballistics come in play, they will simply rip your side torso when you try to aim properly on that charging juggernaut. There is a clear distinction on which Mechs boat those weapons, for IS those are mostly slow and vulnerable pieces. Clanners? The only slow Clan Mech is DW, and that thing does not have weak ballistics at all for different reasons.
So I call them balanced. In a different way than we are used to, but both have their pros and cons tied to the general gameplay of the faction, no t by comparing numbers.
Edited by Mordin Ashe, 16 June 2014 - 12:31 AM.